Three Deliciously Easy Harvest Soups to Warm Your Soul

By Lisa Keefauver
Turkey,Squash, and Pasta Soup
1 tablespoon olive oil

2 medium stalks of celery, coarsely chopped

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon dried sage
6 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
3 cups cooked, chopped turkey
1 1/2 cups uncooked tri-colored pasta (your favorite pasta will do)
1 1/2 cups cubed butternut squash
peppered to taste preference

Sautee celery,onion and sage in olive oil over medium heat until onion is soft.
Stir in remaining ingredients and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cover.
Cook for 12-15 minutes, until squash and pasta are tender.

 
Chunky Tomato Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil

2 medium celery stalks, coarsely chopped

2 medium carrots, coarsely chopped

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

2 cans (28oz each) plum tomatoes, undrained
2 cups water
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 cups chicken broth

Heat olive oil over medium heat.
Add celery, garlic and carrots; cook 7 minutes until carrots are crisp.
Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low;cover and simmer one hour.
Garnish with fresh basil and fresh parmesan cheese.


Curried Squash Soup
1 tablespoon butter

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove of garlic

1 finely chopped

1 3/4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup apple juice
2 boxes frozen winter squash (10 oz each), thawed
2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup half-and-half

Heat butter over medium heat.
Add onion and garlic; cook 5 minutes until tender.
Stir in all remaining ingredients except half-and-half; heat to a boil.
Simmer for 5 minutes before adding half-and-half.
Stir in half-and-half and cook until hot. Do not boil.



White Cheddar Biscuits will make a wonderful addition to any of the above soups!
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar
2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
1 egg
1 tsp water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl.
Use a pastry blender to cut in shortening and butter.
Add cheese and pepper; mix well.
Add milk and stir until moist.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface; knead dough until smooth.
Divid dough into 2 inch round biscuits.
Whisk together egg and water; brush over top of biscuits.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

38 Best Soup Recipes and Hearty Stews

Summer is ending and fall is arriving and the soups and stews are waiting to be made for the cold days ahead.  Need a few new recipes?  Get  FREE copy of  38 Best Soup Recipes and Hearty Stews eCookbook, and you'll want to start cooking these soups and stew recipes today. With so many choices, you'll be set all season. Whether you prefer to make your soup in a slow cooker or on the stove top, these one-pot meals are easy, healthy, and budget-friendly. Watch the magnificence of the autumn leaves blazing in the crisp air while you sit back and snack on a bowl or mug containing your favorite sippable supper from the comfort of your home.

Click here to get your FREE 38 Best Soup Recipes and Hearty Stews eCookbook

Surevy Says - My Day School Day Was....

 My kids love when they open their school lunches up and find a note I have enclosed that reminds them I am thinking about the when they are away from me - now they will have even more fun with the Free lunch survey printable I discovered that June Pfaff Daley created for the family Fun magazine.  


This fun lunch survey will give you a peek into what your child's day was like at school and once filled out make a great keepsake to add to their childhood memories.


You can use these over and over again through out the school year.


Click  lunch survey  to print your FREE lunch surveys at Family Fun Magazine.  Click here to visit June Pfaff Daley's website.

Breakfast and Lunch – Made Better, For Less!

Amy Hannold
247Moms Frugal Living Editor

Cut “convenience” from your grocery bill. Individually-packed foods eat up your grocery budget and they rob you of the opportunity to discover a family-fun approach to daily nutrition.  When you assemble your own packaged lunch, you can choose the best nutritional ingredients. Experiment with healthier breads, crackers, and snack alternatives.

Homemade meals will be an ongoing success when you invest some planning, creativity and time – the payoff is healthier meals made more affordably.  To avoid boredom, discover new recipes, adding a variety of ingredients into your menu options.

Make it a family activity to find new recipes and include the kids so that they’re learning important home-economics skills.

Breakfast:

Biscuit/pancake mixes are a great convenience, but if you learn to make the mixes yourself – you’ll experience better flavor and save money.

The following “five-star” recipe has inspired us to create better breakfast pancakes.  Reviews of the recipe rave of the fluffiness and give several ideas for modifying the pancakes with whole wheat flour, etc:

http://www.food.com/recipe/petes-scratch-pancakes-5170

Tip: Follow Pete’s directions to the “T” (mixing slowly and being patient enough to let the mix alone for 10 minutes) – it’s a recipe for a perfect weekend meal.  Be sure to double the recipe, making extra pancakes.  Stack pancakes between parchment paper and freeze for weekday-quick breakfasts. 

Weekday Breakfasts:  Thaw frozen pancakes and serve with fruit.  Add peanut butter or other spread for taste and protein. 

Lunch:

Cheese: While “string” cheese is a favorite, cheese “sticks” are cheaper.  Buy cheese in 2-lb blocks and slice the cheese into sticks.  Seal in reusable boxes, with crackers, making enough portions for the week. You’ve saved yourself some time as well!

Fruits/Veggies:  Compare the price of bagged fruit to fruit bought by the pound.  Weigh the bagged produce to be sure you’re getting your 5-pounds – or more.  Prepare fruit/vegetables in bulk, dividing into separate packages – including for yourself as you’re on the go too!  Carrots, celery and zucchini, and other vegetables can be fun to eat when dipped into a healthy dip. 

Salad:  When making a salad for dinner, package an extra salad or two for upcoming lunches.  Be creative with ingredients, trying a new topping or vegetable.  Add nuts and/or canned tuna, beans, salmon or chicken for healthy protein. 

Beverages:  Choose a reusable juice box or water bottle.  Buy frozen concentrate, increasing the amount of water to the juice you serve. 

Dessert:  Bake several dozen cookies/brownies and freeze them individually.  Stack the dessert squares in a large freezer box, in an undisclosed location. 

Breakfast and Lunch are made!  Share your ideas for homemade breakfasts and box lunches!

