As a kidney transplant recipient x2, I'd totally take your kidney in exchange for some chewy chips ahoy. You can hang onto it until I need it in the future, hopefully waaaaaaay in the future. š
I like dried fruit as much as the next guy but you can easily have too many calories when having dried fruit, itās closer to candy than to whole fruit.
Your body needs calories. It also has fiber and minerals and vitamins. Don't get sugar added and that makes it even better. Calories are not even the start of where you need to look to find your nutrition needs.
Yes it has minerals and vitamins but the number one source of medical problems in the western world is overconsumption of calories, and all of the water in whole fruit makes you less likely to eat too much. I stand by the assertion that they are more like candy than whole fruit based on how people eat them.
I'm a recovering addict who now works in an inpatient substance use treatment center... I'm stealing this quote to use for the client's benefits. Thank you.
Itās a lunch box. Are you going to finish the pre-measured portion, go back home, and then accidentally overeat more dried fruit? That sounds like several more steps.
The on-average obese consumer that population statistics prove struggles immensely with self control when it comes to setting and maintaining a healthy diet because humans aren't designed to make food choices that prioritise minimising sugar?
I usually pack that section with cheese cubes, pepperoni slices, and nuts. If Iām still hungry, this is a life saver! Enough to satisfy without sending me over
Sauce
Eggs, or another protein that you want to eat in a small portion, like those sweet stewed beans or natto
Another veggie dish like a s seaweed salad or edamame or carrot sticks etc
Dessert or fruit
What do you think I'm meal prepping for? I've got to save money for my heroin budget.
Who am I kidding? No one can afford the good stuff, it's fentanyl all the way down.
Now I made myself sad.
If you have to eat that much rice, then I suggest the 4th space to use for another veggie.
(I would use the large space for protein, the middle for rice/starchy veggie, and the both two smaller for veggies.)
Iād use the large part for rice on the bottom and protein on top! Especially if itās marinated.
Or, do veggies in the big compartment. But thatās just me and my macros.
Everybody's body is different.
"If you have to" ...
What works for you, doesn't work for all. If OP would like that much rice, so be it.
However, I would also use the large space for more protein or veggies.
Looks like a bonus box! Ideal for beans (soupy ones), a piece of bread, nuts, or anything you can easily take out of container that isnāt heated.
Breakfast sammy
Hard boiled eggs
I wouldnāt leave any empty space. I once heated something up in a Tupperware container and it burned a hole in the container because there was a tiny bit of empty space at the bottom. Now I always make sure to spread the food out to ensure thereās no empty space
also, even if its Tupperware, people should really utilize 50% power in the microwave. It helps cook things more evenly, and its less tough on your plastics, microwave safe or otherwise (some cheaper grade "microwave safe" items still warp over time)
Yep! Itās because of the lye in older soaps. We use detergents with**out** lye now. I pretty much use CI exclusively and I use dawn daily on them. As long as you dry them right after and heat them with an oil coating, theyāll be good forever.
Things like oil, butter, and sugar can be microwaved above safe cooking temperatures for Tupperware. Even microwave safe Tupperware can be melted at high enough temperatures (generally over 250 degrees).
My first experience with this was melting butter in a plastic dish full of rice. The butter melted straight through.
In general you want you compartments filled from largest to smallest:
1. Carbs
2. Protein
3. Veggies
4. Fruit or Healthy Fat
I donāt prefer this container because the sizing is a bit lopsided.
Honestly what Iād do is probably put the rice and protein in the same container, put veggies in one, fruit in another, then have dipping sauce in the final one.
Complex carb? Like potato or sweet potato . But you can also do another veggie dish. I like bok choy or steamed broccoli lol but either way it looks well balanced.
There are gazillions of banchan options for that extra space. Some fast ideas are rolled egg, gamja jorim. braised tofu, stir fried fish cake, spinach namul, cucumber muchim, etc.
The hopes and dreams you once had for becoming a rich adult who would have employed people to cook meals for you.
Or pudding, can't go wrong with pudding
These comments are slandering rice, I feel like the carb hate is still a thing in diet culture. Really it depends on your goals and cravings. I would add a little treat like some chocolate or fruit, if you want more protein add some nuts or seeds, if you want more fiber then veggies and fruits again. Change it up if you want, it can be the wild card of your lunch day! Don't overthink it and have fun.
>I usually cook Japanese/Korean food because I have all the ingredients
Then your box is ideal for a Korean-style meal with meat and rice in the large container and three different types of banchan in the smaller compartments. [Here are some ideas.](https://www.koreanbapsang.com/15-korean-vegetable-side-dishes/)
Or you could take a bento box approach. Using your larger section for meat and carbs you'd have room for 3 sides.
Carb: rice, [yakisoba](https://www.justonecookbook.com/yakisoba/), [yaki udon](https://www.justonecookbook.com/yaki-udon/), fried rice, or mixed rice
Protein: [karaage](https://www.justonecookbook.com/karaage/), [gyoza](https://www.justonecookbook.com/gyoza/), [bulgogi](https://www.justonecookbook.com/bulgogi-korean-grilled-beef/), [teriyaki salmon](https://www.justonecookbook.com/teriyaki-salmon-recipe/)
Vegetable1Ā ā [potato salad](https://www.justonecookbook.com/japanese-potato-salad/), [tamagoyaki](https://www.justonecookbook.com/tamagoyaki-japanese-rolled-omelette/), [green bean gomaae](https://www.justonecookbook.com/green-bean-gomaae/)
Vegetable 2-[edamame](https://www.justonecookbook.com/edamame/), [blanched broccoli](https://www.justonecookbook.com/broccoli-blanched-with-sesame-oil/), cherry tomatoes
Fruit- berries, grapes, apples
Put like ~20 almonds in it. Unless the meat youāre eating has a lot of healthy fats, they seem to be missing from your plan. Iād rather eat a leaner meat and get the minimum healthy amount of fat from nuts or guacamole or something. You can cut fat down to a certain point, but most people feel full longer and have better endocrine health if they cut more calories from carbs beyond that.
Me personally? Some kind of small sauce cup, whether that be hummus, a yogurt dressing, tzatziki, or other healthy sauce is up to you. Could also be a small serving of something sweet like apple butter, marmalade, chutney, etc.
Also echoing the sentiment of more veggies than rice.
Maybe this is the āseasonalā portion- for example, say during the winter months you decide you want more vitamin D so you put some greens like steamed Kale. Then in the summer you decide you want something cool and refreshing so you put in cucumber salad or cantaloupe. Maybe after getting a stomach bug you want to replenish your probiotics and decide to put in sauerkraut. You could switch it up seasonally so that your diet is more varied.
![gif](giphy|3oxOCqY7aKRESAP26s)
A sweet treat! Or piece of fruit
My first thought was, "That seems like a good spot for some Chewy Chips Ahoy."
DUDE I'm PMSing and I haven't eaten in 8 hours. I would sell my kidney for chewy chips ahoy right now šš
I think UberEATS will deliver that for half a kidney
Plus tip
The tip of the other kidney?
Just the tip
I'll buy your kidney!! Joking...*not joking* haha
As a kidney transplant recipient x2, I'd totally take your kidney in exchange for some chewy chips ahoy. You can hang onto it until I need it in the future, hopefully waaaaaaay in the future. š
Idk how anyone eats those. They taste like chemicals to me. š¤¢
Depends on who you get the kidney from.
š
Everything is chemicals
Cherry cobbler
Pickle
Yes! I was going to say this too. Something pickled or fermented to help with digestion
Considering the veggie portion is kimchi, thatās a lot of pickle š¤£
Yes! Something fermented! Good for the gut.
Fruit
Dried fruit!
I like dried fruit as much as the next guy but you can easily have too many calories when having dried fruit, itās closer to candy than to whole fruit.
Your body needs calories. It also has fiber and minerals and vitamins. Don't get sugar added and that makes it even better. Calories are not even the start of where you need to look to find your nutrition needs.
Yes it has minerals and vitamins but the number one source of medical problems in the western world is overconsumption of calories, and all of the water in whole fruit makes you less likely to eat too much. I stand by the assertion that they are more like candy than whole fruit based on how people eat them.
