Posts

5 Lunch Box L.O.V.E. Notes #2

/1 Comment/in /by

This weeks L.O.V.E. Notes!

First week of school went well.  When I saw the girls during “the sign of peace” at the school Mass–one was bouncing off the walls excited and the other was a teary eyed mess.  It ended up being a “hug of peace” and lots of reassurance .  As I sent her back to her teacher I cried all the way back to my pew.  (I cry a lot.  I always have–I’m a total emotion matcher.)  As I knelt down, on my knees praying for my little girl–I remembered that I had put a super encouraging note in her lunch box.  At that moment my world was all right again.  I knew that she would know, I intentionally set aside time in the crazy morning to put a loving note in her lunch box. 

That is my why of lunch box notes.  So my kid knows in the middle of the day I’m sending love and light!

  1. I am smart.
  2. I am funny.
  3. I am kind.
  4. I am loving.
  5. I show others I care.

These are a little different from last week.  I like to put in notes that say “you are” that is me affirming them BUT I also think it is hugely important for them to affirm themselves.  To learn to love ourselves is important for all of us.  We need to accept the light within us, given by the Divine, and love ourselves first, then we can spread that love to others.  (I was going to write that today anyway–it just so happens that Fr. Trout’s homily was about that!)  

Namaste

I see the light in myself and honor it.  (first) I see the light in you and honor it. (second) The light that we see is the collective divine.  It is what connects us and makes us all brothers and sisters.  (keeping in mind that siblings fight! but with respect can come to a understanding.)

Helping our kids see that the light shines from within them is fundamental.  Give it a try and see how your kids change as they stop looking for external approval and seek it from the Source.  Amazing things happen.

Come Back Each Week!

I will post 5 new love notes each week!  

Follow Me On Instagram!

I post daily lunches on instagram and will use Periscope more and more@

 

Need Help packing lunches?

No worries–I am going to post the lunches that I make on Instagram and create a Periscope video!   I will also have a weekly round up of the lunches here on the website!  My goal is to help moms create healthy lunches THAT KIDS WILL EAT!  It won’t take long and it isn’t expensive!  I promise.

Be Blessed as you eat and live with L.O.V.E.!

5 Lunch Box L.O.V.E. Notes #1

/0 Comments/in /by

Love Notes

Who doesn’t like to get a little love note?

love note

A long time ago I read about Love Languages and even wrote a post or two about them.  The idea resonated with me–we all have our own love language, something that makes our heart sing.  Each of my 4 kids has a different love language AND they change over time (sometimes hourly!).  Love notes in a lunch box are a the “words of affirmation” love language.

 

5 Love Notes to get you started

I was going to make a fancy PDF for you to print out but then . . . that just isn’t my style.  I’m not a print it out, cut it up and then put it in my kids lunch box!  

But what I do like to do is make my love notes all at once, put them near the lunch making supplies so they will be ready to go!  Of course, if the kids have a test that day I’ll add a note that reads–good luck on your test or something more specific like–don’t forget 6 x8 =48!  Or if they have a spelling work they just can’t get–I’ll make silly sentences that use that word.  Simple.  Heartfelt.  Intentional.  

  1. Have a great first day of school!  (then I add lots of hearts and crazy loops.)
  2. You have a great smile–use it today!
  3. I have something special for you when you come home!  
  4. You are awesome.
  5. Do you feel loved?  You should.  I love you tons!

 

 

 

 

https://instagram.com/p/6lHx95OmkR/

 

 

 

Teenagers and High Schoolers

I have been blessed by the opportunity to homeschool all of my kids at some point in their education.  I know my kids will agree with me when I say, homeschooling has given us the ability to connect with each other in a very special way.  The bonds that we created have truly been everlasting.  

My son and I share some great memories and seek out new memories together.  For example this summer we took a 6 mile kayak trip on Lake Superior and have planned “one” of our next adventures for the coming year–kayaking to the island and spending the night.  (I hope I don’t chicken out!)  You get the idea.  Creating a relationship based on unconditional love takes time.  What you give is what you get.

What’s that have to do with lunch box love notes?

