I know I say this everyday, but I’m really excited about this lunch!! Back in the days of the early blog, I used to pack such boring lunches. I’m not sure what’s changed other than buying fresher ingredients? If you don’t have them, you can’t pack them! And I think my lunches are easier to pack then they used to be. I used to pack a turkey sandwich with pretzels and a Fage almost everyday. If not easier, they are definitely more fun now!
Welcome back cheddar + jam!
On a huge slab of Dakota: Organic Valley White Cheddar and Lingonberry preserves from IKEA.
BERRIESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
Matt stocked up at Trader Joe’s. Berries are one of those foods that I would like to buy all organic. And that is certainly easier when the farmer’s markets are in full swing in the summer and I can buy them from a local farm. I do buy frozen berries organic, but in the in-between seasons when they come up from Florida, sometimes I just can’t resist a little berry in my life. And the organic ones rot on me before I get home from the grocery store. I think organic apples are better than regular apples, but organic berries are often much poorer quality. Decisions, decisions!
I got some more of those delicious snow peas too!!! With a carrot. Just sweet ole veggies.
And a bitter dessert!
Humpday already!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
OOhh at those berries…you can literally see the antioxidants!
I look back at my blog from months ago and I can’t believe the change either! I’m so much more adventerous now 🙂
Have a great day!
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
Dark chocolate is the BEST bitter dessert
Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl says
All that bright, colorful food looks SO good, Kath! And I hear ya on the fresh berries. Sad, but true. I’ve also noticed some organic produce is much, much smaller. I try to always buy local as well. But sometimes it’s just not an option. I’m hoping my garden really takes off. It sure has been a lot of work! lol 😉
Have a fantabulous afternoon!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
Maybe it’s the killer GH bread? I’m in love with it!
Seth @ Boy Meets Food says
You keep posting that Dakota bread, and it is making me start to crave it! The closest GH is a good hour drive away. 🙁
shannon (the daily balance) says
you kill me everytime with the preserves and cheese! i am trying this ASAP – just have to pick up some quality cheese!
Brittany @ A Healthy Slice of Life says
Cheese and jam… I’ll bet that is delicious! I am a big fan of organics, but I usually end up buying frozen organic berries because the fresh ones are either poor quality (like you said) or just too darn expensive 🙂
I just started following your blog, so I’m going to look back now at how your eating has evolved… I wonder if mine will do the same as I find more fun recipes.
I’d love for you to check my blog out and let me know what you think 🙂 Happy lunching!
Trish @IamSucceeding says
Preserves and cheese?! hMM Interesting combo!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
What a fabulous sandwich! I would love that grilled.
Lyn says
That looks like a fantastic lunch!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Nothing wrong with being excited about lunch! It looks super yummy!
Claire says
YUM! Wednesday means dakota bread here at our local GH…yes! The lunch looks amazing lady! Happy humpday!
Jennifer says
I LOVE the lingonberry preserves from IKEA! So good. And such a pretty color!
AllieNic @ Frisky Lemon says
Ditto on the organic apples tasting better– I splurged on them once, but now I’ll never go back to conventional apples.
I can’t wait for the farmer’s markets to open up! Those berries made my mouth water!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Oh wow, sharp white cheddar and jam is SUCH an amazing combo! And I never would’ve tried it if it wasn’t for you.. and what I would be missing!
Mama Pea says
Peas!!!
Strawberries and raspberries are the only berries I absolutely won’t eat non-organic. I’m pretty sure those are the only 2 on the Dirty Dozen. So you are golden in my book!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
I think time and experimentation brings out exciting new lunches. I know my meals have definitely been broadened as I try new foods and ideas. And it makes the day so much more exciting when you have a fun lunch to break into. 😀
Camille says
That sandwich is making my mouth water!
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
What a delicious lunch! I’m totally craving cheddar now 😀
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Looks delicious! LOVE those berries!!! I totally agree that I’ve gotten more creative as time goes on with packed lunches. I think I finally realized that there’s no need to pack the same boring salad or PB sandwich everyday… gotta think outside the box! 🙂
Andrea (Sweet N Green) says
I’ve gotta try cheese and jam..sounds interesting! The berries look so good!
Jenny says
That sandwich looks amazing! I love jam and cheese combos:)
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
Mmm… jam and cheese :d
Chloe (Naturally Frugal) says
It could also be that you’re buying berries out of season, so the organic ones aren’t great to start out with. Just food for thought! 🙂
Kara @ MyWellnest says
Beautiful lunch! Familiar tupperware too! I have the same one sitting on my desk!
Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life says
LOVE the jam + cheese combo!!
runnerforever says
I never would have thought to combine cheese and jam, but it actually does sound good!
Serena says
I love Trader Joe’s but not their produce. I think it always rots before I get it home! I think because so much of it is from sooo far away, like Chile or China. There was recently an article in the NYT about their pine nuts being from Russia and being very inferior in quality, which is why they are so cheap. And of course I went home and saw that my TJs pine nuts are from Russia! I made a pact with myself to only buy produce/nuts from TJs if it’s local (US for nuts). Your lunch looks great!
Erin (thehealthyapron.com) says
I hear ya with the berries, although I have to say that I just bought organic strawberries and they taste 1000% better than non-organic!
Stella says
Cheddar and jam sounds like a good combination, I need to try that soon! I love your sandwiches, and love sandwiches in general but after falling into a boring packed lunch sandwich habit I abandoned them – thanks for all the great filling ideas!
