Springtime Sushi

The school year started with sushi and now it's ending with sushi. I filled shmoo's nori roll with sushi rice (maybe someday he'll let me go crazy and put some fillings in...) and packed it with a little container of soy sauce. Also on the side is fruit salad (banana, apple, orange, pineapple, and fresh local strawberries), blanched asparagus tossed with soy sauce and sesame seeds, and half a Thinkorganic! cherry nut bar.

Verdict: Sushi is surprisingly filling; two pieces and some asparagus were left over. 4 stars.

Wow, so this is it! I started the lunch box project with the idea of recording some vegan, kid-friendly lunch ideas. I wanted to prove to myself and others that veganism isn't about deprivation or packing a million peanut butter sandwiches. I wanted to have some fun and share some ideas, and thought there might be a few other vegan moms out there who would appreciate it. I had no idea Vegan Lunch Box would take off like it has. I've never stopped being amazed by it all!

Thank you to all of you who have visited, shared, and spread the word. I've loved reading all your emails and comments. It made my day every time I read about people being inspired to go veg, or eat more meat-free meals, or add more fruits and veggies to their kids' diets. One of my favorite comments was about a child inspired to eat their vegetables after looking at Vegan Lunch Box: "Look, I'm a shmoo!" Who could ask for more?

A lot of you are wondering what will happen now -- will I keep posting pictures of his lunches? I do have plans for some fun picnics and meals this summer, so you'll probably be seeing a few of them. I also plan to use the summer to finish the cookbook and get it off to a printer. I'll be posting periodic updates on the status of the book, and will probably start taking preorders later this summer.

But mostly I plan to enjoy some vacation time with my son, just hanging out and being a mom. We're leaning toward homeschooling or doing a part-time school next year, so I'm sorry to say I won't be coming back with daily lunch box posts next year. But by then the cookbook will be out, so everyone will be making their own fabulous vegan lunch boxes, right?