I have to admit something. In addition to having a theme song for
every new adventure, I tend to decide on a project, embark on it
zealously and then move on.

I was writing an article on school gardens for Kiwi Magazine (Sept
issue) and decided the best way to get motivated was to finally find a
spot in my yard and create a vegetable garden. I had in mind that I
wanted to spearhead an effort to create a garden at my daughter’s
preschool and decided this was my audition to see if I could really
make it happen.

I had created a compost pile which was being turned into fertilizer
gold by thousands of hard-working worms. Unfortunately, that was on
the opposite side of the property from the perfect garden spot.

I read about lasagna gardening and decided that was the best route for
my garden since the soil was not rich and was also very rocky. I
carefully tapped a series of posts to mark my territory but ended up
making the garden way too big for my first attempt. It’s currently 8′
x 20′. I carefully laid newspapers on the ground and covered them
with about 5 inches of fresh compost which took me at least 10 trips
from the compost pile. Sweating profusely, I filled every inch of my
too-big garden with worm-filled compost.

I decided to plant tomato plants instead of starting with seeds
because I wanted immediate gratification. But, I did plant seeds for
cucumber, beans, watermelon and pumpkin and they’re all doing quite
well. This summer seems to be the perfect conditions for a vegetable
garden and the site I chose seems to be working out well.

I am only telling all of you this because I often just wing it. I
started throwing table scraps into a pile of leaves in a place where
my dogs couldn’t access and *poof* I have a very productive compost
pile. I toss in shredded newspaper and hay, turn it every so often,
but largely ignore it. The worms do all of the work.

I also largely ignore my garden. I just make sure it’s not too dry
and that the tomato plants are tied to stakes and leave it alone. I
don’t weed, trim, groom or talk to it. And it is growing like mad.

Some plants are faring better than others, but the lesson I learned is
to just give it a go and you’ll be so surprised. And, if it doesn’t
work the first time, step back, rethink it and try again.

The best part of all of this experimentation is that my daughter wants
to be outside most of the day to corral worms, water the garden and
check on her plants. I get great exercise from digging the compost
and then taking it for a ride in the wheel barrow. And, we all can’t
wait to taste the fresh vegetables that we grew without pesticides or
products.

I have always worried about the environmental impact of shipping food hundreds of miles across the country and in some cases (fresh peaches in New England in January?) thousands of miles around the world. In addition, if you pay attention to the dwindling fate of local farmers, it all begins to make sense what the logical answer is: become a locavore. If you are obsessed with the idea of eating really good food, like I am, challenge yourself this summer. Try to only buy food that is grown within a 100-mile radius of your home.

Among locavore enthusiasts, a popular pastime is the “eat local challenge,” in which participants try, usually for one month, to eat only food that comes from within their community. The rest of the year, many locavores are more realistic about the limits of their devotion but still make an attempt to buy whatever local products they can.

For example, I have found a local (75 miles away) farmer, Farmer Bob, who, once a month delivers organic, free-range, grass-fed meat, eggs, and cheese to a group of us. He also makes 7 other stops within a 20-mile range on delivery day. It has been such a smashing success for him that he has brought in some of his local farmer friends and now we have options for seasonal veggies and homemade pastas and pies, all at the cost that he would sell to the local grocer. We are helping to support his farming community and he provides our families with outstanding quality foods that are extremely fresh!

If you live anywhere where there is a farming community within 100 miles of where you live, I can assure you that there is a framer Bob waiting to start a food co-op. Pick a beautiful weekend day to go explore the countryside and don’t be afraid to visit local farms and farm stands and ask lots of questions. These farmers need you as badly as you need them.

As you begin your quest to become a locavore, start by visiting http://www.localharvest.org/blog/ or http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/ for ideas of where you can find locally grown goods in your area.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

Gaining momentum across the country, the raw food movement advocates a diet consisting mostly or completely of whole, uncooked, and often organic foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains and legumes.

Many turn to a raw diet with the belief that it promotes greater health. Raw foodists feel that valuable digestive enzymes, as well as an abundance of nutrients, are destroyed when food is heated above 120 degrees. Additionally, raw foods have the potential to aid in the management of chronic diseases, and promote weight maintenance.

Of course, you don’t have to be a raw foodist to benefit from whole, unprocessed food – try eating raw just once or twice a week. The meal could be as simple as a romaine lettuce and fresh vegetable salad tossed with a raw, pine nut-based Caesar dressing. For something more elaborate, experiment with zucchini “noodles” in a raw tomato sauce.

Raw desserts are also great to try. Rich and satisfying to any sweet tooth, these fruit and nut-based treats pack a nutritional punch not found in traditional desserts. Raw pies work well for those with gluten intolerances, as the crusts and fillings are always wheat free. This strawberry one by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is perfect for summer. Ani Phyo’s raw donut holes are a great option for kids, who can help roll and shape the balls.

Interested in learning more? Check out the Raw Freedom Community, a message board with discussions about raw diets, raw parenting, and eco-friendly living.

-Marygrace Stergakos, Editorial Intern with KIWI Magazine

CONGRATS TO BROOKLYN MAMA WHO IS THE WINNER OF THE COMMENT CONTEST AND WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF EARTH MATTERS :)  The contest is now closed, but comments are always welcome!

While I ramp up to go raw next week (for three months), I wanted to tell you all about the eco-friendly party I planned for my daughter’s 4th birthday this past weekend.    

This blog entry now has a comment contest!  I will choose a comment at random (once we hit 50 so tell all of your friends and frenemies) to win EARTH MATTERS book by DK Publishing, which is an excellent green guide for kids and explains everything from carbon to ecosystems.  It’s for ages 7+ but it has lovely photos so any kid or parent will enjoy!!

You know how parties go - some things worked, some didn’t.

Let me tell you what didn’t work first:

• I called a local nature center (Irvine Nature Center) to see if I could hire (or donate money) to have a nature education specialist walk the kids from the party through our woods and identify plants, trees and animals. I was going to make a field guide for the kids to use to identify the flora and fauna, and take photos of the walk to upload and make a photo book. Nixed. The nature center doesn’t do anything for private homes, even for a fee or freelance.

