Life can get crazy when you're running your kids to and from all their
activities. Fast food can seem like a lifesaver when there isn't much time to
prepare dinner.

It's a catch-22. We get our kids involved in sports so they stay active, then
we feed them foods loaded with fat, to be washed down with drinks teeming
with sugar, because their activities don't allow us time to prepare a
healthy dinner.

Kids are not as healthy as they once were because our lives are busier
than ever. If we want our children to be well and live long, healthy lives,
we need to discover new ways to make sure they are properly nourished.

Here are some tips to help you provide your children with the nutrition
their growing bodies need, minus the fat they don't:

Plan Ahead

Check your calendar before you head for the grocery store.
Determine which nights you'll be crunched for time and plan your meals
accordingly.

Introduce Yourself To Your Crockpot

Crockpot cooking is becoming
popular again and it's no wonder. It's a busy mom's best friend. Assemble
your meal in a removable crock the night before and refrigerate. In the
morning, all you have to do is put it in the cooker and turn it on. Check out
your local bookstore for crockpot cookbooks.

Does It Have To Be Hot?

If kids are getting a hot lunch at school, why
can't they have their "lunch" at dinner every now and then? Most schools
serve meals comparable to the dinners we serve at home. Try turning the
meals around. A turkey sandwich, raw baby carrots and a glass of milk for
dinner covers all four food groups without the fat. Another bonus-pack it
in a brown bag and it can be eaten on the run if necessary.

Substitute

The American Dietetic Association and The American
Association of Pediatrics are protesting and fastfood restaurants are listening.
Most of them have begun offering healthy alternatives for french fries
and softdrinks.

If you absolutely must rely on these places to feed your kids, take advantage
of these menu additions. Your kids may not be happy about it at first, but
eventually they will get used to a better way of eating.