Is it safe to send meat in my son's lunch at school?

insulated lunch bags children image

proud nerd

My son has an insulated lunch bag, but still has four hours between the time he goes to school and the time he eats lunch. Is it safe to give him ham or turkey sandwiches? He can't have peanut butter, since a child in his class is allergic to peanuts. What other types of sandwiches can I make for him?

Answer
I have the same problem with no peanut butter. So I freeze the sandwich container over night (empty) and put a small ice pack in the lunch bag for the day. It works for us and she says her fruit and juice stay cold as well.
Hope that helps...

Kid friendly recipes for school lunch?

Bunny

What are some kid friendly recipes that I could use for my children's lunch boxes? Example Macaroni/pasta salad. I am a picky eater but my children are not. So when it comes to things like macaroni salad I know it has all kinds of veggies which is what I want my kids to have, but have no idea how to make it or what goes in it cuz I don't eat that stuff myself. Although I don't eat some things I still encourage my kids to eat them. This is the first year that we are actually sending them to school with their own lunch. I don't want to send them with pb&j all year and could really use some ideas/ suggestions. I do not mind cooking if I need to. They are not allowed to use a microwave at school, because they are in elementary school. So it goes in the insulated lunch boxes/bags. Thanks in advance to all who help. It is all appreciated.

Answer
Sandwiches (or mix that up and do wraps,crackers and let them dip or stack the sandwich filling)
-Cheese (like Colby Jack)
-Ham
-Turkey
-Chicken Salad (mine prefer their grapes to the side)
-Egg Salad
-Tuna Salad
-Hamburger on bread with cheese,lettuce and pickles
-Brie and Pears
-Grilled Chicken and Mangoes
-BLT
-Roasted Turkey with Cranberries
-Ricotta Cheese & Strawberries

--

Salads

-Pizza Pasta Salad ; just leave out or sub what they won't eat.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pizza-salad-ii/

-Berry Summer Salad
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/berry-delicious-summer-salad-10000001079869/

-Cobb Salad
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/potato-cobb-salad-10000000451474/

--

Homemade Lunchables ;

-Pizza ; flat bread,sauce,cheese,pepperoni,bell peppers,mushrooms or whatever else they will eat on pizza.

-Cracker Stackers ; Turkey and/or Ham,Cheese. Then on the side you could do carrots and then an apple or something.

--

Breakfast
-Pancakes and fruit topping with syrup. (Just make sure they're fine with it cold I guess)


--

Go Asian with cold chicken lettuce wraps
http://www.food.com/recipe/cold-chicken-lettuce-wraps-426004
^Just leave out or sub nuts if they can't bring those to school.

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what do suggest I pack for lunch and dinner for my hiking trip?

insulated lunch bags walmart image

phammy

My Science club is going on a hiking trip soon. I've never been hiking before so I am wondering what kind of food I should pack for lunch and dinner and I do not want to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the whole time.

Thanks.

Answer
Check with other members from your club. They probably have great ideas about what you can pack and where you can get it from. You have not give alot of info about the accommodations so it is hard to say. If there is a campfire at the lunch or dinner site, you can freeze bottle of drinking water and place it in an insulated bag along with a fresh bag of salad. There are plenty of dressings that only require room Temperature prior to opening. (They are marketed for the lunch crowd). Hidden valley ranch makes really cute small travel cups of dressing that would be perfect. The frozen bottles of water would keep the lettuce cool.

MRE's from a military surplus store make for great meals and they usually have alot of variety.If you have an outdoors store in your area (LIKE DICKS SPORTING GOODS) they have freeze dried meals.
In walmart you can find starkist tuna kits. They have relish, mayo and crackers in a kit with a spoon and crackers. you can mix it together to make tuna and crackers for an easy and cheap lunch. If you choose this option be sure to bring a few zip lock baggies so that you can take your trash with you and it wont stink upyour bag.

Trail mix will make for a good snack (walmart sells this also or you can make your own) for unbetween meal energy.

cold omlette for work lunch?

Becki

Would a thin omelette (like http://thisleanjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Omelette-Wrap.png ) be good for lunch? I was planning on treating it like a wrap, but we don't have a fridge or anything to keep it in, so would it be ok just in my lunchbox for 4 hours? Would it go off? Would it even taste ok? I was just going to put ham cheese and tomatos in it? what do you think?

Answer
Make the wrap and put it in the freezer, wrapped well in foil and then newspaper. It should thaw by the time you're ready to eat it and still be chilled.

I personally would leave the egg out, because I don't like cold eggs (unless it's egg salad).

If you don't have a fridge at work, invest in one of those small, insulated, soft lunch coolers or bags, and then you don't have to worry about keeping your food cold. Target and Walmart have them and they're not very expensive.

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What can I use as a lunchbag?

lunch bags for middle school image

Kayla Moor

I am in middle school so I need something cute for a school lunch bag! Please give me ideas or give links to cute lunch bags! It doesn't need to be some heavy duty thing, it just needs to be able to carry a lunch.

Answer
if you dont like traditional lunch bags or boxes why dont you try a make up bag

What are locker safe lunches to send to school?

Katz

My child is starting middle school and we were told to pack a lunch for at least the first couple days.

Answer
NO PICKLES!!!!! The locker will stink for a whole month and the lunch box. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is the way to go(not too much jelly). Any prepackaged lunch stuff that you can get at a store nearby like: chips, fruit cups, jello, gummys. My mom just bought some new heavy nylon, velcroe closing lunch bags that have an ice pack built in the inner walls of the bag. You freeze it the night before you use it. It doesn't smash the sandwich because it opens wide and unfolds at the bottom for more space. Good Luck!!! :)

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Okay, what should I do now?

lunch bags for executives image

Hey Bud, l

I had a problem at work with my lunch disappearing out of the community refrigerator at work. Despite placing my name on my lunch bag and placing letters on the fridge asking the culprit to stop, my lunches kept disappearing. I eventually had enough and decided to take matters into my own hands. I laced my lunch with liquid laxative and stuck it in the fridge, only to have it disappear a few hours later. I was quite surprised to find out that it was my supervisor who was stuck on the toilet for the remainder of the day, thus identifying him as the thief. Fortunately, I didn't stick my name on the bag this time, but he has swore to the office staff that he'd find out who did it. Any suggestions?

Answer
Turn your problem into an advantage. Unless your supervisor is the top executive or the owner, you have a great advantage. Somehow get an unidentifiable note to your supervisor that indicates you know who has been taking others food out of the fridge and if it happens again you will let his/her boss know.

Since he swore to the office staff he would find out, he as already convicted himself. So if you need to take the matter further, your co-workers can attest to his eating a tainted sandwich - one tainted just to catch the thief.

It also makes a great trump card if he gets on you for some other petty thing.

Questions of the movie "American Beauty" ?

