Star Student Wrap Up

Now that it's Friday, we are wrapping up the Star Student of the Week business. That also means that Waffles, the Koala class pet has to go back to school. In hind sight, I should have made a koala lunch because that part is tough. I thought I'd do another lunch and snack for the occasion, though. Today, the kiddo also gets to share some of her favorite things, so she is excited about that! Wish I could be there to see it! Hope you all have a great weekend!

Lunch - Leftover cheese bread, Swiss cheese, spinach and cucumber stars with ranch in the container, strawberries, and a hidden chocolate coin. Snack - Cashews, yogurt and chocolate raisins, mini marshmallows, and graham crackers. PIN

In this lunch...

Star Student of the Week!

So, the 1st grade class has a fun little thing where each week a different child is honored as the "Star Student". During that week, they get to be line leader, teacher's helper, and on Friday, they get to bring some things in and tell the class some things they want to share about themselves! How fun is that? In addition, they get to bring home the 'class pet' for the week... a koala named Waffles! Along with the stuffed toy, they also get a journal to write and draw pictures about all the fun things they did while Waffles stayed with them! I love this time they can celebrate being 'special' as an individual in the class.

So, naturally, I had to celebrate my 'Star Student' too! Monday's lunch was 'star' heavy for the occasion.

Lunch - Cheese quesadilla 'stars', cucumber 'stars', strawberries (stars cut out of center), chocolate coin, and some sour cream/salsa for dipping! Snack (below) - Red pears, carrot coins (with star cut outs), and peanut butter.

For Tuesday, I went a little more subtle. I thought that this was also a time to celebrate some of the things that make my little 'star' so special! One of her absolute favorite things is owls... ALL things owls! So, let's do an owl lunch, right?

Lunch - Peanut butter & Trader Joe's cookie butter on a toasted bagel, Swiss cheese accents, and in the bottom tier, frozen yogurt owls, spinach, and strawberry hearts. Snack - Veggie straws, and CLIF Kids fruit twist (and a little Lunchbox Love).

I know inquiring minds want to see this fella, Waffles, too, so here is a picture from the journal on his first night with us!

In these lunches...

Simple Halloween Fun

One of our favorite quick meals, whether it be lunch or dinner, is a simple tuna or chicken salad. It doesn't get any easier. Our version of tuna salad is made with mayo, a little mustard, chopped dill pickles, and a healthy dose of fresh ground pepper. Delicious as a sandwich or wrap, tuna salad is equally yummy with crackers and cheese, and is super easy to pack that way so we don't end up with any sad, soggy bread.

Tuna salad, cucumbers, toast rounds, Swiss cheese, and candy corn in the container.

In this lunch...

Gone Batty!

Seems like lately when I go to the fridge or pantry, I'm down to the last of just about everything. Seriously, like I need to go shopping right now instead of posting this! I even cooked pasta last night for dinner using the end of two different types of pasta. Oh well. Lunch still comes together without too much effort, and I prefer to think of this lunch and snack as a nice variety rather than a bunch of odds and ends. Yummy, either way!

Peanut butter & jelly bat, Swiss cheese, grapes, carrots, celery, granny smith apples, chocolate covered pretzels, and mini pretzel flats.

Snack - Peanut butter & Trader Joe's cookie butter bats, turkey ham, and chocolate pretzels.

I have to say that the addition of the trivia Lunchbox Love note in this box led to much debate with my 6 year old..,. first about mammals, then about flying versus gliding, then all about the different kinds of bats, which eventually led to a discussion about blood sucking and vampires. Tis the season I suppose.

In this lunch...

End of the Harvest

While our herbs will be growing strong for a while yet, the last of our tomatoes was chopped up for a lunch side today. Not only does the garden being prepped for winter signify that time of year has come, but we always start our No Bake Energy Bites batches going shortly after school starts. This is our first batch of the season. We always make them exactly the same, but I think I'll be trying to add some dried fruits and nuts for a twist this year..  If you haven't had these, you must!

For daddy - Turkey and Swiss wraps with Havarti on the side, the last of the fresh tomatoes from the garden (with some basil from the garden too), watermelon, and energy bites.

Turkey and Swiss sandwiches, cucumber, and watermelon. Not pictured was snack, which was pita chips and hummus.

In these lunches...