• If I had thought of the field guide idea earlier, I probably could have tracked down someone (a landscaper, local botanist, college professor) to do it, but it was too late. It’s still something I want to implement for another time because, well, those trees and squirrels aren’t going anywhere. Although I think it’s a great idea, but I would probably have a nature expert come a few days before the party so I can scout for poison ivy and prepare the guide before the guests come.

• I also failed at making little tea cakes using the Williams-Sonoma tea cake pan with a pound cake recipe. I suppose you have to only use their recipe to make the cakes come out properly. Mine stuck to the pan and wound up in the compost pile. However, I made a few crayon tea cakes from broken crayon pieces melted down, and these are super cute. Forget the cakes and make crayons.   We have had great luck using the “bug” pan from W-S for muffins (we call then “buggins”) and things, but this pan is so detailed that it’s hard to get the right result.

What worked:

Tea party theme:

• My husband’s mom is from Exeter, England, so we had the master make her famous scones (want the recipe?  Add a comment and I will post it) and cucumber sandwiches, which were a big hit.  We made them into “finger” and “toe” sandwiches by cutitng them with metal hand and foot cookie cutters (the plastic cookie cutters don’t cut sandwiches very well.)

• I didn’t realize that my daughter was stuffing scones into our homemade gourd bird feeder.  She wanted our feathered guests to feel welcome, too.

• I planned to just use my dishes and silverware instead of disposables but I ended up buying some eco-friendly plates because I panicked. We used regular silverware for the adults and some Zoopal plastic cutlery (which my sister had given us). We rinsed the eco-plates and put them in the recycling bin. 

• All of the food waste (dips that were in the sun, stale chips and some veggies) were composted.  We had very little left over.

• We didn’t go vegan, but we went vegetarian. It was a hot day, so I wanted to serve only cold food, so the menu also included:
  • Mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, basil in balsamic vinaigrette
  • Mexican pinwheels made from organic spinach tortillas, lowfat cream cheese, chopped sweet red peppers, chopped red onion and taco seasoning.  The extra filling was served with Trader Joe’s Organic Vegetable tortilla strips (we found the bear in the chip aisle and won a fruit leather on this trip to TJs).
  • Veggies with lowfat ranch dressing including these interesting pale yellow carrots I found at Wegman’s.  Everyone was amused by them although questioning the amount of beta carotene in yellow carrots (never invite scientists to a birthday party - total party poopers!).
  • Broccoli sprouts on everything except the cake
  • Blueberries, blackberries & raspberries (Intentionally, I left out any type of berries that had to be hulled or cut up to reduce prep time.  These berries were just washed and placed in bowls.

Desserts/Birthday cake:

• Did you know that a Christmas tree cake pan, if turned in the other direction, looks suspiciously like a crocodile? Add marshmallow eyes and teeth and Voila!

• I am a big fan of homemade cakes because you know exactly what is going into them.  We make our cakes with butter and sugar so they’re not health food but there aren’t preservatives if they’re made fresh in your own kitchen.   I couldn’t find any natural/organic food dye, which was the only bummer. But, I think kids enjoy helping with the food preparation, especially mixing and decorating cakes so we’re going the homemade route until my daughter declares it isn’t cool.
• We made “firecrackers” which are big pretzel rods dipped in dark organic chocolate with red, white and blue sprinkles.
• I had a sundae bar with ice cream and all sorts of toppings, all of which melted within seconds of being brought outside. I used glass sundae dishes instead of plastic or throwaway dishes just to add to the festivities. We’ll use these over and over for parties.

Drinks:

• Honest Tea has a new kids juice pouch which is organic and has less sugar. I love them, but my daughter doesn’t actually like them (the other kids seemed to really like them so you’ll have to judge yourself!). If you collect enough of the pouches, you can recycle them at Terracycle (www.terracycle.net).

• I made fresh iced tea in two flavors: decaf green tea and black tea. Both from Brassica tea products because that’s my husband’s company (www.brassica.com) and it’s also really great tea.  Kids actually will drink the decaf green sweetened with raw sugar or blue agave (my daughter likes hers sweetened with honey, both hot or cold tea).

• We planned to make fresh lemonade but simply ran out of time. I bought Newman’s Lemonade.

• Water. I know this is problematic to have bottled water, but I fought my conscience against hydrated guests or no plastic bottles but it was 90+ degrees. The bottles won.  I would have loved to give each guest a Sigg bottle if I had the budget or time. I have green guilt but all of the bottles were kept for my next mini-golf adventure.

Decorations:

• The table with the tea party setup and paper dolls was the main decorative element. I just took a piece of blue gingham fabric that I had from making my daughter a Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) costume and used that as a tablecloth.

•  The yellow envelopes on the table contain a color copy of the original Wee Wonderfuls doll pattern with some clothing. I made some smaller versions (5″) of the doll and also very small ones (1.5″ wine charms) which I punched a small hole, put an elastic ponytail band through, and tied up their goody bag with it. Inside the envelope was also a little wooden (flat) teapot and cupcake from Michael’s because, well, even paper dolls get thirsty and hungry!
• The little pitchers were actually from Wal-mart and they were with the measuring cups - I think the label said they were for creamer.  But, who doesn’t love little tiny pitchers?  Each girl could pour her own drink which is the best part of a tea party! I lined the washed pitcher with a paper toille napkin.
• The placemats are eeboo Fairies of the Garden wall cards which I laminated.  I put the letter of each girl’s first name at her place.
• Green toys has the BEST plastic tea set and cooking set, both of which I had on our table. The products are made in the US from recycled milk jugs and they’re pretty colors and totally kid friendly. ( http://www.greentoys.com/)
• I bought a real china tea cups (mismatched), teapot  and linen napkins from the local Goodwill for the party. They were cheap, adorable and replaceable. Plus, these are things I can see being used for years and years on the playdate circuit and even for grownups. I like to buy things second-hand and multipurpose them.

Games:

• You just can’t beat eeboo for the coolest party games (www.eeboo.com). We had:
  • Stick the Fairy on the Flower. The gorgeous fairy poster was too pretty to just tape on a door, so I put it in a large IKEA poster frame and we stuck the fairies on the front.  The poster is now hanging in our playroom for future playdates.
  • The Tea Party game (our favorite)
  • The Picnic Game
  • Go fish card game
• Unfortunately, no one played any of the games at the party because everyone was outside, but my daughter loves them and we played them all the next day. Great for little girl playdates or smaller settings.

