ChristianPF.com released an article listing 10 restaurants that allow kids to get a free meal if their parents purchase an entree. With the current economic conditions, families are looking for any break they can get, so if you have to eat out, why not eat at a restaurant that will serve good recipes for kids?

Some of the restaurants run the “kids eat free” deal every day of the week and some only offer it on a particular day of the week. Each restaurant also has its own definition of a kid. Kids are defined from age 3 to age 12 - each restaurant treats them differently.

These are just a few of the restaurants featured in the article…

*Chick-fil-A:* Tuesday nights from 5:30-7:30 p.m. At participating locations, kids can eat a free kid’s meal at Chick-fil-A on Tuesdays for Family Fun Night. There is a limit of 1 free kid’s meal per adult combo meal purchased.

*Boston Market:* Saturday & Sunday - two free kid’s meals with 1 adult purchase of $6 or more. Four free kid’s meals with purchase of a Family Meal. Offer available to kids 14 and under for dine-in, carryout and at drive-thru. No coupon required, but kids must be present to claim their meals. Promotion ends 1-31-10 and is not valid with any other discounts, coupons or special offers.

*Captain D’s:* Thursdays get 2 free kid’s meals with any adult entree purchase at regular price (dine-in only). Participating locations only - please check with your local Captain D’s for details.

*O’Charley’s:* Every day you can get 2 free kid’s meals for ages 10 and under per adult entree purchase.

SOURCE ChristianPF.com

“Veggiesaurus Lex” Teaches Children that Eating Vegetables Is Important and Fun

At a time when parents spend more each year on fast food for their children than on books, child education materials, DVDs, music, trips to the movies and video games combined, it can feel like instilling healthy eating habits is a losing battle.

With the publication of her third book, “Veggiesaurus Lex” (published by AuthorHouse), Karen Fine offers parents, educators and caregivers a new resource to combat the seemingly endless array of easy, cheap and available unhealthy food.

Meet Lex, a big pink dinosaur who has a big tummy ache after she eats too much junk food. Lex, feeling sluggish and slow, seeks the advice of her vegetarian friends who immediately have an answer for her. Fine writes:

Veggies are great
And they don’t slow you down.
They’re easy to find all around town.

Carrots are roots
That grow in the ground.
Peas are quite yummy; smooth, green and round.

Looking for color?
There’s plenty, they said.
Green peppers also come in yellow, orange and red!

As her friends go on to describe other types of tasty vegetables, Lex decides to try some for herself and discovers that they truly are delicious! With charming illustrations by Ross Novak that bring Lex and her friends to life on each page, “Veggiesaurus Lex” combines a fun, rhyming story with an important message: to stay fit and energized, it’s important to eat vegetables. Find out more in the pages of this whimsical new book.

SOURCE AuthorHouse

Cherry smoothies may be all about sweets but don’t even think this recipe for kids can’t be healthy. Bring your kid’s favorite smoothie up a notch by serving them with the Vegan Cherry Smoothie.

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen cherries
1 cup water
½ tbsp coconut butter
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp almonds
A few dried dates (depending on your taste)

Instructions:
Place all ingredients in a blender and whiz until deliciously frothy.

Enjoy this vegan treat anytime.

Eating well is an essential need for you to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy newborn. Being physically active may help you have a more comfortable 9 months and an easier delivery. Here are ideas and tips to improve your eating plan and become more physically active before, during, and after your pregnancy. Make changes now, and be a healthy example for your family for a lifetime.

Tips for A Healthy Pregnancy Nutrition

* Talk to your health care provider about how much weight you should gain during your pregnancy.
* Eat foods rich in folate, iron, calcium, and protein, or get these nutrients through a prenatal supplement.
* Talk to your health care provider before taking any supplements.
* Eat breakfast every day.
* Eat high-fiber foods and drink plenty of water to avoid constipation.
* Avoid alcohol, raw fish, fish high in mercury, soft cheeses, and anything that is not food.
* Aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week. Talk to your health care provider before you begin.
* After you deliver your baby, continue eating well. Return to a healthy weight gradually.
* Slowly get back to your routine of regular, moderate physical activity.
* Take pleasure in the miracles of pregnancy and birth.

What is a healthy eating plan for pregnancy?

A healthy eating plan contains a wide variety of foods from the five basic food groups.* Every day, you should try to eat:

* 6 or more servings of bread, cereal, rice, or pasta.
o One serving equals one slice of bread, 1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal (about 1 cup of most cereals), or 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta.
o If you are physically active, you can eat more servings (up to 11 servings if you are very active).
* 3 to 5 servings of vegetables.
o One serving equals 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables such as spinach or lettuce, or 1/2 cup of chopped vegetables, cooked or raw.
* 2 to 4 servings of fruit.
o One serving equals one medium piece of fruit like an apple, banana, or orange; 1/2 cup of chopped fresh, cooked, or canned fruit; 1/4 cup dried fruit; or 3/4 cup of 100-percent fruit juice.
* 2 servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese
o One serving equals 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1 1/2 ounces of natural cheese like cheddar or mozzarella, or 2 ounces of processed cheese like American.
o If you are 18 years or younger and pregnant, you need at least 3 servings of milk, yogurt, and cheese.
o Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products most often.
* 2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, or nuts.
o One serving equals 2 to 3 ounces of cooked meat, poultry, or fish-about the size of a deck of cards. Choose lean cuts and eat no more than 5 to 7 ounces of meat, poultry, or fish a day. One cup of cooked beans such as kidney beans or 2 eggs count as a serving.
o Four tablespoons of peanut butter or 2/3 cup of nuts also equals a serving.
* At least 8 glasses of water.
o Drinking milk, 100-percent juice, seltzer or other non-alcoholic beverages counts toward your amount of daily water.

* Adapted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Department of Health and Human Services Food Guide Pyramid.