Terms of UseHow to Make Bento Explore this Article parts 1 Dividing Food Proportionally 2 Assembling Bento Boxes Other Sections Questions & Answers Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Amber Crain
Last Updated: August 10, 2025 Tested
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Amber Crain has been a member of wikiHow’s writing staff for the last six years. She graduated from the University of Houston where she majored in Classical Studies and minored in Painting. Before coming to wikiHow, she worked in a variety of industries including marketing, education, and music journalism. She's been a radio DJ for 10+ years and currently DJs a biweekly music program on the award-winning internet radio station DKFM. Her work at wikiHow supports her lifelong passion for learning and her belief that knowledge belongs to anyone who desires to seek it. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 505,229 times.
While the Japanese term "bento" roughly translates to "box lunch" in English, this is not your average packed lunch. The goal with bento is to assemble a well-balanced meal that is just as appealing to the eyes as it is to the taste buds. Start by dividing the food proportionally, then place each food in a separate compartment of your bento box. Aim for a variety of colors, flavors, and textures for an authentic experience!
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Dividing Food Proportionally
1 Buy a traditional bento box with separate compartments. Bento boxes come with compartmentalized sections that easily keep your portioned foods separate from one another. They can also help you fit your meal into a fairly compact space, making it easier to carry with you to work or school. Aim for a box with 4 separate compartments, but feel free to experiment.[1]XResearch source
Bento boxes come in a variety of sizes and may also include separate tiers, so choose the size that best suits your needs. If you plan on heating up your food, confirm that the box is made of microwave-safe material.
If you don’t want to buy something new, you can always use a regular lunch box with small airtight containers to keep the food separated.
If you’re buying a bento box for a child, look for something cute with fun colors, anime characters, or a kawaii vibe.
2 Use rice or another carbohydrate to make up 50% of the meal. Traditionally, rice serves as half of the meal in a bento box, but you can use any kind of starch you want. Go with healthy, filling carbohydrates like rice, whole grains, potatoes, pita chips, wraps, or sandwiches.
You can spoon rice directly into the compartment in the bento box or use an ice cream scoop to make rice balls for a nicer presentation.
Feel free to play around with this ratio, especially if you’re watching your carbs.
Consider daily activity when creating the main portion of the meal. A teenager who plays sports may need more carbs than an adult with a desk job.[2]X Trustworthy Source HealthyChildren.orgHealth information from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Go to source
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3 Add protein to make up 25% of the meal. Protein serves as a filling side portion and should make up about 1/4 of the bento box. More traditional bento boxes may include sushi-grade raw salmon, tuna, or whitefish, but you can go with other lean meats, hard-boiled eggs, or cottage cheese if you prefer.
You can also use tuna salad, edamame, or falafel to really mix things up. Beans, hummus, and tofu are also tasty options![3]XResearch source
It’s traditional to use 2 different proteins for each box, but you certainly don’t have to.
4 Finish with 25% vegetables and fruits. You can go with 1 vegetable as an additional side portion and include 1 fruit as the dessert, or you can use all veggies or all fruit to make up the remaining quarter of your bento box. Cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, and cucumber slices are super portable veggie options. For fruit, try orange slices, mixed berries, or apple slices.[4]XResearch source
Cut fruit and vegetables into shapes like stars, hearts, and diamonds with cookie cutters.
To sweeten things up, drizzle honey over your favorite fruits.
5 Feel free to experiment with proportions to build well-balanced meals. The traditional bento ratio is 4 parts rice, 2 parts protein, and 1-2 parts fresh veggies and fruit. However, you don’t have to make your bento boxes strictly traditional. The most important aspect of a bento box is that the meal is well-balanced overall, so just try to include something from each food group.[5]XResearch source
If you're on a special diet that requires you to maintain a certain ratio of carbs to protein to veggies/fruit, this can be a great way to measure out proportions according to that diet.
6 Choose colorful foods for visual impact. A big component of bento boxes is presentation, so try to feature an array of bold colors, like red, green, orange, and white. You can also make other tweaks to spice up the presentation, like cutting sandwiches and fruits into fun shapes and putting different textures side-by-side.[6]XResearch source
For example, a nice blend of colors might be a 50% portion of white rice for the carbohydrate, a 25% portion of green edamame for protein, and bright orange carrots and red strawberries to make up the final 25% of the meal.
Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, brightly colored foods are usually the healthiest options.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 2:
Assembling Bento Boxes
1 Pre-cook and pre-slice foods for easy assembly. Try using leftovers from dinner in your bento boxes, and keep frozen foods on hand to quickly defrost in a pinch. You can also cook large batches of rice and use it throughout the week, and pre-slice enough fresh fruit and veggies to fill up a week’s worth of bento boxes to make packing super convenient.[7]XResearch source
If your bento box is made of heat-safe material, feel free to use food that needs to be reheated!
Buying packaged foods that are already sliced or portioned can also make things easier.
2 Aim for a variety of different flavors and textures. Bento boxes are big on presentation, so choose complementary colors and interesting textures for visual impact. Try to choose flavors that work well together. Keep the edges neatly defined and don’t let clashing flavors mingle (e.g., don't put fried rice next to a pastry).[8]XResearch source
For example, citrus flavors pair well with leafy greens. Strawberries and cream cheese are very complementary. Balsamic vinegar pairs wonderfully with root vegetables.
Don’t forget to add spices when you’re packing it up to give the food a little more kick.
3 Pack the food into the compartments tightly to prevent spillage. Try to avoid leaving lots of extra space in the compartments, since the food may shift around. Put the pre-shaped and bulkiest items in first, then add more flexible food to fill the remaining space. Use small items like cherry tomatoes and broccoli florets to fill in the small gaps and keep everything tightly in place.[9]XResearch source
4 Separate wet foods from dry foods. Keep wet and dry foods in separate compartments to maintain their textures. If you want to include something liquid like a dressing or sauce, put a single-serving portion of it in a zippered plastic baggie or small plastic container and place it on top of the box right before you close it up.[10]XResearch source
Always separate liquids from dry foods to avoid transferring flavors and sogginess.
Small refillable sauce bottles made especially for bento can be purchased online.
5 Add an ice pack if you’re using spoil-prone foods in your bento box. Most bento boxes will benefit from the addition of an ice pack to keep the food fresh and unspoiled. Many commercial bento boxes come with a reusable ice pack and have a special compartment in the lid where you can position it. Otherwise, just position a reusable ice pack somewhere inside the box.[11]XResearch source
Many foods that need to be reheated should be packed with an ice pack. Any type of dairy and raw fish also require an ice pack to prevent spoilage.
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Community Q&A
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Question For the side dish, is sashimi appropriate? Michele Top Answerer It's only appropriate if you know the box will be refrigerated. Food safety rules say raw fish shouldn't sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 17
Question Would octodogs be good in a bento? Michele Top Answerer You can put anything you want in a bento box. The idea is to make it pretty and/or fun for children. Octodogs are a wonderful addition for kids. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 15
Question What kind of rice do I use?! Some videos say to use sticky rice, but others say white rice. Jerry Cat Community Answer You could use jasmine or sticky rice, depending on what your taste preferences are. If you're making onigiri (rice balls) or sushi, you have to use sticky rice. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 16
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Tips
Start with a basic bento and get fancier as you develop proficiency. If you try to make something too elaborate on the first try, it's easy to get frustrated and give up. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Let the rice (or any other hot ingredients) cool completely before closing the bento. Otherwise, the steam will condense inside the box and make the food soggy. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Try flavoring the rice by using seasonings from home or small pre-made packets called furikake which come in a variety of flavors and can be purchased at Asian markets. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Warnings
Try not to mix solid and liquid/runny foods. It will end up becoming soggy and not appetizing. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 2
Take precautions against food poisoning. Cook all the foods well and make sure the bento is stored in a cool, dry location or, preferably, a refrigerator. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Amber Crain wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Amber Crain has been a member of wikiHow’s writing staff for the last six years. She graduated from the University of Houston where she majored in Classical Studies and minored in Painting. Before coming to wikiHow, she worked in a variety of industries including marketing, education, and music journalism. She's been a radio DJ for 10+ years and currently DJs a biweekly music program on the award-winning internet radio station DKFM. Her work at wikiHow supports her lifelong passion for learning and her belief that knowledge belongs to anyone who desires to seek it. This article has been viewed 505,229 times. 29 votes - 78% Co-authors: 52Updated: August 10, 2025 Views: 505,229Article SummaryX
