Bike Safety Tips 

In an attempt to put fewer miles on our automobiles, more and more families are using pedal power to get around.  Here are a few bike safety reminders provided by KidsHealth, www.kidshealth.org. 

• Always wear a properly fitted bike helmet; for suggestions, visit kidshealth.org.
• Stop at all stop signs and obey traffic lights just as cars do. Yield to pedestrians, stop at red lights, and be especially careful of intersections.
• Always ride in the same direction as cars do. Never ride against traffic.
• Try to use bike lanes or designated bike routes whenever you can-not the sidewalk.
• Always stop and check for traffic in both directions when leaving a driveway, an alley, or a curb.
• Watch traffic closely for turning cars or cars leaving driveways.
• Don't ride too close to parked cars-doors can open suddenly.
• Walk a bike across busy intersections using the crosswalk and following traffic signals.
• When riding in a group, always ride single file on the street.
• When passing other bikers or people on the street, always pass to their left and call out "On your left!" so they'll watch for you.
• Never hitch a ride on a moving vehicle.
• Never change directions or lanes without first looking behind you, and always use the correct hand signals; find them at at www.kidshealth.org.

The Family Sabbatical 

The Family Sabbatical Handbook, by writer Elisa Bernick, shows how ordinary, everyday families can finance and orchestrate an extended stay abroad for anywhere from six months to several years.  And she should know: she and her family did just that, living in Mexico for 18 months, without working during their sabbatical, on three years' savings and the rent from their home back in Minnesota. 

In addition to her own experience, she peppers her advice with comments from 15 other families who've lived in South America, Europe, and Asia for extended periods.  The book addresses a wide range of practicalities, including healthcare and insurance, legal concerns, communication options, resources for working abroad and handling business back home, finding babysitters overseas, and the importance of scheduling parent "alone time."  Also included is an extensive list of additional resources including books, helpful magazines and catalogs, internet guidebooks, message boards, and general information.

School Lunch Ideas    

Fewer than ten percent of Americans eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day.  Welch's second annual P.A.C.K. Week  (Pack Assorted Colors for Kids Week) is September 22-26, helping kick off a new school year with fun and engaging ways to pack more colorful fruits and veggies into children's diets.  That means more healthful nutrients-vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients too.  

September 22, Pack Purple Day - Purple/blue color is a clue to an abundance of protective natural antioxidants.  Try including blueberries, blackberries, raisins, plums, or 100% Welch's Grape Juice from Concord grapes.

September 23, Pack White Day - While white, tan, and brown fruits and vegetables may not be vibrant in color, they are extremely popular and full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  Try including bananas, pears, or cauliflower.

September 24, Pack Red Day - In school, red apples are almost as common as books, making them a natural choice.  You can also try red pepper slices or tomatoes, each of which is an excellent source of vitamin C.

September 25, Pack Yellow and/or Orange Day - Oranges are among the most popular of all fruits, and you could also add baby carrots or dried apricots.

September 26, Pack Green Day - Green apples and green grapes are always good choices because they're packed with nutrients and easy to take on the go.  Today, shake lunch up by packing broccoli florets, sugar snap or snow peas, or celery sticks-all  of which contain fiber, which helps regulate the body's digestive system.

For more information on P.A.C.K. Week, visit welchs.com.  For more information about Fruits & Veggies - More Matters, visit www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org.

The Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids  

Feeding your kids doesn't have to be a battle.  In Tosca Reno's new book The Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids, you will find 60 new kid-tested recipes, as well as ideas on how to promote a clean, fit lifestyle.  Here is a fun recipe to wrap up for lunch, or even for dinner on the go. 

MANGO CHICKEN SALAD WRAP

Ingredients  (makes 4 wraps)
1 T. jerk seasoning
1 T. best-quality olive oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup sprouts
1 cup baby spinach greens
1 mango, peeled, pitted, and diced
½ sweet red pepper, diced
¼ cup low-fat plain yogurt
Juice and grated rind from ½ fresh lime
4 six-inch multi-grain or brown rice wraps

Preparation
1.     In a bowl, whisk jerk seasoning with oil.  Add both chicken breasts and turn to coat.
2.     Place chicken on parchment-lined baking sheet.  Broil, turning once, for a total of 12 minutes or until no longer pink inside.  This is easier to do when the chicken breast is of uniform thickness.
3.     Let cool slightly; cut into thin strips.  In a large bowl, toss together mango, red pepper, yogurt, lime rind, and juice.  Lay one-quarter of the spinach and chicken in each wrap.
4.     Divide the mango mixture among wraps, placing in center of each.  Place ¼ cup sprouts on each wrap.  Fold both sides over filling.  Roll up tightly from the end.

