For most kids, Halloween is ALL about the treats, but it really doesn’t have to be! If you don’t feel like to contributing to the neighborhood children’s tooth decay, consider giving treats that are healthier.

Here are some suggestions:
• Cheese and cracker packages
• Naturally flavored and sweetened gun or sugar-free gum
• Small bags of pretzels
• Small packages of nuts or raisins
• Peanuts in the shell
• Fruit-Roll Ups
• Granola bars

If you are not opposed to sugar, but would prefer your treats to be natural or vegan, we suggest you visit your local natural food store. There are many natural candy companies that offer a big variety of candies. The one drawback, expect to pay more for these items. Natural products come at a higher price tag. Read the rest »

Frustrated by the lack of healthy, good tasting prepared snacks for their kids, Mark and Maureen Hotchkiss started experimenting with energy bar recipes in their own kitchen to come up with something to send in with their kids’ school lunches. Finding a winning recipe in their ‘Propeller Bar’ recipe, the Hotchkisses branched out and whipped up healthy and good tasting options for more of their favorite baked goods. “We then began experimenting with other favorite baked goods like chocolate chip cookies, brownies, oatmeal raisin cookies, sugar cookies, banana bread and even pancakes,” say the Hotchkisses. “We kept at it until we came up with tastes and textures our kids liked while maintaining the nutrition and health goals we were after.” Read the rest »

If you have children, then you know they’re a magnet for hovering hounds and mooching mousers. Living in a busy home that includes kids, pets, and adults, the line between who eats what can sometimes become blurry! Picking up dog or cat treats at the store can seem pointless if your furry family member is gobbling up whatever the kids are eating. And it can be frustrating to constantly guard the toddler from eating the pet’s treats!

But hey, you’re in good company; humans have been sharing food with their animal companions since the beginning of our relationship with them. The practice dates back to the time when early human first invited their primitive pet into the sanctity of their home and, much to the animal’s delight, their kitchen. Perhaps it was a child that first earned the affection of a wild kitten or pup by sharing her lunch with them. Sharing food with our animal friends is a time-honored tradition that has helped bond our species together. Plus, it’s fun! It brings out the nurturer, the companion, and the guardian in us; even in young children. It feels good to share a special treat with a furry friend, and millions of animal-lovers do it on a regular basis. Read the rest »

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd. As we strive to make the earth a better place to live, there are many things you can do in your own home to make a difference and to teach your children about taking care of the world in which we live. Read on for fun activities, crafts, a yummy snack idea, a great EarthBall toy, a song and more! Read the rest »

Episode #14: Meet Amber Lipson of Footsteps Clothing

Meet Amber Lipson, Clever Parents columnist and founder of Footsteps Clothing. Plus: No more lost mittens with The No Snow Snuggler and… The Banana Saver. Watch the vidcast on Clever Parents TV.

As a parent, where do you stand on the whole snacking thing?

Depending on which book you read / what your pediatrician says / what works for your family, you might do square meals or more frequent, smaller meals. One famous pediatrician even recommends leaving out an array of snacks out for a toddler, say, in a muffin tin, so that she can eat on the go all day.

But that wouldn’t work for us. First, we’re rarely inside the house for long periods of time. And I never wanted to be one of those parents whose cars and sofas are full of crushed Cheerios and crackers. (Not that crumbs are that awful. And not that our house and car are clean. But anyway.)

So we’re pretty much a three-meals-and-afternoon-snack kind of family—but it seems we’re going against the trend. A recent study by Business Insights says snacking occasions are forecast to increase 3.6 percent in the United States, compared to overall eating occasions, from 2004 to 2008. Read the rest »

What child doesn’t love pizza? Here’s a healthy way to give them a different snack alternative… mini pizzas!

* use a healthy cracker (like Kashi) or a whole wheat bagel as a base
* add sugar-free jar tomato sauce – we like ‘Garden Style’ Colavita brand
* sprinkle 2% milk shredded mozzarella on top
* optional: add dried oregano
* heat in the broiler or toaster oven

Enjoy!