This Week in School Lunches

I missed posting last week's lunches. Lunches were packed, and pictures were taken. But time got away from me, so they never made it into a post. One thing I like about taking pictures of the lunches that I pack for my girlie is that it's a visual record for me. It reminds me to offer variety. As much as she loves grapes, I don't want her to get sick of them. So after looking at this week's pictures, I realize I need to get a different fruit for next week.

Just a few notes. 1) I pack LB's lunches in an insulated bag with a cold pack on the bottom so her food will stay cold until lunch time. 2) I pack her lunch as I'm cleaning up after dinner. I knew it would happen sooner or later that on a Wednesday night (we eat at church), I would forget. I did. So Thursday morning after my workout, I had to scramble & pack her lunch amidst the usual morning chaos. 3) One of my goals is to pack as few processed foods as possible. Although sometimes when I'm shopping, I get "seduced by the coolness" (TV show reference anyone?) of certain packaged products. They are nice for a treat, but I don't want rely on them.


Monday: cheese pizza sticks (huge victory here, until this past weekend she wouldn't eat pizza because she didn't like sauce), string cheese, whole wheat crackers, Angry Bird cheese crackers, & grapes. Snack: peach slices.

Tuesday: PB & banana on whole wheat, grapes, pumpkin cookies, & peach slices. Snack: grapes

Wednesday: carrot sticks, grapes, peach slices, mozzarella cheese, & whole wheat crackers. Snack: homemade granola bar.

Thursday: PB & banana on whole wheat, grapes, carrot sticks (grapes used as filler), & a snack mix. Snack: homemade granola bar.

Friday: corn dog muffin, grapes, peach slices, snack mix, & pretzels. Snack: homemade granola bar.

Have a healthy weekend! For more kid lunch inspiration, check out Following in My Shoes.

An Ode to Routine

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

Routine is good. Routine helps chaos feel manageable. I like routine.

This summer was crazy. So many different things going on, it was difficult to have a normal routine. My exercise routine was thrown off. Normal family life was more stressful with finally buying a house & moving (hopefully for the last time.) My focus has been on getting through the chaotic summer, hoping that fall would provide routine once again.

Thankfully, it has. I'm juggling a new routine with my girlie starting kindergarten. But it's good. Days are more predictable. Weeks have a similar schedule. I like routine. Routine helps me get things done that need done. Meal planning & prep, exercise, church, family activities, even blogging.

Six days a week, my routine starts at 5 am with exercise. Then a quick, post-workout snack before I jump in the shower. Followed by waking the family, getting breakfast for myself & my girlie (Hubby is left to his own devices), getting ourselves ready, & dropping the girlie off at school on time.

Starting the day right is so helpful for me to have routine & productivity the rest of the day. I need the predictability.

Menu planning also gives the week predictability. I can make healthy meals & snacks because I have a plan.

This is week four of our new normal routine. It feels good. I like routine.

How about you? Do you thrive with a routine? Or do thrive with the chaos? Or maybe a little of both.

School Lunches: Week 2

Week 2 of kindergarten is under our belts. I'm feeling more comfortable with the routine & the morning rush.

 LB often comes home with leftovers in her lunch box, and she tells me that she doesn't have enough time to finish everything. I'm not sure how much time they are given. At first I thought it might be because she talks a lot, but she said they're not allowed to talk when they are eating. She usually opens her lunchbox in the car to finish on the way home, which is fine with me. I hope she is getting enough fuel to keep her going during the day. (worried mama here)

I think I forgot to take a picture of Monday's lunch, so I only have four to share. And I realized after sharing last week that I need to work on my food photography skills. I'm such a work in progress.


Tuesday: carrot sticks, sliced peaches, peanut butter & jelly on whole wheat, 2 pumpkin cookies. Snack: almond butter balls & raisins

  

Wednesday: (LB wanted to show off the letters they are working on in phonics) mozzarella cheese on whole wheat, peeled clementine, black bean brownie, raisins. Snack: almond butter balls

 Thursday: Graham crackers, cheese stick, peeled clementine, Angry Birds cheese crackers, grapes. Snack: almonds butter balls & raisins

Friday: watermelon, Angry Birds Graham crackers, grapes, cheese stick, leftover basmati rice. Snack: homemade granola bar

Have a great weekend!

First Week of School Lunches

My baby girl started kindergarten this week. One of my 2012 goals was to not freak out over this. So I've tried to focus on the positive side of her being gone & in the care of others for eight hours a day. At times, I've been okay. At others, not so much.

One thing I have looked forward to is packing her lunches. I remember my mom packing my lunches for many, many years. I was a picky child (my daughter comes by it honestly), and as much as I wanted to be like everyone else and buy a school lunch, most of my younger years were spent brown bagging it.

We had several practice sessions this summer to help Ladybug get used to idea of packed lunches and to practice opening everything. We even made a list what options she wanted for protein, starch, fruit, and veg. (There aren't many veggies that she likes raw; we're working on that.)

My goal is to pack foods that I know she will like, without using too many processed foods. The Angry Bird grahams and crackers below were a total impulse buy because she was with me in the store and we both are obsessed with the game. 

Right now, we are using Easy Lunchboxes (Mon-Thurs this week) and Fit*Fresh smart portion containers (1 cup size) (Friday). I'm sure we'll add to that as the year progresses. (Disclaimer: I am not being endorsed to mentioned these two products, we just like them.)

So here is her first week of packed lunches, plus her morning snack.

Monday: watermelon, mozzarella cheese slices, homemade whole wheat bread with butter, and grapes. Snack is a homemade chewy granola bar.

Tuesday: watermelon, two pumpkin cookies, almond butter & jelly on whole wheat, a peeled clementine. Snack: chewy granola bar.

Wednesday: leftover corn dog muffin, mozzarella cheese stick, Angry Birds Graham crackers, sliced peaches (sprinkled with lemon juice to prevent browning). Snack: chewy granola bar.

Thursday: peanut butter & jelly on whole wheat, Angry Bird cheese crackers, a black bean brownie (they were SO good!), sliced strawberries. Snack: chewy granola bar.

Friday: diced strawberries & peaches, watermelon, whole wheat crackers & mozzarella cheese slices. Snack: chocolate cereal, almonds, & raisins.

Are you in back to school mode yet?

Insert Witty Post Title Here

This will be a quick update as we are still settling into our new home. This summer has really messed with my workout mojo, so I am focusing on getting that back. Between a hectic schedule, buying a house & moving, plus family stuff, there hadn't been much of a "normal"routine for me. I need routine, so I am going to get it back! Throw in the fact that my baby girl its starting kindergarten next week & life is a little crazy.

So, I have my workouts planned for the week. Three days of running, two days of strength training, and one day of yoga or Pilates.

And I started food journaling again. I have been really burned out on that, but I am trying a new app, so that might make it less of a chore. Also, now that we are getting unpacked, I am recommitting to making most of our food from scratch. We relied too much on processed & fast food while we were in transition. Blech. Time for real food again!

Here's to a healthy week!

“This post is sponsored by GoVida Foods and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway.”