Though fast food is often blamed for obesity and parents are urged to keep their children out of the drive through and to make home cooking a priority, there's still something to be said for a fast food meal. In fact, teaching children to eat in moderation at a fast food restaurant, and to view fast food as a special treat instead of a daily indulgence, has its benefits. Making a family outing to a local fast food establishment once in a while can be a learning experience for children, as well as a fun treat.

Select fast food restaurants carefully.
Select the fast food establishment you want to share with your children carefully. Not only should you consider what you have nearby, but think about their menu options and the layout of the restaurant, too. A fast food restaurant with a playplace is a great idea, and allows kids to burn off some energy. Some restaurants offer milk, apple and carrot sticks, grilled chicken instead of fried, or a variety of other healthier choices for both parents and children. Select a fast food restaurant that meets these requirements for a healthier and more enjoyable experience. Pick a restaurant within walking distance, throw on your running shoes, and make the whole evening healthier.

Find a reason to visit a fast food establishment.
After a first dentist's visit, after putting on a brave face for shots at the doctor's office, to celebrate the first day of summer vacation, or to break up a long car trip are all great opportunities to make a trip to a fast food restaurant. These don't necessarily set up fast food as a special treat, but they don't make it a common, everyday occurrence, either. Don't make a big deal out of a fast food restaurant, but show your children that there are much better ways to eat through your own activities.

Make positive meal choices.
The occasional Happy Meal is hardly going to make children obese or raise their cholesterol. But it can't hurt to make good choices while you are at a fast food restaurant, too. Select milk for the kids, instead of soda. Let your children see you choose a salad instead of a triple cheeseburger. Indulge in french fries if they're your favorite, but order a small instead of a large. Making positive choices for yourself and your children when you do choose a fast food restaurant shows them that it's okay to eat healthy when you are out.

Making a family outing to a local fast food establishment once in a while can be a learning experience for children, as well as a fun treat. Showing your children how to indulge in fast food the right way is a valuable lesson.

Do you ever wish you could just go home and have your meal mostly prepared? You're in luck. There are ways you can prepare two meals at one time. Not only does this make meals quicker to prepare, but it also saves money by ensuring that you use all of the ingredients you purchase. These meals use many of the same ingredients and reduce your need to clean out the fridge each week. This week, we'll focus on a couple meals prepared with chicken.

Spanish Rice With Mexican Spiced Chicken
Serves 4

8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 boxes of Spanish Rice mix, plus the ingredients needed to prepare it
2 (16-ounce) cans of enchilada sauce

1. Mix the spices together and rub onto the chicken. Bake at 350 degrees until cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes.
2. In the meantime, prepare the Spanish rice according to the package directions.
3. When the rice is cooked, stir in the enchilada sauce and heat through.
4. Serve four of the chicken breasts with half of the rice mixture along with some fat-free refried beans and warmed whole wheat tortillas.

Chicken Rice Enchiladas
Serves 4

8 whole wheat tortillas
4 leftover chicken breasts, shredded
4 cups of leftover rice mixture
1 cup of enchilada sauce
1 cup of 2-percent shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Green onions

1. Fill the tortillas with the chicken and rice mixture and place in a baking dish.
2. Top with the enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown and heated through, about 30 minutes.
3. Serve with sour cream and green onions.

Cooking doesn't have to be difficult or time consuming to be healthy. When you take time to prepare ingredients for the next day, meals go together in a snap.

It's getting close. You can almost feel it. Spring will soon be pushing winter out of the way so we can once again enjoy warm weather. While the official date is March 20th, you can actually enjoy a bit of spring tonight. Just imagine sitting down to a meal that whisks you away to a warmer time and place. If this sounds like something you'd like to do for your family, why not try the following recipes?

Grilled Chicken with Pineapple Jalapeno Salsa
Serves 4

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Sea salt, to taste
8 pineapple rings, grilled and chilled
1 small red onion, finely chopped
½ of a jalapeno, seeded and minced

1. Season the chicken breast with the salt and pepper and grill on a grill pan until cooked through.
2. In the meantime, chop the pineapple and toss with the onion and jalapeno. Chill until ready to serve.
3. Top the chicken breasts with salsa and serve with a baked potato or baked French fries.

Tip: If you have small children, you may want to use even less jalapeno or add a bit of honey to increase the sweetness.

