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20 Picnic Basket Essentials Inspired by Anne Parks

EAT, lunches, snacks By June 19, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , No Comments

When you meet Anne Parks the first thing you notice is the sparkle in her eyes.  Easy-going and in love with life, she infects you with curiosity.  And then she talks about her vegetable gardens and beekeeping, her gourmet cooking and passion for finding new food trends when she travels.  You would never guess that this vibrant, youthful woman with a phenomenal mane of blond hair has worked with McDonald’s Restaurants for 34 years and is now the Director of Menu Management for McDonald’s Canada.  But then again, every executive I’ve met with at the company has been there for at least 30 years.  Listening to Anne talk at the Vancouver picnic-style launch of the newly developed Signature McWrap® gave us all a window into her passion and the reasons why McDonald’s Canada retains the great people who work there.

UrbanMommies ran a contest inviting readers to share their favourite must-have picnic items, and ten lucky parents attended the special lunch.  We learned so much from Anne about what goes into the process for choosing menu items and we were intrigued to hear about the Canadian palate.  In coming up with flavours for the new grilled or crispy chicken McWrap, she took into account  Canadians’ penchant for  spicier foods, and also our love of different textures within each bite.  (Think: crunch with a bit of bite and smoothness in the same mouthful). The sandwiches also come with a whole wheat wrap – a first for McDonald’s globally and only the second whole wheat item apart from the bun of the Premium Chicken Sandwich.

Anne Parks and her team travel to different parts of the world to explore fresh street markets, flavours and trends, and then bring their findings back to the McDonald’s test kitchen.  Working with dietitians and specialists in areas of pastry and baking, the team comes up with items that are tested for taste, quality, nutrition and consistency.  With the Signature McWrap, I loved the diversity that made me feel as if I were travelling.  I get in different ‘food moods’ so being able to pick Asian, Mexican or North American-themed flavours is a bonus.  The Signature McWrap comes in three flavours Fiesta, Sweet Chili, and Chicken and Bacon.

The luncheon was special in that guests got to ask very specific questions, and Anne was incredibly receptive to suggestions.  Comments about lower-sodium ketchup and options for healthy Happy Meal side dishes started to flow, and the lunch whizzed by.  We drank frozen Chai Iced Frappés and Iced Frappes that were also developed by Parks.

In an interview about her job and life, Parks clearly shows her love of food, people, and bees!

So for our picnic-loving readers, the contest was an incredible opportunity to gather and curate a ton of ideas about summer lunches.  We have compiled the ideas to help you plan your own picnic basket and make beautiful memories with your kids.  As much as I love making sandwiches, though, I’m personally counting on picking up a bagful of the grilled chicken Sweet Chili Signature McWraps, as they are certainly better than anything I can produce at home.  Thanks Anne!

20 Picnic Basket Essentials

1.  Baby Wipes (almost everyone included this!)
2.  A game like ‘Spot it!’
3.  Celery sticks in a lidded jar with peanut butter or cream cheese at the bottom
4.  Cloth napkins in fun colours cut with pinking shears – fun and great for the planet
5.  Extra bags and ziplocks for treasures the kids find during the picnic
6.  A blow-up ball.  It’s lightweight and great for encouraging activity
7.  Afterbite, bug spray and a first aid kit
8.  Old quilts and soft sheets
9.  A small vase for found flowers
10.  A jambox to connect to your smartphone for music
11.  Microwave popcorn cooked still in the sealed bag
12.  A blank book and pen for the family to write memories and share ideas
13.  Lemons and limes already cut up with ice water (we use frozen water bottles that you can drink as they melt)
14.  A scavenger hunt printable (we found one HERE).
15.  Tin dishes.  You can often find them at yard sales or camping supply stores
16.  Old-fashioned games (think: etch-a-sketch, cards, cat’s cradle)
17.  A trash bag
18.  Loveys for the kids in case the picnic sneaks into nap time
19.  Vintage mismatched silver plate cutlery
20.  Candles in tall jars

We’re looking forward to hearing picnic tales throughout the summer and having photos sent to us too!  Enjoy the memories and make sure that your meals have some crunch and some spice!

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summer picnic tips

Inspired Summer Picnic Tips

EAT, entertain, lunches By May 16, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

We love lazy summer picnics filled with giggles, soft blankets and sandwiches with crusts cut off.  SO we’ve come up with a few inspired summer picnic tips to enchant your family as you lead them into the lazy days of summer.

1.  Head to a fabric store and use pinking shears to make cloth napkins so the edges won’t fray.  It’s great for the environment and you can design themed, beautiful picnics at a low cost.
2.  Use individual jars for salad and dressings so you can shake and serve.
3.  Don’t forget baby wipes and hand sanitizer.
4.  We have lots of printables on our pinterest pages so you can do nature walks and scavenger hunts.
5.  Bamboo plates always look stunning and are earth friendly.
6.  Ditch the tech and opt for old-fashioned entertainment like cards, etch-a-sketch and throwing a ball.
7.  Make a picnic playlist for every summer and your kids will have years of happy memories associated with the songs.
8.  If you have little ones, include a few favourite dolls or stuffies with tiny dishes.  Enchanted.
9.  To help teach responsibility and respect, throw a garbage bag and some plastic gloves in the basket and do a mini garbage cleanup of the site when you are done.  Picking up litter of others will instill many lessinons in your children.
10.  Opt for tealights in mason jars for twilight picnics.  It will be both safe and beautiful!

