The March Bento of the Month Contest theme is "Cost: How Low Can You Go?" The winner will receive the three-tier Windax picnic bento box pictured here. Contest and prize details here at Lunch in a Box.

Other forum highlights include a cheese character tutorial by PikaMama:

Lunch in a Box has moved to lunchinabox.net   Come join us over there for the full entries, and be sure to check out the Bento FAQ or the Top Tips page!

Make learning chopsticks with disposable chopsticks and a rubber band. Full post with a review of Edison learning chopsticks and Fun Chop gadget is here at Lunch in a Box.

Lunch in a Box has moved to lunchinabox.net   Come join us over there for the full entries, and be sure to check out the Bento FAQ or the Top Tips page!

Guest blogger Amorette (Sakurako Kitsa) wrote a tutorial on making "edible paint" for decorative bento lunches. Read the full post at Lunch in a Box.

Lunch in a Box has moved to lunchinabox.net   Come join us over there for the full entries, and be sure to check out the Bento FAQ or the Top Tips page!

Guest blogger Amorette (Sakurako Kitsa) wrote a step-by-step guide to creating an exact duplicate of a design on food for a decorative bento lunch. Read the full post at Lunch in a Box.

Lunch in a Box has moved to lunchinabox.net   Come join us over there for the full entries, and be sure to check out the Bento FAQ or the Top Tips page!

Guest blogger Amorette (Sakurako Kitsa) wrote a step-by-step guide to wrapping up a bento lunch in the "purse tie" with a furoshiki carrying cloth. Read the full post at Lunch in a Box.

Lunch in a Box has moved to lunchinabox.net   Come join us over there for the full entries, and be sure to check out the Bento FAQ or the Top Tips page!

Guest blogger Amorette (Sakurako Kitsa) wrote a step-by-step tutorial for using ice cube trays to make speedy sushi. Read the full post at Lunch in a Box.

Lunch in a Box has moved to lunchinabox.net   Come join us over there for the full entries, and be sure to check out the Bento FAQ or the Top Tips page!

Guest blogger Amorette (Sakurako Kitsa) wrote about outsmarting seafood allergies, and an inventive step-by-step tutorial on how to make fake fish eggs for trompe l'oeuil sushi without seafood. Read the full post at Lunch in a Box.

Lunch in a Box has moved to lunchinabox.net   Come join us over there for the full entries, and be sure to check out the Bento FAQ page!

Guest blogger Amorette (Sakurako Kitsa) writes about using colored egg whites in decorative food art bentos. Read the full post here at Lunch in a Box.

Lunch in a Box has moved to lunchinabox.net   Come join us over there for the full entries, and be sure to check out the Bento FAQ page!

A recipe and step-by-step tutorial for making Spam musubi sushi is here at Lunch in a Box

 

Lunch in a Box has moved to lunchinabox.net   Come join us over there for the full entries, and be sure to check out the Bento FAQ page!

I finally wrote a bento FAQ on Lunch in a Box to answer the following questions; have a look and let me know if I've missed anything major.

THE BASICS

• What is "bento"? Is it the style of packing? Is it the box? Is it the food?
• What's the benefit of packing a bento-style lunch? Is it healthier?
• What should I put in it? Aren't bento lunches filled with Japanese food?
• Are there packing rules? How do I pack a bento lunch?
• Doesn't it take a long time to make a bento lunch? How can I speed things up?
• Wait, I thought bento lunches looked like paintings made out of food. Where's the food art?
• When do you make a bento lunch? Can I make it the night before?
• Do you eat them hot, cold, or at room temperature?
• Isn't room temperature food dangerous?
• I don't want to microwave or pack food in plastic containers. What are my options?
• Do you have suggestions for kids' lunches? What about picky eaters?

OKAY, I'M IN!

• What do I need to buy to start?
• What size bento box should I get?
• Where can I buy bento boxes and accessories?
• Help! I can't read the care instructions on this Japanese bento box!
• Can you recommend some good cookbooks or websites for lunch ideas?
• What do you think of this particular [bento box, packaged food, cookbook, or kitchen gadget]?
• Who are you, anyway?
• My question isn't answered here!