When it comes to Christmas presents, kids have a sixth sense; they can smell presents the way a Mom can smell chocolate. You’ve worked so hard to find them the perfect gift, and then, they find the gifts and spoil the whole surprise.

With four curious boys in the house, I have researched the topic extensively. My results appeared in the newspaper for an article I wrote for the SNP. Here is the complete article:

If you have children in your house who can read, you might want to cut this article out of the paper and stash it in the trash as soon as these hiding places are safely tucked in your memory. The spots listed here are stealthy ingenious because they are, as Poe’s purloined letter, so obviously right in front of your nose, yet still concealed. For example, while you wouldn’t be the first parent to hide your child’s presents under your bed, nor would your child be the first to check there first. Today’s parent must be armed with new solutions to out-smart today’s child. For example, how many children would think to check under their own bed for those delightful gifts?  Parents of dust bunnies everywhere can attest that the lost sock or the delinquent library book is usually always found there, even after the child guarantees you that he’s “looked everywhere.”

I once thought garbage bags would be clever — dark-colored garbage bags full of neatly wrapped presents, stored in the garage, right alongside the garbage cans. For an entire month, my boys were never asked to take out the garbage, “I’ll handle it,” I said. Still, I found the garbage bags had been untied and the smartly wrapped parents now sported torn edges where the scotch tape had been pulled off and re-affixed. I would have faired better if I had simply tucked the gifts into the attic, and put them into the plastic tubs labeled “Valentine’s Decorations” or “Summer Clothes.”  Or why didn’t I take advantage of the empty storage containers that were tossed aside once our Christmas decorations were pulled out and displayed?

If you store the gifts out of your home, say, at your office, or at Grandma’s, for example, there is always the challenge of migrating the presents back into your home for Christmas morning — a large task to add to any Christmas Eve. Storing them in the trunk of the car runs its own risks, as sometimes those battery operated toys get jostled around, and the word’s “I’m Elmo” can reverberate through the car just when you have the kids packed in for a night-time cruise to look at the city’s Christmas lights display.

Of course, you could just leave the wrapped presents under the tree, and tell the kids the truth, while trusting them with the responsibility of doing the right thing. “Here are your presents. You can peek, but if you’ll do, you’ll ruin your own Christmas morning.” The year my parents left the presents out under the tree, I did sneak downstairs after they were asleep, and tore the corners off every present addressed to me. That was also the last year I tried to unlock the mystery of any surprise that passed through my life.

Today’s cyber market place delivers its own clandestine challenges. Your computer’s search history leaves a clear trail – that must be deleted from your browser, and your computer. Without this step, a quick glance at the search history will reveal your entire Christmas plan. That handy “memorize password” feature exposes the order history of every item you’ve ordered on amazon.com, along with their delivery dates. How will you know your security features have been breached? A sure sign is when your child looks at you and says, “Mom, that Xbox 360 your ordered is the wrong one. The 4G is the right one.”

Share your own best-kept parenting secrets, learn from other moms and connect with some of our great mom bloggers! Please list your meal-saving strategies for picky eaters in the comments below. Everyone who comments will be entered in a BlogHer giveaway for a $200 Visa gift card. Enter here.

scary books.

I am crazy busy getting these kids ready for Halloween, and also busy with a little surprise about a new writing gig (more later). So, here’s an archive post from last year.

Happy Halloween!

You would think that after spending the summer at the lake that I saw just about all there was to see. How wrong I was. I found something hiding behind these trees. The same trees I looked at across the lake all summer; the same trees you saw in the photos of all of those lake pictures I posted. Right there, in the tree line, something sinister is hiding. Maybe, this is that Nancy Drew Mystery I’ve been looking for all along. Think of Ruth Brown’s delightfully scary book, A Dark, Dark Tale.

I. There is a dark, dark road that takes you to a dark, dark lake.

II. And on that dark, dark, lake, there is a dark, dark dock.
III. And on that dark, dark dock, is a bright shinny canoe.

IV. As you glide on your bright shinny canoe, you see a dark, dark woods.
V. And through the dark, dark trees, you see a dark, dark house.

VI. And on that dark, dark house are dark, broken windows.

VII. And through the dark, dark windows, there is a dark, dark kitchen.

VIII. And in that dark, dark, kitchen, there is a dark, old, refrigerator.
IX. And through that dark, dark window, you see a dark, dark hallway.

