Many years ago, encouraging kids to try ethnic dishes was a lot more difficult then today, where most children seem to be more adventurous than adults. In fact, they're willing to try a large variety of ethnic foods, but one of their favorites is Mexican food. This has led many families to have a weekly taco night. While tacos may be fun, and can certainly be prepared in a healthy way, why not do something different? Instead of taco night, why not have Mexican night and try something new each week?

Beefy Bean Taquitos
Serves 4

• 16 small corn tortillas
• 1 pound 93% lean ground beef
• 1 packet of low-sodium taco seasoning mix
• 14 ounce can of fat-free refried beans
• 4 ounces of pepper jack cheese, shredded
• Nonstick cooking spray

1. Cook the ground beef, add the seasoning packet, and cook according to the package directions.
2. While the ground beef is cooking, add a small portion of refried beans to each tortilla and sprinkle with cheese.
3. Add the ground beef on top of the cheese and roll each tortilla into a tight cigar shape.
4. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray and place the taquitos seam-side down on the cookie sheet.
5. Spray the top of the taquitos with additional cooking spray and bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crispy.
6. Serve with low- fat sour cream and salsa.

As with any other meal, you need a dessert. Unfortunately, many Mexican desserts are deep fried. That's okay though. This just forces you to get creative.

Fruity Nachos
Serve 4

• 4 large flour tortillas
• Butter flavored nonstick cooking spray
• Cinnamon sugar, to taste
• Fat-free cream cheese, softened
• Powered sugar, to taste
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1 1/2 cup strawberries, cut into cubes; 1 kiwi, cubed
• 1 cup fat-free whipped topping

1. Cut the flour tortillas into wedges.
2. Place the wedges onto a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Spray additional cooking spray onto the wedges and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
3. Bake the wedges in a 400-degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until crispy.
4. In the meantime, mix the cream cheese with the powered sugar.
5. Place the cooked chips on a platter and layer them with the cream cheese, blackberries, strawberries and kiwi.
6. Use a piping bag to add the fat-free whipped topping.

If you have any recipes ideas, improvements, suggestions, please
comment below and let us know! Let us in on some of your secret recipes!

Portland, Ore. offers both natural beauty and a progressive approach to making education entertaining.

Portland, Ore. is perhaps the biggest tourist secret in America. Depending upon which direction you take, a two hour drive from Portland can be like a tour of America in miniature. The majestic beauty of this state is a never-ending surprise featuring incredible natural wonders that take the breath away. Where else in America can your kids spend the morning watching whales breach through the surface of the ocean, drive up a mountain in the afternoon and enjoy an incredible sunset among crested buttes in a desert setting at night?

Mt. Hood's snowcapped peak is the centerpiece of Portland and a trip to this amazing city would not be complete without driving along the winding roads that will ultimately present you and your kids with a spectacular view of the city. Not too far away is the equally magnificent site of Multnomah Falls cascading 620 feet down into the Columbia River Gorge. Getting to Multnomah Falls involves some intense physical activity, but even those kids who consider getting up off the couch to get something to drink during their third straight hour of playing video games to be too much exertion will be captivated by the extraordinary sights they will discover on the way. Once you actually get to the waterfall, every single step is immediately forgiven. Multnomah Falls is one of those enthralling examples of nature that few ever forget.

Portland is a great tourist spot beyond what Mother Nature has given it, however. For instance, there is the Kidd Toy Museum, containing over 10,000 toys collected over the years by just one man. Many of these go back to the 19th century, making this museum a little history lesson in the bargain.

The Oregon Zoo is considered one of the finest in the country and is home to an extraordinary collection of animals. The Portland Children's Museum is a must for those with younger children, featuring a revolving series of special exhibits and a vast collection of opportunities for kids to engage in interactive and hands-on learning experiences. Older kids will enjoy the renowned Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, which offers everything from a tour of a submarine to Imax movies to a thrilling motion simulator that offers a series of virtual experiences including a Grand Prix race and a trip into a volcano.

