Thursday, June 15, 2006

Just Eatin' in the Rain

As promised, I'm back with the first installment of our summer picnics! We're having a great, if somewhat damp, summer so far. Despite the rain, I decided to pack us up a picnic lunch this week and take it to the park. I used my spiffy new stainless steel food carrier to pack enough for the both of us.

For the past few weeks I've been following Dr. Fuhrman's nutrient dense "Eat To Live" program. For the picnic, I wanted to find a lunch that was both Fuhrman- and shmoo-friendly so we could share. The large food jar holds Creamy Asparagus Soup, while the top portion of the tiffin holds a mixed fruit salad (pineapple, banana, apple, and fresh local cherries), and the larger bottom portion holds a giant tossed salad (romaine, spinach, cabbage, garbanzos, carrot, raisins, and sunflower seeds) with, of course, some Asian Miracle Dressing for shmoo (yes, the little container has a lid, too).

And here it is all packed up and ready to go. I love the way everything fits together with a nifty handle and a stainless steel plate in the middle. I tucked everything in a picnic basket with water, napkins, utensils, and an umbrella.

Verdict: Even though the rain cancelled our planned play date, we still had such a good time! We visited the art gallery next to the park, played tennis in the rain, and walked by the river. I set up lunch in the gazebo next to the river. "Sometimes I like spending time with just you," shmoo said.

"Yes, it's nice sometimes," I replied.

"Yep, especially when there's lunch in a gazebo!" he said.

I served shmoo's salad on the plate with the dressing and most of the raisins. Next time I'll pack a sugar-free dressing for me, too. We both took turns eating the fruit and soup, and even with two of us it was more food than we could eat! Shmoo isn't used to salt-free dining, and wished the soup had salt, although I'm surprised to find that I'm not missing salt at all. 4 Fuhrman-Friendly stars.

34 comments:

Catherine said...

Wow - I love that spiffy new container! That looks like a very healthy meal!

NightOwl said...

I'm so happy to see an update! And the meal looks wonderful, as usual. What a fun day you've had!

Jennifershmoo said...

The soup was fantastic! Local asparagus is in season right now, so I'm picking up enormous bags of it at the farmer's market and making tons of this soup. Shmoo and my husband both think that it needs salt, but you could always add some.

jenny said...

That is seriously too cute! The lunch looks delicious also. You posted this just in time, I was beginning to go through vegan-lunchbox withdrawl!

Living Vegan

Everyday Superhero said...

Glad to have you back. You were missed.
The lunch looks delicious.

Carrie™ said...

"Sometimes I like spending time with just you," shmoo said.
How friggin' adorable is that? Sounds like you two had a wonderful afternoon despite the soggy weather. And eating lunch in a gazebo is uber-cool.
Thanks for the post. I, too have been checking pretty much every day for an update. Enjoy the holidays and your time with shmoo.

Lady Arden said...

Sounds like some quality time and some quality food. I'm so glad people take their kids out for things other than fast food.

Something Vegan I came across (on a tea-drinkers forum, teachat.com) that I thought you'd be interested in: Vegan-friendly chapsticks that are flavored to taste like various teas or coffee flavors. It's at www.crazyrumors.com I haven't tried them yet, but as a fan of tea they look pretty fun. Anyhow, since I noticed they were vegan I thought I'd pass the info along to this vegan blog.

Cheers and thanks for posting the picnic. I've missed your daily meal blogging.

WannabeMe said...

Yippie! Shmoo food is back!

Danna said...

Soo glad for the update! So where'd you get the cute set up? I've even gotten some of my non veg friends drooling over your blog! He He!

Jacki said...

I'm glad someone else is willing to come clean about compulsively checking this blog every day, hoping for an update!

Ana said...

you could try alsosalt... (alsosalt.com) they'll even send you a sample, i did it, and I liked it, but I've switched to using seasalt instead, which i feel better about.

Mom23 said...

My computer decided to croak, I've missed your blog for 2 weeks! Just now getting everything working again.

Please tell me....Is that a ToGO Ware from Klean Kanteen?? I have their 27 oz bottles and LOVE them!!!! I've heard they've come out with an 18 oz for little ones!! How do like the ToGo ware??

Heather J. Chin said...

This picnic lunch looks delicious and sweetly and neatly compact in its containers. I'm impressed by the size of the salad and fruit tiffins... the amount of food would be so filling! No wonder you two couldn't finish it! =)

Shmoo is so sweet and your relationship with him brings a smile to my face. He's right, though, lunch in a gazebo while it's raining really is a fantastic treat and super cool.