X. And down the dark, dark hallway, you see on a dark, dark doorknob, a dark, dark jacket.

XI. And around the dark, dark house, you see a dark, dark, open door.

XII. And by the dark, dark door, you see a dark, DARK SHOE!

XIII. And then you scream, and run through the woods, trip on the trees, and jump back into your boat. And start paddling.

Happy Halloween!

At my annual check-up this week, my doctor pulled out that little stick, drew the blood like a vampire and certified that I am low in iron levels; a major contributor for my exhaustion. So, together, we worked out a plan of foods, herbs and supplements, she approved of, to help me feel energized and happy. So far, I’ve emailed portions of this list to many friends, other tired women who say the same thing, “I’ll do anything to feel better.” And they mean it. We’re sick and tired of walking around exhausted, while our kids are running circles around us. So here, is the list, hammered out with the help of my doctor, to bring my energy levels back up to normal. My favorite? The greens… instant energy in a powder. Another benefit — it makes me feel full, so I end up eating less. Enjoy!

1. Herbal Teas: Anemia (low-iron levels in the blood) is common among women, with side affects of fatigue.  Your doctor can preform a blood test to find out if you have this or not. If you learn that you are low in iron, one safe way to restore your iron levels — and energy — is through teas made from the following roots; now widely available at whole foods.  These herbs are the roots of yellow dock, burdock, dandelion, and Chinese wild yam. Gather a teaspoon of any or all of these dried herbs, and pour boiling water on top, cover and let steep overnight.  Strain and drink.
2. Greens: Sometimes, the last thing we need is another supplement; what we really need is healthy nutrition. None of us eat enough greens, yet their full of vital minerals and vitamins. Greens Plus, is a powder that you mix with water or juice, and it provides you with the benefits of greens in one drink.  Don’t even bother with the chocolate-flavored powder- it’s horrible.  Berry is a much better alternative; but don’t get me wrong, the stuff is not going to be one of your most favorite-tasting beverages; but like most Moms I’ve talked to have said, “I’ll drink anything to feel better.”
3. Carrots: Carrot juice also assimilates iron quickly in your blood stream. Carrot soup, or a vegetable-based soup of carrot and beets, will increase your iron levels naturally.
4. Watch the Tea: Black tea, my favorite bevereage, unfortunately does slow down the absorption of iron.  So monitor your intake. So, instead of making yourself another cup of tea in the afternoon, make your self a drink of greens plus.
5. Eat Right: Fill your pantry/refrigerator with these foods: beans, red meat, nuts, citrus, asparagus, spinach, mushrooms, soybeans and wheatgerm.
6. Beets: Physicians in ancient Greece used beet root to treat anemia; it’s a great blood builder and purifier to the spleen and liver — especially in its ability to build red corpuscles.  Beet juice is the best way to take your medicine; if you can’t find it, eating beets will help, although it will not be as effective.
7. Serotonin: Increase your serotonin levels naturally, with less side-effects than traditional anti-depressants, with  5-HTP. Serotonin is a compound in your body, and is responsible for regulation of mood and behavior.  Having adequate levels of serotonin can help in feeling calm and relaxed;  too little sometimes leads to irritability and uneasiness.
8. SAM-e: Another way to improve your state of well-being is with SAM-e, which is not only a mood balancer, but is also recommended for chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis and fibromyalgia.
9. Rhodiola: I’ve written about this one before, but Rhodiola Rosea is a wonderful natural remedy for exhaustion, and also boosts your immune system.  This one is great for the winter blues.
10. Thyme: Thyme is loaded with iron, so load up your soups and beef roasts with this herb.
11. Spices: You can also find iron in parsley, cumin, curry powder and cinnamon — although they are not as powerful as thyme. As if you needed an excuse to make snickerdoodles.
12. Cast Iron: Buy yourself (or use Grandma’s) iron skillet, and use it.  The iron from the skillet does work its way into your food.
13. Siberian Ginseng fights fatigue and boost energy without the harsh stimulants. However, it is best to meet with an herbalist to determine which Ginseng (hot or cold) is right for your system.

This summer, our hill at the lake will be used in yet another ingenious way: to make ice cream for our root beer floats. I was tempted to buy the traditional ice cream maker, but there are so many choices; I quickly became overwhelmed looking at all the bells and whistles. And besides, I have all that boy power just dying to get put to use. Plus, the process of making ice cream by hand… literally…. in the can… is is a great way to introduce some lessons in science. There is the ice cream in a bag method; my boys would surely break the bag in the mixing process. So, I’ve decided to go with the ice cream in a can method.

