A Lunchbox Shopping List to Cringe at..

Making lunches for 2 adults and 4 kids can be quite expensive! I actually think we use less food when we are at home, rather than packing to go to school & work - tonight I made Monday's lunches, ready for the morning and this is what I used;

• 6 Bread rolls
• 150g Ham
• Cheese
• 2 Tomatoes
• 1/2 Cucumber
• Handful of Spinach Leaves
• 10 Cheerio Sausages
• 6 Muesli Bars
• 2 x Tins of Tuna
• 1 x Box of Arnotts Shapes
• 6 x Apples
• 6 x Poppers/Juices
• Handful of Snakata Corn Chips
• 1 x Packaged Cheese dip/crackers
• 2 x Yoghurts
• 1 x tin of baby corn.

OMG! No wonder I find myself in the grocery shop every day.. And I'm not even one to use all that much pre-packaged food (I usually wouldn't use muesli bars as I typically make Muffins, but didn't get around to it this weekend as yet) as boxes of such snacks etc don't last long in our family, unless you buy in bulk.. 1 lunchtime equals a whole box of these products normally because they only contain 4-6 serves.. so I usually fill containers with crackers, cut up fresh food etc..

This term we only have my step kids every 2nd weekend, so the lunch list isn't this offensive every day, but next term when we have them for the entire term, it will be.. and then their will be another little mouth to feed too! .. Some of my favourite lunchbox snacks for the kids are;

• Cut up cherry tomato, olive and cheese.
• Sandwiches or wraps with various fillings.
• Snakata Rice Cracker Corn Chips with a container of salsa to go with.
• Various Muffins, Pikelets or homemade cookies
• Fresh fruit cut up! Grapes, Watermelon, Apple Slices, Orange pieces, mandarin, grapes.
• Cheese sticks cut up from home.. rather than those plasticy shop bought ones..
• Cheese and Vegemite scrolls.
• Tins of tuna with crackers to go with

I always pack the kids 3 individual lunch boxes for school and send along a fruit juice box/popper and a drink bottle filled with fresh cold water.  The reason I pack 3 lunchboxes is to ensure the kids have a sufficient amount of food for each break and it stops the older ones eating all of their packaged food during 1 lunch break (which I was finding to be a problem..) Kids need a sustained release of energy over the entire day and I find, this way, it ensures they aren't under or over eating at each of their breaks.

The first lunch box if for munch and crunch or brain food time, which our school participates in, where the kids are allowed a healthy snack during school time usually 10am.  For this break I send cut up fresh fruit or crackers..

The next lunch box is for first break and it contains a piece of fruit cut up and usually a muffin/cookie or yoghurt.

And the third lunchbox is for 2nd break which contains a sandwich (or equiv.. wrap, pasta, tin of tuna etc..)  some cut up olives, cherry tomatoes, cheese etc.. and a small treat such as a lamington finger/biscuit etc.. (depending upon what the other lunchboxes have contained..)

I mix these up often and the best thing I have found for the kids lunchboxes is a sectioned container which has a large part and 2 smaller parts.. perfect for 2nd break. I fill this up and add it to a zipped cooler bag with a frozen water bottle and it ensures their lunch stays healthy and fresh til 2nd break!

Meal Planning Monday..

The weather is still quite warm, so many nights I just crave a simple salad and not too much excessive cooking in the hot kitchen! My favourite addition to my salads at the moment are; mini Roma tomatoes, balsamic dressing (KRAFT FREE) and beetroot.. yummo.  We've had quite a random weekend of food, however, and I'm really looking forward to a big plate of veggies so some of my food choices may reflect this! 

Monday - Apricot Chicken Breast with Veggies.
(peas, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot & pumpkin).

Tuesday - Pasta Bake with additional tinned tomatoes & a tomato based sauce.

Wednesday - Baked Fish and Salad w/garlic bread.
(spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes, olives, cheese, carrot, asparagus & beetroot)

Thursday -  Spaghetti Bolognaise with rice.

Friday     -  Eat out night! :)

Saturday -  Green chicken curry with rice.

Sunday -     Roast pork with roast vegies! (and of course GRAVY!)
(jacket potatoes, pumpkin, corn cobs, zucchini, capsicum & carrots)

Simple Family Pleasures.. are the greatest!

I just read a post on the Organised Housewife about one's favourite activity or past time to do with one's family and pondered some of the things that we do in our home.  Some of my favourites are;

•  Cooking together, baking and making yummy treats.. most recent was mini pizzas!
•  Having a movie night with blankets and pillows.. whether it be at home or the drive in, this is a great way to have a relaxed night.
• Board games! we have tons of board games, perfect for all occasions and frustrations!
• Playing the Wii together as a family (although this can get quite competitive!)
• Gardening together, or playing in the backyard together. I love watering the gardens..
• Taking a drive as a family to a new or favourite destination.
• Visiting the local art gallery, park or swimming pool.
• Cuddling up every night, tucked up in bed and reading a chapter from our Enid Blyton book, 'The Wishing Chair'. 

Life can get super hectic, so the time that we spend doing these things is really special and I try to fit in some of this quality time each and every day.  The other night we made really yummy pizza's and had so much fun mucking about in the kitchen (safely of course!)

Carefully placing his toppings.. so proud of his creation..

Before they were popped into the oven..

Making a pink milk while we wait for dinner to cook..

(and eating leftover toppings of course!)

Yummo! It tasted Divine..

Mine had a few more extras.. spinach and tuna..

And even the baby 'bump' got a piccy in.. must have wanted pizza too ;)

A great night was had by all.. xo

Here's to simple family pleasures!

Meal Planning Monday...

Well technically it is 'Tuesday' but it's still the middle of the night (and I fell asleep earlier..) and Meal Planning Tuesday just doesn't have the same ring to it! So here is what's on our dinner agenda this week!  Cupcake Monday due to my crazy cleaning urges of late has been delayed until tomorrow!

Monday -       Beef Stroganoff (My ultimate favourite!!!)

Tuesday -      Homemade Mini Pizza's!

Wednesday - Chicken Taco's using chicken breast & Soft taco shells.
                   (So looking forward to these..)

Thursday -    Beef Provencale Casserole - so rich and tomato infused!

Friday  -       Night off from cooking - YAY!

Saturday -    If the weather is fine a BBQ, if not, Spaghetti Bolognaise..

Sunday -      Roast of the week.. (ummmm.. Chicken??)
                   followed by Apple Crumble and custard.

Now the meal planning is taken care of for the week, shopping tomorrow will be much easier!  

Oh and if you've got a little time spare, feel free to check out my new blog page which you can access across the top tabs, 'Before Chaos and After Organisation'..