Monday Lunchbox

Today my girls both made me a proud mama! As usual, I gave them the option to eat what is being served in the cafeteria or a packed lunch. After hearing that hot dogs are on the menu at school, they both chose a lunch packed by me stating that "the hot dogs at school are gross." Even after I told them I would be packing salads they still scoffed at the processed, preservative-filled hot dogs offered in the lunch room. My heart swells with pride from the fact that my kids will choose a salad over a hot dog. It may not happen everytime, but I'll take it today!

So for lunch the girls will have a salad with spinach leaves, carrots, broccoli, and grape tomatoes. I've included some real bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese for topping the salad. They have ranch dressing in the lidded part of the reusable container. There are grapes in Isis's box,and Joplin has kiwi berries. These little green grape-sized fruit taste just like a tart kiwi. They even look like a kiwi on the inside. 

I packed some whole wheat crackers on the side, along with honey roasted peanuts in the white containers, and each kid's favorite granola bar.  

Friday Lunchbox

Whoo hoo! It's Friday! I can't believe I actually made it through the week without a single trip to the grocery store, but I did have to get creative with today's lunch since we are out of bread, rolls, and bagels.
The girls usually love cream cheese on bagels or spread on saltines. In order to pack in the nutrition (and flavor) I am packing triscuit-style woven wheat crackers (the Aldi brand) along with a small lidded bowl with cream cheese and a pink plastic knife (leftovers from a birthday party) for spreading. I included a sturdy birthday napkin because the cream cheese can be messy and sticky. A thin napkin will just rip apart if you wipe sticky hands with it.
They will also get two picks with black olives, a Cutie orange, and a granola bar. As a special Friday treat they get two cookies from the fall harvest cookie pack we bought this weekend.
Everything is packed in plastic bags today because we had a really busy Thursday. Between a fall picture session and the high school homecoming parade I didn't have time to wash up the reusable containers.

The girls got new lunch boxes too! We found these at Dollar General on clearance for $3 each. What what?! It's always nice to have a backup lunch box because sometimes they need to be soaked or aired out from having things spilled in them. Joplin's regular box is smelling a little funky, and I'm pretty sure the yogurt she spilled in it last week is festering in the lining so I'm about to give it a good soak in some vinegar and baking soda. I'll do the same to Isis's box just for good measure. 

Thursday Lunchbox

Today they are serving chicken nuggets in the school cafeteria. That is Joplin's favorite, but Isis refuses to eat them (I can't blame her!), so I only have one meal to pack today.
She will be eating hot dog cheese kabobs with a side salad, and cinnamon applesauce. I also included some animal crackers and a mini box of raisins.

Meal Plan - Dinners - week of Sept. 22-28

I'm a little behind getting my menu together this week thanks to having a 3 day weekend with my girls.
I did most of my shopping this week at Aldi and Sam's, but didn't get any meat because we had to stop at a few other stores before driving home. I took advantage of the local grocery store deal, and got 5 packages of fresh meat for $25.
Sunday we used our center cut pork chops and made marinated kabobs. I have to say this balsamic rosemary marinade was amazing! I also roasted some yellow squash and brussel sprouts, made a yummy sweet apple coleslaw, and some macaroni and cheese for hubs an the kids.
We had the leftovers from Sunday for lunch on Monday. For dinner we ate out at the home style buffet where kids eat free on Mondays. We only spent $15.xx for all 4 of us to eat salad, main course, and dessert.
Tuesday we had leftover beans I froze the last time I cooked pintos with tomatoes, and a yummy dairy free corn bread. My menu says we had meatless nachos because that was my plan for the beans, but once I opened the fridge I realized we were out of sour cream, my cilantro was wilted, and the avacados were riddled with black spots, so plans changed. 
Today I am cooking a beef roast with onions and celery. Sides for this meal will be green beans, homemade wheat rolls, and fried squash.
Thursday the leftover roast will be chunked and added to a beef stew with a combination of fresh and frozen veggies. 
Friday I'm taking it easy and cooking breakfast food. Saturday we will have basil chili pork chops with coleslaw, corn on the cob, and butter herb rice. 

Wednesday Lunchbox

Happy hump day everyone! The girls will have a nice variety in their lunch boxes today. I got a great deal on whole wheat round crackers at Aldi ($1.69 per box), and the girls can build them up with all natural, preservative free smoked turkey and marble jack cheese, which is on a pick with a couple of dill pickle slices. They have half a banana each, and I've hidden the veggies in these great Mott's fruit snacks made with fruit and vegetable juice. They also get another treat from our weekend trip. The snack sized zipper bag has cinnamon roasted pecans.
Joplin gets a chocolate pudding pack, and Isis gets a rainbow chip granola bar gboth Aldi brand).

Tuesday Lunchbox

Today is the start of our week since the girls were out of school yesterday. We spent our Monday at home. I cleaned while the girls played. They did wipe the dining room chairs down before using them as a train while I mopped. Over the weekend we went to the local Trade Days event and got some yummy treats that I've included in today's lunchbox.
I made mini sandwiches with creamy peanut butter and blackberry creamed (local) honey on whole wheat bread. The creamed honey was a little pricey, but there is a lot of it, a little goes a long way, and it tastes DIVINE! They both have a rainbow of veggies to dip in ranch dressing including grape tomatoes, baby carrots, and peeled celery. I've found that peeling the strings from the outside of the celery, not only ensures that the kids will eat it, but also makes it crisper and juicier.
They have a Cutie (orange), and a blueberry yogurt tube. I scored and peeled back the rind at the top of Isis's orange to make it easier to peel, because, at 4 years old, she can peel it, but it takes a while for her to get it started.
For dessert they get another treat from the weekend. Joplin has cinnamon pumpkin kettle corn, and Isis has the honey roasted variety. They will both choose milk and juice from the cafeteria.

On a different note, I have mentioned before that I live on the edge of town, and enjoy a taste of city and country life. Today is a testament to that, be it good or bad. On my way home from taking the girls to school I saw a big beautiful doe run across the road about 1/4 mile from my house. When I got home I opened all the windows to get some fresh air, sat my baby girl in her highchair, and while enjoying this gorgeous view of the backyard I heard the highschool band practicing very loudly, and NOT altogether in an organized manner. 

The highschool was built about 1/2 mile from my house shortly after we moved in, so I am now sandwiched between it and the state university. This is a definite drawback because we hear every football game in town. I also think we must be in some kind of sound vortex because I hear the happenings at both schools, highway noises at the end of the road, music from the bar up the highway, the train behind the bar, and even the bells from the Catholic church across town! Perhaps I'll search for a house in a bubble if we move, or at least thicker walls. 

Friday lunchbox - September 20, 2013

Here's a quick summary of the girls' lunch boxes today. I didn't get a picture for you, but they're honestly nothing special.
They will have turkey and colby jack on whole wheat bread with 2 extra chunks of cheese on the side. I also added a package of cheese crackers with peanut butter, celery sticks, and a large helping of unsweetened apple sauce.
We have a 3 day weekend coming  up, and have some serious shopping to do. A trip to the bulk store for diapers and wipes, a stop at Bed, Bath, & Beyond to find a sturdy reusable water bottle, and hunting for yet another pair of shoes for my 4 year old will take up our entire Saturday.
I'll try to write up a good post about the crafts I've been working on, and my little side business. The next lunchbox post will be Tuesday the 24th.