1. The first challenge is finding the can. Many recipes suggest using a coffee can, but who buys coffee in a can anymore? A better idea is to ask for an empty paint can from the paint store. You’ll need two: A quart, and a gallon.
2. Ask your kids to tell you the freezing point of water — or teach them — 32 degrees F, or 0 Celcius. Then, ask them what happens when we put salt on icy sidewalks. Ask them to start thinking about why we need salt to make ice cream.
3. In the small, clean can, add one cup of milk or half and half, one cup of sugar, and one teaspoon of vanilla.
4. Optional: add one tablespoon of chocolate syrup — or frozen strawberries.
5. Use a hammer to seal the lid tightly.
6. In the larger can, combine the ice and rock salt. Use a thermometer to record the temperature of the rock and salt mixture.
7. Use hammer again to seal the lid tightly.
8. Take turns rolling the can down the hill, for about five minutes. This will “solidify” the ice cream.
9. Explain what’s happening: the ice melts and combines with the salt. This “brine” has a lower freezing point — lower than 32 degrees.
10. After five minutes of rolling, open the large can, and take the temperature of the ice. It will be colder than it was the first time.
11. Open the smaller can. The colder brine was able to get the milk mixture cold enough to freeze to a solid, to create ice cream.
12. You know you’re going to have to whip up another batch right now; the fun was really rolling the can down the hill.
13. An instant way to eliminate the ice cream headache is to put your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Teaching a toddler how to do this is something you won’t soon forget.

Pictures to come…
Thursday Thirteen

Not only am I sharing a recipe for fair-style lemon-shake-ups, but I’ve also created a “system” to have the ingredients ready in your refrigerator, so you can make a lemon shake-up on demand, whenever the whim strikes you; or the kids. The secret to making lemon shake-ups at home lies in knowing the magic ratio: here it is:

Lemon Syrup: For every 1 lemon, add 1 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar.

Each Lemon Shake Up Needs 3-4 Tablespoons of Lemon Syrup.

Over the mixture has cooled, store the lemon syrup in a recycled wine bottle in your fridge. This makes it much easier to pour:

Now for the method:

Once you know the ratio, you can expand the recipe to serve a party, or keep a batch stored, ready to go, in your fridge. Here’s the method.

1. Wash and scrub fresh lemons.
2. Make simple syrup by boiling sugar and water for 5 minutes.
3. Let syrup cool.
4. Have your kids roll the lemons around on the counter to soften the pulp so the lemons will be juicer. Or, microwave lemons for about 5 seconds, to warm-up the lemon so that the juices will come out easily.
5. Cut lemon in half, and squeeze the juice. Rachel Ray swears by holding the cut side of the lemon up, and squeezing with your hand, and the seeds won’t drop into the bowl. I prefer to use my simple lemon-juicer tool — it pulls out lots of juice, catches the seeds, and the pulp, before it ever hits the bowl. It’s metal, and sturdy-enough for a kid to use.
6. Strain lemon juice to eliminate the pulp — if any.
7. Once the syrup is cool, add the freshly-squeezed lemon juice to the syrup.
8. Cover and refrigerate.
9. When you’re ready for your Lemon Shake Up, fill glasses with ice water. (Or fair-style paper cups, if you really want to be authentic.)
10. Add two tablespoons of the lemon syrup to each glass.
11. Stir vigorously, or find a way to cover the glass and shake.
12. Scrub a fresh lemon, and cut lemon into slices.
13. Add lemon slices to the top of each glass, or use a greater to add fresh lemon peel.

The good thing about MP3 players is that now many of them come free with cell phones, giving you the power of the 2GB Ipod Nano with your phone in one single device. The bad news is that Itunes does not recognize most MP3 players and won’t sync the music to the device. Here, I’ll show you how to work around that quirk, and load songs from Itunes onto any MP3 Player in just a few minutes, probably seconds. How do I know this? Verizon gave me a $100 credit toward a new phone, so I picked up The Juke, primarily because it works like an I-Pod Nano. Then, my awesome babysitter showed me how, in 13 steps, to sync your phone to Itunes.

Before you start, you will need to clear up space on your MP3 player.  You can do this by formating your phone when you plug it into your computer.  Deleting the songs will not really delete the songs, and you’ll have out of memory space. So, just format your phone, following the instructions in your manual. work.  know that if you want to clear the tunes memory in your phone, to make room for all the new songs you’re loading, you’ll need to format your phone.  Deleting them manually doesn’t work. I’ll show you how to do that below.

