Orange County Kids Activities Blog

January 16, 2010

An Old Fashioned Remedy for ADHD

Filed under: Animals, Child Care, Day Trips, Educational, Family Activities, Family Logistics, Free Activities, Fun Things to Do in Orange County, Scouting, Summer Camps — Tags: — admin @ 4:26 pm

I read a great article in this month’s Parenting magazine about Nature Deficit Disorder. In it the author mentioned a study published by the American Journal of Public Health that found that exposure to nature reduced ADHD symptoms in children.

In this study they had children do typical weekend or after-school activities in three settings, indoors, outdoors in a built setting (like a blacktop area without much greenery), and outdoors in a mostly green setting. Then their parents rated their abilities on things like following directions in comparison with what was normal for that child. The results of the outdoor built setting were better than indoors. The results of the outdoor green setting were even better. It appears that the results were measured in the first hour after the activity. I would love to see further study on how long the results last.

Even without further study, though, this information could be useful to parents. Getting outdoors is inexpensive and good for all kids whether or not they have adhd. In fact, there’s a lot of discussion about what adhd is and even whether it’s real. For a ‘treatment’ like this, it doesn’t matter. If your child has trouble concentrating or completing tasks, is easily distracted or can’t sit still, try getting them more green outdoor time. There are no harmful side effects. If it helps even a little, you’re ahead.

Here are a few ideas to get you started. Maybe your children can come up with more.

  • Have kids walk or ride their bike to school, preferably through an area where they can see trees, grass, rocks and other cool stuff.
  • Set up a fun spot in your back yard where you child can go to read, play or maybe even do homework.
  • Hang a hummingbird feeder outside your child’s bedroom window.
  • Open the windows so your child will see the great outdoors sometimes even when they’re inside.
  • Put houseplants in the house, maybe even in your child’s room.
  • When you’re looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon, head to one of the many wilderness areas in Orange County.
  • Sign your child up for one of the many children’s educational programs offered by these nature centers or sanctuaries. Don’t forget to allow some extra non-structured play time before or after class.
  • Join a club that does a lot of outdoor activities, like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or Indian Guides.
  • Don’t let poor weather stop your child from playing outdoors. Get rain boots and jackets, or just accept the fact that they’re going to get wet and muddy. They can clean up when they’re done.

August 9, 2009

10 Things to do to Get Ready for Back to School

Filed under: Family Logistics, Parenting — Tags: , — admin @ 2:04 pm

A couple of weeks ago I saw school supplies in local Orange County stores.  My first thought was, “Arrghh!  It’s only July!”  But then I started thinking about some of the things I want to get for the kids, and some of them take a little lead time.

So here’s my list of 10 things to get ready for Back to School.

1. How many times have you sent your child to school with ten freshly sharpened pencils, and then a week later they can’t find a pencil? Customized pencils are available at a pretty reasonable price. You could get a set of pencils with your child’s name. Those should be less likely to end up in someone else’s desk. Or what about a nickname, favorite quote or inside joke that will make your child smile? There are also fun pencils like scented Smencils or Swarovski Crystal pencils. Speaking of pencils, how about a fun pencil sharpener like these noses?

2. If your child uses the computer for reports or projects at school and at home, a thumb drive can help them carry their work in progress with them. They even make some that look like monsters, robots or animals.

3. Get a globe and a map of the United States for your house. I’m amazed how often my kids refer to these. It’s not just at homework time, either. A question will come up on a game show and the kids will run to the map to find the answer. It also helps kids put things together. They can tough a globe and see how a flat map of the U.S. fits in with it. You might even go so far as to get a map of your community so they can see their home, the school, the grocery store and other places they visit frequently.

4. Get a wall calendar for your house and mark important dates on it for everyone to see. My favorite is Boynton’s Mom’s Calendar. Start out with the school calendar. Mark down the first day of school, holidays and minimum days. Add sports schedules and play dates. When the teacher asks your child to bring something to school on a certain date, have them mark it on the calendar. When your child asks you if they can make plans for Tuesday after school, send them to the calendar to check if they’re free. This is the start of them managing their time, instead of you.