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

April Fools' Lunch Labels

From: Family Fun

 

This April Fools', use these free funny labels to "trick" your kids into thinking you made them a caterpillar sandwich from Family Fun.

Click here to get your FREE labels.

Packing Green Lunches For St. Patrick's Day

Create St. Patrick's day fun for your little Leprechaun hunting kids by packing or serving them a GREEN lunch.

Green Lunch Ideas:

Main dish:
Bagel with Green Cream cheese (food coloring)
Sandwich with Green dyed homemade bread
Pasta with Green pesto sauce
Pasta with green Alfredo sauce ( food coloring)
peanut butter w/green apple jelly


Green Veggies:

Broccoli

Asparagus

Lettuce

Green beans

Peas

Celery
Cucumbers
Green Snap peas
edamame
Pickles


Green Fruits:
Green apples
Green Grapes
Kiwi
Honey Dew melon


Green Sweets and Treats:
Bag of Green Sour Skittles
Bag of Green Wonka Spree's
Green Frosted cookies or cupcakes
Green Lime jell-o
Green pistachio pudding
Green Trix Yogurt ( strawberry/kiwi)
Lime sherbet
Green rice krispie treats ( food coloring)
Green fruit roll up
Green M&M's
Green Bag of Chips
Green Fishy Crackers


Color to make Green: (using food coloring):
Mayo
Cream Cheese
Home made bread

Green Drinks:

Green container of Apple juice box

Smoothies - (food coloring)

Milk ( food coloring)

Green Sport Drink

And don't forget the Green Napkin, straw, plastic ware, green lunch sack and green note from you.

Happy St. Patrick's day.

Fun School Lunch Packing Ideas

Add some Fun and Creativity with these school lunch packing ideas

- DIY Containers - Save your yogurt containers - wash them thoroughly then us to fill with liquid Jell-O or pudding mixture (before it sets), place lid back on and refrigerate. Now you have you individual snack-sized Jell-O or pudding at a fraction of the cost for your kiddos lunches..

- Colored fun - Add colored fun to your child's lunch by using colored plastic wraps. Or during the holiday's use special zipper-type bags, and napkins that are in holiday themes.

- Write it - Each day include a short note to your child. Anything that shows them you love them and you are thinking of them will show your child you care. For free lunch box cards Click here for FREE lunch box notes.

- YOU Win - Surprise your kids with a prize like they get when they order at fast food restaurants.. It can be as simple as stickers, small candy treat or a small toy.

- Change it - use colored lunch bags instead of the typical brown bags or lunch box they take every day.

- Cut it shape it - have fun with your kiddos sandwiches by cutting the sandwich into interesting shapes or cut with cookie cutters.

- S'more for lunch - Cook-free S'Mores: Spread Marshmallow Cream (fluff) on one graham cracker square, then spread nutella on the other, and press together and place in a zippered sandwich size bag and place in your kids lunch box. What a fun yummy treat.

What fun do you ad to your kids lunches?

Out Of The Lunch Box Ideas For Kids

This past week my youngest Nate-no has been announcing to me he is really tired of taking the same thing in his lunch day after day but when I asked him what would he like me to pack in his lunch he had no real ideas for me. So, I went hunting and searching for some new ideas and here is what I came up with:

1. Bagels - Cut open a bagel and spread each side with cream cheese. Place several slices of lunch meat on top of cream cheese.

2. Tortillas - Spread peanut butter on a flour tortilla with jelly or fruit spread and roll up "wrap" or "jellyroll" style. Slice crosswise into pieces. You can select the size tortilla depending on your child's appetite.

3. Mom Made Lunchables - Create your own "Lunchables" Cut lunch meat and cheese into and pieces that will fit on crackers. Pack the meat, cheese, and crackers together. You can even ad din a little piece of candy or other treat like they do in store bought lunchables.

4. No more Jelly - Some other ideas for peanut butter sandwiches are: sliced bananas, honey, butter/margerine, raisins, or thinly sliced apples.

5. Dipping Time - Kids love to dip so try packing string cheese or cheese cubes, bread sticks or crackers to eat with them and a prepared cheese spread for dipping. Or veggies and ranch dressing for dipping

6. In the Thermos – Soups, chili, taco meat, rice , mashed potatoes and even cooked chicken wings can all be placed in a thermos

7. Leftovers - use leftovers, chili, soup, stew, chowder, macaroni and cheese, macaroni salad, potato salad, stir-fry, or fried rice.

8. Finger Food - Kids love finger foods -- Try creating an entire lunch of finger Serve with a toothpicks if your kids don't want to use his hands.
Cubed rotisserie chicken

Cubed summer sausage

Cubed cheddar cheese

Cubed cantaloupe
Cubed brownie bites

9. Breakfast Time - Pack a bowl of dry cereal in a lidded container and send a thermos of milk or have your child purchase mil at school. Include in the lunch a banana, yogurt and other breakfast type foods


What do you pack in your child's Lunches?

Top 10 Packable Lunches Kids Love

from: Family Education

They want to eat: Peanut butter and fluff. Cupcakes with squiggles. Zero celery.
You want them to eat: Turkey on whole wheat. An apple. Pretzels.

After dealing with back-to-school battles over homework and bedtime, many moms would rather surrender than fight over what kids eat – or throw away – in the school cafeteria. The good news: It's easier than ever to "think outside the box" when it comes to the school lunch box. It doesn't have to be a choice between what's "good for you" or "fun for you."

1. All-American Favorite
Kids love turkey. Try a half of a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with mayonnaise or mustard and you'll find only crumbs in the lunch bag at the end of the day. Add a small juice box or water bottle, baby carrots, and you've got a lunch that will get gobbled up.

2. Make Your Own Lunch
Pre-packaged lunches are loaded with fat and sodium, but you can make your own for less money. Invest in a few sectioned leftover containers (a small, plastic, fish tackle box will also do) to pack the food in. For mini pizzas: Arrange round crackers, shredded cheese, pepperoni slices, and a small amount of tomato sauce packed in doubled plastic snack bags.

