Ah it is raining and raining and raining. Finally maybe this is a sign of Fall. I love the cooler weather, and all of the yummy foods that are in season. Speaking of which, it is that time for apple pie making. I love making these for the girls' classes. Yesterday, I took one in for Ruthie's class to include in their apple test-tasting. Now Ruthie, unlike the rest of us, has never liked pie of any sort. So I was super excited and surprised when she came home today exclaiming that the apple pie was fabulous! YAY!!! My little Ruthie likes apple pie now. Now if only I can get Ella to eat almonds, pecans, and other nuts my culinary dreams will come true. :) But anyway, onto the lunches from yesterday and today.
Monday 9/27/10--E's Lunch:
apple slices
colby-jack cheese & seaweed rice crackers
yogurt pretzels
carrot snack sticks (I need to experiment a bit more with this recipe, although Ella loved them I did not)
low-sodium soy sauce (in dip container)
hard-boiled egg
Monday 9/27/10--R's Lunch:
Oatmeal (we love Bob's Red Mill 5-grain Rolled Cereal) with golden raisins
Ham & Cheese muffin (need to experiment with this a bit too)
grapes
Tuesday 9/28/10--E's Lunch:
Ham & cheese on whole wheat roll
apple & orange slices
spelt pretzels
steamed green beans
Tuesday 9/28/10--R's Lunch:
almond butter & jelly sandwich (a duck and tulip shapes today)
orange slices and grapes
spelt pretzels
steamed green beans
Another busy week. The girls seem to really like the lunches they have been taking, and particularly when they get to help make them, but lately they have been asking to buy lunch. I had such grand hopes of them not wanting school lunches, but I know it is hard for them when they see their friends eating corn dogs and pizzas. Ella seems more upset by not being able to finally serve herself in the lunch line, which apparently is a privilege for 3rd graders and beyond. I have no idea how to combat this. :( I only know that the changes we have made are making a difference and I must carry on.
So with that, here are the girls' lunches from this week:
Monday 9/20/10--E's Lunch
pesto ravioli
grapes
cranberry-orange scone
peas
Monday 9/20/10--R's Lunch
grapes
homemade black olive & cheese pizza
cranberry-orange scone
peas
Tuesday 9/21/10--E's Lunch
ham& cheese on whole wheat roll w/ light french dressing
blue corn tortilla chips
mozzarella cheese stick
seaweed rice crackers
yogurt pretzels
mandarin oranges
Tuesday 9/21/10--R's Lunch
almond butter & jelly sandwich (octopus shape almost didn't fit in the box)
spelt pretzels
mozzarella cheese stick
yogurt pretzels
mandarin oranges
seaweed rice crackers
Wednesday 9/22/10--E's Lunch
grapes
Annie's whole grain parmesan mac-n-cheese
ucumber slices
chicken & apple sausage
Wednesday 9/22/10--R's Lunch
grapes
Annie's whole grain Parmesan mac-n-cheese
cucumber slices
chicken & apple sausage
Thursday 9/23/10--E's Lunch
grapes
grilled steak
sweet potato fries (sliced sweet potato that has been spritzed with olive oil and roasted at 400 degrees for about 15 min)
whole wheat roll
oreo cookie
Thursday 9/23/10--R's Lunch
banana
ham slices
sweet potato fries (see above)
whole wheat roll
oreo cookie
Hmmm where did this week go? Oh I know, dr.'s visits, xrays, and volunteering to help with Grandparents' day crafts (I think they turned out very cute) But today Jamie has the day off so we can get some projects tackled but really we are just relaxing. :) And to start the day we had breakfast on the patio at Whole Foods today. Such a great way to start the day.
But anyway here are the rest of this week's lunches:
Wednesday 9/15/10 -- E's Lunch:
whole-wheat pesto ravioli
greek yogurt with cooked cinnamon apples
grapes
steamed green beans
Wednesday 9/15/10 -- R's Lunch:
grapes
almond butter & jelly sandwich (she chose a horse shape and hearts)
cucumber slices
steamed green beans
Thursday 9/16/10 -- E's Lunch:
Blue corn taco shells
cucumber slices
taco filling (ground sirloin, shredded spinach, and cheddar cheese all melted together for her to fill her own tacos)
grapes
jelly belly jelly beans
Thursday 9/16/10 -- R's Lunch:
whole wheat soft tacos (filled with ground sirloin, shredded spinach, and cheddar cheese
blue corn tortilla chips
grapes
carrot circles with ranch dressing (in dip container)
jelly belly jelly beans
Friday 9/17/10 -- E's Lunch:
cheese tortellini with pesto
sliced apples
peas
grape tomatoes
Friday 9/17/10 -- R's Lunch:
almond butter & jelly sandwich (she chose a fish shape and hearts)
spelt pretzels & mozzarella cheese stick
peas
apple (she didn't want her's sliced)
Last night we had squash with chicken sausage, and all but a bit of the sausage was eaten so I had to cook up some healthy mac-n-cheese to add a bit to today's lunches. It really is a time saver to use leftovers to create the lunches around.
