Hello Panda Lunch at Home

Contents:
Kung Pao Chicken (3/4 Cup)
Brown Rice (1/2 Cup)
Steamed Broccoli (1 Cup)
Hello Panda Biscuits with Milk Cream (1/2 of a 57.5g package)

The husbandpants is on holidays this week and all of my lunch stuff (containers, cookie cutters...) is packed up for my big move on Saturday.  And I got these fabulous Hello Panda Biscuits in my stocking from Santa.  That is the story of why today's lunch is on a plate and it's cuteness comes from store bought cookies.

MyPyramid Breakdown:
1 ounce Grains (1 ounce whole grains)
1 1/4 cup Vegetables (1 cup dark green veggies, 1/4 cup other veggies)
4 ounces Meat and Beans
2 teaspoons Oils
180 Discresionary Calories

Star Lunch Box

Contents:
Steamed Spinach (1/2 Cup and you can't see it because it is on the bottom)
Ground Nut Stew (1 Cup)
Plantain Fufu (1 Cup)
Cherry Tomato Halves (4)
Red Pepper (little slice for the mouth)
Capers (2 for the eyes)

The husbandpants thought this one was so cute which was great for me because it only took a couple of minutes and a star shaped cookie cutter - yay!   

MyPyramid Breakdown:

1/2 cup Vegetables (1/2 cup dark-green veggies, 2/3 cup other veggies)

1 cup Fruit

6 ounces Meat and Beans

9 teaspoons Oils

This lunch box is really high in Oils and Meat and Beans, so depending on what your personal MyPyramid says you need, you may have to count some of it towards Discretionary Calories.

Turkey Sandwich Lunch Box

Contents:
Whole Wheat Bread (2 circles equivalent to one slice)
Cheddar Cheese (1/2 oz)
Muenster Cheese (1/2 oz)
Turkey (1/2 oz)
Green Pepper Slices (1/2 cup)
Mushroom Slices (1/2 cup)
Cherry Tomato Halves (1/4 cup)
Almonds (1 oz)
Turkey Pepperoni (2 oz)
Nori

I used a flower shaped cookie cutter to cut the cheese and a cup to cut the bread and turkey.  Apparently my design looks kinda like a lion - at least I won't have to think too hard when I decide to make a lion =)  It didn't look like it would be enough at first so I asked the husbandpants what else he wanted and he said turkey pepperoni - looking at it now, there was way too much meat and beans, but at least it was tasty - so I heard. 

MyPyramid Breakdown:

1 ounce Grains (whole grains)

1 1/4 cup Vegetables (other veggies)

1 cup Milk

4 1/2 ounces Meat and Beans
3 tsp Oils
120 ounces Discretionary Calories

Smileys Lunch Box

Contents:
Basil Pasta Salad (1 1/2 cups)
Yellow Squash (3 slices)
Italian Sausage (1/2 link, sliced)
Babybel cheese (1)
Nori cut with kitchen scissors and kitchen hole punch (itty bitty bit)

MyPyramid Breakdown:
5 ounces Grains
1 cups Vegetables (1/2 cup dark green veggies, 1/2 cup other veggies)

1 1/3 cup Milk

2 ounces Meat and Beans

2 1/2 tsp Oils

Gorilla Sandwich Lunch Box

Contents:
Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich (1 sandwich)
Candy Eyes (2 eyes)
Apple Mouth (1 mouth)
Banana (1/2)

The recipes are so simple so listed them below.

MyPyramid Breakdown: 

2 ounces Grains

1 1/2 cup Fruit

1 1/2 ounces Meat and Beans

3 teaspoons Oils

200 Discretionary Calories


Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients:
2 Slices Whole Wheat Bread
1/2 Banana, sliced
1 1/2 Tbsp Peanut Butter

Directions:
1. Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread.
2. put banana slices on top.
3. Top with second slice of bread.

It's really that simple folks =)


Candy Eyes Recipe
Ingredients: 
2 Dehydrated Apple Rings
2 Chocolate Raspberry Rings
2 Dutch Mints

Feel free to use whatever similar shaped ingredients you have on hand.

Directions:
1. Put a Dutch mint on top of a chocolate raspberry ring on top of a apple ring.


Apple Mouth Recipe
Ingredients:
1/4 Large Apple, core removed
10 Almond Slivers

Directions:
1. Cut a wedge out of the apple core.
2. Pierce with almond slivers

How do you like them apples?

Halloween Lunch Box

Contents:

Vegetarian Chili (2 Cups)

American Cheese (1 1/2 slices)*

Corny Corn Bread (1 Muffin)

*I used Halloween cookie cutters but you could also cut simple shapes using stuff you have around the kitchen.  Make a moon by using a small cup to cut a circle and then cutting it again with the same cup.  Use a knife to cut stars.

MyPyramid Breakdown:

1 1/2 ounces Grains

1 1/2 cup Vegetables (1/4 cup starchy veggies, 1 1/4 cup other veggies)

1.5 ounces Meat and Beans or 1/2 cup Vegetables (dry beans and peas)

1/6 Ounce Meat and Beans

5/8 Cup Milk

2 tsp Oils
64 Discretionary Calories

Finger Lunch Box

Don't you just love those days when you open your lunch and discover it is full of fingers!

Contents:
Guac-Your-Mole (1/2 cup)
Red Bell Pepper (1/2 pepper)
Baby Carrots with Almond Slices and Cream Cheese (5 carrots)
Pretzel Fingers (5 fingers)
Mozzarella String Cheese with Green Bell Pepper Pieces (2 strings)

MyPyramid Breakdown:

4 ounces grains (2 ounces whole grains)

1 cup Vegetables (1/2 cup orange veggies, 1/2 cup other veggies)
1/2 cup Fruit

1 1/3 cup Milk

3 tsp Oils

2 Discretionary Calories

Flower Garden Lunch Box

This is a great lunch to warm the soul during cold, rainy weather.

Contents:

Indian Style Okra (1 cup)

Spicy Butter Chicken (4 oz chicken and 1/2 cup sauce)
Long Grain Brown Rice (1 cup)
Grape Tomatoes (3 pieces)
Corn (6 pieces)
Asparagus (3 pieces)
Yellow Squash (3 slices)

MyPyramid Breakdown:

2 ounces Grains (2 ounces whole grains)

1 1/2 cup Vegetables (3/4 cup green veggies, 3/4 cup other veggies)

1/4 cup Milk

4 ounces Meat and Beans

1 1/2 tsp Oils

8 Discretionary Calories