TimeOut New York Kids: Back to School Lunch-Box Ideas from NYC Chefs

Big Apple Buddies Lunch Bag from Built NY, $20

Sad but true: Sabbatical’s over, we’re back in Brooklyn, and, apparently, it’s not too soon to start thinking about back-to-school. A fat letter from P.S. 295 was waiting for me when we got home, reminding me how I could be supporting the school over the summer and preparing for the return in September, as well as telling me Magnolia‘s Kindergarten classroom number. Jasper‘s packet can’t be far behind.

So when I saw the TimeOut New York Kids article in the August issue on fresh lunch ideas from NYC chefs, I actually read it rather than tossed it on a pile to think about later.

Our regular PB&J/turkey sammie routine is way tired, and I need a few new, easy ideas to throw into the mix. Let me just say up front that I am NOT making veggie sushi for my kids (as one of the chefs suggested) — it’s just not in the cards.

Here are the ideas I found simple and inspiring, and that I plan to put into use come September.

• Just say no to sandwiches entirely and pack a whole-wheat pasta salad with veggies.
• If you do go with that old lunchbox standby — a sandwich — send the various parts separately and allow your kid to assemble them at lunchtime. It makes the meal interactive! And keeps the bread from getting soggy.
• If peanut butter isn’t allowed at your school, or if your kid doesn’t like it, as Jasper doesn’t, try this instead: Pair softened, unsalted butter with unusual, yummy jams such as wild blueberry, peach, or cherry on good bread. (We also do this sometimes with whipped cream cheese in place of the PB.)
• Dried fruit is a good substitute for a cookie or something else sweet: popcorn tossed with sea salt and Parmesan is a great swap for processed chips or pretzels.
• Cube watermelon, honeydew, or cantaloupe and put them on child-safe wooden skewers. Everybody knows it: Food on a stick is just more fun.

And here’s the full article.

Related:

BPA-Free Lunch-Box Solutions for Back to School

Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for Picky Eaters

8 Questions for a Kindergarten Teacher

Differences Between Public and Private School

(Get the lunch box from Built NY)

The Glorious South, Part Deux (And Off to Paris)

Well, we’re headed back to Paris. On the high-speed train. Vineyards, sunflower fields flying by.

We’ve spent the last week in the South of France. We had planned to make some field trips to neighboring towns and cities—Uzès, where we’ve stayed before, for the market and the Pont du Gard; St. Remy de Provence, a beautiful little town for walking and exploring; Marseille for some deeper discovery of the harbor and winding streets, plus we had hoped to visit some new spots: Anduze, Toulouse, Carcassone. In the end, we stayed Chez Mousseron, enjoying the company and the pool, the local markets, shopping, and the beach.

As Melisa noted, the beach was a highlight. This time around we rented beach chaises at a private club. At last, my own cabana boy! Bringing me salade Niçoise! Rosé! A mojito! San Pellegrino! The kids playing in the Med in front of us. An umbrella thoughtfully put up for Melisa. A lovely and convenient bathroom, shower, and parking.

Folks, this is the way to hang at the beach. And I could have done it EVERY DAY.

The kids loved the beach, too. Even more, though, they loved Pirates Paradise, a restaurant we tried for lunch. Located in a huge outdoor shopping complex in Montpellier, Pirates Paradise is a theme park and eatery in one. There’s an entire pirate fight on the hour. A kids play area. Waitresses dressed up like pirate wenches, and waiters like pirates. You can eat in a galleon. Eat over the water. Eat in a pirate jail. It was entertaining, and the food wasn’t bad either.

Meanwhile, Melisa would have rather been exploring all those new cities I listed at the top. She gets a little high off of the new (whereas I get my high from il dolce far niente). One of the great things about being gone a month is that there is time to get a healthy dose of everyone’s individual interests and find some common ground.

This month marks the longest continuous period I’ve spent with my kids (and my wife for that matter) since they were born. I admit I was a little worried about how it would go. Thirty-three days is extreme togetherness, and as mentioned in previous posts, there have been the typical bumps in the road you might imagine on any trip.

