Peanut butter & jelly – it’s more important than you might think! It’s the premise to a campaign that I’ve read a lot about and begun to incorporate into my family’s mealtime rituals. And it’s not just about the old- fashioned & long-loved PB&J sammy. It’s about taking the time to make a small difference in your meal planning, yet have a monumental impact on the world around you.
You can read more in-depth here at the PB&J Campaign’s website. Personally, I’m glad that I was directed to this site by a friend. I realized that, while I recycle, eat many organics, cloth diaper… I could go on here forever with my list of super-crunchy habits, yet I realized that I can still do more. Even the simple task of packing a lunch for my son to take to school & being sure to replace a traditional cold-cut sandwich with a PB&J can put us on our way to helping in the conservation of water, reduction of water pollution, and the elimination of some would-be expelled greenhouse gases. If you find yourself wondering how a homely looking PB&J became such a superpower in the modern lunch box, be sure to read this page to become more informed. Personally, I was in shock at the difference that could be made by making the choice to change the star of my son’s cafeteria meal, but I worried that he’d become easily bored & then I found additional options on the same website. So it’s not all about PB&J and even those families with nut allergies can easily participate.
But why end your efforts there? Make that meal have the biggest impact that it can. Forgo the extra garbage created by individual serving size snacks that are often unhealthy to boot. Replace them with mama nature’s juicy apples, oranges or bananas. Get rid of the notion that a juice box is the only way to hydrate on the go. Instead, make a small investment in reusable container such as the Klean Kanteen or similar. And definitely get rid of plastic baggies for packaging that now famous PB&J. Use a Wrap-N-Mat instead. It’s reusable & easily cleaned with the simple wipe of a wet washcloth.
Do you have a recipe to share that abandons the cold cut? Share it with us & we will test it out & choose our favorite one & reward the winner with a fabulous t-shirt from Cotton Mamma! We will pick the winner on June 20th, so that we have plenty of time to test them out.
Want a chance to win another shirt? Place a link to this blog on your blogroll. Contact me via e-mail with your information & website so that I may see your link. Bing-bang-boom! You’re entered into a random drawing to win a shirt! So you have TWO chances to win this eye-pleasing shirt!
I would like to share 2 recipes of mine that my daughter loves to have in her lunchbox. Is there a certain link to post the recipes?
Thanks!
Amy, you can leave the recipes posted here directly if you like!
That is a great link, thanks for sharing. I have tons of great lunch ideas, I don’t think you have room for me to post them all, but here are a couple.
Sassy Southwestern Veggie Wraps
1/2 diced zucchini
1/2 c diced red or yellow bell pepper
1/2 c frozen corn, thawed
1 jalapeno pepper (optional)
3/4 c shredded cheese (Mexican blend is recommended)
3 Tbls Salsa
2 Flour Tortillas
Combine veggies in a bowl then add cheese and salsa. Mix well
Soften tortillas as directed. Spoon veggies down the center of each tortilla. Roll up burrito style. Serve Warm or cold.
Another great one!
Peanut Butter Apple Wraps
3/4 C Creamy peanut butter
4 whole wheat or spinach tortillas
3/4 c finely chopped apple
1/3 c shredded carrots
1/3 c lowfat granola w/o raisins (or with why not)
1 Tbls toasted wheat germ
spread PB on one side of each tortilla. Sprinkle each tortilla with apple, carrot, granola and wheat germ, evenly over each tortilla. Roll up tightly and cut in half.
Our lastest favorite is quick and simple, and with tomato season rapidly approaching, especially luscious! Though I admit, I do usually make him sandwiches with cold cuts for him to take to work (it is the only meat I allow in the house)he is happy to chow down on the following recipe for meatless sandwiches almost anytime of the day; it’s amazing how he craves these!
Cut a couple ciabatta rolls in half and lightly toast. Spread sides with mayo, then layer munster cheese (smoked gouda is also quite tasty on these), sliced ripe tomato, sliced onion. We like them closed, but I think they’d also be nice open faced.
Voila!
Yay!
-DH’s Fave Sammie: Peanut butter and Nutella on wheat (or Hawaiian bread)
-Super Sweet Sammie: Peanut butter & Nutella w/ strawberry jam (it’s best to let the Nutella warm so you can drizzle it over the strawberry jam)
I know I have more lunch recipes somewhere. Off to find them!
We like egg salad in a whole wheat pita or home made wheat bread with some fresh greens, like baby spinach.
A small ice pack is all that is needed to keep it fresh until lunch time!
We also use Tupperware sandwich containers to keep things fresh, reusable and not squished.
I don’t know if Tupperware is BPA free, but since we are not heating the sandwich, we are not worried about it in this instance.
Um – it’s kind of healthy but our favorite peanut butter sandwich is the ole Fluffer Nutter.
2 slices whole wheat bread
peanut butter
marshmallow cream
honey toasted wheat germ (to make it healthier??!)
mmm.
nutella optional.
My kids love peanut butter and chocolate (nutella) sandwiches – bad habit sugar wise, but lots of protein and on whole wheat bread.
Maddie also loves salami roll-ups. If she weren’t so picky I’d roll them with cheddar cheese and a pickle, but she prefers them plain.
We like apple salad sandwiches. Toasted walnuts, golden raisins, and sweet red apples, celery, red grapes all diced. Mix that up with a spoon of miracle whip an a little pepper and stuff it into a warm pita. OH, yum.