Chef Melissa D'Arabian of the Food Network offers these tips for healthful family meals:Work with your kids. Don't force them to eat things they don't like. Instead, work with them to find foods in each category they enjoy.
Make sweets "sometimes" foods. "Sweets shouldn't be totally off limits, but I manage sugar overload by only giving sweet treats after we've had a meal," D'Arabian says. "No sugary treats on an empty stomach at our house -- too many little girls with sugar rushes! But a sweet eaten with or after protein is far less apt to get my girls wired."
Get creative with veggies. "I love finding creative ways to make my recipes as healthy as possible, adding in a smidge of extra fiber, protein or veggies; everyone in my family benefits from the extra nutrition," D'Arabian says. "But any 'sneaked' vegetables don't really 'count' toward helping my children learn to love healthy foods."
Make new foods fun. "I focus more on developing a willingness to try new foods and an interest in fresh produce by involving my kids in shopping at the farmers markets and produce aisle," she says.
FOOD NETWORK KITCHENS
Baby's first iPhoneYou can't fool kids with nonfunctioning toy phones, especially when the real thing is around. So Fisher-Price says don't resist, protect with the Laugh & Learn Baby iCan Play Case, designed for kids 9 to 36 months ($15, available in July).
Mom or Dad's iPhone or iPod Touch is locked inside a durable rubber case with easy-grasp, baby-size handles. Now your infant can safely trade private giggles with distant grandparents via Face Time or use free downloadable Fisher-Price apps that teach with interactive characters and songs.
When you take back that other Apple of your eye, the case still entertains with rattle beads and a mirror.
PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS