Packing Lunch – A Parent’s Groundhog Day
Kids Food

Packing Lunch – A Parent’s Groundhog Day

Have you seen the Bill Murray film, Groundhog Day?  The one where he wakes up each morning to face the exact same day….over….and over…….and over again?  Well, as I got up yesterday to pack my children’s lunches I felt a bit like Bill Murray (minus the dry sense of humor and experience as a Ghostbuster).  Alarm goes off, I pad into the kitchen, pull out our lunchboxes, open the fridge: turkey, cheese, bread — add some fruit, something for snack.  Done. (more…)

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09/08/2012
Technology and Innovation – Shaping the Way We Feed Our Families
Dinner Table / Kids Food

Technology and Innovation – Shaping the Way We Feed Our Families

Technology and innovation.  For my second post in the GE’s Freshpedition series I was given two topics to choose from: the role technology plays in in healthy eating OR innovative ways to incorporate fresh food into our family’s diet.  As I pondered which topic to choose, I realized that in our Out of the Box Food journey, those two topics have gone hand-in-hand.  Without technology and innovation, Out of the Box Food would not exist and I might not have begun the journey to find new, innovative ways to feed my family.  I’m going to admit something to you I would never admit in front of my kids (especially when they’re whining for video games or computer time)… I am grateful for technology. (more…)

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08/23/2012
Back-to-School Lunch Box
Kids Food / Lunch Box

Back-to-School Lunch Box

It’s back-to-school week here and as I contemplated what to write this week, I realized how many unknowns our kids are faced with as they head back to the classroom:

  • Who will my teacher be?
  • What friends will be in my class?
  • Who will I play with at recess?
  • Who will I sit with at lunch?
  • WHAT will I eat for lunch? (more…)

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08/19/2012
Road Trip – Keeping it “Real” on the Road
Kids Food / Lunch Box / On the Go

Road Trip – Keeping it “Real” on the Road

    Summer Road Trip.  As American as apple pie and Patsy Cline.  Give us a hot day, a long road and a desirable destination and we’re ready to roll.  The romanticized vision I’ve created of myself cruising down a deserted highway, warm-wind rushing through my hair as I bellow tracks from Pat Benatar (yes, I was a teenager of the 80’s), screeches to an alarming halt as I’m yanked back to my reality — a loaded minivan, numerous potty stops, cries of “Are we there yet?” and “I’m hungry.”  Yeah, that reality. (more…)

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07/31/2012
A Refresher in Popsicles
Kids Food

A Refresher in Popsicles

This week is going to be a little different here at Out of the Box Food.  We will be publishing our brand new post mid-week, going live this Wednesday, August 1st, instead of our usual Sunday night.  Why?  We are excited to announce that we have been asked to participate in a author series of with our advertising partner, Glam Media, and one of their very special clients.  Get ready to learn about some great products and have lots of Real Food summer fun. (more…)

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07/29/2012
Cornbread – Box or Skillet?
Breakfast Table / Dinner Table / Kids Food / Lunch Box

Cornbread – Box or Skillet?

Credit for my children’s love of cornbread can be rightfully given to Mrs. Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Yes, the author of the “Little House on the Prairie” series of books owns the right to my boys love of cornbread as well as other favorite pioneer dishes such as Baked Beans and Fresh Churned Butter (though I admit ours usually comes churned fresh from the Farmers Market or Whole Foods).  If you haven’t read the series of books yet with your children, do.  We actually loved listening to the books-on-cd in the car on the way to and from school.  My kids were given joy and a sense of wonder from tales of pioneer adventure, and I was given the gift of quiet contentment from the back seat.  A win-win! (more…)

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07/22/2012
Whole Wheat Buttermilk Crepes
Breakfast Table / Kids Food / Sweet Treats

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Crepes

It’s up for debate.  Which are better, thick, spongy pancakes or thin, crisp pancakes.  In our house, they both win.  We love thick, spongy pancakes to soak up our rich berry syrup on a cold Sunday morning, but the day my family bought a crepe pan we were changed forever. The light, crisp texture of French crepes are a favorite pretty much any day of the week.  I admit, I used to exclusively use crepe mix from a package.  I thought there was no way I could duplicate that thin, barely there batter that baked up light and crisp on the griddle.  But the pre-made mixture was expensive, hard to find and had very little nutritional value short of the eggs I whisked into the powder.  It was time to break free of my crepe fear and give them a try. (more…)

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07/14/2012