STEW LEONARD’S
CHEF GEORGE HELPS PARENTS BEAT BACK-TO-SCHOOL LUNCH BOX BOREDOM |
| NORWALK, Conn., August 28, 2002
– Help is on the way for busy parents looking for last minute lunch
box ideas in an effort not to hear the dreaded, “not peanut butter
and jelly, again!” Stew Leonard’s has a variety of ready-prepared meals and sandwiches that are lunch box ready, as well as some new twists to traditional sandwiches. |
| Chef George knows children can be finicky, so he designed three “themed” lunch box meals that parents can pack in a jiffy, as well as some tips for fighting lunch box boredom. |
| “The secret to getting children to eat healthier and avoiding lunch box boredom is variety, variety, variety,” said Chef George. “Appearance is also very important. Cutting sandwiches into various shapes and using different colored containers for snacks are two simple strategies that keep lunches interesting for kids.” |
| Older children might enjoy “Stew’s Choice Lunch” which contains Stew Leonard, Jr.’s favorite foods. This themed lunch starts with a cup of Stew Leonard’s Low Fat New England Clam Chowder, made fresh daily at Stew’s. Parents can warm some up in the morning, pour it in a thermos, and it will remain warm and ready to eat at lunch. To complement the soup, include half a tuna sandwich on whole grain bread. This sandwich is also ready-made at Stew’s, or parents can purchase the tuna salad separately in Stew’s deli, and choose from a variety of freshly baked breads from Bethy’s Bakery. To complete the meal, include a piece of fruit and chips or pretzels, along with 100% juice. |
| A second themed lunch idea is Stew’s patriotic “red, white and blue” lunch. Include a “white” sandwich, such as turkey on country hearth bread cut into the shape of a star. Add a “red, white and blue” fruit salad made with grapes, watermelon and blueberries. Other items to include could be a blueberry or strawberry yogurt, fruit drink and popcorn. |
| Chef George’s “Mom’s Healthy Choice” themed lunch emphasizes variety. Start with packing “roll-ups” for sandwiches – these are ready-made at Stew’s and come in a package of four. Each package contains one ham, turkey, roast beef and cheese roll-up. These can also be made at home using flour tortillas instead of traditional bread, and spreading the tortilla with hummus or mustard rather than mayonnaise. Kids need calcium, and some good lunch box choices include string cheese, low fat yogurt, or a calcium-fortified cereal bar. Add a 100% fruit juice container, or chocolate milk. |
| Ask Chef George what children love from Stew’s salad bar, and he does not hesitate. “They always gravitate to the macaroni and cheese, as well as the chicken tenders. These are tried and true kid favorites.” |
| In addition to the macaroni and cheese or chicken tenders, busy parents have a smorgasbord of lunch box ready items to select from at Stew Leonard’s salad bar – from soups and salads to hot meals that are prepared fresh daily and can be purchased at $3.99 a pound. |
| Some of the newest children’s snacks available at Stew Leonard’s include: |
|
|
|
|
| Stew Leonard’s is also offering the hottest trend in children’s lunch boxes -- new insulated soft lunch boxes available with either “SpongeBob Squarepants” or “Dora the Explorer” designs. Each retails for $7.99. |
| Stew Leonard’s was dubbed the “Disneyland of Dairy Stores” by the New York Times, because of its own milk processing plant, costumed characters, scheduled entertainment, petting zoo and animatronics throughout the stores. The company has received worldwide acclaim for excellence in customer service and quality and is featured in two of management expert Tom Peter’s books: A Passion for Excellence and Thriving on Chaos. In 1992, Stew Leonard’s earned an entry into The Guinness Book of World Records for having “the greatest sales per unit area of any single food store in the United States.” Unlike traditional grocery stores that sell an average 30,000 items, each Stew Leonard’s store carries only 2,000 items, chosen specifically for their freshness, quality and value. |
