Healthy Moms, Healthy Families

Dear Parents,

Clean air is an essential ingredient of the healthy lifestyle. Find out what you can do to avoid trouble indoors with toxic chemicals, radon, and carbon monoxide, and read about environmental hazards that may be lurking in your child's school. You can help keep the air clean outdoors by minimizing your car use.

This issue also suggests strategies for helping your child become a healthy eater. Begin with breakfast, add color to every meal, let him help in the kitchen, and don't forget to make mealtime fun.

Finally, if you're lacking your usual get-up-and-go and enthusiasm, learn about some healthy alternatives to popular stimulants and antidepressants.

From the Editors at FamilyEducation.com

Clean Air
Every cell in the body requires air – preferably clean air – in order to remain healthy.

Breathe Clean Air Avoiding Environmental Toxins Detecting Radon in Your Home The Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide Kids and Secondhand Smoke

Environmental Hazards in School School Buses & Diesel Fumes Air Pollution & Pregnancy Earthsavers: Air 8 Tips to Minimize Car Use

Raising a Healthy Eater
The real priority is to teach your child to be a lifelong healthy eater, not to make sure he finishes the snow peas on his plate.

Begin with Breakfast Limit Your Child's Juice Consumption Growing Kids Need Calcium Make Meals and Snacks Colorful Smart Snack Finder Put Greens and Fatty Foods Together Find Kid-Friendly Recipes

How Healthy Are Your Meals? Challenge Your Child's Taste Buds Supermarket Scavenger Hunt Involve Your Kids in the Kitchen Don't Stress over Skipped Meals Make Mealtime Fun

Feel Good Naturally
Learn how to improve your mood, energy, and happiness naturally, using supplements, nutrition, and mind-body techniques.

The Exhaustion Epidemic Energy Check Handle with Care: Popular Stimulants Nutrition Essentials for Feeling Good

Tips for a Natural Energy Boost Mood Check Connection Check Antidepressants: The Pros and Cons Natural Mood Lifters

Avoiding Irritating Allergies
Allergies can be triggered by irritants found at home, in school, and in public. Learn the sources of common allergens and find ways to minimize reactions. Sponsored by Wal-Mart.

Keeping Kitty Healthy

		These tips will help you keep your cat purring along to a healthy and happy old age. Feline Health Problems Common Feline Diseases Vaccinating Your Cat Feeding Your Cat Weight Control Spaying and Neutering Your Cat's Claws Your Cat's Hygiene Indoor or Outdoor Cat? Preventing Unwanted Behaviors Changes in the Aging Cat

Find Balance in Your Family's Diet
The Balanced Meal Planner is a fun interactive tool that can help you plan a healthy, balanced diet for your family, based on the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid. Brought to you by Capri Sun.

		Join in this discussion on our Message Boards with a mother who wants to know how to handle sibling rivalry: "How do I deal with sibling rivalry, especially when they both want the same things?... How should this be handled without looking as if I'm taking one side over another?" —Petronella

FE Blogs!
Get to know the bloggers on FamilyEducation.com! Read Aliki McElreath's Professor Mom and Todd Lieman's Skadaddle.

A favorite blogger friend of mine wrote the other day about a recent study out there claiming that parenthood does not, in fact, bring joy and fulfillment, that children are a source of misery and stress, and that raising them is a "lifelong challenge to your mental health."
— Aliki McElreath, Professor Mom. Read more!

Birthday Gift Giving Guide
These lists of top ten birthday gift ideas for kids ages 0-5, 6-10, 11-13, and 14-18 will stimulate your creativity. Plus we have unique ideas for baby's first birthday and the year your child turns sweet 16.