3. Oodles of Noodles
Instead of sandwiches, send kids off to school with a plastic container filled with Sesame Noodles. It's an Asian-inspired pasta salad that's perfect to eat at room temperature. Make sure your school doesn't have a zero-tolerance policy on peanut butter, due to some children's allergic reactions. Try this recipe:

Quick Lunchbox Sesame Noodles

1 pound spaghetti or linguine, cooked
4 tablespoons parsley (or cilantro)
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons cooking sherry
3 tablespoons white or brown sugar

Blend parsley and garlic in a food processor until fine. Add soy sauce, oils, vinegar, sherry, and sugar. Add enough peanut butter to make slightly thick. Blend until smooth. Add to pasta. Can top with chopped scallions, sesame seeds, and/or peanuts.

Note: Add a dash of orange juice if sesame/peanut sauce is too thick.

4. Fruit Kebabs
When it comes to pleasing kids, how things look often matters as much as how they taste. A child who won't touch a plain old apple might well eat a fruit kebab with chunks of cantaloupe and grapes alternating with mini marshmallows on a wooden skewer.

5. Mini Dinosaurs
Order low-fat deli meats -and cheese sliced extra thick; then use dinosaur or farm animal cookie-cutters to cut the slices into kid-friendly shapes. Pack with crackers or bread. Remember: Less is more. Children like mini-sized waffles and donut holes, so use the same concept in packing lunches.

6. Peanut Butter Power Balls
These are packed with protein; just make sure your school doesn't have a zero-tolerance policy on peanut butter, due to some children's allergic reactions. Try this recipe:

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup non-fat dry milk powder or soy protein powder
1/2 cup raisins or chocolate chips
1/4 cup honey
Graham cracker crumbs

Mix all ingredients except the graham cracker crumbs in a large bowl. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll in crumbs and refrigerate (or freeze; balls will thaw by lunchtime).

7. Eat by "Color Code"
Cookbook author and lifestyle trainer Jyl Steinbeck of Scottsdale, AZ, has trained her own children to eat at least one orange, red, and green food each day. Let children make lunch choices according to color. Ask them to choose carrot sticks or a navel orange, green pepper strips or a Granny Smith apple, etc. Sometimes kids are more receptive to eating fruits and veggies if they helped make the selections!

8. Retro Jell-O
Remember the gelatin salad molds of yesteryear? You can adapt this 1950's classic for today's lunch box and sneak in some veggies without your kids even noticing. Just add grated carrot and tiny chopped pieces of celery to Jell-O; mold in small plastic containers.

9. Stuffed Apples
Scoop out the core from an apple; stuff with peanut butter, cream cheese, or other spread. Top with raisins or chocolate chips.

10. Post-it Lunch
Similar to eating by a "color code," this strategy encourages kids to think in terms of food groups. Together, make a chart with four columns and the headings: Sandwiches, Fruits, Snacks, and Desserts. Have children fill in each column with items of their own choosing. Then tell them that each day, you'll pack one item from each group. Remind them that they will be eating foods they chose themselves!

Make and Take School Lunches

Back to School Lunch Ideas
By: Brandie Valenzuela

It is that time of the year again - back to school! While some are returning this next week, others have been back for quite a while...my own children returned to school over a month ago. However, it goes without saying, that no matter if your children have been back for a while or if they are just now starting to get ready for the big day, you can never have too many lunch ideas!

1. Save your yogurt containers! After eating the yogurt, wash them thoroughly and fill with liquid Jell-O or pudding mixture (before it sets), cap, and refrigerate. This gives you individual snack-sized Jell-O or pudding at a fraction of the cost.
2. Take leftover cooked chicken and make chicken strips. Pack dippers such as salsa, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, or pizza sauce.
3. Use a variety of breads. Try Italian varieties, sourdough, different grains, Hawaiian bread, and different rolls.
4. Pack string cheese or cheese cubes. Send along bread sticks or crackers to eat with them. Or pack a prepared cheese spread with breadsticks for dipping.
5. Cut fresh fruit into bite-sized pieces and use fruit-flavored yogurt or pudding as a dip. Or mix the fruit with your prepared Jell-O (see Jell-O tip).
6. Each day include a short note to your child. Anything that shows them you love them and you are thinking of them will show your child you care.
7. Layer creamy peanut butter on a flour tortilla with jelly or fruit spread and roll up "wrap" or "jellyroll" style. Slice crosswise into pieces. Select the size tortilla depending on your child's appetite.
8. Heat frozen waffles and make a sandwich with them, using peanut butter and jelly. Or cut them into bite-sized pieces or sticks and send syrup for dipping.
9. Add fun to your child's lunch by using colored plastic wraps. Or during the holiday's, use special prints that are usually for plastic wrap, zipper-type bags, and napkins.
10. Cut open a bagel and spread each side with cream cheese. Lay several slices of luncheon meat on top of cream cheese and make into a sandwich.
11. Kids love to dip! Send baby carrots, celery sticks, or broccoli trees with their favorite dip or dressing. Or send peanut butter as a dip, and include some sliced apples.
12. Create your own "Lunchables"...cut meat slices and cheese into pieces that will fit on crackers. Pack the meat, cheese, and crackers together. Have extra mustard or mayo packets from your take-out? Pack those along for condiments.
13. If your child loves sandwiches and won't let you try anything new, have fun with the sandwiches - cut the sandwich into interesting shapes or cut with cookie cutters.
14. It doesn't have to be jelly everyday! Some other ideas for sandwiches using with traditional peanut butter are: sliced bananas, honey, butter/margerine, raisins, and thinly sliced apples.
15. Did you know you can create "wraps" with bread? Simply take a slice of your favorite bread (softer breads work better), and lay a slice or two of your favorite lunch meat and cheese on

Article appeared at www.thriftyfun.com . Stop by Thrifty Fun for more great mom ideas.