Hector R

I need to answer this questions if you can give your ideas that would be great
1.Discuss by describing what the story is about and critique it: story, plot, characters etc.
2.What are the social themes, issues, or problems that you are able to identify in this movie? List and explain!

Answer
American Beauty is a 1999 drama film set in modern American suburbia. Starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, it was the feature film debut for writer Alan Ball and director Sam Mendes. A massive success both critically and commercially, all four were nominated for Academy Awards, and the film won a total of five including Best Picture.

Contents [hide]
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production
4 Deleted plotlines
5 Soundtrack and score
6 Reception
7 Awards
7.1 Wins
7.2 Nominations
7.3 In popular culture
8 References
9 External links



[edit] Plot
Lester Burnham (Spacey) is a 42-year-old father and advertising executive who serves as the film's narrator. "I'm 42 years old; in less than a year, I'll be dead. Of course, I don't know that yet. And in a way, I'm dead already." Lester's family life is messy â his wife Carolyn (Bening) is an ambitious realtor who feels that she is unsuccessful at fulfilling her potential, and his 16-year-old daughter Jane (Birch) is unhappy and struggling with self-esteem issues. Lester himself is a self-described loser: boring, faceless and easy to forget. Lester is reinvigorated, however, when he meets Jane's friend and classmate Angela Hayes (Suvari) at a high school basketball game. Lester immediately develops an obvious infatuation with Angela, much to his daughter's embarrassment. Throughout the film, Lester has fantasies involving a sexually aggressive Angela and red rose petals. The Burnhams' new neighbors are Col. Frank Fitts, USMC (Cooper), his dissociated wife Barbara (Janney), and his teenage son Ricky (Bentley). When confronted with the gay couple living two doors down, Col. Fitts reacts with homophobic disgust.

Over the course of a few days, each of the Burnhams individually makes a life-changing choice. Carolyn meets real estate rival Buddy Kane for a business lunch and ends up beginning an affair with him, and later takes up gun lessons. Seconds away from being downsized, Lester defiantly blackmails his boss for $60,000, quits his job, and takes up low-pressure employment as a burger-flipper at a fast food chain. He continues to liberate himself by trading in his Toyota Camry for his dream car, a 1970 Pontiac Firebird, starts running and working out to "look good naked" and to have a body that will impress Angela, and starts smoking a genetically enhanced form of the marijuana he enjoyed in his youth. Jane grows increasingly disillusioned with and distant from Angela, allowing herself to develop a romantic relationship with Ricky. Ricky and Jane bond over what he considers to be the most beautiful camcorder footage he has ever filmed, that of a plastic grocery bag dancing in the wind; meanwhile, Ricky also quickly befriends Lester and secretly acts as his weed supplier.

Col. Fitts, concerned over the growing relationship between Lester and Ricky, roots through his son's possessions, finding footage of Lester working out in the nude (captured by chance while Ricky was filming Jane through her bedroom window)- slowly bringing him to the conclusion that his son is gay. Buddy and Carolyn are found out by Lester, who seems to be completely unfazed by his wife's infidelity. Carolyn, who is almost more devastated by Lester's indifference than by her being exposed as an adulteress, is further dismayed when Buddy reacts by breaking off the affair. As evening falls, Ricky returns home to find his father waiting for him with fists and vitriol, having mistaken his drug rendezvous with Lester for a sexual affair. Realising this as an opportunity for freedom, Ricky falsely agrees that he is gay and goads his father until Col. Fitts throws him out. Ricky rushes to Jane's house and asks her to flee with him to New York City - something she agrees to, much to the dismay of Angela, who quickly protests. Ricky shoots her down with her deepest fear: that she is boring and completely ordinary. Devastated, Angela storms out of the room, leaving Jane and Ricky to one another permanently.

An emotionally fragile Col. Fitts approaches Lester's garage/workout room in the pouring rain, and Lester is concerned and attempts to comfort him, but is taken by surprise when Fitts kisses him. Moments later, Lester finds a distraught Angela, and the two of them prove to be in the appropriate mental spaces to be on the verge of sexual intercourse. The seduction, while powerful, is derailed when Angela confesses that she is a virgin. Now viewing her only as an innocent child, Lester immediately withdraws, his affections shifting to that of a father-figure, and they bond over their shared frustrations with and concern for Jane. Lester asks "How's her life?" and is pleased when Angela says that Jane's in love. When Angela then asks how Lester is, he realizes, to his own surprise, that he feels great. A happy Lester sits at the table looking at a photograph of his family in happier times, as Angela is at the toilet, unaware of the gun being slowly led into the camera frame and

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What can I bring to school for lunch?

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Bruce

What can I bring to school for lunch?
I tried packing a sandwich for lunch once but it got soggy in my locker because its really hot at my school and the lunches at school are just gross so I don't want to eat those. (hot dogs,pizza,bagels,chips) I also tried putting one of those ice packs in my lunch bag but it melted..so what do you think I should bring?

Answer
first off you should get a lunch bag that stays cold! Go to a sports store for this.
Hear are some good lunch ideas.

-Chicken breast
-Salad with toppings like dressing, almonds, croutons, dried berries. ect.
-juice's, water,
-apples with peanut butter
-you can bring something microwavable if you have a microwave you can use at school im sure a teacher can let you use one in the lounge. so then you can bring soup, or anything else you like!

I would say bring anything really that you like to eat!

What do teachers want as Christmas gifts?

Renee

I thought of monogrammed lunch bags. Any ideas from Teachers? Trying to spend $15-$20 for each teacher

Answer
Teachers get a lot of stuff from various people during Christmas. I would go with a small box of Godiva chocolates or a Starbucks gift card. They do not want any more candles, soaps, lotions, etc. I mean, a cute ornament would be nice, nothing that says "teacher" but maybe a classy ornament for their tree, everyone has room for another ornament. I wouldn't get the monogrammed lunch bags, personally, but you could do a monogrammed tote for them.

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I was thinking about starting a business delivery sandwiches?

ladies lunch bags buy image

come close

to offices for lunch with salads, soup, cookies etc.. As a very small business. Is this a good idea? What advice can you give? It would cost people less than eating out.

Answer
try parking your car outside large corporations & as they come outside they can buy from you? paula deen started this way- she called it "the bag lady" i believe.

My school is going on a Europe Trip in March. How can I get 4000$?

Q. We need to start paying now I have no money and I really really want to go. I have no money, I tried job hunting but no will hire me. I tried asking the bank for a loan but they said they don't give loans to minors. The trip is like 3300$ but I need to buy a camera and you can't be in Europe with no spending money. Any suggestions? No crime related ideas thank you!