At the market in Sommières

We’ve had FUN. We love road trips. We love ice cream, swimming, a gorgeous view. Exploring. Finding secret places. The promise of great food.

I’ve learned new things about my kids. I’m proud of what good travelers they’ve been. Both of them weathered the overnight flight here like pros, and walked off their jet lag in Paris. They’ve made friends in France and Italy. They’ve tried sausages, cured tomatoes, new fruits, fish, local specialties like tielles (seafood pies from Sète) and mussels, paella, olives, cheeses, meats. They’ve tried to speak French and Italian for niceties (hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me). Gamely carried their own backpacks and pulled their suitcases through airports and train stations, up to taxis, cars and apartments.

And they have tried blend in with the locals on occasion.

So it’s with a heavy heart that we leave the South, knowing our days here are numbered. Yesterday, I cleared out the Mireva and drove it back to the rental company. We said our goodbyes to our generous hosts, who have fed us and entertained us (no small feat) for a week. Kim drove us to the train station and walked us to our couch to bid us bon voyage.

I’m not usually the one who is upset on departure; that’s Melisa’s department. But as soon as Kim was out of sight, I surprised myself by bursting into tears and crying on Melisa’s shoulder.

It’s all gone by so fast. Didn’t we just step off the plane, a whole month of friends and travel ahead of us?

A day and a half more in Paris, and then back on a plane to New York.

What a whirlwind.

Our plan is to make the most of the City of Light in the next 36 hours. After all, there is the gelato v. glace smackdown that needs to be solved, the Tuileries and the great pyramid at the Louvre still to see. There’s still some time to squeeze more of la belle vie out of this trip!

Europe with Kids: It’s Not All Gelato (the Other Side of the Grand Tour)

Chrissy:

The blog, like Facebook, is the place where I show my best face. Happiest moments, optimism, wishful thinking. All reflecting only one side of the coin.

The truth is that as much fun as we are having, there are also moments of the ridiculous, despair, tantrums, cross words, the gamut. You know. Those moments of tension over directions, where to eat, schedules. The kid who has to go to the bathroom the second we leave someplace WITH a bathroom.  Not to mention two bee stings (Magnolia, me), a number of large spiders (and me with my phobia) and stinging bugs of every variety (Melisa’s worst fear).

Here’s a little taste of the dark side:

• The kids’ favorite word of the trip is ARMPIT. Just saying it sends both into the giggles.

“I want ARMPIT gelato”

“How many ARMPITS does a deer have?”

“ARMPIT!”

• Most car drives, like the one we made yesterday to Pisa, are characterized by the sillys. For instance: Magnolia coming up with surnames for Betty instead of Boop. You get the idea. Or singing a tuneful melody at the top of her lungs about Spiderman. Jasper punctuates both with random exploding noises. Melisa ignores everything, reading her guidebook, until she can’t. I chew gum like there’s no tomorrow, thinking  “find a happy place, find a happy place.” God bless the iPad. Without it there would be no silence.

• Once we get to our destination, the complaints begin.

“Mom, when can we have lunch?”

“Mommy, can’t we get some gelato?”

“Momma, I can’t walk any further!”

“Mom, can we get a toy? Why nooooottttt?”

“I don’t want to see the leaning tower of Pisa, I want the pool!”

“Mommy, mommy, mommy…(pause) MOOOOOOOMMMY!”

Then: “Not you, OTHER mommy!”

Yesterday, Melisa and I laughed half-way home from Pisa. We were laughing over ARMPIT. It is kind of a funny word.

Melisa:

Chrissy, true to form, has been posting on how fabulous everything is. And, don’t get me wrong — it IS fabulous and we feel very lucky to be here, enjoying exceptional time away from the normal day-to-day of our lives in New York City. But, as you know, we’re a family traveling with young kids. If you’re reading these posts and hating us just a little bit, perk up here — it hasn’t all been great. Here’s what I mean….

