Lunch Plan for the Week

So how to I stay ahead of the weekday mayhem you ask? Well, first I tackle lunch for my two children.  Both of them are picky eaters but thanks to a few mom food blogs I have things under control.  Let me start at the beginning: I first adopted a lunch menu plan template from good old Martha Stewart and have adapted it to my two picky angels.  Here is the run down to tackle the weekly lunch dilemma:

1. I downloaded the weekly planner which I laminated or durabilityfrom Good Old Martha Stewart: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/magnetic-lunch-chart
2. I input what my two children((ages 6 & 3) would like for lunch.  Here I refer to a Mom Blogger: Wendolina for her lunch idea list (available in PDF if you scroll down to the end of the page) http://wendolonia.com/blog/2010/08/16/back-to-school-back-to-lunch-lunch-box-ideas/
3. Based Wendolina's ideas, Martha Stewarts magnetic lunch chart, and the extra inspiraton from Melissa at http://www.anotherlunch.com/, I am able to get together every morning for my two munchkins a bento box version lunch.

Here is a sample lunch:

I have purchased a regular container with a movable divider and added cupcake liners to hold some of the goodies.  (The silicone cupcake liners woud be more eco-friendly but I have not gotten around to purchasing them.) Here I have a turkey and cheese slider with raspberries, mozzarella cheese stick sliced, and graham crackers.   I have found success in giving them a variety.  In addition to their lunch I provide a juice box, water, and yogurt or applesauce to round things out. What I provide them with daily is sufficient for lunch and snack time.  I always feel ready for the week with this Bright Idea.