What's for lunch 1/31/13

Oven Baked Breaded Chicken
Whole Grain Garlic Bread
Sweet Corn Cobbettes
Roasted Long Island Potatoes
Fresh Fruit 

The chicken is a Tyson "fully cooked chicken breast nugget fritter with rib meat" with 10g of fat and 420mg of sodium.  The ingredients are: Boneless, skinless chicken breast nuggets with rib meat, water, modified food starch, sodium phosphates, salt. PREDUSTED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), wheat gluten, salt. BATTERED WITH: Water, enriched bleached wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), modified corn starch, salt, dextrose, spices, garlic powder, xanthan gum, oleoresin paprika and annatto. BREADED WITH: Enriched wheat flour (enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, spices, garlic powder, extractives of paprika, natural flavors (spice extractives). Breading set in vegetable oil.

The potatoes are local, seasoned with herbs and roasted.  Corn is small, frozen commodity cobs.  The fruit is fresh. 

What's for lunch 1/30/13

BETTER THAN A PIZZERIA...

Whole Grain French Bread Pizza
Plain or With Meatballs

Caesar Salad Fresh Fruit 

This is a white-flour pizza (not whole grain). The sauce is a Red Pack vitamin enhanced tomato sauce. The sodium at 140mg is much lower than we previously used.  Here are the ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Spice, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Black Pepper, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Natural Flavor, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate).  The cheese is a USDA commodity part skim mozzarella.  Ingredients are cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes. The sodium is 240mg/oz - I think we use 2 ounces.

Go with cheese. The meatballs are are processed, cooked and frozen by Tyson.  Ingredients are: Ground beef (not more than 20% fat), water, bread crumbs (bleached wheat flour, salt, yeast, dextrose, and soybean oil), seasoning (salt, dehydrated onion, dehydrated celery, garlic powder, spices, soybean oil), tomato puree (tomatoes and citric acid), grated parmesan cheese [(cultured part-skim milk, salt and enzymes), cellulose powder, potassium sorbate], grated romano cheese made from cow's milk [(cultured pasteurized part-skim milk, salt and enzymes), cellulose powder, potassium sorbate].   They have 9g of fat (3 are saturated) and 450 mg of sodium.  Tyson sometimes has ground beef recalls due to e. coli contamination although this one did not affect the school lunch market.  Meatballs are also a pink slime issue - our schools won't use these next year.

Choose the salad bar or even sandwich bar with veggies sides as a better option. 

What's for lunch 1/29/13

So, I messed up and put tomorrow's lunch for today. Sorry about that.   How do you get your kids to eat more fruits and vegetables ??  You may ask why is it important ? Check  out http://www.livestrong.com/article/263709-benefits-for-teenagers-to-eat-healthy/.  One of my daughters just came home from school starving.  I put out a plate of carrots, peppers, cucumber and hummus. She ate it all.  I try to keep my kids away from processed foods but it can be challenging.  I do my best to make it look colorful and fun.  And of course when cooking with vegetables flavor is very important. Garlic, onions etc. are always great to add. Tonight I am making roasted chicken with acorn squash and string beans with garlic and ginger. Should be delicious !
Enjoy your evening !! 

What's for lunch 1/29/13

BRUNCH FOR LUNCH
Cinnamon Challah French Toast
Applegate Sunday Bacon
Potato Puffs
Apple Crisp 


This lunch is one of my committee's least favorite.  Say "No" to meal declared to be "cake" for lunch by our committee's nutritionist - basically white flour bread.  The syrup is basically HFCS.  They are looking for an affordable maple syrup but do not have one yet - but they will be limiting the serving size this year in the meantime.  Actual lunch from our schools above. This meal has a lot of sugar, simple carbohydrates -- no whole grains. 

Then there are the commodity potatoes processed by McCain's into tater tots -- although they are labeled "frozen pre-formed potato rounds."  They have 7g of fat (one of which is saturated) and 190mg of sodium. Ingredients are: potatoes, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following oils: canola, soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, corn). Contains 2% or less of dextrose, salt, sodium acid pyrophosphate added to maintain natural color.

The turkey bacon is by Applegate.  Here are the ingredients: Turkey (Turkey Used Never Administered Antibiotics, Growth Promotants or Animal By-products), Water, Sea Salt, Maple Sugar, Celery Juice, Onion Powder, Spices, Lactic Acid Starter Culture (not From Milk.)  They promote it as nitrate-free but this NYT article indicates otherwise - and cites the company saying their products have the same level (naturally) of cancer-causing nitrates as conventional brands. Readmore about nitrates here.  So, the better options are the salad bar or sandwich with salad.  Or soup and salad.  

                                           

What's for lunch

All Natural Beef Bolognese
            or
Rotini Marinara
Fresh Mozzarella
Whole Grain Garlic Toast 
Fresh Broccoli 
Fresh Fruit 


This is a whole grain pasta. The sauce is a Red Pack vitamin enhanced tomato sauce. The sodium at 140mg is much lower than we previously used.  Here are the ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Onion Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Spice, Garlic Powder, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Black Pepper, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), Natural Flavor, Vitamin A (Retinol Palmitate).

Since it does not say " straight from the farm" the bolognese is not made with hormone free, antibiotic free ground beef.  "All Natural" leads me to believe it is a government commodity.  I would stick with the rotini marinara.  The bread is whole grain, fresh broccoli and fruit.  Either apples, oranges, bananas and grapes are available.  

I am often looking for new ideas for breakfast.  I came across this recipe. Going to try it over the weekend. I might skip the soy chorizo depending on the ingredients. The rest looks pretty good to me and I think the kids will like it.  Will let you know ! Enjoy the weekend and stay warm ! 

Skinny Egg White Scramble With Soy Chorizo, Greens And Beans

View full recipe at: The Skinny

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GFGluten free

LCLow-carb

7 Ingredients

• 1/2 c chopped zucchini (about 1/2 of a small zucchini)
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 T Soy Chorizo (I like SoyRizo brand, it has enough spice and oil to flavor the dish well… But t...
• 1 really big handful tender greens (You can use only spinach, or a mix it with arugula, dandelion...
• 1 tomato, chopped (Half will be added during cooking, the other half added on top when serving.)
• 1 c liquid egg whites (I prefer using those that come in a carton for ease)
• 1 T Daiya Brand Shredded Vegan Cheese (it’s the vegan cheese that melts the best) in Cheddar or P...

What's for lunch 1/24/13

BETTER THAN A PIZZERIA... Flatbread“Margherita” Pizza

Fresh Tomato Sauce, Basil and Local Fresh Mozzarella

Caesar Salad 

Fresh Fruit 

The pizza sauce (from Red Pack) ingredients are: Tomato concentrate (water, tomato paste), salt, citric acid, basil.

For the crust, the ingredients are: enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, barley malt, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, yeast, soybean oil,, dextrose, salt, calcium propionate, fumaric acid, dough conditioner (wheat flour, salt, soybean oil, l-gyssteine, ascorbic acid, enzyme) potassium sorbate.


The basil and mozzarella are local. The caesar salad is pretty clear - romaine is a traditional choice for caesar but also more nutritious than iceberg. The Caesar salad dressing is organic by Chelten. Here are the ingredients: filtered water, organic soybean oil, organic white vinegar, organic Parmesan cheese (pasteurized organic cow's milk, salt, cheese cultures, microbial enzymes, organic potato starch), pasteurized organic frozen whole egg yolks, salt, organic sugar, organic ground mustard seed, organic garlic powder organic onion powder, organic black pepper, xanthan gum.  (in 2 tbsp - 8 g fat, 160 mg sodium).

I have been reading about and eating Chia seeds lately.  Chia seeds support heart health, stabilize blood sugar, energizes you, acts as an anti- inflammatory and provides antioxidants. Here is a favorite recipe of mine. But you can incorporate chia seeds into almost anything. 

Raspberry & Cardamom Cream Chia Pudding

February 13, 2012 8:00 am
By Heather Crosby

11

I think that if you love someone, whether it’s a family member, a friend, or your sweetheart, you should serve them healthy treats for Valentine’s Day. Nothing says “I care” like recipes that promote a long, vibrant life. This delicious Whole Food of the Month recipe takes no time at all to make (love that), but thanks to the exotic flavor of cardamom and the almost heart-shaped and juicy red raspberries, your recipients will be feeling well taken care of this Valentine’s Day.

Makes: 2-4 servings
Time: 15 minutes

* Make this recipe raw (or highly raw) by using all raw ingredients

Tools:
Large glass bowl
Blender
Spoon
Strainer

Ingredients:
Try to buy everything organic. Here’s why.
1/2 cup chia seeds
6 0z. (3/4 cup raspberries)

Cardamom Cream
2 cups pure water
1/4 cup cashews
6 dates
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2-1 tsp ground cardamom (optional, but I recommend it and add as much as you’d like)
Teeny pinch salt

*Don’t have cashews on hand, but have a can of coconut milk, or almond, rice, or hemp milk? Blend 2 cups of that with the dates, vanilla, cardamom and salt instead of the cashews and water (which is basically a homemade cashew milk).

Let’s get started.
Wash your raspberries.

(Hearts upon hearts upon hearts. See ’em?)

Place your chia seeds in a large glass bowl.

Blend together Cardamom Cream ingredients until super smooth and add to the bowl of chia. Stir well and allow to sit on the counter, or in the fridge, for about 15 minutes until the mixture thickens.

If creme brulee and tapioca pudding had a baby, it would taste like this recipe—amazing!

Add your fresh raspberries and enjoy.

Serve chilled or room temperature. Store in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to one week.

Substitutions: Add more berries—strawberries, blueberries and/or blackberries! Or try this recipe with fresh peaches, sliced banana, toasted almonds or pepitas.

What's for lunch 1/23/13

Barilla Plus

Oven Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Fresh Spinach with Garlic and Oil

Fresh Fruit 

The noodles we're using for the Mac n cheese are Barilla Plus. The ingredients are:  Semolina, Grain and Legume Flour, Blend (Lentils, Chickpeas, Egg Whites, Spelt, Barley, Flaxseed, Oat Fiber, Oats), Durum Flour, Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid.  The sauce is made from Cabot Vermont Cheddar.

The spinach is fresh sautéed with garlic and oil. The fruit is fresh.  Soup and 1/2 sandwich are available every day this month.  Soup is a great lunch especially considering how cold it is outside.  And as always the salad bar is available for a fresh salad or sides.