Bento Power

Many people bring their lunch to work to save money, time, and to help control what they are eating, avoiding hidden nasties from processed shop-bought food. However, sometimes it's hard to think of interesting, nutritious things to make.

Sara Kiyo Popowa has come to the rescue with her vibrant, fun, and inspirational approach to lunch boxes in Bento Power. She concentrates on having five clear elements: complex carbs, protein, fruit and veg, and sprinkles, as well as the five colours used in authentic Japanese cooking: red, white, black, yellow, and green. With just a few essential ingredients, you add your extras to create highly nutritious, vegetarian, colourful boxes of joy.

Sara includes ideas for bento breakfast boxes, such as Sesame Snap Granola Bento and Mighty Muesli. There are 15-minute bento options like Busy Days Instant Noodles and Lazy Tamago Bento, everyday bento like Red Velvet Quinoa Bento, Green Theme Bento, and Zen Bento, and even fantasy bento like Starry Sky Bento and Fairy Jewel Box Bento.

With tips on how to stock your bento store-cupboard, along with basic ingredients and recipes to get you going, now is the time for bento to bounce into your breakfast, lunch box, or even into your dinner parties, filling you with Bento Power!

www.shisodelicious.com @shisodelicious