5. A planner. Schools are using planners for younger and younger kids, and it’s a great idea. Long before they have to manage homework from six different classes, they get used to writing their homework in their planner each day. If your school sells planners at orientation or in the classroom, get that one. It’s easier to use the same planner that everyone else is using. If your school doesn’t do planners in an organized way, you might want to think about getting a planner for your child anyway.

6. Lunch supplies. Start thinking about what you’re going to do for lunches. Are you going to send them to school with their lunch, give them money each day, or buy lunch tickets? Start stocking up on lunchbags and ziplocs. What kind of things will you need for lunches? Make a grocery list (or better yet, have you kids make a grocery list) for the week before school starts. If your child is just getting used to being away at lunchtime, maybe you could get a cute notepad to write a little note to put in your child’s lunch each day.

7. Set up a homework place. Kids need a homework routine including a quiet place to do homework. Give this some thought before school starts. Is it easier to do homework at the kitchen table where you can supervise? Or do younger kids who have already finished their homework distract kids who still have work to do? Can you set up a desk in their room? If they do homework at after-school care, set up a routine for kids to show you what they’ve done. You can check it off against the planner and see if there’s anything they need help with.

8. Establish a routine for papers that need to go to you. My least favorite part of school is when I’m getting everybody ready and one of them announces that they need to bring (fill in the blank) to school today. Of course it’s usually something I need to go to the store for and somehow the notice never got to me. So as part of homework, your child should put anything that’s supposed to go to you in a specified place.

9. Novels and textbooks. Younger kids are often expected to read for a certain number of minutes each evening as part of their homework. For kids in the upper grades, sometimes the teachers will give you a reading list at the beginning of the year. If you are the first on your block to act, you might be able to find these novels at a used bookstore. Another option is to order them online. If you order a certain dollar amount’s worth of books, sometimes you can get free shipping. If you’re almost at that magical number, consider ordering another copy of something for the teacher to have as a spare.

Middle and high schoolers often have to lug heavy textbooks back and forth every day. If you can get the ISBN number of a textbook, you can buy a copy to keep at home. If you can get it used, the cost can be very reasonable. Start with the math book, because there’s math homework almost every night. This also avoids the ever-popular, “I can’t do my homework because I didn’t bring my book home.”

10. Transportation plan. How are the kids going to get to and from school? If they’re old enough to ride their bike this year, it’s time to make sure the tires and air and you have a bike lock and a helmet that fits.  Do a couple of test runs before school starts so they’ll get used to the route. If you’re going to carpool, start calling other parents to work out a schedule.

The teachers always have lists of required school supplies. You may be able to get most of the information early on your school’s website or in their office. The afternoon of the first day of school is a terrible time to shop. The stores are running out of things and the lines are long. If you can, pick up the essentials starting now, while they’re on sale. When you see markers for 19 cents or folders for a dime, get 3 times what your child will need. They’ll need to replenish their supplies around winter break and spring break, and the prices won’t be so low then. You might also think about getting some extras to give to the teacher when you see a deal that’s too good to pass up.

July 24, 2009

Home Pride Bread is Back!

Filed under: Family Logistics — Tags: , — admin @ 7:55 am

homeprideLast fall, Wonder Bread left the Southern California market, taking my favorite brand, Home Pride, with it. They cited high operating costs in California and troubles with a union. Truthfully, I didn’t notice that the Fluffed Nothing Wonder Bread had disappeared. I didn’t buy that anyway.  Home Pride, on the other hand, was soft like Wonder, but with a little more substance. Since it’s disappearance, I’ve been buying the store brand wheat breads, which aren’t as good.

The other brands that Wonder took with them when they departed were Roman Meal, Baker’s Inn.

