"Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine thy food." — Hippocrates Most parents are acutely aware of the fact that children are often the pickiest eaters they know. After a long day, it can be frustrating when you don't know what to buy or what to prepare. When you do your best, and you think this time you got it right, kids may very well change their minds. Then there are birthday parties, school lunches, and countless opportunities for your children to eat the most processed and unhealthy foods around. In a world of processed food, it is often easier to just give in, for us and for them. So what can we do? Take a breath, and remind yourself that you are only human. If you do your best, you are already ahead of the game. Don't try to be perfect. Food is life, and life is full of ups and downs. Striving for perfection will only make you feel bad, and feeling bad leads to your children learning lessons about food that are more subtle and temporary. Don't...

The day is winding down, dinner is almost done, and you are counting the minutes until your relief unit arrives. After all the hustle and bustle of the day's events, on most parents' minds is getting the kids' bellies nutritionally full before bedtime — hopefully helping to seal a good night's sleep. To follow, everyone is at the table, dinner is ready to be served, and phrases like "I don't like this" or "This tastes yucky" start to emerge from little mouths. Sighs of frustration or statements of defense strike back: "You won't leave the table...

Eating for two can be a full-time job! Just when you thought you couldn't possibly eat another thing, there's one more pregnancy essential to stomach: DHA. Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid crucial to the development of your baby's nervous system and vision. Moms-to-be, take note; the operative word here is "crucial." DHA isn't just beneficial, it's necessary. Unfortunately, estimates from the National Institute of Health (NIH) suggest pregnant and nursing women only consume 25 percent of the DHA they need. How much of this stuff do you...

Summer is a time for playing outside, running through sprinklers, going to the beach, and picking fresh strawberries! Summer also means enjoying refreshing treats that bring those memorable smiles to precious little faces. Surprisingly, these don't have to include sugar or processed junk; there is a way to create some easy, tasty goodies for your kids minus the sugar overload! One thing I have learned from being a parent to four beautiful children is that they all love treats, but the healthy ones satisfy their desires just as much as the unhealthy ones — so why not keep it good for them...

Did you know that June 21-27 is National Pollinator Week? Celebrate by helping your kiddos observe the bees, birds, butterflies, beetles and bats that we often forget are a critical part of our healthy ecosystem and food chain. Whether you go on a bug hunt, dress up as butterflies, or plant some hummingbird-friendly plants in your garden, end the week with chocolate mascarpone triangles that will not only "bee" fun to make, but will give kids a delicious reason to celebrate pollinators! Fun pollinator facts for little chefs: We all know we can't have honey without (honey)bees! But...