To make bento, you'll need a traditional bento box or a regular lunch box with small, airtight containers to keep your food separated. When you're ready to assemble your meal, first fill 50 percent of the space with rice or another carbohydrate, like whole grains, potatoes, or pita chips. Then, fill 25 percent of the box with protein, like raw fish, hard-boiled eggs, or cottage cheese. Finally, fill the remaining space with vegetables and fruit, like cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, orange slices, or mixed berries. To learn how to pack food into a bento box, scroll down!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Holly Hadley
Dec 1, 2016
"This was really helpful in impressing my friends! The whole 'make your bento colorful' and 'if you can't get a bento, use crackers or carrots' was worth doing, and was creative! If I forget how to make a bento, I will come back."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Amber Crain wikiHow Staff Writer 29 votes - 78% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 52Updated: August 10, 2025 Views: 505,229
Holly Hadley
Dec 1, 2016
"This was really helpful in impressing my friends! The whole 'make your bento colorful' and 'if you can't get a bento, use crackers or carrots' was worth doing, and was creative! If I forget how to make a bento, I will come back."..." more
Auburn
Jul 28, 2019
"This inspired me to make bentos for school! I am excited now that I know what to put in my lunch. I'm glad it is well-balanced and healthy."..." more More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Amber Crain wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Amber Crain has been a member of wikiHow’s writing staff for the last six years. She graduated from the University of Houston where she majored in Classical Studies and minored in Painting. Before coming to wikiHow, she worked in a variety of industries including marketing, education, and music journalism. She's been a radio DJ for 10+ years and currently DJs a biweekly music program on the award-winning internet radio station DKFM. Her work at wikiHow supports her lifelong passion for learning and her belief that knowledge belongs to anyone who desires to seek it. This article has been viewed 505,229 times. 29 votes - 78% Co-authors: 52 Updated: August 10, 2025 Views: 505,229 Article SummaryX
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. 
491 
1 Buy a traditional bento box with separate compartments. Bento boxes come with compartmentalized sections that easily keep your portioned foods separate from one another. They can also help you fit your meal into a fairly compact space, making it easier to carry with you to work or school. Aim for a box with 4 separate compartments, but feel free to experiment.[1] 
2 Use rice or another carbohydrate to make up 50% of the meal. Traditionally, rice serves as half of the meal in a bento box, but you can use any kind of starch you want. Go with healthy, filling carbohydrates like rice, whole grains, potatoes, pita chips, wraps, or sandwiches. 
3 Add protein to make up 25% of the meal. Protein serves as a filling side portion and should make up about 1/4 of the bento box. More traditional bento boxes may include sushi-grade raw salmon, tuna, or whitefish, but you can go with other lean meats, hard-boiled eggs, or cottage cheese if you prefer. 
4 Finish with 25% vegetables and fruits. You can go with 1 vegetable as an additional side portion and include 1 fruit as the dessert, or you can use all veggies or all fruit to make up the remaining quarter of your bento box. Cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, and cucumber slices are super portable veggie options. For fruit, try orange slices, mixed berries, or apple slices.[4] 
5 Feel free to experiment with proportions to build well-balanced meals. The traditional bento ratio is 4 parts rice, 2 parts protein, and 1-2 parts fresh veggies and fruit. However, you don’t have to make your bento boxes strictly traditional. The most important aspect of a bento box is that the meal is well-balanced overall, so just try to include something from each food group.[5] 
6 Choose colorful foods for visual impact. A big component of bento boxes is presentation, so try to feature an array of bold colors, like red, green, orange, and white. You can also make other tweaks to spice up the presentation, like cutting sandwiches and fruits into fun shapes and putting different textures side-by-side.[6] 
1 Pre-cook and pre-slice foods for easy assembly. Try using leftovers from dinner in your bento boxes, and keep frozen foods on hand to quickly defrost in a pinch. You can also cook large batches of rice and use it throughout the week, and pre-slice enough fresh fruit and veggies to fill up a week’s worth of bento boxes to make packing super convenient.[7] 
2 Aim for a variety of different flavors and textures. Bento boxes are big on presentation, so choose complementary colors and interesting textures for visual impact. Try to choose flavors that work well together. Keep the edges neatly defined and don’t let clashing flavors mingle (e.g., don't put fried rice next to a pastry).[8] 
3 Pack the food into the compartments tightly to prevent spillage. Try to avoid leaving lots of extra space in the compartments, since the food may shift around. Put the pre-shaped and bulkiest items in first, then add more flexible food to fill the remaining space. Use small items like cherry tomatoes and broccoli florets to fill in the small gaps and keep everything tightly in place.[9] 
Michele Top Answerer It's only appropriate if you know the box will be refrigerated. Food safety rules say raw fish shouldn't sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 17 
Jerry Cat Community Answer You could use jasmine or sticky rice, depending on what your taste preferences are. If you're making onigiri (rice balls) or sushi, you have to use sticky rice. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 16