Bento contents:

• 100g / 3 oz (approx.) Grilled Garlic Chicken, 120 cal
• Yogurt dressing from same page, using 2 Tbs. Greek (thick) yogurt, 40 cal
• 2 small bread rolls, 90 cal
• Steamed broccoli, shredded carrot, lettuce, arugula (rucola or rocket), total about 60 cal
• 1 fairly large orange (not seen in photo), 80 cal

Total calories (approx): 390 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 10-15 minutes in the morning (you could cut this down by making some things in advance)

Type: Salad!

Bento contents:

• Approx. 1 cup of _zakkokumai_ (mixed grain rice with beans, seeds, etc.) - 220 cal
• 2 Tbs. Red Peppers With Maple Syrup and Chili, 20 cal
• 4 Sweet-Sour Red Wine Vinegar Chicken (skin on), 200 cal
• Blanched Chinese broccoli with yukari, 10 cal

Total calories (approx): 450 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 15-20 minutes in the morning (you could cut this down by making some things in advance)

Type: Japanese, chicken, Bento Challenge!

Bento contents:

• Leftover vegetable stir-fry fried rice, using 3/4 cup brown rice, 230 cal
• 4 Poppy seed encrusted green pea mini-burgers, 160 cal
• About 1/4 cup Carrot sesame salad with 1 cherry tomato, 30 cal

Total calories (approx): 420 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 10-15 minutes

Type: Vegan and gluten-free, relying on stock and frozen vegetables

Bento contents:

• 1 1/2 cups of white rice, 240 cal
• About 1/2 cup stewed hijiki seaweed and fried tofu, 50 cal
• Sautéed vegetables and Chinese broccoli, 60 cal
• Steamed carrots and sweet potato slices, 30 cal
• Red pepper stuffed with a beef and tofu mini burger, 100 cal
• Garnishes: nori, usuyaki tamago (thin omelette), pine nuts, raisin, etc.

Total calories (approx): 480 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: Way too long! (About 2 hours)

Type: Japanese, kyaraben/charaban, special occasion, Homage to The Kitty

Bento contents:

• Approx. 1 cup of brown rice - 240 cal
• 60 g / 2 oz. (about 3 heaping tablespoons) Sesame flavored beef made with lean beef, 130 cal
• About 1/3 cup carrot kinpira, 50 cal
• Blanched greens flavored with oyster sauce and bean sprouts flavored with salt and sansho pepper, 20 cal

Total calories (approx): 440 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 10-15 minutes in the morning

Bento contents:

• Fried rice made with 2/3 cup brown rice and assorted chopped vegetables, 250 cal
• 1 1/2 wiener sausages, 200 cal
• Omelette made with 2 eggs, 230 cal
• Broccoli, 20 cal

Total calories (approx): 700 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 20-30 minutes

Type: Japanese, kyaraben-ish, special occasion bento!

While I do try to keep a good stash of pre-made food to quickly assemble bentos in the morning, sometimes I've just run out, or am not in the mood to use whatever I have in the freezer, or leftovers in the fridge. That doesn't mean it's not possible to assemble a bento quickly using fresh ingredients and pantry items. Here are a couple that I made last week. The only premade 'stash' I used was frozen brown rice.