September 24, 2013
A Chat with Catherine of Weelicious Lunches + Giveaway!
Last year I had a great chat with Catherine about her amazing book, Weelicious: One Family, One Meal, based on her popular blog. Luckily for us, Catherine is already back with a new book, Weelicious Lunches: Think Outside the Box with More Than 160 Happier Meals. This year I am packing lunch and two snacks everyday for my daughter and I am particularly grateful for this book. It can be so hard to think of new things to pack every single day! Catherine’s book covers all the basic and great ideas…and then some! Today she is here to chat about the process of writing her book and what we get to see next!
1) This book is a godsend for all us parents struggling with the lunch box each day. How long did it take you to come up with all of these dishes and ideas? You really cover the gamut!
I’ve been working on this book for over 4 years. I realize that people are buying the book for different ages and reasons. Some people like hot lunch, some like room temperature or cold. With so many food allergies and taste preferences I wanted to make sure there were plenty or simple recipes! I want to make sure there’s something for everyone!
2) It is easy to get caught in a lunchbox rut. How do you advise lifting oneself out of one when you find you are packing the same thing day in a day out?
Keep a list of your child’s favorite foods: 4 fruits, 4 vegetables, 4 sandwiches ideas and so on. Try to keep the items on hand as often as possible so that preparing lunch becomes much less of a chore.
3) Have your kids ever come home with uneaten food despite the great care you’ve taken in packing their lunchbox? (Full disclosure:it has happened to me!)
I’m endlessly shocked when lunch comes home with the fruits and veggies missing and the dessert still there. It happened just last week! I think it’s important to remember that a lot happens to kids during the day that affects lunch time. Many schools don’t a lot for enough time to eat, there may be a lot going on with peers or even those days when your child may have a tummy ache.
4) Tell us how you hope your book will inspire parents? Sometimes a picture perfect lunchbox full of sandwiches shaped like animals seems impossible, but you maintain that isn’t really the point. Very few of us pack lunches that look like they are picture-perfect ready for a catalogue shoot.
All the principles in the book show you how to make a vibrant lunch full of color, shapes and textures without having to turn everything into cartoon characters and animal shapes. Sometimes the most simple foods can be the most exciting.
5) Even after writing this book do you ever find yourself searching for even more new ideas for lunch boxes? What inspires you?
The farmers market always inspires me with seasonal fruits and veggies. Looking at leftovers inspires me too! Inspiration comes from funny places.
6) What are some of your children’s favorites out of this book? We are dying to know!
Cream Cheese Olive Tapenade Sushi Sandwiches, Banana Dog Bites and Mexican Muffins are favorites. I made 50 Whole Grain Fruit-Filled Bars for my son’s school lunch party (per his request) over cupcakes and they were a hit. That made me happy from ear to ear!
7) Tell us a little more about the Food Network work you were talking about on Facebook the other day? We are dying to see you on air!
I just shot episodes of Guys Grocery Games as a judge. It starts airing in October. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
To enter to win a copy of Weelicious:
1) Leave a comment sharing your favorite out-of-the-box lunch idea for kids!
2) Like Weelicious on Facebook!
3) Contest runs from September 24th from 7:00am to October 1st at 7:00am. Winner will be announced in the October 4th newsletter!
I make my children a mock hotdog. It’s a banana on a hotdog bun with peanut butter and jelly, always takes them by surprise and makes them smile,
I’m completely lacking in this area. I think the best thing I’ve done is an Angry Bird salami face for lunch. That was a hit. Part of the problem is that when I’m up at 5:30 getting lunches together, I’m not all that together myself.
I give my daughter beets for lunch…And broccoli stems. I think that’s pretty out of the box in this ready made “lunchable” society we live in!
I slice a tomato/green pepper in half and remove contents. Then I fill it with chicken, peanut butter, cream cheese, etc… The veggie bowl is fun because it is edible.
I’m still trying to come up with clever things for lunch! I guess it’s probably hummus, olives and pickles. Not clever, but she loves them.
My son really likes corndog muffins, or a banana/nutella roll-up 🙂
The most out of the box we get at lunch time is scrambled eggs. We really need this book.
I follow Weelicious on Facebook
I’m always looking for new ideas. Though the kids seem to want the same thing everyday.
I follow Weelicious on Facebook! 🙂
I follow Weelicious (and Naptime Chef) on FB.
We do okay the first half of the week and lose steam the second half. HELP!
Anything I try out of the box usually comes home uneaten, my daughter is so picky I need help! The most creative I’ve done is cookie cutter shape sandwiches.
I love looking on Pinterest for out-of-the-box lunch ideas like cute bento box animals and faces!
I like Weelicious on Facebook!
Lots of veggies and fruit and some protein always a win
Pancake and waffle sandwiches have become a reality in my house thanks to Catherine’s great ideas! This has become our go to out of the box idea since stuffing a pancake or waffle is more fun than stuffing a tortilla or a slice of bread!
Love Weelicious! Just discovered you page though! I will def start following! My favorite out of the box recipes is anything healthy…Cauliflower pizza is one of my new favorites! We also make homemade chicken nuggets!
Definitely pancake sandiches, savory or sweet!
I like Weelicious on FB (Christina Cosman)
Black beans, corn, salsa, chicken, and a little ranch dressing…all added to a flour wrap!
I liked Weelicious ants on a log always fun
Banana dogs are usually a hit with my son.
I like A delicious on Facebook.
Weelicious
My kids love homemade lunchables.
already a fan of weelicious on fb
I like mini frittatas as an easy meal or snack – protein and veggies present, plus they’re cute and tasty.
I like Weelicious on Facebook.
We like to have sandwich wraps a lot.
I like Weelicious on Facebook
noodles mixed with humus. delish!
I like to let my son make his own trail mix
like Wee on FB
Spaghetti and meatballs warmed in a thermos
Liked Weelicious on FB
Chicken noodle soup in a thermos with gold fish crackers on the side!
Waffle sandwiches!
Liked Weelicious on FB!
Love Wee lunches 🙂
Pesto chicken & pasta
liked Weelicious on Facebook
My 18 month old loves any kind of sandwich rolls ~ banana & peanut butter rolled in a tortilla is his fav
P.S. Already liked Weelicious on FB
sandwich rolls! already like Weelicious on FB! 🙂
My son loves the peanut butter banana tortilla wraps.
I LIKE Weelicious on Facebook.
liked on facebook. My sons lunchbox favourites are fish sticks, homemade chicken shnitzel, chummus sushi sandwiches and spagetti.
Liked on Facebook. My son loves when I pack apples and ketchup to dip it in. (I know I wouldn’t eat it). I’m happy he’s eating his fruit 🙂
already like on facebook and my favorite out of the box lunch idea is a whole grain spaghetti “cupcake” with a meatball hidden inside. The pasta gets cooked normal and then after, you bake them in cupcake tins for a bit and you can pick them up to eat them! Super fun for little ones. My sons Kindergarten teacher says that everyday at lunch, all the kids look to see what cool thing is in his lunchbox that day!