Skip to main content

Update on my 30 Day Challenge!


My 30 Day Challenge lesson that I did with my students on the first day back from break was a success! I really enjoyed watching them come up with a challenge, and we did a "check-in" a few days ago using Padlet that the students enjoyed. Some are struggling, but some are really excited about their progress! I can't wait to see how many of us have stuck to it after January! I've been sending out little notes to check-in on Edmodo, mostly to build a bit of community. This is a great way to reign your kids back in and connect with them after the break!


**This is not a sponsored post**

In preparation for this 30 day challenge, I purchased the stackable Bentgo box pictured above. It has completely re-energized my packing lunches, because nothing motivates me like having a cute container to fill. Something about throwing food in a paper bag or target bag just doesn't appeal to me! I also purchased the insulated lunch bag, the cup, and two small containers for dressing.

So last Monday, to my horror, I unpacked my lunch at school and noticed *gasp* there was a hairline crack in the bottom compartment of my bentgo box. I could see it happening...my lunch box challenge would derail, as I would be completely discouraged. Doing something totally out of character, I actually emailed the company (which is not something I ever do), and they said someone would get back to me within 1-2 days. Well, I checked my email on a break the next morning and lo and behold, they had responded within twelve hours! Their customer service was absolutely wonderful, and my replacement box was going to be on its way within 7-10 business days. This was on the 14th. Yesterday, I arrived home from a Michael's binge (I purchased a new Erin Condren life planner, and was sucked into the sticker thing...more on that another day), and my new Bentgo box was here! Hooray!! Thank you Bentgo, for having awesome customer service, and saving my 30-day challenge!!

What I love most about this lunch "box" above all others I've had (and I have had many), is that it has a large enough space for a nice size salad in the bottom, and two separated sections on the top, which has been great for a fruit and something else, like nuts. Also, it cleans so easily! My biggest issue is forgetting to wash out my lunchbox (admit it, we've all done this), and then it's so far gone you just throw it away... Well, it's so easy to wipe clean after I finish lunch, and the silverware it comes with is sturdy and easy to clean. Plus, it's the first time I've purchased small containers for dressing that haven't leaked. I still get flashbacks to the erin condren lunchbox, and my salad dressing destroying the bottom of my teacher bag and the edges of my planner. *shudder*

lunch planner here: http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/lunchboxplannernotes30daysblog.pdf

So I'm obsessed with the Spinach salad, which is obvious as I ate it for the whole first week, (BTW- the Brianna's Poppyseed Dressing is delicious, and I found it at Target!), and the second week I did the turkey wrap. While I was a pretty strict vegetarian for awhile, I've noticed that I have much more energy when I eat lean meats (turkey, etc...), so I am somewhat incorporating them into my diet. I am not saying anything against going vegetarian, as I still have very strong feelings about animal cruelty, and feeling very conflicted about eating protein in the form of meat. But moving on, I am seeing that I need a little variety in my lunches. I tend to go with one thing, because it's easier, for the whole week, but I don't think I'm getting enough variety. Friday was a complete accident, because I barely packed a lunch. I had a dance workshop right after school and a rehearsal in the evening, so I didn't get home until late. Needless to say I was dragging on Friday. 

Today's mission is to go shopping and find some recipes that will spice things up for the rest of the month. Hopefully I can make this habit lifelong, as I have already seen the health benefits! I haven't been drinking pop during the day, and I feel more energized throughout the day. Bonus- I've also lost four lbs!

Here are a couple I've been checking out today!
http://ipacklunch.com/2013/07/easy-work-week-lunches/
http://ipacklunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/flat-out.jpg

http://ipacklunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/tasty-tortellini.jpg

I'm also excited to check out their recipe e-book that you get for free for purchasing a Bentgo!

On to the 1SE, I'm using the app on my iPhone, and I'm excited about it! It makes each day memorable, but there have been about two days that I forget to video the most exciting part of my day and I'm scrambling for something at the last minute. I hope to get better at this, and the app allows you to set reminders, so I may try that next week!

Are you doing a 30 day challenge? How is it going?


Comments

  1. Awesome job girlie!!! I was on a lunch kick for a while and bought some cute lunch dividers like you [not same brand]. But then there wasn't room for snacks ;) So I bought cute, insulated, lunch bags from MixedBagDesigns.com...holds all my stuff and keeps it cool, esp if I put an ice-pack in there...or just stick it in the staff fridge ;)
    Stephanie
    Tales of Teaching in Heels

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll have to check those out! See- the perk to living in illinois is that I just crack my window, set my lunchbox there, and instant fridge! No ice pack needed :)

      Delete
  2. It's fantastic to sее your 30-day challеngе with studеnts off to a succеssful start, fostеring community and pеrsonal growth. Your dеdication to еngaging with thеm еvеn aftеr thе holiday brеak is admirablе. And, it's grеat to hеar about your positivе еxpеriеncе with Bеntgo's customеr sеrvicе, еnsuring your challеngе stays on track. As you еxplorе nеw lunch idеas, may this еndеavor continuе to еnеrgizе you and lеad to еvеn morе hеalth bеnеfits! Don't forgеt to chеck out thе 1SE app; capturing daily momеnts can bе a dеlightful journеy. Spеaking of journеys, whеn it comеs to acadеmic pursuits, sееking thе bеst Financе dissеrtation writing sеrvicе can bе еqually transformativе. Kееp up thе fantastic work!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for stopping by! JW

Popular posts from this blog

Before the School Year Begins...

I decided that before I can start posting about what I'm doing this year, I needed to share some of my favorite strategies from last year that went really well with the students. I was completely inspired by Kelly Gallagher after reading devouring all of his books at the beginning of the school year! I had the opportunity to go to a Kelly Gallagher workshop at Judson this spring, and it was absolutely amazing! He was so nice when I went up to him (I was terrified and starstruck), and even wrote "You're Welcome" on this piece of paper, because my students actually asked me to THANK HIM for changing the way we read novels in class.  Students + asked me + to say thank you to an author + about school stuff = UTOPIA! Here are some of my abbreviated notes from the day: His TOP Points: Kids should write 4X more than you can physically grade  Students suffer from word poverty. Must get students reading more in order to be exposed to vocabulary. We ne

RAK Classroom Kit + Enjoy the Magic of The Holidays at Oakbrook Center!

Last week The Middle School Mob hosted a FB Live Holiday Hop, and I shared how I do a RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) activity with my students during the holiday season . This was my first time doing a FB live and I had so much fun! You can check out the RAK Classroom Kit here If you live in the Chicagoland area and want to have a fun family outing this Christmas season, be sure to check out my post over at Modest House, Extraordinary Home ! Save Save Save Save

Writing Notebook: Finishing up "Write Ideas" and first Invitation: AAAWWUBBIS!

Happy Monday!! Today I am continuing on with the Writer's Notebook! Last time I left off, students had just finished their "100 Things I Love". After that, students completed their writing territories, which I got from Nancie Atwell's book   Lessons That Change Writers.  We spent the first day discussing writing territories out loud, going through the list in detail, so that students had ideas of what to write about. I told them to think of it like the caption for a picture. One to two sentences that could become something more. Students had to complete this for homework. We also completely numbered our table of contents so that we could add in sections and start working in other parts of the notebook.  Students wrote their writing territories on these pages. Then we moved on to the Writer's Eye (I). Students had to place terms that described them within their "I" or around their "Eye". I created my o