My 12 year old son, Kyle, is in 7th grade this year. It's so hard to believe since it seems like only yesterday he nervously began his first day of Kindergarten! It's enough to make this mama feel old!
My son, like many kids across the country, brings his lunch from home each day. For one, it's much more economical to pack lunches. Also, I have worked in the public school system before, so I am well aware of the often flavorless slop they try and pass as a sensible lunch.
I know it's so easy to just grab a Lunchables for the kids, but I cannot bring myself to do it. I don't feel they offer the nutrition growing kids need, and they come in such miniscule portions. They certainly wouldn't whet my 12 year old's massive appetite!
So when I pack my son's lunch, I try and steer clear of packaged and overly processed foods. I buy high quality meats and cheeses, and I always make sure to have organic fruits and veggies on hand. I make him a generously sized sandwich, loaded with fresh deli meats and cheese, as well as veggies. I also offer snacks like fresh fruit or some organic granola.
My son, like many kids across the country, brings his lunch from home each day. For one, it's much more economical to pack lunches. Also, I have worked in the public school system before, so I am well aware of the often flavorless slop they try and pass as a sensible lunch.
I know it's so easy to just grab a Lunchables for the kids, but I cannot bring myself to do it. I don't feel they offer the nutrition growing kids need, and they come in such miniscule portions. They certainly wouldn't whet my 12 year old's massive appetite!
So when I pack my son's lunch, I try and steer clear of packaged and overly processed foods. I buy high quality meats and cheeses, and I always make sure to have organic fruits and veggies on hand. I make him a generously sized sandwich, loaded with fresh deli meats and cheese, as well as veggies. I also offer snacks like fresh fruit or some organic granola.
One brand of deli meats and cheeses that I love is Columbus Foods. Makers of salami and premium specialty meats since 1917, Columbus has a wide variety of convenient, pre-sliced options that equal (and probably rival!) what you can get from behind the deli counter. Made from whole cuts of meat and hand-rubbed with custom-blended spices, you can truly taste Columbus’ difference. Plus, all Columbus products are free of gluten, trans-fats and MSG.
I received a sampler of deli meats from Columbus Foods to test out in my son's lunches. Sadly, I didn't receive any of the salami products. (Salami and other Italian style meats are my absolute favorite. When I was pregnant, I would crave them daily.) I did receive some great lunch-time classics like Reduced Sodium Turkey Breast, Applewood Smoked Ham, and Seasoned Roast Beef. These are all kid-approved in my home already, so I was eager to get my son's opinion of the brand. I didn't tell him this was different than the meats he's used to having, either. I wanted to see if he would notice!
I sent him to school with a Turkey sandwich the first day. I added some sliced Havarti, some Dijon mustard, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo. When he got home, he raved about his lunch and asked me if I could make that for him all the time! The results were equally enthusiastic when I gave him the ham and roast beef. Obviously, Columbus Foods is doing something very, very right!
I am on a low carb kick right now. I would like to lose about 20lbs, and carbs are my weakness. So I tried a lunch of deli slices along with an antipasto salad with red peppers, pepperoncini, carrots, and olives. Let me tell you, I didn't even miss the bread at all. The flavors of the deli meats from Columbus Foods were amazing. You could tell that they're not overly processed, and they left no chemically after-taste. All of the meats were moist, natural in taste and appearance, and minimally seasoned in a way that brings out the natural flavors in the meats. In a word, YUM!
I received a sampler of deli meats from Columbus Foods to test out in my son's lunches. Sadly, I didn't receive any of the salami products. (Salami and other Italian style meats are my absolute favorite. When I was pregnant, I would crave them daily.) I did receive some great lunch-time classics like Reduced Sodium Turkey Breast, Applewood Smoked Ham, and Seasoned Roast Beef. These are all kid-approved in my home already, so I was eager to get my son's opinion of the brand. I didn't tell him this was different than the meats he's used to having, either. I wanted to see if he would notice!
I sent him to school with a Turkey sandwich the first day. I added some sliced Havarti, some Dijon mustard, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo. When he got home, he raved about his lunch and asked me if I could make that for him all the time! The results were equally enthusiastic when I gave him the ham and roast beef. Obviously, Columbus Foods is doing something very, very right!
I am on a low carb kick right now. I would like to lose about 20lbs, and carbs are my weakness. So I tried a lunch of deli slices along with an antipasto salad with red peppers, pepperoncini, carrots, and olives. Let me tell you, I didn't even miss the bread at all. The flavors of the deli meats from Columbus Foods were amazing. You could tell that they're not overly processed, and they left no chemically after-taste. All of the meats were moist, natural in taste and appearance, and minimally seasoned in a way that brings out the natural flavors in the meats. In a word, YUM!
Overall, I would definitely recommend Columbus Foods to anyone who packs their lunches or simply just enjoys a good sandwich. These meats are fantastic, and while they are prepacked, taste just as fresh as the pricier meats found at the deli department. I am looking forward to trying more of their products, and I am going to make sure I buy about 20lbs of their Salame and other Italian meats next time I go grocery shopping. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
HOW TO CONNECT :
You can check out the awesomeness that is Columbus Foods on their website.
Check out their store locator to find their products in a store near you!
You can also connect with Columbus Foods on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products, valuable coupons, and promotions.
***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
RSS Feed
