If you follow me on any of my various social media pages (ie Facebook, Twitter & Instagram) you may have seen me register my excitement when a very special book arrived in the post for me recently. The book is called Everyday Bento, and was written by one of my favourite bento bloggers; Wendy Copley, who blogs over at Wendolonia. As you can probably guess from the title, this book is all about bento, which is obviously right up my street!
Knowing Wendy's blog, I thought that the book would likely contain lots of lovely pictures of bento lunches, and it certainly does, but there is much more to it than that. There are 50 creative lunches in the book, and every single one has step by step instructions for each lunch, with clear photos showing each step, and a full size picture of the finished masterpiece. The lunches are all gorgeous - really creative, but simple to put together too, showing that bento really is something that absolutely anyone can turn their hand to.
What I really like about this book is that uses mostly ordinary English/American foods rather than the traditional Japanese foods that you usually find in bento lunches, making it much more accessible to the standard lunch packer here in the UK. Wendy is American, so a few of the foods she uses may not be so readily available here, but the great thing about bento is that you can just change and adapt it to suit yourself - anything goes!
I decided to try out one of the lunches from the book, taking inspiration from the recipe but adapting it to suit our tastes and using what I had to hand that day, and I was really pleased with the result. I used a 'proper' two tier Japanese bento box as Small Child had requested it for one of his lunches this week (we came across a forgotten stash of bento goodies when I was attempting to clear out a cupboard the other day and he was really excited to find this box again). I really enjoyed having direct inspiration from the book - it made it very easy for me to make a beautiful lunch without having to come up with new ideas or think too hard about it!
In the lunch Small Child had a simple pasta salad, which I made using space themed pasta (replacing the star pasta in the book), finely chopped yellow pepper and carrot (the carrot replaced the red pepper in the book) and a simple dressing, which I made by combining a splash of olive oil and white wine vinegar. I cut some tiny stars from the pepper and carrot using a mini bento cutter, and sprinkled them on top. I started filling the second tier of the box as per the book - cutting some stars from cucumber and digging out a star shaped silicone cup to use, but then I went my own way, replacing the sandwiches with some shredded ham (jazzed up with rocket picks) and a mini Babybel cheese, which I decorated by cutting a star from the wax.
I added an apple and a reusable food pouch to the lunch, and popped it all his lunch bag along with some mini bento cutlery, which fitted nicely in the top tier of the bento box. I also used a silicone band around the box to hold it shut.
Small Child was absolutely delighted with this lunch, and ate every last bit of it. He has really enjoyed looking through the book with me and was pleased to have his own version of one of the lunches from it. He wants me to make the building bricks bento next!
As well as the lunches, the book has lots of other helpful features including a food idea list, a list of foods by colour (invaluable for helping design a balanced and beautiful lunch) and several pages introducing basic techniques and tools. I think that this book is perfect for both beginners and seasoned lunch packers – I’ve been making bento style lunches myself for nearly two years but I’ve found plenty of new ideas in the book to inspire me all over again. The lunches are arranged in sections, including 'Bentos for Busy Mornings' (ideal for beginners) and 'Extra-Special Bentos' which might take a little more time to make. There is even a section for grown-ups - who says children should get all the fun!
In short, if you need to pack lunches for yourself or for your children, then this book is the perfect place to find a wealth of inspiration. It would make a lovely gift too!
You can order the book direct from Amazon UK by clicking on the picture below, or if you're in the US click here to order from Amazon.com.
Emma Lander says
wow what an amazing book with 50 recipes!! If I could get one lunch looking as good as any of yours it would be an achievement 🙂
Lisa says
This looks like a great book. I'd love to win it xx
Tracy Nixon says
There are 50 thank you!
Victoria Mylittlel says
50 is the answer
thebeesleybuzz says
50 creative lunches! They look amazing. (Rebecca Beesley as Rafflecopter name) x
Cheryl says
Your lunches always look amazing. I honestly don't think I could come up with such fun ideas on my own.
Emma smith says
There is 50 cute recipes in this book!! ❤️
Nisha Jacob says
Wow 50 lovely bento lunches to be inspired from! Would love to win the giveaway xx
Claire says
There are 50 cute recipes, all of which I would love to try <3
Clare Wood says
Would love his book for inspiration!
kim neville says
50 lunches
Gina M says
There are 50.
Looks like a great book too.
Meredith Robinson says
There are 50 awesome recipes.
Liz Burton says
50! Great book.
Victoria Frail says
WOW. I am dying for this book with 50 ideas, just what I need for daddy and baby's lunches! We are just starting baby led weaning and I think this is a great way to keep attention on packed lunches when we are out and about
Deborah May says
There are 50 lunches. Book looks fabulous.
Fiona Morris says
My almost 5 yr old eats a lot of fruit, veggies in disguise, and only crunchy, dry textures. Your amazing blog is inspirational, and I'm trying to gradually introduce my son to new textures, small steps!!
Emma says
50 fab recipes! Thanks again for the inspiration!
Ella says
50 lunches, and they look fantastic! Love your Star Lunch today!
Kylie says
50 recipes
Lisa Tulak says
Awesome! Thanks for the chance to win. Good luck to everyone <3
Lisa Tulak says
Opps 50 lunches 🙂
Valerya says
50 wonderful recipes and step by step instructions for each? I'm in love!
Leah S. says
There are 50!
