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You are here: Home / Lifestyle / Lunch Lady Leftovers

January 11, 2010

Lunch Lady Leftovers

Howdy Folks!

It was a fun but long day at the ole school system. I arrived bright and early, per usual, and met one of my coworkers at a middle school to conduct an annual audit of food safety and management practices. It was a great learning experience. I stayed from breakfast through lunch and observed taking temperatures, all corners of the cafeteria, the register in operation, production schedules, staff schedules, rosters, reports and more. I even washed some dishes when I had a little down time to help out. The staffs at these schools are so nice and fun!

AND I GOT TO WEAR A HAIR NET!!! They’ve come a long way in the 20-something years since I started school 🙂

Can you even see it!?!

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It just looks like I have FRIZZ!

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On the menu for breakfast was an oat-based fiberific cookie. Pretty cool.

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Breakfast held me over ~5 hours. Go oatmeal!! We broke for lunch at 11:30 – I was perfectly hungry and perfectly cold to eat some soup + hot veggies.

Cabbage (which was amazing!), pineapple, green beans, a whole wheat roll, saltines and MADE-FROM-SCRATCH broccoli and cheese soup. I saw the ingredient list and recipe and could have made this at home. It was pretty tasty too! I cleared my plate sans a cracker and a little bit of soup.

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When we left the school an hour or so later I was still feeling a little hungry, so I whipped out my almond stash for a little more protein and fat. I had about 7 of ’em and they did the trick!

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Afternoon tea

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And energy for my 1.15 commute home.

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The Larabar held me over perfectly from 4:30 when I started nibbling to 8PM when I got home from the gym.

Going to the gym after work is not fun, but once I get there it’s OK and the atmosphere is pretty hard core so I get more motivated once I’m there. I wore my GAP leggings from Saturday and they ROCKED! I loved the slight compression – I need to get some full length ones!

At the gym I rocked out the Stairmaster for 30 minutes (barely sweating – what’s up with me getting better at climbing the stairs having taken 2 weeks off of the machine during Xmas!?), 10 minutes on the Stat bike and 10 minutes of power lifting, which means I didn’t stop for breaks and just did every exercise I could think of with 15 pounders.

When I came home I was starving, but always prefer to eat nice and clean (mostly because I get cold if I eat in my wet workout clothes).

I totally rocked the wet hair + hoodie look for din 🙂

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How’s this for some leftover love:

Last Saturday’s Black-eyed peas (on their last hour!) topped with Tuesday’s Pumpkin Curry Soup, some broccoli and some DELTA peanuts from my summer of travel:

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[Matt was out at a beer dinner so I was on my own 🙁 ]

On the side – whole grains in the form of a Flax Oat Bran bun sandwiched with some cranberry goat cheese!

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I miss using the ole point-n-shoot – it rocks!!! I need a new lens – a wide angle macro to be specific.

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I was so hungry after my workout that this STILL hasn’t settled into fullness yet. Hurry up stomach!

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So tomorrow another coworker and I are cooking oatmeal for an elementary school breakfast!!! We’re going to experiment with bananas and toppings and see how they like it. Afterwards we’re doing an in-school news show on eating more whole grains and oats. Fun! The catch is I have to BE there at 6:45, which means I have to leave the house at 5:45 and so on. I’m going to eat my breakfast there so I plan to pop in and say hello to you guys before I jet out. And I should be off earlier than usual and will fit in 3 posts tomorrow 🙂

Good night my <3’s

Filed Under: Lifestyle

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Comments

  1. Sara says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    Your leftovers look really good! haha I like to eat once I am clean too! Too bad tonight I got home so late that I didn’t have that option or I probably wouldn’t be eating till 10 pm 🙂

    Reply
  2. Melissa says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    What I find exciting about your dinner is the combination of all the flavors and textures and colors–seriously making good nutrition more fun.

    Reply
  3. Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    Making breakfast oatmeal tomorrow sounds so fun!!!

