healthy snacks for kids to make, lunches, parties, on the go

The importance of taking those supplements is shown yet again (unfortuantely the author is still on that whole Milk should be the main source of dietary calcium... kick even though there is quite a bit of controvers about this even in the traditional medical establishment) in this article from: <http://www.iwon.com/home/health/health_article/0,11720,106474|12-15-2000::06:00,00.html Calcium: More Important Than You Thought High-calcium diets may even prevent obesity Most women know by now that an adequate amount of calcium in the diet helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis. If anyone needs added incentive to fortify their diet with calcium-rich foods, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Heaney warns that calcium deficiency can also encourage high blood pressure, colon cancer, premenstrual syndrome, kidney stones, and other illnesses. A recent study revealed that a high-calcium diet can also prevent weight gain even when the foods eaten would otherwise promote obesity. Staying off milk when you're trying to lose weight is clearly the worst thing you can do, Heaney tells the Deseret News <http://www.desnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,230007729,00.html. A low-calcium diet tells the cells to hang onto fat, store fat and get fat. Men also need to pay attention to their calcium. They get osteoporosis, too. But because it's not as common as in women, the problem is often ignored and far fewer teen-age boys get the word early that they need enough of this essential mineral. To get more calcium in your diet, start with dairy products. Many doctors recommend low-fat products, but virtually all dairy is rich in the mineral. A second feature from the paper describes the medical evidence for calcium's ability to prevent diseases other than osteoporosis and offers several recipes to add calcium to your meals. Those who are lactose intolerant or simply don't care for dairy products can eat plant-_base_d foods rich in calcium, including soy products, broccoli, kale, collard-, turnip- and beet greens. Some prepared foods also come enriched with calcium, such as juices, cereals and waffles. A previous HealthScout story <http://www.healthscout.com/cgi-bin/Web_object_s/Af?ap=132&id=97160 advises parents to encourage their children to eat a calcium-rich diet. Not only do adolescents have a greater need for calcium, the body's greatest bone mass is achieved during the late teens and early adulthood.