Simple is Better

Every month or so, I reinvent our meal plan.  Last week it was to simplify the plan drastically.  So much less thinking involved for me.  So much more freedom for the children.  It actually mirrors changes made in our homeschool.
For breakfast, it's fruit, of course.  Orange juice if I get that done before 9 am.  Lunch contains vegetables and fat.  Afternoon snack is fruit of choice.  Dinner is vegetables and whole grains.  That's the basics.  Nothing is required eating.  Fruit is always an option, and we have lots out and available for little hands.
Speaking of small children, I'm opting for buying small fruits.  I'm tired of finding half eaten huge apples all over the house (despite the "no food outside the kitchen" rule).

Orange Juicing for the Family

We made lots of orange juice this morning, using the Green Star juicer.  I had been using my little Cuisinart food pro with the citrus press attachment.  We were in danger of burning out the motor, trying to juice enough oranges for all of us.  There was more prep work with the Green Star, to be sure, but the actual juicing went much faster.  And the pulp was a lot drier!

We ended up with an assembly line, which greatly sped up the process.  Two people peeling, one segmenting, two young children feeding the pieces into the chute, and one person pushing the pieces down with the tamper.  I don't know how many oranges we juiced, but it was enough to satisfy the six of us.  I did have to clean the screen once, as I only have the fine screen meant more for veggie juices.

I think my oft neglected juicer is going to see a lot more action in days to come!