Lunch
The following post about back to school lunches is sponsored by Foodie.com
I don’t know about you, but giant Back-to-School section in the back corner of Target is making me want to jump out of pants in anticipation for school starting back up again …
in over a month.
AHHHH.
So school may not really be right around the corner for us, but at least it’s slowly getting closer. I can’t wait. I love being able to pack up a couple lunches at the same time then send the little guy on his way each school day without having to think about it again.
Sidebar: I can’t believe I don’t have to pack diapers this year either.
But anyways, here are a few ideas I’ve scrounged around for. We’ll have to adapt a couple of them to fit KB’s dietary needs, but they’re still helpful in getting the ideas flowing. A kid can only eat so many sandwiches.
With back to school around the corner, here are some ideas for fun, packable lunches. {If you’re on mobile you might have to click through to see the slideshow collection.}
Happy lunch packing!
Check out 12 Back to School Lunch Ideas
by Heather at Foodie.com
What’s your favorite packable-lunch?
This post is sponsored by Foodie.com
Lunch
Too Fat for Fifteen: Fighting Back – yet another television show about obesity in America. This time, the focus is on teenagers- the first generation that likely won’t live as long as their parents- a scary concept.
The show focuses on teenagers at a boarding school in western North Carolina. A boarding school for weight loss? That’s a first. It makes sense though- how many times have you heard of a kid going to fat camp & losing weight, only to gain it back when they go home.
You’ve got to love the irony- another television show about getting healthy & losing weight. A television show- that you sit on the couch and watch. Hmm. I haven’t watched more than 5 minutes yet, but I have it in my DVR to check out. Have you seen it?
Beans & Beans
Anyways, on to lunch. The next three days are dedicated to leftovers. I have tons of leftovers- I don’t know where they all came from. Probably from the impromptu cookout we had on Friday when I attempted to feed an army instead of 6. Regardless, I need to eat them all before I head to Chicago on Thursday!
Today I had some of the black bean & barley mix with a side of lima beans.
Black beans, barley, onions, pepper, and tons of seasoning- easy & filling.
With a bowl’o beans. Why do lima beans get such a bad rep? I love them!! (Poor lima beans & Brussels sprouts- never given a fair chance.)
Some housekeeping (blogkeeping?) stuff:
Who do I get to meet in Chicago?! I’m excited- the city’s on my list of places I want to visit- I can’t wait!
Injuries, Lunch
Despite indulging in three of my cinnamon rolls this morning, I was starving come lunch time.
I made a veggie quesadilla with green peppers, onions, mushrooms, vegan mozzarella, and veggie joe mix.
I couldn’t fit nearly enough of the lentil combo in the quesadilla, so I piled some along the side.
I think it’s time to put this stuff in the freezer- I seriously have a ton more and I’m not sure how many more days I can eat it.
PT
Today was Round 2 of physical therapy. I was looking forward to going after such a good experience at my first PT session.
I worked with one the athletic trainers today instead of the physical therapist. She started by using the ultrasound machine on my knee to “warm up” the IT band deep down.
Then she did a few minutes of soft tissue massage. Um ‘soft tissue massage’ is a complete misnomer. It is not soft, and I doubt you could classify this as a massage. It felt like a foam roller on steroids. Ouch!!! Even though it hurt, I could feel how well it was working- I wish I could bring her home with me. (Although I’m not sure she appreciated me telling her so…)
Apparently my IT band is well known in the PT gym- for how ridiculously tight it is. Who knew my 5 minutes of fame would be thanks to my tight tissues?! It seems that although the tightest part is around my knee, I also have a pretty big knot further up my leg. Loosening up that knot of tissue should help my knee loosen up. Cool.
Then I graduated to the elliptical!! Woohoo! I was allowed to do 10 minutes, then see how it feels later. Hopefully I’ll get to learn some more exercises & stretches to be doing next time.
Lunch
I’ve loved hearing what’s in everyone’s bags! Looks like I’m not the only random one 😉
Pizza, pizza! Ironically this pizza was significantly better reheated than it was last night. Still not good enough to make me go back, but a definite improvement!
Mmm….pesto, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, red peppers…plus whole wheat crust & soy cheese.
And it stayed crispy in the microwave- a nice bonus! 🙂
I think it’s funny- the husband and I have completely different views of “work from home”. He also gets to work at home- but he works for a big company. He can choose whether to go into a real office, or work from his laptop at home. As long as he’s signed in, he’s “working”. Over the past few weeks I’ve spent at home, I’ve realized “working” has many definitions: sleep, gym, ESPN, PS2….and some work here and then. (He’d probably strangle me for saying that. But he knows it’s true. 😉 )
My experience has been quite the opposite…
Work At Home vs Unemployed
The difference may seem obvious, but to those that have never thought about it, it might not be so clear. I recently transitioned to working at an establishment to working at home, and I’ve come across a lot of other people that work from home as well (probably because I’m just paying more attention.)
![work-at-home-jobs-200x133[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sideofsneakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/workathomejobs200x1331_thumb.jpg?resize=254%2C170 "work-at-home-jobs-200x133[1]")
The first reaction I get when people find out I work from home is something along the lines of “Your so lucky” or “It must be nice to have so much free time!”
Well I am lucky, but it didn’t fall in my lap- I had to work hard to make it happen and it’s no walk in the park. Second, free time? Yes, I make my own schedule, but I’m still working- not jobless.