Stacy Grows Healthy says
Love love love that sandwich. Jam and cheese – so good!
Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I’d be excited about that lunch, too! Cheese + jam = best evah! 🙂
Jenn
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad says
I have yet to buy a tasty organic apple. Maybe yours are so good because you have apple trees galore in NC. 🙂
Heather says
Inspiring looking lunch! I could live on snap peas and sweet potatoes 🙂
Sarah says
Yum! Your lunches ARE looking fabulous these days!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i was just thinking jam and cheddar sounds like exactly what i want for lunch…your seedy bread looks amazing!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I agree on the berries. I’ve had to turn right around to the grocery to return berries that were moldy when I bought them.
Sarah (OC2Seattle) says
I have this same problem with berries. I know berries are one of the top foods you should buy organic but it’s hard to resist those big baskets of luscious looking California strawberries and blackberries at Costco this time of year (for 1/2 the price of organic). Looking forward to WA’s berry season so I can hit the farmers’ market and indulge guilt and pesticide free!
Heba says
Love all your lunch ideas – very creative and interesting! I remember the days when mom used to pack me the SAME lunch everyday for school for weeks at a time – she could have used some of your suggestions lol. (Love my mom’s cooking though, other than lunches!).
I agree with you about the berries – strawberries especially need/absorb a lot of pesticides, so I always buy them organic. Same goes for peaches.
Jil @ Peace, Love & Munchies says
Love the jam and cheddar! Yum! And I try to buy berries organic – esp strawberries – but sometimes I just go for what looks best.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I know what you mean about boring food from before. I just thought about my food from earlier blog days too. I am really enjoying playing with flavors and textures now. It makes food and life just seem a lot more adventuresome! Your lunch looks tasty!
Dani says
Cheddar and jam? Who knew? This sounds amazing… thanks for a little more culinary inspiration:)
brandi says
I need to try this cheddar + jam combo. But first I need some GH bread! 🙂
I stopped buying organic berries from the store, too, because they went bad SO fast! Now I just try to only buy local and really only buy in season. They’re much better and I’ve just learned to live without them unless I buy frozen for smoothies.
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
i can’t resist berries either. i can’t wait until the summer when i can get them all organic for cheap!!!
Courtney says
So intrigued by the cheddar/jam sandwich combo! I think it might be in my future. Thanks for the idea.
Courtney
adventures in tri-ing
Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy says
I’ve got to try the cheese and jam combo! Yum!!
I’m trying to make my lunches more interesting and fresh! It’s hard when you have to walk to work carrying everything though! But hopefully I will find a way to make mine as interesting as yours someday! 🙂
wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says
Isn’t a bite of Scharffen Berger just the most wonderful ending to anything?!
Nice sammitch!
Alicia says
I am so replicating that sandwich.
Anything that I eat the outside of I buy organic/safe. I’d rather go without than eat pesticides.
Emily says
Oh my goodness, those berries look absolutely delicious! Hooray to the return of summer and fresh fruit!
I am with you on organic berries rotting faster. It is a shame, but it just encourages me to gobble them up faster! Typically I stick with the longer-lasting conventional berries when I’m at the stop, but I leap at the opportunity to buy local, fresh berries at my farmers’ market.
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
That is my IDEAL lunch right there – love the REAL colors! : )
Nicole says
Hi Kath! New(er) follower here, hello! Just happen to run across your blog one day and am a advid follower now! Thanks for all the great recipes and ideas 😉
I too forgot how awesome jam and cheese are together. I had the organic valley cheddar with TJ’s raspberry preserves on oat bread the other night and my husband thought I was nuts! yum! I do have some ligonberry preserves though hrmmmm i’ll have to try that next.
Kath says
Welcome!
Lindsay @ The Ketchup Dairies says
100% agree on the berries. It’s so frustrating. Although, my organic strawberries are holding up much better than they used to. Can’t say the same about blueberries and blackberries though 🙁
Jenna says
You make cheddar and jam look SO GOOD! I’ve tried it a few times and haven’t been thrilled but I think it’s because my cheese isn’t sharp enough!
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
What a nice spring lunch collection.
Casey says
I love buying organic too, but they spoil so fast!
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
What a great looking lunch! I am always impressed by your flavour combinations!
Kellie says
I love the Lingonberry preserves from Ikea. That and their icecream. Mmm
Wei-Wei says
You definitely have to buy organic berries – they’re on the “Dirty Dozen” list for being one of the foods that have a higher level of pesticide residues on them. I think you can look this up, but great choice! Berries are probably naturally delicate and prone to spoiling/contamination, so it’s smart to buy organic berries. 🙂
Wei-Wei
Chris says
coupon for burgers at earth fare
http://www.earthfare.com/HealthySavings/EmailCoupon_1.aspx
Kath says
I get that email!! I might get it 🙂
Kim says
Yummy lunch!
I haven’t had issues with organic berries deteriorating faster. And sometimes I keep them longer than I should. Maybe you could buy the organic berries and try to use them within a few days of purchase. I know I try to make my produce haul last all week, but sometimes it isn’t possible.
I will have to try a cheddar and jam sandwich soon, it looks so good!
Have a great almost weekend!
Hannah says
I completely agree, that is a ridiculously exciting lunch. Cheese, berries, chocolate… I’m in love.