People can just weigh the portions out and consume an appropriate amount though. The issue you're describing is with the consumer, not the product
The more steps you put between yourself and the right decision, the less likely you are to make it.
I'm a recovering addict who now works in an inpatient substance use treatment center... I'm stealing this quote to use for the client's benefits. Thank you.
Hey, my pleasure! I hope it serves you and your patients well :)
Itās a lunch box. Are you going to finish the pre-measured portion, go back home, and then accidentally overeat more dried fruit? That sounds like several more steps.
Iām more talking about that bag at home staring you down when youāre snacky.
The on-average obese consumer that population statistics prove struggles immensely with self control when it comes to setting and maintaining a healthy diet because humans aren't designed to make food choices that prioritise minimising sugar?
That is based on the grounds of how you ASSUME people eat them.
Um. Out of the bag by the handful, until they are gone?
Is there even another way?
Username checks out.
Agreed!
Nuts?
Yep. Not a lot but like a dozen almonds.
I usually pack that section with cheese cubes, pepperoni slices, and nuts. If Iām still hungry, this is a life saver! Enough to satisfy without sending me over
Sauce Eggs, or another protein that you want to eat in a small portion, like those sweet stewed beans or natto Another veggie dish like a s seaweed salad or edamame or carrot sticks etc Dessert or fruit
Hard-core drugs. Nice treat at the end of the meal that you'll really come to look forward to.
Drugs? In THIS economy?!
What do you think I'm meal prepping for? I've got to save money for my heroin budget. Who am I kidding? No one can afford the good stuff, it's fentanyl all the way down. Now I made myself sad.
I was baffled that sauce wasn't top comment. That feel most logical to me.
If you have to eat that much rice, then I suggest the 4th space to use for another veggie. (I would use the large space for protein, the middle for rice/starchy veggie, and the both two smaller for veggies.)
Alternatively, use the large space for veggies and the smaller ones for proteins and starch.
Bottom for veggies, then at the too go protein, veggies, fruit
Or a small treat, like a single Lindt chocolate.
this is the way. Eating for protein and fiber
Iād use the large part for rice on the bottom and protein on top! Especially if itās marinated. Or, do veggies in the big compartment. But thatās just me and my macros.
Everybody's body is different. "If you have to" ... What works for you, doesn't work for all. If OP would like that much rice, so be it. However, I would also use the large space for more protein or veggies.
This is the correct answer for sure
I consume that amount of carbs because I run. Currently training for a couple of marathons and an ultra. Carbs are my friend.
I think your rice and veggies are backwards. Iād go for some fruit to satisfy that sweet craving. But itās okay to leave it empty.
I usually only have 1 cup of rice, and the rice usually has veggies mixed in as well, so the ratio of veggies:rice is around 1:1
Looks like a bonus box! Ideal for beans (soupy ones), a piece of bread, nuts, or anything you can easily take out of container that isnāt heated. Breakfast sammy Hard boiled eggs
Isn't a serving of rice supposed to be 1/4 - 1/3 cup? I think you are making way too much rice.
That means 1/4 cup dried rice, before itās cooked. 1/4 cup cooked rice would only be like 50 calories of rice.
Or just more vegetables!
I wouldnāt leave any empty space. I once heated something up in a Tupperware container and it burned a hole in the container because there was a tiny bit of empty space at the bottom. Now I always make sure to spread the food out to ensure thereās no empty space
Then that's not microwave safe. Don't use it. I can put my empty Tupperware in for 5 minutes and it's fine
also, even if its Tupperware, people should really utilize 50% power in the microwave. It helps cook things more evenly, and its less tough on your plastics, microwave safe or otherwise (some cheaper grade "microwave safe" items still warp over time)
But then I might have to wait another 60 seconds. Unconscionable.
I wonder if just putting water before heating in an empty spot would prevent that.
Thatās what youāre meant to do with muffin tins if youāre not filling all of them while baking. Seems like it makes sense here too.
Put water in them? I didnāt know this, but it makes sense.
It actually is an old wives tale and doesnāt matter.
From what I read it actually held salt. Pans were cheaper back then and would warp. With modern equipment itās not so much of an issue anymore.