Physical fitness is an important aspect of a child's life. To get the most benefit, a variety of physical activities should be utilized. One activity kids seem to enjoy a lot is dancing. When they are dancing, kids often don't realize they are also exercising.

Physical fitness is an important aspect of a child's life. Keeping fit will not only help a child control weight issues, but it is also beneficial to all areas of the body. Adding a good exercise routine to a child's daily activities is a must. To get the most benefit, a variety of physical activities should be utilized. One activity kids seem to enjoy a lot is dancing. When they are dancing, kids often don't realize they are also exercising.

Dance can be done at home or at school as a group. Parents can also hire an instructor or enroll children in dance classes. In addition, there are many dance videos to help teach the kids how to do various dances. Many schools are actively using dance as part of the regular physical education curriculum. Because dance is so versatile, different movements and styles can be used to form a good workout routine.

While schools may do this in a more organized fashion, parents have the unique opportunity of simply slipping in exercise through dance at opportune times. For instance, when we are doing chores, I like to play music. Kids can not only get exercise from the chores, but if parents allow them to dance as well, they will get an even better workout. My kids love this activity and forget they are exercising.

Another fun way to add in dance is by doing a weekly talent competition between family and friends. Each person or team should get a chance to dance at least once. This can also be done at school, perhaps in a more organized way. In fact, I have seen a few elementary schools hold talent competitions involving dance. These seem to go over pretty well with many of the kids I've observed during one of these events.

The main point when working with kids on physical fitness is to keep it fun and exciting. After too much repetitiveness, routines can get a little boring. By mixing up dance styles and movements, as well as being sure to seize the appropriate moments, your child will be having more fun while working out in no time.

Are you tired of the same old meals? Wouldn't you love to make something creative? Well, then it's time you stuffed it. Pizza dough, pie crust, puff pastry, it doesn't matter. All of these options can be stuffed with savory ingredients to create a quick meal.

Are you tired of the same old meals? Wouldn't you love to make something creative? Well, then it's time you stuffed it. Pizza dough, pie crust, puff pastry, it doesn't matter. All of these options can be stuffed with savory ingredients to create a quick meal. Best of all, they're a fun way to sneak in vegetables. It's even a meal where the kids can get involved. Last, but not least, meat pies and calzones are a great way to use up leftovers.

Hearty Chicken Pie Pockets
Serves 4

• 1 pound of leftover white-meat chicken, cut into cubes
• 1 cup of frozen carrots slices
• 1 cup of frozen peas
• 1 cup of frozen chopped onions
• 12 ounce jar of chicken gravy
• Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
• 1 package of refrigerated pie crust
• 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 egg whites, beaten

1. In a large saucepan, combine the chicken, vegetables, and gravy. Bring to a boil and season with the fresh cracked pepper.

2. In the meantime, place the two rounds of pie dough on a floured surface and allow them to come to room temperature. Then sprinkle each round with a half cup of the shredded cheese and press it into the dough.

3. Flip the dough over and place half of the chicken mixture on each round. You will only want to place the filling on one half of the dough, making sure to leave room to crimp the edges.

4. Fold the dough over and crimp the edges with a fork. Carefully place the pockets on a nonstick cookie sheet and brush with the egg whites.

5. Cut slits into the top of each pocket and bake in a 425 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Of course, you can't forget dessert.

Dark Rocky Road Turnovers
Serves 4

• 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
• 1 cup of dark chocolate, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup of toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 1 ½ cups of miniature marshmallows
• 2 egg whites, beaten
• Coarse sugar

1. Cut the puff pastry into four pieces.
2. Place a quarter of the dark chocolate, walnuts, and marshmallows onto each piece of puff pastry.
3. Fold over the pastry, crimp the edges, brush with the egg whites, and top with coarse sugar.
4. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

If you have any recipes ideas, improvements, suggestions, please comment below and let us know! Let us in on some of your secret recipes!

