A New Year, A New Mandate

I've been photographing my kids' lunches for the last 3 weeks (almost) every day, yet I seem to have a block when it comes to posting them on this blog! 

So, I started to think a bit about why I was doing the blog.  I really wanted to show that it is possible to put together a variety of healthful lunches for your kids that get past nitrate-laden luncheon meats and transfat-full peanut butter sandwiches (check your ingredient list on the peanut butter you buy - many have partially hydrogenated fats in them (aka trans fats) which are very harmful to your health and that of your kids).

Perhaps the past 50 odd days have inspired a few of you to think outside the lunch box, but I don't think the format is the most helpful to demonstrate how it is possible.

So, instead of blogging daily to show what I put in the lunchbox, I'm going to switch it up and offer my favorite time-saving tips, healthful recipes and just plain fun food.

To all of our health and vitality in 2011!

Karen

Day 57 - Omelet on a Waffle

Sounds more like a double breakfast, doesn't it?

I was making the kids an omelet this morning, complete with kale, leeks and feta - when I realized they would not have room (or time) to eat it.  I had two left over waffles (whole wheat, of course) from another breakfast, so I figured I could cobble together something interesting!  I even had this maple tapenade which added some maple flavor without the stickiness to the 'sandwich'.

It all worked out!  Along with some oranges.

Kale, Leek & Feta Omelet

 Incidentally, I threw out all my teflon pans (the toxic chemicals in there...don't get me started), so now I use cast iron to do the messy egg cooking.  As long as you line the pan with a little oil, natural non-stick surface!

Whole Wheat Waffle

Omelet sur la waffle...

Oranges

Day 56 - Stir Fry

Today's lunch went over like a lead balloon.  It's now dinnertime, and guess what my kids are eating?  Yes, lunch...with a little shredded romano on top!

Menu
- Stir Fry - spinach, leeks, potato gnocchi, brown rice (yes, a little unusual, but it did taste good - the gnocchi was more like added potato)
- Apple & Mango Chips
- Oatmeal Sesame Square

(Of course the apple/mango chips and the oatmeal sesame square were eaten at lunch.)

Apple & Mango Chips (homemade)

Stir Fry

Oatmeal Sesame Squares

Day 55 - Macaroni & "Cheese"

Well, giving into the vegan spirit (almost), I used my roasted squash puree for the 'cheese' in my macaroni and cheese dish.  Full disclosure - I did sprinkle some romano cheese on top (with some panko bread crumbs). 

In the lunch bag today:
- Macaroni & "Cheese"
- Cucumbers & Black Bean Hummus

OK, the macaroni is actually whole wheat penne...

Macaroni & "Cheese"

Cucumbers & Black Bean Hummus

Day 54 - White Bean Soup

Monday is usually a cacophony of weekend leftovers.  Yesterday was no exception!

- White Bean Soup (yes, more homework for my vegan chef school)
- Baby Cucumbers
- Black Bean Hummus
- Apple
- Vegan Halvah

Let's start with the halvah.  Our last class, we had a guest instructor:  Fran Costigan - gourmet vegan pastry chef.  I had to (of course) pick up her cookbooks.  I may be a decent cook - but am very lacking in the baking department (likely due to my lack of patience and precision in measuring).  For a playdate where I had to be sensitive to a nut allergy, I made these sesame oat squares, which turned out tasting like really good halvah.

Sesame Oat Squares (Halvah)

If you want to check out her cookbook - here it is!

White Bean Soup

Baby Cucumbers

Black Bean Hummus (tastier than it looks)

Organic Gala Apples

Did you know apples were one of the most highly pesticided crops?  Buy organic...

Day 53 - Millet Croquettes

Menu
- Millet Croquettes with Dill Sauce & Lemon
- Baby Cucumbers
- Homemade Halvah
- Apple

The Millet Croquettes come from my homework - I don't think I mentioned this - I'm back in school, chef school that is!  Vegan chef school to be exact.  The croquettes were one of my first homework assignments.  While the plate below is what it looked like when we had it at home for dinner, the lunch version was not quite as fancy!

Millet Croquette with Dill Sauce & Lemon

Just the croquettes...

Baby Cucumbers

Homemade Halvah

Day 52 - Pasta & Soup

There weren't enough of one leftover to go to both kids, so I took two leftovers.  Made for a large lunch bag with two thermos', but it worked out.

Today's Lunch
- Pasta with Spaghetti Squash
- Potato & Leek Soup
- Baby Cucumber
- Apple & Mango Chips

Pasta with Spaghetti Squash

 

 

 

Potato & Leek Soup

Baby Cucumbers (with Banana for perspective)

Apple & Mango Chips

Day 51 - Herb Pizza

Day 51 Lunch:
- Herb Pizza (leftovers, of course)
- Carrot Sticks
- Petite Gala Apple

I got a little crazy on the carrot sticks - which was OK, they served as a great snack later in the afternoon. 

Herb Pizza

Lots 'o Carrots

See how small the Gala apple is?  Perfect kid size...

Day 50 - Avocado, Tomato & Mozza Salad

What's tastier than fresh tomatoes, avocados and raw mozzarella?   Add in a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar...yes, that is better!