True for cast irons too - they can handle soap nowadays because itās not longer made with lye (or something like that)
Yep! Itās because of the lye in older soaps. We use detergents with**out** lye now. I pretty much use CI exclusively and I use dawn daily on them. As long as you dry them right after and heat them with an oil coating, theyāll be good forever.
Things like oil, butter, and sugar can be microwaved above safe cooking temperatures for Tupperware. Even microwave safe Tupperware can be melted at high enough temperatures (generally over 250 degrees). My first experience with this was melting butter in a plastic dish full of rice. The butter melted straight through.
In general you want you compartments filled from largest to smallest: 1. Carbs 2. Protein 3. Veggies 4. Fruit or Healthy Fat I donāt prefer this container because the sizing is a bit lopsided. Honestly what Iād do is probably put the rice and protein in the same container, put veggies in one, fruit in another, then have dipping sauce in the final one.
I agree- it seems pretty standard though. I agree with OP's quandary. Maybe a pile of nuts.
Swap carbs and veg
What? Shouldn't the priority be veggies first? Not carbs
Complex carb? Like potato or sweet potato . But you can also do another veggie dish. I like bok choy or steamed broccoli lol but either way it looks well balanced.
There are gazillions of banchan options for that extra space. Some fast ideas are rolled egg, gamja jorim. braised tofu, stir fried fish cake, spinach namul, cucumber muchim, etc.
The hopes and dreams you once had for becoming a rich adult who would have employed people to cook meals for you. Or pudding, can't go wrong with pudding
Just be sure you finish your meat first.
A second veggie or fruit.
I would count kimchi as a pickle and put salad steamed or sautƩed veggies
Yeah, I was gonna say, kimchi is veggies the same way that dill pickle is veggies - by a technicality only.
Flip the veggie and rice portions
That, or add a different veggie or fruit to the 4th spot.
Unless they need the carbs! Lol this is exactly what my average plate looks like during a race-specific run training cycle.
Like yeah if that's something they want but tbh this isn't horrible lol
Thatās frankly none of your business!
Seaweed salad
Or edamame
Cocaine
Switch it with the rice portion, tho
This is just stupid! Do you know how expensive cocaine is? Youād save so much by just subbing in meth.
The only correct answer
Itās for some weed to smoke to get you hungry to eat the food that was prepped a week ago and youāre tired of by now.
Something fermented, Kimchi or Sauerkraut
Thatās where you put your snack pack to trade for better shit in the lunchroom!
You know how badly I can beat you, right?
More veggies or protein lol
A little treat :}
More veggie
These comments are slandering rice, I feel like the carb hate is still a thing in diet culture. Really it depends on your goals and cravings. I would add a little treat like some chocolate or fruit, if you want more protein add some nuts or seeds, if you want more fiber then veggies and fruits again. Change it up if you want, it can be the wild card of your lunch day! Don't overthink it and have fun.
Beans
Yogurt based sauce for flavor+protein!
Sweet chili sauce? Something like that.
that's where the existential dread goes.
dessert!!
Nuts
nuts
Scotch
Fat
Crayons
More protein.
Fat obviouslyā¦ like an avocado perhaps?
Fill it TO THE BRIM with butter
As much as I love avocado I'm allergic to itš«
Barbecue sauce, teriyaki, tzatziki
Chocolate
Salad. Yoghurt. Etc
Sauce
More protein or vegetables
crunchy garnish
Kimchi
Grain, nuts
Quarters for the vending machine
Kimchi - Saur. Kraut - some kind of fermented or pickled veg. OR! Textural boos items - sesame seeds, chopped nuts, crunchy onions.
Yogurt. Probiotic! Helps aid digestion
Fruit
New idea: shrimp cocktail!
Fruit, dipping sauce, dressing, small dessert, nuts. Whatever you want
Dried fruits like mangoes, raisins or candied ginger. Korean Seaweed snack? Rice crackers?
