A holiday that celebrates chocolate? Who wouldn’t love Valentine’s Day! Americans devour about 11.7 pounds of chocolate per person annually. Today when you want to buy chocolate there are more choices than ever. Everything from Artisan, Organic, Fair Trade and Save the Rainforest chocolate bars are available to American consumers. And in moderate amounts, chocolate can also be good for you! Where do I sign up?

The cocoa beans in chocolate contain flavanols, which have been linked to blood vessel and cardiovascular health. Tannins in chocolate can prevent cavaties from forming (a fact I won’t be sharing with my children) But read the labels, chocolate must contain at least 70% cocoa to have a healthful amount of flavanols. Those that have less than 70% cocoa tend to contain more sugar which can have a negative effect on the teeth and hips.

And not all cocoa is grown the same. Conventional cocoa contain a significant amount of pesticides. Organic cocoa is grown without pesticides and under the natural shade canopy of the rain forest. This enviornmentally sound method of farming maintains bio-diversity and protects the winter habitat of millions of migratory songbirds.

If your organic chocolate also has Fair Trades logo on the wrapper, you’re helping more than the songbirds. Fair Trade guarantees that the cocoa farmers receive fair prices and labor protections. That’s a lot of good news for chocolate lovers. Of course, there are also a list of foods that provide a good deal of flavanols such as purple grapes, apples, cranberries and certain teas. But until they get their own holidays, I’m asking my Valentine for a romantic box of chocolates.

Any time your child gets a cold, your deepest mommy caregiver instincts suddenly take over. You just want your baby to feel better so she can finally rest and you can get the family schedule back on track. Until recently, many parents immediately reached for a reliable over-the-counter cold medicine that ads promised would help doctor mom.

Not anymore!

In October, A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted to ban popular over-the-counter cold products intended for children under the age of 6. The panel couldn’t find any proof that the medicines alleviated cold symptoms in children. In fact, there were reports of serious illness and even death as a result of accidental overdose.

Reading the proper dosage amounts for weight and age isn’t good enough.

Unfortunately, the only way to understand how the medicine will affect your child is to read the “Drug Facts” box on the package (in teeny tiny print). According to The New York Times, about 800 pediatric cold products sold in the United States use at least one or more of 39 different drugs. Concerned parents spend around $500 million every year, and buy nearly 95 million boxes of medicine. That’s a lot of teeny tiny print!

And it’s only a matter of time before major manufacturers of cold medicines find a way to get their reformulated products back on the shelves. When they re-appear, here are some important facts that every parent should know the next time you want to give your child an over-the-counter medicine.

- Cough and Cold medicines should NOT be used in children under the age of 2 UNLESS your pediatrician gives you specific directions to do so.

- Never give children medicine intended for adults. This would dramatically increase the risk of an overdose. That includes desperate parents with children on a long flight.

- If other medicines either prescription or over-the-counter are being given to a child, the child’s pediatrician should review and approve their combined use.

- It is important to follow the directions in the “Drug Facts” box. Do not give a child medicine more often or in greater amounts than is stated on the package.

- Use the measuring device i.e. dropper, dosing cup or spoon, that comes with the package with each different medicine. They are marked to deliver the recommended dose. If one is not included in the medicine packaging, they’re widely available for purchase in drug stores. Take a look to make sure that the dosing matches the directions on the medicine box that you are using.

- If you do not understand the dosing directions, do not give the medicine until you contact your pediatrician.

- If your child’s condition worsens or doesn’t improve, stop using the product and take your child to their pediatrician for evaluation.

Because these medicines treat the symptoms of the common cold and are not a cure, many parents turn to tried and true homemade remedies. I use a humidifier, TLC and my grandmother’s chicken soup recipe which always makes my children feel better during the time it takes to get better.

For a list of products that were banned visit www.aap.org/new/kidscolds.htm

Tell us: What’s your Homemade Cold Remedy? Send us your great ideas for cold solutions without medicine and we will share them with other moms on www.homemadebaby.com

Theresa Kiene

My mission this school year is simple: Pack a healthy lunch for three kids – every day. A lunch that’s healthy enough to keep their concentration levels high for the rest of the day, and tasty enough not to get traded. Mostly a lunch that they’ll eat!

