Born on this day!!  News anchor Connie Chung is 74. Trombone player Jimmy Pankow of Chicago is 73. Actor Ray Wise (“Reaper,” ″Twin Peaks”) is 73. Actor John Noble (“Lord of the Rings” films) is 72. Singer Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) is 72. Singer Rudy Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers is 68. Singer-songwriter John Hiatt is 68. Actor-director Peter Horton (“thirtysomething”) is 67. “Today” show weatherman Al Roker is 66. Actor Joan Allen is 64. Actor James Marsters (“Angel,” ″Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) is 58. Rapper KRS-One is 55. Actor Colin Cunningham (“Falling Skies”) is 54. Actor Billy Gardell (“Mike and Molly”) is 51. Singer Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit is 50. Actor Jonathan Ke Quan (“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”) is 50. Guitarist Brad Avery of Third Day is 49. Actor Misha Collins (“Supernatural”) is 46. Singer Monique Powell of Save Ferris is 45. Actor Ben Barnes (“Westworld,” ″Prince Caspian”) is 39. Actor Meghan Ory (“One Upon A Time”) is 38. Actor Andrew Garfield (“The Amazing Spider-Man”) is 37. Actor Brant Daugherty (“Pretty Little Liars”) is 35. Singer-actor Demi Lovato is 28. Actor Christopher Paul Richards (TV’s “The Kids Are Alright”) is 17.

THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY

1964 – As part of his Great Society policies, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act which, among other things, established the Head Start program.
1968 – The Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact nations invaded Czechoslovakia.
1977 – The space probe Voyager 2 was launched. It continues to explore to this day, and is now more than 7 billion miles from Earth.
1980 – Italian Reinhold Messner made the first successful solo ascent of Mount Everest and without oxygen.
1998 – U.S. cruise missiles hit suspected terrorist bases in Afghanistan and the Sudan.
2000 – Tiger Woods won the PGA Championship becoming the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in one year.

Today Is: Islamic New Year, National Radio Day, World Mosquito Day

TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)

CBS – 8:00 –  Big Brother /  9:00 – Young Sheldon  /  9:30 – The Unicorn /  10:00 – National Convention
NBC – 8:00 – The Wall  / 9:00 – Law and Order SVU  /  10:00 – National Convention
ABC – 8:00 –  Holey Moley II  /  9:00 – To Tell The Truth  /  10:00 – National Convention
FOX – 8:00 – Gordon Ramsay To Hell and Back
CW – 8:00 –  Mystery Decoded  /  9:00 – Penn and Teller Fool Us

TV Talk Shows

Jimmy Kimmel: Cori Bush, Deon Forrest, guest host Anthony Anderson
Jimmy Fallon: Rachel Maddow, Fred Armisen, Tiwa Savage
Stephen Colbert: Hillary Rodham Clinton
Seth Meyers: Kenan Thompson, Busy Philipps, Thomas Land
James Corden: Lili Reinhart, Anitta
Lilly Singh: John Cena, Bindi Irwin (R 11/13/19)
Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
Conan: Emily Mortimer (R 7/16/20)
The View: Gov. Gavin Newsom (R 5/29/20)
The Talk: Billy Gardell, Folake Olowofoyeku, guest co-host Lisa Ling (R 9/23/19)
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Keegan-Michael Key, Madison Beer, Debi Mazar, Dr. Doris Day (R)
Ellen DeGeneres: Mandy Moore, Amber Pike, Matt Barnett, Lauren Speed, Cameron Hamilton, Damian Powers, Giannina Gibelli (R 3/10/20)
Wendy Williams: Luann de Lesseps (R 11/22/19)
The Real: Wayne Brady (R 2/20/20)
Kelly Clarkson: Jim Gaffigan, Stana Katic
Tamron Hall: Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher Jackson, Patton Oswalt, Liz Garbus, Scott Turner Schofield (R 6/29/20)

WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!

QUESTION: Is this good news.. or more BAD NEWS for your PANDEMIC PAUNCH??? The Girl Scouts have a new flavor: FRENCH TOAST COOKIES!! Yum!

 

QUESTION: Remember when APPLE used to be a trillion dollar company?? Those were the old days!! Now APPLE is a TWO TRILLION DOLLAR COMPANY!!!!!

 

QUESTION: What happens when Anderson Cooper confronts the “My Pillow” guy?? The BEST FIGHT NIGHT IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!” But… WHO WINS?????

 

QUESTION: Should you FAKE IT ‘TIL YOU MAKE IT?? New study shows that even “fake” smiles trick your brain into feeling happy!! Because your brain is STUPID!!!!!

 

QUESTION: Can you VOLUNTEER AT THE POST OFFICE?? Cher thought she’d give it a try!! Guess what?

