Must Read Summer Book

I have been away mostly because I am on summer vacation and I have no lunches to pack. However, I have also been reading a book that will in many ways change the way I look at food forever. There are some pieces of this book I disagree with, namely her perspective on creation. However, I looked past that and at what I believe is the real meaning behind this book which is to become closer to the food we eat, know where it comes from, eat more locally when possible and the impact that will have on the world. I am making a pledge to buy local produce this summer, grow a garden, and try to can some of the local produce to use this winter. I hope you will read this book and be inspired too.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

Super Secret Recipe NOW OUT

I know I don't have many readers but I wanted to share a family secret with you as we begin the summer season.

PANCAKESAnd

Wait for it......
TOMATOESThis is a meal we always had growing up and we love it. I use my grandma's recipe for pancakes but you could use whatever you like. My grandma's recipe is super simple..
2cups flour (white or whole wheat pastry)
2 Tblspoons sugar
2tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
Then add water until it is the right consistency

And YES .... You do use syrup. Think of those yummy tomatoes as a fruit. Just imagine..... another use for all those wonderful tomatoes everyone will be getting from their garden.
Please try this even if it looks 'weird' to you. If you love tomatoes, you will love this. Plus it is a quick and simple dinner idea for those hot summer nights. I sometimes serve scrambled eggs and fruit too. ENJOY!!!

Throw Away Lunch

Here is my attempt at a brown bag lunch. My son has a field trip tomorrow. I didn't have any sandwich size bags because I quit buying them so it was tricky. From left to right, chex mix (I know, not really healthy but not doritos either), PB and J rolls on whole wheat (this was my way of fitting a sandwich into a snack bag), blueberries on 'skewers', a few carrot sticks, and a fruit leather. I still don't know how I am doing drink bc I don't have any juice boxes. I hope to get water in here some how.

Giveaway - Baby skin care

I just found this really cool giveaway. I am always looking for skin care products for my kids but more importanly my nephew has the most sensitive skin and I wanted to try it out on him.

Here is the link to the contest at Suburban Jungle.

GARDEN!!

This is what has been taking up all of my time lately. I turned my boys sandbox into a raised garden. I finally planted this weekend. YEAH! I have no idea what I am doing so say a blessing over my veggies. I hope I get something. I have tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, bean, carrots, and strawberries in the bag.

Muffin Tin "Saturday"?

Working full time only gives me the opportunity to give my little one lunch on the weekends. He has been peering over my shoulder lately to see what I am looking at on the computer. Last night he says please make me one of THOSE! Well this afternoon we made one.

Hard boiled egg, orange wedges, blackberries, tomatoes, ice water, and a PB sandwich cut out like a bird.
Not bad for my first :)

Way Cool Night - "Scrap the Schedule"

My son and I decided to scrap our schedule tonight and have a lazy night. We put our pajamas on as soon as we got home. Instead of rushing through dinner in time to get to karate and an art show at his school, we watched TV, ate mac -n- cheese, baked cookies, and played video games. It was nice to just be lazy and not rush around. We needed it!! Hence, time for a blog post.

This was yesterdays lunch inspired by Melissa at Another Lunch. I am not sure I even come close to doing this justice, but I tried. I am also really jealous of Melissa's pictures (they are so clear and bright). I am trying to convince my husband that we need a new camera.
Lunch is... PB & J on my homemade puzzle piece (no cutters :(. My first checkerboard apple, which was much easier then I thought, tomatoes, and butterfly crackers which I was so happy to find at Wegman's and even more happy that they didn't have ingredients that I didn't like. YEAH!

Biggest Loser

Im not sure if I could cry more when watching Biggest Loser. I am not overweight nor is anyone in my household. But I try so hard to have us eat healthy and at times I feel like the world is against me. I just want my kids to live long, happy, and healthy lives. Is that too much to ask?

a week already

I can't believe this week is over. Now it is mother's day and I feel swamped. I knew May was going to be crazy but it had only just begun. I am hoping to get things in shape to have time to blog too but it remains to be seen. I did pack soup and sandwiches this week and my son bought once too. It was a funny story because he thought his lunch was leftover from the day before so he didn't eat it and he bought :)

This is Crazy

Yesterday my son had a turkey sandwich, tomatos and dip, strawberries and a cheese stick. I have no picture (sorry :(. Then after school was CHAOS. I had a Zumba class (which is a way fun way to exercise), and my son was with his father at baseball practice. He left his backpack and lunch pail in my classroom so this morning I has to put together a lunch in a different bag. IT WAS THE ONLY THING MY SON HAD TO REMEMBER TO BRING WITH HIM THIS MORNING!!!! I just found out he forgot it. I am soooooo mad right now.