Chocolate Dipped Bananas
Serves 4

2 large bananas, cut in half
6 ounces of dark chocolate, melted
½ cup of shredded coconut, toasted
½ cup of macadamia nuts, chopped

1. Stick popsicle sticks into the flat ends of the cut bananas and freeze for at least 1 hour.
2. Dip the bananas in melted chocolate and sprinkle with coconut and macadamia nuts.
3. Place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze until ready to serve.

Tip: You can choose any type of sprinkles you want. The coconut and macadamia nuts keep with the tropical theme of the main course. Just remember to stick with healthy ingredients, such as almonds or dried cherries.

Winter may still be beating on your door, but spring is only a few ingredients away.

You've probably heard the rumors; people whispering about beef being unhealthy. Is it true? It depends. If you like Ribeye or New York strip steaks, you do need to cut back. On the other hand, if you enjoy the lean, beefy flavor of 93-percent lean ground beef, you're in luck. Not only is this option low in fat and calories, but it can be used in so many different recipes. All of which your family will simply love.

Italian Style Salisbury Steaks
Serves 4

1 pound of 93-percent lean ground beef
1 cup Italian style bread crumbs
2 egg whites, beaten
½ cup finely chopped onion
½ cup finely chopped bell pepper
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
4 cups of pasta sauce

1. Combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg whites, onion, bell pepper and garlic in a large bowl.
2. Pat the ground beef out into 4 patties and cook in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Once the patties are cooked through, top with pasta sauce and heat through.
4. Serve with a side salad and garlic bread.

Tip: The onion and bell pepper are added to keep the meat moist. You can add any vegetables you like, which means this is a great way to sneak nutritious vegetables into your meal.

Philly Cheese Burgers
Serves 4

1 pound of 93-percent ground beef
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Sea salt, to taste
2 large onions, sliced
8 ounces of mushrooms, sliced
Olive oil
4 slices of provolone cheese
4 whole wheat hamburger bu

1. Shape the ground beef into patties and season with pepper and salt.
2. Cook the patties in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. In the meantime, pour enough olive oil into the bottom of a medium skillet. Add the onions and mushrooms and sauté until cooked through.
4. Place a quarter of the onion and mushroom mixture on each patty, add a slice of cheese, cover and cook until the cheese melts.
5. Serve on whole wheat hamburger buns with baked French fries.

Winter is the perfect time to prepare a large pot of chili. Unfortunately, this means your family may get tired of chili over the course of two or three days. It doesn't have to be this way. There are several ways to turn chili into a brand new meal or snack. Your family won't complain about leftovers, you won't have to cook a complex meal, and the meals will be healthy. What more could you ask for, besides recipes?

Chili Cheese Bake
Serves 4

3 large whole wheat tortillas
4 cups of chili
1 cup of 2-percent shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of salsa
½ cup fat-free sour cream
Green onions, sliced

1. Line square pan with a whole wheat tortilla.
2. Top the tortilla with 2 cups of chili, 1/3 cup of salsa and 1/3 cup of cheese.
3. Repeat the layers.
4. For the last layers, add the last tortilla, salsa and cheese.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
6. Serve with sour cream and green onions.

Super Simple Chili Mac
Serves 4

4 cups of cooked macaroni
4 cups of chili, heated
½ cup of 2-percent shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup green onions, sliced
½ cup fat-free sour cream
Hot sauce or salsa, to taste

1. Top the macaroni with the chili and other toppings.
2. Serve with oyster crackers or saltines.

Quick Nachos
Serves 4

1 bag of baked tortilla chips
1 cup of 2-percent shredded cheddar cheese
4 cups of chili
1 cup of salsa
½ cup black or green olive slices
½ cup fat-free sour cream
½ cup of green onions, sliced
¼ cup jalapeno slices

1. Spread the tortilla chips out on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 degrees until the cheese melts.
2. Top with chili, salsa, olives, sour cream, green onions and jalapenos.
3. Serve immediately.

Chili doesn't have to be served up the same way each night. It doesn't even have to be another meal. The quick nachos make an excellent snack, especially for the big game.

Is there anything more satisfying than a casserole on a cool evening? Not only are casseroles the perfect comfort food, but they're also extremely easy to make. In only a few minutes, you can prepare a casserole and help the kids with their homework. Thirty minutes to an hour later, you'll have a delicious meal that your entire family will enjoy. Here are a couple recipes to help get you started.

