Spring Cleaning For Parents By Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller Rake the yard. Clean out the garage. Go through closets. Donate unused items to charitable organizations. Wash windows. You know the drill. It's called SPRING CLEANING. But what if Spring Cleaning took on a new twist this year, one that would benefit your children greatly? What if you cleaned the cobwebs out of your mind? What if you wiped away all the limiting beliefs that keep you from becoming the parent you always wanted to be? What if you cleaned up a broken relationship, mended a mental fence, or re-minded yourself about the importance of you role in your child's life? This spring might just be the ideal time for cleaning up your responsibility as a parent. Consider the ideas below. Reawaken your curiosity. Clean out your present expectations and your knowing of why your children do things. Return to wonder. Be fascinated by what they do. Let yourself be awed. Allow your curiosity to bloom this spring. Eliminate judgment. Judgment keeps you from seeing your children clearly. If you judge a child as lazy, you are less likely to see ambitious behavior. If you judge her as uncaring, you will have difficulty noticing her benevolent acts. Clean the lens in your eyes by reducing the number of judgments through which you perceive you children. Be out of your mind. Use silent times to wash old and useless thoughts from your mind. Resist the urge to over-analyze parenting issues. Stop thinking and cluttering your mind with incessant chatter. Listen to your heart. Follow your intuition. Pick parenting strategies that have your heart in them. Appreciate the moment. The best present to give your children is to be fully present when you are with them. Throw out thoughts about the future and the past when you interact with your children. There is only one moment to see, feel, express, learn, grow, or heal with your children. This is it. Pitch the rest. Clean up your schedule. Every child in the world spells love, TIME. Adjust your priorities. Pick through your list of social and business activities. Get rid of old obligations and habits that prevent you from investing time with your children. Apologize and begin again. Spring is the time of new beginnings. Do you need to begin again with one of your children? Do you need to make amends? If so, tell your children what you learned and what you intend to do differently from now on. Then follow through. Cut down on talking. Reduce your need to explain, lecture, moralize, rationalize, and convince. The first step towards love is to listen. Give your children the gift of your presence by hearing rather that telling, by acknowledging instead of convincing, by understanding rather that jumping to conclusions. Rework truth. Cleanse you mind of the notion that there is ONE truth. You know your truth. Allow your children to find theirs. Model for your children how you live your truth. Support them in their efforts to find their own truth and encourage them to trust it. Fix it up. What parenting concerns need to be fixed in your home? Do you need to fix a relationship, the use of the TV and the internet, or a reoccurring stress? Fix your mind first so you are tuned into fixing problems rather than fixing blame. Maintain a solution-seeking mindset as you fix it up this spring. Give yourself a perception check. Remember, you can choose to see any parenting situation differently from the way you are presently seeing it. Perception is always a choice. Clean up your mind by asking yourself, "Is this way of seeing this problem the one that brings the most light and love to the situation?" Use springtime to enlighten your parenting perceptions and actions. A thorough spring cleaning of your parenting style could make your home sparkle. It could be like a fresh coat of paint that brightens the exterior and the interior of you and your children. It might work like the cleansing combination of adding energy and love to a bucket of soap and water. Brighter, cleaner, healthier family relationships could well be the result of your spring cleaning this year. Happy cleaning. Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller are the authors of The 10 Commitments: Parenting with Purpose . They are two of the world's foremost authorities on raising responsible, caring, confident children. They publish a free monthly e-zine for parents. To sign up for it or obtain more information about how they can help you or your group meet your parenting needs, visit their website today: www.personalpowerpress.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

The Sneaky Chef says: Hide Slow-Burning Foods in Kids' Meals to Avoid Blood Sugar "Spike and Crash" By Missy Lapine www.thesneakychef.com Kids love roller coasters. Moms don't - well, at least not the ones that take place inside our homes! I'm talking about the "spike and crash" syndrome that describes the rapid ups and downs of children's blood sugar levels when they eat too much sugar and overly processed carbs, especially on an empty stomach. Foods that are especially high in sugar - even natural sugar and honey - are known to cause a very quick rise in blood-sugar levels. They are rated high on the " glycemic index" (GI) - a measurement of the effect a food has on one's blood sugar level. The higher the rating on the index, the more rapid the increase in blood sugar level. The spike doesn't last very long and is followed by a corresponding fast drop in blood-sugar level. (often it drops even lower than it was before we ate). This is commonly referred to as the "spike and crash syndrome." Children seem especially susceptible to this phenomenon. After they eat the kid-favorite jelly beans (the ultimate sugar spike), particularly when it's on an empty stomach, parents notice them acting as if they've had four cups of coffee. They're bouncing off the walls and then, in a predictable amount of time, they crash - growing sleepy, lethargic, and cranky. The reason is that refined sugars (or carbs) raise blood-glucose levels too quickly, causing a surge of insulin, which soon removes even more sugar than when the person started; the loss of sugar is what makes him feel lethargic. For people who are particularly sensitive, the crash may be accompanied by shakiness, irritability, fogginess, and a feeling of intense hunger even though they just ate an hour ago. Almost all packaged snack foods and cereals that are marketed to kids today have this effect on them. Examples of slower-burning carbs (those with a low GI) are high-fiber foods such as whole grain breads and crackers, vegetables, beans, legumes, brown rice, oats, and whole grain pasta. These high-fiber foods not only add nutrients, but they also contribute to the feeling of being full, which prevents children from overeating. Including low-GI foods in recipes keeps the blood sugar levels balanced, reduces subsequent cravings for more sugar and the snacks that contain it, helps manage weight, and has a positive influence on moods and concentration, among other things. We need to get kids to eat these low GI, slow-burning foods more often, and at the right times (along with the high GI snacks, for example). That's just what the recipes below do, yet none of these sneaky additions are obvious. When your kids eat a Sneaky Chef Corn Muffin (below), all they know is that it's delicious. They stay satisfied longer than if they'd eaten a donut or candy bar, have more sustained energy, feel happier overall, and don't crave as much junk food. Your little muffins won't realize that the muffins they ate had enough fiber from the hidden vegetables, wheat germ and stone ground flour to stabilize their blood-sugar levels. They have no idea why the Sneaky Chef Chocolate Chip Cookie was so gratifying