Popsicles, “juice” boxes, and mac ‘n cheese… Oh NO!  Summer time can be a great time for kids to get outdoors, play and explore.  What can we do as parents to help our children get the most out of summer?  Number 1: Don’t skimp on healthy, nutritious meals and snacks!  Nutrition often takes a backseat in the summer… kids sleep in late and skip breakfast more often.  Convenient, packaged foods are thrown together to get through a day at the zoo.  Pool-side fair includes hot dogs, pizza, candy and pop!  Make a difference in your child’s health this summer… Plant a garden and share in the labor and rewards of a bountiful harvest… or volunteer at an urban garden (www.dug.org)… visit a farmer’s market every week and ask your kids to pick out a new fruit or vegetable that the family has never tried… pack nutritious snacks before heading out for the day… fresh fruits and veggies, small portions of 100% fruit juice, air-popped popcorn, light yogurt that has been frozen ahead of time, GORP or trail mix are all great portable choices.  Number 2: Don’t… I repeat… DON’T let kids have more than 2 hours of screen time (this means any form of screen) a day!  Recently I read an article about Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey.  In this article he mentioned how he grew to absolutely love the outdoors… his mom used to say to him something to the effect of… “The sun is shining, you must be outdoors!”.  I encourage you as a parent to entice your children outdoors.  Give them some creative ideas… share with them… “When I was a kid in the summer I would…” then empower them to do likewise!  This summer give your kids the two powerful ingredients for health and vitality:  nutrition and outdoor play!