Lean Beef and Vegetable Pasta Bake
Serves 4

• 1 pound of 93-percent lean ground beef
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste
• Sea salt, to taste
• Olive oil
• 2 green peppers, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons, minced garlic
• 8 ounces penne pasta
• 16-ounce jar of organic pasta sauce
• 4 ounces of 2-percent mozzarella cheese

1. Cook ground beef and season to taste.
2. In the meantime, cook the vegetables and garlic in olive oil until slightly tender.
3. Boil pasta according to package directions.
4. Combine the meat, vegetables, sauce and pasta. Pour into an 8-inch dish that has been coated with cooking spray.
5. Top with cheese and bake at 400 degrees until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
6. Serve with whole wheat garlic bread and a side salad.

Chicken Mushroom Casserole
Serves 4

• 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast
• Olive oil
• 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup of frozen pearl onions, thawed
• 1 jar of chicken gravy
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 1 refrigerated pie crust

1. Cook chicken in a skillet until cooked through and cut into bite-size pieces.
2. In the meantime, sauté the mushrooms in olive oil.
3. Combine the chicken, mushrooms, onions, gravy and seasonings.
4. Pour a quarter of the mixture into four large, oven-safe coffee mugs.
5. Roll out the prepared crust and use a large cookie cutter or paring knife to cut four circles of crust.
6. Top the mugs with the crust and bake at 350 degrees until the crust is golden brown.

Skip the long drawn out meals and let your casserole do the work.

When you think of Italian food, what comes to mind? You may think of cheesy, meaty lasagna or a large plate of spaghetti. Both sound delicious and are a big hit with kids, but they can be a bit high in carbs and calories. This doesn't mean that every Italian dish has to be loaded with calories. There are ways to create delicious Italian inspired meals that are actually quite healthy. Best of all, your kids won't turn their noses up in disgust.

Veggie Spaghetti
Serves 4

• 1 spaghetti squash
• Olive oil
• 16 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 2 large onions, sliced
• 1 large bell pepper, sliced
• Sea salt, to taste
• 16-ounce jar of organic pasta sauce
• ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

1. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds.
2. Bake skin side up for 30 to 40 minutes or until fork tender.
3. In the meantime, sauté the mushrooms in olive oil and season with salt after they've taken on color.
4. In another skillet, season the onions and bell pepper with salt and sauté in olive oil.
5. Combine the vegetables with the sauce and heat through.
6. When the squash is done, scrape the flesh to create strands that resemble spaghetti.
7. Top the squash with veggie sauce and parmesan cheese.
8. Serve with whole wheat garlic bread.

Whole Wheat Garlic Bread
Serves 4

• ½ loaf of whole wheat Italian or French bread
• Olive oil
• 2 large garlic cloves
• Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
• ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

1. Cut the bread in half lengthwise and brush with olive oil.
2. Broil until the bread is golden brown.
3. Cut the garlic cloves in half and pierce with a fork.
4. Rub the garlic on the toasted bread, season with pepper and sprinkle with cheese.

There's no need to grab your running shoes after eating this meal. This is an Italian inspired feast you can actually feel good about feeding your family.

You want a quick meal that's healthy, but you also want quick cleanup. After all, no one wants to spend hours washing dishes. This is yet another reason why many parents turn to fast food. After the meal is done, you just toss some packages in the trash and you're done. But what if you could enjoy a healthy, homemade meal that could be prepared in one pan? Would you be interested? If so, you simply must check out these quick, single-pot meals.

Shortcut Shepherd's Pie
Serves 4

Olive oil
8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
1 pound of 93-percent lean ground beef
2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables
16-ounce jar of beef or mushroom gravy (low-sodium would be preferred)
Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
2 cups of refrigerated or leftover mashed potatoes
4 ounces of 2-percent cheddar cheese, shredded

1. In an ovenproof pan, sauté the mushroom in olive oil and set aside.
2. Brown the ground beef until cooked through, and then stir in the cooked mushrooms, vegetables, gravy and black pepper.
3. Top with mashed potatoes, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, or until heated through.
4. Remove the foil, add the cheese and continue cooking until the cheese has melted.
5. Serve with crusty French bread.

Creamy Chicken with Biscuits
Serves 4

1 pound of chicken tenders, cut into bite sized pieces
16-ounce jar of chicken gravy
2 cups of frozen, mixed vegetables
1 cup of frozen pearl onions
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
4 reduced-fat, refrigerated biscuits (the large size)

1. Cook chicken tenders in an ovenproof pan.
2. Once the chicken tenders have cooked through, stir in the gravy, vegetables, onions and ground pepper.
3. Top with biscuits and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until the biscuits have cooked through.

You don't have to sacrifice flavor or consume large amounts of calories to enjoy a quick meal. Try one of these meals tonight and then kickback in pair of comfortable sweatpants.