My boys start school tomorrow, which means my weekly menus will now include a brown bag lunch meal. Kaitlyn and I will eat the same things as the boys, just at home. My lunches this week are coming mainly from the book “Brown Bag Success-Making Lunches Your Kids Won’t Trade”, by Sandra K. Nissenberg, MS, RD and Barbara N. Pearl, MS, RD. I found it at Barnes & Noble a few years ago, and when I was there last week I asked at the desk and they can order it. It’s got easy, delicious recipes plus a one-month plan you can follow. It’s my absolute favorite.

For a fabulously easy way to plan 5 healthy dinners from one bag of groceries (yes, really!), check out the Kraft Foods 1 Bag, 5 Dinners: Healthy Living weekly feature.

Monday:

*Breakfast: Eggs, bacon, toast, juice
*Lunch: Make-your-own Sandwiches, baked chips, sliced apples
*Dinner: Labor Day Cookout: Bacon Cheeseburgers (Mom’s Healthier Choice-no bacon, no cheese, only half a burger bun), Corn on the Cob, Watermelon

Tuesday:

*Breakfast: Cereal, milk, toast, juice
*Lunch: Turkey Club Sandwich (sub roll, turkey, ready-cooked bacon, lettuce, cheese, mayo)
Baby Carrots with Light Ranch Dip (Hidden Valley dip mix, light sour cream)
Vanishing Oatmeal Chipsters (from Brown Bag Success)
Juice
*Dinner: Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese, Garden Veggie Salad (Kraft Foods.com), Whole Grain rolls

Wednesday:
*Breakfast: Frozen waffles, sugar free syrup, brown and serve sausage, milk
*Lunch: Crunchy-Chewy PB&J (Brown Bag Success), Baked Lays chips, pudding, milk
*Dinner:Crockpot Salisbury steak recipe from Mommy’s Kitchen, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad

Garlic-Buttermilk mashed potatoes:
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp. butter or margarine, cut up
3 to 4 tbsp. buttermilk or milk
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 1/2 lb. gold or white potatoes, peeled and quartered (4 to 5)

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large saucepan cook potatoes and garlic covered, in lightly salted boiling water 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain.

2. Mash potatoes with a potato masher or electric mixer. Add butter, gradually beat in enough buttermilk to make light and fluffy. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Thursday:

*Breakfast: Cereal, milk, toast, juice
*Lunch: Homemade Lunchables, Baby Carrots & Dip, Apple Juice boxes
*Dinner: Skillet Chicken & Vegetables Parmesan (KraftFoods.com), Egg Noodles with butter & parmesan

Friday:

*Breakfast: Pancakes, sugar free syrup, brown and serve sausage, milk
*Lunch: Turkey Roll-Ups (Brown Bag Success), Parmesan Popcorn, Fruit cup, Milk
*Dinner: Pizza Night-Pepperoni for the guys, thin crust ham & pineapple for me

And now I’m off to the grocery store!

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