When I ordered my first bento, I got it and was like “Huh! This is a small (beep) box!) In my last post, I posted my red bento with measurements. It’s about 6 inches wide and 4 inches tall. So you’re probably thinking, um, I’m an American how’s that gonna fill me up? Well, much to the credit of the Japanese, who know how to get the most out of space, there’s a science to how it should be packed.
Before I get into details, I’m going to give some background on food nutrition via Japan.
In 2005, the powers that be in Japan, figured people were getting too fat, girls too skinny and people too reliant on foreign foods as well as just an overall breakdown in how to eat properly. So, they enacted a law called Shokuiku. Shokuiku is “the acquisition of knowledge about food as well as the ability to make appropriate food choices,” according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
An excerpt from “What is Shokuiku”:
Some might criticize that eating is such a personal thing that government shouldn’t regulate by a law. However, Japanese situation over food has already reached to a crisis point, and that a law had to be enacted in order to address these issues.
Let us first examine the nutritional balance issue. The Japanese dietary pattern, which consists of rice as a staple, combined with a variety of other food, such as fish, meat, vegetables, fruits and milk, was formulated by around 1980. This dietary pattern was well- balanced from nutritional point of view. However, today we find that the ideal dietary pattern has been totally eroded, especially among males in their thirties to sixties of age group who tend to consume excessive amounts of fat. According to the National Health and Nutrition survey in fiscal year 2003, about 30 percent of males in thirties to sixties of age group are overweight, and in all age groups, except for the twenties, overweight male is increasing.
Meanwhile, excessive desire with acquiring a slim figure “the skinnier, the better” is becoming widespread mainly among young females, due to cultural influences from television and magazines, and has become a social issue.
I think it’s kind of funny that a government could actually “impose” proper eating habits on its citizens. I haven’t been there since 1999, so I wonder if there are ‘diet’ police walking around, watching people as they eat. “Excuse me sir, but please step away from the tempura. You’re five pieces over the limit.”
And then MAFF went about developing intensive nationwide programs, educating people on dietary guidelines. Their aim in creating Shokuiku is the follow:
- Helping people to enjoy a healthy diet.
- Promoting people’s understanding on agriculture, forestry, fishery and food industry.
- Perpetuation of traditional food culture and
- Providing information on food safety.
In addition to the guidelines, they created a visual food guide to bring home da law. The Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top is similar in concept to the American version of the food pyramid. It illustrates the recommended daily servings and serving quantities. The MAFF considers their guide to be unique because “recommendations are illustrated and explained using specific dishes.”
Brings to mind Weight Watcher’s points and the Atkins diet book. Hmm. So how does this all get incorporated in a bento?
According to the Spinning guide, bentos are to be packed to a 3:1:2 ratio. 3 parts grain, 1 part protein and 2 parts vegetables. If you follow the guide, then you also would have to pack a bento according to your age and weight. For example, I’m 36 and average height, so I should choose a bento that holds about 600 ml(20 oz). I’ve read that if I wanted to lose weight, I probably would consider a 500 ml size bento. The Mr. Bento is for men, which is has four bowls, 15.2, 10.1, 9.5, and 6.8 ounces. The Ms. Bento’s two bowls are 11.8 ounces for the main bowl and the side bowl is 10.5 ounces. Therefore, I was overeating when I was using my Mr. Bento. Arrrgh!
I couldn’t find an English picture, but pink is for women and blue for men.(Funny how somethings are the same around the world.) And the columns are the same as the English explanation of the spinning guide. So, a woman between the ages of 18 to 69 could consume 5-7 servings of grains, 5-6 servings of vegatables, 3-5 servings of meats or fish, and two servings a piece of milk/dairy and fruits daily.*
*If you see an error, then let me know. Thx 
Guide-shmide! Show me the food!
I looked around for some examples for 3:1:2 practice and here’s what I found. Check back in the week to see what I’ve started to do. Thanks for reading!!!
This is from Lunch in Box:
From Today’s Bento:
And from Obento-Obento