    Reply
  4. Kristen @ Change of Pace says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    Glad you had another good day! Leftovers are always better than the first time for me. The husband though isn’t a fan 🙂

    Reply
  5. Jayce says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    Wow, school lunches have really come a long way! I can’t wait to hear what the kids think of the oatmeal. I had to eat dinner sweaty tonight :(… but only because my hubbyman already had it cooking on the grill when I got home from the gym! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Wendy says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    Ooooh, it should be really interesting to hear how you make a giant batch of whipped banana oatmeal! Fun! Hope the kids like it…my 3yo & 5yo only like oatmeal plain. They turn up their noses if I cook it with banana!

    Reply
  7. Erin says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    I can’t get over how good your school lunches look — cafeteria meals have come a LONG way since I was a student just a few years ago!!

    Reply
  8. amanda says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    Good luck on figuring your best eating times with your new schedule.

    Reply
  9. Gina @ Gina J's Healthy Way says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    I was starving when I made it home today, too. That school lunch looks way better than what my kids get.

    Reply
  10. Heather (The Single Dish) says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    You always have the best looking bread, buns, muffins etc…so jealous! I need a baker in the family…

    Reply
  11. Food Makes Fun Fuel says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    Nice workout! And that goat cheese sounds delicious. I think I’m rediscovering my love/craving it. According to Avery(from loveveggiesandyoga), it’s more easily digestible because it’s more like human milk than cow or soy. I found that interesting and have to wonder why it’s not more produced

    Reply
  12. Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:18 pm

    So fun that you get to cook oatmeal for kids tomorrow!!

    I can’t even see the hairnet– amazing!! That’s much more discreet than the one I had to wear during my chocolate factory tour over the holidays 🙂

    Reply
  13. Lauren @ eater not a runner says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    I did the same “out of the shower” dinner tonight haha. Yours looks great!

    Reply
  14. Whitney @ Lettuce Love says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    Killer hair net! It looks a lot cooler than the thick, black ones that lunch servers wore back in the day.

    Reply
  15. Katherine says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    Your leftovers look delicious.

    I hope the kids like your oatmeal concoctions and I hope they know they’re getting oatmeal from an expert!! 🙂

    Reply
  16. Rose says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    Wow – hair nets really have come a long way!

    Glad things are going so well for you at your new gig!!

    Reply
  17. Jil says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    What a full day! Props to you!! and the hair net is too funny! almost invisible! I’m jealous that these kids are getting such good eats at school…I always brought a packed lunch cuz the stuff in the cafe was always so gross. Then again…who knows if I’d have been able to appreciate the beauty of cabbage, whole wheat and green beans at that age…glad I appreciate those things now.

    Reply
  18. Estela @ Weekly Bite says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    Sounds like a busy day! You always have the most creative meals! Dinner being one of them!

    Good night 🙂

    Reply
  19. homecookedem says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    I think it is so great that you’re getting this experience!! I’m a first grade teacher, so this is particularly interesting to me. Good luck with the oatmeal experiment!! Hope the kiddos eat it up!! 🙂

    Reply
  20. Lisa @bakebikeblog says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    Yum! All those eats look wonderful 🙂

    Reply
  21. Lee says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    I’m impressed with the school eats. Very different than what I remember. And you totally can’t see the hair net. Weird.

    Reply
  22. RhodeyGirl says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    I love how exciting you are about all of this! Awesome!

    Reply
  23. Emily Eats and Exercises says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:36 pm

    That’s an early morning tomorrow!
    I’m glad your getting some real food in the school system. I always brown bagged my lunch because the food always looked terrible. The food you’ve been having looks pretty decent.
    I’m impressed that you’ve been getting to the gym after work. I love working out before I shower but once I’ve showered I really struggle to get started.

    Reply
  24. Ashley says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:37 pm

    Seeing the old cafeteria tray is so so hilarious. It’s surprising that hasn’t changed in SO many years!!

    Reply
  25. Brittany says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:38 pm

    Hi there! I’ve been reading your blog for a little while now. I came across it when I was researching weight loss blogs, after starting one of my own. I just wanted to say that I love your blog! For some reason I’m always curious to know what you’re eating 😉 It always looks so good!

