Post: #1

I wanted to share some knowledge on something that could help a lot of guys stay healthy. In Japan, there's something called a bento - a prepared lunch box. This will contain good meats (salmon, fish, pork, etc.), as well as a variety of vegetables, and some rice. Where I am, I can get one at my local Japanese market for about 10 dollars, which is a bit pricey to me but I consider it to be worth the cost.

Because: It is impossible to get fat on eating these. What's more, they contain plenty of protein.





Put another way, if you eat a Japanese bento for lunch every day, you're probably eating healthier than anyone else around you, at least for lunch. These are full of good foods. There's enough of it to feel full, but not so much that you feel bloated.

In Japan, pretty much everyone eats these. They are an integral part of how Japanese people are so fit and healthy. The younger guys, while thin, have good muscle tone. They are fit and, while not ripped, toned at least. They eat plenty of meats, but also vegetables. The difference is that Japanese people do not eat (much) processed food or have much sugar. Though this is changing slowly - the Western diet is creeping in.

I really recommend that guys give bento lunches a try. They're a great way to keep fit and healthy, and not feel tired after lunch. They are a bit pricey, but they are really delicious and healthy, so to me it'd be worth it.

If you get one, make sure that it's from an authentic Japanese market/restaurant. The ones made by Chinese/Koreans will generally be greasy and not that good or healthy. Japanese preparers will make sure that they're stocked with good meats and vegetables.

Bon appetit.

Post: #2

I eat these probably 3x a week. They look a lot more like your first pic than your second, and come with a container of miso soup. I love 'em

Post: #3

These are a great alternative to the fast food in malls and food courts.

I used to date a japanese girl many moons ago and this is what she made for me each day.
I never ate so good.

Post: #4

I second the healthiness potential of eating bentos, but the cost will add up quickly. A lot of the food in that bento could be prepared easily and cheaply.

For example, 1 head of cabbage will make a week's worth of boiled cabbage of that portion size. (1$)
A pack of chicken thighs will be 5 pounds, and can easily make a week's worth of the karaage chicken (7$)
Salmon costs 6$ a pound, and a pound could easily make a week's worth of filets of those size (6$)
Pork belly costs 3$ a pound, and a pound could easily make 2 weeks worth of that portion (3$)
The cost of rice is almost marginal and should be 1$ a week (1$)

So basically, the cost of cooking will reduce your bento expenses to 18$ per week, or the price of about 2 bentos

Post: #5

(11-06-2014 02:20 AM)edtf Wrote:  I second the healthiness potential of eating bentos, but the cost will add up quickly. A lot of the food in that bento could be prepared easily and cheaply.

For example, 1 head of cabbage will make a week's worth of boiled cabbage of that portion size. (1$)
A pack of chicken thighs will be 5 pounds, and can easily make a week's worth of the karaage chicken (7$)
Salmon costs 6$ a pound, and a pound could easily make a week's worth of filets of those size (6$)
Pork belly costs 3$ a pound, and a pound could easily make 2 weeks worth of that portion (3$)
The cost of rice is almost marginal and should be 1$ a week (1$)

So basically, the cost of cooking will reduce your bento expenses to 18$ per week, or the price of about 2 bentos

Technically you're correct. If it were me making the bento lunches, however, I would probably fuck it up. I would be too lazy one week to make them. Or I would put too much meat in, and not enough vegetables. Resultingly, my entire week's lunches would be off, and my nutrition and energy levels as a result.

I think that the main thing for me is to not let attempting to be perfect become the enemy of being good. That is, yes, these things are expensive and you can make them yourself, but if realistically that's not really going to happen, then I'll pay the extra money for the peace of mind that I have a secured, steady source of healthy lunches for the week - by just buying them at the store.

Post: #6

I used to buy all my lunches and dinners for about 10$ each. But after I started weightlifting, my appetite has gone through the roof and I need to spend 20$ a meal if I want to eat out and feel full. So in the end I learned how to cook, even though I screwed up one or two times, but it was worth it. 20$ a meal is like 40$ a day, which is $14,400 spent on food per year. Now that I'm cooking, I'm only spending 20-30$ a week on the same portions, so I'm saving almost $13,000 a year.

Post: #7

I eat rice with different side dishes everyday. I like rice because it keeps my stomach full for a while compare to flour based meals.

I eat it as a breakfast too. I can't understand how someone can start their day with just some cereal and bread. (or coffee with a bagel) That's an asian thing.

The thing is most Americans think Rice= Carbs Oh No! I don't want to get into arguments with those people. I just tell them Look at asian people. Only americanized ones are fat. Those skinny ones are eating 3 bowls of rice with bunch of side dishes Everyday.

I recommend getting a rice cooker.(rice is really cheap) Buy side dishes from asian market and make your own bento on a plate.

Post: #8

Sebastian, do you usually have white rice or brown rice?

Post: #9

(11-06-2014 06:28 AM)Yeti Wrote:  Technically you're correct. If it were me making the bento lunches, however, I would probably fuck it up. I would be too lazy one week to make them. Or I would put too much meat in, and not enough vegetables. Resultingly, my entire week's lunches would be off, and my nutrition and energy levels as a result.

