Lunch With Beau
As Father’s Day fast approaches, I decided to celebrate the holiday by featuring a dad blogger who I absolutely adore. I promise you, I’m not alone. Beau Coffron, alias LUNCHBOX DAD, has become a household name when it comes to lunch fare, fatherhood, and blogging. If you don’t know him, I dare say, you might just be a tad bit out-of-the lunchbox loop.
Whether he is teaching you how to pack your kids ‘bento boxes’ with healthy and fun foods or sharing his suggestions for nifty gifts to give to dad this June 19th (don’t forget the date), Beau brings humor, practicality, and needed helpfulness to parents charged with making hundreds of lunches a year. Does the phrase, “It gets old” ring true for anyone reading this? Thankfully, Beau uses his fresh take on food to prop parents back up again, especially on those days when cream cheese on white bread begins to look good.
What Beau also brings to the table is his obvious love for his family. His passion for being a husband and father can not be denied nor can his openness on the matter, making all of his lunchbox suggestions even more delicious. Thus, if you are taking recommendations for your child’s next midday meal, might I suggest a bit of Beau with a side of warmth, creativity, and
understanding thrown into the mix as well as his interview below.
What is your full name?
Beau Coffron
Where do you live?
Edmond, OK
How many children do you have?
Three
If you were asked to describe yourself in one word, what would that word be?
Family
What is your personal mantra?
Show love to my family and to others.
Do you believe you have a “life’s purpose?” If so, share it.
My purpose is to love my family with all that I am and to show love to people around me.
Tell us about you and your life.
I have been married for fifteen years and have three kids who are 9, 5, and 2. We just
moved out to the Oklahoma City area a few months ago after living in the San Francisco
bay area for fifteen years. My family and I like playing board games together, Ticket to Ride
is our current favorite, and also watching movies. I have raised my kids to be huge Star
Wars fans.
Finish this sentence, “The best part about being a dad is _____.”
Is experiencing the amazing little snapshots from your kids’ life that make parenting worth it.
Also, being amazed at the minimal amount of sleep that a parent can continually function on.
How long have you been blogging for? Do you blog for any group blogs or websites beyond your own?
I have been blogging for almost four years. I also have written for LifeofDad.com, The
Huffington Post, and Relevant Magazine.
What is the name of your blog?
Share with us the significance of the name of your blog to you. How did you come up with it?
I was looking for a way to connect with my daughter when she started kindergarten. I wanted
her to know that her dad was thinking about her and loved her. I saw some moms making fun
bento lunches on the internet and I thought, “Hey I’m a dad; I can do that!” I made her a Hello
Kitty lunch her first Monday of school and she loved it. I started my blog to keep a record of the
lunches and then it became a way to share recipes inspire parents, and even make them laugh. Every once in awhile I make my wife slightly smile with something I write. I consider that a win. My kids usually think I’m pretty hilarious, but that’s just because they aren’t teenagers yet.
The name came out of the original intent for the blog: lunchboxes and being a dad. Pretty original huh? I’m not very creative with names. People started calling me “The Lunchbox Dad” when I was first on the news and the name stuck. I guess it was catchy, but really it was all because I didn’t have a more creative title when I started my blog. I pretty much suck at coming up with good titles.
Share with us any awards you have won.
Babble.com - Reader’s Choice Top Food Blogger for 2014. I’ve been featured in People Magazine and recognized by Mashable.com for my Twitter and Instagram accounts. I’ve also been named “Best Dad” in My Own House (although that was a close one and it was hotly debated).
Are you a Brand Ambassador and if so, for which companies?
Currently for Chobani, Quaker, and one brand that I can’t name yet.
Beyond your blog, do you engage in other social media outlets such as Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, etc.?
I love social media. It is one the biggest parts of my blog. I have been featured by Pinterest and Instagram which were both great experiences. I love doing Facebook live videos, usually put my parenting humor on Twitter, and just started my Snapchat channel. I also have a YouTube channel which I post on periodically.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to dads or moms who may be interested in beginning a blog?
Don’t start it to make it a career or to get an income. Write about something that you have a passion for. If your blog is something you have fun with, it is more likely to be around for years to come. Make it a discipline to post every single week and you will get better at it.
Are you an entrepreneur or professional beyond your blog (and outside of being a dad)? Please share.
I have a full-time job working as the Director of Social Media for an organization. I have a great
time with it.
Do you support – either formally or informally – a particular social cause?
I have always been passionate about my faith and working with faith-based organizations. Some of my favorites are Compassion, World Vision, and International Justice Mission.
When all is said and done, what is the one thing you hope your loved ones and those who knew you remember about you?
That I love them with all that I am and would do anything for them. I hope they remember me as always making time for them and putting aside less important things in order to put them first.
There is nothing more wonderful and respectable than a man who loves his family...except, maybe, a man who loves his family and knows how to make delicious and nutritious lunches. Happy Father’s Day Beau and all of the husbands and fathers who keep our lives cookin’. We couldn’t do it without you...nor would we want to. Lunch (and every other moment) just wouldn't be the same...and, probably, a lot more boring beyond just in the Coffron household.