Mobile, Alabama and the surrounding communities offer a wealth of exciting tourist spots that will satisfy your kids' need for entertainment, and possibly teach them something too.

Mobile, AL is quiet Dixie community that typically only makes the news when a hurricane hits. Nestled within its gorgeous antebellum mansions and towering shiny beacons of progress are enough kid-friendly tourist destinations to keep you busy for a long weekend or just a day-long stayover on your way to Orlando.

The first stop is a no-brainer. There isn't a child alive who won't be entertained (and educated) by a trip to the Gulf Coast Exploreum located downtown. Recently, the Exploreum featured popular touring exhibits such as actual archaeological casts of victims of the Mt. Vesuvius eruption, and the record-breaking exhibit The Human Body. Check the Exploreum web site here to get details on current and upcoming attractions. In addition to the touring exhibits and a revolving list of science and nature-themed movies screened in the most impressive Imax theater in the region, there are also two interactive learning centers, and the Ciba Lab that allows kids to actually take part in compelling science experiments.

Five minutes away from the Gulf Coast Exploreum is Battleship Memorial Park, home to the USS Alabama. In addition to the WWII battleship itself, the park also features a submarine and a collection of warplanes. Kids will enjoy the thrill offered by the flight simulator ride and be utterly captivated by the tour of the ship itself. A visit to the USS Alabama is a great way to get your kids interested in history as they get the opportunity to actually see and feel what it was like to serve on board a ship during World War II.

A thirty minute drive from Battleship Memorial Park will take you to Gulf Shores where your kids can enjoy either the warmth and natural beauty of the Gulf of Mexico or the colder but potentially more pleasing waters inside Waterville, USA. This water theme park is loaded with the kinds of attractions that satisfy children of all ages, including a beach-sized wave machine, unbelievably tall slides, high-speed tube rides, a surf wave simulator, and a lazy river expedition around the park.

To keep kids active and promote physical fitness, strive to provide more than just an exercise routine. You can make it fun at the same time. When you transform exercise into an active game, a child will show far more interest.

To keep kids active and promote physical fitness, strive to provide more than just an exercise routine. You can make it fun at the same time. When you transform exercise into an active game, a child will show far more interest. Because of the element of fun, kids may not even realize, or care at all, that they are participating in a form of exercise.

One fun, active game to play is what I like to call "Spray Bottle Relay Race". It's a game I have always played with my own kids, but have also recently seen used in schools as part of Field Day or just as a fun activity. In Spray Bottle Relay Race, the kids will work pretty much the entire body. Spray Bottle Relay Race should be played in an open field, such as one at a school or park. It's a team game, but can be easily modified for fewer kids. This game is fun for school-aged children of all ages.

The only materials needed to play this active game are batons and large spray bottles. The spray bottles should be ones that can spray a straight line of water, not a mist. There should be 2 batons and 1 spray bottle for each team. Setting up the game is fairly simple. First, determine how many teams there will be. Then, split up the kids accordingly. Determine where the start and finish lines will be and place a baton at each to mark the spot. Alternatively, a chalk line can be drawn to mark the start and finish lines as well. Have the kids line up behind both the start and finish lines. Give each of the kids located at the start lines a spray bottle, filled with water and ready to spray.

To start the game, blow a whistle or shout "Go!" The children who are first at each of the start lines will race to the finish lines and then squirt their next teammate with the spray bottle (no face shots allowed) and hand off the spray bottle. Then, that child will run to the start line and spray the next teammate and hand off the bottle. This will continue until all of the children have run at least once. Ideally, each child should run more than once. Splitting the children into small teams can help make that happen.

