Hellobee

Since deciding to change the way we eat, I haven’t really changed what I pack Charlie for lunch since they’ve always consisted largely of protein, vegetables, and fruit. What is absent, however, is the french toast, bagels, pancakes, muffins, granola bars, and breakfast bars I used to pack for breakfast and snacks. I used to pack much bigger lunches! But something Kristin said in her Paleo guest post about the food she was providing her daughter being so nutrient-dense stuck with me. I offer Charlie nutritious food, and I try not stress out as much if he doesn’t eat a lot at times. Before I’d let him fill up on something he loved like mac n cheese when he refused to eat, because I didn’t want him to starve. Now I don’t push it (too much) if he doesn’t want to eat dinner, and he’s usually extra hungry at breakfast time.

Now Charlie eats two eggs before school every day, and a yogurt or some fruit. (I mentioned previously that we’re not following a Paleo diet because we haven’t cut out dairy or rice. What we have cut out is processed foods and gluten, and are focusing on protein, and fresh, organic, local produce. We’re also eating organic, free-range poultry, eggs, and meat.)

This is what I packed in his lunch this week along with what he actually finished eating:

Tuesday: broccoli sauteed in soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic; cheddar cheese; organic nitrate-free Applegate Farms bacon; grass-fed ground beef meatballs; mango; kiwi.
Charlie left half the broccoli and meatballs and ate everything else.

Broccoli – We’re huge soy sauce lovers in our household, and I was surprised to find out recently that soy sauce has wheat in it. So I used Tamari, which is a gluten-free soy sauce, to make the broccoli above. I’ve always wanted to reduce our consumption of soy sauce and soy products in general. Luckily I just discovered coconut aminos, which is made of coconuts, and tastes just like soy sauce! I haven’t tasted it yet, but hopefully it’s a great alternative because I don’t think I could live without soy sauce!

Bacon – We usually eat bacon with our breakfast on weekends, but I always feel a little guilty feeding my family too much bacon, even if it is organic and nitrate-free, since it’s processed. I just found out that we can get bacon freshly sliced at our local butcher though. I grew up on packaged bacon, so I never thought to get it fresh from the butcher!

Meatballs – The meatballs were made with organic, grass-fed beef, egg, garlic, and italian seasoning then baked. No bread crumbs, but since they were mini, they held together just fine, freeze super well, and are excellent in soups.

Kiwi & Mango – Since we changed the way we eat, Charlie has broadened his palate a little bit. Before he never would have eaten mango or kiwi!

Wednesday: roast chicken, avocado, cucumber, asian pear, eggs w/ parmesan cheese.
Charlie ate every single bite!

Thursday: cheddar cheese, clementine, organic Applegate Farms beef hot dog, pickle, cantaloupe, peas with butter and pepper
Charlie left 2 sticks of cheese, one hot dog, half the pickle, and half the cantaloupe. 

Friday: Chicken porridge w/ brown rice, avocado, asian pear, cucumbers, grapes, peas, kiwi
Charlie ate all the porridge and cucumber, some of the kiwi, grapes, pear and avocado, and didn’t touch the peas. He didn’t eat much all day because I think he’s feeling a little under the weather.

Chicken porridge – The chicken porridge was made with an organic, free-range cornish game hen and brown rice. I’m going to try making my brown rice the Nourishing Traditions way, which is to soak the rice for at least 7 hours with whey or vinegar, and cooking it with a little bit of butter. This is supposed to give the brown rice a texture that’s more similar to white rice, and make it more digestible.

You can see what Charlie’s bentos looked like 5 months ago here!

As I try more recipes that are easy to make, delicious, and hits with the whole family, I’ll share them here. Coming soon: crock pot braised short ribs!

Have a great weekend everyone!