by 
The Curious Bag
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Traditionally a Japanese version of a lunchbox, bento boxes are now becoming popular as a fun, healthy lunch. The food varies based on the preferences of the person preparing the bento box; there are countless recipe possibilities.
Definition
In Japan, a bento box is a lunch box packed in the morning and eaten in the afternoon. It usually contains homecooked food that might include rice, fish or beef, and vegetables.
Appearance
A bento box will usually use dividers, much like a frozen meal. Some bento boxes allow food to be separated and stacked in layers, so that the different foods do not touch.
Preparation
Traditionally, great care is taken to make the inside and outside of the box attractive, from arranging the food in an appealing way, to choosing festive cloth and chopsticks to wrap the box in.
Serving
According to JustBento, "a traditional portable bento box meal is meant to be eaten at room temperature." The food you choose for your bento box should be safe outside of the refrigerator for several hours, and does not need to be heated before eating.
Recipes
Bento box recipes offer a lot of room for creativity. Most boxes involve some forms of rice, curry, pickled vegetables, fruit and vegetables sliced small, a protein and eggs.
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