Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Last September my 7 year old headed off to school proudly sporting a whole collection of High School Musical accessories.  We had a High School Musical Lunch Bag, a High School Musical thermos, a High School Musical water bottle and matching hot pink plastic containers for the food.  I was all set to send a “Litter-free Lunch” with my little one.  I participated in recycling; I wasn’t going to be one of THOSE MOTHERS who contributed to the school grounds being littered with little plastic bags and empty juice boxes!  I was going to set an example; I was going to teach my little one how to be earth friendly!  I certainly didn’t pay for the unbelievably expensive lunch items, but I was going to use them!

By the end of the first week of school, two of the bright containers that had been dutifully labeled with both first and last name, were missing.  They weren’t in the lost and found.  How could you lose something so bright?? By the following Tuesday, my little one was not eating much, claiming there was not enough time to eat. Really, how do you expect a 7 year old to pee, wash their hands, and eat lunch in 15 minutes?  More experienced mothers were suggesting that I send little plastic bags with small amounts of food that could be taken out to the playground after the official lunch period.  Plastic bags????  No!! Never!!

When I opened the fancy lunch bag on the morning of the second Monday of school I was assaulted by an unbelievable odor!  It seems that some cucumber was left in the lunch bag and liquified over the weekend……that was the end of the fancy lunch bag!!  Into the garbage it went.  There was no way I was going to be able to wash out that slime!

By the end of the first month of school I am sad to report that every single item that was purchased to send the “Litter-Free Lunch” was either lost or  destroyed.  I had to resort to plastic bags for the food, and a lunch bag that was replaced on a monthly basis due to spilled food or rotting food. (we never did get the hang of emptying the school bags on Friday afternoon)

As the first day of school approaches, I have stocked up on plastic bags both big and small as well as juice boxes.  I have abandoned the idea of a litter free lunch and I have bowed to pressure.  I am sadly now officially one of THOSE mothers!

Welcome to what I hope will be a collaboration of ideas of how to feed a family without using either wheat or cow’s dairy, or the common preservatives.  After many, many years of various pains and visits to the family doctor, I sought out a naturopath.  Although I still think my naturopathic doctor is a bit weird, he is ALWAYS accurate. I have come to accept his pearls of wisdom! My daughter seems to have inherited most of my various food issues.  Things really came to a head this fall when she went off to school with lunch bag in hand.  She either refused to eat what I sent her with or ate her friend’s lunches.  Both situations created problems.  I am now trying to modify some of her favorite recipes so that she can have the food that she wants, but without the ingredients that make her sick!  Please feel free to offer advice!  I am fumbling my way through the kitchen not having a clue what I am doing most of the time!