While on the road, every family has to stop for bathroom breaks, snacks and   time to stretch their legs.  In this week’s show, Priority Health and Meijer showed us how pit stops can also be a time for health and wellness.

Prepacking health snacks in a cooler is much healthier than swinging through the local drive-thru.  Some easy snacks include baggies full of raw veggies, fruit, chex mix, granola bars, juice boxes and bottled water.  Stop at a local park or rest area and create or own picnic.  Or, if you’re in a rush, you don’t even need to stop to have these treats.

Long roadtrips can meet antsy kids in the car.  Even if it is just a stop for gas, the family should get out of the car and do some stretches.  If you have more time at a park or rest area, toss a frisbee or volleyball back and forth, jumprope or even play some paddle ball.  If you do this three times during the day or ten minutes each, that is thirty minutes of exercise you’re getting while on the road.

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We’d love to hear from you!  Tell us how you get your picky eaters to try new things.  Here are a few tips to remember when looking to introduce new foods to your little ones.

· Never force or restrict food choices

· Remember it is the parent or caregiver who controls what and where and when food is provided.  But, it is up to the child to decide how much to eat and whether or not to eat. 

· Parents should continue to offer the child a variety of foods at mealtimes.  For some children, it takes being offered a food up to 15 times before they are willing to try it. 

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Here are some delicious disguises from our friend and Meijer dietician, Shari Steinbach.

Peachy Freeze: Makes 3 – 4 oz. portions
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peaches (either fresh of frozen)
1 tsp. sugar
Dash of cinnamon or vanilla (optional)
Directions:
Pour the milk into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid.
Pop the “milk cubes” out of the tray and put them into the blender.  Then put the peaches and sugar into the blender. 
Put the lid on the blender and blend on high speed until everything is mixed together and very smooth. 
Pour into and serve with a spoon.

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Here are the events promoted in this week’s show.

Gilmore for Kids
Monday, May 5 through Thursday, May 8
Various locations in Allegan, Battle Creek and Benton Harbor
www.gilmore.org
These one-hour events are great for kids of all ages.  Kids attend for free and adults accompanied by a child are $5.

Backyardigans Live
Wednesday, May 7 at 2pm and 7pm
Van Andel Arena ~ Grand Rapids
www.ticketmaster.com
Based on the popular Nickelodeon show, the Backyardigans Live will have the whole family singing, dancing and laughing.  Tickets range from $18.50 to $38.50.

Fifth Third River Run Junior
Wednesday, May 7
Rogers High School ~ Wyoming
This year kids can choose to do a half-mile, one mile, or 5k run.  The half mile and one mile is open to kids ages 5-13 and kicks off at 5:30pm.  The 5k is open to kids in grades 4-6 and starts at 6:30pm.

Meijer “do it 4 u” Shopping Event
Thursday, May 8 from 5-7pm
Cascade Meijer ~ Grand Rapids
www.wotv.com
Stop by for free cooking demonstrations, samples, fitness tips and more.

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Shari Steinbach, Healthily Living Advisor for Meijer, recently took Maranda grocery shopping.  Here are her five best tips for being a greener shopper.

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