a must "sea" lunch!

Under the Sea Lunch:

Miss C's Lunch:

Goldfish Sandwich (ham and cheese)
cucumbers and strawberries
Goldfish crackers

Seafood lunch:

Mommy's Lunch:
leftover deep fried shrimp
carrots with LC cheese
strawberries and prunes
(not pictured: greek yogurt with honey)

packed in EasyLunchBoxes

Ham Pinwheels and Almond Thai Chicken

Miss C's Lunch:

ham and cheese pinwheels

"ants on a log" (celery, PB, raisins)
strawberries on a butterfly cup

trail mix (nuts and dried cranberries)

Mommy's Lunch:

Almond Thai Chicken

(Paleo version using almond butter instead of peanut butter)

over cauliflower "rice"

carrots

Chobani Bite - coffee yogurt

packed in EasyLunchBoxes

Panda Love

Miss C's lunch: 

Peanut Butter Sandwich

Goldfish crackers

Carrots w/Ranch

Jelly candy

Applesauce

Miss C loved the store-bought organic applesauce pouches. So when I saw this reusable pouch from Squooshi I knew we would be able to put it to good use.  There are 2 sizes to choose from, 2.5 and 4.5oz. The Panda is the larger size, I was able to put about 2/3c of applesauce. (I will save the smaller size for the upcoming baby!) Miss C loved the panda pouch and my husband loves the fact that it's dishwasher safe! My toxicologist mother would love the fact that it's BPA-free, PVC-free, lead-free and phtalate-free. I love the fact that it's both cute and environmentally friendly!

The peanut butter sandwich was cut out using CuteZCute panda cutter. Panda picks and cups are from AllThingsForSale

10-min Bunny lunch

Happy Easter!

I bought these bunny eggs from the last spring on clearance. After-holiday clearance sales are a great (and not to mention CHEAP!) way to build up your lunch supply stash . 

Miss C's lunch:
Mini peanut butter sandwiches (cut with a flower cutter)

breadstick crackers with cheddar cheese stick

apples and Gogurt. 

Sausage with Spinach

 Mommy's Lunch:

Sausage and Spinach

hardboiled egg

blueberries and strawberries

My husband and I go to Crossfit classes 2x during the work week. We usually need quick dinners on those nights so we have time for bedtime routines for Miss C. This dinner was super simple and quick. Brown your favorite sausage (we used turkey sausage) and drain. Set aside. Saute garlic and onions, add mushrooms and sausage. Stir in spinach and let the spinach wilt.  Season according to taste, (since the sausage was already seasoned we didn't need to add salt/pepper) Remove from heat and serve.

packed in EasyLunchBoxes

Rambling lunch...

Miss C's lunch:

Ham and Babybel cheese

green peppers and ranch

clementine, grapes and Clif KidZBar brownie

(time to put it together: 5 minutes.)

I was stopped by a woman yesterday coming out of my Zumba class: 

"Aren't you the bento lady? How do you find time to make cute lunches? It must take forever" 

Not really.  Seriously--15 minute tops. 

And another 2-3 minutes taking pictures.

As many of you know, I'm a mom of a 5 year old. 

I work a full-time job. I design houses and draw buildings and fun architecturey stuff.

I try to squeeze in workouts in the evenings (sometimes with my child in tow). 

I'm pregnant. So I sleep in as late as I can... 

I love sleep. The snooze button is my best friend... x7 times.

I value sleep now... because in 3 months, well, that will definitely change

So in 15 minutes, while Miss C is eating her breakfast, I pack her lunch.

I take a picture (or 10) while she's brushing her teeth. 

It's been our routine since preschool.

It doesn't happen everyday, we pick out 2 school lunches she likes for the week.

(because I guess kids who buy lunch sit together and packs sit together, 

and there are some friends that buy lunch that she likes to sit with occasionally.)

Granted, some themed lunches may take longer. Planning definitely helps.

Precut veggies and prewashed fruits. 

Leftovers are great especially for Mommy Lunches

As with having the fun supplies on hand... 

(check out AllThingsForSale for cute bento stuff 

that can put "instant cute" in otherwise boring lunches)

And don't get me wrong, I'm no supermom.

I've had days when I had to convince Miss C to please eat school lunch

because my morning sickness has been so bad.

Or I quickly put an uncut sandwich with crusts on (gasp!) with a graham crackers

in her lunch box with Capri Sun and called it lunch.

Or forgot to wash her lunch container a week later...

The last one was my husband.  Ha! I don't wash dishes.

I'm spoiled that way.

<3

Maybe that's why I have too much time on my hands... 

because my  husband does most of the kitchenclean up...



I linked up to Bentos on the Bayou's 15 minute Fridays!

Butternut Squash Soup

Mommy's Lunch:

Butternut squash soup

ham, cucumbers and Alouette mini

pear

Butternut Squash Soup

1 large butternut squash (cooked--see below)

1 Tbsp olive oil

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, sliced

2-3 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1/2 can coconut milk

Cooking the butternut squash (choose one of the following:)

Option A 

Roast butternut squash in the oven at 400°F

If you cut in in half, roast cut side up for 50-60 minutes.

If you cut it in cubes, roast for 35 minutes

(roast until fork tender)

Option B

Cut in half and place in a Crockpot or slow cooker. 

Add a cup of water and cook on high for 2 hours (low for 4)

(a friend of mine suggested I left it whole, but I haven't tried it yet.)

Option C

If you have no time roasting or slow cooking, 

just cut squash into cubes and boil until tender.

Soup directions:

1. In a large pot, saute the garlic and onions in olive oil.

2. Spoon out the squash meat into the pot and stir.

3. Add broth and coconut milk and stir. 

4. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes

5. Use an immersion stick blender or puree in food blender 

or food processor until smooth and creamy.

4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Also, I packed my leftovers in EasyLunchBoxes. 

I reheated the soup and it did not stain or melt the ELB! 

I linked up to Following in My Shoe's I Heart Lunch and A Boy & His Lunch's Grown-ups Gotta Eat