Healthy Banana Bread Sandwiches

Once in a while, the local grocery store has "ripe" single left over bananas all stuffed in a bag for 99¢.  These scream to be made into banana bread.  We use a tried and true recipe and have shared it here before.  This time, we used 1/3 cup sucanat for the 3/4 cup brown sugar and it was SO delicious.  (even tried and true recipes can be altered to be healthier)

Our main entree is our Healthy Banana Bread made into small sandwiches with whipped cream cheese.  Bean asked for the crust to be cut off so that was the verdict for both lunches.

Our vegetable side is simple carrot sticks.  We dressed them up with a little bow on top made from a carrot and using our tiny bow cookie cutter.

Our vegetable side is apple slices.  We used an Envy apple.  It tastes like a cross between a pear and an apple.  We used the same bow cookie cutter to make bows for the top of the apples.

Finally, our dairy/dessert is Chobani Champions Orange Vanilla.

Tomorrow is yellow day for Bean and her snack is pineapple chunks and a small granola bar by Quaker.

Leftover Lunch

We are utilizing little leftovers for Molly's lunch.  We made the tortellini yesterday for her brother and sister's lunch.  The carrots were the very last in the container in the fridge and the strawberries were the final ones in their container.  Our refrigerator looks so much cleaner, which makes Mommy very happy.

Our main entree is a tortellini salad.  We added mini turkey pepperoni and light Italian dressing to Trader Joe's fresh cheese tortellini.

Our vegetable side is carrot sticks.  We keep carrots and celery sticks in a container filled with water in the refrigerator.  It keeps them so fresh and crispy.

Our fruit side is sliced strawberries.  Molly's Daddy was nice enough to cut these into perfect little pieces for our girl.

Finally, our dairy side is a string cheese.  There wasn't a lot of room for a dessert so we decided that a little extra protein would work just fine.  We'll make sure that she gets something sweet at dinner. ☺

Planning Ahead

Back to normal is within our reach and hopefully we will all stay well for a long time.  Normal means that we are back to our routine and the activities that go along with that.  Tonight was CCD and tomorrow is dance so these are our busy days.  I'm trying to plan ahead and rely on re-heating several things that we've already prepared.  I cooked the tortellini that is in Molly's lunch so that we would have an easy re-heat for her siblings' lunch but it's a nice cool pasta salad in hers.  Time savers are a necessity in our house.

Our main entree is Trader Joe's Cheese Tortellini made into a pasta salad by adding light Italian dressing to the cooled pasta.  Molly likes this salad because it is a great combination of carbs and protein so it fills her up nicely.

Our vegetable side is carrot sticks.  Molly requested that they be cut like this because she has a wiggly tooth and it's easier to bite these on the side.

Our fruit side is mixed fresh berries.  Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries are so delicious by themselves or mixed into a favorite treat.

Finally, our dairy/dessert is Chobani Champions Orange Vanilla Greek Yogurt.  Molly said that the Chocolate Chunk was super yummy and can't wait to have the orange vanilla flavor.

New Sandwich

After a long weekend, we are ready to try a little something new in Molly's lunch.  We are big fans of Castle Wood lunch meats and cheese because they are real meat, not something processed.  While at a Sam's Club we found a new Castle Wood lunch meat called Buffalo Style Chicken Breast Slices.  Our whole family likes spicy food, especially Buffalo style so this was definitely a no-brainer.  Molly's Daddy and I tried it yesterday for our lunch and it is delicious.

Our main entree is a Buffalo Style Chicken sandwich.  We added the new Castle Wood Buffalo Style Chicken Breast Slices, provolone and honey mustard to whole grain white bread then cut it into triangles.

Our vegetable side is carrot sticks.  Molly asked for them to be cut this way because, "they taste really good like that."

Our fruit side is a mix of fresh berries.  Blackberries, Blueberries and Raspberries are looking so yummy at the store these days so we couldn't resist.

Finally, our dairy/dessert is our regular vanilla yogurt but we added the Trader Joe's Elegant Cocoa Pearls for a little crunch and flavor variety.

Running Lunch

I started a Couch to 5K training group this past Sunday and tonight was our first run.  It was so much fun!  I roped three of my friends in so that they can see how awesome running really is.  You might ask why I am doing this training since I've already run in several 5Ks and on a relay team at the Pittsburgh Marathon last year.  Answer: I want to learn more about this sport that I have learned to love.  I want to make sure that I'm doing it right and I want to get tips to help me become a better athlete.  I also want to be a positive face in this crowd.  I am an overweight asthmatic 30-something mother of three.  If I can do it, anyone can.

I always hated running because "I couldn't do it" because I was too heavy or because my breathing was bad, etc.  But, you know what?  I CAN do it and now I run on a very regular basis.  I don't consider myself a runner, I consider myself a glorified jogger but I strive to be a runner someday.  I've been working on losing weight, well most of my life (gotta get that thyroid to start working with me and keep working) and I train no matter what the weather or the hills around my house.

I do this to get out of my house, BY MYSELF!  I am lost in my own thoughts and my only worry is getting from point A to point B.  I have no kids yelling "MOM!" at me.  And I feel fantastic after I get back.

I have to say that my husband is an incredible support in all of this.  He's a runner too and we are always working in our training runs so that each of us has equal time.  I also get great support from my friends and family who are cheering me on.  Finally, the support of all of the "Peeps" at Mojo Running & Multisport is so wonderful.  It is a team that I am proud to be on.

Okay, stepping off of my soapbox and onto the kitchen floor to whip up Molly's Lunch!

Our main entree is a ham and cheese sandwich.  We used a multi-grain roll from ALDI, then added ham, pepper cheese and mustard.  Molly's Grammy was nice enough to share the delicious multi-grain rolls with us so we had to add them to Molly's lunch right away.

Our vegetable side is carrot sticks.  Nice and simple and a favorite of Molly's recently.

Our fruit side is a kiwi.  Not as cool as Frankenkiwi, but still just as yummy!

Our dairy side is a Castle Wood Colby Jack Cheese Stick.  Molly requested that this be added just in case she is really hungry tomorrow.  She's definitely feeling better. ☺

Finally, our dessert is Low Fat Strawberry Yogurt.  This too was a request of Molly's and we were happy to give it to her.  She and her siblings are pretty much over the Halloween candy (thank goodness) and are now asking for fruit, yogurt and graham crackers at dessert time.  I think our influence is rubbing off on them.