Wednesday, December 03, 2008

School’s out for the day and the kids are home. The first words to come from their mouths are “I’m starving.”  What do you do when supper is only a couple hours away and you don’t want to ruin their appetite? It may be tempting to give them a candy bar or some cookies and then make them wait for supper, but is that really the best plan?

Mealtime at school often becomes a social time rather than a time to eat. Since children may not eat a well-balanced meal even when one is provided, they may be really hungry when they come home. Trust your kids when they tell you they’re hungry. That doesn’t mean they should rule the house or be able to pick what they are going to eat. Instead, offer after-school snacks that are appealing and have more vitamins and minerals in proportion to calories. This can fill the gap until the evening meal.

Snacks can be made ahead of time so they are ready when the kids come in the door. Older children could actually make their own snacks if the ingredients are available. Here are some healthy snack ideas to get started:

– peanut butter sandwich

– refried beans and cheese on a tostada shell or tortilla, and microwaved for 30 seconds

– peanut butter and bananas on graham crackers

– fresh fruits or vegetables with sauce to dip them in

– whole grain cereal and milk

– cheese and crackers

– English muffins with pizza sauce and toppings

– yogurt

If weight is a problem for your child, choose fruits, vegetables and whole grain cereals, breads or crackers. Also, encourage them to find things to do that will keep them physically active after school.

If your children go somewhere after school where snacks aren’t provided, pack an after-school snack of non-perishable items in their lunch boxes so they won’t be starving when you pick them up. Hungry children tend to be grouchy, so planning ahead makes all of our lives easier. Happy snacking!

Getting the perfect gift for a friend or family member can often lead to overspending the family budget.  The holiday season will soon be upon us so it is not too early to develop your holiday spending plan.

Determine what can be spent for each person. Be realistic with your budget.

Leave the house with a list. Check off the family members and friends for whom gifts are already purchased. Write down suggestions for each person.

Consider buying family members and friends gifts that everyone can enjoy, rather than buying several individual gifts. Older children can pool their money to buy something for their parents.

Read catalogues and store fliers to simplify comparison shopping and reduce time going from store to store.

Shop when the stores are least crowded. Some people save a vacation day or two for holiday shopping. Speciality stores may be less crowded than department or discount stores.

Save holiday receipts in an envelope in case something needs to be returned or exchanged.

Gift cards are an alternative to an actual item. A gift card lets you set the exact amount you want to spend which reduces your risk of overspending.