First, plug in your phone, or your MP3 player using the USB cable that comes with your device.

The message will pop up on your screen that says new device connected. Then, a window will appear asking you “sync digital media files to this device.”

Ignore this, and click instead, the folder above that line that says, “Open Device to view files with Windows Explorer.” Click OK.

Then you will see a gray box that says “Internal Storage.”

To format your phone (and delete the existing music files on the phone) right click the gray picture and click format.

Once complete, click this gray box to open the file.

Now you will see a folder named “music.” Click the “music” folder to open this folder.

If your device already has music loaded, it will appear here, otherwise, the folder will be blank. Leave this open, you’ll need it in just a few seconds.

Now, on your desktop, create a new folder named “MP3″. Leave this open.

Now, open I-Tunes.

Select the tunes you want to import, and physically drag them with your mouse to the new folder you just created, “MP3.”

While it’s copying these files, you will see that familiar windows graphic of papers flying out of a folder. Wait for this to complete.

Once the files are all in the “MP3 folder”, drag them to the “Music” that goes to the “music folder” of your MP3 player. Again, that familiar little windows icon of papers flying will appear. Once it’s done, the songs are now loaded on your MP3 player.

There’s something about creating that “extra folder” that acts like a buffer, so that the MP3 player no longer thinks they’re coming from Itunes, but simply from files on your computer … which they are!
Simple.

A list of 13 ways to deter pests and creatures from your garden.

This is what it all comes down to.  A few simple items that will either make or break our summer garden fort, made with Jack and the Beanstalk beans. I’ve been reading with horror about the varmints and diseases that will likely attack my pests once I place the plants for our 20-foot bean fort into their final growing spot at the lake. Lord knows, there are plenty of creatures up there willing to take a snack out of our foilage. The list includes deer, skunk, rabbits, groundhogs — all hungry, and ready to eat the plants.

So after fear, there comes great courage;, if you do your part to gather some research and facts. Good results come easier when you’re open yourself to moving with the flow of life, rather than against it. So, knowing that my kids will be eating many of the plants from the fort, and tromping among them with their hands and feet, I’m shying away from pesticides and herbicides. I’m going to be enviornmentally friendly, and organic, with my pest deterrent approach. Hopefully, the animals will sense what we’re trying to do and work with us to keep the plants safe. Ha! I can dream, can’t I?

This is what I’ve come up with:

1. Epsom salts sprinkled on the plants will make them bitter tasting to groundhogs and rabbits. The advantage to this method is that Epsom Salts can also be used to fertilize the plants. The downside, of course, is that the rain will wash away the Epsom salts, and I won’t be there to sprinkle more Salts, as we’ll return from the lake to tie up the school year. But, I’ll use it as long as I can.
2. Ammonia-soaked rags can be strewn along the perimeter of the garden, forming a stinky barrier to repel groundhogs, rabbits, skunks and opossoms. I am no stranger to this treatment. Once again, this will fade before I can reapply the treatment.
3. The reason the Groundhog is afraid of its shadow is obviously because he’s a fraidy cat. So, they run from any thing with motion. I might try hanging aluminum foil strips or pie pans from chicken wire. Pinwhells can even work, I’ve read.
4. Always, the best solution, I’ve learned is simply a fence. Using chickenwire, the fence will need to be buried underground, at least 12-18 inches, and 2 feet above the ground.
5. Plastic netting works for deer, raccons and opossoms. The idea is to string the netting on bamboo poles, leaving about 8 inches in front of hte garden, laid out in front like a mat. Racoons have senstive feet, and they don’t like walking across the netting.
6. Dial deodorant soap, and Irish Spring soap contains “tallow” which repels deer. Soap made with coconut oil will not repel the deer. Here’s the trick: Leave the soap in the package, to prevent the rain from washing away the soap too quickly. Drill holes in the soap so that you can run a string through the soap to hang them from trees, or the fence erected to get rid of groundhogs. Plan on one bar of soap for every three feet.
7. Castor oil is supposed to keep moles, groundhogs, chipmunks and squirrels away. Here’s a recipe. 1 tablespoon of Castor oil. 2 tablespoons liquid dish washing soap, 6 tablespoons of water. Put oil and soap in blender and mix until you have shaving cream. Add water, and continue to mix. Pour concoction in watering can, and pour over the yard. Again, the problem with this is, you must re-apply after the rain.
8. A horizontal border could be as simple as laying down crumpled black plastic, newspaper or aluminium foil, held in placed with rocks. Raccoons and skunks hate to walk on this stuff.
9. I could sprinkle black and cayenne pepper around plants to keep rabbits away. This also works for insects that eat plants. Lucky for me, I can buy a solution called Hot Pepper Wax that will adhere to the plants, and not wash away after rains. The company recommends you reapply every three weeks. This one will work.
10. Plant cucumbers. Raccoons and skunks hate cucumbers. But I wonder what will eat the cucumbers instead?
11. This one is my favorite… for slugs. Cut paper towel or toilet paper cardboard tubes and push them into the ground, around the plants, so that slugs can’t reach the stems, or the leaves! Pus the tubes into the ground so that the sleeve of the tube protects the plant from beneath, comes above the around at least 4 inches around the stem of the plant.
12. There’s no way around making this Manure Tea. Apparently, it prevents seedlings from getting diseases. Recipe: 1 shovel full of fresh or aged manure. 1 burlap bag. 1 5-gallon bucket of water. Put manure in bag. Tie the bag shut and put in bucket, and fill bucket. Leave a handle on the burlap outside the bucket, dry, so you can pull it out. Let the tea sit for 2-3 days, then pull out the tea bag. This tea is too strong to put directly on seedlings, so before using the tea, dilute it with more water, so that it looks like weak iced tea. Now, the diluted tea can be sprinkled over the seedlings.
13. Hydrogen Peroxide Spray. If a fungal or bacterial disease his hit the plants, despite the manure tea, I’ll make this spray. 1 Tablespoon of 35 percent hydrogen peroxide. 1 gallon of water. Mix the hydrogen peroxide into the water. Wear gloves when using this. You can use this to prevent disease, by spraying once a week, (or more if it’s raining a lot). But, they caution to wait until transplants are established before these are sprayed.

