Ideas for Packing a School Lunch

Yet another great link to help in my quest for healthy lunches that my child will actually eat.
http://www.ourbestbites.com/2010/09/kids-week-ideas-for-packing-lunch.html

This website is chock full of ideas. They even have weekly menu plans. Check out their free menu plan on their site www.ourbestbites.com or on this fantastic website with lots of neat ideas and free printables:
http://www.livinglocurto.com/2010/10/week-22-free-meal-plan-by-sara-wells/

If you have a meal plan you'd like to submit you can so so at:
http://www.livinglocurto.com/weekly-meal-plans/

Meal Plan September 5th

Meal planning works so well for our family BUT I absolutely hate having to sit down and do it every week. I'm going to keep the list on here so I can go back and repeat a week if I want- no it didn't just dawn on me to do it, I've just decided that it's time to take the time to type it out and stop whining about it! How almost 40 of me!

Sunday

bbq baby back ribs

ramen salad

corn on the cob

Monday

chicken taquitos

black beans

brown rice

ramen salad

Tuesday

chicken gouda sausage

salad

quinoa

smashed potatoes

Wednesday

crock pot chicken thighs w/ teriyaki marinade

pineapple rice

salad

Thursday

sole w/ breadcrumbs and lemon

cole slaw

reheat leftover smashed potatoes

Twins-elbow mac 'n red sauce

The black bean recipe is on here. Now we're just taking canned beans and throwing in onion and cilantro to make it super easy. The big recipe really is the best though.

We make the pineapple rice with 1/2 water and 1/2 pineapple juice, then throw in the cut up pineapple when it's done.

The quinoa tastes really good made with chicken stock instead of water. Try the chicken stock packets from Trader Joes. They make 1 cup of stock. We add feta, basil, kalamata olives and tomato w/ some olive oil to brighten it up on Day 2 for lunch or a side.

That was too much cabbage in one week!

Coleslaw Crunch Salad

Serves 12

1-    1lb bag coleslaw mix

2-   2.8oz. pkgs. Ramen Soup

1 cup toasted sunflower seeds

1 cup toasted slivered almonds

1 bunch green onions, chopped

3/4 cup vegetable oil

½ cup sugar

1/3 cup white vinegar (you can use part rice vinegar if you like the flavor)

In large bowl combine coleslaw, noodles from ramen (preserve the seasoning packets), sunflower seeds, almonds and green onions.

In small bowl combine oil, sugar, vinegar and seasoning packets. Stir until sugar is dissolved.

Pour dressing over salad and toss.

You can also add golden raisins, mandarin oranges and chopped up raw broccoli.

Alternative to the seasoning packet:

(can't find the recipe, but there is one out there in cyber space somewhere!)