to eat. After all, it tasted just like any other chocolate chip cookie, so they couldn't possibly guess that it contained pureed white beans, whole grains, and half the sugar. The only one who knows these little secrets is you (and their healthier bodies). As "The Sneaky Chef," I'm known for coming up with simple solutions that we can use right now, without radically changing our lives, but that make families healthier without a struggle. I live in the real world where kids eat sugar, junk food, and pizza, but I've found ways to boost all their foods with extra nutrition and help offset any ill effects of a less-than-ideal diet. So here are 7 simple ways to prevent the sugar "spike and crash" syndrome and give your child lasting energy: Sneak vegetables into high-carb foods -- these low-GI veggies add not only important nutrients, but lots of fiber that helps slow down the sugar rush. For example, hide pureed cauliflower and zucchini in corn muffins (see muffin recipe below). Sneak whole grains into high-carb foods -- the high fiber grains not only slow the sugar rush, but help make kids feel satisfied so they won't be as likely to overeat. For example, mix wheat germ and whole wheat flour with white flour for homemade baked goods (see cookie recipes below). Sneak beans into high-carb foods - low GI beans add not only important nutrients, but lots of fiber that helps slow down the sugar rush. For example, hide pureed white beans in homemade chocolate chip cookies (see recipe below). Make snacks into "mini-meals" - instead of giving kids a "snack" of high-GI carbs alone (like potato chips, most cereal bars, even most fruits), make it a "mini-meal" and pair that fast-burning carb with some good fat and protein like a cheese stick, slice of turkey breast, or a handful of almonds to help slow the sugar rush. Avoid high sugar foods before going to bed - this can cause the child to wake-up already in a sugar low and on the way to a downward spiral. If you're going to have the classic bedtime cookies and milk, make it the Sneaky Chef's high-fiber, low-sugar cookies below. Start the day with fiber and protein - this is far more important than a glass of juice which has too high a sugar count. A whole grain breakfast of old-fashioned oatmeal with almonds (grind them up to hide them, if necessary) will hold a kid way longer than orange juice and a bagel. So will a slice of cheese melted on a whole grain English muffin. For a fast, "grab and go" breakfast loaded with whole grains and protein, try the recipe for Breakfast Cookies and Milk below. Sprinkle cinnamon on cereal, desserts, and juice -- One of the easiest ways to balance your blood sugar for the day is to add a sprinkling of cinnamon in oatmeal, hot cocoa, chocolate milk, apple juice, or cereal. Cinnamon has been found to be one of the most effective ways to balance blood sugar levels and prevent the "spike and crash." copy; Missy Chase Lapine, all rights reserved. Missy Chase Lapine is the author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals . She is the former publisher of Eating Well magazine and the founder of a natural baby product line Baby Spareg;. Missy is currently on the Culinary Arts faculty of The New School, in New York City, and conducts workshops that teach families how to eat healthier. She is available to individuals, groups and businesses for private cooking instruction, workshops and personal coaching. Missy lives with her family in Westchester, New York. For more information visit www.TheSneakyChef.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. Recipes Below: Breakfast Cookies Chocolate Chip Cookies Corn Muffins SNEAKY CHEF'S BREAKFAST COOKIES: Makes 16 to 18 large cookies 2 cups whole grain cereal flakes (such as Wheaties or Total) 3/4 cup Flour Blend (1/4 cup white flour, 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, and 1/4 cup wheat germ) 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 large egg 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup canola oil 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 3/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese Cinnamon sugar for dusting Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or spray with oil). Using a rolling pin, gently crush the cereal (in a sealed plastic bag) into coarsely crushed flakes. Alternatively, you can quickly pulse the cereal in a food processor. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together Flour Blend, crushed cereal, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk together egg, sugar, oil, vanilla, and ricotta cheese. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix just enough to moisten dry ingredients. Drop single tablespoonfuls onto the baking sheets, leaving about an inch between cookies. Flatten cookies with the back of a fork and then sprinkle tops generously with cinnamon sugar (or just sugar if your kids don't like the cinnamon flavor). Bake about 18 to 20 minutes, or until nicely browned and crispy around the edges. SNEAKY CHEF'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: Makes about 50 two-bite cookies 1 cup Flour Blend (1/3 cup white flour, 1/3 cup whole wheat flour, and 1/3 cup wheat germ) 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground in a food processor 2 tablespoons blanched, slivered almonds, finely ground in a food processor (omit if allergic) 8 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 cup White Bean Puree* (see Make-Ahead Recipe below) 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove butter from refrigerator to let soften.In a large bowl, whisk together Flour Blend, baking soda, salt, ground oats, and ground almonds (optional). Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars until creamy. Beat in egg, vanilla, and White Bean Puree. Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed. Stir in chocolate chips. Make two-bite cookies by dropping rounded half-teaspoonfuls , spaced 2 inches apart, onto nonstick or parchment- lined baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on a metal rack. Store cookies in airtight container at room temperature. *Sneaky Chef's Make Ahead Recipe-White Bean Puree: 1 15-ounce can white beans (great northern, navy, butter or cannellini) 1 to 2 tablespoons water Rinse and drain the beans and put in the bowl of your food processor. Pulsing in on/off turns, puree the drained beans with just 1 tablespoon of water in processor until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. The goal is a smooth, but not wet , puree. (You are aiming for the consistency of peanut butter.) If necessary, thin with a little more water by one teaspoonful at a time until there are no flecks of whole beans visible. Store in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze 1/4 cup portions in sealed plastic bags or small plastic containers. Makes about 1 cup of puree. Double this recipe if you want to store another cup of puree. SNEAKY CHEF'S CORN MUFFINS: Makes 6 large muffins (or 12 mini-muffins) 1/2 cup Flour Blend (3 tablespoons white flour, 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour, and 2 tablespoons wheat germ) 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup canola oil 1/2 cup White Puree* (See Make-Ahead Recipe below) 1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels, pureed Optional toppings: 1/4 cup chocolate chips or 1/4 cup shredded low-fat cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with paper liners.In a mixing bowl, whisk together the Flour Blend, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until well combined, then whisk in the oil, White Puree, and pureed corn. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until flour is just moistened (don't over-mix or the muffins will be dense). Scoop the batter into muffin tins, filling just over the top. If you're using mini muffin cups, scale back quantities to fit into the smaller sized cups. Top with a few chocolate chips, or sprinkle with shredded cheese, and bake for 22 to 24 minutes until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. *Sneaky Chef's Make-Ahead Recipe -- White Puree: 2 cups cauliflower, cut into florets 2 small to medium zucchini, peeled and rough chopped 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1-2 tablespoons water, if necessary Steam cauliflower in a vegetable steamer over 2 inches of water, using a tightly-covered pot, for about 10 to 12 minutes until very tender. Alternatively, place cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl , cover with water, and microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes until very tender. While waiting for the cauliflower to finish steaming, start to pulse the raw peeled zucchini with the lemon juice only (no water at this point). Drain the cooked cauliflower. Working in batches if necessary, add it to the pulsed zucchini in the bowl of the food processor with one tablespoon of water. Puree on high until smooth. Stop occasionally and push contents from the top to the bottom. If necessary, use the second tablespoon of water to make a smooth (but not wet) puree. Makes about 2 cups of puree. Double recipe if you want to store even more, which can be done in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze 1/4 cup portions in sealed plastic bags or the small plastic containers. copy; Missy Chase Lapine, all rights reserved. Missy Chase Lapine is the author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals . She is the former publisher of Eating Well magazine and the founder of a natural baby product line Baby Spareg;. Missy is currently on the Culinary Arts faculty of The New School, in New York City, and conducts workshops that teach families how to eat healthier. She is available to individuals, groups and businesses for private cooking instruction, workshops and personal coaching. Missy lives with her family in Westchester, New York. For more information visit www.TheSneakyChef.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

The Popularity Game: Teaching Kids How To Cope By Sally Sacks www.sallysacks.com As a mother and a professional therapist, my heart has been broken many times listening to the tales of life in the fast lane of 5th and 6th grade girls. I have likened the experiences to that of prisoners trying to get through their day unharmed, by knowing the right people and keeping their mouths shut. Apparently there is and will always be a social order, of who is best and who is not, and the who is not will always suffer. The 'popular kids' are always the same. I was in school 40 years ago, and it was the same as kids describe now. The kids that wear the expensive clothes, Abercrombie, American Eagle, Hollister are the big ones now, and play sports, and can do school well, be cheery and outgoing , (and a big huge home helps), become popular. The kids who are not the straight cookie cutter variety, often are left out, misunderstood, or considered weird . The popular kids either deliberately or inadvertently make life hell for the others. As a parent, watching kids go through this is very difficult, sad and anger provoking. Kids will come to me in counseling and tell me that they sit all day in fear of a girl dissing them, embarrassing them or rolling their eyes at another girl about them. These kids are terrified to speak up because then their reputation will be ruined. They can't tell a teacher because going for outside help is a sign of weakness. And most assured, going for help will cause reason for retaliation. Kids, due to this stressful experience, get stomach aches, anxiety, and all kinds of medical ailments, that are stress, turned inward to the body.The kids need tools to deal with this problem. As a parent careful thought is needed because it is easy to say the wrong thing and anger your child, or render them feeling more helpless. Here are some wrong ways to handle it. The following are comments that DO NOT work. Do not tell your child that she is prettier than that girl that thinks she is all that, and the girl is just jealous. This isn't believable to your child and isn't the point, therefore doesn't offer a tool to solve the problem. The child will have a come back for you about how not helpful you are. Do not tell your child not to let it bother them, and that they are fine the way they are. The child will tell you how you don't get it, and that this is their life. How dare you make light of a huge problem, and tell them they are fine the way they are, when clearly they aren't or the others would like them more. Do not tell your child how much smarter and interesting they are than the others. Don't criticize the others for their emphasis on Abercrombie and other trendy stores, saying that you find them stupid and unnecessary. Children want to fit in. They don't have that level of reasoning capacity. Kids need to know what to do when they are in this situation. Here are examples of what to do to actually help your child. The first thing to do is: Listen to your child's story of what is going on for them without making judgment. Hear them out. Empathize with their difficulty without overreacting, or under reacting. They need someone they can trust and talk to. After they tell their story, ask them non judgmental questions, trying to understand what they would like to see happen in their situation. For example, I had a child who was upset because 12 kids in her class planned on going to the park together. She and her 4 friends were not invited. She felt unpopular, hurt and left out. I asked her what she wanted, and she said to be able to go with them. She felt she couldn't just invite herself, she'd look too desperate. I asked her why she thought she might be left out. Without judgment, this question helped her to think at a higher level than she had been. Explain kid's behavior to your kids. Sometimes kids leave people out because they don't see you all the time, or feel if they ask you, they have to ask all your friends. Sometimes they need to know you better. Sometimes it may not be deliberate. In the case of the girl above, I gave her an example of how she might ask to go without being intrusive or too needy. Sometimes asking is a good thing. Sometimes you have to be assertive to be included. Take your child's lead and ask what they think about this. What would be hard about this for them, or not so hard about asking to join in? Listen again without judgment. Gather facts and work with them. Try to help your child make more choices and expand their thinking by widening the idea of, "They don't like me; I'm not cool", to maybe they overlooked it, or they couldn't have more kids and had to pick their closest friends. Teach them how they might be noticed more or become a closer friend. Let them know that believing in themselves and creating what they want for themselves is possible and necessary. Let them know how fortunate they are to have the close friends that they have and how to even meet more friends if their group is getting thinner, which it does. Help them to get involved in activities that connect them to new friends and new ideas and options in their lives. Go for the take action strategy to change the things you don't like in your life, and waste less energy feeling bad about things. This is a lesson everyone must learn to get ahead in their lives. Share examples with them about you, and overcoming those painful social school experiences. Sally Sacks, M.Ed is a licensed psychotherapist, with 20 years of experience, counseling individuals, children, families and couples. Sally is the author of How to Raise the Next President , a groundbreaking parents' guide to teaching and instilling in their kids the qualities they'll need to be happy, successful and productive, no matter which path they choose in life. Sally offers personal and group coaching and can be reached through her website at www.sallysacks.