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April 2006

Laptop Lunch Times: April 2006

April 2006

Whimsical containers are back in stock!

Thanks for waiting patiently for our new whimsical containers to arrive. We apologize for the delay. We're expecting a new shipment of periwinkle Laptop Lunches next week. Thanks for your patience!

Earth Day Special...

April 22nd is Earth Day, a good time to make the switch from disposables to reusables. Order 2 or more of the following high-quality stainless steel items and receive 15% off from now through April 31st. To take advantage of this offer, click HERE. The discount will be applied at check-out.

Small Lunch Jar (320010)

Large Lunch Jar (320020)

Large Stainless Steel Drink Bottle (320030)

Travel Flask (320050)

Got a favorite photo to share?

Please email it to us at newsletter@obentec.com, and we'll publish it here!

Here's one to get you started:

Inari Sushi
Cucumber sticks
Mandarin Orange
Spice bread: Recipe available HERE.

In this issue, you'll find:

Monthly Menu
Pasta! Pasta!
Green Opportunities
New Retailers
Earth Day Films
Featured Web site: www.metrokc.gov
What works...Success Stories

Nutritious, waste-free lunches for the whole family

www.laptoplunches.com

Monthly Menu

Pasta! Pasta!

#1: Artichoke Fettuccine

Makes 4 servings.

8 oz fettuccine 2 cups steamed green veggies (Broccoli, zucchini, and green beans all work well.) 1 cup ricotta cheese 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth 3 cloves garlic, crushed juice of 1/2 lemon 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts 1/2 cup kalamata olives pitted and cut in half salt and pepper to taste feta or parmesan cheese (garnish)
1. Boil the pasta until cooked but not mushy. Drain and rinse. 2. Steam the green vegetables. 3. In a large bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, vegetable broth, crushed garlic, fresh parsley, and lemon juice. 4. Add the pasta. Toss. 5. Add the steamed vegetables, artichoke hearts, olives, and toss again. Add salt and pepper to taste. 6. Garnish with the cheese.

#2: Miso Soba

Makes 4 servings.

NOODLES

12 oz soba noodles, prepared according to the package

BROTH

3 cups of water
2 Tbs miso paste (with dashi flavoring)
1 Tbs mirin

TOPPING CHOICES

hard-boiled eggs
cubed tofu
sliced scallions
boiled and cubed potatoes
oven-roasted butternut squash
wakame seaweed
dried shiitake mushrooms, re-hydrated and sliced
steamed spinach or green beans
shredded pickled ginger

1. Prepare soba noodles as directed on package and set aside.
2. Boil the water in a medium-size saucepan.
3. Turn off the heat, add the miso paste and mirin, and stir until dissolved to make a broth.
4. Divide the soba noodles into four soup bowls (or lunch jars!), arrange toppings artfully, and gently ladle broth on top.

Green Opportunities

Some earth-friendly tidbits that have landed in our office in recent weeks...

GARBAGESCOUT.COM--If you live in New York City and you're looking for free stuff, check out www.garbagescout.com. Garbage scouts post photos of abandoned furniture and other discarded items in usable condition that they've found on the streets of New York. They post the photo, an item description, and the item's location on the Web site. If you live or work in NYC, and you're looking for salvaged goods, check it out! Click on the map for a description and photo of each item. It's very cool!

PASSOVER ORGANICS--Want to put together an organic seder this Passover? Check out www.matzahonline.com for some healthy matzah alternatives, including whole wheat, spelt, and oat varieties, certified organic, and gluten-free.

GREEN TEXTILES The apparel and textile industry is working to protect the environment by providing ideas for recycling clothes and fabrics. Donate them to a charity or a theater group, give blankets to an animal shelter, have a garage sale, a fund raiser, or sell vintage clothes for cash. For more information, visit www.fabriclink.com/EarthDay/Earth-Consumer.html.

Dont miss the WHOLE CHILDREN, WHOLE PLANET EXPO 2006 at the Los Angeles Convention Center April 22 & 23. Celebrities, leading environmental groups, and the natural products industry have teamed up to support the first natural parenting expo. Obentec will be there (in booth #420) selling Laptop Lunches and providing families with tips for packing nutritious, waste-free lunches. Stop by and say hello! Film producer Laura Pasetta will be joining us with a demo of her life-changing DVD, How to make a Healthy Lunch for Kids. For more information about the DVD, visit www.thevisualguide.com. For the latest information on the Whole Children, Whole Planet Expo, check out www.wcwpexpo.com.

New Retailers

Toms Shoes/Preschoolians
33200 Bainbridge Road
Solon, OH 44139

Telephone: (440) 248-4616

www.supermomz.com

EnvironGentle
543 S. Coast Hwy 101
Encinitas, CA 92024

Telephone: (800) 6-NATURAL

Earth Day Films

Looking for a good Earth Day film for your family or classroom? Here are a few that come highly recommended:

Rivers and Tides by Andy Goldworthy (90 Min)

This amazing documentary from Thomas Riedelsheimer won the Golden Gate Award Grand Prize for Best Documentary at the 2003 San Francisco International Film Festival. The film follows renowned sculptor Andy Goldsworthy as he creates with ice, driftwood, bracken, leaves, stone, dirt and snow in open fields, beaches, rivers, creeks and forests. With each new creation, he carefully studies the energetic flow and transitory nature of his work.