Yes, we’ve been seeing beautiful cities and towns and villages in France and Italy, but at a snail’s pace — Magnolia slows EVERYTHING way down. Chrissy and Jasper walk ahead, as if they’re on their own — I have to stop every two seconds with Magnolia, while she gets a rock out of her shoe, scratches an itch, examines a bug bite, picks up something potentially interesting from the sidewalk, stops to smell a flower (yes, she actually does this), or pauses to reflect while asking a pressing question (can we have a picnic on the floor of our house tonight for dinner?). How SLOW can you go? I’m finding out.

Jasper has been giving us the major attitude. He chews with his mouth open, picks his nose (!), touches his sister’s bottom and then laughs uncontrollably, and asks every two seconds for gelato, a piece of Pez candy, chewing gum, or more movies on the iPad. When we ask him to dial it down a notch, he responds with: “Why don’t you quit telling me what to dOOOOOOO?!’ Dude, yeah, no. Get a grip. When you’re like 40, maybe.

And, embarrassingly, our kids are the loudest and the wildest wherever we go. Seriously. Name your nationality or number of kids in a family and we will take their asses down with EASE. We’re the mother-effing international STEAMROLLER of loud and wild.

And you know all those loooong posts from Chrissy you’ve been reading and enjoying? Well, she’s been commandeering the laptop and the kids have had the stronghold on the iPad while I COOK DINNER.

But, you know what? We are having the best time! I’m here with the people I love most in the world, and we are laughing a lot.

ARMPIT!!!!!

And it’s beautiful everywhere we go. Yes, yes. Beautiful.

Europe with Kids: Anyone Homesick?

We will have been gone two weeks tomorrow — I’m reluctant to type that, the time is flying by so quickly — and Chrissy and I have just started to hear a few fleeting mentions of missing home. (Really, I think to myself with wonder? Really?)

But from the kids it’s pretty sweet. Here’s who’s missing what (crucial stuff, people.)

Jasper:

What do you miss from home?

All of my toys. I miss my three best toys the most — my Spiderman, and my Hero and Thomas trains.

I miss our new TV. And our Scooby-Doo movie, “Abracadabra-Doo.”

My oatmeal for breakfast!

School — I miss Ms. Oram and Ms. P. and Ms. Plasencia and Ms. Bittner.

And all of my friends.

Magnolia:

What do you miss?

My Barbies, my princesses, my castle and everything

Everything, even my own bed.

And I miss my dollies

I miss our cereal.

And our entire house.

I miss Quinn, Carl, Isadora, Abby — all my friends.

Chrissy:

You fessed up to missing some things about home…. So, what are they?

Officially, “no comment.”

After having spent two full weeks of uninterrupted time with our children — morning, noon, and night — Chrissy notes that she does miss some things about home, but has declined to answer this question on the grounds that it may incriminate her (and would like for me to emphasize that she’s having a wonderful time and would not like to be anywhere else in the world.)

Me?

I love Brooklyn but, really, miss nothing — well, maybe our house, just a little — and am busy plotting how we can spend more time here more often. A year abroad, a la Design Mom? Can we figure out a way to make it happen?

There’s only one way to find out.

Europe with Kids — Italy: One Thing I Loved Today

Breakfast four ways — and my pretty frittata

At home, I often find it annoying when everyone wants something different to eat — that typically means more work for me.

But on vacation — as with other things I’m noticing about our daily routines in a fresh, new setting — I find it less so.

This morning: zucchini frittata (with varying sides) for the moms, eggs sunny side up for Jasper, toast with honey for Miss Magnolia, and fruit all around.

Everybody gets what they want. Lovely.

More things I’ve been loving in Italy:

Campari by the pool

Our waiter at the hotel in San Bartolomeo al Mare

 

Europe with Kids — Italy: One Thing I Loved Today

 

Our waiter at the Hotel Bellavista in San Bartolomeo al Mare

On our first night in Italy — the kids tired, hungry, cranky at the hotel — Magnolia stuck her tongue out at our hard-working waiter while he was running around at dinner. A not-so-endearing, trademark move on her part. Instead of being shocked and annoyed, however, as I always am, he turned around, smiled a mischievous smile, and responded in kind — he stuck his tongue right back out at her. Then smiled again, winked, and turned on his heel.