Answer
We recently assisted a local student raise $4500 for his People-to-People study in Europe. Ours is a small, rural community in which everyone pitches in to help one another. His family is by no means wealthy, either. Some of the things he did to raise money include:
- Got local restaurants to donate meals for a "Dining Around Town" raffle.
- Got a local jewelry store to donate his and hers watches for another raffle.
- Set up a table at local fairs to sell raffle tickets and solicit donations.
- Bagged groceries for tips at local supermarkets
- Got the nicest restaurant in town to split its profits from all patrons who ate lunch or dinner on a particular day and said they were supporters of the student. (You need to have a very altruistic restaurant owner for this to work. Luckily she is a good, church-going lady, and the boy is very active in the church his family attends)
- Did lots of yard work for neighbors
- Spoke to the Chamber of Commerce about his study opportunity and what it would mean and what he would bring back in knowledge and experience to share with his classmates. Business leaders pitched in nearly $600 on the spot.
- Washed lots of cars. Got his classmates to pitch in and help. His parents bought pizzas for the car washers, but he kept the money toward his trip.

Also, speak to your grandparents and relatives. An opportunity to experience European culture is something no one should miss. Let them know what a great experience this will be for you. They might have resources to help you out.

Above all, show spirit and initiative. If people see you are out there working to raise money for your trip, they will be more likely to help than if you sat around like a beggar in the marketplace. Good luck! (By the way, you can get a decent digital camera on eBay or Amazon.com for around $100.)

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Universal Orlando Questions?

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bobanna93

Next week I'm going to Universal and I just had a few questions... Are there lockers/ cubbies next to the large roller coasters that you can put your stuff on just for the duration of the ride? Is there a cost for them? Then, what is the cost of the all day lockers? Also, can you pack sandwiches in an insulated lunch bag? Any other advice/tips would be great, thank you!

Answer
This is a job for---CUT 'N PASTE!
Here's what they have on outside food/drink on their website:
Acceptable items:
* Bottled water
* Small snacks that do not require heating
* Any food required for medical purposes and medicallyâindicated nutritional supplements
* Any food required for special dietary needs
* Baby food/baby formula
* Soft-sided insulated bags no larger than 8.5" wide x 6" high x 6" deep
Prohibited items:
* Picnic lunches
* Food that requires heating or refrigeration
* Alcohol and glass containers
* Hard-sided coolers
* Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5" wide x 6" high x 6" deep
* Coolers, suitcases, and bags with wheels
Please be advised that all bags and personal items are subject to inspection.

And the lockers:

Lockers are available within each of the theme parks for guest rental for $8.00 per day, with family size lockers available at Universal Studios Florida for $10.00 per day. Guests have unlimited access to these lockers during the course of the day. Additional lockers are available at Universal's Islands of Adventure® for $2.00 per hour, with a $14.00 per day maximum.
These lockers are available at the entrance of the following attractions:
- Incredible Hulk Coaster®
- Dueling Dragons®
- Jurassic Park River Adventure®
- Revenge of the Mummy®
- Men in Black®
NOTE: The lockers at the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Dueling Dragons are free for at least the first 45 minutes (time may vary - check with the individual attractions for specific length of time).

Going to college- lunch bag ideas?

Summer Swe

Hi so i'm going to college and I need some ideas on a good lunch bag,tote,box,jar,etc. I need one that's insulated, can keep food cold or hot up to 4-6 hours, and isn't picnic size but not so tiny that i can only fit a sandwich in it. Budget is $120. Does anybody know of any good ones that they'd recommend???

Answer
A hundred and twenty bucks for a bag lunch? Wow.

You can get a very good insulated lunch tote, in varying sizes from dainty appetite to hungry man, for fifteen dollars or less, often including a thermos.

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I'm a grad student and teacher. Where can I find a big professional looking bag?

lunch bag totes women image

Clara

I'm having the hardest time finding a bag that isn't hideous and "sporty" and that's also big enough to carry what I need. I have to find a bag that can hold my 17" laptop and cord, my teaching binder and book, my lunch (bento box) and a coffee thermos, some file folders, a novel-sized book, and then my keys, wallet, phone, etc. In the past I carried around a big heavy backpack, a purse, and a lunch bag, and I am really looking for something that can make me feel like I've got it much more together!

I'm willing to go up to about 250 for a really good bag (but if you've got much cheaper suggestions, I'm all ears!)

Important to me: Professional / sleek looking (maybe leather or with accents, but definitely no windbreaker material). It can be a backpack or messenger bag (I think I'd prefer the latter, because I wear a lot of dresses and the last backpack I had just loved to hike my skirts up) but should not be painful to lug around, because is it really any wonder that I get back pain? Padding and weight distribution go a long way!

Answer
I had problems finding a really sleek looking backpack that did not have a lot of hideous young patterns and made with the typical cordura backpack material for messenger bags. The sleek and professional looking messenger bags were mainly too small to be able haul all of your things. So, I suggest maybe a tote bag:

Filson:
http://www.filson.com/products/passage-women-s-business-tote.73036.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=luggage/briefcases&fmetaProduct=1019

Women's Laptop Bag/Briefcase w/removable purse?

Estelle

I'm looking for a professional looking laptop bag/briefcase that will hold my 13" laptop as well as a few files or papers that has a removable or zip-off purse. Some bags have interior organizing pockets (e.g., with credit card slots), but I want to be able to take just the purse items easily without having to lug the whole bag out to lunch.

Answer
This was a tough one. I found these:

HSN:
http://shoes-handbags.hsn.com/pixie-croco-embossed-weekender-tote-by-gina-b_p-3702934_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=3702934&sf=so&dept=so0012&cat=so0033&ocm=so|so0012|so0033&prev=hp!sf!dept!cat&ccm=so|so0012|so0033
http://home-solutions.hsn.com/signature-suede-everyday-tote-with-clutch-by-coakley_p-3959793_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=3959793&sf=hw&dept=hw0063&cat=hw0069&ocm=HW|hw0063|hw0069&prev=hp!sf!dept!cat&ccm=HW|hw0063|hw0069

Daytimer:
http://bags-totes.daytimer.com/more_prod_info-test.asp?shopperid=E74696C2C3574876850523ED7084FAD7&aid=False&wu=0&keycode=&line=&cid=10&Origin=&solution_nmbr=4145

eBags:
http://www.ebags.com/urban_junket/judith/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=114959

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Any good gift ideas for someone going to work on the oil rigs? Something they might need on arrival?

insulated lunch bag cheap image

cm

There are probably many things people may have not thought of needing until they arrived to live on the oil rigs, like clean sheets or something?? Anyone know what that item(s) might be?

Answer
Former roughie here.

Old Lady is right. SOCKS, SOCKS, SOCKS. Good heavy wool ones and lots of them. Make sure he goes out with at least one pair per day of his hitch. You might not always get to wash them and you are nuts if you wear them for more than one shift.