These things do look tasty. I eat similar but with a Mediterranean style pack (olives, cheese, tapas stuff) when I get caught out and need to buy lunch. Knocks the socks off the mechanically-reclaimed meat stuffed greasy pasties that everyone else buys. However, why are you so convinced these exact bento lunches are perfect for your nutritional needs? I don't see that making them yourself would throw your nutrition and energy levels off- quite the opposite. You'd add in some extra stuff for more benefits- pickled garlic for instance.

If you're convinced that they're what you need, day in, day out (nothing wrong with that, all I ever eat for breakfast is scrambled egg with garlic and fish) then I would check out the use by date on them, work out how many you can take at once, and approach the wholesaler direct. I used to do this with pots of cous-cous and salads. Big savings, and the convenience as well. Don't even need to stop at the store every morning.

Post: #10

Roberto, that's a really good idea. Thanks.

As for your question, I'm not convinced that they're perfect for my needs. But I am not going to ingest the perfect combination of foods to maximize my nutrition, day in and day out. I'm not trying to be perfect. The peace of mind that comes from eating bento lunches (I sound like such a grandmother) is that I know that I will be eating high-quality, healthy lunches, every day - that's good enough for me. Even if it's not perfect.

Post: #11

I've been eating white rice whole life but changed recently to half/half due to hair loss issues.

Brown rice itself is hard to eat so I recommend half/half.

Asian stores should carry mixed rice in a bag. It only costs $15~20 for a big bag.

(11-07-2014 05:56 AM)Yeti Wrote:  Sebastian, do you usually have white rice or brown rice?

Post: #12

(11-07-2014 05:10 PM)Sebastian Wrote:  I've been eating white rice whole life but changed recently to half/half due to hair loss issues.

Brown rice itself is hard to eat so I recommend half/half.

Asian stores should carry mixed rice in a bag. It only costs $15~20 for a big bag.

(11-07-2014 05:56 AM)Yeti Wrote:  Sebastian, do you usually have white rice or brown rice?

Brown rice helps prevent hair loss?

Post: #13

(11-07-2014 05:10 PM)Sebastian Wrote:  I've been eating white rice whole life but changed recently to half/half due to hair loss issues.

What does white rice have to do with hair loss issues?

Post: #14

There's no health benefit to brown rice. There are minerals in the husk, but it also contains phytic acid which binds to some of those minerals so your body doesn't take it in. If you ate brown rice as your major carb every day, you would be in danger of deficiencies. Eating it some of the time won't harm you, but there's no reason to seek it out. Eat white rice for the easy uptake energy, basically neutral calories, and get your nutrients elsewhere.

Post: #15

(11-07-2014 06:49 PM)RawGod Wrote:  There's no health benefit to brown rice. There are minerals in the husk, but it also contains phytic acid which binds to some of those minerals so your body doesn't take it in. If you ate brown rice as your major carb every day, you would be in danger of deficiencies. Eating it some of the time won't harm you, but there's no reason to seek it out. Eat white rice for the easy uptake energy, basically neutral calories, and get your nutrients elsewhere.

RawGod, what about genmai? Japanese brown rice with protein supplement.

That always seemed crazy nutritious to me.

Post: #16

(11-07-2014 07:12 PM)Yeti Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 06:49 PM)RawGod Wrote:  There's no health benefit to brown rice. There are minerals in the husk, but it also contains phytic acid which binds to some of those minerals so your body doesn't take it in. If you ate brown rice as your major carb every day, you would be in danger of deficiencies. Eating it some of the time won't harm you, but there's no reason to seek it out. Eat white rice for the easy uptake energy, basically neutral calories, and get your nutrients elsewhere.

RawGod, what about genmai? Japanese brown rice with protein supplement.

That always seemed crazy nutritious to me.

I think genmai is a bit of a health fad. I like the taste, and the texture of brown rice in general. But I wouldn't eat it exclusively or make an effort to eat it regularly.

No traditional culture eats brown rice as a staple, even though it's considerably easier to do so than to refine it. In Africa, tribes who eat a lot of brown rice ferment it first. They know what they are doing. In unfermented brown rice, the phytic acid and fibrous bran combine to make the perfect pathway to remove a lot of the beneficial minerals.

Post: #17

When someone is going through hair loss, we first talk about changing diet which includes things like no smoking, no processed food, less meats and eating natural foods. Eating brown rice always comes up as one of doctor's recommendation.

They say hair loss rate is increasing in asian people due to more Westernized foods.

Of course, if you eat greasy foods regularly and decide to eat brown rice sometimes, nothing will happen.
(like a fat chick had a froyo and she thinks she will be ok)
I eat rice 2~3 times a day so switching from white rice to brown rice would be helpful I believe.

I kept losing hair despite of using propecia and rogaine.
I added bunch of supplements and healthier foods to my diet.

I am not losing hair anymore except normal loss.

(11-07-2014 06:14 PM)kerouac Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 05:10 PM)Sebastian Wrote:  I've been eating white rice whole life but changed recently to half/half due to hair loss issues.

What does white rice have to do with hair loss issues?