My motivation is high at the beginning of the school year and I’m filled with creative ideas on food, presentation and love notes to include in my children’s lunch boxes. Even with the best intentions, there’ll always be a morning where I’m running late, one of the kids is sick and now I’m rationalizing the nutritional benefits of beef jerky. For those days, I’ve created a check list to guide my choices so that I’ll be giving my children a healthy lunch experience even on my sleepiest mornings.

For each lunch box I make sure they include the following: Main dish, 2 side dishes, beverage and a snack

Those categories must include one serving each of:
• lean protein (main dish)
• fruits and vegetables (side dish - try for one of each)
• calcium (can be additional side dish or beverage)
• whole grains (usually part of the main dish but can also be a side dish).
• Beverage (usually water or low fat milk. Occasionally 100% juice)

Lean protein options – Antibiotic and hormone-free, no nitrates Turkey; chicken; and ham; fresh salmon and low-mercury canned tuna for healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Non animal source proteins include legumes, organic tofu and tempeh.

Fruits and Vegetables – one half cup is considered one serving, so lunch time is a great place to continue to reach the daily allowance. Fresh organic fruits and vegetables are best. Offering a variety of choices (the colors of the rainbow) will provide maximum amounts of vitamins and nutrients. Buying in season is a great way to get the most flavorful and economic choices. Try your local farmer’s market. It makes a great weekly family outing as well as providing many teachable moments.

Calcium – Organic lowfat milk, cheese, no sugar added yogurt, calcium fortified soy or orange juice and dark, leafy greens.

Whole Grains – Whole grains contain fiber and vitamins that processed refined grains do not. Try whole grain breads, tortillas, pastas or cereals. Also try brown rice, quinoa, whole barley, bulger or buckwheat.

Whichever combinations you choose, some of these foods pull double-duty in nutrition. For instance, string cheese provides both calcium and protein.

To help get you started on lunch box planning here are a few ideas:

Main Dish
Organic turkey on multigrain bread
Mac n’ Cheese with vegetables mixed in
Soup (when using canned soup, up the nutrition by adding a handful of beans)
Beans & Rice
Vegetarian or turkey chili
Tuna & shredded carrot wrap
Miniature Ham & Cheese sandwich on baby bagels
Healthy Burrito with sweet potato spread topped with beans and veggies
Peanut Butter & bananas on multigrain bread or crackers (check to see if peanuts are allowed)
Add left over chicken to potato salad, over greens or in a wrap
Tofu dogs (keep warm in hot water in a thermos)

Side Dish (any 2)
Apple slices w/fruit yogurt dip or peanut butter (check for allergies)
Dried fruit mix
Hummus and veggies
Homemade Pita or tortilla chips w/fresh salsa
Cherry tomatoes with light ranch dip
Organic fresh fruit
Applesauce
Hard boiled egg
Brown rice pudding
Salad
Edamame
Baked sweet potato fries (cold)
Bean deep w/homemade chips

Snack
Whole grain snack bar (check sugar grams)
Homemade baked goods
Soy or rice chips
Homemade muffins
Graham crackers
Low fat popcorn
Whole wheat fig cookies
Organic string cheese (calcium)
Dry cereal or granola (low sugar)
Whole grain waffle with nut butter or fruit preserves
Raisins
Low fat no sugar added yogurt cup or squeezable (calcium)
Soy or lowfat pudding (calcium)
Cheese and whole grain crackers (calcium)

Beverage
Drinkable yogurt or kefir (calcium)
Orange juice (calcium)
Water
Organic milk (calcium)
100% fruit juice
100% vegetable juice or fruit and veggie blend
I remember being shocked to learn that the actual time allotted for eating lunch only lasts 15 to 20 minutes and is filled with distractions and the urge to get in line to play tether ball. From then on I made sure the lunch foods I packed were easy to eat and in easily opened containers.

You can keep soup and chili warm by pre-heating thermoses with hot water a few minutes, empty the water and add the food.

Now that you’ve decided on the food, think about ditching the brown bag and plastic baggies for reusable lead free lunch boxes or totes. There are a lot of adorable eco-friendly choices that your child will love.