Summer is well underway, but there is still time to take advantage of the great tasting fruits and vegetables that are in season from June through August.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is especially true when it comes to feeding your children. Studies show that children who eat breakfast take in more calcium and fiber, are less likely to be overweight, have more energy, and perform better in school.

We're well into the fall now and kids across the country are faced with homework, new teachers and sometimes even new schools. While they deal with these yearly changes, their parents are also facing a struggle on their own – making lunches. It's difficult to create nutritious lunches that are tasty enough to not end up in the trash can or traded for cupcakes or candy. Mom-RD is here to help with a few tips and tricks to get nutritious and delicious foods into those lunch bags and boxes...and more importantly into your kids' bellies.

Halloween is a fun holiday, but can be nutritionally challenging for everyone in the house, including parents. According to industry studies, more than 90 percent of children go trick-or-treating and 90 percent of parents admit to “sneaking” treats from their children’s candy bags.

With a family of four (two tots and two adults), meals are frequent and must be quick and well-planned to provide nutritional balance and taste appeal. I aim for incorporating whole vegetables and fruits (at least 5 servings/day), whole grains (3 servings/day) and lean protein sources (at least 3 – 2 oz. servings or 6 oz./day). A great trick for children is to use frozen vegetables, as they are easy to prepare and still have the same nutritional value as fresh vegetables. My toddler likes cooked vegetables better than raw ones (plus they are easier for little tummies to digest). Not everything has to be organic, but fruits with edible skins like apples and pears are ones that I do buy organic. If you can’t buy them organically grown, simply cut the skins off prior to eating. If you have really young children, you can peel the apples and boil them in a little water to make apple sauce.