Whats been good so far.

Sometimes it can be difficult to decide what to put in your bentos. Especially for those of us who have no access to microwaves or even refrigerators at work or school. I usually just pack my kids lunches with a small ice pack in a thermal lunch box. I make sure to pack things that are good eaten at room temperature. Here is a list of things that have been a hit with the kids so far.

1. Eggs.
a. hard boiled
b. in omelete form plain or with chopped ham, chives, peppers, etc.
c. tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled egg)
d. scrambled
e. deviled
2. Breaded meat.
a. chicken tenders
b. tonkatsu (thin pork cutlet breaded with panko)
c. steak fingers (not breaded, but lightly coated in flour, then fried)
3. Onigiri
a. sushi rice
b. with different furikaki (Japanese mix-ins)
c. soy sauce
d. umeboshi (pickled plum)
e. with different fillings
4. Fried rice
5. Kimbap (Korean sushi roll made with different fillings, but generally not raw fish)
6. Surimi (imitation crab)
7. Salad
a. potato salad
b. coleslaw
c. pasta salad
d. green salad with dressing in separate container or cup
e. egg salad
f. chicken salad
8. Vegetables
a. cut into fun shapes raw, with dip or sauce in a separate little cup
b. grilled
c. steamed
d. lightly cooked in broth, with a squeeze of lemon, with or without parmesan
9. Grilled meat.
a. grilled marinated chicken tenderloin
b. grilled salmon
c. sliced grilled steak (leftovers are ok)
10. Spam musubi
11. Sandwiches (cut into bite size pieces or cut with cookie cutters in fun shapes)
12. Cut up fruit
a. apple slices with peanut butter in a separate sauce cup
b. sliced plums
c. grapes
d. pineapple
e. oranges (these have a strong smell so unless the food you pack goes well with an orange
scent, you might want to pack these in a separate container)
f. melon
13. Bread
a. hawaiin rolls
b. banana bread, zuchini bread, carrot cake, etc.
c. soft dinner roll
14.Fried Dumplings
a. mandoo
b. gyoza
c. egg rolls
15. Meatballs
16. Edamame
17. Sandwich wraps(thanks mamichan)

I will try to start posting recipes occasionally along with pictures.