Something must have changed recently, because yesterday I went into my local grocery store and saw a display of Wonder and Home Pride breads. Hurray!

Last fall we also lost Mothers Cookies. Fortunately Kellogg’s rescued the brand and brought them back to Southern California grocery stores last month.

So as lunch-packing season approaches, things are looking good again.  Whew!

July 17, 2009

Restaurants Trying to Lure Us with Great Deals

Filed under: Family Logistics — Tags: , — admin @ 6:20 am

I usually throw away the junk mail without looking at it very carefully. Yesterday, though, a Soup Plantation flyer caught my eye.  Buy one adult meal and two beverages and get a second adult meal free with the coupon.  That’s pretty good! But it gets better. It’s valid for up to two pairs of two. That means that four of us can eat and we’ll pay for two meals and four drinks.  The Soup Plantation coupons always used to be for about 10% off.  They must be really desperate to get customers.

In the same pile of junk (or so I thought) mail, was a coupon for Fridays. Buy one entre, get one free. Wow! Their coupons used to be $5 off when you spend $20 or more.

Pick up Stix has a buy-one-entre-get-one-free coupon on their website right now too. It’s good all the way through the end of September. And they sell won tons for 25 cents on Wednesdays.

I’m amazed. I’m used to seeing offers like this from restaurants that you’ve never heard of because they’re trying to get their business off the ground.  But these are some of our favorite restaurants. I’m trying to economize these days just like everyone else, but I only have so much willpower. We’re off to Soup Plantation!

June 29, 2009

How to Get That Hard-to-Find Thing Your Kid Needs

Filed under: Family Logistics, Sports, Youth Sports Teams — Tags: , — admin @ 3:59 pm

Have you ever gone from store to store to find something? The more specific and unusual an item is, the harder it will be to find in a local store. Kids sporting activities often require gear that is specific to that sport and can be difficult to find. Luckily, we no longer have to find things locally or drive to the nearest big city to shop. There are more online stores than ever before, and since they serve a nationwide or worldwide customer base they are able to offer products that wouldn’t sell in enough quantities in one geographical area.

I ran into this problem recently when I tried to get a swimsuit for my daughter for a junior lifeguard program. It needs to be red and strong enough to stay in place no matter what she does. My daughter also wants a two-piece. This shouldn’t be too hard, right?  We started at a local swim shop that specializes in gear for competitive swimming and water polo. They have all kinds of good stuff for water sports. Unfortunately, they don’t have a red two-piece suit in my daughter’s size. The sales lady was very nice and tried to help. When it became apparent that they didn’t have what we needed, she asked if it had to be red. Yes, it does. We’re looking for something very specific. I understand if they don’t have it in stock. How many red two-piece competitive swimsuits in this particular size can they sell in South Orange County?  If they carried everything that anyone might want, their inventory would have to be huge. The more specific the item you’re looking for, the more likely it is that shopping online will save you time and money. What if you need goal keeper gloves, a swim parka, or kid sized golf clubs? If you do find them at a local brick and mortar store, you’re going to pay whatever price the store asks. If you shop online, you have the opportunity to compare prices at your leisure.

We’ve tried Sports Chalet, Big 5 and Chick’s (now Dick’s) with no luck. So I went looking online and found several good online stores that sell swimwear. But there are some things you need to do in order to make the most of your online shopping experience.

You must shop early. If you need it tomorrow, shopping online is not the right answer. You need to be organized enough to shop ahead of time. A few weeks is optimal. You can shop a few days before you need something if you’re willing to pay for expedited shipping and you’re positive that it’s going to be the right thing the first time.

Make sure that you’re shopping on a secure website. Look at the url or the website address. It should be at the top of your browser and it usually starts with http. When you get to the page where you need to enter private information, like your credit card number, it should start with https://  That means that there are standard security features in place so that your private info won’t get hacked. How secure is it? Well, I don’t know the technical details of how the security certificate works, but I know that major reputable online stores like Amazon and iTunes use it successfully. I have been making online purchases at a variety of places for at least 5 years and have never run into a problem having my data stolen.

