nothing new under the sun

I am talking about kids lunch, tired of the same ole ?

Me too.  Here's what I am serving these days

our weekend fave, snack lunch cheese, crackers, popcorn, carrots and ranch, and fruit
hard boiled eggs and bacon
diy lunchables crackers, pepperoni, ham, cheese
cucumber & hummus sandwiches
pasta salad
lentil & quinoa salad with tortilla chips
cowboy cavier with tortilla chips
deli meat rolls with cheese or cream cheese
jelly & cream cheese roll ups in a flour tortilla
almond butter & apple butter (not really butter just concentrated apple puree) sandwich
Nutella, peanut butter & banana
grilled chicken strips with ranch dip or honey mustard
soup
chili
mac & cheese
pasta
quinoa with veggies
cream cheese and ham stuffed peppers
rice bowl with veggie flowers and hoisen
bagel with cream cheese

And what are you eating for lunch?  Their leftovers, whatever you can shove in your mouth by the time their done eating and ready to move on to the next thing?  I can honestly say I know a lot about lunch, but, not because I was eating it.  For the first time in 7 years I actually think about what sounds good to me for lunch, what is healthy, and I make it, sometimes!
salad, smoothie, snack lunch (veggies, fruits, cheeses, crackers, dips) or sandwich.

Here's how to keep it exciting.  The reason I know this I use to work in upper management for a restaurant group.  Every day I had to eat lunch in an upscale French Restaurant for 3 years.  Poor me, but do you realize the two main ingredients in French Cuisine?   Cream and butter.  How did I not gain 30 lbs a year?  Salad.  Did I get sick of it, yes.  How did I deal with it?  I would march myself back to the kitchen everyday and make my own "new" salad dressing concoction.  Also their are a million different ways you can make up a salad.  Need some protein so it sticks with you for the day?  You can throw chicken, quinoa, farro, nuts, seeds, cheeses, in it to fill you up.

As the bible says, there is nothing new under the sun, so we have to serve things we have in new creative ways.  I found this great resource on glorious grains, check it out for some new ideas to add grains for salads and sides with dinner.

Also, if you make a dressing on Monday make enough for the week, I store mine in a canning jar.
 I also try to put seasonal ingredients in my salad
pumpkin seeds
roasted butternut squash
apples
roasted sweet potatoes
bacon, pancetta, or prosciutto
candied walnuts
pomegranates
pears
clementines

fall dressing lesson 
maple Dijon vinaigrette
equal parts, apple cider vinegar, vegetable oil (1/2 cup each)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon dijon
S&P
 Directions: add everything except oil, slowly wisk in oil

If you want to be able to whip up simple genius foods in a hurry have a well stocked pantry!

My new favorite smoothie
1 cup cabot vanilla greek yogurt
3/4 cup orange juice
1 cup kale
1/2 avocado
1 apple or some kind of fruit, peach, pear, banana
ice
(if you need more liquid add milk or more oj)
chia seeds to garnish (optional)