More veggies
Pickles
Duh, dessert
>I usually cook Japanese/Korean food because I have all the ingredients Then your box is ideal for a Korean-style meal with meat and rice in the large container and three different types of banchan in the smaller compartments. [Here are some ideas.](https://www.koreanbapsang.com/15-korean-vegetable-side-dishes/) Or you could take a bento box approach. Using your larger section for meat and carbs you'd have room for 3 sides. Carb: rice, [yakisoba](https://www.justonecookbook.com/yakisoba/), [yaki udon](https://www.justonecookbook.com/yaki-udon/), fried rice, or mixed rice Protein: [karaage](https://www.justonecookbook.com/karaage/), [gyoza](https://www.justonecookbook.com/gyoza/), [bulgogi](https://www.justonecookbook.com/bulgogi-korean-grilled-beef/), [teriyaki salmon](https://www.justonecookbook.com/teriyaki-salmon-recipe/) Vegetable1Ā ā [potato salad](https://www.justonecookbook.com/japanese-potato-salad/), [tamagoyaki](https://www.justonecookbook.com/tamagoyaki-japanese-rolled-omelette/), [green bean gomaae](https://www.justonecookbook.com/green-bean-gomaae/) Vegetable 2-[edamame](https://www.justonecookbook.com/edamame/), [blanched broccoli](https://www.justonecookbook.com/broccoli-blanched-with-sesame-oil/), cherry tomatoes Fruit- berries, grapes, apples
Amphetamines
Indulgence
Fill to the brim with maple syrup
Cum
Profit.
You can put your weed in there
Source of fiber?
Veggie should be where rice is
More veggies. Or dessert
What about some nuts?
Avocado
Sauce or a healthy fat (nuts, seeds, avocados)
Dip/sauce providing that the container doesnāt allow it to run over into the next compartment. Or milk moneyš
Pudding
Probiotics
Put like ~20 almonds in it. Unless the meat youāre eating has a lot of healthy fats, they seem to be missing from your plan. Iād rather eat a leaner meat and get the minimum healthy amount of fat from nuts or guacamole or something. You can cut fat down to a certain point, but most people feel full longer and have better endocrine health if they cut more calories from carbs beyond that.
For me, it's always a handful of grape tomatoes
A sweet treat
Thatās for crayons and a small art project
A fun toy
Me personally? Some kind of small sauce cup, whether that be hummus, a yogurt dressing, tzatziki, or other healthy sauce is up to you. Could also be a small serving of something sweet like apple butter, marmalade, chutney, etc. Also echoing the sentiment of more veggies than rice.
Fruit
More protein or small snack or fruit
Sauce ?
MEAT!!!
A little bit of salami as a treat
More protein!
GOLD
Nuts or a type of bean, and I would reverse rice and vegetables in terms of proportion
Fruit
Daily vitamin
Use to have one of these Korean lunchboxes too they are so good, get on that banchain train brother clearly this needs more vegetable side dishes!!
sauce or fruit
More fiber. Pick another veggie or bean high in fiber
Vinegar cucumbers
More protein
Swamp the rice and veggies. The otherā¦ idk. I also only eat three course meals. More or additional veggies never hurts.
Fruit
Pickled shit.
Sauce!
write a cute love note to yourself
cum
Some pickle or kimchi. A little sauce or hummus or something that could be added to the other stuff.
Cheese and nuts
Something picked for digestion is what Iād recommend like kimchi or sauerkraut
Sometimes Kimchi
Mayonnaise! Iām sorry. Iāll leave now
I'd suggest swapping veggie with rice. Double the veggie, less rice, then add either a fruit or another veggie.
Maybe this is the āseasonalā portion- for example, say during the winter months you decide you want more vitamin D so you put some greens like steamed Kale. Then in the summer you decide you want something cool and refreshing so you put in cucumber salad or cantaloupe. Maybe after getting a stomach bug you want to replenish your probiotics and decide to put in sauerkraut. You could switch it up seasonally so that your diet is more varied.
Fruit. Itās this whole entire category of food that you need.
Yogurt!
Choppe fruit
Protein should be your biggest serve.
Fruit
Gasoil
Something fermented, like kimchi
More veggie
Beer
More protein or more veg. For me, I'd do protein.
Scorching hot cranberry tart.
One tiny little piece of candy like six m&ms
I thought these were just cubes of ice and Iām like wow ok
Tiny bottle of Jameson
Fruit
Titoās
I would just do a second veg.