One Menu at a Time

Well, my smoothly planned menu selection didn't go as smoothly as expected. Nothing ever does when hockey and homework and TV and online games are in the mix.

But, we did move forward a bit, and in a totally surprising way. In the midst of getting ready to head out the door for hockey, I asked my oldest if he'd eat salads at school, and if so, what type. The answer? Chicken Caesar Salad.

At first I thought, "Wow, what a sophisticated choice," then it dawned on me that his experience with Chicken Caesar Salad is decidedly not white table cloth and silverware and is instead entirely clamshell and plastic fork. We buy this salad at Costco and eat it family style while perched on white plastic picnic tables in a noisy environment that, come to think of it, feels pretty much like a school cafeteria. The only real difference is the red plastic umbrellas that dress up the Costco tables.

So one menu down, 13 to go...

The Menu:

• Chicken Caesar Salad


• Cherry tomatoes


• Crusty French bread


• Fruit du jour

Shopping List:

• Cooked chicken (leftovers or deli lunch meat)


• Croutons


• Romain or iceberg lettuce


• Grated Parmesian cheese


• Cherry tomatoes


• French bread


• Caesar salad dressing


• Fresh fruit