Eggplant Pasta Bake

Happy Earth Day! In the spirit of encouraging and celebrating a more plant based diet, I bring you my family's absolute favorite vegan meal, which desperately needs a better name. If an eggplant parmesan and a lasagna had a vegan love child, it would be this crunchy topped, vegetable filled, gooey centered dish. It may not be exactly health food, but it's certainly a healthier version of some classic kitchen comforts.

Food Allergies and Food Stamps

This is the hardest post I've ever written.

You see, I recently became aware of Food Bloggers Against Hunger, an event aimed at combating hunger in the United States. One of the key objectives is to increase support for the federal SNAP (food stamp) program, which is at risk for significant cuts during the current sequester and budget negotiations. This cause is a little more personal to me than I care to admit.

I rarely mention it to anyone,  but my family has been on food stamps.

Banana Wrap Lunchbox

We've been in a bit of a lunch rut, sending in an endless series of Sunbutter sandwiches to school. This one at least has the virtue of having a banana in the middle! The banana wrap is cuddled up to a carrot pineapple cupcake sandwich with lemon buttercream in the middle. Trying to pack a cupcake with frosting on the top in a lunchbox never ends well! On the side are grapes and some hard, salty sourdough pretzels to contrast with all the soft and sweet. The whole thing is packed up in an Easy Lunchbox with a refillable apple juice box.

I'm sharing this l'box with a cafeteria full of other lunch ideas at:

• What's for Lunch Wednesday at BentoLunch.net and
• 15 Minute Friday at Bento on the Bayou.

Have a great weekend!

Dear New Food Allergy Parent

If you are reading this post because your child (or anyone else) is having an allergic reaction, get off the computer and get medical treatment RIGHT NOW.  I mean it.  We can talk later.

Since I began writing my blog, every now and then I get an email from a parent whose child has just been diagnosed with food allergies, and is completely overwhelmed by the realization that a normal, everyday food has the potential to kill their child, and that this food is simply everywhere.  Not only is keeping their child physically safe difficult, but navigating social situations and educating family and friends can also be nerve wracking.  On top of that, putting meals on the table that are safe to eat and aren't rejected by picky eaters is difficult, expensive and time consuming.

Believe me, I have been where you are and I feel for you.  I try to answer all emails, but am embarrassed to admit that sometimes my inbox gets the best of me.  So here in one post are my seven best pieces of advice for navigating a new food allergy diagnosis, bearing in mind, of course, that I am the mom of a food allergic kiddo, not a doctor.

Homemade Hot Pocket Lunchbox

Last night I had some pizza dough left over from making dinner, so I decided to put together a few homemade "hot pockets" for the kiddo's lunch.  I wrapped one in a paper towel to prevent sogginess, then put it in a Chinese carryout box and sent it straight from the fridge this morning with grapes and juice on the side.  (The rest are in the freezer waiting their turn.)  So, technically not hot, but since the filling was hot pocket-esque rather than calzone-ish, I'm standing by the name.