"lunchbox" news and stories

• The nation's gone back to school -- and no one seems to like the school lunch...
• ...But one can always bring lunch from home.
• When you think Petaluma, you think...chickens?
• Tuna steaks are so nice, the Boston Globe cooks 'em twice.

• Is it back-to-school time already? Almost. Pack up your lunchbox.
• (Not sure what to put in it? The Center for Science in the Public Interest has ideas.)
• One Lexington sports bar is heading for the border.
• When cobbler feels like too much trouble, try making a slump. That's right: slump.

Won't mid-week lunches pack so much more panache if a star chef like Alice Waters, Grant Achatz, Tom Colicchio or Mario Batali has a hand in 'em? You'll still have to make your own PB&J, but now you can tote it along in celeb-stamped style with a one-of-a-kind lunchbox decorated by your favorite chef.

"The Lunchbox Auction presented by Gourmet which benefits hunger-relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa, kicks off live on the World Wide Web at www.thelunchboxauction.org on Thursday, December 11th at midnight and continues through Thursday, December 18th at noon. Almost 100 celebrities from film, television, fashion, art, music and the culinary world have united to remind us that food matters and that hunger is an on-going problem.

Each lunchbox reflects the personal style and individual flair of the person designing the box and no two lunchboxes are alike. Collectors will find that each box is signed and numbered, and some will even contain hidden surprises inside. The collectible lunchboxes make a great gift for the holidays!"

I've already been outbid on Grant Achatz's stainless steel and tension wire armature, and Ruth Reichl's epicurean treasure trove, yet still hold out hope for Michel Richard's mustard-gilded, postprandial bonescape. Mostly because I'd have a chance to say "mustard-gilded" all the darned time -- for charity.

[via: thelunchboxauction.org]

A couple of days ago, I linked to a post over at Culinate that offered tips on packing school lunches. Here's another helpful resource if you find yourself stumped by what to pack for lunch. The Ultimate Lunchbox Book collects the best entries to the Pack a Lively Lunchbox Contest. Compiled by Honey and Larry Zisman, the recipes in this book aren't just for kids, they also include sandwiches, soups and salads that adults will enjoy as well, because we all know that a good way to keep on top of your health and save a few pennies in the process is to bring your lunch with you to work.

In addition to recipes, this book contains tips on how to pack your lunch so that it is as fresh and appealing when you open it at lunch time as when you packed it (either that morning or the night before). The authors also remind the readers in their introduction that lunch time is so much more than a time to eat. It's a time to have a break from work or school, a chance to move around a bit (or play in the school yard) and an opportunity to socialize.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I need to make the Cheddar Apple Sandwich on page 39. Yum!

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As the old adage goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. The same sentiment holds true for kids, who can be quite stubborn where food is concerned. At home, parents can monitor what their child is - and is not - eating to make sure they learn to make healthy choices. Now that the school year has started, however, ensuring that the kids get a healthy lunch can be harder.

One thing you can do is, as we have mentioned before, get your child involved in preparing the lunch. S/he can pick out the fruits and snacks that look the tastiest from the healthy foods you have available (aiming for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein most of the time, of course). If it is hard to get your child going in the morning, however, you might not have time for this bonding activity. So, other tips include:

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