This active exercise will give the kids a great cardio workout, as well as help them cool off on a hot day. It works the entire body while running and also increases the heart rate. The action of squirting the water also gives an added bonus of using the smaller muscles in the arms, hands, and wrist. Not every kid likes every activity, but I have to add that no child I have seen play this one has ever complained. It makes for a great last minute opportunity for getting kids active, as the supplies are ones that may already be on hand.

Washington, DC may seem like a place you'd never want your kids to visit, and with good reason. Kids are very impressionable and there are just way too many bad influences hanging around Washington street corners, especially Pennsylvania Avenue. There are plenty of destinations that kids will thrill to that won't upset your future ideological expectations for kids by exposing them to whatever political party you decree to be responsible for all the problems facing America. If you pick right, your kids can actually come away from Washington, DC without even being aware that it is the center of gridlock in the American government.

The National Zoo

Not a local zoo. Not a county zoo. Not a state zoo. But the National Zoo of America. And with good reason because the National Zoo in Washington, DC is a kids' fantasia of incredible animals that will take their breath away. The National Zoo is famous for its Giant Pandas, of course, but don't think that those cuddly creatures are the only attraction that will delight you and your children. The National Zoo in Washington, DC is home to big cats, reptiles, ocean creatures, exotic birds, and pretty much any other type of animal that you kid is crazy about.

American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is more than just a collection of artifacts, mannequins and dinosaur bones. This traditional stopping place in Washington, DC has really gone high tech over the years, featuring the exciting planetary experience called SonicVision, an incredible new space show called Cosmic Collisions, and one of the most amazing IMAX film experiences in the country, featuring an ever-changing collection of must-see films. No kid will leave thismuseum complaining about how museums are boring.

Six Flags America

Bet you didn't know there was a thrilling theme park just a half hour's driving distance from the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. Midway through your trip to teach your young ones all about American history and the importance of becoming politically aware, take a day off to have just good old fashioned vacation fun. All kids love Six Flags theme parks and just because Six Flags America is almost near enough to see the Capitol's dome from its highest point doesn't mean it isn't the kind of place to make your kids forget all about the boring places you've been dragging them to. Six Flags America might well be better known as Six Flags Superheroes as many of the most thrilling thrill rides have names associated with DC Comics heroes. For instance, a trip on the Superman: Ride of Thrill rollercoaster is a guarantee to pump new life into the bodies of older kids and teens who have seen just one too many marble structures. In addition to the requisite thrill rides, Six Flags America also has tamer rides to get your smaller children back into shape for returning to the standard tourist fare in Washington, DC.

Daily nature walks can be a fun and educational way to get that exercise in for the kids. Children naturally enjoy exploring. Whether it is for a physical education class of 30, or a parent with a couple kids in tow, this is a great opportunity to get those kids moving.

Daily nature walks can be a fun and educational way to get that exercise in for the kids. Children naturally enjoy exploring. Whether it is for a physical education class of 30, or a parent with a couple kids in tow, this is a great opportunity to get those kids moving. It can be supplemented as part of the daily routine or even used by itself. Either option will bring healthy benefits.

Many schools are using nature walks as a combination between a science lesson and physical education, which I think is a great idea. We do something similar at home. Some schools have great areas to explore, such as ponds, trees, or grassy fields. For schools that don't have much nature, this can be done in a neighborhood walk or a walk to the neighborhood park. Nature is all around us and is easily found.

Walking is great exercise for the heart, as well as the legs, arms, and abdominals. It is often a total body workout. To add even more exercise and fun to the walk, teachers and parents can instruct the children to move like certain animals. For instance, the children can put their arms together, swaying them back and forth like an elephant trunk. They can even jump like kangaroos, hop like frogs, "fly" like birds, or sprint like cheetahs.

Another fun way to incorporate exercise into a nature walk is by having children climb a tree. Be sure to keep safety in mind, of course. Also, if this is a class field trip, be sure all parents are aware of any activities to be done, in case of any health issues. From the tree, children can either look for creatures that may be in or on the tree or they can look down from the tree to see if they can observe anything they couldn't plainly see from the ground.