Lunches today:
E's Lunch:
Orange-Cranberry scone
cucumber slices w/ ranch dressing (in dip container)
Whole-grain pasta with cheese (Annie's natural Arthur pasta) and chicken sausage crumbles
orange slices
peas
R's Lunch:
cucumber slices w/ ranch dressing (in dip container)
Orange-Cranberry scone
Whole-grain pasta with cheese (Annie's natural Arthur pasta) and chicken sausage crumbles
orange slices
peas
Today's lunches (Can you tell we had breakfast night last night for supper?):
E's Lunch:
grapes & apple slices
Oatmeal pancake sticks (most delicious pancakes ever! The recipe came from my mother-in-law and is all that we use now when making pancakes.)
mozzarella cheese stick
reduced-fat sausage link & turkey bacon
R's Lunch:
grapes & apple slices
Oatmeal pancake sticks (see above note)
maple syrup to dip (in pink dip container)
mozzarella cheese stick
reduced-fat sausage link
Ok here are the lunches so far this year (I didn't get pictures of the first few days, mainly because I didn't think to do so, but also it was busy enough trying to get back into a routine)
Friday 9/3/10 -- E's Lunch
whole wheat spinach ravioli
strawberries, grapes & blueberriesspelt pretzels
steamed green beans
Tuesday 9/7/10 -- E's Lunch
chicken & apple sausage with whole wheat pesto pasta
cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, & mozzarella cubes
ginger dressing (in dip container for veggie sticks)
greek yogurt with cooked cinnamon apples
grape tomatoes
cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, & mozzarella cubes
ginger dressing (in dip container for veggie sticks)
greek yogurt with cooked cinnamon apples
grape tomatoes
Tuesday 9/7/10 -- R's Lunch
chicken & apple sausage
cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, & mozzarella cubes
ranch dressing (in dip container for veggie sticks)
greek yogurt with cooked cinnamon apples
cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, & mozzarella cubes
ranch dressing (in dip container for veggie sticks)
greek yogurt with cooked cinnamon apples
grapes
Wednesday 9/8/10 -- E's Lunch
corn on the cob
homemade cod nuggets (HERE is the recipe, I made a few changes, such as using whole-wheat Panko instead of bread crumbs and I baked them rather than frying them)
grapes
homemade cod nuggets (HERE is the recipe, I made a few changes, such as using whole-wheat Panko instead of bread crumbs and I baked them rather than frying them)
grapes
edamame
Wednesday 9/8/10 -- R's Lunch
corn on the cob
homemade cod nuggets (same recipe as above)
ketchup (in dip container for her fish)
edamame
grapes
homemade cod nuggets (same recipe as above)
ketchup (in dip container for her fish)
edamame
grapes
Thursday 9/9/10 -- E's Lunch
plum
homemade chocolate chip cookie
chicken & cheese quesadilla
sour cream ( in dip container)
tortilla chips
broccoli
rice pilaf with carrots (Trader Joe's Basmati Rice Medley -- VERY Yummy)
homemade chocolate chip cookie
chicken & cheese quesadilla
sour cream ( in dip container)
tortilla chips
broccoli
rice pilaf with carrots (Trader Joe's Basmati Rice Medley -- VERY Yummy)
Thursday 9/9/10 -- R's Lunch
plum
homemade chocolate chip cookie
chicken & cheese quesadilla
sour cream ( in dip container)
tortilla chips
broccoli
rice pilaf with carrots (see note above)
homemade chocolate chip cookie
chicken & cheese quesadilla
sour cream ( in dip container)
tortilla chips
broccoli
rice pilaf with carrots (see note above)
Friday 9/10/10 -- E's Lunch
grape tomatoes
whole wheat roll
spaghetti, roasted, shredded chicken, and low-fat shredded cheddar/mozzarella
peas
grapes
Friday 9/10/10 -- R's Lunch
almond butter & jelly sandwich (cut with a caterpillar cookie cutter)
rosemary crackers and mozzarella cheese stick
rosemary crackers and mozzarella cheese stick
spelt pretzels
grapes
But at 2 weeks into the school year, all is going well. We had our first parent-teacher conference with Ella's teacher yesterday, at our request. I must admit I had serious reservations about the teacher Ella got this year. After having such a rough time with last year's teacher, I really wanted an experienced teacher for this year. One who was confident enough in her classroom management and curriculum that it wouldn't be difficult for her to make accommodations for Ella, and therefore I wouldn't have to be at the school constantly making sure my child was receiving an appropriate education. I'm just mentally worn out from last year, and didn't want to be constantly fighting battles this year. So I was a bit concerned when we got the letter stating which teacher Ella would have. This is only her 2nd year teaching! Me being the eternal pessimist that I am, immediately wanted a teacher change. So I didn't hesitate to call the principal and voice my concerns. I didn't know anything else about this teacher other than her lack of experience, but that was enough to send me spiraling into my "I can't have another year like last year!" fit. To the principal's great credit she assured me that she considered Ella's placement very carefully and really felt that this teacher's personality and gentleness would be the best fit for Ella. And as for academics, this teacher had the highest test scores of all the 3rd grade team last year even though it was her first year teaching. So we agreed that I would keep an open mind and give her a chance. And I have to say so far I do like her. Our meeting yesterday was very good and we were both thinking similarly on many issues. Ella adores her, although Ella adores all adults even last year's teacher up until the day before the last day of school when she made her cry. So for now, all is well . :)
As to the healthy eating issue we were facing this year, that too has been going well. I ordered these great bento style lunch boxes from Laptoplunches.com and the girls have been having a great time helping me plan out what goes in each day. So far we have mostly used leftovers from dinner to fill the main part of the lunch. I started posting pics of each day's box on my facebook photos but I think I'm going to move those over to here now so I can link up recipes easier and show each week's plan.
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