Speaking of reputable stores, you need to make sure that the store you buy from has a good track record. Fortunately that information is available at your fingertips too. Go to the Better Business Bureau’s site and type in the website address. If the BBB has received any complaints about the business, you’ll be able to see what the complaint was about and whether the company addressed it to the customer’s satisfaction. The BBB report may also tell you how long they’ve been in business.  If they don’t have any information on the store, at least you know that they haven’t received any complaints about them. If you have doubts and you’re willing to do a little extra research, you can check out how long that domain name has been registered by doing a whois search on Godaddy. If a site has been registered for only a few months, the fact that it has no complaints probably doesn’t mean much. In fact, unscrupulous store owners would be smart to just go register a new domain name when their old one gets complaints.

Before you hit the checkout button, be sure to check the store’s return policy. This is doubly important if it’s something like clothing and you aren’t positive that it will fit correctly.

Check the shipping / handling cost too. There is a wide range of prices for shipping because many stores mark up the shipping cost that they’ve negotiated with their vendor. One of the biggest benefits to buying online is the ability to compare prices on the same item at different stores. But make sure you include the shipping costs in your comparison.

Last but not least, look for Coupons. There are many sites out there that list coupon codes for online stores. The easiest way to find out if there is a coupon for the store you’re looking at is to do a search on “storename coupon”. You might not find anything, but if you do it’s well worth the extra few minutes.

If you haven’t shopped online before it may seem a little scary, but more and more people are doing it with great results. Give it a try!

May 4, 2009

Stock up the Car for Summer

Filed under: Day Trips, Family Activities, Family Logistics, Fun Things to Do in Orange County — Tags: , , — admin @ 12:00 pm

How many times have you been out with the kids and had to return home for something that you didn’t realize you’d need?  Or stopped to buy fast food or a sweatshirt because you weren’t prepared?  There are things that you’re going to want to have handy all summer long, so go ahead and stock up the car now.sunscreen1

  • Sunblock – There should always be sunblock in the car. Hand it to the kids so they can start applying it while you’re driving.
  • Quarters and cash. Quarters for parking meters and a few dollars for snacks and small items.
  • Snacks.  Things that can stay in the car regardless of the heat until that fateful day when you’re out longer than you expected and the kids are starving. You don’t want to ruin dinner by stopping for fast food, and you only need something to hold them off for a little while.  Things like crackers are good.socks
  • Water. More important than food.
  • Spare Clothes. One set of socks, shoes (or flip flops), shorts, underwear and t-shirts for each kid for when their clothes get wet, as you know they will this summer.  Add a sweatshirt for when you stay out into the evening and a bathing suit and towel for unexpected water opportunities.
  • Movies. If you have a dvd player in your car, make sure you have a dvd to two handy. I recommend School House Rock because it’s good for short periods of time and all ages like it. Plus it’s not a decision. It’s just you putting on some music that happens to have cartoons attached. Set it to play random songs.
  • Wetwipes.  I’m assuming that if you have really little kids you’ve already got the diaper bag situation under control. Otherwise, get some wet wipes for a quick cleanup on the road. Last year’s wet wipes are all dried out by now, so you need to replace them.beach-towels
  • Reading material for you. If you’re stuck somewhere waiting for something or someone, you could stop at a nearby park where the kids will be entertained. Having a magazine or novel handy makes it more convenient for you.
  • Hand held video games.  I keep these under wraps and use them in emergency situations only.  Once the kids know they’re there, they’ll get used and become boring. Simple single-game handhelds only cost about $10 each.
  • Cooler. This could be a small plastic cooler or even a cheap styrofoam cooler.  The point is that when you’re going to be out longer than you expected, you can pick up food at the grocery store instead of McDonalds and have a place to put it. You can either buy ice, or get a couple of cans of frozen juice concentrate to keep the food cold. Then when you’re home later, the cans will be melted and you can mix the juice.