About The Author: Brandie Valenzuela is a wife and homeschooling mom of three, who loves scrapbooking, cooking, and spending time with her family. In her spare time, she publishes "HomeMade Living", a popular weblog for mothers, at http://homemadeliving.blogspot.com

Web Sites for Parents for back to school Lunches:
· http://ilunchbox.ning.com/ - Healthy recipes for the speed of life
· http://menus4moms.ning.com/ - Quick and easy menu recommendations
· http://peanutfree.ning.com/ - Living peanut free for the sake of our allergic kids
· http://www.kidshealthcafe.com/ - Top chef contestant Fabio Viviani started site to help parents find the information they need to raise healthy, happy and safe children.

Back To School Lunch Ideas

Back to School Lunch Ideas
By: Brandie Valenzuela
It is that time of the year again - back to school! While some are returning this next week, others have been back for quite a while...my own children returned to school over a month ago. However, it goes without saying, that no matter if your children have been back for a while or if they are just now starting to get ready for the big day, you can never have too many lunch ideas!

1. Save your yogurt containers! After eating the yogurt, wash them thoroughly and fill with liquid Jell-O or pudding mixture (before it sets), cap, and refrigerate. This gives you individual snack-sized Jell-O or pudding at a fraction of the cost.
2. Take leftover cooked chicken and make chicken strips. Pack dippers such as salsa, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, or pizza sauce.
3. Use a variety of breads. Try Italian varieties, sourdough, different grains, Hawaiian bread, and different rolls.
4. Pack string cheese or cheese cubes. Send along bread sticks or crackers to eat with them. Or pack a prepared cheese spread with breadsticks for dipping.
5. Cut fresh fruit into bite-sized pieces and use fruit-flavored yogurt or pudding as a dip. Or mix the fruit with your prepared Jell-O (see Jell-O tip).
6. Each day include a short note to your child. Anything that shows them you love them and you are thinking of them will show your child you care.
7. Layer creamy peanut butter on a flour tortilla with jelly or fruit spread and roll up "wrap" or "jellyroll" style. Slice crosswise into pieces. Select the size tortilla depending on your child's appetite.
8. Heat frozen waffles and make a sandwich with them, using peanut butter and jelly. Or cut them into bite-sized pieces or sticks and send syrup for dipping.
9. Add fun to your child's lunch by using colored plastic wraps. Or during the holiday's, use special prints that are usually for plastic wrap, zipper-type bags, and napkins.
10. Cut open a bagel and spread each side with cream cheese. Lay several slices of luncheon meat on top of cream cheese and make into a sandwich.
11. Kids love to dip! Send baby carrots, celery sticks, or broccoli trees with their favorite dip or dressing. Or send peanut butter as a dip, and include some sliced apples.
12. Create your own "Lunchables"...cut meat slices and cheese into pieces that will fit on crackers. Pack the meat, cheese, and crackers together. Have extra mustard or mayo packets from your take-out? Pack those along for condiments.
13. If your child loves sandwiches and won't let you try anything new, have fun with the sandwiches - cut the sandwich into interesting shapes or cut with cookie cutters.
14. It doesn't have to be jelly everyday! Some other ideas for sandwiches using with traditional peanut butter are: sliced bananas, honey, butter/margerine, raisins, and thinly sliced apples.
15. Did you know you can create "wraps" with bread? Simply take a slice of your favorite bread (softer breads work better), and lay a slice or two of your favorite lunch meat and cheese on

Article appeared at www.thriftyfun.com . Stop by Thrifty Fun for more great mom ideas.

About The Author: Brandie Valenzuela is a wife and homeschooling mom of three, who loves scrapbooking, cooking, and spending time with her family. In her spare time, she publishes "HomeMade Living", a popular weblog for mothers, at http://homemadeliving.blogspot.com


Web Sites for Parents for back to school Lunches:
· http://ilunchbox.ning.com/ - Healthy recipes for the speed of life
· http://menus4moms.ning.com/ - Quick and easy menu recommendations
· http://peanutfree.ning.com/ - Living peanut free for the sake of our allergic kids
· http://www.kidshealthcafe.com/ - Top chef contestant Fabio Viviani started site to help parents find the information they need to raise healthy, happy and safe children.

Lunch Box Inspiration: Send Your Love to School with Them

Amy Hannold; FamilyTimeandMoney.com

Send your kids to school with little surprises awaiting them in their lunchbox. Thoughtful notes can communicate your love and strengthen bonds between parent and child. Your child will feel special; the extra attention and praise will be priceless to them.

When creating lunchbox notes consider your child’s age and peer environment. Young children will be delighted with cute words and pictures. Older

children will be thankful when you keep pet names and sweet words out of the notes. Include a joke they can share with their lunch mates. Children who do not take a lunch to school can be pleasantly surprised with notes of encouragement in their backpacks.

Making fun and loving notes can be as simple as paper notes of stick figures, words large or small, or stickers. Use copies of photos, jokes, drawings, colored paper, comics, and whatever else your heart leads you to create. Notes on everyday napkins with or without drawings are a great idea as wel

l. If you’re out of ideas, Hallmark sells a line of .99 cents cards meant for children. Tip: To avoid a rush to make your notes amidst the morning routine, make enough cards for the entire week ahead of time.

Choose words which communicate your love. “You’re special to me”, “We’re proud of you”, “Thanks for all of your hard work”, etc. Younger children can be aided in their quest to learn reading when you use the same words, on different backgrounds. In your notes, compliment your ki

ds and/or give them something to look forward to when they get home.

There are a number of books with tear-out notes or, online, you can find printable notes, decorated with their favorite cartoon characters (or other décor). Here are a few sources:

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/dora-lunchbox-love-notes.jhtml

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/oswald-lunchbox-note.jhtml

http://printables.familyeducation.com/

Here are some jokes to inspire your sense of humor:

Question: What do you call the smelliest fairy? Answer: Stinkerbell.

Question: What did the computer do at lunch time? Answer: Had a byte!

