Clara's Cold Lunch Corner Week 6

The hinge on Clara’s metal lunchbox broke last week. So I’ve had to (a bit nervously) resort to a free soft lunchbox from the “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” movie. A few years ago soft lunchboxes had a big problem with lead, so I still tend to stay away from them. Although, they’re probably safe by now.

It would be nice if the Laptop Lunch System came out with a nicely sized square box. We still use a standard metal lunch box for food thermoses, soups, and other bulky items. Clara’s new metal lunchbox should arrive shortly from Lunchboxes.com. Maybe then I can quietly dispose of that cute green bag when my daughter isn’t looking.

Currently, between running around like crazy and pulling my hair out, I’m reading Lunch Lessons, a book by one of my renegade food heroes. Chef Ann Cooper's really changed and influenced school lunches not only in Berkley, but slowly across our nation. Thankfully, her book gives us lunch packers information on cold lunches too. I highly recommend it if you’ve got children in school.

Week of May 24^th-May 28^st 2010.

I didn’t keep up on the lunch veggies very well this week. Hopefully, that’s ok this time as we enjoyed lots of spring vegetables in our family meals.

1. Laptop

Medium covered box- Mini bagel with ham.

Medium covered box- Grapes on the vine

Small covered- Annie’s White Cheddar Bunnies (cheese crackers)

Small covered- 4 Hershey’s Kisses

Tucked on the side- Cheese stick

Liquid Thermos- ½ Newman’s Own Limeade & ½ water

2. Laptop (Picture above)

Large uncovered box- Homemade flour tortilla wrap with ham & cheese, wrapped in plastic wrap. Apple slices in a sandwich bag. (Apples were soaked in lemon water and then rinsed in cold water.)

Small uncovered box- Mini pretzels

Small uncovered box- Raisins & chocolate covered peanuts

Liquid Thermos- ½ Newman’s Own Limeade & ½ water

3. Laptop

Medium covered box- Watermelon chunks

Small covered box- Pickle chunks

Small uncovered box- Trail mix

On the side- Snack bag with two homemade flour tortillas rolled up around cheese sticks.

Water

4. Soft Lunchbox

Food thermos- French Spring Vegetable Soup

Small container- Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Cheddar Goldfish Crackers

Medium container- Cherries

Wrapped in foil- 1 large carrot

Water

5. Soft Lunchbox (Lunch plus snacks)

Large covered box- Ham & cheese sandwich with mustard sauce

Small covered container- Homemade three berry muffin

1 cheese stick

Snack bag- peanuts & raisins

Snack bag- Red, white & blue yogurt pretzels

Apple

Water