Songs and Stories for Everyone 

Everyone remembers the trials and terrors of starting a new school year.  This fall, kids of all ages will experience those unnerving thrills again, and they'll find at least one person on their side-Bill Harley.  Through his expert mix of song and story, Harley offers up two new live concert releases showcasing his irreverent and true approach to daily life.

With the CD and DVD releases of Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live, Harley builds on his 30-year career as a musician, storyteller, and author.  Recorded before an all-ages audience at the University of Montana, Yes to Running! gives fans the next best thing to a live Bill Harley concert.  And for those who don't know Harley's Grammy Award-winning work, these two collections of ten humorous and meaningful songs and stories provide an excellent introduction to Harley's offbeat and insightful outlook. 

Our Online FAMILY Winners!

Congratulations to our winning readers who entered our online giveaway at our website for the Sesame Street: Count on Sports DVD.  They are:  Miranda Kuskie, Jenny Blais, John Kalungi, Kimberly Hubbard, and Leslie Ernst. 

Subscribe to receive our free weekly Treasure Valley Family Weekend E-newsletter. Get the latest calendar updates and plan a weekend of family fun!

And a special congrats to Crystal Doyle who won our Hushabye Baby CD set, which was featured in our recent edition of Treasure Valley Baby Magazine!

$aving for College 

A tough economy makes saving difficult, but that doesn't mean your children's future should be jeopardized.  You can help ensure that your kids will receive the education and have access to the opportunities they deserve by saving now.  Ideal - Idaho 529 College Savings Program is the state-sponsored savings plan that enables parents, grandparents, family, and friends to help children save for their future education.  Any earnings on contributions to your account in this tax-advantaged program are tax-deferred, and withdrawals used for qualified educational expenses are tax-free.  Plus, Idaho residents can enjoy an Idaho state income tax deduction of up to $4,000 a year ($8,000 if filing jointly). 

Ideal also offers Ugift, a way for account owners to invite family and friends to give the gift of college savings in lieu of traditional gifts.  For more information on Ideal and how it can help you save for college, visit www.idsaves.org, or call (866) 433-2533.

Community Baby Shower Wrap-Up 

The Community Baby Shower, which was held on July 23 at area Albertsons stores, collected donations to benefit three nonprofit organizations that are committed to helping moms and moms-to-be through incentive-based programs.  Baby Steps in Boise, Open Arms Baby Boutique in Nampa, and Baby Haven at The Salvation Army in Caldwell, will all benefit from generous donations and community support.

Thank you to all those who helped make a difference in the lives of Treasure Valley families.  These donations will be shared with those who really need the help, and Treasure Valley Family Magazine was proud to help! 

• Diapers - 903 packages (roughly 45,000 individual diapers)
• Wet Wipes - 710 boxes
• Clothing - 433 adorable new baby outfits
• Blankets - 180
• Formula - 238 cans
• Plus, thousands more toiletry items, books, food, toys, even furniture and strollers

Tips for Taking the SAT or ACT  

As an expert in preparing students for the SATs and ACTs, Sylvan Learning offers students the following tips in taking "the big test."

Day of the Exam

• Always eat breakfast!
• Relax! You are prepared, go in confident.
• Don't spend too much time on any single question.
• Read the questions and answers critically.
• If you are unsure of a question, circle it and come back to it if time permits.
• Trust your instincts on the easy questions and never leave an easy question blank.
• Use the process of elimination. If you spend time working on a problem and eliminate two answers, you should make an educated guess.
• Your job is to focus on the content of the test, not the frequency of the answer letters.
• Don't be lazy. Use any time remaining at the end of a section to revisit questions that you either circled or marked with a question mark.
• Check, after every few questions, whether the question number on the answer sheet corresponds with the question being answered in the question booklet.