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Ten Ways to Create Sibling Rivalry By Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman The Wilson's two children don't like each other. The Archer girls publicly put each other down. The Gonzalez boys pout if they aren't first, don't win, or don't do better than the other. This condition is called sibling rivalry and in each of these cases it was unconsciously created by the parents. Do you want to make sure you don't inadvertently encourage sibling rivalry in your family? Do you want to avoid the ways many parents promote tension among their children? If so, read on and consider the top ten ways parents promote sibling rivalry without even knowing it. Then, if you decide sibling rivalry in not something you want to encourage in your family, do the opposite. Compare your children to one another and let them know you are doing it. Say things like, "Your brother never acts that way," and "If your sister can do it, why can't you?" Holding one child up as the model and using that model to encourage better behavior on the part of the sibling is a sure way to create resentment and divisiveness among your children. Put one child in charge of the other. Having to watch a younger brother while the parent runs out to the mail box or convenience store can create resentment. Making the older child baby sit during the summer while you are working is asking for sibling conflict. The older one will resent the fact that he has to do the sitting and the younger one will resent that he has to be watched, in his view, by a peer. Allow humorous teasing or gentle and loving putdowns. There is no such thing as a loving or gentle putdown. Teasing is not funny! Making fun of someone or having a laugh at someone else's expense no matter how small still hurts. Teasing is never appropriate in loving families. A joke is not a joke if it is not a joke. When teasing occurs, someone ends up the recipient. That person often finds themselves in a defensive position and feels as if he has to attack back to create balance and save face. Always give the younger child hand-me-downs. This ritual, if done often, can create a feeling of being a second-hand person or less-than the other child who gets the new things. When this occurs the younger one often strives to be first or get more attention. Yes, the economics in some families make hand-me-downs a necessity. In these cases make sure the younger child gets something new occasionally and the older one gets some passed on clothing as well. Reward tattling. When children tattle, follow up by punishing those that were tattled on. This is a sure way to promote sibling rivalry. Refuse to listen to both sides of the story to further increase sibling rivalry. Create an atmosphere where the first person to get his story out is in the "right". If you want sibling rivalry growing in your home, do not invest time teaching your children when it is important to tell (health and safety issues) and when and how they can handle the situation on their own. Ask your kids to spy. Tell your son, "I want to know if your sister uses the phone while I am gone." Inform your younger one, "If he splashes you again let me know." Tell one child, "The computer is off limits while I am gone. Your sister is going to be watching you to see if you follow the rules." Buy and play many competitive games that require one winner and many losers. Focus strongly on the importance of winning and downplay the process of playing, learning, and having fun. This way your children who have lost can fight back in other ways being the only ones who know a new game is being played. The new game is called getting even . Create even more competition in your family. Design artificial competition to manipulate a desired behavior such as seeing who can get ready for bed first. Use lots of competitive parent talk including, "The last one up the stares is a rotten egg," or "The first one with their coat on gets to pick where they want to sit." Attempt to be fair. Make sure everyone has the same amount of orange drink in their cup or the same number of French fries on their plate. Did you cut equal amounts of cake? Even when you do children don't always see it that way. An effort to be consistently fair will create an atmosphere where the children are constantly checking to make sure they have the same or slightly more than the other child. Run your house like a democracy. Put every decision to a vote. If two of the three kids always like to eat out at a pizza place and the third one likes Mexican food, the one who likes Mexican food will get out voted every time. Refuse to protect interests of a minority voting family member by voting to resolve disputes at all times. Put these ideas to work in your family today and it won't be long before sibling rivalry will be firmly present in your home. Once you have it thriving, call up your brother or sister and brag about how competitive your children are. Challenge your own sibling to a contest. See who can create the best rivalry among your children. You just might win, but don't be surprised if your sister gets mad and pouts or attempts to get even. Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman are the authors of The 10 Commitments: Parenting with Purpose . They are two of the world's foremost authorities on raising responsible, caring, confident children. They publish a free monthly e-zine for parents. To sign up for it or obtain more information about how they can help you or your group meet your parenting needs, visit their website today: www.personalpowerpress.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. 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How to Outsmart Your Picky Eater By Missy Chase Lapine www.TheSneakyChef.com One day, my youngest daughter had strep throat, and in the time-honored tradition of mothers everywhere, I hid her foul-tasting medicine in some chocolate pudding. As I watched her swallow it without protest, I couldn't help thinking about all the wars I had fought to get my kids to eat a fabulous grilled salmon or delicious carrot soup for dinner. Like other American children, mine had learned to run in horror from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish and legumes. It dawned on me that if I wanted them to grow up healthy and fit, I would have to take this "hiding" idea a step further. If it worked for healthy medicine, I reasoned, why couldn't it work for healthy food? And as I looked at the bigger picture, I knew there had to be a way to rescue dinner hour from being a battlefield, but without giving up on getting my kids to eat nutritiously. As a mother, this was a battle I couldn't afford to lose. Thus was born The Sneaky Chef. I compiled a list of kids' favorite foods, the ones they would eat without resistance. I then came up with List B -- "superfoods," the world's healthiest ingredients. And finally: How could I hide the items on List B inside List A? How could I conceal the foods they should eat inside the foods they would eat? After trying out hundreds of ideas in my own test kitchen, I came up with the secret: As long as they couldn't see, smell or taste anything too different, they would eat what was placed in front of them without a fight. Through careful testing, I eventually perfected the art of 13 hiding methods such as pureeing, using foods that hide well, and using visual and taste "decoys" to give food irresistible kid