Question: What do you call a bee that is always complaining? Answer: A grumble bee!

Knock Knock

Whose There

Candy

Candy, who?

Candy cow jumped over de moon!

Whatever you create in your lunchbox notes, you will be making memories and affirming your kids in these valuable years of their life. And, you just might inspire hundreds of laughs throughout the lunchroom with your great, new lunchtime jokes.

Back To School Healthy Lunch Ideas For Kids

KIDS SACK LUNCH IDEAS

From: Mealsmatter.org

Children who eat nutritious foods do better in school. Packing a lunch can ensure your child gets the nutrients he or she needs to stay energized and ready to learn.

Eating foods from at least three food groups gives children the nutrients and energy they need to feel good and do well in school. This can be achieved by sending a combination of foods that supply protein, fat and carbohydrates to sustain energy and concentration for several hours.

For example, a peanut butter (meat, beans and nuts) and jelly sandwich (grains), an apple (fruit) and milk (milk and milk products), is a simple and balanced meal from four food groups that contains protein, fat and carbohydrate – and that children commonly enjoy.

Packing a Healthy Sack Lunch

Children's input should be the first ingredient. Children who help select and prepare their meals tend to eat better.

You may need to establish some ground rules for what goes into the lunch first. Talk to them about what they like to eat and take them with you on your next trip to the grocery store.

Don’t let packed lunches get repetitive. Try different types of bread, dips, small treats and short notes to remind them you love them.

Favorite Healthy Sack Lunch Ideas

Sandwiches
Spice up your typical sandwiches by using different grain products instead of plain white bread:

• Different breads (9-grain, whole-wheat, spelt, kamut, sourdough)
• Rice cakes
• Plain or flavored bagels
• Whole-wheat buns
• English muffins Limit junk food in the house
• Matzo crackers
• Pita bread
• Dress up plain pita bread by trying something new.

Thinking Outside the Lunch Box

Usually served hot, these balanced, nutritious lunch recipes are also tasty when eaten cold.

Crunchy Ham & Cheese Wrap
Turkey, Veggie, & Cheese Wrap
Pita Beef Fajitas
Italian Chicken Pockets
Beef and Broccoli Pita Folds
Peanut Butter Rolls
Quesadillas
Chicken Quesadillas

Or, try one of these unique lunches using leftovers from dinner or other items you probably already have in your refrigerator.

Pita Pizza: Spread low-fat ricotta cheese in the inside of the pita. Then stuff sliced tomatoes (or any type of pizza toppings) and any leftover cooked meat into the pita. Drizzle with marinara sauce and top off with low-fat mozzarella.

Stir-fry Pita: Mix steamed rice, mixed vegetables, and leftover meat with teriyaki sauce. Then stuff teriyaki mixture into pita.

Kids Sack Lunch Ideas – Soups

Mix steamed rice, mixed vegetables, and leftover meat with teriyaki sauce. Then stuff teriyaki mixture into pita.

To keep the soup hot until lunchtime, first warm up any leftover soup in the morning and then pour into a Thermos®. Pack a small roll of bread or some crackers to go along with this hot lunch.

Try one of these delicious soup recipes:

Chunky Potato Soup
Tortellini Soup
South of the Border Chowder
Calico Alphabet Soup

If you’re short on time you can take advantage of the lunch program at your child’s school. School meals are not only convenient but also an inexpensive and healthy option.

We hope you enjoyed our Kids Sack Lunch Ideas!

"Organize It" Party - "Control It" - School Lunch

Ready for more “Control It” Kids stuff from school papers to bedrooms? Let's talk about how to "Control It" when it comes to our kids lunches. Amy Hemmert and Tammy Pelstring share with us some great school lunch organization ideas. Be sure to also get your party favor and open the next gift (giveaway).

Streamlining Your School Lunch Routine
by Amy Hemmert and Tammy Pelstring



It’s 6:45 a.m. The morning news is making it’s way to your sleepy brain, and you realize that it’s time to haul your tired body out of bed: time to get the kids up, get them dressed, and get them fed. And then you remember...LUNCH. You wish you could make it fun, healthy, and cost-effective too. But the clock is ticking, and you have to think FAST, so peanut butter and jelly it is, along with a bag of chips, an apple, a single-serve yogurt, a power bar, and a juice box.

MAKING THE CHANGE

It’s not as NUTRITIOUS as you’d like, and the single-serve packaging makes it a bit more expensive too, but it’s fast, CONVENIENT, and you know the kids will eat it. Make it through today, and you’ll be able to make changes tomorrow. If this story sounds familiar to you, and you’re tired of racing around in the morning only to find yourself stuck in the peanut butter and jelly rut, then these 10 strategies for improving your lunch routine may be just what you need. It just might change the way you feel when you wake up in the morning.

START TODAY

Don’t WAIT until tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. You only have a few years to shape your kids' eating habits. And if you get them trained to each expensive, processed, high-sugar, high-fat convenience foods now, they will be doing it their whole lives. HABITS are much harder to break down the road.

HAVE A CHAT

TALK to your children about their lunches. Find out what nutritious items from each food group they’d like to see in their lunches. Provide healthy choices and allow them to CHOOSE from among them. A complete list of fruits and vegetables, grains, and proteins can be found at OnlineOrganizing.com's Laptop Lunches product page under "lunch ideas". Print off the list, sit down with your children, and ask them to circle the foods that they’d like to see in their lunches.
(we have also posted the list at the bottom of this article)

SHOP WITH YOUR KIDS

Take your hildren’s lists to the GROCERY store with you. Encourage your children to help pick the items from the shelf and put them in the cart. Practice reading INGREDIENTS labels together. If the items you select are high in fat, sugar, salt, and artificial colorings and flavors, put them back. Search for more nutritious alternatives. Children are more likely to eat wholesome foods that they’ve had a hand in choosing and preparing.

