So, I work part time and the kids are home for the summer. I am the main meal planner, shopper and "cooker" in our house. I plan the main entrees before I go shopping and get what I need. I buy snacks and breakfast and lunch foods too. My kids are pretty simple for breakfast, cereal, toast, pancakes or waffles for breakfast and they are happy. I pack most of their lunches for school because they don't like most of the school lunches. Lunches are a little more difficult especially since I decided to try and make more clean eating and healthier foods...
WHAT WAS I THINKING?!
I was thinking that my children eat strange things throughout the summer. We won't even talk about the summer of 2012 when a jar of peanut butter, package of fortune cookies, block of NY sharp cheese and a box of crackers mysteriously disappeared in less than an hour....
I want my children to be independent they need to know how to take care of themselves and they won't learn if I do everything for them. Usually, I ask them what they would like me to get at the store for breakfasts and lunches. I do not always get everything they ask for, but I try to accommodate within reason. During the school year, the girls get their own breakfast each morning and I pack them a lunch they requested plus some healthy items.
Since summer at our house is a jumble of sleepovers, friends, day trips, and lazy days, I had the brilliant idea of preparing their breakfasts, lunches, and 2 snacks and putting it in a box (upcycled from plastic spinach boxes and plastic tomato containers from Sam's) in the fridge. I put each child name on the box and they are to eat only the food I prepared for them. They can eat it a little at a time or all at once, but once they are done the food in the box they get nothing else until dinner. Simple, easy for everybody...
Less Mess
Less Fuss
Less Disappearing Food
I told the girls the plan and asked what they would like to eat.
Daughter #1 (teenager): I don't care....bacon egg and cheese sandwiches, chicken salad, whatever.
Daughter #3 (3rd Grader): chicken nuggets, cereal, and pears.
Daughter #2 (tween redheaded middle child AKA Nuclear Explosion): I want pizza-I don't like homemade or frozen. I want Mac & cheese, but I don't like the boxed kind, only homemade and chicken nuggets, but only the frozen dinosaur chicken nuggets and BBQ potato chips in the little bags and I'm NOT eating fruit all summer. This should prove to be a challenge.
I plan my meals get my recipes and get ready to go food shopping. Suddenly, the hubby and 2 younger girls want to come shopping. 2 hours later and we are just getting to the store (I had one thing to get at the Amish Market and because everyone was there we had to walk around the whole market. Then we were delayed by "I need new shorts these are too tight" while we were in Target we were weghlayed by "I need new swim goggles", "me too", and the hubby that can't say no to his princesses, "I told them we could stop at Five Below while we were out") Ugh!
Once we finally arrived at the store, one of the first things that was brought up for purchase was Freeze Pops- You know the kind, the no name brand in a mesh bag in a huge bin at the store....."Nope. They are nothing but sugar and food coloring."
WHAT WAS I THINKING?!
I was thinking that my children eat strange things throughout the summer. We won't even talk about the summer of 2012 when a jar of peanut butter, package of fortune cookies, block of NY sharp cheese and a box of crackers mysteriously disappeared in less than an hour....
I want my children to be independent they need to know how to take care of themselves and they won't learn if I do everything for them. Usually, I ask them what they would like me to get at the store for breakfasts and lunches. I do not always get everything they ask for, but I try to accommodate within reason. During the school year, the girls get their own breakfast each morning and I pack them a lunch they requested plus some healthy items.
Since summer at our house is a jumble of sleepovers, friends, day trips, and lazy days, I had the brilliant idea of preparing their breakfasts, lunches, and 2 snacks and putting it in a box (upcycled from plastic spinach boxes and plastic tomato containers from Sam's) in the fridge. I put each child name on the box and they are to eat only the food I prepared for them. They can eat it a little at a time or all at once, but once they are done the food in the box they get nothing else until dinner. Simple, easy for everybody...
Less Mess
Less Fuss
Less Disappearing Food
I told the girls the plan and asked what they would like to eat.
Daughter #1 (teenager): I don't care....bacon egg and cheese sandwiches, chicken salad, whatever.
Daughter #3 (3rd Grader): chicken nuggets, cereal, and pears.
Daughter #2 (tween redheaded middle child AKA Nuclear Explosion): I want pizza-I don't like homemade or frozen. I want Mac & cheese, but I don't like the boxed kind, only homemade and chicken nuggets, but only the frozen dinosaur chicken nuggets and BBQ potato chips in the little bags and I'm NOT eating fruit all summer. This should prove to be a challenge.
I plan my meals get my recipes and get ready to go food shopping. Suddenly, the hubby and 2 younger girls want to come shopping. 2 hours later and we are just getting to the store (I had one thing to get at the Amish Market and because everyone was there we had to walk around the whole market. Then we were delayed by "I need new shorts these are too tight" while we were in Target we were weghlayed by "I need new swim goggles", "me too", and the hubby that can't say no to his princesses, "I told them we could stop at Five Below while we were out") Ugh!
Once we finally arrived at the store, one of the first things that was brought up for purchase was Freeze Pops- You know the kind, the no name brand in a mesh bag in a huge bin at the store....."Nope. They are nothing but sugar and food coloring."
I am a firm believer of not biting off more than you can chew so I split my "cooking" into two days.
Day 1 - Sunday
Make Watermelon Popsicles (www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com/healthy-kids-snack-watermelon-popsicles) - Check!
Make Strawberry Vanilla Popsicles (http://everydayfam.weebly.com/recipes.html) - Check!
Make Breakfast Burgers (http://everydayfam.weebly.com/recipes.html) - Check!
Make Bacon, Egg & Cheese Muffins (http://everydayfam.weebly.com/recipes.html) - Check!
Day 2 - Monday Morning
Make Homemade Chicken Nuggets (www.momables.com/lunchbox-wars-4-chicken-nuggets)
Make No Bake Peanut Butter Honey Bites (www.realityofyou.com/no-bake-peanut-butter-honey-bites)
By the time my little rascals staggered down the stairs on the first day of Summer School Vacation I had their little upcycled lunchboxes packed. The Menu?