    Brittany

    Reply
    • Kath says

      January 12, 2010 at 5:47 am

      Thanks!!

      Reply
  26. Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:38 pm

    I almost always hit the gym late in the evening, though if I wanted I could go in the morning. I love how quiet my gym is in the evenings 🙂

    Reply
  27. Jenna says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    That school lunch looks pretty good and healthy!
    Yummy dinner of leftovers!
    I think your job is so cool and interesting! Your so lucky!
    Jenna

    Reply
  28. ashleigh says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:47 pm

    Ha thats crazy you really cant see the hair net! What a healthy lunch they served there. Good look tomorrow morning I bet that will be a blast.

    Reply
  29. Julie @ Pickley Pear says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:51 pm

    You job looks fun! Great workout too!

    Reply
  30. Cole says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    Yum. Goat cheese.
    And it’s truly amazing how far cafeterias have come.

    Reply
  31. mg@Paris Food Blague says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    wet hair and leftovers….what a monday night combination.

    what a great school lunch, by the way. i’m super impressed.

    Reply
  32. Foy Update - Cook. Garden. Write. Repeat. says

    January 11, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    I wanna eat leftovers at your house! They look very yummy. I just tried the warm butternut squash and garbanzo bean salad from SmittenKitchen.com and for some reason I think you would really like it. It has a lot of steps, but it makes a lot and it’s pretty versitile. For me and my husband we will eat it for dinner as a side to chicken then eat it over fresh spinach and greens for lunch for at least two days. It tastes as good as it looks. I might even cut out more of the garbanzos, a cup and a half instead of two?

    http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/01/warm-butternut-squash-and-chickpea-salad/

    Reply
    • Kath says

      January 12, 2010 at 5:47 am

      Looks awesome!! Springpadit!

      Reply
  33. hemp jogger says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:03 pm

    from the previous, are you afraid of the dark was so dope. loved. it.

    and i know exactly what you mean about the ‘gym after work’ thing. i never wanna go, but dont make it a choice…just change, drive, walk in door. and so true! once i’m there, its hustling and bustling, and the energy comes. i was just thinking those same thoughts today.

    love lookin at these school lunches, too. so nostalgic…except healthier.

    Reply
  34. Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    Your house is so dang clean. And so his yo hair 🙂

    Reply
  35. Mandy @ University Cooking says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:15 pm

    Can’t see the hairnet at all 😉

    I love the way you take your food pictures. So pretty.

    Reply
  36. Sharon @ What Is Sharon Doing Now?! says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:19 pm

    Cookie for breakfast, yum!

    It looks like the lunch is served on Styrofoam? Does that bother you?

    Reply
    • Kath says

      January 12, 2010 at 5:48 am

      Yes and yes.

      Reply
  37. Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    School cafeteria food has come a long way since I was in school! And hair nets, LOL. Wow, can’t even see it. Cool 😎

    Jenn

    Reply
  38. Chelsea says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    Oh, I hope the kids like the oatmeal. Lu won’t touch oatmeal at school but gobbles up Mommy’s banana oats! How much oatmeal do you have to make? That may be insane!

    Reply
  39. Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    It’s crazy how you can’t even see the hair net!

    Good luck with the oatmeal bar at the elementary school tomorrow, I hope they like it!

    Reply
  40. Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    That hairnet is amazing! LOL! You can’t even see it!

    How fun with the oatmeal tomorrow… you ARE the Master Oatmeal Maker. 😉

    Reply
  41. Mama Pea says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    Your hairnet “frizz” looks better than my real hair. Come to think of it, so does your wet hair. Geesh.

    Reply
  42. Bama says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    I’m insanely jealous. I’m a teacher and I would kill for a decent salad bar. The stuff they serve the kids is too salty and fatty. Excellent lunch!

    And I’m looking forward for more info on the new glass. 🙂 I’m wavering on a new f/2.8 zoom for faster night action shots. I have a macro and a separate wide angle and love them dearly.