• I made a mini-golf course out of recycled cardboard, cream cheese tubs, boxes and plastic.  I have to admit some of the “holes” were lame but the party goers were all 4 years old, so I kept it simple. I was also worried about rain so I didn’t put as much time into it as I could have.

• I named each hole (9 holes total, I think) after each partygoer (Pizza Mia, Mimi’s Pet Shop, Sam’s Bagels, Lily’s Flower Shop, Ava’s Kites, Elisa’s Ice Cream, Tony’s Broccoli Sprouts and Fill Dirt (inside joke), and Izzy’s Beach Rentals). I took everything from a toy dump truck to an inflatable bagel and made them into easy putts (See photos.) Next time, I plan to make fewer “holes” and make them a little more complex. I think everyone spent most of their time playing golf.
• I bought straw hats and used leftover ribbon and craft supplies for the girls to decorate. It was a cute idea but the kids just wanted to play outside so no one decorated a fancy hat (sniff).  I was going to have a “pink carpet” made from a roll of pink floral wallpaper to make a fashion show when the girls finished their hats, but that whole idea flopped.  I think that’s an idea for next time.
• I downloaded a free gorgeous paper doll template from Wee Wonderfuls (weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/store/paperdolls.html). I transferred the pdf into Photoshop and change each doll’s eye and hair color to match the partygoer. I printed them out on photo paper and laminated. I then thought of a way to dress them without glue, tape or other messy things by using post-it notes.  I simply cut a post-it note into the shape of the lavendar dress you see in the paper doll photo below. The sticky part of the note were at the doll’s shoulders. The post-it notes can be decorated with markers, stickers, etc… Those super sticky notes work the best).
• I made smaller versions of the paper dolls for “wine charms” for the girls’ party favors and cups. No one played with these, either (double sniff). I found a bag of hard foam blocks (from when we had our rugs cleaned – used to lift furniture off of rug) and made these the holders for the dolls. They didn’t have enough weight so I glued on glass marbles.

1. I also ordered Kites on a Roll (http://www.kitesonaroll.com/) which are recyclable kites that come 20 per roll for about $40. You can also add on biodegradable tails. The kites are packed by people with disabilities and the company owner is a sweetheart, so this company is a wonderful find. Only a couple of kids did this craft.

• Outside, we had squirt guns, chalk, bubbles, tents and balls. Despite the heat, the kids pretty much played with this stuff or the mini golf.
• We received various kid tents as gifts so they were outside and the kids seemed to enjoy playing in them.

The goody bags:

• I made a mix CD for the party so I just made copies for the guests and made my own CD covers which can be colored by the birthday girl or her guests.  The songs were dance tunes from Will Smith (Switch) to Deee-Lite (Groove is in the Heart).
• One rock candy stick (it would have been fun to swizzle in the lemonade tea party if they had been inside!)
• One homemade hair bow.
• They took home the paper doll, mini lemonade pitcher and kite. Somehow, the hats remained behind but we’ll try the hat decorating again soon with a playdate.

Invite the best guests in the world:

• Our guests were so kind. My daughter was thrilled that her teacher, our friends and neighbors came to celebrate her special day.
• Everyone helped keep the kids happy and hydrated. Everyone helped get the food out and in, even my friend Sher who is due with baby #1 any day.

Lessons learned:

• Have babies in cooler months. June birthdays are hot ☺
• Don’t panic and add additional food and beverage items. People don’t eat that much at parties, especially in the heat.
• Limit the crafts/activities. I had plans B,C,D, and E in case of rain which was too much. But, we had so much fun prepping for the event; my daughter and I had made paper dolls, picked out tea sets, decorated the table, and made a kite.
• Hire a babysitter or ask a friend to come over the morning before the party starts so the birthday child is happy and occupied. You’re rushing around to get things out (no matter how much you do in advance) and everyone is calling and it becomes pandemonium.
• Do your best when it comes to recycling and reducing consumption. Make it easy for guests to toss cans and bottles in the recycling bin. Make food fresh instead of from packages. And, if you do have waste, compost it or turn it into a mini-golf course!

Looking for a summer project that’s fun, economical, and kid-friendly? Try growing your own herbs.

Fresh herbs add flavor and personality when sprinkled over any dish and can be used in pestos, sauces, dips, green smoothies, or herbal teas. What’s more, having a pot of fresh herbs on your windowsill is cheaper and more convenient than buying them at the market.

Getting started is easy. All you need is a pot or container with sufficient draining (try terracotta, metal, or plastic), potting soil, and some seeds. Some of the most oft-used herbs include basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, cilantro, sage, or mint. However, you could also try less traditional flavors, like lemon basil, chamomile, or lavender. Other small plants such as stevia (a natural, calorie-free sweetener) or wheatgrass (a young grass that is said to have numerous health benefits) are also great choices.

Kids can help plant seeds, as well as take charge of watering duties. Once the herbs have grown, children can choose and gather herbs for cooking.

Check out Territorial Seed Company at www.territorialseed.com for organic and heirloom seed varieties. Don’t feel like going through the trouble of planting? Visit Eggling.com, which has a selection of pre-planted herbs in cute, egg-shaped pots.

-Marygrace Stergakos, Editorial Intern with KIWI Magazine

I have never been a picky eater and I really get annoyed when dining with one. My nieces who are 18 and 20 still only eat food that usually comes with crayons and a seek-n-find placemat.

I find that to be ridiculous, although my daughter has narrowed her food selections significantly lately. She used to eat bean chili (extra mild), burritos, guacamole and bean salad. Now, it’s chicken, eggs, Caesar salad (my influence), plain pasta and pizza (and Cheetos with dad when I’m not around. But it’s hard to hide a Cheeto-fest with all of that orange evidence). She will eat a lot of fresh fruit and veggies (especially broccoli sprouts) as I mentioned, but I am trying to broaden her horizons a little.

