Life can get crazy when you're running your kids to and from all their activities. Fast food can seem like a lifesaver when there isn't much time to prepare dinner.

It's a catch-22. We get our kids involved in sports so they stay active, then we feed them foods loaded with fat, to be washed down with drinks teeming with sugar, because their activities don't allow us time to prepare a healthy dinner.

Kids are not as healthy as they once were because our lives are busier than ever. If we want our children to be well and live long, healthy lives, we need to discover new ways to make sure they are properly nourished.

Here are some tips to help you provide your children with the nutrition their growing bodies need, minus the fat they don't:

Plan Ahead
Check your calendar before you head for the grocery store. Determine which nights you'll be crunched for time and plan your meals accordingly.

Introduce Yourself To Your Crockpot
Crockpot cooking is becoming popular again and it's no wonder. It's a busy mom's best friend. Assemble your meal in a removable crock the night before and refrigerate. In the morning, all you have to do is put it in the cooker and turn it on. Check out your local bookstore for crockpot cookbooks.

Does It Have To Be Hot?
If kids are getting a hot lunch at school, why can't they have their "lunch" at dinner every now and then? Most schools serve meals comparable to the dinners we serve at home. Try turning the meals around. A turkey sandwich, raw baby carrots and a glass of milk for dinner covers all four food groups without the fat. Another bonus-pack it in a brown bag and it can be eaten on the run if necessary.

Substitute
The American Dietetic Association and The American Association of Pediatrics are protesting and fastfood restaurants are listening. Most of them have begun offering healthy alternatives for french fries and softdrinks.

If you absolutely must rely on these places to feed your kids, take advantage of these menu additions. Your kids may not be happy about it at first, but eventually they will get used to a better way of eating.

Karen Bianchi is a freelance writer, editor of AwesomeMomsNetwork.com and the mom of 4 kids. To read more articles by Karen, or to subscribe to the AwesomeMomsNetwork.com newsletter, visit http://www.AwesomeMomsNetwork.com.

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