fast real food: lunch simplified

lunch used to be a chaotic meal...especially on days when jeremy worked and the kids and i spent the morning out. if we were out, i found that i dreaded going home knowing that i would be faced with hungry children, a diaper change, trips to the bathroom...and the task of making lunch in the midst of it all.

jeremy takes a lunch to work with him everyday, s o i decided to just start making lunches for all of us the night before. we didn't have enough small containers for everyone's lunches and it was getting complicated, so i ordered a set of these containers...and they are perfect.

each night, before a workday, i make lunches for each of us. (jeremy's lunch was already gone when i took the photo above). that's a pretty typical lunch around here... for me: snap peas, tomatoes, ranch dip, cottage cheese, and sliced strawberries. for love: applesauce, cottage cheese, tomatoes, sliced strawberries, and veggie straws. for jobot: half an avocado and applesauce. the lunches vary slightly, but this is pretty much what they have looked like lately. jeremy always takes some almonds and a string cheese to work for snacks, and they fit in the container with his lunch as well.

when lunchtime comes, i no longer get stressed...instead...i reach into the fridge, take out these containers, and we eat. it's so easy, and healthy. and there aren't a million containers to wash. i often don't feel like making lunches in the evening, but knowing that it will make the next morning easier is good motivation for me.

last week, i decided to take the kids to meet jeremy for lunch...so we just brought our lunches from the fridge and had an easy lunch as a family. i look forward to continuing this system this summer and being able to have spontaneous picnics with the kids, because lunch will already be made and packed!