    • schoolhouserock

  • First aid kid. Sometimes a band-aid is more about comfort than necessity.
  • Meltdown materials. What is it that can calm your child down when they’re overtired? Sometimes bringing out that familiar comforting item can be enough to keep the peace until you get home.

Okay, you’re officially ready for summer.  Go have fun!

March 23, 2009

Let Them be Frugal

Filed under: Educational, Family Logistics, Kids and Money — Tags: , , , — admin @ 12:00 pm

During these difficult economic times we’re all thinking a little more carefully about how we spend our money.  A few years ago it seemed like resources were unlimited. We’d go out to dinner if we didn’t feel like cooking, buy the latest electronic gizmo for ourselves and our kids, and not think twice about cell phone minutes.  The way that companies sell things speaks to the kind of consumers we were. They ‘neglect’ to tell you about certain fees, charge things automatically unless you object, assume that we want super-size. It’s obvious that these tactics work for them, or they wouldn’t use them.

I can't believe how many young kids have expensive phones.

What are kids learning when we spend this way? Money is no big deal.  They can have pretty much anything they want when they want it. If they’re irresponsible and their belongings get lost or broken, they’ll just get another. These kids are going to be in for a rude awakening when they’re out on their own. In fact, the youngest generation of adults is already in trouble.  I know people in their 20’s who make really good money, but can’t seem to pay the rent. They have no idea how to save up a down payment for a house. Wouldn’t it be better to learn money management when we’re talking about a $100 iPod rather than a $4,000 credit card bill for stuff that you can’t even remember?

So how can you teach kids the value of money?  Well, lectures don’t work. No matter how many times you say that money doesn’t grow on trees, if they always get what they want when they want it, those are just words. So you deny them something they want?  That seems mean. Besides, kids are smart. They’ll figure out that you did that just to teach them a lesson.

moneytree1The answer is to put some of the power in their hands. Give them an allowance and let them live with it. The second part is the challenge. It’s all too easy to give them money and then still buy them things. Decide what things you’ll pay for and which expenses are theirs – and then stick with it. Maybe you pay for food, clothes, extracurricular activities. Maybe you pay for groceries to make lunches with and they pay if they want to buy lunch. Predictability is key. Just like we make decisions based on expected income, their decisions will be better if they know what’s coming. That’s not to say that you can expect them to make responsible decisions right away.  It takes a few mistakes to get it right. They need to see something they want and realize that if they hadn’t spent the last three weeks’ allowance on cheap toys, they would now have enough to get it.  They need to arrive at the register only to discover that they don’t have enough money to pay for the things they got.  Let them put it back. If you come up with the difference, the idea that money is finite is weakened.  Use cash.  It’s easy to see visually that when it’s gone, it’s gone.  (Not to mention the math learning involved.)

Be open to their ideas. We already have experience making decisions, so it’s all too easy to make our kids’ decisions for them. My son recently announced that he wanted to sell his Nintendo DS to buy skinny jeans.  Well, I know that he’ll never get close to what the Nintendo cost, he’ll wish later that he still had it, and the expensive skinny jeans will be forgotten before he outgrows them.  But I bit my tongue and let him do it.  He got an unexpected bonus – a lesson in sales resistance.  The sales person at the shop that purchased the DS did everything he possibly could – from offering discounts to appealing to Mom – to get my son to spend his DS money on other gaming gear from his shop. My son had to stand firm to get what he wanted.

babymoney1You may need to do something different for different kids. This is difficult because you want to treat them all equally, but each kid has different needs. My daughter and I struggled over buying clothes. She didn’t like my shopping rules. It seemed to me that she always wanted the most expensive items because they were the most expensive. And there was no such thing as “enough” clothes.  So we put her on a clothing budget. We made rules about how many pairs of shoes, long pants, etc. she must have, gave her a monthly budget, which rolls over to the next month if unspent, and turned her loose. Now she can splurge on that trendy label every now and again if she plans ahead. She watches for sales because she can get more for her money. And there are no more arguments between us about the price of something.  I just say, “Can you afford it?”