With socks there is also good BOOTS. You can make due with the cheaper rubber steel toes, but trust me, the expensive ones are totally worth it. I made due with insulated Baffins for the longest time. Had problems with blisters and traction on steel plating (extremely important) Bought a pair of heavy rubber boots commonly known as "inverts" (because they're necessary for invert drilling) Cost me $250 but they were totally worth it. Also if he's going out now, get the -100 degree boots ($200)as well. Maybe you won't wear em, but better safe than sorry. There will be days when you NEED them. (Give him a gift certificate for Marks or something and buy them in Calgary or Edmonton. You will get the right size and save big bucks)

CELL PHONE- Absolute necessity. Get one with analog and digital coverage

CASH- Come with a couple grand in your pocket or access to it. Lots of companies expect you to cover living expenses for the first couple weeks until you get your first subsistence pay.

CERTIFICATIONS- H2S Alive and Standard First Aid are absolute necessities to work in the patch.

FIREPROOF CLOTHES- You have to wear either all natural clothes of fireproof synthetic stuff, which can get pricey. He'll go through alot

BAGS of rubber GLOVES, glove insulators, "green king" gloves (NO LEATHER)- You would be amazed how many pairs you'll go through

Beyond that there is lots of other stuff that is good to carry with you but not as necessary. Extra blankets and sheets for example. Small cooler to keep food. Lunch kit. It depends on where you end up. Maybe you'll be in a motel and need to cook for yourself. Maybe you'll be in a good camp and not need anything. It's hard to say. A good winter jacket for camp and travelling is a good idea.

What you will not have to worry about with most employers in personal protective stuff. By law they are supposed to supply that sort of stuff. If they don't have it there, they will tell you what you need and give you funds to go get it. For example very often companies have color coded hard hats (Green is almost a standard color for new/inexperienced guys. Less often you see things like blue for management, red for safety etc)

Good luck. One last word of warning though. Watch the price of oil. How much work that is out there directly corresponds to that in more industries than you'd expect.

What are some creative things to do with rubber bands?

Pink

I need some things that you can do with rubber bands other than tie up your hair, make a ukulele, make a bracelet, make a dream catcher, or a giant rubber band ball. Some creative things please.

Answer
1. Keep Food Fresh â Simply wrap a rubber band around a bag of chips, salad, or baking flour to seal in the freshness.Rubber Band Lunch
2. Act as a Reminder â Wrap a rubber band around a specific page in your planner (and also around the front cover to prevent bending) or around your wrist as a reminder to get something done.
3. Rubber Padding â Wrap a couple rubber bands around a TV remote or ash tray to prevent it from sliding and scratching the tableâs surface.
4. Hold Various Objects Together â â¦like pencils or index cards. This one is obvious.
5. A Bookmark â Wrap a rubber band around the front cover and through the middle of the book to whatever page you finished on. Next time you pick up the book the first page that isnât rubber-banded will be the page you left off on.
6. A Hair Tie â Perhaps you could make a ponytail.Rubber Band Hair Tie
7. A Paper or Poster Scroll â Roll it up and put a rubber band around it. Itâs ready for storage.
8. A Safety Strap for Eye Glasses â Break a rubber band in half and tie each end to the part of the glasses frame that sits over your ears. You can secure the glasses to your face if you make the rubber band short enough.
9. Finger Exercises â Bunch all your fingers together and place them through the center of a rubber band. Spread your fingers out and let them contract. Or, wrap a rubber band from your index finger to your pinky and move your index finger away from the other fingers. Repeat this process for the other fingers.Rubber Band Finger Exercises
10. A Handle Grip â Wrap several rubber bands around the end of a pole or stick to create a handy grip.
11. Secure a Lid onto a Container â If you donât want the contents to spill, put a rubber band around it.
12. Quick Tagging â Are these batteries at the bottom of my bag charged or uncharged? Tag your batteries with rubber bands so you never have to guess. You can differentiate between various groups of objects by tagging each group with a certain color rubber band, or a specific number of visible rubber bands.
13. Stress-Relieving Rubber Band Ball â If made soft enough, a rubber band ball can make for a perfect stress relieving squeeze toy. It helps out when youâre in a fidgety mood.
14. Mark the Level of Liquid Remaining in a Solid Color Container â Take a paint can for instance⦠before you pound the top back on, wrap a rubber band around the outside of the can at the same level as the paint remaining in the can. Next time you need it youâll know exactly how much you have left in a single glance.Stress Relieving Rubber Band Ball
15. Slingshot / Catapult â Every kidâs favorite thing to do with a rubber band, but if you think hard enough, I bet there are some practical uses for making one of these.
16. Simple Art â Take a pegboard and stretch different color rubber bands in various shapes until every peg has been used at least once. Fun, creative and simple.
17. Strap an Injured Finger â Use a rubber band to strap an injured finger to a firm stick or piece of cardboard until it can be properly casted.
18. Melt and Use as an Adhesive â Itâs not glue, but a melted rubber band does make a darn good adhesive.
19. A Distraction â Pull the famous rubber band gun trick and shoot a rubber band across the room. Try to hit something that makes a sound, or just catch your victimâs attention. As soon as they look the other way, make your move.Rubber Band Tie Dye
20. Tie-Dye â The style may have died in the seventies, but who really cares⦠a DIY tie-dye project can be a blast. If you have kids, itâs a cheap, creative way to entertain.
21. Prevent the Mixing Spoon from Sliding into the Bowl â Wrap a rubber band around the upper part of the spoonâs handle just above the point at which the spoon touches the rim of the bowl. Now the spoon canât slip and slide in.
22. Insulate Electrical Current â Rubber bands can act as insulators for low wattage electrical current. Wrap a rubber band around an exposed region of a wire (before the wire is live).
23. Design Fancy Easter Eggs â Wrap several rubber bands in different directions around the eggs before dunking them in the Easter egg dye. This will create interesting designs on the dyed eggs.
24. A Pencil Eraser â Fold a rubber band in half a few times and use it to erase pencil markings. It works surprisingly well.Rubber Band Easter Egg
25. Keep those Files IN the Manila Folder â Manila folders are a great tool for filing papers until you accidently drop a one. Since a manila folder is nothing more than a sleeve, the files will spill out everywhere. A rubber band can fix that problem in jiffy.
26. Kitty-proof or Puppy-proof Your Toilet Paper â Kitties and Puppies love to shred things. Toilet paper is one of their top 10 favorites. Wrap a rubber band around the roll of toilet paper to avoid the dangling temptation.
27. Grip that Jar Lid â Place a thick rubber band around the rim

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How long does an insulated bag work for?

kids lunch bags that stay cold image

~ <3 ~

I'm going to be at college for 12hrs, plus another 2hrs driving time.

If I were to keep some food in an insulated bag, APPROXIMATELY (to your best knowledge) how many hours max would it stay fresh for if:

-the food was reallly hot or frozen?
-it was just sorta cold?

Thanks.

