What's For Lunch

Back to schoool means back to packing my lunch.  One of my yearly kitchen goals was to pack my lunch at least 3 times a week.  So far this year I have been successful and I really want to continue through this school year.  So, here we go!  This week's lunches in review.


Monday - Ham and Tomato Sandwich, Pretzels, Peach
Tuesday - Ham and Tomato Sandwich, Pretzels, Banana
Wednesday - Cheesy Chicken Vermicelli, Peach
Thursday - Cheesy Chicken Vermicelli, Peach
Friday - Teriyaki Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Peas

What's For Lunch Week of April 18th

What a week!  My FIL was admitted to the hospital unexpectedly on Tuesday, shifting our usually routine.  He is doing well and coming home today thankfully.  But as we all know things like that can certainly throw our usually balanced schedule off.  Add to that an evening doctors appointment I had forgotten about and the honor of seeing several of my students honored at the school board meeting and dinner and lunch plans were thwarted!  I had planned on cooking a great deal this week and using the leftovers for my lunch plans.  Not cooking = no leftovers = no lunch for me! So, here is the good, the bad and the ugly of my scattered week. 

Monday -  Leftover BBQ Chicken Pizza, banana
Tuesday - Leftover Chef Salad
Wednesday - Cafeteria lunch at school
Thursday - Pizza ordered as part of a school celebration
Friday - was going to be another cafeteria lunch, but my fantastic work spouse brought tomato sandwiches.  YUM!  He truly saved the day. 

What's For Lunch - Week of April 11th

Back to school after Spring Break is hard, just that little taste of what summer will be like makes it difficult to get back into the routine.  BUT, tempting as it was to forgo making my lunch this week, I persevered and as always, come lunch time I was glad I did.

Monday - Roast Beef Sandwich with Horseradish Cheese (YUM!), Pretzels, Banana
Tuesday - Chicken Salad with Crackers, Babybel Cheese, Banana
Wednesday - Roast Beef Sandwich with Horseradish Cheese, Pretzels, Banana
Thursday - Leftover Roasted Sausage and Potatoes, Strawberries and Grapes
Friday - Zaxby's House Salad - I NEEDED this today !

What's For Lunch - Week of March 14th

Still on track with taking my lunch to work.  Had a couple of days were there weren't any leftovers and I didn't really feel like taking the time to pack, but I have come up with a couple of easy, always on hand lunches and I used those this week.

Monday- Peanut  Butter and Jelly, Pretzels and Banana
Tuesday - Left over Hoisin Chicken, Sushi Rice and Salad
Wednesday - Chef Salad
Thursday - Vanilla Yogurt, Homemade Granola and Orange
Friday - Leftover Spaghetti

I am trying to plan ahead better, so on Sunday I will be making Pesto Feta Pasta Salad.  I am only making 1/2 the recipe and this should make enough for 2 lunch servings. 

What's For Lunch - February 28

I am getting better at planning ahead for lunch.  When making my weekly menu, I am looking for recipes that will make at least one if not two extra lunch servings.  I am aware of lunch needs when making my weekly grocery lists.  Not a single PB&J on this week's list (my standard, last minute, "Oh crap, I forgot to make lunch" sandwich).  All in all, 9 weeks in, this is finally becoming a habit.  YEAH!


Monday - Chicken Salad Sandwich, Pretzels, Tangerine
Tuesday - Shrimp Quesadilla, Salad, Banana
Wednesday - Shrimp Quesadilla, Cucumber Slices, Banana
Thursday - Chicken Salad Sandwich, Pretzels, Tangerine
Friday - Bacon Cheddar Quiche, Banana, Apple, Craisin Muffin, Tangerine

What's For Lunch - February 21st

Not very exciting this week I must say, but I stayed out of the driv thru and school cafeteria!


Monday - home with a sick child - Ham and Salami Sandwich, Potato Salad, M &Ms
Tuesday - leftover Potato Soup
Wednesday - Chicken Nuggets, Banana
Thursday - Leftover Grilled Chicken Salad
Friday - Chili Dogs and Fries at The Varsity on School Trip

What's For Lunch - February 14

This week did not play out the way I wanted it to .  My husband was admitted to the hospital Tuesday and Wednesday for a stomach bug gone really bad.  He is fine, but my lunch plans for the week were crazy!  No lunch one day, hospital food another and the dreaded school cafeterial food another.  But, I am deteremined to show the good, bad and ugly on this blog, so here is what I ate this week....

Monday - Fish Sandwich and Mac and Cheese (Sunday night leftovers)
Tueady - no lunch - In ER
Wednesday - Parmesan Chicken, Cooked Cabbage and Mac and Cheese from the hospital cafeteria
Thursday - Cheese Hamburger, fries and mandarin oranges from school cafeteria
Friday - Fettucini Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli

What's For Lunch - February 7th

Week 6 of my "Bring My Lunch to Work" project.  I sooooo did not want to pack my lunch Sunday night!  No leftovers, no sandwich meat, no good snacks... I really just wanted to "plan" to pick up Zaxby's or eat in the cafeteria.  I knew I had to come up with something to make me head back to the kitchen and pull a decent lunch together, so I did the math. 