Butterfly by Doug Wolens (80 min)

Living in an ancient redwood tree for over two years to prevent the tree from being clear-cut, Julia Butterfly Hill captured our hearts and minds by showing us that one person can make a difference. Through interviews with Hill, filmmaker Doug Wolens paints a portrait of an intensely spiritual and articulate woman who encountered both beauty and horror (she was assaulted by lumber company helicopters at one point) during her time above ground.

Alaska: Spirit of the Wild: IMAX (40 min)

Explosive glaciers, the celestial fires of the Aurora Borealis, the beauty of the polar bear and the deadly hunt of the wolf pack, are all here in this epic adventure into the grandeur of Alaska. Narrated by Charlton Heston.

Anima Mundi (30 min)

Director Godrey Reggio presents a vibrant, visually compelling look at the animal kingdom in Anima Mundi. Anima Mundi states in its epitaph, "the breath, the life, the spirit, the soul of the world" embodies a more mysterious existence, from sea to mountain top. There is such beauty and grace in the movement and exoticism of animals that this 30-minute short serves as a cautionary reminder by celebrating everything we, as humans with our omnipotent sense of superiority, seem intent on destroying over time. "The world is indeed a living being, endowed with a soul and intelligence," wrote Plato, and Anima Mundi is glorious, gorgeous visual proof of that maxim.

On the Wings of the Monarch (47 min)

"On the Wings of the Monarch" is an exciting nature documentary that follows host Libby Graham on an amazing journey into the life of the monarch butterfly. We travel to an incredible monarch over-wintering site in Mexico where we find close to 40 million monarchs. This
documentary provides the viewer with an in-depth look at the enigmatic monarch butterfly, tracing its incredible long distance migration and its fantastic life cycle. "On the Wings of the Monarch" will fascinate children and adults alike.

The Last Ancient Forests (10.5 min)

James Redfield, the author of the bestselling book The Celestine Prophecy, travels to Oregon in this 10.5-minute video to discover whether the ancient forests can be saved. America's virgin ecosystems have been systematically logged and are almost completely gone. Redfield explores the crisis and shares what needs to be done to restore the forests. This concise, beautifully filmed documentary (with music by Red Thunder and Bryan Lloyd) will most likely preach to the converted in its plea to get the Act to Save America's Forests passed into law. While this brief video could have benefited from more narration and less subtitling, it is an excellent teaching aid and introduction to the condition of America's natural forests.

What Works...Success Stories

"Laptop Lunches aren't just for kids! Let me explain: I've reached that age now when I have to try hard to keep my weight down and even harder to lose any. I should add that I really do love food so finding a way to enjoy my meals without putting on weight is a real challenge. I'm happy to be able to report that the Laptop Lunch is an important part of my diet! I realised that restaurant lunches, however apparently healthy, were really not helping me - often the portions were large and of course one never quite knows what ingredients are used. So I decided to take a packed lunch to work. My wife bought me a Laptop Lunch system, and it works perfectly for me. The different containers stimulate me to add variety to my lunch, but it is the size that is really the winner since it automatically ensures that I do not eat too much! My menu today was Salade Nicoise with fresh tuna, celery and walnut salad, and melon with yogurt. Simply delicious! Thanks Tammy and Amy!"

--Jonathan Clark, Blue Bell, PA

"My sons are 7 and 3 years old and they love their Laptop Lunchboxes. They're cool to carry, fun to open, and hold food nicely without any wasteful plastics baggies! I love putting the lunches in the nifty containers. They stay cleaner than any other lunchboxes we've had over the years! Thanks!"

--SM, Kensington, CA

"I just received my order and would like to say that I am very pleased with the quality of your product. I am looking forward to many years of use, and I can't wait to try out some of your recipes. It will be nice not to have to use ziplock bags anymore. I will be pleased to recommend your products to people I know."

--Heather Stanton, Rockport, MA

Do you have a success story or photo to share? Email it to us at newsletter@obentec.com.

Featured Web Site: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/asthma/facts/greencleaning.htm

Do you or a family member suffer from asthma? If so, you may want to try some of the Green Cleaning Recipes from this King County, WA Web site.

Green Cleaning means using cleaning products that don't endanger you, your children, or the environment. Commercial cleaning products often contain irritants that can exacerbate an existing health issue or trigger an asthma episode. The Green Cleaning products recommended at www.metrokc.gov/health/asthma/facts/greencleaning.htm are effective, inexpensive, and safe. They've also included a link to a page with tips for eliminating indoor air pollution.

May Highlights

Cool School Smoothies, Green Opportunities, and Laptop Lunches & Weight Loss.

Comments, questions, concerns? Please email us at newsletter@obentec.com.

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