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1. Cheese – Loaded with protein, cheese is a good option for satisfying little tummies and keeping their energy up. Instead of just cheese and crackers try pretzel sticks and cubes, or cut up the cheese into fun shapes.
2. Peanut Butter – Packed with protein and fiber, try PB&J sandwiches with mini-waffles or rice cakes instead of the regular bread.
3. Whole Grain Cereal – A bowl of cereal with milk and topped with fruit makes a great snack or breakfast, filled with vitamins, calcium and fiber.
4. Yogurt – Yogurt is a good source of calcium and protein, and for even higher protein you can try Greek yogurt. Try a yogurt parfait with fruit and granola or freeze tubes for frozen treat.
5. Eggs – Another good source of protein, eggs are very versatile. Hard-boil them for an on the go snack or scramble and roll into a tortilla.
6. Hummus – A nutty tasting dip made from chickpeas and offering iron. Serve it to your kids with carrot sticks, pita chips or crackers. You can also spread it onto sandwiches for extra flavor.
7. Fruit – A really easy grab and go snack, with lots of fiber, there are many choices. Apples, pears, strawberries, and bananas are just a few. For more fun, add some peanut butter to apples and bananas and some yogurt for dipping pears and strawberries.
8. Raisins – Packed with fiber, potassium and other vitamins, raisins are great out of the box or tossed into a yogurt parfait or peanut butter.
9. Oatmeal – A great source of fiber, try serving your kids just a plain bowl of low-sugar oatmeal, or you can make some special cookies or bars and toss in some raisins, cranberries or nuts.
10. Snack Mix – Loaded with lots of yummy stuff, you can it buy pre-made or make your own. Use pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, popcorn and banana chips for endless combinations. You can also throw in some chocolate chips or M&M’s for a little extra sweetness.

When it comes to satisfying your children’s hunger, there are lots of choices for snack time. For more ideas refer to the above list or visit www.parents.com. Whatever snack you go with, try and make it a healthy one!

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Most importantly, you need to be prepared. Have the poison control number, 1-800-222-1222 on or next to every telephone in your home. Also, be sure to program it into your cell phone. You will have the number ready to go should you ever need it. Poison control is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. You should keep any household cleaning products and all medicines in cabinets out of reach and away from children.

When using your household products or taking or dispensing medicine there are some guidelines you should use to prevent any accidents.

• Keep your dose out of reach and do not simply place it on the counter. Children can easily swipe it in seconds.
• If you get called away while taking your medicine, take your young children with you.
• Always secure your medicine bottles with the child proof cap and make sure it is completely on.
• Once you have finished with your household products or finished taking your medicine, place them back where they belong. Do not leave them out and place them out of sight where children cannot reach them.
• Be cautious of any guests who bring medicine into your home. Ask them to place them where your children will not find them as they can easily access purses, backpacks or pillboxes.

For more information on poison prevention visit www.cdc.gov. Practice the above tips when storing your household products and medicines. You can rest assured that you are doing all you can as a New Jersey woman to keep your family safe from danger.

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• The most important rule to remember when swimming is to never leave your children unattended in or around the pool. It only takes a split second for something to happen.
• Whether swimming in your own pool or in a friend’s, it’s best if the pool has a gate around it. This will prevent children form wandering out of the house and towards the pool, with the danger of falling in. Gates should cover the entire perimeter of the pool, be at least four feet in height and be self-latching. The latch should be high enough that it is out of reach of small children.
• Be sure that all drain covers are compliant. It is also important to keep children away from drains, suction outlets, pipes and other pool openings, especially in shallow pools.
• Have your pool equipped with life preservers and/or reaching poles in case of emergency. It is also a good idea to have a phone by the pool whenever you are enjoying it.
• And lastly, it is a good idea to make sure all swimmers in and around the pool know how to swim. If they do not, be sure that they have some sort of coast guard approved flotation device on. Learn and know how to perform CPR on children as well as adults. If you understand and know the basics of life saving, you will be better prepared and know how to assist in an emergency situation.

The next time you are enjoying a day at the pool follow the above recommendations for a safe and fun filled day at the pool. Happy swimming!

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1. Omit the soda – Soda is fun to drink, especially for our kids, because of its fizz. This however, is not good for your teeth. The two ingredients that cause the fizz, phosphoric acid and citric acid, eat away the enamel on your teeth. Make soda a treat, because one or more cans a day will make cavities a welcome visitor.

