Wee Windy City

Posts in category "Fun With Food"

Raising Vegan Kids in Chicago

I am not a vegan and I am not raising my kids as vegans. But the whole concept intrigues me. On the one hand, we definitely are limiting animal protein in our diet and eating more vegetable and grain based meals. On the other hand, I am not sure that I want to live a life without cheese. Even though we are definitely bacon-eaters at our house, I was interested in the idea of raising vegan kids and all of the issues that may arise (mostly in social settings). For example, what does a vegan kid do when the baseball team goes out for pizza or at a classmate's birthday party when everyone is digging into a conventional cake and ice cream... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
March 31, 2012 at 3:40 pm

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Do you know about the Chicago Food Swap?

The whole idea of social media troubles me sometimes. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterst, Linkedin, email, etc. make it possible for us to "interact" with others without actually having any meaningful contact with them at all (I am very guilty of confusing a Facebook "Happy Birthday" comment for the real thing). The lack of person-to-person contact means something, I think. The "real" part of relating to others definitely gets lost in the process. On the total other other of the spectrum, there is the Chicago Food Swap. Two of my friends, Vanessa Druckman of Chef Druck Musings and Emily Paster of West of the Loop have organized this fantastic event (for the second time!). The Chicago Food Swap is an opportunity for home cooks, bakers and gardeners to trade their homemade and homegrown items. No commercial sellers are permitted and no money exchanges hands. So . . . this is about real people meeting one another and exchanging their homemade food items. When is the last time you did something like this? Never? Right, me too... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
March 10, 2012 at 8:59 pm

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A Lunch Break (for a great cause!)

School lunches and childhood nutrition are hot topics right now -- as they should be. This is one of those issues that has been overlooked for a long time and is now finally getting the attention it deserves. If you are free for lunch (a really delicious lunch) tomorrow, there is a way for you to do your part in supporting the healthy school lunch crusade. On Wednesday, February 29, Michael Kornick from MK (one of my favorite Chicago restaurants) will be hosting a Lunch Break for Schools fundraiser to raise money to support the Chefs Move to Schools program’s efforts to encourage healthier eating by kids – including eating more vegetables. Inspired by the recent news of the updated White House recommended school lunch menu and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the fundraising event will raise funds to promote healthy eating habits and proper nutrition amongst children... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
February 28, 2012 at 1:56 pm

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Guest Post: Let Your City Kids Taste Farm Life

Sometimes I like to take my “city mice” out to the country for a change of pace. I love our urban lives, but I also want my kids to understand that food grows in the ground and appreciate different lifestyles. I bet you do too, right? Today, I am thrilled to welcome Kristen Holub, a... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
September 6, 2011 at 10:17 pm

• 1 comment

Family-Friendly Fondue

If there were ever a time to try fondue — this is it. The weather is miserable. We are basically snowed in — except for absolutely essential outings. Bring on the melted cheese and chocolate, I say! Fondue can be a fun and novel family activity. Plus, it is yummy. Really yummy. Interested? Have a... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
February 11, 2011 at 9:57 pm

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Celebrate Nutella Day (yes, there is such a thing!) with Multilingual Chicago

During my junior year of college, I spent a semester studying in Florence, Italy, During that time, I began a love affair that continues to this day . . . with Nutella. I slathering this chocolate hazelnut concoction on toast for breakfast nearly every day (and by the end of my time in Italy, I... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
January 17, 2011 at 4:18 pm

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One Seed Chicago 2011: Who Will Get Your Vote?

If you haven’t participated in One Seed Chicago in the past, 2011 should be the year that you give it a try. This is a fun (and free!) way to include your kids in some simple, at-home gardening. And who knows, maybe they’ll even be willing to eat the veggies that they helped grow (fingers... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
January 3, 2011 at 1:34 pm

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Ice Skating and Eating Out with the Kiddos: New Posts on CBS Local

The holiday season is quickly approaching — and that means that you probably have a ton of planning to do. Expecting out-of-town relatives? Looking for ways to entertain the kiddos during winter break? Thinking about surprising the kids with some special family outings? I recently wrote a few posts for the new CBS Local site... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
November 30, 2010 at 10:04 pm

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Moms, meet Johnny Casserole

Casseroles are cool again — thanks to a guy named Johnny Casserole. I’m not talking about your mother’s mystery noodle concoction — I am talking about a freshly-made, delicious casserole delivered right to your door. Intrigued? Well, so was I. Since April, Johnny has been whipping up tasty casseroles (served with a side of sass)... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
September 3, 2010 at 10:43 am

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New at the Nature Museum: Nature's LunchBox

Next time you take the kiddos to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, you should definitely pack your lunches and take advantage of the new permanent exhibit called Nature’s LunchBox, sponsored by Dominick’s. This formerly bland and boring lunchroom space is now a vibrant, interactive learning space. Nature’s LunchBox illustrates the life cycle of food —... Read more »

By Caitlin Giles,
September 2, 2010 at 11:55 am

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