Leading food and nutrition expert Chere Bork, a registered dietitian with more than 30 years experience, and president and founder of Savor Your Life Today, Inc., helps busy parents guide their children’s food choices into healthier options.

“Nutrition is essential to fuel the energy required for children’s activities,” notes Bork. “Providing healthy on-the-go food options may be easier than you think with these five tips.”

Enjoy Seasonal Eating. Now is the perfect time to get kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. And as seasons change, there are new options to offer. Try to include something from nature’s harvest in every meal – fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, watermelon, sweet corn, green beans, and tomatoes.

Limit added sugars. Sweeteners are found in many foods, and when consumed in moderation, often serve a useful role in making nutrient-rich foods, like yogurt and flavored milk, palatable for children. These sweeteners contain the same calories per gram and are nutritionally equivalent. Parents should know that a sugar is a sugar, whether it comes from sugar cane, sugar beets, honey, or corn, such as high fructose corn syrup. To learn more about sweeteners, including high fructose corn syrup, visit www.SweetSurprise.com.

Pack simple snacks. Individual ready-to-eat servings such as low-fat yogurt or string cheese, and snacks that travel well in small, sealable bags like fruit, nuts, and vegetables work well for kids. Snacks can be part of a healthy diet, but they should be appropriately sized so your children can enjoy a full meal two to three hours later.

Make mealtime fun. To balance out the occasional treat, make healthy food choices readily available and enjoyable for young eaters. Try cutting fresh fruit into fun shapes with cookie cutters, or offering a variety of toppings for sweet corn on the cob and baked potatoes. And include kids in meal-time preparation.

Don’t forget liquids. Keeping kids well hydrated is essential. Water is ideal. Encourage kids to drink even when they are not thirsty.

“The trick is to encourage kids to be active and allow them to enjoy their favorite foods, including sweets, in moderation,” explains Bork. “Also, set a good example by eating a variety of foods yourself.”

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Courtesy of Family Features
Source: Corn Refiners Association

Immediately upon entering we were cheerfully greeted by the hostess and seated. We were even offered a choice of seating. We opted to sit in the bar area since the restaurant is completely nonsmoking. The restaurant was about half full when we arrived.

Within a minute or so, our server introduced herself and took our drink order. After giving us a few minutes to look over the menu and talk, she took our food order.

We both ordered the Black & Bleu Steak Salad. My friend asked if she could substitute the blue cheese dressing that normally accompanies the salad for the balsamic vinaigrette. Her request was happily accommodated. I ordered the salad as described in the menu.

When the salads arrived the order was correct. The salads were a nice size, pleasingly arranged and topped with a generous portion of mouth watering grilled steak. The dressing portion was just right and the elements of the salad were uniformly sized. No large chunks of any one ingredient (pet peeve). Everything blended together nicely.

Our server checked back with us several times to ensure we were enjoying our meal and to refill drinks. We were able to leisurely dine in the comfortable atmosphere that has been carefully created by the owner. The experience was enjoyable and the food was excellent. When we left around 2:30 pm, the restaurant was about 2/3 full and the staff was running like a well oiled machine.

I highly recommend this restaurant in terms or service, food quality, atmosphere and overall value (portion size vs. food quality and price).

The Brick House
152 E. High Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
610-906-3527
inbox@pottstownbrickhouse.com
Visit: www.PottstownBrickHouse.com (Tell them the Pottstown Herald Mystery Diner sent you!)

Enjoy!

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