She even drinks decaf green tea, but she is the dairy queen, ruler of all things milky and cheesy. She even asks me to tell her bedtime stories about milk. The one we made up is (scroll down to the next day if you can’t even stand the thought of reading this):

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Miriam and she lived in a castle with her dogs Mya and Stewie. And this princess loved milk. Milk, milk,milk. Milk for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. And cheese. And yogurt (“Mom – don’t forget to say ‘yogurt drinks’, too.”) But one day, there was no more milk in the kingdom of Talalay. Not one drop. Every sippy cup was empty. Princess Miriam was so sad. She asked her mom, “Hey Mom! Where’s all of the milk?” “Dunno” Princess Miriam realized if she wanted answers, she’d have to investigate it herself. She went straight to the dairy farm and asked the cows. The cows’ publicist issued this statement: ”Due to the fact that no one says thank you for milk and very few children even know where milk comes from, we are no longer providing milk.” So, Miriam says, “Well, I can understand how you feel. I love milk and I love you. Thank you for all of the milk you’ve ever given me.” From that day on, there was milk for everyone, occasionally chocolate. THE END NOW GO TO BED

Just like the body needs essential amino acids for normal functions, it also requires another essential nutrient that is often overlooked. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are considered essential fats because they are required for health, but cannot be produced by the body. These fats, known as omega-3 and omega-6, are commonly called the “good fats.”

Hands down, children are deficient in the beneficial omega-3 fats (as are most Americans) and not the omega-6 fats. Kids consume excessive pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats from corn, soy, safflower and sunflower oils. An imbalance in the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio has been unequivocally proven to burden the body with excess inflammation. In kids, this has been linked to conditions such as eczema, asthma, allergies, and attention and behavioral problems.

Simply put, omega-3 fats are brain food. The brain is made up of 60 percent fat, half of which is the essential fatty acid DHA. Therefore, the type of fat consumed by children⎯especially during the developmental years⎯is of paramount importance. A child’s nervous system begins to form in the last trimester of pregnancy and continues to develop at a rapid rate until the age of seven. The essential omega-3 fats, primarily DHA, are required for adequate nervous system development. Research has shown DHA is especially important for brain and eye development. Getting enough EPA and DHA in the diet, particularly in children, is difficult because many children eat minimal fish and so many fatty fish are laden with mercury, PCBs and dioxin.

I have found that purified fish oil supplementation is the safest way to obtain the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA, without the environmental toxins. Fish oil has been shown to improve many conditions that affect children, including attention, learning, behavior and eye health.

Taste is the key to compliance for adults and children alike. If a kid likes the taste of a product, he will remind the parents to give it to him everyday. In my practice, I use Nordic Naturals Children’s DHA and Omega-3-6-9 Junior supplements. You can call Nordic Naturals and ask them to send you sample packets so that your kids can taste the product before you bring it home. There is nothing worse that spending $20-30, only to find out your child won’t take a product. Compliance will always be higher if it tastes good and a child has decided that he will take the product regularly.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

The old cliché, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” is not far from the truth. In a 2000-calorie a day diet, which is required to maintain weight for the average woman, almost a third of the calories should be eaten during the first hour or two upon waking. Estimated calories needed for children range from 900 a day for a 1-year-old to 1,800 for a 14–18-year-old girl and 2,200 for a 14–18-year-old boy.

The body needs to consume these calories early in the day so that they can be readily converted to energy sources that will provide mental clarity, focus, physical energy, and to prevent overall fatigue. The most common cause of inattention at work and school that I see clinically, is consuming a low protein, high carbohydrate breakfast, or skipping breakfast altogether!

The body has twenty essential and non-essential amino acids that are required to maintain normal bodily functions such as making skin, hair, muscle, blood vessels, immune cells, digestive enzymes and neurotransmitters for brain function. In most animal protein food sources, all 20 amino acids are readily available–this is called a complete protein. There are no plant proteins that are complete proteins unless they are fortified with manufactured vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Egg protein is the most nutritious readily-available, complete protein and is considered to be the perfect protein food. It provides the standard of comparison for all other proteins. All of the essential amino acids are present in such generous quantities that egg protein is often used to fortify other foods. However, people tend to be scared of eggs for a number of reasons.

MYTH: Egg yolks are high in fat and contribute little else to the diet.

FACT: Egg yolks contain 45% of the egg’s protein, numerous minerals, and the majority of the egg’s vitamins.

The average person needs to consume a minimum of 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight, per day. This is equivalent to a 130 lb. woman eating 47g and a 40 lb. child consuming 15g of protein per day. Every meal, in addition to including either a fruit or vegetable, needs to include a source of protein:

• 1 egg = 7g protein, 70 calories
• Fish, poultry, beef 1 oz = 7g protein, calories vary per type
• 8 oz. milk (2%) = 7g protein, 130 calories, (300mg calcium)
• 1 oz. cheese (1 cheese stick) = 8g protein, 60 calories, (200mg calcium)
• Stonyfield 6 oz, yogurt smoothie = 6g protein, 140 calories, (250mg calcium)
• 21 almonds = 7g protein, 180 calories, (60mg calcium)
• 2 Tbsp. peanut butter (natural, with no sweeteners) = 9g protein, 140 calories

In general, we need to consume a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, while limiting juice intake altogether. Each meal should contain at least 1 fruit or vegetable. Children’s recommended fruit intake should range from 1 cup/day (in divided portions), between ages 1 and 3, to 2 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy. Recommended vegetable intake ranges from ¾ cup a day at age 1, to 3 cups for a 14–18-year-old boy.

Recommended grain intake ranges from 2 oz./day for a 1-year-old to 7 oz/day for a 14–18-year-old boy. This is an area that we tend to overdo by offering so many carbohydrate laden children’s foods such as goldfish crackers, cereal, pancakes, bagels, pasta, and sandwiches.

So what is the perfect breakfast? One egg on whole grain bread and a piece of fruit.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

My family recently went on vacation, and as usual, we packed a ton of nut-free snacks, brought several Epi-Pens and multiple doses of Benadryl and took several other steps to ensure that our flight would be as safe as possible for our son. As we checked in at the Southwest Airlines desk, the woman behind the counter overheard him asking if a certain type of candy had nuts in it. She asked me if he was allergic to peanuts and, after I told her about his peanut and tree nut allergies, she leapt into action.

She notified the flight crew that there would be a child on board with life-threatening nut allergies (at which point they made arrangements to serve crackers instead of peanuts). As we boarded the plane, we were offered cleaning spray and paper towels to clean off the arm rests and snack tray of the seats in our row. Once on the plane, the flight crew announced that one of the passengers on board had a severe nut allergy and requested that the other passengers refrain from opening any bags of nuts, trail mix, or other nut-containing food items, as this could seriously endanger the passenger.

