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

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

Fun Food Fact Friday #7 (do you love your lunch?)

ffff#7

 

[Tweet “Fun Food Fact Friday #7 what tip is your favorite? #vegan #lovemylunch”] 

1)  Step-by-step approach to simple change.

This is a very “heady” interview about how we can change . . . for the better.  I believe in an integrated medicine approach.  This is a short video with Depak Chopra that I found very interesting and informative.  

I believe a few simple (free) steps to can lead to a happy, compassionate, healthy life.

2)  Food with Integrity!  

This is another video that shows how pigs should be raised.  (I posted a really horrific one on the blog that showed animal abuse and this is not like that.)  I don’t eat bacon anymore–but I would eat bacon from a farmer like Paul.  My vegan struggle is about compassion–I don’t want to support farming that causes harm to animals.  I get that they need to die and that causes harm–my mind gets that but my heart still doesn’t want to eat meat.  So . . . I will seek out meat from this group of farmers who have adopted humane farming procedures to feed my family members who eat meat. 

3)  Read them or just look at the pictures?

I don’t really like cookbooks–I love to cook, learn about new techniques, explore exciting combinations . . . but 1/2 cup of this or a teaspoon of this–just isn’t my thing.  When I found The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, I was immediately interested!  Deborah Madison, the author, offers food facts (you know how much I love my food facts!), simple recipes–like this one: sliced fennel is brown in oil, add salt and pepper!  How simple and wonderfully delish AND vegan!  As a disclosure–I was not given a book by the author or publisher.  My excitement is purely my own–but if they did send a copy my way!  I would love that! You can order your copy here The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.

[Tweet “I don’t really read them, I just look at the pictures! #lovecookbooks”]

4)  Do you Love your Lunch?

I am currently creating an email course about . . . LUNCHES!  I struggle with making lunches–I make 5 a day (hubs goes to the work cafeteria) and I’ll be honest, it can be a grind.  After packing school lunches and snacks for almost 10 years now, I’m getting really good at it!  My criteria for a lunch is sweet, salty, healthy, crunchy . . . with a huge glass of ice water!  Do you struggle too?  I will cover cost, nutrition, ease and how to get kids involved in making their OWN lunch.  I’m making shopping lists, idea lists, night before checklists, my goal is to make Loving your Lunch simple, fun and of course vegan if you want :-).

5)  Please leave a note in the comments!

I’d love to hear from you.  What did you think about the videos?  Could you take 10 minutes of quiet time a day?  Would you support more expensive farming that was compassionate?  Do you want more cookbook reviews like The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.  Do you love your lunch?  I’m waiting in the comments to hear from you.

Have a great weekend!  I’ll be at a soccer tournament . . . I’m living my dream of parenthood.

Be Blessed.

L.O.V.E.,

Renee

Make Ahead Salad

Does your day ever spin out of control?

Mine does–I forget to eat . . . even when I get the kids lunch ready . . . I forget to make my own!

Then I remember that I didn’t make lunch, I eat their leftovers which is food that I don’t really enjoy.  I love my salads–especially in the summer time when the local farmers market is bursting with cucumbers and heirloom tomatoes.

I’ve been trying so hard to lose weight–my goal was 70 lbs this year–so far only 10 have come off (big sad face) but I can run 3 miles without feeling like I might die!  I’ve recently had a dietary shift–basically I eat a plant based diet.  Will I eat a hot dog!  I sure will–but it will be an Applegate uncured hotdog!  Will I eat a hamburger at McDonalds–NO!

I’m eating much more mindfully now.  I’ve already started writing about it with this post about GMO’s.

Problem:  Not eating lunch!

Solution:  Make a few days worth of lunches ahead of time.

layered Tex Mex Salad

 

 

 

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Be Blessed as you take time to nourish your body with the best possible foods available to you!

(Did you notice the box of cereal?  I don’t like cereal as a meal–but these chocolate mini wheats are fun to add into trail mix.  And if you have a kid who takes forever to eat breakfast . . . or has to go to the bathroom RIGHT after you pour the milk–EVERY MORNING!  These are great.)

Meatloaf, in a crockpot?

Top Ten After School Snacks

Top 10 Chicken Dinners

Blogs I link up with!