110 + Grub for the Hub -- Daddy & Me Lunch

Okay, so...sorry for the long title but I feel like this lunch is different than just the other lunches where I had Monkey's lunch and my Husband's lunch. This lunch I made them (roughly) the same thing. When I use the same ingredients I sorta like thinking of them as "Daddy & Me" lunches. I hope they highlight for you that you can really pack the same things for more than one person despite appetite size!

IN THESE LUNCHES:

• Pizza Bagels -- Mini Bagel, tomato sauce, turkey pepperoni, olives, shredded cheddar
• Mixed Greens Salad w/ Balsamic Dressing
• Popcorn (First time using coconut oil to pop, it's pretty tasty)
• HE got a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Lara Bar and SHE got a handful of grape tomatoes. 

[These are packed in our Easy Lunchboxes]

One of the goals when packing lunches for me is to make sure that Monkey doesn't feel alienated from the other kids. I don't want her to be the weird kid who's mom packs her lunch (thank goodness there's like 4 other kids in her class this year that bring lunches). I don't want her to feel excluded from the goodies they get like Pizza or Popcorn. Her school has Popcorn Friday where you can pay .50 for a bag of popcorn. Well, sometimes I do this because it raises money for the school, but OTHER weeks I just pop my own and send it with her and she seems happy with it. She just wants to feel like she is like the other kids most of the time and this is a small way I can make her feel included. 

As a side note, she thinks Daddy getting packed lunches too is the coolest. :-P

Happy Packing! 

2014 -- 003

The lunch that almost wasn't

So, I got the lunch all ready to go and found that Monkey had forgotten ANOTHER lunch box at school. Well the first we've still never seen again, so I was a bit distraught thinking that we'd lost a 2nd box and our last ice packs. Luckily, the box was recovered and we were able to send this lunch a day late.

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• Skewers -- 1 Babybel cheese cut up, 1 slice of turkey, 3 slices of salami, 3 grape tomatoes. 
• Cucumber Stars and Flowers (about 6 slices of cucumber)
• Grapes
• Home Popped Popcorn
• Organic Chocolate Milk

Monkey adored the cucumber shapes and it was an easy way to incorporate them in a fun way. Usually I just toss slices in and call it good. This didn't take much extra effort and she really enjoyed the product. Popcorn is one of Monkey's favorite snacks and is a great lunch feature for a whole grain. Our protein star in this was cheese and lunch meat. 

Don't forget this lunch is part of the ''What's for Lunch?" Wednesday Link-up. Check out all the other fantastic lunches!! 

Happy Packing! 

Last September Lunch

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So, it's the end of the month and we are getting to the ''cabinet creative'' time of month I like to call it. We all go through it I think. When you're at the bottom of the month's groceries and you're suddenly a culinary MacGyver. Tonight we had noodles, leftover frozen turkey meatballs, and cream of mushroom soup. It looked a lot like stroganoff but tasted nothing like it haha. Monday lunch is just as MacGyvered as dinner was, but a little food time creativity will be continuing on till we go grocery shopping again on the 6th. :-P

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• Sunflower Butter/Apple Butter Bagel Sandwich
• Organic Apple Slices
• Babybel Cheese
• Raisin/Almond 'trail' mix. 
• Organic Vanilla Milk (not pictured). 

She was still up when I made this one and she was pretty excited about it! There was a few apple slices leftover and some more raisin/almond mix so I decided since tomorrow I would be heading to class I'd salvage these leftovers from her lunch and make my own little snack for class (no one likes a grumpy hungry preggo!)

IN THIS MOMMY MUNCHABLE:

• Leftover Apple Slices from Monkey's Lunch
• Raisin/Almond 'trail' mix. 
• Medium Cheddar pieces
• Popcorn and;
• A tiny bag of mini gummy bears

I was actually looking forward to my snack tomorrow! I even washed my metal reusable water bottle, got it filled, and chilling in the fridge. I have been very bad about eating so far this pregnancy. I mostly snack and even that isn't very often...I blame my sensitive nose and the nausea but this snack looks appetizing even to me! I'm looking forward to eating it. 

This lunch will also be part of the Meatless Monday link-up party. Make sure to check out all the fantastic lunches. :) 

Happy Packing!

Under Wraps

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So, I learned a valuable lesson with lunch yesterday. Do NOT put cut up bananas in the container the night before. Even if you put juice on it to help keep it from browning, it will brown and get mushy. Thereby having to trash it and put in a new banana. I hate wasting food like that so I was a bit irked by that. 

Today's lunch isn't as pretty as some other lunches, which is regrettable, but Monkey should enjoy it! 

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• Asparagus wraps w/ light cream cheese and thin sliced ham. 
• Pineapple chunks 
• Babybel cheese
• 1 Cup of Popcorn
• Fruit Smoothie feat. Banana, orange, apple, and pear (NOT PICTURED). 

This was our clearance find at Target today. A hot pink Goodbyn for $5 I was really stoked! I was only going to make 3 asparagus wraps for Monkey but she asked for a 4th (she really loves these things). Admittedly, I took this idea from a good friend Trish. She came over to hangout and craft and she brought a snack tray that had these asparagus wraps and they've been a favorite ever since! I never would have thought to make them. Thanks Trish! 

Today we also spent time talking about ''My Plate'' and how we need to represent each of the food groups in our meals. Monkey actually thanked me for giving her good meals! It was nice and she had fun talking about what she had for lunch today and where it went on the plate and what her lunch was for tomorrow (this lunch) and where it went on the plate. I think it's fun to get her involved in covering all her food groups. 

What are your kids having? 

Happy Packing!