Needless to say, we are now loyal Southwest fans. It is recommended that you let them know of any allergies at the time you make your reservation or within 2 hours of your scheduled flight. While there may be other airlines that make accommodations for their allergic passengers, I have not experienced such an effort by an airline to ensure the safety of my child. So, if any of you are planning a trip with your allergic child, this might be something to keep in mind as you make your flight arrangements. This was certainly a great start to our vacation!

For more information on Southwest Airline’s peanut allergy policy, visit http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/disability.html#peanut.

–Robin Davison, MPH, JD, Founder of STAT kids, LLC (www.statkids.com)

I had put it off long enough, I had to go food shopping last night. It was Friday, the store was empty and it was a perfect night for a working mom to shop.

I’ve been following the Eco Chic Parents blog where Tara, inspired by KIWI’s “A Healthy Budget” in the June 2007 issue, has gone almost all “organic”. I was in turn, inspired by her to sort out my own shopping strategy.

I separated my purchases into three categories

1. Absolutely must be organic
2. Absolutely must be natural
3. Ok, I-can-compromise (or I-have-no-other-choice)

The first “absolutely must be organic” for me is dairy products. Milk, butter, cheese, yogurt have to be dairy and I will pay any price to avoid antibiotics and growth hormones in my family’s food (Horizon DHA Milk is a must for Maylee). Eggs are included in this too (Organic Valley eggs when I can find them). Also, I search for antibiotic, hormone-free meat/poultry (e.g. ShopRite’s Reddington Farms and Wegmans’ Food You Feel Good About organic poultry).

If it can’t be organic, it has to be natural. Absolutely no artificial colors, flavors or artificial sweeteners in my pantry. There are too many great alternatives to juices (Apple & Eve), fruit snacks (FruitaBü), cookies (Mi-Del, Back to Nature, Newman’s), salty snacks (Food Should Taste Good, Snyder’s of Hanover, Hain, Back to Nature, Annie’s Bunnies) and so on, that don’t have those nasty ingredients. And, there is no need to consume artificial sweeteners for any of us. (I do not believe that anyone has ever lost weight on artificial sweeteners.) I’d rather see my child have sugar in moderation than consume these products that have been linked to autoimmune diseases and other health risks.

The third category for me is a tough one, but when I have to compromise, I look at the products that are whole grain such as cereals and pasta brands. Again, not the ideal “organic” but better than the alternative with a whole grain benefit. Also, unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find eco-paper alternatives in many supermarkets (although plentiful in Whole Foods), so that’s a compromise area.

Thankfully, supermarkets have great store brands now. Whole Foods Market, ShopRite, Safeway (O Organics) and Wegmans have fabulous organic product lines. And, the prices are typically more reasonable than branded items.

This trip’s purchases were about 75% organic and natural, and totaled $358. For three people, I hope (!!) this lasts two weeks. Tara from Eco Chic Parent spent $229.40 for two adults and a baby. She raised a good point in her blog “I do believe that when looking at ones budget it is important to take into consideration medical bills. Healthier people are know for fewer illnesses: including colds”. I agree with Tara; the extra money we spend on organic and natural will surely come out of our medical expenses.

I’ll keep you posted as I strive to lower my “organic” shopping bills. Look for KIWI’s “2008 Shopping Organic On A Budget” feature in our August 2008 issue.

–Maxine Wolf, mom to Maylee, CEO & Publisher of KIWI Magazine

While driving my kids recently, I heard giggling from the backseat and felt overjoyed that everyone was getting along. That is, until I heard what the laughter was about. An innocent children’s rhyme that is all but innocent. I could not believe my ears—my children were in fact making fun of another culture’s appearances in their little rhyme… in my car…my children…with the values I have taught them…YIKES! How could they not understand that this was inappropriate and even hurtful to others? I tried not to go postal. I reminded myself that I was the therapist and the mother in this car—and driving. From my voice, they knew I was upset when I asked them to stop.

“You don’t let us have any fun,” said Eli. “It feels like we are the only ones I know who can’t make fun of anything. It’s not hurting anyone” Sasha chimed in. “Sam in my class taught me that joke,” she said. “He makes fun of all kinds of people, and kids think he’s funny.”

I was taken aback that my children had missed the idea that making fun of the way someone looks is hurtful. Apparently, my passion for human rights and equality did not guarantee that my children would be empathetic little apples that would fall from my tree. Children receive powerful messages outside our homes—in class, on the bus, at lunch, on the playground, and from friends and the good ol’ TV. There needs to be an ongoing effort regarding cultural and racial sensitivity. If moments can be teaching moments, this was gonna be a big one.

Talk to your kids about what makes a joke hurtful. Why do others laugh if it is so wrong? What could be said to those who tell the inappropriate joke? How can we celebrate diversity?

To be continued…

–June Grushka-Rosen M.Ed. is a Life Coach, Educator, Psychotherapist and mommy of two. To contact – June@urextraordinary.com

When it comes to preventing winter illnesses, don’t look for a quick fix or magic bullet. Your best defense is consistent healthy living, which comes from staying well-rested and well-nourished. When your body feels fatigued and undernourished, it makes you more susceptible to the bacteria and viruses that linger around us. When your body is healthy, your immune system tackles these invading organisms before they have a chance to make you sick.

Creating a routine around eating and sleeping will help both you and your children stay healthy. Sit down, relax and eat three meals a day—at the table—with your children. Try to avoid replacing sit-down, nourishing meals with snacking. Also, make bedtime patterns as early as you can with your children, even before they start school. This way parents have some downtime to themselves or can choose to go to bed early if they want.

Wash your hands often and be sure your children do the same. Although antibacterial soaps, gels and wipes abound, good old-fashioned soap and water do the trick. Antibacterial formulas destroy all the bacteria on our hands, both good and bad. But our skin needs an outer foundation of normal “healthy” bacteria to provide a first line of defense for our immune system. Using only antibacterial products actually diminishes our natural immunity, making us more susceptible to bacteria.

