2014 -- 019

Something Fishy Going On...

I don't know about all of you, but there are actual MANY foods my daughter loves that I would not eat. I learned early in my research of food and child rearing that often times when a child likes a food that parents don't, they usually don't have much access to it since kids tend to eat what their parents eat. I didn't want this to be something that happened in my home. I always wanted her to be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods, even if I didn't like them. I find lunch packing to be a fantastic way to provide her with things she likes even if I don't. This is one of those lunches. 

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• Tuna Salad - Tuna, mayo, celery, and carrot
• Crackers
• 1/2 a banana
• 2 WhoKnew cookies
• Carrots

If you weren't sure which item I hate, it's tuna. Not in any way or application. Monkey however is a fan so I like to keep some around for her. It works in a pinch, like this last minute-making lunch 30 minutes before we gotta go-lunch. 

Are there foods that you find disgusting or simply don't like that you still make for your children anyway? 

Happy Packing!! 

2014 -- 018

Fiesta!

It had been some time since Monkey got a burrito or nacho sort of lunch and it seemed like a good time to do one. I almost always have the stuff for making burritos on hand because it's an easy go to meal and my family loves it. Plus I like that you can use the same items to make burritos, tacos, nachos, and taco salad and everyone can sorta decide what they're in the mood for!

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• 1 tortilla cut in half (there is nothing inside, I simply rolled them up. She'll get to fill them herself)
• Layered refried black beans, taco meat, and sliced olives
• Shredded cheese
• Grape Tomatoes cut in half
• About 2 Tbsp of fresh Guacamole

This lunch is part of the "What's for Lunch Wednesday" link-up. Make sure to check out all the other lunches.

Happy Packing!! 

2014 -- 017

Leftovers in the Box

For two months now I have been making what I call ''Greek'' chicken. It is delicious and Monkey goes bananas for it. The best part for me is that it's easy and it's stuff I have on hand most of the time. Normally you all know that I like to wait before serving leftovers for lunch, but with these I knew it would be a home run and Monkey was excited to see I set some aside for her. 

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• Greek Chicken,
• Couscous,
• Green Beans,
• Apple Slices and;
• Organic Chocolate Milk

What are some of your family's favorite meals? I'm talking the ones that they always get excited to hear that you're making. I'll admit, I didn't intend to share a 'recipe' so you'll have to forgive that there aren't really measurements because when I cook, most of the time, I wing it. Here's what we use on the chicken we have been making at my house (will also be available in the recipes section). 

Greek Chicken

1 cup of Plain Greek Yogurt

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tbsp minced garlic  

Dried Oregano, Dried Parsley, Salt & Pepper (I don't measure, I just sprinkle it on till it looks good)

I used about 6 pieces of frozen chicken (approximately the size of the one pictured above, you can use as many pieces as you can coat with the yogurt mixture though)

Olive oil

I didn't defrost the chicken first, I'm terrible about remembering to defrost meat for meals. That's another reason I LOVE this meal. Mix up your yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and seasonings in a 13x9 glass baking dish and then put the chicken pieces in and coat them with the yogurt mixture then drizzle with olive oil. I bake mine at 350 for about an hour. That's it! Easy Peasy!

This version of what I make was inspired from something I saw on pinterest, I'm trying to locate the pin so that I can properly attribute the webpage that inspired the meal. I don't actually follow a recipe for it, but I remember seeing the idea there. So when I find it -- I'll update this with a link!

Happy Packing!

2014 -- 016

A Laptop Munchable

So, I got my Laptop Lunchbox a while ago and I haven't used it nearly enough! I love the versatility but knew that my daughter struggled to open the outer containers as well as the inner containers. When I realized that this Monday was a teacher in-service day, initially I was a bit bummed. Not because I wanted to usher my child off to school, but because I wouldn't be needing to pack a lunch! Then it hit me that it would be the perfect opportunity to give my little monkey some practice with her laptop lunchbox with me nearby to help if she needed it (fingers crossed she's got it down herself now!). 

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• The main compartment has a pasta salad with rotini pasta, cut mozzarella balls, sliced grape tomatoes, and sliced olives with a little bit of pesto. 
• In the blue compartment we have star, flower, and heart shaped cucumber cutouts.
• In our orange section we have a little flower made of orange segments and a blackberry center. 
• Our drink is an organic chocolate milk. 