appeal. In the "make-aheads"- the recipe within a recipe that I worked into almost every dish - I made sure I used superfoods, which are ingredients that pack the most nutritious punch. Among them are spinach, which contains iron, calcium, folic acid and vitamins A and C; blueberries, which contain antioxidants, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium; cauliflower, which is packed with vitamin C, folate and fiber, and which fights disease and enhances immunity; and sweet potatoes, which stabilize blood sugar levels and contain vitamin B and folates. The basic principle was that if I wanted to eat smart, I had to buy smart, so I kept as many of the superfoods in my kitchen as possible all the time. The way I looked at this endeavor was that I was a warrior going toe to toe with the food giants, companies that threw millions of dollars into seducing my kids into eating refined sugars and transfats and empty carbs. If they could "package" their products in a way that enticed little ones into craving soda instead of milk, salty snacks, deep-fried vegetables and ultra-sweet junk foods of every conceivable variety, why shouldn't I entice them right back? Except that I would fool my kids, not with the goal of making a profit, but with the intention that they grow up strong and healthy. Now I had my mission. All the sneaky methods I used in my signature "make-aheads" were designed to present the healthiest ingredients in great tasting, good looking "packaging." I realized that the success of any recipe depends on the kids' willingness to eat it. Any time doubt reared its head, I simply did more homework. Thousands of scientific articles pointed to the benefits of eating better, aside from the obvious point that it makes your body feel better. Add to that fewer illnesses, increased brain power, enhanced qualities of attention, strengthened immunity, better mood, and more energy. The following make-ahead is an Orange Puree that blends excellently in pizza (and pasta) sauce, to bring a big nutritional boost to meals that usually aren't thought of as health foods. ORANGE PUREE 1 medium sweet potato or yam, peeled and rough chopped 3 med-to-large carrots, peeled and sliced into thick chunks 2-3 tablespoons water In medium pot, cover carrots and potatoes with cold water. Boil 20 minutes until tender. (Thoroughly cook carrots or they'll leave telltale nuggets -- a gigantic no-no for the Sneaky Chef). Drain vegetables. Puree on high in food processor with two tablespoons water, until completely smooth. Use rest of water to make a smooth puree. Makes about 2 cups of puree. Store in refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze frac14; cup portions in plastic containers. POWER PIZZA My kids have never noticed that I'm sneaking carrots and yams into their sauce! I mix the healthy puree right into the bottled tomato sauce, then I let the kids add the toppings. You can even prepare this pizza ahead of time without cooking it, and then refrigerate for a day or two. Simply bake when you're ready to eat. Makes 1 large pizza or 4 smaller pizzas: 1 store-bought pizza dough or 4 " Greek style" pocketless pitas (whole wheat preferred) frac34; cup store-bought tomato sauce frac14; cup Orange Puree (see recipe above) 1 to 2 cups low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese Preheat oven to 400 degrees and preheat a pizza stone or spray a baking sheet with oil.Stretch pizza dough, or roll out with floured rolling pin on floured surface, to form a pie. Transfer to stone or baking sheet. If using pocketless pitas, place them on the prepared baking sheet. Combine tomato sauce with Orange Puree. Mix well. Spread frac12; to 1 cup of the sauce mixture across the large pizza dough (frac14; cup for each pita), then top with 1 cup of mozzarella (frac12; cup per pita). Cover and refrigerate at this point, or bake for 15 to 20 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned. Allow to cool a few minutes, then cut into triangles and serve. copy; Missy Chase Lapine, all rights reserved. Missy Chase Lapine is the author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals (Running Press, March 2007). She is the former publisher of Eating Well magazine and the founder of a natural baby product line Baby Spareg; Missy is currently on the Culinary Arts faculty of The New School, in New York City, and conducts workshops that teach families how to eat healthier. She is available to individuals, groups and businesses for private cooking instruction, workshops and personal coaching. Missy lives with her family in Westchester, New York. For more information visit www.TheSneakyChef.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Bedtime for Toddlers Ten Steps to Sleep Without Tears By Dr. Laura Markham www.yourparentingsolutions.com Toddlers don't seem to have an off switch. Often, when they're tired, they just reverberate faster, like an overwound toy, until they crash. The bad news is that some kids seem to be born good sleepers, and some don't. The good news is that falling asleep is a matter of habit, and all kids can learn it. It may take some time to develop that habit, but your busy toddler can learn to put himself to sleep, and to stay asleep, eventually. Here#146;s how: Start the wind-down process early in the evening. Toddlers who've been racing around can#146;t simply switch gears and decompress at bedtime. If dad comes home during the bedtime routine, make sure he reads a quiet story with the kids, rather than tossing them in the air as a welcome. Follow the same evening routine every night, if possible. Dinner, bath, stories, then kissing and tucking in all the stuffed animals who share the toddler's bed, then prayers or blessings, then lights out while you sing to your little one, is common and effective. Beware of too elaborate a routine, because they have a way of expanding to take more time. Your goal is a sense of calm, safe, predictability. Toddlers who are showing oppositional behavior may resist moving along with the bedtime routine. The best way to sidestep this is to have the clock, rather than you, be the bad guy. #147;Look, it#146;s 7:15! If we can get out of the tub now and brush your teeth, we#146;ll have time for an extra story before lights out at 7:30!#148; That way, you#146;re on his side, and he doesn#146;t need to rebel against you. He also begins to learn about responsibility and making smart choices. Help your toddler set his "biological clock." Toddlers need a set time to go to bed every night. Most toddlers do better with an early bedtime (around 7pm), because it seems to fit their biological rhythm. When they stay up later, their adrenalin kicks in, and they actually have a harder time falling asleep. Dim lights in the hour before bedtime, as well as slow, calm routines, help kids' bodies know that it's time to sleep. And watch for those dinner-time yawns that signal he's tired. If he kicks into "overdrive" mode, getting him into bed will be much harder. Set up a cozy bed. Your goal is to ensure that discomfort doesn't exacerbate the normal cycles of slight waking into real waking. Quiet matters -- make sure she can't hear the TV. Consider a "white noise" machine if necessary. Darkness matters -- make sure the curtains keep the streetlights out. Room-darkening shades are invaluable, especially in the summer months when your toddler will be going to sleep while it's still light out. Warmth matters -- if she kicks her covers off, make sure she sleeps in warm pjs with feet. And of course, once she's out of diapers, be sure she uses the bathroom last thing. Many toddlers need a bedtime snack to hold them through the night, especially during growth spurts. Warm milk, a piece of toast with peanut butter (not hydrogenated oil, though), something