Not-So-Sloppy Shredded Beef BBQ Sandwiches

I love BBQ for dinner. Especially if there are a lot of leftovers.

This is 2 ounces of roast beef with BBQ sauce and pickles on a hot dog bun. Since hot dog buns stay as one piece when you use them it keep the BBQ sauce and beef juices from dripping everywhere. Perfect! They also work amazingly well for not-so-sloppy Joe's.

Sides are half a cup of carrots and half a fruit cup.

Lunch in a Crunch

I often find myself eating the same things I make for the kids. Since this gets VERY boring, I am always looking for new ways to make my kids food more adult friendly. This recipe is adapted from foodnetwork.com.

Begin with a basic hot dog in a bun. I used Turkey but whatever you prefer will be fine. Top with 1 tbs shredded cheese. Drizzle some BBQ sauce and top with French's Fried Onion Straws. Some chopped onion would also taste great on this but I didn't have any on hand. This lunch took 5 minutes and tasted a whole lot better than plain old ketchup. Enjoy!

~Amber

Brunch: Lazy Sunday Pancakes with Banana

I *heart* Sundays!

This is pancakes from a mix topped with half a chopped banana and maple syrup. Mmmm. And very filling. Brunch is the best meal of the week.

Weight Watchers: 7.5 points

Classic Lunch

This lunch was delcious and light as well. A full cup of carrots tossed wtih oil and vinegar salad dressing. I use Newman's Own. It is fantastic.
The sandwich is one slice of roast beef, one slice of provalone, mustard and mayo on whole wheat. To compensate for only having one slice of roast beef left I loaded this sandwich with a full tomato sliced. It was great. I didn't miss the extra beef at all.

Lunch Bunch - Toddler Lunch

Toddler Lunch of the day!

Shredded chicken breast, 1/4 of a tomato, a plum, 1/2 cup apple sauce and 1/2 ounce cheese. He loved this meal. Except the chicken ended up on the floor. It was all I could do to rescue the pit from that plum though. He thought it was absolutely perfect.

Pure Tastiness

This was such a delicous lunch!
Hot dog on whole wheat bun covered with the humble but tasty yellow mustard.
I made homemade relish with bread and butter pickles. The sweetness really went well! It hit the spot for lunch.
The side is one white potato covered with Homemade Gourmet Garlic Basil Seasoning and olive oil. I used a tablespoon of each for a serving of two potatoes. Both my husband and 14 month old thought the potatoes were perfect.

Weight Watchers: 9 points (with light hot dog)

How to "Tackle" an on-the-go-lunch

     I created this Bento Box style lunch for my 3 year old for a road trip. She absolutely loved it and it was much easier to eat out of, not to mention more eco-friendly, than giving her 10 plastic bags full of food. I also decided to use it for myself for long trips home from work, as an alternative to the fast food fix.
     I looked for an affordable Bento style box everywhere but was unable to find one affordable enough for my budget so I got creative and decided to look in unexpected places. For around $3.98 I found this awesome Tackle box in the fishing section of my local grocery store.
     For this particular "Tackle" Lunch I used:  Turkey Sandwich shapes, String cheese, Fresh and dried fruit, goldfish, and a low sugar scone. Be creative! With adjustable slots, there is no limit to what you can put inside. :)
~Amber

Amber is mom to two girls, 15 months and 3 years old and works part time. She will be joining me in writing about a different lunch everyday.
 

Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

2 cups lettuce
1/2 tomato, chopped
4 baby carrots, chopped
1/2 ounce provalone cheese
3-4 ounce shredded chicken

2 tsp honey
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp olive oil

Combine salad ingredients. Heat chicken. Mix honey, mustard, and olive oil together and toss with chicken until coated. This chicken was amazing! Why have I never made this before!?! So much better than honey mustard salad dressing.

Weight Watchers: 4.5 points

On a Roll

A packed sandwich!

Sub roll

Loaded with pickles, tomato, lettuce.