She was completely disarmed and realized she’d totally been one-upped. Brilliant.

Ciao Italia!

(P.S. — The scrape on the upper lip was due to a tomber (fall) when we were visiting Kim et Pierre in the South of France. Wouldn’t be a trip if uber-active M. didn’t take a tumble.)

Weekly Menu, June 26-June 30th: Countdown is On!

Happy Pride, everyone! I’m celebrating by booking a hotel on the Italian Riviera. Oh yeah. On the beach. You know what the weather looks like in Italy? SUNNY. HOT. PERFECT!

Pretty perfect looking in Provence, too.

Only five more days here in the states before we head off on the vacation to end all previous vacations! This week is all about: packing, pulling everything together, and getting ready to go.

Where? Paris, the South of France to stay chez Mousseron,

Don't the Mousserons look like fun? They are.

Tuscany, and then back again the way we came. The apartment in Paris is booked, the TGV tickets to the South bought, the car reserved, the house in Tuscany rented. Now, the countdown.

Mom & I in Paris, September 1988

Meanwhile, back in Brooklyn, things are pretty great! The Gods smiled and brought back gorgeous warm (not too warm!) weather AND our elected officials in Albany gave us legalized gay marriage in New York! Our last CSA pick-up yesterday yielded amazing greens (arugula, leafy lettuce, broccoli rabe), broccoli, beets, and of course, EGGS. Have to work our way through it all.

Weekly Menu:

Sunday night: We’re being entertained! Too early for SUMMER PUDDING? Hoping not.

Monday: Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto and Garlic-Scape Pesto (which we had on our pizza last night- delicious!) with Arugula Salad

Tuesday: Carne Asada Tacos with Grilled Vegetables

Wednesday: Fontina, Broccoli Rabe and Mushroom Omelets with Leafy Green Salad

Thursday: Rotisserie Chicken, Kale Salad with Avocado and Parmesan

And we’re off!

Paella from one of our last visits to France. YUM

Here’s to adventure!

A No-Time-to-Post Post: Bakeri in Williamsburg

photo via Bakeri

I need TIME TO THINK in order to write a post and, for various reasons — many related to half-days and no-school days via the NYC DOE — there’s been damn little of it over the last week. But I have managed to eke out about three minutes to bring you news of an adorable little bakery we discovered in Williamsburg recently — called, simply, Bakeri! Thanks to Smorgasburg and mom-and-kid yoga at Kula, we’ve been spending more time in the nabe the last few weeks.

We sampled Spanish tortilla, mini-croissants, a white chocolate and dried cherry cookie, and a salted peanut caramel brownie. Yeah, you read that last one right. Um, YUM. And the place was bustling and super-cute. Good vibes. GO.

More again as soon as I can….

June 4 – 5: Weekend Links for Brooklyn Mamas

Come, eat, bounce, play, help out a Brooklyn school.

Keeping it short, sweet, and personal this weekend with good ideas from a few Brooklyn moms I like….

What to do:

My friend Diana — who owns fab Park Slope women’s clothing and jewelry boutique Diana Kane — is the lead parent organizer of this weekend’s P.S. 39 Spring Carnival. Join the festivities — food! games! ponies! a bouncy house, and more! — this Saturday. And support a local school while you’re at it.

What to get:

Nylon Knife Set from Curious Chef, $9

My friend Lainie — who, with her chef husband, owns South Slope eatery Sidecar — turned me on to these genius Nylon kids’ knives from Curious Chef this week. Kids can safely chop and slice right alongside you in the kitchen with blades that will handle food but won’t harm little hands. I foresee lots of tomato, avocado, mango, and melon slicing this summer. I’ve ordered my set — and a vegetable peeler, too! — J. and M. are psyched.