KEEP PLENTY IN THE HOUSE


Make sure you keep the right foods in STOCK. Keep a copy of your lunch list in your wallet or purse so you’ll have it when you find yourself at the grocery store unexpectedly. Make purchasing nutritious lunch items part of your WEEKLY shopping routine. Keep dried fruits and nuts (for older children) on hand for use when the cupboard is growing bare.

MAXIMIZE LEFTOVERS

Don’t forget about leftovers! Packing leftovers in your child’s lunch can save you TIME and energy, and kids love them. When you’re deciding what to cook for dinner, think about how you might incorporate leftovers into a lunch for the following day. Make a few EXTRA servings for dinner and pack them in small containers (stored in the the refrigerator) for lunch the next day. Here are a few ideas for making it work:

* If you make chicken breasts or grilled vegetables, prepare an extra serving and slice it for SANDWICHES the next day instead of purchasing deli lunch meat.


* If you’re making a salad for dinner, slice some extra VEGETABLES, such as cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and celery -- and pack some extra dressing for dip.


* While you’re making dinner, boil a few EGGS. Pack the eggs whole, make deviled eggs, or use them in egg salad.


* Make extra pasta, couscous, or rice and make side SALADS for lunch by cutting up vegetables and adding salad dressing.


* Make an extra baked POTATO and pack it with nutritious toppings.

If you’re worried that it might seem less appealing the following day, consider packing it for lunch TWO days later, provided the food will remain fresh for an extra day.

MAKE LUNCHES THE NIGHT BEFORE

When you’re doing the dinner CLEAN-UP, line up your lunch containers and fill them with wholesome food for the next day. In the morning you’ll be glad you did!

PURCHASE THE RIGHT TOOLS

Make sure you have a set of reusable CONTAINERS clearly marked with your child’s name. Purchase a set of utensils that are the right size for your child. Invest in a sturdy refillable WATER bottle instead of relying on expensive, high-sugar single-serve juice boxes, cans, and pouches. Water is what your child’s body needs. For an all-in-one lunch system, consider the
Laptop Lunches kit.

SEARCH THE BULK BINS

Buying in bulk is less costly because you’re not paying for the PACKAGING. Purchasing in bulk allows you to purchase in QUANTITIES that are right for you. It’s a great way to try new foods too since you can purchase in small quantities to start. Kids love scooping and pouring these items too, so it’s a great way to keep them engaged in the lunchmaking process.

INVOLVE THE WHOLE FAMILY

Children of all ages can (and should!) HELP make lunches. Even small children can pick up a few carrots and put them into a lunch container. Older children can make sandwiches, cut fruit, and fill water bottles. They can also take RESPONSIBILITY for rinsing out their containers when they get home from school.

GO THE DISTANCE

Stick with it and congratulate yourself often because your children are eating BETTER and you’re spending LESS on food. And the next time that alarm goes off and you’re struggling to get out of bed, give yourself a few extra minutes to relax because your school lunches have already been made.


Amy Hemmert and Tammy Pelstring, two California moms, are co-authors of The Laptop Lunch User’s Guide: Fresh Ideas for Packing Wholesome, Earth-friendly Lunches Your Kids Will Love. Together they created the Laptop Lunch System, a set of compartmentalized food containers, utensils and water bottle that sit neatly inside a stylish insulated carrying case. All of their products are available directly through www.onlineorganizing.com.

Content provided by OnlineOrganizing.com -- offering "a world of organizing solutions!" Visit www.onlineorganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau, get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you, or get some help starting and running your own organizing business.

LUNCH IDEAS

GRAIN (SERVING SIZES)

• 1 slice of whole-grain bread
• 1/2 cup of cooked whole-grain cereal, rice, or pasta

VEGETABLE (SERVING SIZES)

• 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables
• 1/2 cup of other vegetables

FRUIT (SERVING SIZES)

• 1 medium apple, orange, pear, peach, or plum
• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup of chopped fruit

CALCIUM-RICH FOODS (SERVING SIZES)

• 1 cup of skim or 1% milk or calcium-enriched soy milk
• 1 cup of yogurt or cottage cheese
• 1 1/2 ounces of reduced fat cheese
• 1/2 cup of cubed tofu (made with calcium sulfate)
• 1/2 cup of broccoli, spinach, turnip greens, chard, kale
• 3 ounces of canned salmon

PROTEIN-RICH FOODS (SERVING SIZES)

• 2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish
• 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans or tofu
• 2 1/2 ounce soyburger
• 1 egg or egg substitute
• 2 tablespoons of nut butter or soy nut butter
• 1/3 cup of nuts

BREADS

bagel

baguette

bread sticks

crackers

English muffin

focaccia

lavash bread

pita bread

pizza bread

rice cakes

rolls

sandwich bread

tortillas

SPREADS AND CONDIMENTS

almond butter

apple butter

avocado (mashed)

banana (mashed)

brie cheese

cashew butter

cream cheese (lowfat)

goat cheese

honey

hummus

jam (spreadable fruit)

ketchup

mayonnaise/mustard

peanut butter

pesto

pizza or tomato sauce

pumpkin butter

FILLINGS

carrots (shredded)

cheese (lite/low-fat)

chicken

chicken salad

egg salad

hard boiled egg

nitrite-free hot dogs

lettuce

shrimp salad

sliced avocado

sliced cucumber

smoked salmon

sprouts

tofu

tuna salad

FRUITS

apples

apricots

Asian pears

avocado

bananas

blueberries

cherries

cranberries (dried)

dates

figs

grapefruit

grapes

kiwi

mango

melon

nectarines

orange sections

papaya

peaches

pears

pineapple

plums

prunes

raisins

raspberries

strawberries

tomatoes

VEGETABLES

asparagus

beets

bell peppers

bok choy

broccoli

Brussels sprouts

cabbage

carrots

cauliflower

celery

cucumbers

eggplant

green beans

green salad

lettuce

mushrooms

seaweed (nori, wakame, hijiki)

shelling peas

snap peas

soy beans (edamame)