I want my son to just know how much I love him.  Silently.  I will add chocolate chips to the nuts in his lunch–no big deal, but I’ll tell him when you see chocolate chips–I want you to know how much I love you!  Chocolate chips= I love you.  At the moment I’m looking for a little photo of a kayak . . . it doesn’t need to be huge–just something that speaks to both of you.

Come Back Each Week!

I will post 5 new love notes each week!  

Follow Me On Instagram!

I post daily lunches on instagram and will use Periscope more and more@

 

Need Help packing lunches?

No worries–I am going to post the lunches that I make on Instagram and create a Periscope video!   I will also have a weekly round up of the lunches here on the website!  My goal is to help moms create healthy lunches THAT KIDS WILL EAT!  It won’t take long and it isn’t expensive!  I promise.

Be Blessed as you eat and live with L.O.V.E.!supplies

Salad 101 Vegan Style

/0 Comments/in , , /by

 Salad 101

Creating a vegan style salad is super easy!  Here are my go-to ingredients to a new and exciting salad each night. (Please feel free to add your rave fave salads in the comments! If you are a food blogger please, please, please add a link so we can all have some groovy green love.)

Greens: (in order of my own personal preference)

  • spinach
  • baby kale
  • lacinato kale or dinosaur kale (for my video on kale click here.)
  • romaine
  • swiss chard
  • beet greens (did you know you can grow your own?  micro, micro farm!  –> click here.)
  • Zen Blend 

Veggies: 

  • cucumbers
  • tomatoes
  • carrots slice 500 different ways
  • peppers–red, yellow, green, hot peppers!, roasted peppers (the ones out of a jar)
  • my kids like corn on their Taco Salads

Fruit:

  • strawberries
  • olives
  • kiwi
  • apple
  • pineapple

Nuts and Seeds:

  • WALNUTS (my biggest most favorite!)
  • almonds
  • peanuts (especially on my Asian salads)
  • black beans (on my Taco Salad)
  • garbanzo beans
  • pumpkin seeds (roasted–I eat them raw on my oatmeal but not salad.  I know–weird.)

Why? 

Because I’m all about just eating a ding dang salad–it’s just not that hard.  It’s good for you.  Your heart will thank you and so will your kids . . . or your Mom!  or whoever loves you more than anything in the whole world.   

 

Heart Health Salad Kit Review! Last week I reviewed the Digestive Health Salad Kit and the Antioxidant Kit–real and honest reviews of what I did AND didn't like. Because–I'm picky. 1 bag is 180 calories and supposed to be 2.5 servings! But really this is a very small salad–I added strawberries and cucumbers. It still wasn't enough! (ok so maybe I was super hungry . . . but still.) Baby #spinach arugula, broccoli, #kale beet tops, carrots, dried cranberries, walnuts, with a super #yumilicious basil balsamic vinaigrette 3 grams of fiber 3 grams of protien Vitamin A 90% Calcium 8% Vitamin E 10% Folate 20% Manganese 25% Vitamin C 60% Iron 8% Vitamin K 250% Magnesium 10%

A photo posted by Renee's Kitchen

[Tweet “Beautiful food, intentional cooking, opening to the blessings of a sacred meal. #salad”]

 

 

I picked these up at Target. These are really nice for reluctant salad eaters! A great way to introduce a variety of greens without minimal time investment. #salad #healthykids #heartsmart

A photo posted by Renee's Kitchen

 

 

Don’t recreate the wheel (or salad)

This was the salad kit I used as a base, then added strawberries.  No, it isn’t organic.  No, it’s not local.  I went for easy, fast, a different flavor blend to try out on my kids.  

Salad kits are a great way to:

  • introduce new combinations
  • try a new green blend 
  • try a new salad dressing without make the commitment to a jar–I have a graveyard of salad dressings in my fridge!  Bums me out.
  • perfect size for lunch–put the lettuce in your own container and then add the dressing and toppings at lunch!  Brilliant idea.

Go get your salad on!

Be blessed as you honor your body with healthy greens! 

PS.  if you need a salad dressing –> click here for my amaze walnut fig dressing, or here for my lemon dressing!