calming and predictable, not too interesting, and without sugar, usually works best. If they can eat it at a snack table in their room while you read a bedtime story, before brushing teeth, you can move efficiently through the bedtime routine. Don't give up naps too early. Although every child has individual sleep needs, most kids aren#146;t ready to give up naps till age 3. For many kids, going napless can make them cranky and adrenalized, which makes relaxing at bedtime harder. Make sure they get enough fresh air and exercise during the day. Your grandmother was right: kids really do sleep more soundly when they get more outdoor play. Just not in the hour before bedtime, which re-energizes them! Most toddlers fall asleep easily if you lie down with them, and many parents do this. Other parents resist the temptation, because they too often fall asleep themselves, and lose their evenings. This is an individual call, and there is no shame in waiting till your child is a little older before expecting her to put herself to sleep -- it does get easier for kids as they get older. Many working moms, particularly, treasure this time with their kids, and love being able to go to sleep early, then get up rested at the crack of dawn. One downside of this habit is that if the child is not in your bed, you#146;ll need to move, which wakes you up. The other downside is that when he awakens slightly in the middle of the night, during normal sleep cycles, he may well protest your absence. All humans wake slightly at night during normal sleep cycles. Statistically, toddlers who sleep by themselves often wake fully looking for mom, since sleeping alone isn#146;t a natural biological state for them. If you don#146;t want your toddler appearing by your bed at night, you#146;ll need to teach new sleep habits so he can put himself back to sleep during the night. If you've been nursing or rocking your child to sleep, he#146;s likely to wake during the night looking for you, and will need to be nursed or rocked again to fall back asleep. Your goal now is to help him fall asleep in his own crib or bed, comfortably. That means putting him in bed when he's awake, so he gets used to falling asleep there himself. Breaking habits can be challenging #150; he can#146;t understand why you won't nurse or rock him now. You can expect him to need your close physical proximity to settle down. In the beginning, it can also help to reward him with star charts and prizes. Start slow. Begin (after your bedtime routine) by holding your child until he falls asleep -- not lying down, which puts you in danger of falling asleep. Use the time to meditate, if you can, or think of something delightful that you can look forward to. The next phase is to touch, but not hold, your child. Then, begin to sit next to your child while he falls asleep, without touching him. Finally, sit further and further away (with a good book and a flashlight if he can handle the light), until you#146;re outside the bedroom door. Another variation on this process is to move quietly around the room, straightening up or folding laundry, while your toddler falls asleep. This provides a sense of security, without him depending on your physical proximity. Eventually, you#146;ll find that your toddler is asleep almost as soon as his head settles on the pillow #150; and you#146;ll be amazed to find you actually have an evening! Dr. Laura Markham is the editor of the parenting web site www.YourParentingSolutions.com , offering real-life solutions you can use every day to create the family of your dreams. She specializes in helping families nurture the parent-child relationships that protect today's kids. Dr. Markham lives in New York with her husband, eleven year old daughter, and fifteen year old son. More >>

Make Daily Physical Activity Part of Your Child's Life By Rae Pica www.movingandlearning.com Here's some of the bad news about sedentary lifestyles: Forty percent of children ages 5 to 8 show at least one heart disease risk factor, including hypertension and obesity, which among children has doubled over the past two decades. The first signs of arteriosclerosis are appearing at age 5 - something never before seen in anyone under the age of 30. American children born in 2000 face a one-in-three chance of developing Type 2 diabetes - what used to be called adult-onset diabetes! This is thought to be the first generation of children with a shorter lifespan than their parents'. The good news is that it doesn't take much to turn things around. We just have to make sure our kids are physically active! Following are some tips for making that happen: Turn off the TV! Research shows children are being electronically entertained an average of five to six hours a week. Without electronics, they'll have to find other ways to keep themselves entertained. Encourage your children to engage in active play. Research has demonstrated that the most active children are those whose parents have encouraged them to be active. Play with your children! Blow bubbles for them to chase, play tag and hide-and-seek, put on an up-tempo song and boogie in the living room, or break out the pots and pans and hold a parade around the house! Serve as a role model, taking part in physical activity yourself - cheerfully! Take the children to parks, playgrounds, or beaches; on hikes, bowling, or skating during vacations and weekends. Don't send the wrong message about physical activity by endlessly circling the parking lot for the spot closest to the door. Instead, make a game out of parking as far as possible from the door and finding different ways to get to it (walking backward, tiptoeing, jogging, or skipping). When it's time for gift giving, select items like hula hoops; balls in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures; roller skates; or a wading pool or swing set. When shopping for games, Twister has more to offer than a board game. And CDs with lively music are a better choice than movie videos. Don't expect organized sports to take care of your child's physical activity needs. There's more waiting than moving in most structured, adult-directed games. Rae Pica is a children's physical activity specialist and the author of A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity, and Free Time Create a Successful Child (Marlowe Co., 2006) and Great Games for Young Children (Gryphon House, 2006). She has shared her expertise with such clients as the Sesame Street Research Department, the Centers for Disease Control, Gymboree Play Music, and the President's Council on Physical Fitness Sports. You can visit Rae at www.movingandlearning.com Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Eating for Weight Loss By Elizabeth Yarnell www.gloriousonepotmeals.com Healthy weight is just one part of an overall healthy lifestyle. The conclusion of all the research conducted by so many respected organizations is that people are overweight because not only do they intake more calories than they burn, but overweight people also tend to eat too many rich foods high in fat and sugar and devoid of nutritional value. I'll bet this sounds familiar. The most surefire way to lose weight is the one that people in our immediate-gratification society hate most to hear: eat less and exercise more. Eat less and exercise more. Sounds simple, doesn't it? We won't discuss an exercise routine here, but please remember to discuss plans with a doctor before undertaking any exercise program. What we should know, however, is that the dictate to "eat less" doesn't have to be synonymous with "starve" or "feel deprived." The dieter's rule of "eat less" should really be rephrased to "eat more fruits and vegetables!" Mostly composed of fiber and water, fruits and vegetables help us feel full while keeping our digestive system flowing smoothly and working efficiently. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, fruits and vegetables give you a nutritional bang in each bite. And according to the Mayo Clinic, dieters can eat virtually unlimited amounts fruits and vegetables and still achieve their weight-loss and maintenance goals. Healthy bodies need protein to build muscles, carbohydrates for energy, and vitamins, minerals and nutrients for good health. Beware of radical diet programs offering weight loss through elimination of one of these fundamental food groups. Some low-carb diets are often high in artery-clogging saturated fat, and since some of them advocate reducing your fruit and vegetable intake, you lose many nutrients essential to health. Robbing your body of its fuel source of carbohydrates forces it to mine other body tissues for energy. While this may result in a temporary weight loss, the pounds often return upon reverting to normal eating habits. However, you should choose carbohydrate sources carefully. Packaged rice and noodle mixes not only cost more than the ingredients themselves, but also include more sodium, artificial preservatives, and saturated fat than we might want. That slice of white bread won't provide half of the nutrition we receive from a slice of whole grain bread. Whole grain breads and cereals include both the fibrous outer bran layer and the nutrient-rich inner core containing vitamins E and B6 and folate. Whole grains also offer soluble fiber that remove bile acids from your intestines. In a similar vein, a no-fat diet cripples the body in its attempts to cushion joints, insulate nerves, and pad organs. A government review of diet research released in 2001 found that moderate-fat programs are the healthiest for dieters and a proven way to keep pounds off. Of course, not all fats are the same and healthy eaters try to eliminate saturated fats like those found in many commercially-prepared foods. Good sources of fat include avocados, olives, nuts, and seeds and their oils, and fish. Red meat should be well-trimmed to reduce the fat concentration, and leaner meats such as poultry or fish should be substituted more often. Adherents of food combining believe that the complete digestion experienced by eating proteins and carbohydrates separately encourages clean and efficient excretion of excess calories. According to the theory, allowing the body's natural enzymes to function properly breaks down the acids and bases of foods more completely, allowing fuller assimilation of nutrients as the food travels through the intestines. Not only is this believed to be healthier, but it also enables the intestines to separate out excess matter more easily and move it on through, as they say. Since excess matter is stored as fat, dieters hoping for weight loss may see a benefit by practicing food combining at times. Even eating only one meal a week of either starch and vegetables or protein and vegetables may make a difference in how you look and feel. Since a healthy body seeks its own equilibrium of weight, the most beneficial diet you can feed your body is the one that supplies all of the elements essential for cellular functions. These elements are easy to find in whole, unprocessed foods: grains, produce, nuts and seeds, and lean meats. Stick to whole foods and balanced meals, try to get some exercise, and your weight will fall into place the way you really want it to: slowly, gradually, safely, and permanently. Here's a great, balanced meal of whole foods in an easy to prepare one-pot meal. Divinely Rosemary Chicken with Quinoa Serves 2 Ingredients 3/4 cup quinoa 1 cup water or broth 1/4 onion, 1" slices, separated 2 pieces chicken, boned or de-boned, fresh or frozen solid Salt and pepper, to taste 1 small yellow summer squash, sliced 1 cup broccoli, cut into florets 3-4 mushrooms, sliced thickly 2 sprigs rosemary Instructions Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray inside of 2-quart cast iron Dutch oven and lid with olive or canola oil. Rinse quinoa in a strainer and place in pot with water. Smooth out the layer and add onion strips. Rinse the chicken and place the pieces in the pot. Salt and pepper to taste. Create a layer of squash, lightly season with salt and pepper, and drop broccoli in on top. Arrange mushroom slices and tuck rosemary sprigs into crevices between the foods. Sprinkle lightly with the final salt and pepper. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Do not lift the lid before you smell the aroma of a fully-cooked meal escape the oven, and then wait three more minutes before opening the Dutch oven. Tips Don't forget to remove the rosemary sprigs before eating! This recipe will work in both an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven and one of raw, uncoated cast iron. Be sure your conventional oven is correctly adjusted and is fully pre-heated to 450 degrees F before putting the meal inside. Pronounced "keen-wa", quinoa is one of the only grains that is a complete protein. The staple grain of the Incans, it has a unique, appealing texture. Find it near the rice in your grocery store. About the author: Elizabeth Yarnell is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and the author of Glorious One-Pot Meals: A new quick healthy approach to Dutch oven cooking , a guide to a guide to preparing quick, healthy and balanced one-pot meals. Visit Elizabeth online at www.gloriousonepotmeals.com to subscribe to her free newsletter. The Glorious One-Pot Meal cooking method is unique and holds US patent 6,846,504. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

6 Things You Can Do To Get A Better Night Sleep Tonight By Jesse Cannone www.losethebackpain.com Let's face it. We live in a "go-go" world! Our lifestyle is harried, our food is fast and statistics now show it's taking a toll on one of the most important parts of our life--our sleep. The 2002 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) Sleep in America poll found that 74 percent of American adults are experiencing a sleeping problem a few nights a week or more, 39 percent get less than seven hours of sleep each weeknight, and more than one in three (37 percent) are so sleepy during the day that it interferes with daily activities. Our fast paced way of life is getting the best of us. What about you? Answer True or False? Five hours of sleep at night is good enough. It's ok to skimp on sleep during the work week as long as you make up the time over the weekends. The effects of sleep deprivation are short-term (e.g., darkness under the eyes and dull and/or splotchy skin after a bad night's sleep) and has no effect on long-term health. Drinking caffeine early in the evening does not affect sleep. Keeping a TV or computer in the bedroom has no effect on sleep. The amount of sleep I get has nothing to do with my weight, chronic pain, or overall health. If you answered "true" to two or more questions you may need to make a few changes in order to achieve the highly coveted "good" night's sleep and keep yourself in optimal health. Experts suggest that most people need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night but that doesn't apply to everyone. Some people only require six hours while those who are more active or have an illness may require more. So how do you know if you are getting enough quality sleep? Those who are sleep deprived often look the part. Dark circles and the "sleepy" look are common, but they also can have unpredictable moods, drowsiness during the day, have difficulty concentrating, weak immune systems and recover poorly from injury. Sounding a little too familiar? In fact, poor sleep has been found to impair the ability to perform tasks involving memory, learning and logical reasoning. This may