Tiger King Zoo Permanently Closed

The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma, which was the featured zoo on Netflix’s Tiger King, has been permanently closed.  Owner Jeff Lowe, who appeared on the series, made the announcement on Tuesday on the park’s Facebook page.  Lowe said that he is forfeiting his USDA exhibitors license and spoke about a new park that will be used as a private film set. He mentioned that the animals on the property would be taken care of, slammed USDA and PETA, and thanked visitors for coming to the park.  “The Tiger King phenomenon has definitely changed our lives in many ways. It has brought us more attention than any human deserves, good and bad. It has, and probably will continue to make us a target of every nutjob and animal rights loon in the world, but we are prepared,” Lowe said.  “Our new park will, at least for the foreseeable future, be a private film set for Tiger King related television content for cable and streaming services,” he continued.  The new park will be located in Thackerville, Okla.  A judge ruled in June that the park would be handed over to Carole Baskin, the rival of former owner Joe Exotic, born Maldonado-Passage.
********So… the old park is closed and goes to Carole.. but there’s a new park where they’re filming more “Tiger King?” We love it!!
******Jeff also opened a butcher shop where he’s selling “mystery steaks!!” Don’t ask!!
******Joe Exotic just said, “Keep the crazy goin’ until I get out!! I’ll be back to join in!!”

Young Actress Takes Down Hollywood Big Wig

NBCUniversal Vice Chairman Ron Meyer announced his departure from the company on Tuesday, citing an extortion attempt related to an extramarital affair.  He issued a statement saying that he disclosed to his family and the company that he reached a settlement “under threat, with a woman outside the company who had made false accusations against me.”  He added that he had a “very brief and consensual affair” with the woman many years ago.  “I made this disclosure because other parties learned of the settlement and have continuously attempted to extort me into paying them money or else they intended to falsely implicate NBCUniversal, which had nothing to do with this matter, and to publish false allegations about me,” Meyer wrote.  NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell informed employees of Meyer’s departure in an email on Tuesday.  “Last week Ron Meyer informed NBCUniversal that he had acted in a manner which we believe is not consistent with our company policies or values,” Shell wrote. “Based on Ron’s disclosure of these actions, we have mutually concluded that Ron should leave the company, effective immediately.”  Meyer led the Universal film studio from 1995 to 2012, before being replaced by Shell, but remained at the company in a diminished role with the title of executive vice chairman.
********Tip to the guys… if you’re 67 and she’s 20, it’s probably not love. Or even lust, on her part!!
******Interestingly, she’s the SAME woman who took out the head of Warner Bros. last year!! Come on guys, use brain #1 once in awhile!!
*****We call girls like her “big game hunters!!”

Lori Loughlin Instructed Her Daughter To Lie

Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli allegedly instructed their daughter to lie to her high school guidance counselor and confronted him in an effort to hide their involvement in the college admissions scandal, according to new court documents.  They have agreed to plead guilty to counts of wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud for their role in paying scam mastermind William “Rick” Singer $500,000 to get their daughters Isabella and Olivia Jade admitted to USC as recruits on the crew team despite neither actually rowing in the sport.  They are set to be sentenced tomorrow and, to prepare the judge to make his decision, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling summarized the case against them in court documents and revealed that Giannulli went as far as to confront the unnamed guidance counselor after he told USC that he doubted her status as a coxswain.  The court docs claim that in January 2018, the parents had a discussion with Olivia Jade about keeping their scheme a secret from the counselor. When their daughter asked if she should list USC as her top school of choice, Loughlin replied: “Yes…. But it might be a flag for the weasel to meddle.”  Giannulli added, “F— him,” and called him a “nosey bastard,” prosecutors allege in the docs.  Loughlin went on to instruct her daughter not to say “too much to that man.”
********That’s some good parenting right here!!
******They’ve been saying they didn’t know that much about the scheme!! Sounds like that was a lie!!
*****Trump could make a big impact with a pardon here!!
*****WE STILL THINK there’s a reality show in all this: “Celebrity Prison!! Where the Famous Felons Go!!”

Angelina Jolie On Raising Kids During Lockdown

Angelina Jolie is perfectly happy in her busy home amid the coronavirus lockdown.  She recently spoke with E! News about spending extra time at home with her six children.  “You know, I’ve never been one who valued relaxation,” said Jolie, 45. “I like chaos.”  Jolie is mother to Maddox, 19, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14 and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12, all of whom she shares with her ex, Brad Pitt.  As an actress, producer and humanitarian, Jolie is quite the busy body and has had a number of important meetings from home, but it’s not surprising to her when she’s faced with an interruption.  “I’ve been on high-level meetings where there’s dogs and balls and kids and things,” she confessed. “You kind of just enjoy being human with everybody else and laughing through it.”  The “Maleficent” star said that she tries to “make schedules at home” in order to provide “a bit of structure,” but one of her kids has a knack for organization.  “My daughter Zahara is better at organizing things than I am,” Jolie said.  As would be fitting for a star of the screen, Jolie is keeping her kiddos entertained with movie nights.
********They range from 12 to 19?? They’re not exact kiddies anymore!!
*****12 is about the age where they find plenty of ways to entertain themselves!!
*******We hope she’s not showing them ALL of her movies!!
******She’s an “actress, producer, humanitarian” and “crazy person,” which also takes up a lot of time!!