When Monkey saw this lunch she was thrilled with the little orange flower and pointed out how I had constructed it and was thrilled I made cucumber shapes again. She smiled and hugged me and expressed how much she liked the flower and my making her lunch. All the smiles, hugs, happiness, and better nutrition than school lunches make this hobby so worthwhile. If her expression alone doesn't make the two minutes it took to make that little flower worth while, I don't know what would! BOO to the Bento naysayers! :-P

Happy Packing!!

2014 -- 015

The Quick and Easy "Classic"

By the time lunch making rolled around last night, I was exhausted. Gotten up at 2:30 for work, went to my full day there, then rushed to an ultrasound appointment, spent way too long at the bank, and of course nabbed monkey from school, and went to game night which I have been missing. Was a nice day but oh so tiring! My awesome husband stepped up to make a lunch for me since I was so tired so he decided to ''go with the classic'' sandwich. :-P All I did was tell him what to put with it. He even took the picture. :-)

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• Whole Wheat Bread with Sunflower Butter & Blackberry Jelly, 
• Tillamook Pomegranate Blackberry Yogurt w/ sliced almonds,
• Raisins and one prune
• 100% Juice Box (not pictured)

This lunch is part of the 15 minute Friday link up. Make sure you check out all the other fantastic lunches.

Happy Packing! 

2014 -- 014

"Mom you rock!"

Isn't that what we all love to hear? My daughter came in to peak over the counter to see what I was packing for her lunch. I've never packed her tortellini before so she curiously said, ''What's that?" I told her it was sorta like a ravioli, but basically pasta with a little cheese inside. Of course, I then popped one into her mouth. Haha. Her eyes lit up instantly and bursted out, "Mom you rock! I can't wait for my lunch tomorrow" and scurried out of the room. If that's not a lunch packing win, I don't know what is! 

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• "Italian Kabobs" -- Tortellini, Mozzarella, Pepperoni, and Tomatoes
• Pretzels
• Orange Segments
• Organic Milk (not pictured)

I've come to love flamingos, so I was determined to use this flamingo skewer. Let me tell you, I've been spoiled by the sharp ended skewers, like the heart ones that accompany it. The rounded ball end made getting things onto it tough! I had to use a knife to pre-make the holes in the food...I probably won't use them again because of that. I like quick and easy...that was not. It was also messy when it came time for tomatoes which is why I abandoned the pattern on the flamingo skewer and only put the one tomato!

What are some of your favorite things to skewer?

This lunch is part of the Lunch For Lunch Wednesday link up, so don't forget to check out the other fantastic lunches!

Happy Packing! 

2014 -- 013

A Little Bit of Everything

Things have been hectic the last few days with my car being broken down. I missed work and much to Monkey's dismay, she had to walk home from school. Luckily, we were able to get it checked out and it was just a battery issue! New battery in and now we're back in business. I was in SERIOUS need of a trip to the store. Here's one of those 'little bit of everything' lunches I pack when I don't have the items for the planned lunch. Ignore the My Little Pony font I used for my name this time in the photo, I have been working on tags and signs for Monkey's birthday party (yes, I have started working on her September birthday in January!) and forgot to change it back. Haha.

IN THIS LUNCH: 

• Leftover Sausage - We like to have sausage slices in our spaghetti so we set aside a few slices for her lunch since it's one of her favs!
• Annie's Organic Cheddar Bunnies
• Carrots
• Grape Tomatoes
• Cottage Cheese w/ Pepper
• Horizon Organic Strawberry Milk (not pictured)

In your home do you buy organic? I'd never even given any thought to organics until a couple years ago when I really started getting interested in food, nutrition, and where food comes from/how it's made. I do not buy everything organic but there are some things I do spend the extra money on (though I don't typically say which of my items are organic except for products that include it in the name), especially when it comes to produce. Have you heard of the dirty dozen/clean fifteen? It's a good rule of thumb when buying produce to know which items are highest in pesticides and other yuckies vs the items you can just wash up and be okay with. I feel most comfortable buying non-organic for things I do not eat the outside of the product like melon and avocado. Thing I eat the skin I prefer organic whenever possible. Plus, in my local grocery store, the organic stuff usually ends up on sale for about what the regular costs so I snag a little extra then! Some things like grapes and berries freeze really well!

This lunch was shared on the "Leftovers on Friday" link up. :) Check it out.