A simple but crowd-pleasing lunch today:
- Caprese Salad with Avocado (same thing as title)
- Seeded Flatbread
- Apple and Mango Chips

Fresh Tomato & Avocado

Chopped up with raw mozza, olive oil & balsamic

Seeded Flatbread

Apples & Mangoes in the Dehydrator

Day 49 - Whole Wheat Orzo & Veggies

A day to clean out the veggies!

I don't take credit - while I was out all weekend, my husband made great use of what was left in the veggie drawer in the fridge.  Using onions, spinach, bok choy, broccoli and Brussels sprouts - he made a huge pot of orzo (pasta) with veggies.  Lots left over for today's lunch.

Lunch Bag for Monday
- Whole Wheat Orzo & Veggies
- Grapes
- Pumpkin Seeds

Orzo & Veggies

Pumpkin Seeds

Grapes

Day 48 - Monster Sandwich

OK, out of groceries, out of slick ideas.  So, I'll just use my son's creative vocabulary to make Friday's meal sound interesting!  My son doesn't say Munster cheese - rather, Monster cheese.  :)

Lunch:
- Monster Sandwich
- Cherry Trail Mix
- Grapes

The sandwich on sprouted whole grain bread.  Sprouts, food energetics-wise, are vital life forces.  Proponents of this theory  eat lots of sprouted foods for optimal health.  I've bought into this theory, and am trying to incorporate more and more sprouts into our family's menu.

Monster Sandwich

Cherry Trail Mix

Grapes

Day 47 - Penne & Spagetti Squash

The Meal
- Penne & Spagetti Squash (with Feta)
- Organic Red, Seedless Grapes

Penne & Spagetti Squash

Grapes

Day 46 - Black-Eyed Pea & Veggie Pilaf

Wednesday Lunch Bag:
- Black-eyed peas & veggie pilaf
- Baby Bel Cheese
- Apple

The pilaf, of course, is brown rice.  I found some greens, carrots & onions to add the veggie content.  Basically, I just sautee the onions (with garlic), then add in the rice, cooked black-eyed peas, add the liquid (stock) bring to a boil, cover, simmer for 30-45 minutes.  Near end, I add in the veggies, which have been stir fried separately.  Healthy and yummy.

Black-Eyed Pea & Veggie Pilaf

 Still loving all the eco-friendly lunch bag supplies!

The Bag

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Day 45 - Melange

Melange - a mixture!

Ok, playing catch up - didn't blog all last week due to, well a bunch of stuff.  But I'm armed with the photos...

Monday we extended our Thanksgiving, so only have Tuesday through Friday to catch up.

Tuesday - Melange
- Cottage Cheese & Cranberries with Tamari Crackers
- Cheesy Kale Chips
- Apple

I was really stretching after all weekend gone and little in the fridge.  This was the best I could do!

Cottage Cheese, Cranberries & Tamari Crackers

Cheesy Kale Chips

Day 44 - Fish Taco & Sushi

Rather an odd combo, but the sushi was made on Sunday evening, and likely wouldn't last much longer (first time making sushi - my husband did a great job!).  The fish tacos - well, there was a bit of grilled fish left, and taco shells. 

Menu Ecclectic:
- Fish Tacos (grilled fish, mayo, red lettuce & avocado in an organic tortilla shell)
- Homemade Sushi (shrimp, avocado & cucumber)
- Banana

I don't know about you, but I don't want to participate in the largest (known) experiment on humans - genetically modified food (GMO).  in the US, most conventional corn is GMO, unless you buy certified organic.  Within the definition of USDA Organic, the food cannot be genetically modified.  Hence, only organic tacos, tortilla chips and even frozen corn for this house! 

Sushi

The Fish Taco Ingredients

The Fish Tacos

Fish Taco in Cotton Wrap

First Fold

Second Fold

And so on...

Bananas

Day 43 - Pinwheels

My daughter's birthday party gave us a few leftovers (sorry Stephen)!  I made 3 types of pinwheels to try to accommodate a 4-6 year old audience used to pizza.  First of all - let me tell you  (some of you may know), how nerve-wracking it is to try to cater to an audience of kids who don't exactly eat the way we do, and one of which has a nut allergy!  I usually read the ingredient lists of grocery store items  - which made me go from store to store to find wraps without trans fats; but this time I reread them several times to ensure there were NO nuts even close to the food items used.

I ended up with a couple trays of fruit, veggies & hummus and pinwheels.  The pinwheels were (all on whole spelt, organic wraps): cream cheese, cream cheese and cucumbers, cream cheese & turkey breast (organic with no nitrates added).  I could sleep OK knowing that at my kid's birthday, I was true to my healthy food philosophy (vegans forgive me...).

Lunch Bag
- Pinwheels
- Carrots, Cucumbers & Hummus
- Fruit Salad
- Blueberry Scones

Pinwheels

In the Stainless Container with Cucumbers & Carrots

 I don't usually buy individual-sizes for food (for environmental & pricing concerns), but for the birthday party, it seemed a better idea to use these little ones.

Individual-Sized Hummus

 This might look a little unappetizing!  I made melon (cantaloupe) balls for the party (for fruit kabobs) and used the leftovers for this fruit salad (very odd shapes - if you were in manufacturing, you'd understand the term offal).  Also had leftover pineapples that didn't make it on the kabobs.  Voila, next day's fruit salad.

Fruit Salad

And finally, the last of last week's blueberry scones!

Blueberry Scones