Answer
I found this for you. Hope it helps!

Lunch Bags & Boxes
The first thing you will need is a container in which to pack the lunch. It doesn't need to cost a lot of money. For adults a small cooler makes a great lunch box. Fred uses a medium sized cooler. He is usually gone for 24 to 48 hours, so he needs alot of food to keep him going. For children and teenagers, you can usually find inexpensive lunch boxes and insulated lunch bags at yard sales and thrift stores.

Small children often prefer a plastic lunch box with cartoon characters on the side. I suggest you buy these as cheaply as possible. They only last for a year or two before the children drop them or the latch breaks. At $6 to $10 a piece, buying brand new boxes has never been a good investment for me. I have purchased them new when I desperately needed the thermoses that came with them. After the plastic lunch box broke, I purchased replacements from my local Goodwill. I continue to use the same thermos year after year.

If the art work on an older lunch box is shabby, you can easily replace it. Use rubber cement to glue down a new picture (cut to size) and then cover the picture with clear contact paper. I've done this, and it lasted almost 2 years, until the lunch box cracked and became unusable. Amy D. describes the process in detail in the first book of The Tightwad Gazette.

For older children insulated lunch bags work best. They don't have the juvenile connotations of plastic boxes with matching thermoses, so older kids usually don't object to carrying them. I like them because they don't break when they get drop-kicked across the livingroom by a budding football player. Since they have soft sides, it is easier to fit more food and odd-shaped containers in them too. They usually have zipper closing and shoulder straps for carrying them. I buy the largest ones I can find because I find them easier to fill. Many modern insulated bags have several extra zipper pockets and sections on the outside to carry little extras like napkins, spoons and salt or pepper packets. My boys like these but they aren't really necessary. Purchased brand-new, insulated lunch bags cost between $5 and $15. If you wait until back-to-school-sales you may find them cheaper. Over the summer they can often be found at yard sales. Insulated lunch bags usually do not come with their own thermos, so you will have to use some you already have or buy them separately.

What would you buy for a week's worth of groceries, staying under $125?

a person

For 2 adults and 2 kids, 5 and 6.
I need dinner for 5 nights, things for packed lunches, snacks and drinks.
Please help me make a list. I suck at grocery shopping. I always run out of food before the week's over. I'll be shopping at Walmart.
Thanks!

Answer
These are some quick meals that are pretty cheap but still good.

Chicken Alfredo

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 jar of Alfredo sauce
Spaghetti noodles

This is a pretty quick recipe so start boiling the noodles first.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Cook in olive oil or margarine/butter until done. Add Alfredo sauce and heat thoroughly. When noodles are done, drain them and serve alfredo sauce on top.
**If you want you can add some fresh garlic, salt, or parmesan cheese to boost the flavor a bit.


Pizza casserole:
1 lb ground meat
1 (15oz) jar of pizza sauce
1 (12 oz) bag of egg noddles
1 (8oz) bag of mozzarella cheese

Brown the meat and drain. Boil the noodles, drain well. Put the meat and noodles in a large mixing bowl (or back in the pan you boiled the noodles in to save on dishes) and add pizza sauce and 1/2 bag of cheese. Mix well and pour into a greased 9x13 ( I use Pam spray) Top with the rest of the cheese and bake it in a 350* oven for 20- 25 minutes. Serve

Poor Mans Stroganoff (this isn't really a casserole but it is cheap and good)

1 lb or so ground meat
8 oz container of sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom condensed soup (we use cream of chicken cause we don't like mushrooms)

Brown the meat and drain off grease. Add sour cream and condensed soup (no milk) heat thoroughly and serve over cooked noodles or rice.

Tator Tot casserole

1 lb ground beef
1 can green beans ( we use corn)
1 can cream of chicken OR cream of mushroom
1 can water or milk (we use milk)
Tator-tots to cover the top of dish
shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Brown the beef, drain and put into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Combine green beans or corn, cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup, and the water or milk in a medium bowl. Pour the mixture over the beef. Put Tator-tots on top to completely cover the mixture.

Bake in a 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes, or until Tator-tots are lightly browned and crisp. Sprinkle shredded cheese if desired over the top and bake for 5 more minutes.


Someone posted this link on another question and the site looks awesome. It's Kraft foods but they have a page called 1 bag, 5 dinners:
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/dinner/1bag5dinners/1bag5dinnerslanding.aspx


This is also a good site. You can click on the ingredient option at the top of the page and enter ingredients you want and don't want then it brings up recipes for you:
allrecipes.com

Packed Lunch ideas:
Snack bars
Hard boiled eggs
Muffins
Quick breads
string cheese
cheese chunks and chunks of salami or other meat (the kids get sick of lunch meat in a sandwich but they don't mind eating it as cubes)
cottage cheese
fresh fruits
fresh veggies/pickles/olives
Salads??
Deli salads (many do not have mayo)
snack pack pudding or jello
make your own snack mixes with dried fruits, unsalted nuts, pretzels etc
There used to be and maybe still are soups in the cans that you can twist them and they heat up. Otherwise invest in a thermos to keep foods warm/cold

You can do leftovers for lunches too. Sandwiches can be boring but maybe try to change them up a bit like using pita bread, rolls, tortilla shells

If you like flavored water...it is way cheaper to buy the little packets that you can add to each bottle. Frozen juice is good to keep on hand too.

Keep a pizza or two in the freezer so when you are stuck for ideas or don't want to run to the store, you can pop in a pizza.

When you are cooking, make larger amounts and freeze the rest. If you do that for a week, you will have another week of food waiting in the freezer for you later on. :)

Keep PB on hand for the kids for snacks. Also fresh or canned fruit, yogurt, cheese and crackers, cottage cheese, snack paks, fresh vegs/dip

Finally, here is a site for a printable grocery list that should help when you shop. Hang it on your fridge and check things off as you need or think of them:
http://www.freeprintablegrocerylist.com/

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I am looking for an insulated lunch bag that is made in the USA. Does anyone know where I can find this?

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kiki

Answer
This is the item that you are looking for. http://www.reuseit.com/acme-bags-reuseit/acme-bags-reuseit-reuseit-100-made-in-usa-insulated-6-pack-lunch-bag-medium.htm

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What movie has a guy giving his girlfriend yellow play dough with a cute story about it?

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dds

I know the movie is fairly recent. I seem to remember that the guy gave his potential love interest the play dough in a brown lunch bag. I believe that he told the woman that the play dough could be shaped into anything she wanted. Before that, there was a huge story about the inventor of play dough using it, I think, on crops. I seem to remember that the movie was a "chick flick." Please help. Thanks.

Answer
its called "How Do You Know" with reese witherspoon

How can I "brown bag" a lunch in a professional office?

