Through talking with a lot of parents and of course being one, Jon learned that it is a challenge to get food ready for school. Lunches have to be made of sturdy food that will not spoil by noon and it has to be palatable even without reheating. And of course, you have to come up with something that piques your child's interest, he says. "A standard default is packing fruit like apples (which do not bruise terribly easily), but depending on your wee one's lunch box, you can include as exotic a fruit as he or she may eat and enjoy," he adds.
Jon says one good lunch option is a sandwich, preferably with wheat bread.
"Growing up with circumnavigating poverty in the pool (Liverpool) a sandwich commonly referred to as a "butty" was inexpensive, and often part of my daily lunch for school," Jon says. "Most days it would be smeared with strawberry jam. If we ran out of jam it would be a sugar butty. I am still today fond of a Jam Butty occasionally. In fact, my daughter Victoria Mei has found a young love for it too."
However, times may be difficult, but are a little more affluent than back then, Jon says. So in honor of the four houses of Hogwarts, he has come up with four sandwich ideas that you can wrap up for "your beloved wee-ones." And maybe your kids aren't the only ones with enough sense to bring a packed lunch, he adds.
Recipes:
ABOUT JON ASHTON
Jon Ashton began his story in the cold, gray port city of Liverpool, which earned its spot on the world map thanks to the Beatles. As a young lad, he learned about the joy of cooking through his grandmother's warm, cottage kitchen. Creating recipes with Granny Ashton opened the door to home economic classes at school where Jon became further intrigued by the art. Although schoolmates bullied him for being one of the few boys in class, he persisted and quickly realized cooking was his passion.
In 1994 Jon graduated from St. Helens College in Great Britain and worked in several noted restaurants including the Derby Lodge Hotel's French restaurant and as Sous Chef at The Kirkfield Hotel's restaurant. Jon's success and flair in the kitchen soon gave way to appearances on British cooking shows including the nationally syndicated "TV Dinners" where audiences fell in love with his wit, charisma and genuine love of food. Soon, America discovered him and Jon was featured in publications from New York to California. America was calling and Jon knew he had to answer. So, with $2,000 in his pocket he left everything he knew and traveled to America, eventually landing in Florida.
Jon quickly began producing and starring in his own local access TV show, which aired in Disney's town of Celebration. Soon after, Jon took a position as the regular mid-day chef at Orlando's FOX affiliate station and found himself appearing on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" a short year later. His telegenic persona earns regular appearances on the "TODAY Show". He is currently the food correspondent of the nationally syndicated Morning Show "The Daily Buzz", seen in over 160 stations. He is also the in-house Chef for Relish Magazine, with over 12 million readers. Jon can be seen on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates across the nation as he travels doing media tours and presentations.
No matter what Jon does he remembers his grandmother's wise words; to share with others. Jon loves working with kids and is committed to improving the eating choices of young people in America. As an obese child himself, he fully understands the struggles and challenges of being overweight. In 2007 alone, Jon had the opportunity to impact the lives of 50,000 children across the nation. It's his way of thanking America for opening their doors to him.
Jon has had the honor of working with many A-list celebrities and culinary icons including, Vince Vaughn, Seth Green, Andy Garcia, Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse, Martha Stewart and Giada De Laurentis
For more kid-pleasing recipes, visit Chef Jon's website, Recipes for Life jonashton.com
ABOUT JON ASHTON
Jon Ashton began his story in the cold, gray port city of Liverpool, which earned its spot on the world map thanks to the Beatles. As a young lad, he learned about the joy of cooking through his grandmother's warm, cottage kitchen. Creating recipes with Granny Ashton opened the door to home economic classes at school where Jon became further intrigued by the art. Although schoolmates bullied him for being one of the few boys in class, he persisted and quickly realized cooking was his passion.
In 1994 Jon graduated from St. Helens College in Great Britain and worked in several noted restaurants including the Derby Lodge Hotel's French restaurant and as Sous Chef at The Kirkfield Hotel's restaurant. Jon's success and flair in the kitchen soon gave way to appearances on British cooking shows including the nationally syndicated "TV Dinners" where audiences fell in love with his wit, charisma and genuine love of food. Soon, America discovered him and Jon was featured in publications from New York to California. America was calling and Jon knew he had to answer. So, with $2,000 in his pocket he left everything he knew and traveled to America, eventually landing in Florida.
Jon quickly began producing and starring in his own local access TV show, which aired in Disney's town of Celebration. Soon after, Jon took a position as the regular mid-day chef at Orlando's FOX affiliate station and found himself appearing on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" a short year later. His telegenic persona earns regular appearances on the "TODAY Show". He is currently the food correspondent of the nationally syndicated Morning Show "The Daily Buzz", seen in over 160 stations. He is also the in-house Chef for Relish Magazine, with over 12 million readers. Jon can be seen on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX affiliates across the nation as he travels doing media tours and presentations.
No matter what Jon does he remembers his grandmother's wise words; to share with others. Jon loves working with kids and is committed to improving the eating choices of young people in America. As an obese child himself, he fully understands the struggles and challenges of being overweight. In 2007 alone, Jon had the opportunity to impact the lives of 50,000 children across the nation. It's his way of thanking America for opening their doors to him.
Jon has had the honor of working with many A-list celebrities and culinary icons including, Vince Vaughn, Seth Green, Andy Garcia, Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse, Martha Stewart and Giada De Laurentis
