Bento Lunches - Week One

This week I started making Bento style lunch boxes for the kids. I have to tell you - Miss.Bean loved them  and Bub, well he's 12 - he didn't complain so I'll take that as a complement. :) Also every single day the boxes came home empty (well, except for yesterday's but I packed too much), so the kids enjoyed the food that was packed. Best of all I think these were the healthiest lunches I have packed for 5 consecutive days. Unfortunately I only have pictures for 4 days. Today after the kids left when I went to upload the pictures it wasn't on the camera - just a blank file.

Monday

Pizza Roll-Up, Clementine, 2 sugar cookies, veggie sticks & dip. Crackers, Babybel cheese & ham.

Tuesday

Homemade mini-pancakes & sugar-free syrup, smiley boiled egg, fresh strawberries & blackberries, cucumber slices, a hidden cheese stick. Babybel cheese, grapes & checkerboard apple half.

Wednesday

Small whole wheat bagel with ham & romaine lettuce, baby carrots & dip, Clementine & cheese crackers. Frozen sliced strawberries & mango pieces.

Thursday

Leftover meat pie, apple slices, fresh kiwi & blackberries, sliced mushroom, baby carrots & dip. Frozen sliced strawberries & mango pieces, cheese stick.

No picture for Friday

Lunch - Scrambled egg burrito, fresh blackberries & strawberries, baby carrots, celery sticks & dip, cheese crackers.  Snack - Clementine, grapes & cheese stick

Bento Lunches - Week One

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Mamavation Monday - May 3, 2010

So it's been a few weeks since I've written a post for Mamavation Monday. It's not because I've given up, although some of this may sound like I have. I'm taking a different approach to it with the help of Freeman Michaels and his book Weight Release: A Liberating Journey.  The just do it and diet is not working for me & hasn't worked for me in the past.  I've lost weight in the past only to find it again.  So this time I'm not losing anything, I'm working on releasing the weight. Figuring out why I use food the way I do and learning how to forgive and love myself.  I've only been in the process for a few weeks and Freeman has now graciously started giving me one on one coaching, but the process is far from easy.  I'm learning a lot about myself. Lots of it isn't easy to finally face but I'm going to stick with it.  This is the first time in my entire life that I feel like this is going to work.
So my scale has been put away. I haven't stepped on it in weeks. I'm not sure that I have lost weight..some days I feel like I have, but today isn't one of those days. I am working on making self-honoring choices when I want to turn to food for whatever reason (there are lots of reasons), and that isn't always easy.  I haven't been doing a "work-out" in awhile.  I still do my 6 minute #NEWO but that's about it.  I go for walks when the weather has cooperated.  But I haven't done a video workout or whatever in a few weeks. I just don't want to right now. I am thinking about it however, trying to think what I do want to do - what do I enjoy doing...I love swimming, love it.  Maybe I should see if there is somewhere I could go to swim laps or something hmmm.
As far as meal plans - well a few weeks ago I decided to be vegetarian (after viewing Earthlings).  I've been raw vegan off and on for two years so this isn't a big leap for me.  So as far as meals go, my meals are very healthy.  Even the snacks that are around the house aren't that bad (since nearly everything is homemade), but it's the quantity I eat it in, because I'm eating for something other than hunger..It's not even a binge - it's just if there are cookies on the counter I'll have one, and then I'll go back, and go back...you get the idea. I'm working on those self-honoring choices...I'm working on it.
So that's what's going on with me.  I'm sure as I move further along in the process I'll be adding in more real exercise and maybe one day I can use the scale again. But right now I just need to learn to love me for me - all of me, even the jiggly bits that I don't like.
Love ya sistas! You're all doing so well, I still read and watch the tweets but I feel like I'm not on the same playing level you are so I don't know what to say. And that is the reason I haven't written a Monday post in a few weeks.

Mamavation Monday - May 3, 2010

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Menu Plan Monday - May 3 - 7

I can't believe it is May already! April sure seemed to fly by. Only 2 more months until summer vacation. :)
So a few new things with the menu - I'm now eating a full vegetarian diet.  The raw vegan eating really works best for my body but the expense financially is huge.  Maybe if my garden grows I can go back to raw vegan for the summer but for now I'm happy eating vegetarian. Also I have started (this week) making all 3 kids the same lunches in bento box style. I'm thinking end of the week or weekend doing a post with pictures and what's in each box to help others that need lunch ideas for their kids.

So that's all my goings on.  Here's this week's menu:

*Please note - I use organic, local ingredients when possible (including meat & eggs). Also the recipes usually call for all- purpose flour. I usually use a mix of 1/2 whole wheat & 1/2 white or just all whole wheat. Remember a recipe is just something to go by, feel free to change them up for health/your family's tastes.*


Healthy Eating Menu for Mommy{Sunday - Saturday}


Breakfast:

• Small ww bagel drizzled with local honey & 1/2 cup organic yogurt or Instant Dream Waker Oatmeal

Lunch: 

• Raw Salad (containing some legumes or lean protein if I desire) and/or Soup of the Week : Lentil Veggie Soup

Snacks:

• Morning -  Fresh Fruit
• Afternoon - Green Smoothie

Toddler Snacks {Monday - Friday}:

• Monkey Platter
• Clementine & Almond milk
• Yogurt and Graham crackers
• Homemade fruit bread and Almond Milk
• Bread sticks & Avocado Dip 

Regular Cooked Menu {Monday - Friday}

Breakfast:

• Monday - Oatmeal, juice or milk
• Tuesday - French Toast, juice or milk
• Wednesday - Homemade fruit bread, yogurt, juice or milk
• Thursday - Oatmeal, juice or milk
• Friday -  Scrambled egg sandwich, juice or milk

Lunch {All kids will have the same lunches in Bento boxes}:

• Monday - Pizza Roll up, veggies & dip, Clementine, homemade sugar cookies, juice & water
• Tuesday - Boiled egg, mini pancakes, cucumber slices, cheese stick & fresh fruit salad, juice & water
• Wednesday - Ham Sandwich, carrot flowers, banana, cheese crackers,potato salad, bunny apples, juice & water
• Thursday - Homemade Chicken nuggets, Smiles potato patties, mango & strawberries, carrots & dip, juice & water
• Friday -  Mini babybel cheese, crackers, cheese & spinach quesadilla, cucumber & tomato salad, mixed fresh fruit, juice & water

Supper:

• Sunday - Grilled sausages & Spinach, mushroom & feta stuffed baked potatoes (Vegetarian: Just the baked potatoe)
• Monday - Meatless Monday - Pancake supper (make extra mini pancakes for lunch tomorrow)
• Tuesday -  Meat Pie, Potato Salad, & Steamed broccoli (Vegetarian: salad or soup)
• Wednesday - Carnitas & Mexican Rice. (Vegetarian: Warm Tomato, Spinach and Kidney Bean Wrap & Mexican Rice) 
• Thursday - Taquitos (made from leftovers) & leftover rice (Vegetarian: leftovers from Wednesday)
• Friday -  Grilled Pizza or Pepperoni Bread (depends on the weather) and salad

Need more menu planning ideas? Then head over to Laura's @ I'm an Organizing Junkie. Also if your interested in more vegetarian, flexitarian or whole foods menus please check out Jenna's Mindful Menus.

Menu Plan Monday - May 3 - 7

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