Enjoy – and don’t forget the bug spray!  Add your ideas below!

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Grilled Havarti with Bacon and Peach Sandwich

EAT, lunches By April 8, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

Sometimes the school lunch marathon throws me for a loop.  No nut butters.  Make it healthy.  Ensure it’s not going to be wasted..  Grilled cheese is always a hit and you can even cut it into fingers and keep it warm in a thermos.  But how do you make it healthier?  And ensure it will be devoured.  1) Bacon.  2) Peaches.  The flavours combine beautifully and this is one lunch they won’t dare trade!  Using California Cling Peaches allows you to prep this sandwich at any time of the year and also helps you stick to your budget! The canned peaches also retain their flavour, colour and firmness when used in recipes – just check to make sure they say ‘Made in the USA’ on the can to ensure you’re getting the true California Cling Peaches.

Grilled Havarti with Bacon and Peach Sandwich

4 slices of your favourite sandwich bread, such as sourdough or Italian
4 tsp butter
4 thin slices Havarti cheese
4 crisp-cooked slices of smoked bacon
1 or 2 canned California Cling peach halves in fruit juice from concentrate or water, very thinly sliced and patted very dry (Cling peaches are available in slices, halves or diced and are packed in either light syrup, fruit juice or water.)

Prep: 5 min Cook: 8 min Total time: 15 min

Directions

1. Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter. Lay half the cheese on unbuttered side of two slices of bread. Top with bacon, a single layer of peach slices, then remaining cheese. Top with remaining bread slices, butter side up.
2. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add sandwiches and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes a side. Serve diagonally sliced in half.
Makes 2 sandwiches.

 

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Homemade Fruit Rollups Recipe

Homemade Fruit Roll-ups Recipe

EAT, lunches, snacks By November 16, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , No Comments

Do your kids love fruit roll ups, but you don’t love that store bought ones are mostly just sugar?! Our Homemade Fruit Roll-ups are a fantastic snack and a great activity to make with the kids.  Better yet?  When you make them yourself you save money and know exactly what ingredients are going into the kids’ lunches.

Homemade fruit roll-ups recipe

2 cups organic strawberries (or other fruit)
¼ tsp cinnamon

  • Blend the fruit until smooth, then spread onto a Teflex sheet or a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • If using a dehydrator, dehydrate at 105 degrees F for 8-10 hours or until the fruit is pliable and easy to peel from the sheet.
  • If using an oven, leave it on at the lowest temperature until the fruit is dry (times will vary depending on the oven).
  • Cut into strips and store in a glass container in the refrigerator.

From My Edible Advice

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Chuck Hughes Veggie Sandwich

Chuck Hughes Veggie Sandwich

EAT, lunches By October 17, 2012 Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment

So based on recent research, we’ve discovered that kids toss away much more of their lunchtime food than we originally thought..  Oops.  Based on the outcome of the study, Hellmann’s partnered with Chuck Hughes to give parents a few new lunch tricks that will keep the school trash bins from filling up.  Here is Chuck Hughes Veggie Sandwich with a garlic mayo that will keep the kids wanting more.

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Healthy School Lunch Ideas

EAT, lunches By August 28, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , No Comments

This year we have illustrious plans.  Lunches will be made the night before, they will include fun, healthy options, and ‘litterless‘ will be a huge goal.  Ok, even if we only bat one for three, here are a few tips that may make coming up with healthy school lunch ideas a bit easier.

1.    Substitute avocado or hummus for mayo – avocado serves as a healthy fat source plus provides a creamy spread for sandwiches.

2.  Use your slow cooker overnight to have healthy hot thermos food ready and waiting in the morning.  Hot lunches are a treat in the winter.  (Or you could just reheat leftovers).  Our Slow Cooker Pinterest Board is a great source for recipes.

3.    Pep up your plain old PB&J with almond butter and fresh fruit slices –fresh fruit means natural sugars.  Check with the school if ‘peanut-free’ also means ‘almond-free’.  Stores like Whole Foods have great peanut butter alternatives.

4.    Margaret Ng, Health and Wellness Manager, at Pacific Blue Cross recommends always using whole grain breads or tortillas – wraps are a fun change of pace especially when they are packed with veggies.  And when you’re not around to hear the kids complain, we bet they’ll forgo the white bread – especially after a busy morning of school.

5.    Swap processed chips and snacks for healthier homemade options like trail mix with dried fruits and nuts, homemade fruit roll-ups or granola balls.

6.  Keep it petite: Little people enjoy little portions so they can snack through the day.  Out: the double-decker hero sandwich.  In: A stylish Bento box filled with flavours and colours.

7. Play with their food.  It needn’t take a ton of extra time to cut their sandwiches with cookie cutters or insert raisin eyes into a celery/cream cheese caterpillar.  If you want more fun ideas we are always updating our school lunch Pinterest board.

8.  Add fun with finger foods: Experiment with nutritious dips and spreads for veggies and crackers. Alternatively, boil an egg they can peel themselves.

9.  Consult your kid: There is no better way to ensure they eat their lunch than by getting their buy-in. Find out what their favourite snacks are and shop accordingly.  If they are older, give them an assignment at the grocery store to find 5 healthy options they will want to take in their lunch and send them down the aisles.  (Make sure you get veto-power though).

Good Luck and Happy Lunch-making!

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