If a cold does strike, sleep, eat and drink it away. Give your body time to recover and turn in early for the night. Simplify your meals—homemade chicken soup really can do the trick. Drink plenty of warm teas to keep the body hydrated. Try adding honey to your tea, as it has antibacterial properties. And take 2-3 grams of vitamin C daily. For kids, 1 gram will do. Emergen-C and Ola Loa vitamin C drinks are easy ways for kids to boost their Vitamin C. Echinacea can help, but only if you use it at the onset of the cold—otherwise reach for medicinal mushroom formulas such as olive leaf, Oregon grape root, and lomatium.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

My name is Keri Marshall and I am a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in private practice in Dover, NH, and mother of two. I have a general family practice that encompasses all aspects of natural medicine including clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and lifestyle counseling. I enjoy organic gardening, cooking, snowboarding, camping, biking and surfing. Currently one of the big projects I am working on in my community is an effort to improve the public school hot lunch program. Recently, our school board unanimously approved removal of all trans fats from foods being served, no artificial sweeteners, and at least 50% of grains served will be whole grains.

With the information I provide, I hope to help you understand a few simple concepts, one of which is that childhood nutrition begins as early as conception. How we eat throughout pregnancy as well as how we introduce food to an infant will greatly impact lifelong nutrition and eating habits. I also hope to provide beneficial information with regard to decoding nutrition labels and de-mystifying contradictory information that we hear about in the media and what it means in our day-to-day life.

In general, children who consume Standard American Diet (SAD) meet the RDA basic guidelines for nutrition. Unfortunately, it appears that we have set the bar too low and the guidelines set by the government are fostering an epidemic of obesity and poor health. I look forward to creating a forum to discuss ways to raise the bar with regards to our children’s nutrition and explore ways to improve our own personal nutrition and lifestyle habits as parents.

–Dr. Keri Marshall MS, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in holistic pediatrics and women’s medicine.

Remember it is not always easy to talk to your kids at a young age about issues that they will hopefully not encounter until much older. As in the Appletini incident highlighted in my last Blog, here are five useful tips for having “the conversation.”

1. Start early: It is much easier to initiate conversations regarding drugs and alcohol when your children are seven, rather than seventeen. Start early and often!

2. Keep appropriate: Keep the conversation age appropriate and discuss making healthy choices for their bodies. Introduce consequences for behavior. “You want to make good healthy choices for your body, so your body won’t get sick”.

3. Expressing feelings: Create an environment of listening that supports your child’s ability to express their feelings. As your child grows and their interests widen to friends and activities outside the home, you want them to continue to talk to you about their feelings and “keep you in their loop.”

4. Problem solving: Have your child identify safe people to talk to about their problems (including you). Discuss what can happen if they “mask” or hide their emotions. Modeling healthy ways to resolve and express issues with your child empowers them to tackle the bumps in the road.

5. Safety rules: Discuss the importance of safety rules and the dangers of touching, tasting or smelling things that they can’t identify. Stress how very dangerous this can be.

Open communication with your child early on, practicing patience, problem solving, listening to your child and teaching consequences for their behavior are excellent foundations for laying the ground work for future “tough stuff discussions” including the use of alcohol as they head into the pre- teen years. (Oh, the Teen Years…when you will want that Appletini!)

Written by: June Grushka-Rosen (Miss. June Bug) M.Ed. is a Life Coach, Educator, Psychotherapist and mommy of two.
To contact - LifeCoachingYou@Verizon.net

KIWI presents: A new blog series on “Positive Parenting” from June Grushka-Rosen.

Many believe that children and their innate ability to use their imagination go hand in hand. Unfortunately, more and more, a child’s gift to create imaginary places, invisible friends and to dream about the future is not always second nature. This can be compounded by parents who feel uncomfortable when children explore outside the boundaries of what they see as reality. However, the necessity to help prompt a child to grow his/her imagination is increasingly important, due to rising negative stimuli including the over-indulged child, as in the child that has everything done for them and is given to in excess with no boundaries or expectations from their parents. As well as the disadvantaged child, a child that has been deprived of basic needs that may include environmental factors that lead to a lack of nurturing needed to stimulate creative thinking

Imagination is essential as a foundation for problem solving. I have found that while working with preschoolers in an affluent community, in addition to gang affiliated teenagers from the inner-city, that a key component to a child or teen’s ability to thrive and move towards success, is their capacity to rely on their imagination to problem solve. It can be simply having tots who are needed to quietly move from one location to another imagine that they are a magnificent colorful butterfly with arms as wings, silently soaring magically from one place to the next. What a fun contribution to teach a child that is working on curbing their impulse to talk when it may not be appropriate.

It is also my experience that role playing with groups of teens has proven to stimulate their knack to use their imagination by “thinking out side the box” and enhancing their capability to problem solve. If a teen is given the opportunity to “play the part” of the parent or teacher or voice of authority, they often feel empowered by the chance to be heard. Creating an environment to help a teen use their creativity to solve problems and set their own limitations can be a powerful tool to impart upon them.

Nurturing these skills in children gives them perspective and resources to find hope when others my only see hopelessness. The gift of encouraging imaginative-play fosters one’s depth to look at life’s challenges expansively. Growing a child’s imagination can lead to raising a unique problem solver, bring a sparkle to routine activities and encourage children to see a world filled with endless possibilities!

Written by: June Grushka-Rosen, MEd., is a Life Coach, Educator and Psychotherapist
To contact - LifeCoachingYou@Verizon.net

Time for a little shameless self promotion. I have showed you clothes, toys, jewelry, chocolate, purses and shoes! Now it’s time to think about where you can get wonderful gift ideas, among a plethora of other information, all the time? KIWI Magazine of course.

Our magazine makes a wonderful present. Do you know any parents that need some recipe advice? How about some nutrition advice? Or maybe a fun craft to do on a rainy day? KIWI has it all. KIWI features the latest in everyday natural and organic style, geared towards helping moms and dads raise their families in the healthiest way possible.

Also, for a limited time, you will get the KIWI Best 25 Recipes of 2007 as a free download when you order a gift subscription. So a gift for a loved one and a gift for you. Can’t beat that, can you?

To subscribe, call 866-204-4704 or visit our website.

The Holiday Season in upon us, bringing with it joy, excitement…and intense anxiety for those of dealing with food allergies. The heightened risk of exposure at school parties and family gatherings gives the holiday season a different significance. While there is no substitute for vigilance, there are steps we can take to enjoy the holidays with a little less fear.

