October School Lunches!

The best part of October lunches was making treats "for the kids."  I've gotten some questions on what I feed my younger two and, generally, I feed them the same thing I send with my Kindergartener!  They're both pretty good eaters, but need variety so they don't get bored eating the same thing every day.

 

[PB&J, banana, Gogurt, Football shaped pretzels, confetti sugar cookies]

[Halloween Mac 'n Cheese, Trader Joe's organic Animal Crackers, Grapes]

[Annie's Mac 'n Cheese, Greek Yogurt w/ Sprinkles, Broccoli]

[PB&J, Cheez Itz, and Mixed Fruit]

[Homemade Lunchable: Chicken Chunks, Cheddar Cheese, Pretzel Sticks, Mini Cookies, & Grapes]

[Turkey, Cheese, Crackers, Banana Muffin, Grapes, & Dark Chocolate Chips]

[Spaghetti & Meatballs, Garlic Knot, Grapes, Mini Cookies]

[Beef & Cheese Burrito, Smoothie, Bitsy Brainfood Cookies, & Mixed Veggies]

On the day we made 'lunchables,' someone spilled Stevie's lunch and it was the worst day ever until they gave him pizza from the cafeteria.  I was SO THANKFUL when Stevie told me that one of the ladies that works in the school café took him back and got him a lunch when he was crying because I can only imagine his sweet little face when his food fell to the ground.

I scored a couple of boxes of Bitsy Brainfood Cookies from Target for next to nothing with a coupon on Cartwheel and he LOVES them; they're shaped like letters and the ones pictured are made from organic beets and chocolate!  I really like to give my kids 'fun food' and I try to make it homemade most of the time, but these are such a good option for quick grabbing.  Total bonus buy!

School Lunch Roundup!

Good news, guys:  I'm learning that taking pictures of food on a white surface makes it look much more appealing.  I'm sure this is as exciting for YOU as it is for me.

 

[My mom's Mac 'n Cheese, Grapes, & Mini Cookies]

[Turkey Roll ups, Grapes, Football Pretzels, & Greek Yogurt w/ Sprinkles]

[Chicken Chunks, Horizon Organic Cheese Shapes, Grapes, & Broccoli]

 

[Pb&J, Goldfish, & Chocolate Covered Oreo]

[Spaghetti & Meatballs, Grapes, & Chocolate Graham Crackers]

Things I learned: 

- Spaghetti & Meatballs is a total family favorite!  The kids loved it the night I made it and for leftovers, which is VERY rare; definitely going back in the rotation!

- One word: Grapes.  Kids love grapes.  They're like $30/lb, but the kids freak out over them, so it's worth it.

- Kids at school think you're super awesome when your mom packs you anything with chocolate.

- Anything cut or made into shapes is really good times. 

School Lunch Roundup.

Stevie was sick one day, so we're one short of two weeks worth.  And I was sick for what felt like 2348932839 days.  I actually still have a sore throat, but I don't feel like I'm dying so that's a plus.  Before you judge how many PB&J's you see, remember that I was on my death bed.

[Chicken Nuggets, Annie's Mac 'n Cheese, Banana, Chocolate Covered Blueberries]

[Chicken Taco, Corn, Applesauce w/ Sprinkles]

[Annie's Mac 'n Cheese, Banana, Pretzles w/ Nutella]

[PB&J. Raspberries, Oreo Cookies, Gogurt]

[Chicken Lo Mein, Goldfish, Chocolate Covered Blueberries]

[P&J Stacks, Banana, Cheez Itz, Carrots]

[Confetti Pancakes, Pineapple, Raspberries]

[PB&J, Banana, Carrots, Craisin/M&M mixup]

[Chicken Roll ups, Cheddar Cheese, Tortilla Chips, Pineapple, Annie's Fruit Snacks]

Things I learned last week:  I can get the kids up, fed, and out the door in 20 minutes.  Pretty proud of that, NOT so proud of what I may have looked like dropping my kid off at the bus stop.  Stevie could give a crap less if his lunches aren't different and fun; he's just happy to eat.

Lunchtime Trickery.

And the charade continues...



 

[PB&J, Strawberries, Cheez-Its, Yogurt]

[Chicken Nuggets, Peas & Carrots, Blueberry/Dark Chocolate Mix up]

[Homemade Lunchable: Turkey, Cheddar Cheese, Crackers, Annie's Gummies, Strawberries/Blueberries]

[Chicken Tacos, Strawberries, Carrots]

[PB&J, Yogurt, Chocolate Brownie Cookie, Carrots]

Things I learned this week:

Freezing Gogurt is really smart!  It acts as a way to keep the cold stuff cold in the lunchbox and thaws out by lunch time (which is at 10:45 here aka late breakfast).

Stevie will ALWAYS prefer a PB&J over anything else; I let him choose his meals this week.

Peas & carrots are just as uncool as spelling 'love' with toothpicks and NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE LOVED THE DINNER THE NIGHT BEFORE, it's still unacceptable for lunch the next day. 

Lunchtime Trickery.

A little inspo for you moms already over the school year lunches.  I'm a newbie, so I'm still diggin' it, but only time will tell how long I can keep this up.

[Turkey Roll ups w/ Cheese Stick, pretzel rod, strawberries, & blueberry/dark chocolate chip mix up; snack - apple w/ graham crackers]

[Annie's Mac n Cheese shells, Applegate hot dog, green beans, & strawberry/blueberry mix up]

[Annie's Mac n Cheese w/ Fixate Taco meat, Tortilla strips, Chocolate/PB granola bar, & salad w/ almonds, cranberries, & apple vinaigrette]

[Annie's Pizza Bagels, cukes, & blueberry/dark chocolate chip mix up]

Things I learned this week:

Salad = Nope, pizza bagels = "not even real pizza," leftovers still suck, & Macaroni n Cheese is still boss.

Also, it's a fun little guessing game to see what he actually eats.

A Little Trickery to Get Your Kids to Eat...

I've found over my 5+ professional years of mothering that my kids will try new things if I make it LOOK fun and inviting (adding little picks and reusable muffin cups).  Stevie struggles with eating meat, but he's BIG on fruits and veggies, so fingers crossed that this rubs off on the kids that come after him.

[Raw Carrots, Strawberries, Mixed Cooked Veggies, & Applegate Chicken Nuggets]

[Cotton Candy Grapes, Strawberries, Turkey Rollups, String Cheese, & Annie's Fruit Snacks]

[Leftover Pizza, Cotton Candy Grapes, Strawberries, & Chocolate Chip Cookies]

[Cotton Candy Grapes, Raw Carrots, & Annie's Mac 'n Cheese]

[Chicken Rollups, String Cheese, Cotton Candy Grapes, Cheese Crackers, & Chocolate Chip Cookie]

What I've learned from the first week of school:  Spelling out 'love' is not really cool, sending leftover pizza makes your child a lunchtime rock star, & grapes that many days in a row is unacceptable.  In my defense, those grapes were ready to go bad & I do NOT waste produce.

Other things I've learned:  This is a lot more fun for me than it is for my 5 year old.  Let me have this one.