Bento Box for grownups?

[wellyes]

I saw the deal on laptoplunches.com in the Bargains thread and I really want one!! But for me! I'm just not sure that particular brand is big enough for a grownup.... I know it's very popular in the preschool set.

Can anyone recommend an adult-appropriate bento box?

I'm also a little nervous about the plastic. I know that that brand uses #5 which is supposed to be safe, but I'd still not want to microwave it or dishwash it.

I guess I'd like a slightly bigger glass or stainless steel bento box. Does such a thing exist or am I dreaming?

[TonFirst]

I am drawing a blank with what they're called, but are you familiar with the stainless steel stacking food canisters that are ubiquitous in India? Tiffin boxes, maybe? Like this:

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/togo-ware®-2tier-stainless-steel-food-carrier-p-669.html

[Zansu]

They're called tiffins (thank you Gordon Ramsey!). I think I just saw a set in the C&B catalog

[wellyes]

It's funny that you wrote that because right after I posted I did some additional Googling and found tiffins right then! And I'd love on. So far, I'm finding a lot of options but very little in the US. The Crate & Barrell is melamine (!?!) for some unknown reason.

This site looks promising: http://www.to-goware.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=4

But I'd still love any other ideas!

[kristenk]

I've actually used a laptop lunch bento box for my own lunch before and it worked well. When I send DD to preschool with her box, I remove one of the larger containers and put a juice box in there. For me, I'd keep the drink out of the box itself. You can actually fit a whole lot of food in one with creative packing.

[KrisM]

I like this blog:
http://lunchinabox.net/2007/03/07/guide-to-choosing-the-right-size-bento-box/

And she has a recommended size chart. According to the chart, you need about 600 ml. The Laptop with 2 large and 2 small containers is 710 ml. You might be surprised that it is enough!

[wellyes]

Great link, thanks!

I ordered the Laptop Lunchbox and am all excited about the possibilities. I *hate* packing lunch and end up buying every day which is $7-$9 per day ---- TOO MUCH!! So this is a fun new project for me.

[dhano923]

I didn't see this thread the first time around, but I use bento boxes for my lunches and my DS's lunches. I have several different ones in different sizes. For examples, I'll use a smaller 3 compartment one for his lunch and pack a cut up sandwich on one side and some grapes and cheese in the others. Or I'll use a small one to pack a fruit salad with a mini fork in it. For my lunches, I have larger bentos with 2-3 compartments, as well as the 2 compartment stacking type. I'll do rice or pasta in the larger, bottom compartment with a salad in the top, smaller compartment.

Examples of what I have: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lunchinabox/157505737/
In this pic, I have the large black one for DH's lunches, and the 2 smaller vive ones for DS (although I'll use them too).

I have a large 600ml Vive box for myself, and a slightly smaller one, I think 450ml, but it's not Vive brand. It's more rectangle than square. I also have a couple square bentos I found at a japanese dollar store when I went to Singapore last year, and we use those for fruit and salads (they are cold-food boxes so nothing hot). At the same store I picked up a ton of bento supplies too -- the green plastic grass stuff to keep foods from touching, cupcake liner type things to hold fried/oily foods so the food doesn't get soggy, mini plastic spoons and forks (like 3 inches long), mini sauce containers to hold ketchup, soy sauce, etc. I was like a kid in a candy store there! I replenish my stock at a local Asian market that carries some bento items.

I personally find it fun to pack bentos -- I don't do anything elaborate, but I like making the food look neat and organized.

[elliput]

I saw tiffins (http://www.worldmarket.com/Stainless-Steel-Tiffin-Tin/lev/4/productId/8304/Ntt/tiffin/Ntx/mode+matchallpartial/Ntk/Def/N/0/Nty/1/Ssr/Y/index.pro) at World Market. You might check there if you are near one.

[infomama]

This guy's site is full of good info and the bento boxes he does for his kids are totally cute (check out his flicker pages) http://www.amekobento.com/about/

He suggests this one... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000246GSE?ie=UTF8&tag=ameben-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000246GSE