1 trip to Zaxby's  - $8.00
4 days eating in the cafeteria - $14.00
5 days Coke from the vending machine - $3.75

Total Saved/Week - $25.75

I got my lazy behind up off the couch and made lunch!

Monday - PB & J, Fruit, Babybel Cheese
Tuesday - Ham, Salami and Cheese Sandwich, Cheez-Its, Brownie
Wednesday - Bean with Bacon Soup, Crackers, Yogurt with Granola 
Thursday - Ham, Salami and Cheese Sandwich, Cheez -Its, Banana-Orange Muffin
Friday - Vanilla Yogurt and Granola, Banana - Orange Muffin

What's For Lunch - Week of January 31st

I had a rough week at work and I was REALLY tempted to give in to the desire to just eat Zaxby's everyday to make myself feel better.  But, I knew in the long run I would actually feel worse, so I persevered in my goal of taking my lunch to work everyday.  Here's what I enjoyed this week.

Monday - Chicken Salad, Croissants, Pea Salad, Banana
Tuesday - Chicken Salad, 1/2 Bagel, Pea Salad
Wednesday - Chicken Salad, Croissant, Banana
Thursday - PB & J, Fritos, Babybel Cheese, Fruit Cocktail
Friday - Leftover Pizza, Babybel Cheese, Fruit Cocktail, Sugar Cookies

What's For Lunch - Week of January 24th

Still on track - eventhough I had to resort to PB&J one day last week, I have managed to take my lunch to work each day.  I have also been taking sweet tea to drink with lunch each day.  It is kind of a pain to take it, but I am determined to kick my Coke-A-Day habit at school.  Then, on Tuesday I made the greatest discovery.  Our wonderful cafeteria workers make sweet and unsweet tea each day for teachers.  They set up a station for us with ice, water, tea and lemon wedges.  Since their sweet tea is sweeter than I like, I mix sweet and unsweet and have a FREE and lower calorie drink than a $.075 Coke.  Love it!

Monday - Black Bean and Spinach Pizza
Tuesday - Mustard- Oregano Pork Chop, Orange Sweet Potatoes
Wednesday - Zaxby's Big Zac Snak and a Coke
Thursday - Pizza Hut Pepperoni Pizza as a celebration at school
Friday - Grilled Chicken and Couscous with Layered Salad

What's For Lunch - Week of January 17th

Back to school, back to lunch routine.  Thank goodness, if I had to be snowed in one more week I would gain 15 pounds! 


Monday - Sliders, Pretzels and Banana
Tuesday - Tomato, Basil and Cheese Baked Pasta, French Bread
Wednesday - Yogurt, Banana, Banana Orange Muffins (strange day at work...)
Thursday - Tomato, Basil and Cheese Baked Pasta, Banana Orange Muffin
Friday - Peanut Butter and Cherry Jam Sandwich, Vanilla Yogurt with Peanut Butter Granola, Banana

What's for Lunch - January

Due to the wonderful snow/ice storm that hit the South this week, we have had the "luxury" of a week long vacation from school.  This means, I didn't have to pack my lunch every day, but I still wanted to chronicle what we had for lunch on our snowcation as it fits right into the Pantry Challenge and making better use of  leftovers.

Monday - leftover Prime Rib sandwiches and chips
Tuesday - leftover Taco Soup and Cornbread
Wednesday - turkey, salami and cheese sandwich, chips and dip, tangerine
Thursday - leftover Taco Soup and Cornbread
Friday - leftover French Dip Sandwiches and chips

Hopefully next week we will be back in school and back to normal!

What's For Lunch? Week of January 3rd

In an attempt to achieve my goal of planning for lunches better this year, I will doing a weekly post of  what I take to work for lunch each day.   I teach at one of our local high schools and just can't take all the cafeteria carbs anymore.  I also get digusted at paying $3.75 for lunch, knowing I could make a better, more calorie friendly meal at home for much less.


Monday - Homemade Bean with Bacon Soup, Pimiento Cheese sandwich, yogurt
Tuesday - Taco Salad (leftover taco meat), tortilla wedges, grapes and yogurt
Wednesday - Homemade Bean with Bacon Soup, Pimento Cheese Sandwich, yougurt
Thursday - leftover spaghetti and salad
Friday- Leftover Sloppy Joe, applesauce, Homemade Granola Bar

Yeah!  I took my lunch every day this week (my goals is at least 3 days/week).  I also managed to take water or iced tea as well instead of hitting up the Coke machine.  So far so good.   One of my goals for the weekend it to make up a list of lunch friendly recipes. 

What do you take for lunch?