Feeding Minds: Food Education Blog

April 11, 2017

By PilotLight

Easter Eats: egg edition

By Brenna O’Dea Ah, at last, spring is FINALLY in the air, for real this time. Flowers are beginning to bloom and the air smells sweet…because chocolate bunnies are EVERYWHERE. Their delicious beady eyes following me as I roam the aisles…headed for the veggie section…trying to resist their tempting glares…using every ounce of willpower that

By PilotLight

A Pilot Light Teacher’s Story

Here is a letter we received from a 3rd grade Pilot Light teacher, who saw that her students took lessons learned in Pilot Light to support, welcome and comfort a Turkish student who had just moved to Chicago from a refugee camp: Dear Pilot Light, I have been a Pilot Light teacher for the last

April 3, 2017

By PilotLight

Pilot Light Progress: what next school year holds in store

By Brenna O’Dea Summer is right around the corner and we cannot WAIT. We are done with snowflakes and ready for snowcones. Soon enough we will be lounging in our lawn chairs, lathering on the sunscreen, and before we know it, back to school shopping will be at the top of our list. Here at

March 16, 2017

By PilotLight

Go Green, Eat Clean

By Brenna O’Dea Our favorite holiday is right around the corner! St. Patrick’s Day does not call for gift giving, costume parties, or excuses to eat ridiculous amounts of baked goods and salted meats, but it does bring something special to the table…the color GREEN! Leprechauns creep me out, and I think Lucky Charms are

March 8, 2017

By PilotLight

Pizza Party

By Brenna O’Dea Started from the bottom Grains: Gluten free grains work just as well (if not better!) than their wheat-based buddies. We’ve got two great options for your bloat-free base. Try out a tortilla and pile it high with your favorite toppings. As I.G. herself would say (Ina Garten if you are insane and

March 6, 2017

By PilotLight

Pancake Party

By Brenna O’Dea Spring is in the air…we can smell it…we can taste it…almost. We’ve got some healthy helpers to toss into your pancake batter this weekend. Get ready to start Sunday morning with a smile (and hopefully some sunshine!) because these brunch boosters will leave your hungry crew bursting with energy and ready to get

March 1, 2017

By PilotLight

March Madness

By Brenna O’Dea March Madness has arrived, and this time there’s PIZZA. No, I’m not talking about the real March Madness…the sport is basketball, right? I am no sports buff by ANY stretch of the word, and for all my friends out there who care more about the snacks being served than what’s happening on

February 27, 2017

By PilotLight

Soup with the Stars

By Brenna O’Dea You may not have tuned in to the red carpet as the sun was rising and scheduled your entire Sunday around every pre-pre-pre-Oscar party program comin’ at ya live from Hollywood, but chances are you caught at least a lil’ bit of the action. And let me tell you, there was ACTION.

February 22, 2017

By PilotLight

Valentine’s Day Detox

By Brenna O’Dea The Dark Side of the Moon Am I seriously about to tell you that it’s okay to keep eating chocolate after Valentine’s Day?? YES I AM. ABSOLUTELY. What’s the catch, you ask? GO DARK. Dive into that dark chocolate bar and enjoy an antioxidant boost without the sugar crash later. Try out

February 20, 2017

By PilotLight

Monday Meet n’ Greet: Chef Paul Kahan

By Brenna O’Dea Chicago chef, Pilot Light cofounder, James Beard Award Winner, and all around good guy, Paul Kahan brings big flavor and big fun to everything he does here at Pilot Light and beyond. Today, he inspires young minds to cook and create magic in the kitchen and classroom…but let’s go back to where