2 ounces chicken breast deli meat

1 slice colby cheese

1 tsp mayo

1 cup of grapes

The sandwich was amazing.

Every bite tasted a little different.

I pulled out the inside of the bread to make a sandwich for Isaac.

Everything just like Mommy's except no lettuce.

He ate most of it but all the turkey ended up in the floor.

Weight Watchers: 8.5 points

Brunch: Sunday Sweet Potato and Egg

Sunday is such a great day to sleep in, relax, and have a fantastic brunch with the family.

This is Sunday Sweet Potato and Egg
Serves 2:

1 medium sweet potato, chopped
1/2 medium onion
1 ounce chorizo
half handful cilantro or parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs
1 tablespoon butter
1 ounce shredded cheddar
hot sauce to taste

In a large skillet brown the chorizo, breaking it up. Place on paper towels to drain. Put sweet potato and onion in same skillet and cook until cooked through - about 10 minutes. Add chorizo, cilantro, salt and pepper and mix well.

Separate mixture onto two plates and wipe out skillet. Split cheese between the two plates. Either cover with foil or put in oven to keep warm.

Melt butter in skillet and fry two eggs. Place eggs on top of sweet potato mixture and serve!

Nutrition Information: 627 calories, 42g fat, 21 saturated fat, 4.7 fiber


Weight Watchers: 15 points

Accidental Lunch

I went to make lunch and couldn't find the bread! I dug way back in the fridge and found a bag each of wheat and flour tortillas. I decided to try one of each.

2 tortillas

1 cup lettuce

1 tomato

1 slice of cheese

1 ounce turkey deli meat

1 tbs ranch

I split the ingredients between the tortillas. Unfortunately the whole wheat one was horribly stale and I had to switch it out for another flour one. It was fun meal. I kept the ranch separate to dip the wraps in.

After eating this I still felt hungry so I had a cup of jello mixed with blueberries with whipped cream on top. I split it was a toddler.

Lunch Bunch - Toddler Lunch

This is a meal for a 14 month old child. Not pictured is apple juice.
1/4 cup blueberries
1 slice wheat toast
1 1/2 teaspoon butter
1/8 cup black beans

Heat and serve! My toddler loves finger foods. And ripping bread. And dropping things. I love that all of these foods don't require mopping.

Salad for two

Going on a day trip tomorrow to visit a friend. And nothing is quite as nice as a friend with food!

Salad to share:
6 cups lettuce
1 cup carrots
1 cut tomato
1/2 cup black beans
9 ounces talapia
1 tbs herb and lemon seasoning
1 tbs olive oil

Get the oil hot in a skillet over medium high and add talapia seasoned with 1/2 tbs seasoning. Cook, flipping once, until fish is cooked through.

Chop up everything and toss.

I don't think this salad will need dressing. The fish tastes amazing! I love salads in summer.

Super Salad

A delicious salad for lunch today:


2 cups romaine lettuce

1 Roma tomato

1 chopped hot dog
1/4 cup blue cheese

1/4 cup black beans

4 bread and butter pickles

drizzled with oil and vinegar

Nutrion Information: 532 calories, 42g fat, 8.9 saturated fat, 6.5 fiber

Weight Watchers: 13 points

Packed Lunch: PB&J

I love lunch. And people sometimes avoid the obvious. Peanut butter and jelly can be an amazing lunch, especially if you haven't had it in awhile.

Peanut butter and organic grape jelly (no high fructose corn syrup!) on low gluten bread, 1/2 cup raw carrots, and a serving of BBQ potato chips. Delicious and portable!

Super Salad

A delicious salad for lunch today:

2 cups romaine lettuce

1 Roma tomato

1/8 cup blue cheese

1/2 cup black beans

4 bread and butter pickles

drizzled with oil and vinegar

Nutrition Information: 353 calories, 22g fat, 5.5 saturated fat, 9.5 fiber

Weight Watchers: 4.5 points