Kids Chicago - July 12, 2010

How Not to Spend Your Whole Paycheck

Lara Field's Tips for Organic Grocery Shopping on a Budget

Myth: You have to pay a fortune for your child to eat heathy and organic foods.

Mythbuster: Pediatric dietician Lara Field. We followed the nutrition consultant and mom through Whole Foods Lincoln Park, where she offered tips on greening your grocery cart affordably.

1. Shop the perimeter. Fresh fruits, veggies, breads, meats, and dairy are nearly always located along the walls, where sales on seasonal goods abound. Once you venture down center aisles, unnecessary impulse items (hello, chips and salsa) will tempt.

2. Be spoil free. Avoid letting goods go bad by buying for one week at a time, max. The average toddler needs two servings of fruit a day (half a nectarine or half a cup of berries equals one serving); double that portion for older children and adults.

3. Try new things. If the price of avocados or sweet potatoes gets you down, look to lesser-known treats like jicama, which is cheaper (it sells for just $1 a pound at Whole Foods) but packed with nutrients.

4. Skip the juice. Don’t let pretty (and pricey) packaging fool you. Your kid can quench his thirst with water and sliced fruit for the same vitamin value and less sugar.

5. Plan splurges wisely. It’s worth spending more if your picky eater gets exposed to new food he enjoys. Can’t get him to eat fish? Buy AquaCuisine’s smoked salmon franks ($4 for a pack of six), which look just like hot dogs.

6. Buy canned beans. Sneak into center aisles for Great Northern, black, or cannelini beans (prices rarely exceed $2 a can). They taste great with pasta and are packed with iron and protein.

7. Make mealtime fun. Put a variety of eye-catching colors on the plate (red, yellow, and green bell peppers with Greek yogurt for dipping) and you’ll have a healthy eating routine in no time.

Lara Field offers grocery store tours, in-home cooking training, and custom meal plans for families ($150 an hour). For information, call 847-651-4729 or go to feedkids.com.

ROMP
Chinatown Summer Fair
What: The Far East fling buzzes with a colorful lion dance procession, traditional music and dance, food from neighborhood restaurants, and children’s games.
Why: It’s dim sum … and then some.
When: Sun., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (Procession at 1 p.m.)
Where: 23rd St., at Wentworth Ave. For info, call 312-326-5320. Admission is free.

GIVE
Psychobaby School Supply Drive
What: Drop off new backpacks, pens, pencils, notebooks, markers, crayons, and rulers. The loot will be given to the needy kids of Association House.
Why: Mention DailyCandy at the register to get 10 percent off your purchase the day you donate.
When: Thru Aug. 31.
Where: 1630 N. Damen Ave. (773-772-2815).

GROWL
RoboSue: the T.rex Experience
What: In honor of Sue’s tenth anniversary, a robotic version of the dinosaur moves around, sizing up (and scaring the bejesus out of) the crowd.
Why: Lifelike raptors and triceratops also lurk.
When: Thru Sept. 6. Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Last admission at 4 p.m.)
Where: The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., at McFetridge Dr. (312-922-9410). All-access museum pass (includes exhibit admission): adults, $29; children ages 3-11, $20.

Photo: Thinkstock

  Expert Help, Healthy, Organic, Picky Eaters