~ Jamie ~

To save money, I'd like to pack a lunch and bring snacks with me to my job. Years ago, I would just throw food into a plastic grocery bag. I have a higher level position now, and don't want to bring anything tacky. The brown paper "lunch" bags are not large enough. How does everyone else bring their lunches? Is there a streamlined, insulated bag that is plain and professional looking?

Answer
I've seen a lot of women put lunch, drinks, snacks, etc in gift bags and take it to work.

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What are some good games to play at a baby shower?

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cute_girly

The baby is a boy. And the baby is a month old. But it is only girls invited. And they are all different ages from great grandmas to kids 7 years old.

Answer
We have done cottonballs in a jar and everyone guesses how many. Baby food in diapers numbered and everyone guesses what it is. Place small baby items ( clipper file lotion binky that kind of stuff) in brown lunch sacks,tape closed.Everyone has to feel the bag to try to guess what is in ach bag.This isnt really a game but a really really good idea I got from a friends shower. Buy a box of blank cards.Write numbers from 1-18 on the front of the envolpe and have each person draw an envolope and write a birthday card for the baby on that birthday.

Any ideas for things to bring in my lunch?

aamoore199

I'm trying to bring my lunch to university with me because i'm trying to save money. Problem: i really dislike sandwiches. What are some other ideas?

Answer
When I was an Grad student, I use to bring the lunch kits made by StarKist - they consist of a can of tuna or chicken with an easy open can, a packet of mayo, a packet of relish, a wooden spoon and crackers. They were pretty good, did not need refrigeration or heating up. I also use to bring leftovers that didn't always need reheating, cheese cubes and sliced summer sausage - although we did have a fridge and microwave in our department lounge so if I wanted I could reheat things - and I kept things cool with a frozen bottle of water in an insulated lunch cooler. Other things I kept in my backpack to munch on were homemade Trail Mix, fruit such as apples, oranges, grapes, peaches, pears and banana, crackers, cookies, candy bars, etc.

For a healthy snack, make your own Trail Mix using a combination of any or all of the following:

Dried cranberries - Craisins
Dried cherries
Raisins - plain or chocolate covered
Dates
Fancy Mixed Nuts - salted or unsalted, your choice
Dried Mango
Dried Papaya
Coconut flakes
M&Ms
Banana chips
Apple chips
Dried Peaches
Dried Blueberries
Dried Pineapple
Granola

Keep in a sealed container or ZipLock bags to keep fresh.

For healthy lunches, I like turkey, beef or ham with cheese and lettuce sandwiches or wraps made with tortilla shells - make your sandwiches on whole wheat or multigrain bread and use whole wheat tortilla shells; salads with the dressing on the side; homemade chicken or tuna salad using just enough Miracle Whip or mayo to hold the ingredients together; celery sticks, baby carrots, radishes, cherry or grape tomatoes with some salad dressing on the side for dipping...


SAC

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How can I "brown bag" a lunch in a professional office?

best insulated lunch bags for women image

~ Jamie ~

To save money, I'd like to pack a lunch and bring snacks with me to my job. Years ago, I would just throw food into a plastic grocery bag. I have a higher level position now, and don't want to bring anything tacky. The brown paper "lunch" bags are not large enough. How does everyone else bring their lunches? Is there a streamlined, insulated bag that is plain and professional looking?

Answer
I've seen a lot of women put lunch, drinks, snacks, etc in gift bags and take it to work.

Are there any alternatives to having a screw top bottle.?

WWE Foreve

I recently went to my school and they said that screw top bottles are not allowed. Which most of thermos and bottles have screw tops. Does anyone have any ideas of what I should use instead of screw top bottles. I really like to keep foods hot and drinks cold. I would like it if someone could find bottles or thermoses without screw tops. I would really appreciate that!
Thanks!

Answer
That limits the options quite a bit. Some models I can suggest are:

For FOOD:

Option 1: Zojirushi type thermos bento lunch jars.

http://www.zappos.com/zojirushi-classic-bento-vacuum-lunch-jar-ultra-black?channel=126&si7757425=&mr:referralID=NA&mr:trackingCode=138A9AB8-71EE-DF11-8F9A-001B2163195C

The top 2 inner containers have plastic lids but the bottom one has a screw lid. The screw lid is the smallest container so you may be able to do without.

-- edit: I just realised the middle, large one is also a screw top (only a quarter turn). But you can still look through their range to find a non-screw top combination. --end edit

It does keep food warm/hot but you need to prep them first (putting very hot water in, then removing them before putting your foods that you want to keep hot).

The outer container is double-walled. All these items come in an insulated bag with eating implements (which vary depending on the model you buy). There are different configurations, colors and sizes that you can choose from.

I have two of these (similar to those in the above website but with gold-colored bags) and they do keep food reasonably warm/hot. Zojirushi often change the color scheme and bag designs.

Other versions (targeted at girls/women):
http://www.casa.com/p/zojirushi-mini-bento-stainless-lunch-jar-white-273582


Option 2: Heated thermos (Fuloon thermos lunch jar)

This has a power supply to warm your food at work/school (if you have access to power). I do not have this, so cannot give you an evaluation. It does look very useful though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fuloon-Stainless-Thermal-Layers-Design/dp/B007PN2Z9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342339770&sr=8-1


For WATER/DRINKS (non-fizzy):

If you only want them cold, you can get Tupperware tumblers called Handoliers or Thirstbreak Tumblers with plastic lids like this:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=handolier

http://www.amazon.com/Set-Tupperware-Tumblers-Seals-Colors/dp/B004FDDVZE/ref=sr_1_23?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1342341109&sr=1-23&keywords=tumblers++tupperware

You really need insulation through the use of an insulation bag: keeps the cold and condensation droplets in.

You can also add reuseable ice to your tumbler; these do not dilute your drink and is ... reuseable.

Other accessories: ice pucks.

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Best Cruise Excursions (Carnival Liberty)?

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socalsurfe

Okay, my 7 Day cruise goes to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios. In Grand Cayman, I am definitely doing the Stingray City thing. :) i want to hear reviews of that as well as good excursions for the other ports. a friend recomended doing the Xcaret Eco Park in Cozumel. please, if you have done any of these things, tell me what excursions are the best. thanks

Answer
Cayman and Coz are very easy and safe to do on your own - Ocho, NOT.

If you want to do the stingray excursion, I suggest you book your own trip. Captain Marvin and Nativeway are two companies we've gone with and liked. There are several others. The trips with the ship's excursion are mob scenes and more expensive. You must, of course, allow sufficient time to get back to the ship on time and keep in mind that this is a tender port, so you need to allow for that. If there's time after your stingray trip, the driver may drop you off at Seven Mile Beach if you ask [some don't], then just catch a cab back to the dock. Or, just walk a few steps to the right of the tender dock [as you face shore] to Eden Rock, where you can snorkel or just hang out.

