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Bento Basics |
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Recipes for Tasty Food to Go |
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by Nancy Thistlethwaite |
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In our exclusive manga preview of Aishiteruze Baby ★★! this month,
the young girl Yuzuyu goes to her first day of school without a bento, or boxed lunch. Many schools in Japan require that kids bring homemade bentos to school, and the schools even provide food-preparation guidelines.
Much thought goes into the Japanese bento. It must be nutritious, providing a balance of starch, protein, and vegetables.
The general rule is that one-half of the bento should be rice, with one-third of the remainder allocated to fish or meat,
and the remaining two-thirds to vegetables. The bento must be aesthetically pleasing, as presentation of food is very
important in Japanese culture. The bento is also a way to show affection to a spouse or child, much like a home-cooked meal in the United States. |
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"Bento Basics" by Nancy Thistlethwaite has been edited for shojobeat.com;
the complete article appears in the March 2006 issue of Shojo Beat Magazine. |
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Want more articles like this PLUS six of the most addictive shojo manga from Japan delivered to your doorstep every month—before they hit the newsstands? Click here to subscribe now! |
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