low-carb

A Japanese Working Woman's Real Life Bentos

My friend Junko lives and works in Tokyo. She has a full time busy job, and although her son is off at school, she also have a very busy life outside of work too, with lots of interesting hobbies and a really busy social life. (I don't know anyone else who has as many friends as she does!)

She also makes bentos to take to work, and posts them regularly on her social media. I love her bento pics because they aren't style for the camera at all - she just snaps them with her phone - but they look so appetizing and have lots of good ideas. Above all, they are real bentos made and eaten by a busy lady. I managed to convince her to let me post some of her bento pics here. The explanations are my own, based on what she wrote about them.

Keep reading A Japanese Working Woman's Real Life Bentos →

Hearty meatball and vegetable soup (that's almost a stew)

gdb6-2.jpg

The Guy (also known as Max) and I have a shared resolution this year: We Must Lose Weight And Get Fitter Or Else. He has high blood pressure, I have high or disturbingly fluctuating blood sugar. But we both have this basic problem, that we love to eat good food. And, especially during the day, we need our tummies comfortably filled or we get cranky.

One solution to this problem: soup for lunch!

Keep reading Hearty meatball and vegetable soup (that's almost a stew) →

Okara and crab salad

okarasalad-1.jpg

Here's a super-easy recipe for a pretty healthy and versatile salad, using one of my favorite should-be-more-popular ingredients, okara.

Keep reading Okara and crab salad →
Time: 
Time required: 5-10 minutes

Bento no. 79: Low-carb gluten-free sandwich bento

bento_79_500.jpg

Bento contents:

  • 2 sandwiches made with 2 kouya dofu sandwich 'breads', filled with cucumber, ham and mayonnaise, 600 calories
  • Lettuce and cherry tomatoes, 50 calories

Total calories (approx): 650 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 30 minutes (if 'bread' is made in the morning, less time if you make it in advance and just assemble the sandwich in the morning)

Type: Low carb, gluten-free, alternative sandwiches

Keep reading Bento no. 79: Low-carb gluten-free sandwich bento →

Low carb gluten-free freeze dried tofu (kouya dofu) fried sandwich 'bread'

koyadofu-sandwich.jpg

How to make really low-carb, gluten-free sandwich 'bread' with fried freeze dried tofu.

Keep reading Low carb gluten-free freeze dried tofu (kouya dofu) fried sandwich 'bread' →

Zucchini Basil Muffins revisited: Low-carb and gluten-free version

lc-zucchinibasilmuffin3.jpg

Here's another low-carb, gluten-free muffin recipe -- a remake of an old favorite.

Keep reading Zucchini Basil Muffins revisited: Low-carb and gluten-free version →
Time: 
Time required: 30 min - 1 hour

Bento no. 78: Vegan low-carb, low calorie, 'zen' bento

bento_78_500.jpg

Bento contents:

Total calories (approx): 250 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 30 minutes (if all components are made in the morning, much less time if you make things in advance)

Type: Japanese, low carb, low calorie, vegan, "zen"!

Keep reading Bento no. 78: Vegan low-carb, low calorie, 'zen' bento →

Sweet pepper and carrot confetti

pepper-carrot-confetti.jpg

I am calling this colorful dish confetti, because it's not quite assertively flavored enough to call it furikake. It is sort of a no-sugar (low-carb) and much lower calorie variation of Cooked to Death Hot and Sweet Peppers, though I have made the hot peppers optional. Even with no added sugar or sweetener, I think the natural sweetness of the vegetables comes through nicely. It's a really useful vegetable side dish, to just pack on the side or sprinkle on top of rice or other things. You could also fold in a spoonful into tamagoyaki to make it really colorful. It can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days, or frozen.

Keep reading Sweet pepper and carrot confetti →
Time: 
Time required: 10-20 minutes

Pages