I'm happy you are happy! I started out with a menu plan and realized after a few months that none of the parents were looking at it and most had lost it. I thought they would all post it on their fridge so they knew what their child had eaten that day. So I realized I was causing a lot of work for myself to stick to the menu for no reason. Sometimes when we are outside and get in late I want to be able to make a quick lunch. Sometimes there are great sales on meat and produce and I want the freedom to be able to make something different.

So now I promise that I serve all nutritious food with 2 items for breakfast and 2 items for afternoon snack and definitely a protein, veggies and fruit for lunch. I promise a good mix of all the food groups, lots of fruit, yogurt, a variety of grain/rice products and a different protein for lunch daily like chicken, pork, beef or fish.

Bu when it's a beautiful sunny day and I have a meal plan ready but we come back late I want to be able to slap some grilled cheese sandwiches or ham together quickly with raw veggie sticks and those are my go-to quickie lunches once in a while.