Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Today I am excited to share a short interview with cookbook author Catherine McCord and her recipe for healthy and homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars from her latest cookbook, Weelicious Lunches: Think Outside the Lunch Box with More Than 160 Happier Meals (William Morrow, September 2013). Catherines cookbook is a treasure trove of practical tips and solutions every parent will appreciate.  Her delicious kid-friendly recipes are great building blocks in teaching and empowering kids (and their parents) to eat healthy and make good decisions about the foods they eat. Alice:  In your new cookbook you suggest to pack a fruit, vegetable, protein, and carbohydrate in your child's lunches.  What advice would you give to parents about picky eaters who do not eat the vegetable or protein but just eat only the fruit or carbohydrate? Catherine: One of the best, easiest ways to inspire picky eaters to try (and like) a variety of foods is to get them involved! Take your child to the grocery and let them pick any fruit or vegetable they want. Show them how to cut it up, eat it and possibly make something with it. The more kids learn about foods, how they work in their bodies and so on, the more willing (and wanting) they will be to try an array of nutritious foods. Alice:  Do you recommend a general rule of thumb when it comes to portion sizes in lunches? Catherine: The amount of food you pack for your child should be determined by their height, weight, age and hunger. If your child doesn't eat a lot one day, that doesn't necessarily mean they're not big eaters. Kids go through so much at school between friends, activities and emotions. As long as you send a balance of foods, then you'll know you did your job. Alice: Do you have a favorite lunch box system? Catherine: I'm a huge fan of Planet Box and Lap Top Lunches bento style lunch boxes. The best part is that once your child opens them up, his entire meal is laid out in front of him. These boxes stay cool, have easy to use carry cases, and can hold re-usable water bottles. I even send my husband to work with one! Alice: Thanks Catherine! For more information about Catherine's new cookbook and her healthy recipes, please visit her sites at: