Welcome to Pilot Light’s Feeding Minds blog! Here, we get to tell the story of Food Education through in-depth stories from our classrooms, partnership spotlights, new program announcements, and opinion pieces from guest authors and the Pilot Light team. Join us in exploring the power of food to connect, excite, and empower us to build a better future together.
January 9, 2017
By PilotLight
2016 food trends we will miss
By Brenna O’Dea Kale popcorn I am just as surprised to be writing this as you are to be reading it. Why would we take something as classic and fool proof as popcorn and ruin it with kale?? I love a good kale salad as much as the next healthy foodie, but must we put
Read More >>December 19, 2016
By PilotLight
Gingerbread, Gingerbread, Gingerbread Rock
By Brenna O’Dea CHRISTMAS IS SO CLOSE WE CAN ALMOST TASTE IT. Let’s be honest here, Christmas dinner can be delicious, but we all know what the true meaning of Christmas is…COOKIES. For Santa or for yourself, baking holiday treats can bring friends and family together from all rooms of the house and all corners
Read More >>December 14, 2016
By PilotLight
“Guts and everything”: Meet Matthias Merges
By Brenna O’Dea I recently had the chance to chat with one of our founders and absolute favorite chefs of Chicago, Matthias Merges. Where to begin…A10, Billy Sunday, Finch Beer Co. AND Finch Kitchen, Yusho Chicago AND Hyde Park…if you have not yet experienced a meal at one of his many gems, stop reading right now,
Read More >>December 8, 2016
By PilotLight
Cleaner Cleaning
By Brenna O’Dea Clean eats, you know we love ‘em. Something else we also love, clean cleaning! What exactly am I talking about, you ask? I’m talking soaps, scrubs, and sprays that are free of those un-mentionables and un-pronounceables. Triclosan, dioxane, benzalkonium chloride…my general rule of thumb…if you can’t say it, don’t spray it. Sounds
Read More >>November 30, 2016
By PilotLight
Things to be Thankful for
By Brenna O’Dea Thanksgiving may be over, but there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. The perfect stack of fluffy pancakes on a Sunday morning, a few moments of serenity in front of the fireplace on a chilly winter night, whatever happiness means to you, be grateful for that. Say thank you, say I
Read More >>November 21, 2016
By PilotLight
An Ode to Oats
By Brenna O’Dea Warms my chilly hands Fills my belly to the brim A big bowl of oats There it is. My first haiku poem since I learned about them back in elementary school. Not impressed? Eh, neither am I. But I am HUNGRY. And FREEZING. Winter is not coming…IT HAS ARRIVED. There is no
Read More >>November 16, 2016
By PilotLight
Sugar, Spice & EVERYTHING Nice
By Brenna O’Dea Poppy or plain? Onion or sesame? Why must I choose just one?? Well my foodie friends, you will never have to make this impossible choice ever again. We have the solution to EVERY flavor dilemma you face…it’s called everything bagel spice and it is damn delicious. But first, on a more serious,
Read More >>November 4, 2016
By PilotLight
Flashback Friday: Feed Your Mind 2016
By Brenna O’Dea Just about one month ago we gathered at the beautiful Morgan Manufacturing with our friends, families, chefs, and supporters for our annual Feed Your Mind Gala. After months of planning and prepping, hours and hours of hard work from our employees, volunteers, board of directors, chefs, donors, and every single person who
Read More >>October 27, 2016
By PilotLight
Creepy Cravings: a healthier halloween
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky…they’re called added sugars and they will ruin your life and haunt your dreams!!! Okay, so Halloween is the one day a year when it is perfectly acceptable to gorge yourself with all the sugary sweetness under the sun, and a few tricks and treats
Read More >>October 20, 2016
By PilotLight
Happy Challahween!
The High Holidays are in full swing and you know what that means…it’s time to CARBO LOAD. Just because the Chicago Marathon is over doesn’t mean you should stop eating all the bread in sight. Not just any ol’ bread. None of that boring brioche or simple sourdough(although we do love sourdough). This time of the
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