You do NOT want to do the Xcaret trip unless you can use a ship's excursion. It's a long, bumpy ferry ride over to the mainland, then a bus down to the park, then reverse. Unless your ship is in port until very late [say 8-10 pm] I wouldn't try it. Much easier to just grab a cab to Chankanaab Park or Paradise Beach [both have websites]. Again, just make sure you leave enough time to get back. I would suggest you go "first thing" in the morning, get back to the ship to change and grab a quick lunch and then go shopping or see the town. Better shopping if you go back a block from the main drag. Be aware that there are three docks in Coz, so make sure you tell the cabbie the right one - sometimes there's a language problem.

In Ocho, I would NEVER go out independently unless you just want to go over to Island Village [literally a five-minute walk to the right with your back to the ship] and hang out at Margaritaville and their beach. They don't allow hawkers there, so you can relax - although you will get hounded quite enough on that short walk. If you DO decide to go to Dunn's River Falls, you can avoid the hawkers at the end of your climb by going down the stairs back to the "entrance" and out to the parking lot. Be sure to bring water shoes or some type of "wet" shoe that will grip. You do not want to go into town to shop unless you are very street-wise and immune to constant badgering. One really nice thing we did on our first visit to OR was the "White River Tubing", on a ship's excursion. You float down a river on an innertube, then have some jerk chicken [there are live chickens running around you as you eat - guess they're not too smart!!] and some Red Stripe or Ting. Yum! Not sure I'd do that again after the problems some people have had, even on ship's excursions.

Always take with you the info from the daily activity sheet that gives the name/number of the ship's shore agent, just in case. Some people take their passports with them [leaving a copy in the cabin safe or accessible in an e-mail to yourself you've done ahead of time], as you'd need that to get out of the country if the ship left you behind. You'd need money or a credit card, too, of course.

We once had an interesting experience at Cayman. The ship weighed anchor and was beginning to put out to sea when we stopped. The small pilot boat was heading toward us and when it arrived, two women, loaded down with shopping bags, climbed up a rope ladder to the crew's entrance. A crew member was standing near us as we watched and remarked how this captain was nice to do that and that not all of them would.

You can find lots of info on excursions at CruiseCritic.com. Click on "Boards", then "Ports of Call" and find your ports.

Have a great cruise!!

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At what age does money start to effect popularity in school?

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Ivy has Tw

By way of material goods such as
clothing brands
types of accessories like book bags, lunch boxes, jewelry
the size of the house you live in
I'm 33... see my kids in the pic? lol. It isn't for me, wondering when I have to worry about getting my boys the "right" clothes etc.

I was a goth in high school, but I'll steer my kids towards popularity until they steer themselves to alternative.

Answer
You are so superficial,but it's ok.I was like that in 7th grade,although I do not know how old you are.
Eventually I grew out of the phase (hopefully you do too).By 9th grade I got over being obsessed with brands.But to answer your question,it starts mattering to kids around 7th grade.I suggest being yourself.So wear what you want,you don't have to follow the rules of society.Popularity can be gained in many ways.People can be known for their good and bad deeds.A lot of popular people are usually known in a negative way(if you haven't noticed),but I concentrate on if they are genuine.Good Luck in school.

What fad are you hoping will make a come back and why?

aquapisc23

I don't know if kids care anymore but I remember when I was little and having the cutest lunch box was popular. Do kids even bring lunch boxes anymore or just use paper bags?

Answer
Good music

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HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS....HELP!?

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Q. ok i am 13 and in 8th grade. I really want to start eating healthy and the school lunches are totally the opposet. But the thing is, it doesnt seem really "cool" to carry around a colorful lunchbox and carry go-gurt. And I sit with some pretty cool kids but they all eat from the school lunches. PLZ help! plz dont tell me eat whatever u want, i seriously feel this way and i dont think there is anyway to change it. But so far all I can think of are salads and maybe a deli meat sandwich. Can you think of any "cool" lunch ideas? Semi-healthy-semi-tasty? But still "cool"? I dont eat breakfast in the mornings and my lunch is at 1:00pm. So i get pretty hungry. I would like to loose some weight so I want to start eating healthy and building muscle (cause doesnt that make you more in shape and thinner? I know it kind of bumps up your weight but as long as you look freacking good - who cares, right?) ALSO: if u have any work out tips or healthy eating tip feel free to share!!!!! thanks so much guys!!!!!

Answer
What you eat does not make you cool. Plus, just because you bring a lunch from home doesn't mean u need one of those tin lunch boxes or thermo-insulated ones. Brown paper bags have been used for decades. Pack it, stash it in your locker and nab it before lunch, hen throw away the "uncool" evidence.

Besides that small tidbit - eating healthy can be attacked in many ways. If you're not much of a cook you are very limited to what you can eat that is healthy. Salads are always good - use olive oil and vinegar as a dressing. Deli sandwiches can work as long as its not 1 piece of lettuce for every 10 slices of meat. Put equal parts veggie and meat. Try not using mayo. Meats: low fat meats are usually chicken and turkey.

It's actually easier to lose weight if you eat a little bit more often, rather than a lot all at once. So if you had a small breakfast and then lunch finishing the day with dinner you are better off. If you wait that long to eat your metabolism begins to slow down and your body processes food slower. The slower your body processes it the heavier you get. So go to the organic section of your local grocery store and check out the snack foods they have. Dried fruit is alway good. So are nuts and granola. They balance your blood sugars and you don't need a lot of it to feel good.

Do some further research. Healthy is good.

Vegan going to Typhoon Lagoon Tomorrow, Any food to bring?

Alison

I'm going on a class trip to Typhoon Lagoon in Florida tomorrow. I need to pack Breakfast, Snacks, and dinner. I'm currently weight restoring and because I'll be active all day, I need a lot of food. I'm a vegan, so no animal products. Keep in mind, no microwave or refrigerator on the bus. Breakfast foods can be slightly cool because I eat it first thing. My Ideas so far are:
Breakfast:
-Cinnamon Raison Bagel
-Banana
-Chocolate Soy Milk

Lunch: ?

Snack: 3 Trail Mix Bars

Dinner:
-Phoney Balogna + Soy Cheese Sandwich w/ Mayo
-Grape Juice
-Apple Sauce w/ Cinnamon

Dessert:
-Chocolate Bar

I still need more food, because I need to eat at least 2500 calories. No weird stuff either, I don't want to be made fun of on the bus...

Answer
I just saw this question. I hope it isn't too late to help you! If it's too late for this trip, you can use these tips next time. They are all things that work well for lunches or other meals to go on a daily basis.

*Bring a reusable container, no more than half full of almond butter. On the side, pack a banana or two. Don't forget a spoon! At snack time, mash the banana into the almond butter. Eat it either on its own or on a bagel or rice cakes.

