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Bento contents:

• 3 pcs. bacon wrapped tofu (200cal)
• 3/4 cups white rice with sesame seeds (140cal)
• Sautéed mushrooms with pepper and onion confit (100cal)
• 1/2 lazy tea egg (40cal)
• Boiled broccoli (5cal)
• Carrot and lemon (10cal)

Total calories (approx): 495 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 15 minutes in the morning, 20+ minutes make-ahead

Type: Japanese, mostly make-ahead

This bento uses a lot of staples and make-ahead items. This is really the key to assembling a varied bento lunch box without having to wake up an hour early in the morning to do so! The only thing that is made from scratch in the morning is the bacon wrapped tofu, and even that can be made the night before if needed (though it's best if you make it in the morning.) Johbisai or staples are really great: I got six total bentos out of one batch of the pepper and onion confit, and I'll get at least 2 or 4 bentos out of the 3 remaining tea eggs.

The star of the bento though is the bacon wrapped tofu. It's delicious hot or cold. For a bento, the salty-sweet variation is particularly good. Be sure to use an extra-firm tofu.

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Bento contents:

• Baked carrot slices with miso-nut topping (230cal)
• 3/4 cups white rice (130cal)
• 1 Tbs. edamame (20cal)
• Broccoli with wasabi sauce (10cal)
• 1/2 cup Pepper and onion confit (60cal)

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

Time needed: 30-40 minutes total (20-30 the night before or earlier, 10 in the morning)

Type: Japanese, vegan, mostly make-ahead

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Bento contents:

• Mixed capellini (angel hair) and shirataki noodles, about 1 cup cappellini cooked + 1/2 cup shirataki (220 calories)
• Sweet pepper and onion confit, about 1 cup (120 calories)
• 1 1/2 wiener sausages (200 calories)
• 2 Tbs. tomato paste (25 calories)
• Broccoli florets (negligible)

Total calories (approx.): 565 calories (how calories are calculated)

Type: Japanese, novelty

Bento contents:

• 1 small piece of shiozake or salted salmon (about 150 cal)
• 1 cup brown rice (220 cal)
• A few bibb lettuce leaves (3 cal)
• _Konnyaku no tosani_, salty-sweet konnyaku with bonito flakes (about 30 cal)
• Homemade 'instant' miso soup ball (see how-to) (about 30 cal)

Total calories (approx): 435 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 5 to 10 minutes

Type: Japanese

Bento contents:

• Gyuudon with konnyaku: Beef, onions and konnyaku on simmered in a sweet-savory sauce (220cal)
• on 1 cup brown rice (220 cal)
• Blanched greens (10 cal)
• Pickled radish (5 cal)

Total calories (approx): 455 (how calories are calculated)

Time needed: 25 minutes total (15 the night before, 10 in the morning)

Type: Japanese

The top trick used here is setting aside some ingredients for a dinner dish to make the main part of this bento at the same time.