Before taking my children on a nature walk, I like to be sure we have certain supplies with us and all the children have on their sunscreen. Water is one of the most important things to bring along. Bringing along plenty for each person helps to ensure no one gets dehydrated or exhausted from the heat. One liter of water per person is probably a good amount to bring on a nature walk that lasts up to an hour.

We also like to bring along a spray bottle filled with water. We keep it on the mister setting. The spray mist helps keep everyone cool, especially if it's a hot day. Just be careful not to keep it too cold because if a child is too hot or suffering from heat exhaustion, the child can go into shock, caused by going from one extreme temperature to the next. We like to just keep it room temperature. Some other items to bring along on a nature walk are trail mix (a lightweight and healthy snack), bug collection containers, microscopes, tweezers, plastic sandwich bags, binoculars, and cameras.

You don't have to feel guilty about feeding your family pizza. You also don't have to buy pizza from the local pizzeria in order for it to be quick and easy.

When it comes to quick and easy meals, many parents reach for the phone. With just a quick call, a delicious pizza will arrive at the front door within 30 minutes. There's no denying the fact that kids absolutely love pizza night, but it's hard to overlook the fat and calories in this dish. But you don't have to feel guilty about feeding your family pizza. You also don't have to buy pizza from the local pizzeria in order for it to be quick and easy.

Homemade pizza is a wonderful option for busy parents. Within 30 minutes, you can prepare a dish that is not only healthy, but creative as well. Take this lasagna pizza for example.

Lasagna Pizza

• ½ pound of ground sirloin
• 2 cups of your favorite pasta sauce
• 16 ounce container of part-skim ricotta
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 cups part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 prepared wheat pizza crust

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet and combine with pasta sauce.
3. Combine the ricotta, parmesan cheese, and ½ cup of the mozzarella. Spread on the prepared pizza crust.
4. Top the cheese mixture with the meat sauce and the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.

Fusion pizzas have become a popular choice, but if you're looking for something more traditional you can always make your favorite pizzeria flavors at home. The key is to keep the ingredients healthier than those you might find at your favorite restaurant. For example, let's say you like supreme pizza.

Supreme Pizza Done Light

• 1 prepared wheat pizza crust
• ¾ cup pizza sauce
• 1 ½ cups part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2.5 ounces of turkey pepperoni
• 8 ounces of Canadian bacon
• 2 links of turkey Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
• 3 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 1 large green pepper, sliced and seeded
• 1 medium red onions, chopped

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. Layer the sauce, cheese, meat, and vegetables onto the crust.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.

If you like, you can sauté the vegetables before adding them to your pizza.

As you can see, homemade pizza isn't complicated. In fact, you can prepare a homemade pizza in the time it takes for a delivery to arrive. Best of all, you'll have a meal that is healthier than what you might order from a local pizzeria. You can even make a healthier version of a dessert pizza.

Fruit Crumble Pizza

• 1 prepared wheat pizza crust
• 2 cups of sugar free fruit pie filling, your flavor of choice
• 4 ounces of sugar cookie dough

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Spread the pizza crust with the pie filling.
3. Crumble the cookie dough evenly over the pie filling.

4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cookie dough is done.<br>5. Serve with low-fat/fat-free vanilla ice cream.

If you have any recipes ideas, improvements, suggestions, please comment below and let us know! Let us in on some of your secret recipes!

If you mention Atlanta and draw a blank stare from the young ones then
here are four words that will turn that blank canvas into a surreal
masterpiece: Six Flags Over Georgia.

What kid doesn't enjoy a theme
park, especially a theme park with one of the greatest rollercoasters
in the country? The Batman ride is one of those coasters that will be
mentioned in any conversation of the most exciting and thrilling
rollercoasters you've ever ridden. And even if your kids find the
Batman coaster up to that level of greatness, Six Flags over Georgia
has another seven or eight coasters of varying degrees of thrill and
design to choose from. Whether it's the one-time tallest coaster in the
world, The Great American Scream Machine, or the whiplash inducing but
still kid-friendly Dahlonega Mine Ride, there is something for everyone
here.

