Youngest child refuses to eat school supplied lunches* - what's a SuperMom-in-training to do? (Repost)

I guess it's a good thing that our youngest child announced last Spring that he no longer wants the school lunches that we were ordering twice a week.  (Disclaimer: There is no cafeteria in his elementary school so all meals are prepared and packaged off site - just like the airlines used to do!  Several airlines have allegedly confessed that they sold all their prepackaged meals to local elementary schools and that's why they are no longer served in flight.)

"Mom, it's just gross.  Can YOU please make me lunch EVERY day?" he pleaded.

I recalled many years earlier a lunch lady whispering to me, "don't order the bagel fun lunch.There's nothing fun about it. It's a stale bagel with something that looks like plastic cheese."

USDA approved school lunch
(only item missing is chocolate milk)
Check out  Fed Up with Lunch: The School Lunch Project

In fairness to our city's school lunch program they have begun to offer "more nutritious" options since our oldest was in elementary school and our guy was choosing them: garden salad with cheese & wheat roll or the Greek salad with feta & pita.  

http://www.thermos.com/

Anyway, I was letting him eat popcorn chicken and nachos with cheese twice a week because well...I was lazy.  I work full time and twice a week I didn't want to plan a lunch menu at 6:00AM.  But, this is a child that doesn't usually order from the kid's menu.  Sure he's had his share of chicken processed, boneless breaded junk but he'd rather have steak tips with mashed potatoes and green beans.  

So, I purchased the same product that I had used many...many...school years ago.  Yep!  A thermos.  And, they still rock.  In fact at our son's end of the year school meeting his teacher commented, "we always want to see what's in his lunchbox."

And, it's usually leftovers, because I'm not getting up and buying processed deli meat at 5:30AM.   Leftovers at our house might include Shepard's pie, rice with chicken and peas, or plain pasta with olive oil or sauce.  We've gotten real creative in the morning.

I always pack a water since the school can't offer it on the lunch menu.  You know, the whole federal government "sees no nutritional value in water" thing and will not reimburse school lunch programs if it is offered on the menu.  Of course I can choose between 4 types of cow's milk (including chocolate) but no water.  Hmmmm...wonder what industry/council got that placed on the school lunch menus and water banned?

So, in the vain of always looking for non plastic ways of storing food, I fell victim to the packaging and purchased the following product on a whim.

Stainless Steel for Lunch (Enviro Products)

"Reusable Forever!" Is what the packaging proclaimed.  Unfortunately I didn't turn the product over and look where it was manufactured - China.  Now, I wouldn't have bought it if I'd done my homework since the product claims, "no chemical leaching, no toxins".  I'm suspicious of what was used to manufacture the metal.

Anyway, to those who "don't have the time."  I too work full time and some nights after football, baseball, basketball or volleyball games, we're not home until after 8:00PM.  So, add leftover pizza served at room temperature to his menu. (Now that's testament to how nasty the school pizza must be.)

Are You Being Tricked By These Food Industry Marketing Tactics?

Are You Being Tricked By These Food Industry Marketing Tactics?

Check out the Food Babes latest Blog.

Readers - what do YOU think?

8 Foods We Eat In The U.S. That Are Banned In Other Countries

8 Foods We Eat in The U.S. That Are Banned In Other Countries



Yikes!  If these chemical dyes do this to your tongue
imagine what it does to your insides?

Hosting a party for middle schoolers this afternoon and serving:

Sparkling lemonade - (yield: 2 gallons* cost approximately $7.00)
*with plenty of ice the yield can be incresed to nearly 4 gallons

2 1/2 gallons of "real" lemonade - no powders or artificial flavors, etc.
1 bottle sparkling water or seltzer water - cold
1/4 cup of 100% fruit juice - Example: strawberry/lemonade
Scoop of frozen fruit - if I have any in the freezer
few slices of lemons* and/or limes

Use smaller cups filled with ice - they'll be back for more so you want to serve smaller portions so there's no waste.

Will also serve ice water since it's going to hit 90 degrees by 2:00PM.