1. Always carry an epinephrine auto injector– every second counts during an allergic reaction.
2. When attending parties, tell your host ahead of time about your or your child’s food allergies and offer to bring safe food/desserts.Do not assume that a dish or dessert you or your child have eaten before (and been assured is safe) is okay to eat.
3. Many people spice up their regular recipes with new or special ingredients so be sure to ask about all the ingredients used to prepare the meal.
4. If you are unsure if the food that will be served is safe, give your child something to eat before going to the party and bring some safe snacks/treats he can eat while you’re there.
5. Identify your child by his specific food allergies. This can help prevent well-meaning friends and family from offering your child food to which he/she is allergic.
6. Have a food allergy conversation with family members, teachers and caregivers to remind them of the heightened risk at this time of year.

Best wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season full of love, happiness and health!

-Robin Davison, MPH, JD
Founder of STAT KIDS

green school /grEn skül / n. a school building or facility that creates a healthy environment that is conducive to learning while saving energy, resources and money.

I personally love growing trend of green schools. I wish they were this environmentally friendly when I was in school! Public and private schools are finding that going green isn’t just great for the children and the environment, it’s great for their budgets. On average, green schools save $100,000 per year – enough to hire two new teachers, buy 500 new computers or purchase 5,000 new textbooks (!!!).

How do I know this? Thanks to this great new site from the US Green Building Council, Green Schools, the information on why and how to build a green schools is only a click away. Their vision is to have all green schools within a generation (yay!).

We are cheering super, super loud over here at KIWI. We love that there is a movement for schools to go green. We are even doing our own part with the KIWI Crusaders Award (you can still apply until December 31st!). The Green Schools site even has a “Take Action” part of their site, where you can join your local green school campaign, learn how communities are taking action, and connect with other green school supporters.

So, click on over and start joining, learning and connecting with green schools!

Hey guys! I just want to keep you updated on the loads of great things going on here at KIWI. Starting this weekend, we have interactive cooking classes at Whole Foods in NYC. Run by our food editor, Cricket Azima, these classes are sure to be a great (and educational!) time. Whether you live in NYC or just visiting the city that never sleeps, make sure you & yours sign up!

Where:
Whole Foods Market
95 East Houston Street
Between Bowery and Chrystie Streets
New York, NY 10002
When:
KIWI Family Lunchbox (Hands On)
Saturday, September 29th, 11AM-12:30PM
Max of two parents and two children ages 4 and up
Tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch? Join Cricket and learn fun, new, healthy foods that families can include in lunchboxes.

KIWI Family Cooks with Kiwi Fruit (Hands On)
Sunday, September 30th, 1:30PM-2:30PM
Max of two parents and two children ages 4 and up
Ever tried a gold kiwi fruit? Come as a family and learn tasty kiwi-based recipes!

KIWI Cooking Adventures: Food Hopping with Cricket (Hands On)
Every Saturday in the month of October (6th, 13th, 20th, 27th)
Ages 4 to 8
Inspired from her column in KIWI, Cricket Azima teaches recipes from around the world.

KIWI Family Brunch (Hands On)
Sunday, October 4th, 11AM-12:30PM
Max of two parents and two children ages 4 and up
Get the most out of family time by cooking weekend brunch together!

Everybody Eats Lunch (Hands On)
Saturday, October 20th, 2PM-3:30PM
Join children’s cookbook author Cricket Azima and have fun making recipes from her book Everybody Eats Lunch.

Click below for more details!

Here at Kiwi, we are all about our kids, as I am sure you are. That is why we love children’s museums! Children’s museums give us endless amounts of things to do with our kids. That is why children’s museums are this week’s Pick of the Week!

The first children’s museum was opened in Brooklyn, NY in 1899 and is still operating over one hundred years later. Now, the United States has more than 200 children’s museums. Museums solely built and designed with children in mind have survived depressions, two world wars, and probably countless budget cuts!

Even though they were the first, Brooklyn’s Children Museum is definitely not outdated. In fact, they are temporarily shutting down in order to expand its already impressive children’s activites. Until then, BCM has different activities everyday like “Little Scientist” and “Totally Tots Fall Fun Party.”

Here is a list of KIWI’s favorite children’s museums.

• Brooklyn Children’s Museum
• Please Touch Museum
• Garden State Discovery Museum
• Children’s Museum of Manhattan
• Children’s Museum of Los Angeles
• Bay Area Discovery Museum
• The Children’s Museum, Seattle

Your favorite not here? Let us know! Also, check our website for KiwiKaravan events, soon. We maybe be coming to a children’s museum or an event near you!

Who doesn’t love to snack? Snacks can boost your energy and keep your metabolism steady. However, snacking can be dangerous. Most snacks are chips and chocolate and lead no where but trouble.

Especially, activities like working long hours, running errands and driving your kids around feed our need to snack. We here at KIWI are proofing our Sept/Oct issue this week, so we definitely need the extra energy! When the snack attack hits, we turn to The Snack Factory’s Pretzel Crisps.

Of their products, the Snack Factory says, “But it’s [our] HEALTHY ATTITUDE towards snacking that makes all The Snack Factory products truly great.” We couldn’t have said better ourselves. So you will not feel bad about snacking on these pretzels or passing them along to your kids.

The “better for you” pretzel crisp is much better than a regular pretzel!

Fave flavor: Buffalo Wing for that extra kick!

Go to The Snack Factory site for more information.

OK, I have a bit of a confession to make– I was raised in a meat and potatoes home! Yes, we did have fruit and vegetables, but they were never really a big deal. When I became a vegetarian at age 11, my family was shocked. “What was I going to eat?” they all wondered. At 11, it was kind of hard for me to choose what foods to eat and where to get them, so I began eating very unhealthy.

Fast forward to present day– I am no longer a vegetarian, but I am definitely eating better. One of my favorite things to eat is fruit. Any kind, any where! My mouth waters at the thought of a good, ripe strawberry and don’t even get me started on pineapples! Recently, I tried my first kiwi (Shocking, I know. Remember, meat and potatoes home!). Needless to say, I loved it!

That is why this week’s pick is Summer Fruit. We are smack in the middle of summer, so let’s celebrate it. There are so many different types of fruit out there that need tasting! Summer is the perfect to experiment with a nice summer fruit salad or just trying a new fruit you’ve never had before.

So head out to your local Farmer’s Market and start celebrating the Summer of Fruit!

–Stacey

Need a recipe for dairy free chocolate cake? Looking for back-to-school safety tips? Want to know which restaurants are safe for your allergic child? Go online! The internet is busting with website after website of endless information.