I’ve had people coming out of the woodwork asking me to do things because I “don’t have a job”. Of course I don’t mind helping people out, but the same way you can’t leave your office for a few hours every day, neither can I.
Ironically, I spend more hours working now that I’m self-employed than I used to “at work”. When you work for yourself, you don’t get sick days, you don’t get paid vacation, and if the job’s not done, you don’t get paid.
Before when I was working at a clinic, when I got off, I was done. I could go home relax, cook, clean, do whatever. Now, I’m always thinking of something else I could get done (and I don’t mean the cleaning!)
Sure, I’m working more now because it’s new- eventually I’ll set “working hours”, etc, just like a “real” job, but for now, it’s 24-7.
FYI I’m NOT complaining- working from home isn’t for everybody, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🙂
If you work from home, what has your experience been like? How to people react to it? If you don’t work from home, what do you think of people that do?
Lunch
After sitting in the car for 6 hours straight on Friday, my legs were not happy with me. I knew sitting in the car for another 6 hours straight after the race was not a good option.
I still needed to get home, but I just decided it’d have to take a little longer, and I stopped a few times on the way to stretch my legs.
My first stop turned out to be amazing. I was searching for the ever-elusive Lululemon Athletica. (Which I completely understand the obsession now- the materials in their clothing are just amazing- the price, however, is outrageous.)
And across the way spotted this:
I knew immediately where I was headed!
I walked in and felt like I heard that music they play when someone finds heaven in a movie. *ahhhhh-hhhhh!*
It was a make-your-own salad & wrap bar!! And fro yo!
I was so overwhelmed with all the amazing choices- I ended up going with the basic wrap, figuring it’d be easy to eat in the car.
The basic build your own option gives you the choice of 3 veggies, a “crunch”, and dressing, either as a wrap or as a salad. For –get this- $6.
Seriously? In the middle of Bethesda? That’s unreal.
You also have the option of adding different proteins, extra veggies, whatever you want.
From what I understand, the ingredients are farm-fresh & local- added bonus! All the packaging is biodegradable, and they are powered by wind energy. You can even bring in your own bowl to use. Awesomeness.
Anyways- I could have stood and stared at the veggie choices forever, but I was within minutes of my parking meter running out and needed to get back on the road.
I quickly chose butternut squash, edamame, black beans, arugula, & almonds, then it was all bundled up in a spinach wrap with lime cilantro jalapeno vinaigrette.
Oh my goodness. SO GOOD. I will definitely be attempting to recreate this. I’ve never even thought of putting all of these ingredients together, let alone in a wrap or salad. I really need to branch out and get more creative!
The dressing was probably the best part. Nice & refreshing lime flavor, with the subtlest hint of heat at the end. I was probably literally jumping up and down in my seat I was so excited about my lunch. Take that fast food drive thru.
Now if only the closest sweetgreen wasn’t 5 1/2 hours away……
Lunch
Dear Graffiti’s Bistro,
Thank you for providing me with an above average lunch of leftovers today.
Sincerely,
Heather
PS I swear it wasn’t me who stole all of your saltshakers
What is it about a night in the fridge that makes the abrasive salty flavor go away?! Or maybe my taste buds are still in hibernation from last night.
I really can’t complain about this awesome hunk of salmon. 😉
I really wish restaurant chefs understood that veggies taste fantastic on their own- they don’t need butter & salt! So sad that some people only taste vegetables at restaurants- they have no idea what they’re really missing!
With a tiny little pile of garlic mashed potatoes. Mmmm.
Nutrition Myths
While I was eating lunch, I was also pouring over the pages of the latest Cooking Light issue. Sometimes their view on “healthy”, “light”, and “nutrition” throw me for a loop. Then I realize their basis for comparison is likely different from my own. Normally gourmet food isn’t associated with being healthy, so in regards to that, Cooking Light is light. Anyway, all I’m saying is that sometimes I take what’s in the magazine with a grain of salt. (Haha. Sorry, I had to.)
Keeping that in mind, I was intrigued with some of the Nutrition Myths they discussed in this issue. While I’m not 100% in agreement with everything they had to say, I found one really interesting:
“Myth: You should always remove chicken skin before eating.”
My first thought? Really?! Yes you should!! But then the explanation:
“A 12 oz bone-in, skin-on chicken breast half contains just 2.5 grams of saturated fat and 50 calories more than it’s similarly portioned skinless counterpart.”
Ok, that’s really not so bad. And 12 ounces is a pretty good size piece of chicken. But still, saturated fat and calories add up. Not totally persuaded yet.
Then the most interesting (to me) piece of information: 55% of the fat in chicken skin is monounsaturated (that’s one of the good ones!).
I had no idea.
By no means am I recommending you start eating your chicken with skin, but I just found it really interesting. I was under the assumption that the skin had no redeeming qualities (except perhaps to retain moisture when cooking). I never really thought about the type of fat in the skin. (You will still not find me eating chicken skin- that really doesn’t appeal to me for other reasons- but that’s a topic for another day, another time.)
I love learning new things I didn’t know I needed to learn!
Learn any interesting nutrition facts recently?
*Disclaimer: I really truly did not steal anybody’s saltshakers. Just in case you weren’t sure. But I do think they should throw a few of them in the garbage 😉
![work-at-home-jobs-200x133[1]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sideofsneakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/workathomejobs200x1331.jpg "work-at-home-jobs-200x133[1]")