*Using a lemon from a neighbors yard.

p.s. To get the most juice out of lemons and limes, take a room temperature lemon and using the palm of your hand (as shown below) roll the lemon around on the counter gently pressing to loosen and break up the pulp inside.  Take a spoon and use it to "squeeze out" the juice in to the container or beverage.  Slice the peel and place in drink.

Happy Summer!

FDA and list of "Food Ingredients" that are not tested and might be in your breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Another great item open for discussion on Fooducate.  Here's my response:

Terrific post! Any chance you can provide a link to those food and beverage "ingredients" listed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Can't seem to locate one and am now very. . . very curious about those "food ingredients" that were more likely to have been "grown" in a chemistry lab than on a field (and how many are on our children's food trays?)

Best health always!

What do ya think? The "New and Improved" SuperMom101 Web Page

Would love to hear "What's on your Plate" and what you think of our new and improved

SuperMom101 Web Page

Best health always,

SuperMom-in-training

Eating Well for Your Wallet and Waistline - The Nutrition Source

Terrific article on the $1.50/day difference of "eating well."(Complete article here.)

When our youngest was maybe six or so we were shopping in the produce aisle and he asked if we could buy some watermelon.  It was the beginning of December in New England and we're not known for our watermelons in or out of season.  All I could think was how long had the melon been sitting on the back of a truck and how mealy the inside would be.  "Not today," I answered, as I glanced at the price per pound.  And then it hit me…am I nuts!  He's not asking for a bag of cookies.  So, we bought the watermelon, and I gave him a huge spoon to scoop it out - he was in heaven.

When my husband (who loves watermelon) came in the door, he commented, "how much did a watermelon in December cost?"

"Less than a box of cookies," and I handed him a spoon.

Your health is your wealth. - Irish proverb.

Tip of the week: My friend's mom from Italy used to stack her
plates in the fridge like this - no need for plastic, covers, etc.

Eating Well for Your Wallet and Waistline - The Nutrition Source

Changes to "Nutrition Facts" Labels

New York Times - Continue reading the main story

                                                                     

CURRENT LABEL

PROPOSED REDESIGN

ALTERNATE PROPOSAL

The redesign would change how serving sizes are calculated and displayed.

Calorie counts would be more prominent, and the existing “Calories from Fat” line would be removed.

Percent daily values would shift to the left, making them easier to read. Some package sizes would be required to show both “per serving” and “per package” calorie and nutrition counts.

The new design would require information about added sugars.

Vitamin D and potassium counts would be required. Vitamins A and C would be optional.

An alternate proposal splits the percent daily values into several different sections.

Source: Food and Drug Administration

Pepsi Board Member becomes President of the Institute of Medicine

Hahahahaha…wait, this is true?

Fooducate Blog - Just Great, A PepsiCo Board Member is Now President of the Institute of Medicine

Ugh!  Does anyone else find it strange that we can't seem to figure out why America has never been fatter or sicker?

My guess is very soon there will be studies released that high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and flavors, chemical additives, genetically modified, highly processed fake food/drink products are all great for our health.

Please excuse me while I go get a box of tissues…. and laugh hysterically at the movie Idiocracy.

Check out Idiocracy: hysterical satire on the state of America's Food Supply

Now, here's a "healthier" fast food choice

This "fast food" has been a family favorite after a baseball practice or volleyball game for a long time.  In and out, always fresh and tastes great for under $5.50/large burrito (adding the awesome guacamole is $1.50 more). 

Family favorites from the simple Mexican menu include: whole wheat, no cheese, black beans, rice, pork, salsa and guacamole - yum! Roasted veggies instead of meat is always a delicious option too. Special treat is the Jarritos Mandarin sodas that are hecho en Mexico - uses 100% natural sugar and not the high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) junk. 

Did you know:  Coke is manufactured in Mexico using sugar and not high fructose corn syrup because  the Mexican people refuse to drink it when it is manufactured with HFCS.  That's why American's are now seeing Coke imported from Mexico - I don't drink soda but heard Coke is way…way better in the glass bottles and made with cane sugar.  Go figure!

Best health always….

8,742,700 pounds of meat recalled - "unfit for human food and must be removed from commerce"

Wonder where the "beef lips" were headed?  And, what food products do they end up in? 

Is there a recipe that calls for "beef lips?"

List of recalled "meats"