    Reply
  43. Good Taste. Healthy Me says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    Yikes you gotta get your booty up early!!! That is no fun!!

    Reply
  44. Heather @ Side of Sneakers says

    January 11, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    Gotta love rockin’ the hairnet!

    Reply
  45. Heather @ The Joyful Kitchen says

    January 11, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    good to see they’re making the hairnets a little more stylish these days 🙂

    Reply
  46. Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says

    January 11, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    Glad you’re enjoying your Placement so far! Looks like fun!

    Reply
  47. Katie says

    January 12, 2010 at 12:17 am

    I thought I was the only one who has to shower before eating. No matter how hungry I am, I always shower. It is great in the morning, because I am ready to start the day right after breakfast!

    Reply
  48. Angela (The Lady Loves to Eat) says

    January 12, 2010 at 1:57 am

    wow you can’t even see that hair net! If I work out I always shower before I eat!

    Reply
  49. Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com says

    January 12, 2010 at 2:56 am

    I can’t believe a cookie held you over for 5hrs! What was the secret ingredient!?

    Reply
    • Kath says

      January 12, 2010 at 5:48 am

      I had oatmeal for breakfast – remember the whole post about it!? The cookie was just what was on the cafeteria meu

      Reply
  50. Anne says

    January 12, 2010 at 9:09 am

    I find it very weird to see all the progress in cafeteria food BUT none when it comes to environment: all that plastic in cafeterias…What a paradox. It’s kind of sad.

    Reply
  51. Shannon says

    January 12, 2010 at 9:18 am

    I love reading about your experiences at the school. I worked in schools for 6 years before going back to school myself this year to be an RD. The students at the schools I worked in definitely didn’t have the oaty, fiberful cookies for breakfast or such healthy lunches. That district must be doing a great job! It’s great to see!

    Reply
  52. Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says

    January 12, 2010 at 9:30 am

    Looks like it was a great day. I hate it when my hunger is all consuming! When I am really warn out, I seem hungrier. I think my body uses food to keep it going! Have fun making oatmeal for the kids! I trust you can make it interesting!

    Reply
  53. Sarah R says

    January 12, 2010 at 9:42 am

    Every time you post about the food at the school I am astonished at the quality and selection. The school lunches around here are pitiful and I wonder if the kids are really getting the nutrients they need. It’s nice to see that there are some schools out there that are striving for health.

    Reply
  54. Amanda @ Cakes and Ale says

    January 12, 2010 at 10:08 am

    I love that you’re into thick stewy soups like that! I love my soup extra thick and pureed… unfortunately, my husband is the exact opposite and likes thin, brothy soups. Oh well… to each his or her own!

    Reply
  55. Sarah says

    January 12, 2010 at 10:28 am

    That sounds like so much fun! I hope the kids like the oatmeal. I can’t wait to experiment with it and get my kids to try it someday (when I have them, ha ha).

    Reply
  56. Katharine says

    January 12, 2010 at 10:30 am

    I’m definitely impressed by the hair net makeover – they certainly aren’t as noticeable as they used to be!

    I love that sandwich combo – what an interesting choice! Looks YUMMY 🙂

    Reply
  57. Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life says

    January 12, 2010 at 11:45 am

    Wow-hair nets have come a long way! You hardly notice it!

    Reply
  58. Megan says

    January 12, 2010 at 12:29 pm

    Thats super cute that you’re going to beon the in school news show!! I hope it went well!

    Reply
  59. Kalli@Fitandfortysomething says

    January 12, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    It seems like you like working in the schools!

    Reply
  60. Mavis says

    January 12, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    I am so glad you are enjoying Rowan county. I lived there for 5 years and met some wonderful people. They have a lot of good cooks in that area.

    Reply
  61. Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather says

    January 12, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    Sounds like you had a fun time!

    Reply
  62. Rachel says

    January 12, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    Your food looks so good 🙂 Glad you had a good day!

    Reply
  63. lynn (The Actors Diet) says

    January 12, 2010 at 2:46 pm

    i’m very impressed with how far hair nets have come!

    Reply

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