Vent over!

Boy o Boy will I make it?

I am struggling thinking I will make it through May. I am trying to plant a garden and train for a 5k plus the regular mommy and work stuff. Please be patient I am going to try to post as often as I can. :(

Where did this week go?

So sorry I didn't post this week. I did pack good lunches and I even packed all week but there just wasn't time to blog. I might try to post all week or at least what I have.

I hope to do better next week but May is going to be crazy.

My 100th post. Wow

And no picture. I accidentally deleted the picture I wanted to use today. My son had some of the Amy's alphabet soup, goldfish, and a clementine.

However here is my 2cents. In the last episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Jamie was wandering around the cafeteria looking that the 'bag' lunches and he was disgusted at what he saw. I was practically screaming that the TV that I wish he could see what my son takes. Anyhow, I ate lunch today with my son and his friend who sat with us started her lunch with a yogurt squeeze tube which I know is loaded with sugar and red dye. Then she pulled out a PB&J on white, then vanilla pudding, canned peach cup, and a juice box. I can't even do the math fast enough to figure out how much sugar she had. YIKES!!!! I can't even begin to express my sadness for some of these kids who are being 'trained' to eat like this.

Final Push and Goals (lunch too:)

I wish I could take better pictures but I am doing the best I can with the time I have. :) (which is little). Spring Break is over for us. I am sure that tomorrow morning will be hectic but here we are at the final push to summer. I have big plans..


Lunch is nitrate free Hormel turkey on organic wheat bread with organic lettuce, organic carrots and ranch (not organic bc I couldn't make the switch on him), Skindiddy not organic but all natural mac n cheese puffs, a cheese stick, and organic fruit leather.


1. Make it through the year packing healthy lunches with variety
2. Plant a garden
3. Buy all produce from local farms
4. Buy organic meat
5. Shoot in the 30s a few times (golf) :)

*Lofty goals but after watching Food Inc. and Food Revolution I am driven!!!

Need to see this video - Food Revolution continues

http://video.pbs.org/program/1154485580

PBS video that airs online until April 29th entitled FOOD INC. Please watch to help continue the Food Revolution we so desperately need.

Kids Yoga

I hosted my first kids yoga event. PAJAMA YOGA I am so excited because the place that I used for my event is allowing me to run a summer session. I am not certified in yoga but I am a teacher so I think that I can do great things. Seeing as I don't have time to go to a workshop and still do my two other full time jobs (teaching and motherhood) I have ordered a few books. I will review these books as soon as they come in. I CANT WAIT!!!

I am becoming more and more a fan of yoga and its benefits on the mind and body. I want to bring this to the children in my life. I hope that I can help kids have fun and learn about exercise and keeping their bodies healthy. WISH ME LUCK.

FISH DOG PHOTO

Earlier in the week my son forgot his lunch so he bought and wouldn't you know it, it was a fish dog again. Excuse me, I guess they are called 'sea dogs'. Here it is! A fish stick on a hot dog bun, salad, tater tots, applesauce, and milk. Thank goodness we are on break now!!!

See you soon!

lunch 4.15.10

Ok the salad was a flop. Apparently he didn't like the new dressing I sent. I had switched out his ranch dressing for an organic one and I thought he didn't notice. WRONG he told me today that he didn't like it and that is also why he couldn't eat the salad.

Well today I am trying soup. He has had this soup before and he loves it. I will add some crackers and fruit snacks in the morning.

lunch 4.14.10

This is a test. I am not sure if he will eat salad but I am going to try. I promise this is the last of the ham :), cheese, goldfish, and a fruit leather.

BTW - Today's lunch got sooggy snack mix. OOPS Live and Learn.

Yesterday for today

My son forgot his backpack today so of course that means he forgot his lunch. I gave him a bit of a guilt trip as to how I spend my nights packing his lunch and the least he can do is remember them..... on an on. I am sure he feels bad... NOT Well anyway, he is getting this lunch tomorrow. Yogurt, carrot sticks and dip, ham pieces, trail mix and pickles.