contribute to mistakes or unfulfilled potential at school or on the job as well as strained relationships at home. Even more disturbing, inadequate amounts of sleep have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, weight gain, obesity, heart disease and depression, to name just a few. But what if you go to bed early, have every intention on logging in your seven to nine hours but only to lie awake watching the clock...eyes wide open? Well, there are several simple adjustments you can make to stack the cards in favor of a better night's sleep. Avoid watching TV before bed...especially in bed! The bed should be reserved for two things...sleep and romance...not Desperate Housewives or football! Research shows that those who experienced the most sleep disturbances had televisions in their bedrooms and used the TV to fall asleep. Try a different pillow or mattress. It's scary to think how long some of us have been sleeping on the same pillows and mattresses for years and years. Does your mattress provide the support you like? Do you wake with your back aching? Is there enough room for you and your sleep partner? Do you sleep better, or worse, when you sleep away from home? These are all things to ask yourself to determine if your mattress could be the "sabotager" of your good night's sleep. Or more simply, just replacing your pillow with a new, fresh, higher quality version could be all that you need. Avoid caffeine late in the day. Did you know that even a small amount of caffeine even 10-12 hours before bedtime can cause problems falling asleep! Try eliminating the tea, soda and even chocolate and see if sleep improves. Listen to relaxing music. Establishing a relaxing bedtime routine, such as listening to music, could be just the thing you need to signal your body it is time to sleep. So, dim the lights and throw some slow jazz or purchase a "relaxing sounds" CD to help slow your mind and body down for an evening of peaceful sleep. Try mind-body techniques. After an action-packed day, your brain and body need to unwind and detox before sleep can occur (a.k.a. you need to chill!) Create a "ritual" for bedtime - take a bath, meditate, do some easy stretches or yoga. Try to do your "ritual" in the same way, in the same place, at the same time each night. The repetition will trigger your mind and body that it is time to relax and sleep. Try a natural sleep aid. For many people, while the above tips and suggestions may help, it often isn't enough. if you are one of those people who really have a hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep, you may want to try a natural sleep aid. While over the counter sleep medications may help you fall asleep, they cannot be taken long-term and many have risky side effects. A sleep aid that uses natural ingredients is a better approach to getting a solid night's sleep. About the author: Fitness expert and best-selling author, Jesse Cannone, CFT, is the co-owner of www.losethebackpain.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Healthy Habits: Make the Most of Your Child's Day By Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers www.FreshBaby.com It's a fact - eating and good eating habits makes you and your children brighter and better throughout the day. Here are a few tips that will help you and your family make the most out of each day: Breakfast: Eating a good breakfast can do a lot more for your children than you may realize. Studies show that eating breakfast both reduces risk of obesity, and boosts school performance - both learning and behavior. With the early morning havoc of getting ready for work and school, breakfast runs the risk of being short changed. Don't let this happen, here are few tips for breakfast success: A healthy breakfast is just like any other meal; it should consist of protein, whole grains, fruits or vegetables and calcium. Keep the TV off and avoid other distractions. Pack backpacks, lay out clothes, and get your children ready for school before bedtime - don't wait until morning. Prepare breakfast foods in advance, and freeze them in single servings. They'll quickly defrost in the microwave or the toaster oven. Have "on the go" breakfast items, such as small boxes of whole grain cereals, fresh fruits, yogurt in the tube, granola bars, etc. on hand. Just in case someone sleeps through the alarm clock. Lunch: An uneaten lunch coming home from school, may not be a sign of dislike, but maybe a sign of too much talking and not enough chewing. School lunch periods are short. Encourage your child not to dawdle and get to the lunch room quickly. When it comes to drinks, encourage your child to stick with milk or water. Many schools have eliminated soda and juices from their lunchroom, but no all have done so yet. If you are packing your child's lunch: Offer small servings, many choices - variety is a key to healthy eating. Providing your child with plenty of variety is not hard or time consuming. Many lunch foods can be purchased or prepared, in advance, in large quantities. Each morning, simply fill up small containers with different foods. Buy a small Thermos, and include soups in the list of lunch choices. If your child's classroom does not have a refrigerator, you'll need an insulated lunch bag with freezer pack to keep foods cool until lunch time. If your child is buying lunch at school: Unless your child's school is piloting a special healthy or organic lunch program, don't expect too much in the way of healthy choices in the school's cafeteria. Encourage your child to get on line quickly, and if given a choice, avoid chips and sugary items and choose a fresh fruit and a vegetable. If you are disappointed with cafeteria's lunch options, consider limiting buying lunch to once per week and pack a lunch for your child on other days. For a longer term solution, raise your issues at school board meetings. Snacks: Don't be surprised to find that your kids arrive home from school starving. Be prepared with plenty of healthy snack choices on hand. Snacks provide the body with a boost of energy between meals. Snacks and junk food are not the same thing. Healthy snack ideas include: Fresh fruit such as apples, pears, grapes or a container of cantaloupe chunks in the fridge Cut up veggies with dipping sauces like fat-free ranch dressing or cucumber yogurt sauce Dried fruits like raisins, apricots, dates and cherries Nuts, sunflower seeds or trail mix Celery sticks with cream cheese or peanut butter Hard boiled eggs Cheese slices, cubes or string cheese logs Hummus or white bean dip and pita bread Whole-grain crackers, baked snack chips or rice cakes Yogurt Dinner: Dinner time is a great time of the day to get to know your child! So turn off the TVs, videogames, Gameboys, MP3s, put down the newspapers, books, and magazines, and sit down at the dinner table to enjoy a great meal with your family. During the meal, talk to your children about their day at school. For conversation fun, ask everyone to share something good and bad about their day. Enjoy the time learning about what's going on in your child's life when you are not around. About the authors: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters, the mothers of five children and founders of Fresh Baby. Creators of products that include the So Easy Baby Food Kit and Good Clean Fun Placemats; Fresh Baby offers parents convenient and practical support in raising healthy children. Visit them online at www.FreshBaby.com and subscribe to their Fresh Ideas newsletter to get monthly ideas, tips and activities for developing your family's healthy eating habits! Fresh Baby products are available at many fine specialty stores and national chains including Target, Wild Oats, and Whole Foods Markets. Permission Granted for Use on DrLaura.com. More >>