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.

Though I wish I could make every trip to the grocery store on my own, it isn't always possible. If you have to load up the car with the kids before you can fill it with groceries, going into the store prepared can help you curb spending and keep everyone in the family in high spirits.

Go with a list
Make a list before you leave the house. If you are constantly bombarded by "Mommy, can we get this?" when you get to the store, include your children in the list writing process. Let each child add one healthy snack to the list, or get their input on the week's meals. Letting your children feel involved in the grocery shopping process helps them have a sense of ownership and may curb the gimmes once you hit the store.

Shop on a full stomach
Heading with hungry children to the grocery store can be as disastrous as going with no list. Not only does a hungry mommy spend more and go off the list with more frequency, but hungry kids are likely to spend the entire shopping trip asking for snacks or whining to leave and get something to eat. If you don't have time to eat a meal before you go to the grocery store, bring along a few snacks and a drink in a snack bag.

Assign tasks to your spouse and older children
Send your husband to handle the meat and produce, and let older children take a portion of the list to complete. Giving everyone a job at the grocery store means less complaining and a shorter trip.

Small incentives go a long way
Though you don't need to bribe your children into good behavior, an occasional incentive or reward can go a long way towards a happy shopping trip. A lollipop in the car ride home for little kids who are good helpers in the store, or thirty minutes of TV time to say thanks for thirty minutes of "helping mom" time are great ways to show your children that you appreciate their help. Don't make a habit of this—but reserve it as a special treat for successful grocery shopping trips with great behavior and no whining or begging.

If you head to the grocery store with your family, going prepared can mean a cheaper, happier and faster trip that everyone can enjoy!

The idea of arts and crafts can have varying effects on families. Thoughts of glitter all over worry moms and dads start thinking about how they'll get the paint off of the wallpaper and older children scoff at the idea of painting and crayoning. Contrary to first impressions, arts and crafts have the potential to appeal to the entire family and to bring you closer together as a family unit in the process.

Pick a room, any room.
Start your family arts and crafts adventure by picking a room that could use some sprucing up. Ideal choices include a child's bedroom, a nursery for a new addition to the family, or a playroom. If none of those seem to work for your family, consider a blank wall in the unfinished basement. Your arts and crafts adventure can become a focal point for a finished basement one day.

Start brainstorming.
Sit down with your family and start thinking about ideas for your blank canvas. Think about ideas to match the sheets and window dressings, or something completely out of the blue. Individual pieces, drawn by each member of the family and framed with black paint, are one idea. A whole mural with pieces contributed by everyone is another. Whatever you decide, get wild with your arts and crafts project for the entire family! The bigger, the better!

Start with outlines and sketches.
Start your art project with sketches and outlines. Draw on writing paper, trace the images you want to re-create or make bigger and get feedback from the rest of your family members. This project is ideal for younger children to seek help from their older siblings.

Get painting.
Once the sketches are done and the outlines drawn, it's time to get painting. Whatever type of arts and crafts project you've decided to incorporate into the room's décor, now's the time to implement it. Worry less about perfection and more about the experience!

A whole family arts and crafts projects, such as decorating a room with artwork by each member of your family or an entire mural, has the potential to bring your family together and make memories in the process. Start small, dream big and create lifelong memories. That's what family is all about.