what's for lunch

I have a hard time with lunches around here...especially in the summer.  I don't plan them.  In the winter, we eat a lot of leftovers, but in the summer, I definitely don't make as many casseroles and soups.  We usually only have leftovers for Josh to take to work the next day.  I feel like I'm scraping almost every day.  Grrr.

So, I've decided that for this school year, I either need to plan lunches or cook more.  I'm going to go with the "plan" option and fill in with leftovers as we have them! 

I did a facebook survey with other homeschool moms to see what everyone serves, and this is the list that was formed:

• quesadillas
• grilled cheese
• soup
• smoothies/muffins
• sliced veggies and cheese
• chicken nuggets
• peanut butter and jelly or honey
• lunch meat
• spaghetti
• ravioli
• egg salad
• chipped beef
• macaroni and cheese
• tuna salad with crackers
• grilled peanut butter and jelly
• nachos
• pizza
• egg breakfast sandwiches
• mini pizzas on english muffins
• chicken patty sandwiches
• summer sausage
• calzones
• pancakes
• sausage and egg muffins
• BLTs
• scrambled eggs and toast
• muffins/fruit
• fish sticks
• slider sandwiches {mini sandwiches}
• lunchable-type lunches
• hard boiled eggs

I think this is a pretty good list...31 options!  It definitely gives me some good ideas when I'm looking in the pantry thinking all we have is pb&j. :)  The other thing I've noticed is that my kids LOVE eating boring foods in a tortilla {plus it's a great way to use up those last few tortillas!}. 

I'm going to put options at the beginning of the month that need purchased ingredients {english muffins, cold meat, tuna salad, etc.}.  I always have pb&j, frozen options, eggs, and pancake ingredients in my pantry/freezer/refrigerator.  I just need to remember to put them on my menu plan.  If I write it down, I won't forget.

Happy lunch making!  And feel free to add to this list if you have any ideas!