Photo: Reid Rolls
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Jenny Mollen
Reid Rolls
Jenny Mollen has been sharing the lunches she makes her older son Sid for years. The earliest post on her Instagram for the project, @DictatorLunches, spans back to 2018.
Mollen is now sharing her wisdom inDictator Lunches: Inspired Meals That Will Compel Even the Toughest of (Tyrants) Children.
Sharing some pieces of her collection of fun, creative and healthy school lunch ideas with PEOPLE, Mollen says the goal when making a meal for her picky eater is to “expose him to things” and “entertain him.”
02of 08Earth Day LunchLauren VoloWith the Earth Day lunch box, Mollen pays tribute to a special day in their family’s history.“Jason and I eloped on Earth Day at a FedEx/ Kinko’s in Calabasas, California,” she explains of the day’s significance for her and husbandJason Biggs.This lunch box combines a colorful combination of taste and texture that includes purple cabbage rice, exotic fruit salads and a sunflower seed butter-stuffed date bug.
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Earth Day Lunch
Lauren Volo
With the Earth Day lunch box, Mollen pays tribute to a special day in their family’s history.
“Jason and I eloped on Earth Day at a FedEx/ Kinko’s in Calabasas, California,” she explains of the day’s significance for her and husbandJason Biggs.
This lunch box combines a colorful combination of taste and texture that includes purple cabbage rice, exotic fruit salads and a sunflower seed butter-stuffed date bug.
03of 08Halloween LunchLauren Volo"At my house, Halloween-themed meals start October 1 and go through the end of the month," Mollen shares.“This box is one of my all-time favorites,” she says of the festive spinach Frankenstein quesadilla, butternut squash and guacamole graveyard combo.
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Halloween Lunch
“At my house, Halloween-themed meals start October 1 and go through the end of the month,” Mollen shares.
“This box is one of my all-time favorites,” she says of the festive spinach Frankenstein quesadilla, butternut squash and guacamole graveyard combo.
04of 08Japanese LunchLauren Volo"My entire marriage to my husband was built on our shared love of Japanese food and antidepressants," jokes Mollen.“Sushi specifically is our love language and something we desperately hoped our kids would embrace. I started with pieces of sashimi when the dictators were too young to resist. The only problem now is that they get mad when they sneak out of bed at night and catch us eating sushi without them.“The lunch box includes a Pokémon-themed Poké ball, edamame, and salmon, avocado and nori sandwiches.
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Japanese Lunch
“My entire marriage to my husband was built on our shared love of Japanese food and antidepressants,” jokes Mollen.
“Sushi specifically is our love language and something we desperately hoped our kids would embrace. I started with pieces of sashimi when the dictators were too young to resist. The only problem now is that they get mad when they sneak out of bed at night and catch us eating sushi without them.”
The lunch box includes a Pokémon-themed Poké ball, edamame, and salmon, avocado and nori sandwiches.
05of 08New York LunchLauren Volo"We moved to New York after 19 years in Los Angeles when Sid was 6 months old. The density of the city coupled with apartment living comforted my postpartum anxiety and made me feel like I was never alone. Nearly eight years later,” Mollen writes. “I love New York like it’s a bad boyfriend: We bicker, we fight, we break up, we make up.“The lunch includes bagels and pretzels, two classic New York staples, as well as a black and white cookie and tuna.
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New York Lunch
“We moved to New York after 19 years in Los Angeles when Sid was 6 months old. The density of the city coupled with apartment living comforted my postpartum anxiety and made me feel like I was never alone. Nearly eight years later,” Mollen writes. “I love New York like it’s a bad boyfriend: We bicker, we fight, we break up, we make up.”
The lunch includes bagels and pretzels, two classic New York staples, as well as a black and white cookie and tuna.
06of 08St. Patrick’s Day LunchLauren Volo"A St. Paddy’s Day lunch helps spice up the school week with a bit of fun and a dash of sugar cereal,” Mollen notes of the St. Patrick’s day lunch, which includes broccoli pesto, Irish cheddar shamrocks, and “Lucky Charms that Jason will devour as soon as the rest of the family falls asleep.”
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St. Patrick’s Day Lunch
“A St. Paddy’s Day lunch helps spice up the school week with a bit of fun and a dash of sugar cereal,” Mollen notes of the St. Patrick’s day lunch, which includes broccoli pesto, Irish cheddar shamrocks, and “Lucky Charms that Jason will devour as soon as the rest of the family falls asleep.”
07of 08Sid’s ApprovalReid RollsThe cookbook includes an exchange between Mom and son after he learns the title isDictator Lunches. When he asks why, Mollen replies, “because Sid, you’re the dictator.““Great,” he replies. “As long as this is about me.”
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Sid’s Approval
The cookbook includes an exchange between Mom and son after he learns the title isDictator Lunches. When he asks why, Mollen replies, “because Sid, you’re the dictator.”
“Great,” he replies. “As long as this is about me.”
08of 08Harper CollinsDictator Lunchesis now available in stores and online.
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Harper Collins
Dictator Lunchesis now available in stores and online.
source: people.com
