Mommyville — Ma Whats For Dinner?

Tasty Tidbit – Sandwiches

September 13, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 3 Comments

Now that school is back in full swing…

There are very important things to remember when packing a sandwich.

Nobody likes a soggy sandwich!

courtesy of Justeat.com

So be sure to follow these important rules!

And keep your kids, or yourself, smiling!

1. Never add tomato directly to the sandwich! Always pack them on the side to be added later.

2. Leave off the condiments. Pack individual packets of mayo or mustard on the side.

3. Pack lettuce and pickles separately too. They may add crunch, but can also lead to sogginess.

4. Try toasting the bread! It holds up way longer.

Filed Under: Cooking Tips, Getting Kids To Eat, Lunch Ideas For Kids Tagged With: bag lunches, lunch boxes, soggy sandwich

9/11 We Remember

September 11, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 2 Comments

We will always remember.

We will never forget.

courtesy of ussartf.org

Erica and Mark…

Thinking of you today.

Your lights put out too soon.

For both of you and all the victims…

We Remember.

We will never forget.

Filed Under: Ma's Memoirs, Mommyville Tagged With: 9/11

Back to school week – lunch box makeovers

September 8, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 5 Comments

When I was a kid I remember sitting down at the lunch table…

And then the swapping would begin!

I’ll trade you a pudding pack for a fruit roll up?

Let’s be honest…

Many of the things in a school lunch box can leave your kiddos feeling…

Well…

A bit flat…

So here are some quick and easy lunch box makeovers that’ll keep your kids moving!

Bagged Potato Chips

Everyone knows that potato chips are bad for you. They’re high in calories, fat, sodium and carbs. Yet they are a staple in almost everyone’s lunch box.

Next time try a cup of roasted kale chips. It’s delicious, crunchy, and good for you, and a fraction of the calories, fat and carbs. Perfect along side a sandwich. Not to mention you cut out massive amounts of calories and you can make your own and pack it in re-useable snack packs saving money and the environment!

Fruit Roll Ups

These sugary sweets are lurking in almost every brown bag at the lunch table! They pack an enormous 100 calorie punch for very little nutritional value. They contain 4 different variations of sugar and plenty of dangerous food colorings. Plus they come stuck to those plastic backings that will still be in landfills at the dawn of the next ice age.

Instead try some delicious dried fruit like pineapple and mango. They offer the same sweet soft taste but don’t have any of the chemicals, and you get the benefit of added fiber! Pair it with some shelled sunflower seeds and roasted almonds in another re-useable snack pack and your kids will benefit from the added protein punch!

The ol’ PB&J

We all love our peanut butter and jelly, but in today’s schools it may be downright dangerous. Many schools how outlaws all tree nuts so that pb&j is contraband.

Instead of the old sandwich standby try some soup in a thermos for lunch! Pack a whole serving of veggies with some minestrone or tomato. Show them you’re thinking of them with some homemade chicken and whole wheat noodle. Soups are a fantastic way to get wholesome foods easily into your kids and if you use that thermos everyday, think of all those plastic sandwich bags you’re saving from the landfill!

Filed Under: Cooking Tips, Getting Kids To Eat Tagged With: chips, fruit rolls, Kale, lunch box alternatives, soup, thermos

Back to School Week – Lunch Box Tips

September 6, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 7 Comments

My oldest son, Keegan, is super excited.

This is the first year he gets to eat in the cafeteria at school.

Suddenly, the pressure seems immense…

Not only do I have to please his palate…

But of course I feel like I have to pack a lunch that would make all the other kids at the table want to trade for…

But Keegan wouldn’t trade right?

I mean he wouldn’t dare….

So here is some lunch time help for you….

A few lunchbox tips to make the back to school re-entry extra smooth.

1. Let your kids pick their own fun lunch box for the year. They’re more likely to eat it if it comes in a fun carrying case.

For the record, Keegan has Spongebob and Brady picked a lovely Shrek, that burps.

2. Be sure to stock up on plenty of portable ice packs. It’s very important to keep your child’s lunch cold. In my experience, these have a tendency not to make it home, so I buy extra.

3. Switch it up. Don’t pack the same ol’ sandwich every day. Try different breads or roll, maybe a wrap or hotdog or quesadilla.

4. Provide extra protein with dips like hummus or quacamole along with veggies sticks and crackers for your kids to dip.

5. Let your children come to the store with you to pick out healthy snacks and sandwich staples. They’re more likely to eat what they had a hand in picking.

6. Don’t forget the fruit. It can act as a dessert and gives kids the fiber and boost to get through the remainder of the day.

7. Skip the soda! Pack your kids a frozen water bottle (acts as an ice pack) or low fat milk or low sugar juice box. Most drinks are just empty calories so it’s best to stick with the H2O!

8. Use cookie cutters to cut your child’s sandwich into fun shapes.

9. Don’t forget to pack a note telling them to have a good day. My mom used to write notes on my napkins and my dad would write “I love peanut” on the front of my lunch bag. Not the least bit embarrassing!

Thanks to wikipedia for the use of the pictures.

Filed Under: Cooking Tips, Featured, Getting Kids To Eat Tagged With: lunch box, lunches, school lunches