On a side note he bought lunch today and he said it was grilled cheese, tomato soup, and green beans. Not bad!

lunch 4.8.10

This was my attempt to get more light on the box before I take the picture. I don't know how much it helped. :) My son's lunch is Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips, carrots and dip, cheese curds, a fruit leather, and a TLC granola bar,

lunch 4.6.10

I know the picture is a little dark but I am working on my 'skills'. :) Back from a long weekend for Easter here is my son's lunch. Grapes and pineapple, whole wheat crackers, some ham (which I tried to cut into shapes but failed and decided to just throw all in), a cheese stick, and a treat from his Easter basket.

Day off

We have a day off today for Good Friday. I hope to enjoy God's work in the beautiful weather we have today. Happy and Blessed Easter Everyone!!

Mindy's Birthday Missions on XM

Ready for this story??? My son and I share the same birthday... today. So he called into the Absolutely Mindy show on XM kids to let her know about our birthday. If you listen to the show you know that she gives kids 'birthday missions'. Three to be exact. So our birthday missions are as follows
1. My son must eat something that I love and he hates. He chose Asparagus In turn I would buy him something to eat that I wouldn't normally buy him. For that he chose a 'Lunchable' as pictured above.2. We have to wear each others shoes for 30 minutes and do an activity that the other likes. My son took a hot shower :)3. On his birthday cupcakes I have to put veggies on one and candy on another and we play rock, paper, scissors and the winner gets to pick what cupcake they want to eat. I WON! Here is my son eating a cupcake with carrots on it. He was a good sport so I gave him the candy one in the end.
FUN FUN FUN

Birthday snack UPDATE

The kids LOVED the fruit. My son said everyone loved it. I knew that I didn't need to send in some garbage for the kids to eat in the middle of the day. I am so happy it went over well.

My son's birthday snack

This picture doesn't do this justice. This is the treat my son is going to bring in for his birthday tomorrow. It is a rainbow Strawberries, Oranges, Pineapple, Green Grapes, Indigo Grapes, and Purple (blue) berries. Maybe I should have switched the grapes and blueberries but I figured they mixed better with strawberries. In the middle is the pot of gold (kisses with almonds)

I hope the kids like it. :)

lunch 3.29.10

What a great weekend. My son and I celebrated our birthdays (we share the same day). I got a new phone and I took this pic with it. It is so much easier to email it to myself instead of using the regular camera. Lunch tomorrow is ham on a skewer, cheese, pineapple, goldfish, and some veggies leftover from my son's bday party. Yes.. I served veggies to 7 year olds ;)

March groceries

March was a crazy month for groceries. I was out of routine too often on the weekend so did some 'stopping' for items during the week instead of my normal 'get everything for the week' trip. Since we live in the middle of nowhere when we stop on the way home it is at expensive convenient stores or the local coop which has higher prices than Wegmans as well.

March 10th and 13th - Tops $7.63
Wegmans - $88.79 ($7.10 coupons)
Target - $35.28 ($16.50 coupons)
March 21st - Tops $58.14 ($4.00 coupons, $10.00 gift card)

March 25th - Wegmans $143.64 (3.00 coupons) - produce was so high and I got enough to make snack for my son's class for his birthday plus a snack for my students)
Coop $11.58

Total for March = $345.06 (plus some small stops that I didn't have receipts for) almost 5 weeks in March so divided that is only like $70 a week.

Surgery results

BEFOREAFTER

lunch for the little one

We are home today while my son heals from his surgery. While he and my youngest were watching TV the little one fell asleep. He slept through lunch so I 'packed' his up. I found this old piece of tupperware that works perfect as a bento. Fresh pineapple, green beans, and homemade mac n cheese.

Surgery

My son has surgery today so no lunch. We are heading out this morning to get his tongue untied. He is excited to be having a diet of ice cream and popcicles today :)

Improve School Lunches

http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution/petition
I know we are all concerned about what our children eat. That is why we take so much time to prepare food for them. However, there are many students who eat what is offered at school . We need to make certain they are all eating healthy. We really do need to improve school lunches. Jamie Oliver has made it his mission to improve school lunches. He has a show coming out soon on TV (I think this weekend) and this website is a link to his website. Thanks for reading.

lunch 3.23.10

Ok, so I was inspired by a few fellow bloggers to put a piece of colorful paper under the lunch before taking a pic. I am just so disappointed that my pictures aren't as big or clear as others. I need to figure this out. Anyway, here is pirates booty, pineapple, some ham on a skewer (not a cool bento one but one from dinner out at Longhorns :), carrot sticks and dip.

My First Award

I have never gotten an award before. I am so honored to receive my first from Mom v. the Boys especially since we share the experience of living with many men :) Thanks so much!

