lunch and snacks

we've slowly made changes this year. first it was breakfast. most recently it's been lunch and snacks.

when summer started, the new "rule" was that if you wanted a snack in the afternoon, it had to be a fruit or veggie. it was a big painful at first, but now it's just the way it is. they don't even question it.

lunch.

man. most of my kids would (and did!) eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich EVERY day for lunch. used to be with chips and fruit. eliminated the chips months ago. but, i felt like the sandwich was NOT the best thing for their bodies. so, we "played" with it a bit during the summer. there would be days...or even weeks...that we'd have "healthy" lunches for FUN! it went over pretty well (i picked things i knew they'd like to buy them over.)

and, before school started, we sat down and had a meeting. just like with breakfasts, they wanted to make a "schedule" so that they knew what they would be having. in years past, they've packed their own lunches (2nd grade and older) but i told them i'd pack the "main" thing. and they pack the rest. this is our schedule. two months in and i just asked them how they are feeling about it. and they all love it (they say.) it's not 100% paleo. but it's WAY better and there's still 1 day for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich :-)

they ALL love salad day. and i'm not even kidding. it's crazy. a year or so ago, when we started doing salad for dinner 1 night a week, 2 of my kids literally GAGGED their way through it. now they love it. it's amazing.

i'm pleased so far with our "baby steps" to eating healthier. 

and every now and then i surprise them when they get home from school with something like this for snack: