
If you're packing peanut butter and jelly in your son's lunch box each day, entice him with another nut. My daughter is a big fan of almond butter — the delicious and nutritious paste that can be substituted for the traditional peanut one on sandwiches, waffles and pancakes. Smeared across apples or halved bananas, it makes for a midday snack that sticks to the stomach and provides protein, fiber and calcium.

While much has been said about the importance of
the family meal no one ever said that meal had to be at home. My husband and I love to take our lil ones out to dinner to try new foods, but doing so does take some planning.
When building with sugar packets and playing with the paper from our straws grows old, I dive into my bag to pull out some tricks to keep everyone entertained.

My son insisted on feeding himself almost from the get go, lil did my husband and I know our tot was on to something. Former midwife and breastfeeding consultant, Gill Rapley, tells parents to encourage their children to eat by themselves. She is quick to point out the positive affects of doing so.

Moving from just breast or bottle feeding to solid food is a daunting task. Everyone has a different opinion as to which items to introduce first and when to do so. Take this quiz and see what you know about starting solid food.

As a kid growing up in the Reagan administration, I couldn't understand why the President was so fond of jelly beans when he could have any candy in the world. But to each his own and as a result, Jelly Belly makes a patriotic mix of their sugary sweets. Celebrate democracy with your lil darlings and reward their good behavior at the polls today with an appropriate treat.