Simply Bento by Yuko Yagi, Noriko Yura

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

From the creators of Japanese Cooking 101, Simply Bento is a complete collection of nearly 100 delicious and healthy bento recipes for everyone in the family. 

Ready to make lunch quick, easy, and delicious? Traditional Japanese bento boxes are single-portion packed lunches usually made with things like steamed rice, vegetables, and sushi, and they have long been one of the main pillars of Japanese cuisine.

Today, bento boxes have become hugely popular in both the East and West, creating a fusion of incredible flavor combinations. Simply Bento features nearly 100 healthy, delicious bento recipes you can make for every day of the week using a combination of traditional and non-traditional ingredients! Learn the essential components for a bento box, how to assemble your box, and the everyday items you will need in your pantry.

Simply Bento comes to you from the creators of the popular site Japanese Cooking 101, and shows you the finer points of making:10-Minute BentoNoodle BentoLow-Carb BentoVegan BentoSandwich BentoPopular Japanese BentoMake-ahead BentoSo if you're in the mood for Teriyaki Chicken, Ramen, Avocado Pasta Salad, Cauliflower Fried Rice, Falafel, Tempura, or Chicken Nugget for the kids, then Simply Bento has the bento recipes for all of them and more!

My thoughts-

While there have been some improvements to public school lunches since the 80's and 90's while I was in school, I still think they have a long way to go before they get anywhere near the healthy meals I would want my kids buying at school, so my kids take their lunch. Packing kid lunches you can still fall in the trap of unhealthy foods as well, so I am always looking for new ideas on healthy lunch choices. The Japanese food art of bento has always interested me, but I have never found a book like this that breaks down the history and art of it. I love that there are plenty of traditional Japanese options in the book, but that there are also some Americanized ideas as well. There are intricate lunches that might take some time and effort to make, but there are some that would be quicker to throw together. I also love that these are meals my husband and kids would enjoy, and that they are healthy choices for all of them but will still be tasty and flavorful. I recommend this book to anyone looking to up their lunch game or just wanting to learn more about Japanese food culture.