Missy Lapine, author of the New York Times Bestselling cookbook The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals (Running Press, March 2007), is here with us today to talk about her background, her book, and tips to help moms-on-the-go.
Missy has her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Colgate University. She is the former publisher of Eating Well Magazine and the founder of a natural baby bath line called BabySpa.
Welcome, Missy!
ME: What sparked your interest in creating The Sneaky Chef?
MISSY: My second child had all kinds of food allergies and an ultra-sensitive gag reflex. The book really stemmed from answering a parent’s need – my own.
ME: How old are your kids and how were they involved in the writing of your book?
MISSY: I have two daughters, ages 7 and 9. Sometimes I don’t tell them all of the ingredients that I put in their food, but they’re also in on a lot of the recipes. They cook with me often and I keep them involved as much as humanly possible. My whole job is working from my kitchen at home. I grew up without a mother at home so I wanted to design a life for myself where I could stay at home with my kids. They come first.
ME: But you also teach at the Culinary Center of New York, right?
MISSY: Yes, it’s important to stay in touch with people, to be in touch with the real world, and to hear real-life, every-day concerns. That said, I work mostly out of my home. Everything is done with a laptop and stove.
ME: What healthy snacks do you recommend for moms to eat (and feed their children) on-the-run?
MISSY: The best thing is to spend a little extra time to make something from scratch and then freeze it. For example, we make Breakfast Bars and then freeze them. We eat them frozen because they’re so yummy and crunchy. It’s important to invest a little time every week to make homemade purees. The biggest detriment to eating healthy is time.
ME: What is the Sneaky Chef website like and what can readers do there?
MISSY: My website is actually being revamped right now and it is going to be very interactive. By April 1st, I will have free recipes and a blog where parents can speak to me and to each other. I answer every single blog post personally. I’m very involved with my readers.
ME: When is your next book coming out?
MISSY: My second book, The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man (In the Kitchen), will come out on April 1st.
Thanks for your time, Missy!
Readers: The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals features over 75 recipes. Essentially, you create fruit, vegetable, and bean based purees and then “sneak” them into macaroni cheese, cupcakes, spaghetti, and other kid-friendly foods. You can check out a sampling of free recipes on the Sneaky Chef website.
WIN IT! One mama will win “The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals” by Missy Chase Lapine. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post prior to Saturday, Mar. 22, at midnight (don’t forget to follow the rules). The winner will be announced and contacted on Sunday, Mar. 23. * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
* UPDATE * The winner is #7 Miss Erica. Congratulations!
After having kids who would eat ANYTHING, in the last few months my 5 yr olds have become super picky, I need all the help I can get!!
Thanks.
Really need this one! lol!
dansan826 at yahoo.com
I have heard a LOT about this book and the “other one” by Jessica Seinfield. I am still not sure how I feel about being “sneaky” but I do think it is a very creative way of incorporating fruit/veggies into “kid” foods. I think if I did it I would disclose this to my son. But it does sound interesting. I’m going to check out her site with the sample recipes…Thanks for the heads up.
i would love this book… way too cool
anything that can up variety and healthfulness in our diet is a winner with me!
This is such a good idea! I would love this book!
I’ve been hiding spinach in my brownies for the last couple of years and no one’s the wiser. Great giveaway! Count me in. bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to try this book! My son has banned all veggies form his plate! I have to find ways to get them in him!
I would love to try this cookbook!
This book looks great! My son is about to start eating veggies and I know that this would be great for him.
Oh this is great! Like other commentors, I’ve heard great things about this book and I’d love to start being a little sneaky myself!! *wink*
My kids eat their veggies pretty well, but I’ve heard about this book and am excited at the ida of expanding their pallets to include new veggies (even if they are in puree form). Thanks for all the great givaways!
:) mrsaharper at hotmail.com
What a great book! Love it!
dbstout[at]juno[dot]com
Sounds so wonderful! i’ve been really needing creative ways to get my little guy to eat well. The usual finger foods are boring us all! And I *love* pretty pictures! Definitely gets me motivated :) …and I guess I’m pretty lucky, my hubby will eat his veggies if I put them on his plate :) Can’t complain there!
agoodfellow@cox.net
My husband and I just made the girls smoothies in our vita mixer. He was just say how we needs this lady’s book who sneaks veggies in there food. How cool if i won?
This is great. I loved reading the interview. What a great title for her next book! We could use a great book to help my toddler eat a little better around the house. For some reason she won’t eat the healthy food she once enjoyed. I was horrified in taking her to the doctor, surely I would be arrested for a malnourished child! Her doctor assured me it was normal and fine for toddlers, but I still wish she would eat healthier. Yikes! Uh, can you tell I’m a first time mom?
I’m already pretty good and hiding veggies in my son’s meals but I have to admit that I only have about 5 of these that I rotate through. I’m in need of some new inspiration. I hope this book could help!
I love that she adds vegetable puree to the tomato sauce for the pizza. What a great idea. Can’t wait to try that, especially on the pizza-loving hubby.
My kid will actually eat most anything, but I’m interested to see what I can sneak in just for health’s sake. And my husband’s…
I have heard great things about thi book! I love the idea of adding veggies to regular food.
This would be a great book to have! While my 4 year old daughter is pretty good with her veggies, my 18 month old son is not. He has been on a veggie strike for awhile and I try to do what I can, but I need help. Thanks for a great giveaway!
jtpirillo at nconnect (dot) net
I think the title of this book might be limiting. If I won this I’d definitely be hiding veggies in my husband’s food.
OH! I need this for my HUSBAND! We’re trying so hard to eat healthy, but sometimes it’s hard when HE’s so picky… I would love to learn how to ‘sneak’ healthy food into our meals.
Once again, such a wonderful giveaway! You must be superwoman or something, cause I don’t know HOW you do it! Thank you SO much for the opportunity to enter – love to you and yours, take care and God Bless!
Oooh- I featured the ‘sneaky chef’ and her competition ‘deceptively delicious’ on my site a few weeks ago. I LOVE their creativity and ‘never say die’ mentality with healthy foods for healthy kids! Would love to have this book. :)
Thanks!
laurachilton (at) hotmail (dot) com
I love the title for her new book (I sneak sour cream in our food as my husband hates it). I would love some ideas to make food healthier for my two princesses