With the abundance of online support groups, you can find one that suits your needs. Look for a support group in your area to network with local parents. For instance, the Food Allergy Support Group of Minnesota and Food Allergy Support Group of Tampa and St. Petersburg serve their local communities with meetings, resources, articles, information on legislative efforts and current laws, and other networking opportunities. You can visit Kids with Food Allergies, the largest national online support group dedicated to food allergies. KFA offers food allergy information, a searchable recipe database and busy support forums (message boards) that connect parents who want to share information, tips and emotional support.

Whatever the age of your child or the number of years you’ve been dealing with food allergies, new issues always seem to arise. Now it’s easier than ever to connect with other parents who have “been there, done that.” The internet allows us to benefit from each others’ experiences, pool our resources and connect with other parents. Maybe you can give a mother tips on how to make her toddler’s preschool experience a safe one or give a dad some allergy-friendly restaurant suggestions. By sharing our stories and successes, we can create a community that is stronger, wiser and better able to protect our allergic kids…which is our ultimate goal.

Browser beware! Make sure it is a viable source. Some online information can be faulty or misleading.

-Robin Davison, MPH, JD
Founder of STAT KIDS (www.statkids.com)

Food allergies seem to be an epidemic these days. They’re popping up more and more among kids. For parents, it’s a nightmare wondering if their children are safe when they go to school, camp, birthday parties and play dates.

I faced this dilemma myself, struggling to keep my son with severe peanut and tree nut allergies safe when he wasn’t with me. After finding no practical, age-appropriate products to help us manage his food allergies, I founded STAT KIDS, LLC (formerly AllergiK ID, LLC) and designed products to identify and protect kids with food allergies and other health issues, including Asthma, Diabetes and Celiac Disease.

What my husband and I have found is that simply letting people know our son has a food allergy is not enough and does little to protect him. What keeps him safe is the constant reminder of his specific food allergies. From its inception, the goals of our product line were to quickly and clearly identify kids by their specific food allergies and keep life-saving medication accessible at all times. This is what makes the difference.

So have your child wear an allergy-specific wristband at camp, or hang a poster in his bunk that identifies him by name photo, and specific allergies. Have a travel bag–equipped with Epi-Pen, Benadryl, emergency action plan, emergency contact information, and whatever else your child might need in case of an allergic reaction. Also, make sure that whomever is with your allergic child is prepared. Pack your child’s lunch in a bag that is clearly labeled with his specific allergies to reduce the risk of exposure at lunch time .

Whether you do it yourself or find tools to help, make sure that those around your children can work with you to make them as safe as possible. Nothing is more important!
-Robin Davison, MPH, JD
Founder of STAT KIDS, LLC, Guest Blogger for Kiwilog

Endangered Species Chocolate has been known for their commitment to the eco community and well, delicious, chocolate. They use all-natural and organic chocolate to create awareness about the plight of the environment, and more specifically the fight for endangered species.

Not only do they provide the world with better for you chocolate, Endangered Species Chocolate is getting everyone in on the act! This wonderful candy bar company is not handing out Golden Tickets with a lifetime supply of chocolate (shucks!). They are offering visitors to their newly designed website the chance to pick the new animals to appear on the Endangered Species label!

Until July 20th only, head on over to www.chocolatebar.com and enter up to 3 of your favorite endangered animals. Stumped to think of an animal? Try looking looking for ideas at the IUCN Red List.

Up to five new milk and dark chocolate bars are being developed, so start thinking of worthy animals!

Radio, in fact, is doing the opposite of dying. It’s thriving! This media has a new home– the internet. The internet radio craze has even struck home here at KIWI’s headquarters. Our own Maxine Wolf, CEO and Publisher of KIWI Magazine, was interviewed by Holistic Moms Talk Radio.

During her interview, Maxine discussed almost everything about our lovely publication. She covered topics from why we choose the name KIWI to our KIWI Crusaders Award (see Blog). Holistic Moms and Maxine even talked about Maxine’s daughter Maylee– the star of KIWI’s Maylee’s Moment.

Maxine said, “As I went through my experiences as a new parent, I realized there really wasn’t any place to get good information about parenting our way… and I formed KIWI.”

All in all, the interview turned out to be a great discussion on living naturally and organically. To listen to the interview, visit Holistic Moms Talk Radio. Congrats Maxine!

We are happy to announce that Kellogg’s is starting a whole new game plan. Due to the rising child obesity rates (and perhaps some pending lawsuits), they are going to reformulate certain products or stop marketing the unhealthy products to children under 12.

The company said that it won’t promote foods in TV, radio, print or Web site ads that reach audiences at least half that are younger than age 12 unless one serving of the product meets the following criteria:

Standing between Kellogg’s and reformulations is the taste tests. If products are not tasted favorably, they will not be changed. However they will no longer be marketed to children under 12.

Way to go Kellogg’s! This is definitely a step in the right direction.

One of our KIWI staff members asked me today if I had any advice for how to get a picky toddler to eat.  Sound familiar? It did to me, I’ve had 8 years with a picky eater!

Susan Lamontagne, the founder of Eat Smart, Grow Strong, a campaign to encourage children and parents to eat better, recommends sprinkling mealtime with a little creativity. “After being a terrific eater for his first couple of years, my son suddenly went cold turkey. Dinnertime became miserable. My husband and I consulted childcare books, feeding experts and our son’s pediatrician. The advice was always the same: ‘Ignore it’; ‘It’s just a phase’ and ‘Don’t let it become a battle.’ Do these people actually have children?”

In a desperate effort to heed their advice, Susan and her husband unwittingly invented a game that their son couldn’t resist and—surprise—got him eating again. Their scheme? “We told him that we had invited dinosaurs to dinner. He smiled and ran to the table”.

They began by talking about all the different types of dinosaurs and their foods of choice. “We imagined and physically reenacted how they ate. For the leaf-eating Apatosaurus, with his long neck, we held our food up high and raised our mouths. The Apatosaurus loved his greens, so we dropped our heads and chewed as if we were grazing on grass. And what about the infamous Tyrannosaurus rex? When my son asked why the T. rex was always grumpy, I replied, ‘Because he didn’t eat his greens.’”

So, try thinking out of the box when it comes to our kids. Making mealtime fun sounds like it could be the answer! —Maxine W.