Literally on the other side of this great city there is
another attraction that kids will amaze your kids. Stone Mountain is
far more than just a huge rock dotting the otherwise piney landscape of
Northern Georgia. Carved into the side is the famous relief of heroes
of the Confederacy and every night thousands congregate in front of the
carving to enjoy a spectacular and rousingly patriotic laser show.

Stone Mountain Park is much more however. Children of all ages will
find enough fun things to do to make a visit to Stone Mountain last an
entire day until the laser show at night. Stone Mountain Park has a
tram ride to the top of the mountain, 18 holes of miniature golf, a
five mile long railroad tour, an exciting and thrilling 4-D motion
simulated theater ride, an authentic paddlewheel riverboat, an
amphibious boat ride that tours the area both on land and in the water,
and a fun and interactive two-story arcade called the Barn that gives
you and your kids the opportunity both to shoot and be shot at by foam
apples.

Atlanta is landlocked, so it only makes sense that the
city would have one of the most magnificent aquariums in the country.
The Georgia Aquarium is actually the world's largest and contains a
vast array of familiar and exotic sea creatures that may just ignite
the imagination of a future ichthyologist in your family. Expect to see
a Beluga whale, sea lions, sea turtles, sharks and seahorses.

And if
you've got several hundred dollars to spare, be sure to take advantage
of the special program that will allow anyone over age 12 to actually
swim with the gentle giants of the Georgia Aquarium, the whale sharks.
And
finally, be sure to stop by the World of Coca-Cola. There is no question what the prime
attraction here really is. Visitors have over 70 different Coca-Cola
products to sample, from the sublime to the ridiculous, but mostly
tasty.

In the last post, I mentioned some of the fun ways parents and schools are promoting physical fitness in kids. One of those creative and innovative exercise options is an artificial rock climbing wall. I wanted to add more on that physical fitness option in particular because I feel it's a really great choice.

Since kids are constantly growing, their muscles need to be strong. Rock climbing helps build those muscles because the child is holding up the entire body with the arms and legs and even the abdominals. Adding a rock climbing wall to a child's physical routine has many benefits. Not only that, but it's like a game to kids. In fact, many games can be invented to use with one or it can be used without games. Either way, the kids still find it fun and it's still a great workout.

One game I think is fun is having the kids race to the top, following safety rules, of course. Once they get up there, have them race back down. Kids seem to never get tired of racing. This race is not one most of the kids do everyday, so the kids seem to take to it right away because it's so different. This can be played on mini-sized rock climbing walls located at parks or even on the giant ones found in rock climbing gyms.

Another fun thing to do is to place flags on various points of the rock wall. Use lightweight flags and something that is easy for the kids to pull off because of safety issues. Choose a different color for each kid. The goal is for each kid to collect all of their flags. This can be a contest with a winner or just a fun activity. Either way, the kids will get some fun, as well as a great workout. For a more challenging game on the larger rock climbing walls, mix the flags up all across and around the rock wall.

If your child's school does not have a rock climbing wall or is not visiting one, suggest one to the gym or physical education teacher, principal, and other staff. Most schools are at least open to suggestions. Even if the schools cannot build one, they may be near one that will be easy access to the students either during or after school. Also, if the school cannot or will not give access to a rock climbing gym, for whatever reason, remember that parents can also take the kids to the rock climbing gyms. Since artificial rock climbing is growing more popular, they are fairly easy to find. Whether your child does this at school or on your time, be sure to have access to the right gear, such as hiking boots and climbing equipment. The artificial rock climbing gyms will likely have everything your child needs. But, if you decide to put one in your own backyard, be aware of the safety rules and equipment required to protect your child.