For the "One Lovely Blog Award" you need to:

* Thank & link to the person that gave you the award.

* Pass this award on to 15 fantastic bloggers you’ve recently discovered.

* Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won.

I am new to the blogging world so here are the blogs I follow:

1. lunchbox limbo

2. Finding Joy in my Kitchen

3. Foodie Footsteps

4. Lunches fit for a kid

5. Wendolina

6. Another lunch

7. Lunch in a box

8. She Saved

9. The Thrifty Mama

10. Organic Deals

1/2 day no lunch

My son has a half day tomorrow so no lunch. It is good for me because with March Madness I haven't had much time away from basketball to pack or plan. See you tomorrow. :)

lunch 3.18.10

THANK YOU amanda at lunchbox limbo for inspiring me yet again this week. Here is my version of your PB&J doggy lunch. It is being served with pineapple, goldfish and carrot sticks and dip.
I had time to do this thanks to dinner tonight at the in-laws for corned beef and cabbage. :)

Happy St Pat's Day All

avoiding the drive thru

We had a night of running around tonight... home from school @ 4:00, karate by 5:30, and music class by 6:15.... so I was able to make some mac n cheese in the hour we were home and steam some broccoli and add some fresh fruit and whala dinner on the go.

So proud.. lunch 3.17.10

I have never had such a cute lunch. I was inspired by melissa at 'another lunch' to make this rainbow for my son's St Patrick's day lunch.
Red - Strawberries, Orange - clementine, Yellow - M&M's, Green - pickles, Blue - blueberries, Purple - red leaf lettuce, and the pot of gold is cheese.

lunch 3.16.10

YEAH! Still on track. I know, I know its only Monday night but I feel good about our routine getting back on track. Here is my son's lunch. Ants on a log, clementine, grape tomatoes, and gold fish.

PS - Dinner tonight was a hit with my husband and I. Kids haven't ate yet because they are outside enjoying our extra sunlight. Crab stuffed mushrooms with rice and salad. YUM!

lunch 3.14.10 and groceries

I am ahead of the game now. Finally a weekend to get caught up. Now, I have to be honest I didn't do much cleaning, but I do have muffins in the oven and groceries in the cupboards and fridge. I got some great deals this weekend thanks to my fellow bloggers and tomorrow's lunch is inspired by amanda at lunchbox limbo. Thanks amanda!

Salad with ranch dressing, organic strawberries, organic chesse, Hormel ham (all natural), and some harvest cheddar sun chips.

Groceries this week
Target = $33.00 ish $7.60 in coupons (I bought some non food and don't want to do math)
Wegmans= $70.75 - $7.10 in coupons
TOTAL = $103.75 and $14.70 in coupons

Kids Yoga

I am super excited because I might be starting a kids yoga class in my area. I was researching the web for what to do with kids in NYC since we are planning a possible trip to the city. I discovered a blog and was inspired by a post about Pajama Yoga. I said to myself, Self... you could do that here in your town. I pitched the idea to the woman who runs my children's music class and she seems interested. I am super excited.

Annie Chun's dinner real fast

This is one of our favorite meals to make. It is quick, easy, healthy, and I can add any veggies I have on hand. The best part is that my husband thinks it tastes as good as take out or at least good enough to replace take out.This night I made a double batch because that is the only way I can have leftovers nowadays. I used carrots, broccoli, chicken, and escarole. Our favorite combination was chicken, carrots, snap peas, and nappa cabbage. The box says it is ready in 10 minutes and if you have a plan with the veggies on hand you can have this ready in about that time. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

I'm in trouble now

I figured out how to download free blog templates and use them so now look out world I will be 'trying on' some new ones to see what I love.

R U KIDDING - school lunch

Soooo to add to the night last night I forgot to put my son's lunch into his backpack this morning so he ended up having to buy lunch today. I asked him what he had and .... wait for it.... a FISH DOG!

WHAT IS THAT?? you might ask. Well it is a fish stick in a hotdog bun. THEN he had chicken nuggets as a side. He did mention that he had alot of peas and carrots as well and that made me feel so much better .... NOT!

Mommy Madness

AHHHHHHH!!!
I am having one of those Mommy Moments!

I can't get caught back up to my routine
The house is a mess
My dinner tonight was a total FLOP
and NOW my picture won't upload with the 2 minutes I have to blog

I am going to go try to do some yoga now and relax or I might go insane

See you soon

lunch 2.10.10

I will have a lunch post by the end of the night. :) I really need a push through this time of the year. At work/school we call this the March through March. Today's weather should help and also we are getting closer to MARCH MADNESS which is one of my favorite times of the year.