This is going to be a lot of work. But, I’m up for it. So, any ideas you’d care to pass on from your own experience? I need them!

Do your cucumbers wilt on the vine before they even start to grow? Do your tomatoes get big wormholes before you get a chance to put a slice on top of your freshly grilled hamburger? Then your veggies need some friends, or companions, as gardeners like to call them. Here you’ll find a list of 13 plants, with their beneficial combinations.

Why? When you combine certain combinations of plants, they attract beneficial insects and birds, which keep pests from eating your seedlings down to nubs. This is why planting chives around your roses keeps the roses from getting diseases.

As I began researching “happy” plant combinations, I soon realized I had opened a can of worms. Companion planting is really “enemy science,” and creating a garden plan this way is like creating seating arrangements for a forced holiday family dinner that includes two volatile guests that “must be separated.” To truly understand a plant’s companion, you also have to understand the plant’s enemy – not just bugs, but actual plants. For example, I learned that Dill repels the squash bug that has killed my pumpkins for the last five years. Yet, be careful where you plant it, as dill will attract the tomato hornworm. Here are a few more “beware” combinations:

• Mint and parsley are enemies.
• Keep onions away from peas.
• Keep potatoes and tomatoes apart as they both can get early and late blight contaminating each other.

Companion planting was beginning to sound more like the very bickering and sibling rivalry I had hoped that my future 20-foot green bean fort would help me avoid all summer. The seeds may be called, “Jack and the Beanstalk,” but there was no magic in the packet, so to ensure their vital growth, I’ve figured out my summer fort’s companions here. I will not be growing corn, but I’ve included it here, just in case you may want to try it – because it seems to be very important garden friend.