spinach

squash

sweet potatoes

yams

zucchini

TREATS

apple crisp

applesauce

baked chips with salsa

dried fruit

fruit bar

fruit leather

granola

homemade cookies

notes from home

popcorn

pretzels

stickers

trail mix

vanilla yogurt with fruit

SANDWICH IDEAS

Cheese, avocado, and sprouts

Grilled cheese with cucumber or sprouts

Leftover grilled vegetables with cheese or pesto sauce

Cheddar or mozzarella cheese with apple slices

Brie cheese with mustard and sprouts

Cheese, tomato, sprouts or lettuce, and pesto sauce

Leftover turkey loaf with tomatoes, and lettuce or sprouts

Sliced leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, and lettuce

Sliced leftover chicken, honey mustard, tomatoes, and lettuce or sprouts

Sliced leftover beef with mayonnaise or horseradish, sliced tomato and cucumbers

Chicken salad made with celery, lettuce, and tomato

Tuna/cucumber/green pepper salad with tomato

Salmon salad with lettuce or sprouts

Shrimp salad with lettuce or sprouts

Lowfat cream cheese, and smoked salmon (with tomato, and red onion)

Freebie Party favor time:

Each day I place a note in my two youngest boys lunches to remind them that I am thinking about them through out the day. Our next FREEbie party favor for you, is sharing with you the FREE places you can down load lunch box notes and jokes that you can print off and place each day in your Children's lunches so they too will know you are thinking about them.

Trish Berg has both printable lunch box notes and lunch box jokes at http://www.trishberg.com/html/freestuffformoms.html

The Gingerbread nook has some adorable pritable lunch box notes http://www.gingerbreadnook.com/backpacknotes/

Family Education has a nice variety of lunch box notes at http://printables.familyeducation.com/forms-and-charts/lunchbox-notes/51404.html

Blues Clues lunch box notes at http://www.nickjr.com/printables/blues-lunchbox-notes.jhtml

The heart of mother hood has lunch box note sthat fit the avery business cards http://www.the-heart-of-motherhood.com/printable-lunchbox-notes.html

You can also purchase Lunch Box notes at the 24/7 MOMS Store in our 'Organize It' Department.





Our next GIFT ( Giveaway) for today is from Happikins http://www.happikins.com/


What’s a Happikin?

Do you have kids? Do they have mouths? Do they eat lunch with those mouths? Do they sometimes miss their mouths when eating lunch... maybe getting said lunch on their face and hands?

We can't stop your kids from making messes, but we can help clean them up without making a mess of the environment. Happikins™ are machine-washable cloth napkins for school lunches. Purchasing them for your child can help reduce the 18, 760 pounds of unnecessary waste generated by the average elementary school cafeteria each year. All of those paper napkins affect more than the environment. Did you know that most kids use $200 worth of paper napkins a year?

Happikins™ are a fun and easy way to teach your child about the importance of making smart choices for our environment. And for wiping that PB & J out of the corners of their mouths.

Happikins and 24/7 MOMS are giving away one set of Happikins. To enter for your chance to win, enter your name and email address in the box below you will be signed up for today's Happikins giveaway as well as be added to the 24/7 MOMS E-list(if you are not already a 24/7 MOMS subscriber). Drawing to be held on February 1, 2009.






Join us tomorrow for another day of the "Organize It" Party when we will "Simplify It"
be sure to tell all your MOM friends to join us for more fun, party favors and Gifts.

Oh, I almost forgot - are you a MOM blogger? Invite your readers to join us. We even have a fun button you can place on your blog, grab the HTML code on the right side of our blog and invite your moms to join us.

Let' s Make a Meal Mondays - Betty Crocker Sandwich recipes

Football games, soccer games, volleyball games, cheer practice, and the list goes on for the Novotny's fall schedule. With that means preparing simple meals so that we can have our family meal time even with this crazy schedule.

Betty Crocker has some yummy sounding sandwich recipes including wraps, bagelwiches, roll-ups and many more creative ideas. Sandwiches are always a family pleaser and quick for the mom to make.

Here are three recipes that had great ratings on the website:


Chicken BLT Sandwiches

What could be better than BLTs? Chicken BLTs with the same great goodness and a chicken bonus!

Prep Time: 10 min
Start to Finish: 30 min
Makes: 4 sandwiches

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 1/4 pounds) 1/4 cup Thousand Island dressing
4 whole wheat sandwich buns, split
4 lettuce leaves
8 slices tomato
4 slices bacon, cooked, drained and broken in half

1.Heat oil in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until juice is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut.
2.Spread dressing on cut sides of buns. Layer chicken, lettuce, tomato and bacon on bottoms of buns. Top with tops of buns.



Crazy Critter Bagel Sandwiches

Kids will love making these single-serve pizzas. You set out all the toppings, and they let their imaginations run wild while creating critter designs from the toppings.

Prep Time: 5 min
Start to Finish: 15 min
Makes: 8 servings

Sandwiches:
1cup pizza sauce
8bagels, split
2cups shredded mozzarella or Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

Assorted Toppings:
Sliced pepperoni
Canadian-style bacon
Sliced mushrooms
Sliced ripe olives
Chopped zucchini
Chopped bell pepper

1.Heat oven to 425°F. Spread 1 tablespoon pizza sauce over each bagel half. Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon of the cheese.
2.Arrange toppings on sandwiches to look like desired critters. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
3.Bake 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.


Ham and Cheese Tortilla Roll-Ups (lighter recipe)

You have ever-so-easy Southwest flavor going when you make a creamy cheese and corn filling that you wrap up with ham slices and flour tortillas. Plus, this recipe uses lower-fat dairy ingredients that save you calories and cut the fat of the traditional version nearly in half.

Prep Time: 10 min
Start to Finish: 10 min
Makes: 5 servings

1 1/2 cups reduced-fat shredded Cheddar cheese (6 ounces)
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
1 can (11 ounces) Green Giant® Niblets® vacuum-packed whole kernel corn or Mexicorn® whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
10 fat-free flour tortillas (6 to 8 inches in diameter)
10 slices (1 ounce each) deli fully cooked ham
Cilantro sprig, if desired

1.Mix cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream and corn.
2.Top each tortilla with 1 slice ham. Spread 2 tablespoons corn mixture over ham. Top with cilantro. Roll up.


Do you have a great, simple sandwich recipe to share with the 24/7 Moms? Send it to us at trisha@247moms.com or post a comment here on the blog.

Let's Make a Meal Mondays

Create 5 Simple Meals with Rotisserie Chicken

Have you surfed the Food Network web site? http://www.foodnetwork.com/ is a mouthful of cooking information from recipes to video cooking demos to cooking with kids and so much more.
My favorite find on the Food Network site was 5 simple meals to create using the pre-cooked rotisserie chicken you can purchase at your local grocery store, Costco or Sam’s Club. I personally purchase mine at Costco, because they are less expensive and tend to be a little bigger than the grocery store ones. With my hungry family of 7, bigger is better.

Mango Honey Chicken with Mango Slices
Recipe courtesy of Sandra Lee

Glaze:
2 cups honey
1 cup mango juice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 (3 to 4 pound) whole rotisserie chicken
2 mangoes, peeled and sliced 1-inch thick
Toothpicks, soaked in water for 10 minutes
1 bunch basil, for garnish

Preheat oven to 450°.

For the glaze: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the honey, mango juice, brown sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil and cook until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
Place chicken on a nonstick cookie sheet. Using a pastry brush, coat chicken with a generous amount of glaze. Place mango slices over breast meat to create a zebra stripe. Insert toothpicks to secure slices into chicken.
Bake chicken just until warmed throughout, about 12 minutes. Remove chicken and discard toothpicks. Garnish with fresh basil.


Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches



1 tablespoon canola oil


1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 (14-ounce) can low-sodium tomato sauce

1/4 cup tomato paste

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

5 tablespoons molasses

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

1 whole rotisserie chicken, skin removed, meat shredded into thin strips (about 4 to 4 1/2 cups)

6 whole-wheat hamburger rolls

6 large green lettuce leaves

Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, vinegar, molasses, pepper and liquid smoke and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Add chopped chicken, return to a simmer, and cook an additional 10 minutes.

Split rolls. Place a leaf of lettuce on each roll, and then pile on 3/4 cup of the chicken mixture onto the roll.


Fastest-Ever Enchiladas

Recipe courtesy of Ingrid Hoffman, 2008

Salsa:
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes with chiles, drained


2 scallions, light green and white parts only, finely chopped

1 jalapeno, seeded, deveined, and finely chopped

1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves

1 lime, juiced Pinch salt

Enchiladas:

1 rotisserie chicken, meat removed and shredded (skin and bones discarded)

2 cups grated cheddar

1 cup sour cream

1/2 small red onion, finely chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

6 (8-inch) flour tortillas

To prepare the salsa: Combine the tomatoes, scallions, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice in a mixing bowl. Add a healthy pinch of salt and set aside at room temperature until ready to cook the enchiladas.

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9x13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

To prepare the enchiladas: Place the shredded chicken in a large bowl. Add half of the grated cheese, sour cream, and onion; season with salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.

Place the tortillas on your work surface. Spoon about 1 cup of the chicken mixture across the center of each tortilla. Roll them up to close and place, seam side down, in the prepared baking dish. Pour the salsa over the tortillas. Cover with aluminum foil and bake until heated through, about 40 minutes.

Remove the foil and sprinkle the enchiladas with the remaining 1 cup of grated cheese. Return the baking dish to the oven until the cheese is melted and edges of the tortillas are just beginning to get crisp, 5 to 8 minutes. Serve hot


Curry-in-a-Hurry Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray

1 pound rotisserie chicken meat, skinned, boned and diced
3 ribs celery, chopped
1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
1/2 cup shredded carrot, a couple of handfuls
4 scallions, chopped on an angle
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons curry powder or 2 rounded teaspoons mild curry paste
Salt and pepper
8 ounces mixed baby greens
2 tablespoons mango chutney, found on condiment aisle, plus some to pass at table
1 tablespoon rice wine or white vinegar, eyeball it
3 tablespoons vegetable, canola or safflower oil, eyeball it
1/4 cup (2 ounces) sliced smoked almonds

Combine meat, celery, red grapes, carrot and scallions. Add yogurt and curry to the salad, and toss to evenly distribute the curry. Season the salad with salt and pepper, to your taste.

To dress the greens, add salad to a bowl. In a second bowl, combine chutney and vinegar. Whisk in oil. Drizzle dressing over greens and toss.

To assemble, pile dressed greens on a plate. Using an ice cream scoop, place 2 scoops of chicken salad on greens. Garnish with toasted almonds.


Quick-Fix Chicken Chili Mole





1 tablespoon vegetable oil

5 teaspoons Pre-Chopped Garlic (recipe follows)

1 large onion, chopped
2 red bell peppers, seeded and diced
3 canned jalapeno peppers, diced
1 packet chili seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (5-ounce) can pinto beans, drained
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
1 bottle beer
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, shaved
2 scallions, chopped, for garnish
Cheddar, for garnish

In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and saute for 5 minutes. Add red bell peppers and jalapenos and saute for 5 more minutes, until soft. Stir in chili seasoning packet and cinnamon and cook until spices are fragrant. Add tomatoes, pinto beans, shredded chicken, and beer. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in chocolate just before serving. Garnish with grated cheddar and chopped scallions, if desired.

Pre-Chopped Garlic:

1 head garlic, peeled
Olive oil, to cover

Place the garlic cloves in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the garlic is finely minced. Spoon the minced garlic into a jar and pour over enough oil to cover the garlic. Seal well and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Do you have a special recipe using rotisserie chicken? Share it with the 24/7 MOMS!