*Bring a salad - Pack dressing separately, so the salad doesn't wilt. Vinaigrettes travel well, and won't spoil. For the salad: make sure you include mixed greens or spinach in addition to other lovely veggies like shredded carrots, leftover broccoli, and sprouts. Add some orange sections, red grapes, chopped red bell pepper and/or sprouted sunflower seeds. If you have an insulated lunch bag or cooler and a salad container with a built in cold pack, use them, but if you don't, just make sure you eat the salad for lunch. Don't wait till dinner, as it might wilt by then!

*Don't forget the fruit! Some fruits travel well whole, like apples and oranges, but others need a little preparation ahead of time, like melon, pineapple, or mango. Are you allowed to bring a paring knife on the trip, or will your school consider your knife a weapon? I'm actually quite serious - some schools with zero tolerance policies consider even paring knives weapons. Best to prep fruit ahead of time, just in case. Also, you might not have anywhere to wash fruit (or sticky hands) on the trip, so prepping it ahead is best.

*Instead of salad, if you have a Thermos or other container that will seal well, you can pack a gazpacho. Gazpacho is a cold soup, kind of like a blended tomato salad! http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/gazpacho/

*Make a cold dish with leftover rice, quinoa, or noodles. Dress with vinaigrette or your favorite other kind of sauce or dressing. Add some chopped veg and plenty of nuts, seeds, or beans to keep you full and energized.

*Make an Asian noodle dish. Make a sauce with a few tablespoons of your favorite nut butter, some seasoned rice vinegar (or plain rice vinegar plus a little vegan sugar or agave and some salt,) a spoonful of tahini if you have it, a squeeze of lime juice if you have it, hot sauce, and chopped cilantro. Toss cooked noodles (spaghetti is fine) in the sauce. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds. Great warm (the night before) or cold (as leftovers on the bus!)

*Bring a container of a yummy dip like hummus or baba ghanouj. http://www.greatpartyrecipes.com/babaghanoujrecipe.html Bring a separate container of carrot sticks, celery, red pepper, and whatever else you like to dip, or some crackers or pita. This time, you can just buy some hummus at the grocery store or make it with canned garbanzos. Another day, try this recipe: http://www.sproutpeople.com/cookery/hummus.html I make it with sprouted sunflower seeds. They take a day or two to grow, so obviously unless you have sprouts on hand it's too late for that recipe, but try it next time.

*Don't forget to bring reusable utensils and a cloth napkin, and bring everything in reusable containers that will nest inside each other once emptied.

Have a fun trip!

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How should I cut back on grocery bills?

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Lauren

My husband and I have six kids. It has been sort of sudden because we had three (which wasn't bad) and then we had triplets almost three years ago. As our kids grow our grocery bill is kind of dominating our income and it can be very stressful. I don't always want to feed them cheap food and it's not a major strain but I was wondering if anyone had tips for cutting back on groceries. I use coupons every so often but I wouldn't consider myself a "die-hard" coupon shopper (I often feel that people who go crazy with coupons end up buying products they wouldn't have otherwise purchased) and I price shop as well. So, in short, what do you do to save money when grocery shopping? Thanks :)

Answer
I use a few coupons for things I would normally buy anyway, and I buy when things are on sale. But you are correct that most coupons these days are for highly processed, high profit items that are best left on the shelf at the grocery store, in my opinion.

You don't say whether or not you work outside of the home, but I assume that with six kids you don't. I saved money when my kids were young by packing lunches for both my kids and my husband every day they ate out of the house. We almost never ate out or brought home takeout. If we did buy something like pizza to bring home, we would get one pizza and supplement it with salad made at home.

I make most baked goods, such as muffins, cookies, cupcakes and pies from scratch at home. They are much cheaper to bake than to buy, and the ingredients are much better and healthier. We get most of our fruits and vegetables at orchards and farm stores or raise them ourselves in our yard. Just this week, my husband picked sour cherries at a pick-your-own orchard for me to can at home for use this winter(I made him a cherry pie, too, for his efforts) and he picked fresh blueberries for me to freeze and make blueberry jam. I taught my children how to bake and cook food, and also gave each of them a small vegetable garden(four to six feet square is big enough for a child's garden). This taught them to appreciate vegetables, which they eat with enthusiasm.

There is a cheaper and better substitute for almost every expensive food at the grocery store. We eat popcorn popped in a big pot on the stove instead of bagged pre-popped or microwave popcorn. You can learn to make pizza at home, with a biscuit type crust rolled out and topped with olive oil, spaghetti sauce, cheese and vegetables like chopped onions and peppers.

We eat cooked oatmeal or eggs for breakfast, instead of cold cereal, instant hot cereal or things like Pop Tarts or breakfast bars. I buy plain yogurt in the largest containers and add fresh fruit, with maybe a spoonful of homemade jam. We make homemade pancakes and waffles on weekends, topped with things like homemade applesauce and cottage cheese, or fresh fruit with a bit of real homemade whipped cream, for a treat.

Never, ever buy sodas or sweetened drinks for your children, since they are not healthy and a needless expense. You can make your own iced tea with tea bags(I like Red Rose the best) and boiling water. Sweeten with a little simple syrup(half and half sugar and water, boiled and cooled) and add some bottled lemon juice, if you like. Store after it is fully cooled in gallon orange juice jugs in the refrigerator. If you wait until it is cool before you refrigerate it, it will not turn cloudy.

When kids don't get snacks and treats all of the time, they appreciate what they do get more. You can give your children turns to pick out something they really want but don't often get.

Eggs are cheap and nutritious, so is peanut butter. Make good use of your food budget and buy the best quality food you can afford, such as whole grain bread instead of the cheapest white bread. Eat less meat and don't buy lunch meat. Tuna salad, egg salad, grilled cheese and peanut butter sandwiches are perfectly fine. Crackers are high in sodium and often sugar. Feed your little kids plain Cheerios, small cubes of cheese and sliced bananas instead.

Make meat loaf and learn how to cut up a whole chicken. Make soup, lots of different kinds. Put fruit in sweet things and vegetables in almost everything else, like omelets and casseroles. Kids who grow up eating lots of vegetables are much less picky and easier to feed. Don't make special meals for picky eaters. I have never known a child who voluntarily starved to death, although I have known lots of anxious mothers were were certain they might. I am ashamed to say that with my first child, I was one of them.

You will need a supportive husband, too. Remember that cheap food is not "bad" food. Lots of times processed or junk foods are the most expensive and the worst for you. Whole, natural foods are the best for your health and for your pocketbook.

What are some things to pack?

Me

What are some things to pack for my child's lunch at school? I would like something that doesn't have to be kept warm, because he doesn't have access to the microwave.

Answer
sandwiches (peanut butter and jelly or fluff, turkey, ham..all that good stuff)

macaroni salad, its good and you dont have to keep it warm.

fruit salad. healthy =]

tortilla chips with salsa or cream chese.

and a juice bag or water.

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