1. Beans: My prize plant; the foundation and roof of our fort. Beans help all the other plants by enriching the soil with nitrogen. There is a summer trio that makes a great combination: beans, sweet corn and melons. The three plants like the same conditions warmth, rich soil and plenty of moisture. Peas, and carrots, and Basil are also good companion plants. The herb summer savory is important to keep away bean beetles, while improving the growth and flavor of the beans. However, keep the onion, chives – all the alliums away from the beans. (See, I told you this was kind of complicated.)
2. Tomatoes: Basil is not only the perfect friend to your antipasto platter, but it’s also the perfect pest-deterrent herb to plant alongside your tomato plant. But, keep the corn away from the tomato plants.
3. Carrots: Plant with pole beans, radishes and onions and tomatoes. However, if you are planting the carrots with the beans, you must keep the onions away from the beans. Also, keep the dill away from the carrots.
4. Cucumbers: Plant with beans, cucumber, corn, nasturtiums but no strong herbs. Farmers will sometimes let the cucumbers grow up and over your corn plants, so they need no staking. Cukes also do well with peas, beets and carrots. Dill planted with cucumbers will attract beneficial predators. (But once, again, keep the Dill away from the carrots and the tomatoes!) Nasturtium improves growth and flavor. Keep Sage away from the cucumbers.
5. Chives: A workhouse in the garden that is known to prevent apple tree scab, and black spot on roses. (Give it 3 years to complete its work.) In the vegetable garden, chives will help carrot and tomatoes taste better, and will keep away aphids, Japanese beetles and carrot rust fly. Every year, my cucumbers are ruined by powdery mildew. This year, I’ll make a chive tea to prevent powdery mildew from taking over my cukes. (Cover chopped chives with boiling water. Cool, strain and put in a spray bottle and spray plants two or three times a week.)
6. Watermelon: Grow with corn, nasturtiums, peas, sunflowers, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins and radishes. Nasturtium deters bugs and beetles. Oregano provides general pest protection.
7. Dill: Dill repels the squash bug that will kill your pumpkin vine. You can always scatter dill leaves on your squash plants. However, dill does ATTRACT the tomato hornworm; so keep it far AWAY from your tomatoes.
8. Garlic: Garlic, like chives, is also the friend to the rose plant, as it repels aphids. The garlic plant accumulates sulfur, a naturally occurring fungicide that keeps your garden soil from preventing disease. Time-released garlic campuses, planted at the bases of fruit trees, supposedly kept deer away… so I may have to try this one for the garden.
9. Nasturtiums: An edible flower that is one of the best at attracting predatory insects. Expert gardeners plant nasturtiums as a barrier around tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees. The leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible.
10. Petunias: I’m including this here, because this is my favorite summer annual, (I also love their smell) so I might as well put it to work. Petunias repel the asparagus beetle (nope, not growing it, but just thought I should know) and tomato worms. Apparently the Petunia also repels Mexican bean beetles, and the leaves can be used as a tea to make a potent bug spray.
11. Pumpkins: Pumpkin pals are corn, melon and squash. Marigold deters beetles. Nasturtium deters bugs, beetles. Oregano also provides general pest protection. As noted above, Dill can help me get rid of that squash bug… yet, once again; I have to make sure the pumpkins are far away from the tomatoes to do that.
12. Soybeans: They add nitrogen to the soil making them a good companion to corn. They repel chinch bugs and Japanese beetles. Plus, my kids love them!!!
13. Confuse the pests: I learned this from a wise gardening friend: Mix up your plants, flowers with the vegetables. The mingling scents will confuse the pests, and make the garden much nicer for you to look at.

Gooey & Sweet — Chocolate-Covered Bananas, less than 100 calories each

Big snack manufacturers are trying to help us out with our weight-loss programs and diets with pre-packed 100-calorie snack bags. But have you tried them? They taste like Styrofoam. And, look how tiny the bag is! You’re left with your hand in an empty bag, wondering what happened to the loot, feeling sooooo hungry!

A good snack meets your needs on several textural and sensational levels. You’re not looking for a measly 100 calories, you’re looking for an experience. Maybe it’s creamy, crunchy, refreshing, salty and or even sweet. You don’t want dry, crunchy Styrofoam. Here’s a list of 13 snacks that will meet your taste sensation requirements, and still are under 100 calories. Enjoy:

1. Chocolate-covered banana. Cut banana in half, dip in low-fat chocolate syrup, and freeze. The kid in you will like it when you stick a Popsicle stick on one end.
2. Goat cheese on two slices of Melba toast.
3. Dill Pickle
4. 3/4 oz. pretzels dipped in Dijon mustard
5. 1 baked Sweet potato
6. 7 Gumdrops
7. 1 marshmallow. Just one.
8. 1 slice of watermelon
9. 1 cup of frozen grapes… delicious in the summer.
10. Feta cheese and 1 peach
11. 1 slice of whole-grain bread
12. Flavored herbal tea. Read more about how tea can help you to loose weight here.
13. Cucumber slices dipped in low-fat yogurt seasoned with dill, salt, pepper and thyme.

Life can be so simple sometimes. OK. now tell me your favorite, because I’ve got all these boys that will be home from school all summer, and I have to feed them all day!

Also, if you’re looking for a way to keep the kids occupied in the car, or during summer vacation, get your own free download of the award-winning audio adventure “Billy Brown And The Mystery Package.” Read more about Billy Brown, here.