What to try:

You could swap your place in Brooklyn for this view. Yep. Ya could.

My friend Cay is taking her family to Yosemite and San Diego this summer — and she’s doing a housing swap with a local family there, through HomeExchange.com. I’ve thought a million times about doing this…. But have never gotten around to it. The idea of exchanging homes with another family on vacation is highly appealing, though — think of the money you could save! and think how much more accessible it could make destinations you’ve fantasized about as well as those you’ve never even considered! — so I’m snapping pics of our house, plunking down the $100 annual fee, and signing us up! Cay says they’ve had offers from families in France, the Netherlands, and more. Count me in.

I’ve already got my eye on this 3-bedroom home in the South of France, right on the beach — note the view above — and very close to where our friends Kim and Pierre live.

(FYI, you can search homes for free to get an idea of what’s available — you don’t pay the fee until you’re ready to sign up and list your place, so let the travel fantasies begin….)

Happy weekend!

Quick Parenting Tips from Betsy Brown Braun

Oh, yes I am. Really. I mean it. Um....

Like all busy moms, I’m constantly looking for new quick-fix parenting tips. So when a book I’d never encountered before caught my eye over on Cool Mom Picks, I went straight to the author’s site to check it/her out.

The title of the book grabbed me: “You’re Not the Boss of Me: Brat-Proofing Your 4- to 12-Year-Old Child,” by Betsy Brown Braun. Mmm, hmmm. I’m listening…. (Her other parenting book has an equally-grabby title: “Just Tell Me What to Say.” Yes, please do!)

She has some great tips on her site — all very relevant to life with a 4- and a 6-year-old — and I’m putting them into immediate use. They also made me want to pick up a copy of the book.

These are the tips — answers to frequently-asked parenting questions — that stood out to me (I’m paraphrasing and condensing her answers, read the full list of tips here):

How do I get my kid to listen to me?

Listening’s not the problem — the problem is that your child isn’t doing what you want him to. Position yourself right in front of your child, not across the room. State what you want your kid to do, be clear and specific, and explain what the consequences are for non-compliance. Give him one warning and then a moment to cooperate. If he doesn’t, throw down the punishment. Repeated, empty threats create children who don’t listen. (Now if only I could get Braun‘s take on something that happened OUTSIDE this morning with Magnolia, where she was far away from me and any attempt to put myself in front of her would have met with her moving on up the block…. Anyway, moving on….)

How do I get my kids to stop fighting? (As an only child, I don’t get the sibling rivalry thing, which is too bad for me, ’cause there’s a lot of it happening at my house at the moment…. And more to come, I’m sure.)

Fighting’s not always a bad thing, it helps them learn to resolve conflict. It is, however, annoying to parents. If your kids are over the age of 3, leave the room. Remove yourself from the situation and let them figure out a resolution on their own. (Physical fighting is a different thing — this strategy is for everyday, run-of-the-mill sibling skirmishes.)

How do I get my kids to eat something healthy?

Don’t fight about food! Let it go. You cannot control what your child eats. Ending the battle over food consumption gives your child permission to eat on his own terms — and that is often what he wants…control. So just don’t fight. Serve the food you’ve cooked and if your child chooses refuses to eat, let him. (But there is no getting food later if he’s hungry — it’s eat at mealtime, or nothing. Here are more tips on dealing with picky eaters.)

Don’t bother with time outs. (I was happy to read this one — we haven’t found them all that effective with our kids.)

A time out will stop a behavior, but only temporarily — and it isn’t specific to whatever the bad behavior is. Try to come up with logical consequences that fit the infraction — that will help your child get it. Time outs are really for parents — to give you a chance to calm down. But your kids don’t learn from them.

As CMP said, all very no-nonsense. I don’t know that I think it’s possible to completely brat-proof my kids, but I’m all for trying — with a little, or a lot, of help from some experts.

Buy “You’re Not the Boss of Me” on Amazon.

Get other great parenting and kid book recs from Cool Mom Picks.