Boxed Lunch (2004-06-06)
Boxed lunch called Obento ("O" is an honorific term added to the word which is used in some situations) is much more than food brought to school, work or outing. It represents a unique side of the Japanese culture. Many women quit work right after they get married and the first task of being a good wife or mother is to be able to make colorful, appealing and delicious bento. Bento a salaryman brings to work meticulously prepared by his wife could be a show-off piece that evokes oohs and aahs from colleagues. Such boxed lunch even has its own name called Aisai Bento ( Beloved Wife Boxed Lunch). One way a girlfriend shows how much she loves her boyfriend is to make him a bento and wrap it in a pretty cloth. When a highschool girl makes such a bento and gives it to an unsuspected fellow classmate, it's as good as saying "I really like you."
There are many books in bookstores teaching people the art of making
boxed lunch. A good bento should have at least three colors
(excluding white color from rice). It is especially important for
kids' bento to look as attractive as possible as they are more likely
to eat cute and colorful food. Also mothers do not want their
children's bento to appear second-rated and bland compared to the
others' in the class. My girlfriend has neither the time nor
patience to cook. So when she has to prepare a bento for her son
on his school's sport's day; instead of making a simple bento, she
always buys one in a supermarket or department store and transfer the
contents to her son's lunchbox so he'll have a presentable boxed lunch
and not lose face among other classmates. The rest of the school
days she takes a sigh of relief when her son eats lunch prepared by the
school.
I prepare a bento for KL everyday. Apart from being the
"Beloved Wife", it is simply much more economical and healthier to make
your own. Who wants to eat out every single day anyway?
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