All you have to do is not rescue them.  Kids are smart and adaptable. They can take the facts and come to a good solution – sometimes a solution you wouldn’t have thought of.

March 19, 2009

Kids & Pets – The Perfect Match

Filed under: Animals, Family Logistics — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 12:00 pm

You’ve always known that pets are good for kids. Pets have a way of wiggling into our hearts and staying there.  That has to be good for kids, right? Well, it may be more true than you know.

Who is enjoying this more? The child or the cat?

Who is enjoying this more? The child or the cat?

Pets Reduce Stress

I think that when you interact with a pet, you do so at their level.  At their level there are no complicated decisions to make, no judgements and no worries about tomorrow. Just the pet, the person and love.

Pets Enhance Children’s Self-Esteem

Why? Because they always love you. No matter what you did at school or how much trouble you’re in with Mom, Buddy thinks you are the bomb.

Love at first sight

Love at first sight

Pets Encourage Empathy

It’s easy to see when you pet is happy, scared or hurt. They don’t try to hide it like people do. And if a kid has a problem, it’s obvious to him that the dog or cat is on his side. Now he’s not alone anymore.

Pets Help with Communication Skills

You don’t talk to pets the same way that you talk to people. It’s much simpler and more intuitive. Tone of voice, body language and touch have to get the message across. Kids who learn this are likely to incorporate these skills into their interaction with others.

Pets Encourage Responsibility

Pets need attention, which is something that even the youngest children can give.  As kids get older, they might be responsible for feeding and grooming pets, cleaning up cages and other chores. And best of all, the “person” who benefits is someone who adores you.

Pets Help Kids Understand Illness and Death

Since many pets have a shorter life-span than humans, there’s a good chance that at some time during their childhood, kids will lose a pet. This is when they learn how to work through grief.

There's nothing like caring for something smaller than you.

There's nothing like caring for something smaller than you.

Is it Time?

If you’re ready to take the plunge, consider adopting an animal. The current foreclosure crisis has left many pets without homes. You can find them at the local animal shelter or maybe through a classified ad or rescue organization.  Be sure to do your research so you’ll get a pet that fits with your family’s home and life and is good with kids.  Take your new friend to your veterinarian to make sure he’s in good health. And then enjoy the many benefits for your kids and yourself for many years to come.

March 16, 2009

Family Photo Time!

Filed under: Day Trips, Family Activities, Family Logistics — Tags: , , — admin @ 12:00 pm

There is one benefit to these tough financial times. In an effort to save money, people are rethinking some of their expensive habits. Since many of us have been spending more than we can afford, this is a good thing. These days people are getting a book at the library instead of the book store and making dinner at home instead of going out.

photo of childFortunately some things have actually become better and less expensive than they used to be. Remember taking a roll of film to be developed? We used to try not to waste photos because the roll of film only had so many exposures and worse, we would have to pay for prints of all the photos.  With a digital camera, you can take as many photos as you like.  Take multiple shots of the same thing and see which ones come out best. You can look at them on your computer and pick out the best to print.  The only cost is AA batteries. (Remember when you had to buy a special hard-to-find $5-$10 battery for your camera??)

Now that you have your photos you can alter them, email them to friends and family and post them on the internet.  Want prints?  You have the choice of getting a printer that can make high quality prints and buying photo paper or emailing your photos to a photo processing store. Either way, you can pick and choose sizes and quantities of each photo.
familyphoto
Right now wildflowers are blooming all over Orange County.  Take the family out to a park, bring the camera and get your portraits. Bring props. It’s a park. No one is going to mind if you bring a bike a favorite toy or even  the dog!  Take individual photos of each person.  Kids can share them with friends electronically.  And you need a new photo for your avatar, right?  Need a picture of the whole family?  Team up with another family. Go out together and you can photograph their whole family and they can do the same for you.  If the photos turn out well enough you can use them for this year’s Christmas cards.