Glad to have you back. Glad you and shmoo and papa-shmoo have each other. =D

Shelly said...

What a cool lunch container!! And I am soooo grateful to have a shmoo blog update. How wonderful! What a lovely picnic. Shmoo actually reminds me of my son, and makes me feel good because I have that kind of relationship with my boy as well. Now...if I could get him to eat asparagus soup, we'd be all set.

kaivegan said...

Oh, hey, a VLB update!

Thanks, and I enjoyed hearing about your outing!

That's a gorgeous food carrier, btw.

Nicki Baker said...

you're such a fun mom! I love your blog, and I'm glad you're going to post picnics over the summer because I read your blog like every day. I may use some of your ideas in my husband's lunch!

KittyPaws said...

Can you please tell me if that little steel container with lid comes with the large containers? If not where did you pick it up?

Everything looks so delicious!

funwithyourfood said...

woo hoo you're back.
What schmoo said melted my heart a little bit. You two have such a wonderful relationship and you're teaching him so well. The fruit salad looks wonderful but I'm not a fan of aparagus so I'm going to pretend that soup is made with fresh peas instead :)

Teddy

Jennifershmoo said...

..Can you please tell me if that little steel container with lid comes with the large containers? If not where did you pick it up?

The large container is from To-Go Ware (follow the link). The tiny dressing containers I found at Target. They come in a set of six with plastic lids. :-)

hpalleiko said...

I've been waiting to see what yummy eats you were going to post next! Sound like you had a lovely day.

LadyRachelLynn said...

HURRAY!!!!!!!!

I LOVE asparagus soup! That's awesome! Thanks for posting!

Dr. Melissa West said...

I've missed you, so glad to see you back. That asparagus soup looks great. I love the idea of picnics. I am so excited. My daughter loves going on picnics together too.

t. said...

Great to see you back and not with a neglectible meal! That picnic sounds fantastic!
I have been trying to get more info on Eat 2 Live lately: please keep us posted on how you like it!

Eat Peace Please said...

These containers are awesome! I am glad to see you (and the food) back and I am also happy to hear that you still played in the rain!

Calla said...

I'm so happy you're back! That look like such a fun and yummy picnic!

sharbel said...

I just came across your site a few weeks ago, very cool ideas!

I read Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live book, it's what inspired me to change my diet to mostly plant based foods, and I lost like 20 pounds.

harlemgrrl said...

yay! i knew if i gave myself a break from daily vlb checking there'd be a nice surprise. thanks for sharing picnic pics and the story :)

Mahek said...

hi
i am mahek from india and regularly read your blog
i was very sad to see that you had ended your tiffin blog but now to see you back again is a relief as you had become like my friend who i talk to everyday and visit everyday just like the daily tiffin blog it gives me inspiration to make good tiffins for my son.
pls write to me
bye
and read my blogs too

Geosomin said...

Wow - Good job with the lowered salt and sugar.
It is tough at first - I grew up in a house where spices consisted of salt, pepper and celery salt (maybe garlic salt or lemon pepper if you were feeling *really* adventurous!). When I moved out on my own I learned to cook a great many things and discovered I love many spices and styles of cooking and I have largely removed salt from my diet as much as possible, as there are so many other tastes to enjoy, including just the taste of the food on it's own. It is better for you and really helps your blood sugar balance out. I found taking chromium suppliments helped balanceout my blood sugar and battle the sugar cravings, although I've never had as great a problem with sugaras I did with salt. You eat so well - kudos to you!
My hubbie and I never notice the difference in salt and sugar anymore. It is interesting though, as when my folks come and visit the comments of "shouldn't there be more salt in this?" are very common. I just give them their own salt shaker and everyone is happy.

Picnic looked yummy by the way!

High Power Rocketry said...

I like that metal case.

Sarah said...

"Sometimes I like spending time with just you," shmoo said.

that made me teary! that's SO SWEET! shmoo doesn't need sugar - he's sweet enough :)

TeaPriestess said...

Awww! What a wonderful melt into your heart moment! Obviously the rain didn't dampen your spirits! Glad to see you back!

Catherine said...

I just ordered my OWN picnic set! Thanks for the link. It's perfect. We are returning vegans who will need to pack a lunch from now on!

Your site is an inspiration and I'm waiting patiently for your book.

Unknown said...

We sell safe lunch supplies in our school fundraising program!

Check us out at http://www.korufundraising.com

~ Michelle