See you all soon.

Wish to the void for Stephen Joseph

I am putting this wish into the air that is the internet.... I just couldn't resist this backpack today at a really cute bookstore we visited and I REALLY want the matching lunchbox that I just know a laptop lunch would fit into for my little guy. I know many of you get free items to test and post about so I am just hoping that someone out there will see my wish and make it come true :)

Thanks for listening,
Frosty

Break

We have lost a colleague to cancer yesterday and I wanted to take a small moment to pray for her and her family in this time. No lunch pictures. Be back next week.

Yoga tonight

Might not have pics tonight because I just decided to do yoga instead. I am going to try to pack now but probably won't get back on computer. Till tomorrow!!!

lunch 3.2.10

My son finally has a lunch worth taking a picture of. :) - It is so colorful! Turkey (nitrate free), wrapped around a stick of string cheese,organic strawberries, organic carrot sticks and dip, and Newman's Own pretzels.

I am having leftover pizza (chicken, tomato, and pineapple) and some of the strawberries as well. No picture though! The pizza was a great deal at Pizza Hut ($10.00 and any toppings we wanted) It bailed me out for not remembering to take the chicken out of the freezer.

lunch 2.29.10

In my son's thermos is homemade mac-n-cheese with green beans mixed in, an apple, an cookies that I made for a friend of mine who has celiac (sp?), They are snickerdoodles :)

I am having some of the mac-n-cheese with strawberries (inspired by amanda at lunchbox limbo), some chips, and banana muffins I also made for my friend.

Subway

I wanted to put in a small plug for SUBWAY. We all must have those days when we just must grab and go for a dinner or you only have a half hour between karate and cub scouts and you must eat on the run. Well when we have those moments we head for Subway. Look at these really cute REUSABLE bags that the kids meals came in the other night. I know it isn't the perfect meal but it is pretty good (sandwich, apples, and milk). I have two boys so one gets apples and the other one get chips. They split both and that way they only have a few chips but also some fruit.

School lunch review 2.26

School lunch today is pizza, corn, an apple and chocolate milk. My son had a sleepover last night so I haven't been able to interview him yet on this lunch. I was with him when he made his choices and he also had the option of rice with his corn and he could have gotten diced peaches (i'm sure packed in syrup) instead of the apple. I also don't know what he ate and didn't so I will find that out too.

Tomorrow's lunch is pierogies (in the thermos), cheese wrapped with Hormel natural turkey, pineapple packed in juice, (Wegman's brand), and organic yellow cupcake. I feel better about this lunch. I think it was mostly the big hunk of white bread I served him that made me cringe. Too many empty calories. Who knows!

I am having pierogies also with broccoli and mixed fruit in juice. I have ski school tomorrow so I am a worried about lunches. I got home late tonight too so I feel behind already. This hasn't been a great week. And I had high hopes after my success grocery shopping.

lunch 2.24.10

I am a bit embarrassed about today's lunch. There isn't too much healthy about it. But I suppose that is why I started this venture. To keep myself in check. I know there are days when I slip and pack lunches that don't hold up to my standards. Well this is one of them.

It includes white bread :(, sun chips (not too bad for chips), fruit 'roll up' (better choice than regular ones but not fresh fruit), and ORGANIC CARROT STICKS and dip. (that makes it all better right?) :)

Picture to follow. (If I can bear it)
UPDATE- Here is the photo. And when lunch came home so did almost all of the sandwich and chips. He ate all of the carrots and the simply fruit 'roll up' Go figure!

lunch 2.23.10

My son is having leftover shrimp lo mein in the thermos, a vegetable egg roll (see below), oranges, and organic yellow cake mix made into cupcakes.
This is the one item I bought 'just because' I had a coupon for it. I baked them tonight to have with our shrimp lo mein (details later). They were pretty good. There was one spice that I didn't care for but other than that they were really good and I was pretty happy with the ingredient list. I don't know if I will buy them again but I might try a different variety.


Shrimp lo mein (I made this tonight by throwing together shrimp, broccoli, carrots, escarole, noodles, some soy sauce and chicken broth and a little sweet and sour sauce. I don't think it is actually a recipe but I called it Sweet and Sour Shrimp Lo Mein. I am having a bite of baked egg roll, some pretzels and oranges.