Japanese office workers’ lunch expenses hit a new high, and most people choose homemade bento to save money; Kanto Smart Living Cooperative provides five practical suggestions.

With rising prices, homemade bento boxes have become the most common lunch option for office workers. (Photo via MERXWIRE)

TOKYO, JAPAN (MERXWIRE) – According to the latest “2025 Workplace Lunch Consumption Survey” released by Recruit Co., Ltd., the average lunch consumption of Japanese office workers on weekdays has reached 485 yen, an increase of 7.3% over last year, setting a record high for the third consecutive year. Against the backdrop of rising prices, an increasing number of office workers are choosing to make their lunch to save money. Among these, “homemade bento” accounts for 20.7%, jumping to second place, second only to “cooking at home,” and becoming the mainstream lunch type for office workers.

However, although bento is economical, the preparation process remains a significant challenge for busy office workers. Many office workers have reported that designing menus is too troublesome, as there is not enough time to prepare in the morning, the bento is too monotonous in color, and the presentation is not visually appealing. These are the pain points of preparing bento every day. For this reason, Kanto Smart Living Cooperative has put forward “Five Practical Suggestions for Office Workers to Make Their Own Bento” to help office workers prepare nutritious, delicious, and time-saving bento within a limited time.

First, it is recommended to “plan a bento menu for the week on the weekend” and buy all the ingredients needed at one time, or even complete a week’s bento on holidays and put it in the freezer. On weekday mornings, you only need to cook or heat according to the plan, which can also reduce repeated purchases and food waste, as well as improve preparation efficiency.

Secondly, you can “use more commercially available seasoning package products.” Most of these products are pre-seasoned semi-finished products. They only need to be matched with one or two basic ingredients and can be quickly cooked in a microwave or frying pan, which is time-saving and convenient. There are many types of meal prep packs, ranging from Japanese-style to Western-style and Chinese-style. They are affordable and easy to store. For office workers who are short on time or lack cooking skills, they are an ideal choice for both taste and efficiency.

Rice prices have risen this year, and when making handmade bento, vegetables or fruits can be replaced according to needs. (Photo via MERXWIRE)

The visual presentation of the bento is also a significant factor influencing appetite. Through the “simple three-color principle,” the overall appearance and nutritional balance can be easily improved. For example, with red tomatoes or carrots, green broccoli or edamame, and yellow corn or egg dishes, not only are the colors color bright and eye-catching, but the nutritional intake is also more comprehensive. Even a simple stir-fry can make the bento attractive, as long as you pay attention to color matching.

In addition, “choosing a bento box with a partition design” is also a good way to reduce the pressure of preparation. The bento box with compartments can help quickly sort different side dishes to avoid mixing of food flavors, and it is also visually neat and appealing. There is no need to arrange the dishes deliberately; just put the food in the corresponding position, making the arrangement easy and natural, especially friendly to cooking novices.

Finally, you can also “make good use of the leftovers from the previous day’s dinner” and flexibly transform them into part of the next day’s bento. Whether it’s leftover stew, fried rice, or meat dishes, you can create a new bento with simple processing, different side dishes, or use the bento dividers, which not only saves time but also reduces food waste. This “one meal into two meals” method is handy for office workers who have limited preparation time in the morning.

Kanto Smart Living Cooperative stated that making your bento is not only a way to save money but also a way of life. As long as you master the correct method, you can enjoy the peace of mind and satisfaction of a daily handmade lunch, even if the pace of life is fast. In an era of high prices and high pressure, using a bento prepared by hand can not only take care of your body but also be a gentle form of self-care.

Media Contacts:
Kanto Smart Living Cooperative

PR Agency:
MERXWIRE INC.
Ada Huang
[email protected]

SOURCE: Kanto Smart Living Cooperative

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