You only need one more thing to make your family photo shoot a hugely successful inexpensive event: a picnic lunch!
familypicnic1

March 5, 2009

Family Going in all Different Directions at Dinnertime?

Filed under: Family Logistics — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 12:00 pm

On those nights when practices, meetings and performances prevent your family from sitting down to dinner together, it’s all too easy to turn to fast food or frozen dinners.  But if you plan ahead a little, there’s a less expensive (and usually healthier) way. Here are some fun ways to get a hot meal into the kids as they zoom by.

whatsfordinner

Chili & Cornbread

I got this from a dutch oven recipe, but it works just as well in the oven.  Put canned chili into individual sized bowls, pour cornbread batter on top, and bake.  Because they’re individual portions, you can put them in the oven at different times for each kid. If you get ceramic bowls, you could even nuke a bowl to warm it up a little if someone is running later than expected.

Tacos

tacosKids love tacos! Prepare all the ingredients ahead of time.  Each person can heat some meat and/or beans and assemble their own tacos.  Easy and customizable!

Soup in a Breadbowl

This is a restaurant favorite, but you can do it at home too. Get those little round sourdough loaves – Ralphs sells them.  Hollow out the middle and put your favorite cream based soup or chili inside – everyone can pick their favorite kind of soup. And the best part: dunking the bread!

Mini Pizzas

pizzaKids can prepare these ahead of time.  You need little pizza crusts.  The kind the bagel stands at the Orange County Swap Meet sell are great. Add sauce and topping and then put them in the fridge or freezer for later.  Don’t just stick with pepperoni either. Take a look at California Pizza Kitchen’s menu for inspiration and let the kids make truly unique pizzas!

Burritos

Another meal for kids to prep ahead of time. Everyone can put their favorite ingredients inside and then freeze them. Kids can microwave their burritos when it’s time to eat. This is a great one to have on hand for those times when the day just gets away from you.

Stew

Put the ingredients in a crock pot before you go to work. It will stay hot and everyone can serve themselves when they’re ready to eat.  Get some bread for dunking too!

Lasagna Toss

My sister-in-law wowed my kids with this one.  Next time you’ve having pasta, cook a little more than you need.  Mix the cooked noodles with sauce, put it in individual size pie pans and top with mozarella.  Bake it long enough to warm it up and melt the cheese.

Fruits and Veggies

Many of these meals are a little light on the vegetables and fruits.  That’s fine for once in a while, but if it’s every other night, you need to squeeze some veggies in there somewhere.  Here are a couple of ideas.

saladSalads – green salads, broccoli salad, cole slaw, other salads.  Check out the service deli at your grocery store for ideas.

Put a veggie platter out. Use their favorite veggies and throw in something different, like jicama. Put some ranch dressing or other dipping sauce nearby, and don’t say anything. Pretty soon the nibbling will start.

Try putting fruits or vegetables on a shish kabob stick.  Same food, but more fun.

Smoothies are a special treat. There are shops that sell healthy smoothies, but they’re too pricey to buy on a regular basis.  But you can throw your favorite ingredients in a blender and have a cool treat. Use the any combination of the kids’ favorite fruits, milk, ice, ice cream and sugar.  Invent a new recipe!

Other Meal-Related Ideas

We all know that it’s good for kids to sit down with the family for dinner.  In addition to a healthy meal, they get family conversation.  If the kids’ activities make that difficult on a regular basis, throw in a sit-down breakfast or lunch. You can even flip flop meals.  Cook a full meal at mid-day and have sandwiches for dinner.  It will take the kids by surprise.

One of the reasons these work so well is because they’re special and different from the norm.  Try to mix it up so these don’t become boring.  In fact, my kids already know all these.  Does anyone out there have ideas to share?

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