Melinda says
The Book Looks so amazing< like the layout. My soon to be 11 yr. old can look at it and put together her own lunches now, instead of me telling her what she could put in her lunch. Thanks for giving us Moms a chance to Win one of you Fab tab u los books.
Sharon says
I've had a few false starts with bento and would love to give it another go! This book looks amazing.
Petit Mom says
50 yummy and creative ideas 😀
Rebecca Phillips says
50 🙂
bloggermummylauren says
The answer is 50
Looks like a fab book. My daughter starts school in September and is an awful fussy eater, I know she is going to refuse school meals so I'm looking at Bento as a way of giving her an exciting lunch x
Michelle says
50 Lunches
Leanne Lunn says
50 Recipes
Shay Noble says
There are 50 x
Anamika Awasthy says
50 creative lunches and hopefully some inspiration for my picky 3 yr old! Thank you for the chance!!
Elizabeth says
50 cute and yummy lunches! I would love to win this book - I regularly check out Wendy's blog for inspiration!
Tristin wildstein says
Very cool! I'd love to start trying these out!
Tristin wildstein says
Oh, and there are 50!
Emma says
There are 50 lunches (and they look fab!)
Jodi says
50 delicious ideas for inspiration!
Ruth Davies Knowles (@rocknrollerbaby) says
50
Elizabeth says
There are 50 ideas. I would love to win this book - my children asked for packed lunches last October and I bought them Bento boxes. Sometimes I get creative with them, but mostly they just get sandwiches! This book looks like it's filled with inspiration!
Kelly Wiffin says
There are 50
Wottawally @ Legal Lunches says
Oooo, I have seen this book on Amazon and was in 2 minds about pre-ordering. Great to see a review!
Kate Williams says
There are 50 🙂
Tanya Camilleri says
There are 50 x
kellyjo walters says
50 🙂
Mama Owl says
There are 50! Fingers crossed 🙂
Naomi jones says
50 - looks like a fantastic book
Rachel Simons says
there are 50. Wow love this book
Erica Price says
50 lunches so plenty to choose from.
Suzanne says
A fab giveaway and another great lunch! The book must be good if it can still give you ideas.
Cheryl says
There are fifty creative lunches. Would love to win this book.
Jenny says
50, this looks brilliant!
Jenny says
I have no idea how to find out the url of a post of FB so I just entered my FB name although I did share it - sorry!
Shannon says
50 lunches!
dosirakbento says
Looks like 50 great inspirational lunches!
Stacey says
Excellent adaptation of the bento from the book! It shows that you can get far more than 50 bentos from it!
Stephie says
I would love to make all these 50 recipes, it's so inspiring!
xoxo, Stephie
Michaela Turner says
50 lunches
Dawn says
There are 50
Emma TheMiniMesAndMe says
There are 50 great lunches featured and I'd love to try them!
Colette B says
50 lunches x
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One says
There are 50 and I really need some inspiration with school starting in September!
Rachel says
50
We don't get Bento boxes here in South Africa yet but I can still use the help of this book with ideas for my pre schoolers aftercare lunch
Gemma Summersby says
50 🙂 Fab prize x
TheBoyandMe says
There are over 50.
Sarah says
50--and from the looks of the pictures you posted, they are amazing! 🙂
Mandy says
There are 50 and they all look incredible. Gorgeous photos, would love to win as lunchboxes cause me regular headaches!!
Galina V says
50.
What a fun book!
Rachel Martin says
Just what I have been looking for!! What an amazing lady and book! Would love this! And so would my fussy boys!
Kate Davies says
50 fab recipes 🙂
Jada Lewendon says
A pretty amazing 50 recipes, I am struggling with five to get me through one week! x
champaklal lad says
there are 50 great book
Tracey Peach says
There are 50 Lunches
Miss. Lucinda Fountain says
There are fifty creative recipies inside this amazing book!
Thanks so much for the giveaway x
otilia says
50 🙂
Em @ snowingindoors says
50 creative lunches
chantelle hazelden (mamamummymum) says
50 recipes!! great book, I don't have the most creative mind so this would definitely be helpful!! #triedtested
Jade Pirard (Late For Reality) says
I absolutely love the look of this book! 50 Creative lunches (For competition entry) Great job putting this together I love the photography xx
Pippa Ainsworth says
50 lunches, this looks exactly what I need to get started with Bento #TriedTested
My Life As A Mummy says
There are 50! I love the look of this book! This would be perfect for Cameron's lunches for when he starts school!
Laura x x x
#TriedTested
Hannah says
Ohhhhhhh such wonderful ideas! I'd love this!
Emma says
It is 50 🙂
This book looks amazing, hope I win (crossing fingers and toes)
Emma
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One says
Love the look of this #TriedTested
Hazel Christopher says
50 recipes 🙂
Naomi says
Its 50 Cute and yummy lunches to go ☺
Would be fantastic for all my family ☺ especially my eldest daughter who is diabetic and eating all her lunch is a must. Can see it making things a whole lot easier. Going to cross everything lol
Naomi xx
Gillian Holmes says
50
Lu Ryan says
50 lunches my kids would love.
Super Busy Mum {Debs} says
50! I need this book in my life, lol. Looks so fabulous.
Clansi says
My mother in law says that a recipe book only needs one or two recipies to be a "good one". I'd bet that more than 2 of the 50 in this book are keepers!
My Two Mums says
This looks like a great little book. I'm looking for more inspiration, so shall have to check it out. Thanks.