Confessions from the Pouch

Our Real Food Lunchbox

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Maggie Crawford | 4 Comments

My sons Kelley and Finnegan are 5 and 3.  Kelley is in kindergarten, and then goes to an afterschool program for a couple of hours (from 1-3).  Finnegan is in preschool during the same hours.  This means that mama’s preparing lunch for these guys every day of the week.  Yeah, every single day (except holidays and those puzzling “in-service” days).

I’m not sure if you are there yet. You know, waking up each morning with the “I have to make school lunches” dread. Stressing over what to put in that fourth container of your kids’ BPA free bento box. Frantically peeling and chopping that last dehydrated carrot in the back of the produce bin because that’s all the plant material left in the fridge. Searching (for what seems like hours) through the Tupperware drawer to find the lid to that fourth container of your kids’ BPA free bento box. I’ll be honest, it’s a grind.

But I must say, things have gotten easier for me. Planning is huge.  Preparing the lunch box the night before is even huger (I just checked Dictionary.com and that is actually a real word). Taking on this Real Food Initiative has helped me on both fronts. The truth is, if you want to eat more real food, you have to be organized, and you have to plan. For example, if I want my kids to have wholesome real food applesauce in a pouch for lunch, instead of one loaded with added sugar and artificial ingredients, I need to do it ahead of time. The good thing about this is if I plan and make it on the weekend, I have enough for the entire week (this recipe is great, you can do it in the slow cooker).

Also, if I plan ahead by making a double batch of a particular recipe, I have extra for the boys’ (and even my) lunches during the week. I’ve been doing that a lot with a recipe from 100 Days of Real Food for macaroni and cheese. And what’s even better about this is, when we finish having this fantastic real food mac ‘n cheese for dinner, I just plop what’s left into the good ol’ bento box and I’m half way to “lunch is packed” heaven.

Leftovers are a true sanity saver for me.  Here’s an example of today’s Real Food Lunchbox with leftover pork (from dinner), French Toast (from breakfast) and cut up fruits and veggies (from the weekend snack).  Having this Real Food Lunchbox already prepared when I woke up this morning was pure bliss.

We want to talk lunchbox with you this week. Let us know your tips for creating healthy, real food school lunches. And check in later in the week for some fun, lunch box give-aways.

-Maggie

Posted in 100 Days of Real Food, 100 Days of Real Food and Little Green Pouch, healthy school lunches, lunchbox, Real Food, real food lunchbox, Recipes