2. Keep the sugar at bay – Most of us have a sweet-tooth, especially our children. Sugar can be very bad for your teeth though. It helps acidity and bacteria to brew in your mouth causing decay through plaque and loss of enamel. Your mouth will produce acid for up to 20 minutes after indulging in a sugary treat. Cut back on the sugar and try brushing after every meal to avoid further damage.

3. Make sure you use the correct toothbrush – The toothbrush you choose should be soft bristled and if used properly should last two to three months. Your toothbrush should be replaced when the bristles begin to bend.

4. Practice proper brushing – Many of us are happy knowing we brush the recommended twice a day. However, do you know if you are doing it right? To brush correctly, hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle towards the gum line. Brush in short, gentle, circular motions focusing on each tooth 10-15 times.

5. Flossing – Aiming to floss once a day will help to keep decay at bay. To floss correctly, take approximately a foot long piece of floss and wrap it around both index fingers leaving a two-inch piece between them. Use a fresh section with each tooth and keep the floss tight to break up the plaque.

For more information on keeping your family’s teeth and gums clean and healthy, visit www.webmd.com. Happy brushing New Jersey!

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Have your children help

You can enlist your kids to help out when it comes to de-cluttering. Instead of instructing them to “clean their room,” it’s better to give them more detailed instructions such as “pick up all your books and put them back on the shelf.” They will have an easier time with this. Also, be sure that you have enough storage for all of their toys, games and supplies. If you do not, it may be time to give some things away, which brings us to our next suggestion.

Go through toys regularly

Be sure to clean out your children’s toys on a regular basis, or you will have a mounting pile. If your child is older, you can do this together. For younger children it may be easier to put the toys away so they can forget them and you can then give them away. As the saying goes, “out of site, out of mind.”

Streamline your kid’s artwork

Aside from toys, artwork is another item that will pile up when children are in your home. As soon as they start school it seems that they are brining a new piece of artwork home every day. To keep these organized try being creative with your display. You can mount clips on a wall that your children can reach, place a magnetic board somewhere to switch out different pictures, or hang a long piece of ribbon or string on the wall and attach safety pins for hanging your pictures. Any of these will help organize that school artwork.

These are just some of the ways you can help keep your home organized with your children’s items. Don’t worry about tackling everything in one day though, and remember that keeping your home free of clutter is something that you have to work at regularly.

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Their survey showed that women are more thorough and will ask more difficult questions than their male counterpart when it comes to buying a car. Based on LeaseTrader’s findings, two-thirds or 67% of women ordered a vehicle inspection prior to the transfer of a lease. However, only 54.5% of men asked the same. When age becomes a factor, a women’s thoroughness is even more evident. For women and men ages 21 to 30, only 42% of men compared to 78% of women will request a vehicle inspection prior to buying.

Another aspect that differs between men and women when buying a car is the way they approach the buying process. Women and men both seem to ask very different questions. Women will focus their questions on the vehicle’s accident history, safety performance and overall functions. The questions men ask however are geared more towards the vehicle’s styling, technology and performance.

The reasons for these differences during the car buying process between the two genders, has to do with our personalities. Women are more careful and like to avoid confrontation or haggling. In the end though they are able to avoid getting stuck with a bad car. Men however, are more confident in their ability to choose a car without having to inspect it very carefully. They tend to think they don’t need as much help and information.

So the next time you go to your local New Jersey dealer for a car, as a New Jersey woman, know that you may be better at purchasing a vehicle than you think!

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Practice Sprinting Intervals: Rather than exercising at the same speed throughout your workout, it is better to vary your moderate speed with short bursts of intensity. This will burn more calories, build your endurance and reduce belly fat.

Pump Your Arms: Many times we tend to focus only on our legs, but moving your arms is just as important. Swing them when running, walking or using a machine and when taking a class.

Add On An Extra 5 Minutes: The majority of cardio workouts last 30 to 45 minutes. By pushing your limits and adding an extra 5 minutes to your workout you can burn anywhere from 14-56 extra calories depending on your workout.

Add Strength Training: Although the main purpose of a cardio workout is to burn calories, you should also try to strengthen your muscles. You can achieve this by adding inclines when you bike, hike or run. This is a great way to add strength to your legs.

Vary Your Cardio Workouts: The more types of cardio you add to your workout routine, the more body strength and endurance you will achieve. Try to include at least three different kinds of cardio each week and this will also help to prevent any repetitive stress injuries.

Challenge Yourself: Besides adding inclines to your workout, try to push yourself and make your workout more difficult. Try running with high knees, or doing the more advanced footwork in your cardio class. It’s a short time compared to the rest of your day, so try to get the most out of your workout.

Try incorporating these ideas into your next workout and you will become one fit New Jersey woman. And for more information visit www.shape.com