Kris Jenner Sells Mansion

Kris Jenner has unexpectedly sold her main residence in Hidden Hills, Calif., for exactly $15 million in an off-market, all-cash deal. The transaction closed last week, property records reveal, though the house was never publicly offered for sale on the market.  The buyer of Jenner’s estate is Harvard honors grad and German heiress Katharina Harf, the younger daughter of cosmetics guru Peter Harf, he the current chairman and CEO of beauty juggernaut Coty, Inc. Last year, Coty made international headlines when it acquired Kylie Jenner’s brand Kylie Cosmetics for $600 million in cash; Forbes subsequently reported that Kris Jenner raked in a plump $60 million for herself on that deal alone.  Jenner bought the modern farmhouse-style mansion about three years ago for just under $10 million, subsequently hiring acclaimed designers Tommy and Kathy Clements and Waldo Fernandez to give the place a sophisticated makeover; the glitzy resulting product was published in Architectural Digest last year. Even with the costly interior renovations, it seems clear that the ever-savvy businesswoman and self-titled “momager” still walked with a hefty profit on this deal.
*******She IS “Kris Jong Un!!!”
*******The house also features fresh graves with all of Kim’s ex husbands, plus a new plot with a “Kanye” headstone!!
*******The doorways were raised to accommodate the NBA players who sleep with her daughters, and widened to allow for Kim’s ass!

Kelly Preston’s Death Certificate Released

Kelly Preston’s death certificate reveals the actress died at her family’s Florida home following her secret battle with breast cancer, Us Weekly reported.  John Travolta previously revealed that his late wife died on July 12 at the age of 57. The death certificate said she was cremated at the Brooksville Crematory in Brooksville, Florida, according to Us Weekly.  Preston is survived by Travolta and children Ella, 20, and Benjamin, 9. The couple were also the parents of son Jett, who died in 2009 after a seizure.  Following Preston’s death, Ella honored her “courageous” mother with a heartfelt tribute.  “I have never met anyone as courageous, strong, beautiful and loving as you,” she wrote.
*******RUMOR HAS IT that she refused standard treatments because of Scientology. That would be a shame. 

 

Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!

Sherlock Downey Sniffs Out Role For Old Pal Depp!-(National Enquirer)

Troubled Johnny Depp has been thrown a much-needed Hollywood lifeline from old pal Robert Downey Jr., insiders snitched.  With his reputation bruised following his explosive and humiliating court fight with ex-wife Aber Heard-which is still in a judge’s hands in London-the embattled actor is desperate for a movie comeback, sources dished.  Now Johnny’s friend Robert, 55, has reportedly offered him a part in the third installment of his “Sherlock Holmes” film franchise!  Former drug addict Robert, who hit rock bottom in the late ‘90s, “knows what it’s like to beat the odds after being written off.  Robert thinks Johnny deserves the same chance to redeem himself that he had,” explains the source.

Drake’s Bling Is a Jesus Thing!-(Globe)

For heaven’s sake!  Rapper Drake, whose 2015 song “Hotline Bling” was a big hit, truly has a thing for bizarre baubles!  The Canadian-born singer reveals he ordered custom-made twin pendants depicting his music idol-murdered rapper Tupac-as a thorn-crowned Jesus figure crying tears made of perfect diamonds!  Each disembodied heavy gold head dangles from a chain including approximately 70 carats of flawless white and yellow diamonds-and are worth a reported $600,000 combined!  “Always wanted twin Jesus pieces,” quips the star of his treasured trinkets.

Chris & Katherine:  Special Delivery!-(Us Weekly)

On Aug. 10, Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger announced the birth of their daughter, Lyla Maria.  “We couldn’t be happier,” the actor, 41, shared.  “Both mom and baby are doing great.  We are extremely blessed.”

Date Disaster!  Nicole Kidman-(Star)

Mixed signals!  In 2002, shortly after her split from ex-hubby Tom Cruise, the Big Little Lies actress was crushing on Jimmy Fallon when a fri

end arranged for her visit him at his NYC home-but the SNL star didn’t realize he was being set up!  “You wouldn’t talk, and then you put on a video game,” Nicole, 53, scolded Jimmy years later while guesting on The Tonight Show.   A stunned Jimmy, 45, later explained he had no idea she could be interested in him.  “She was the most beautiful person who’d ever walked into my apartment,” the now-married host said.  “I wouldn’t even consider that I would have a chance with Nicole!”

Miley & Cody:  Engaged?-(Life & Style)

Miley Cyrus is giving marriage another shot.  The 27-year-old pop star is engaged to Cody Simpson, a source says, almost a year after she announced her divorce from Liam Hemsworth.  “Everyone thought Miley could be put off from marriage after Liam, but it’s not the case,” the source says.  “In fact, she sees their divorce as a learning experience.  Miley’s matured a lot since then and knows that Cody is the one.”  The pair have been inseparable since they started dating in October 2019, two months after she and Liam, 30, revealed they were splitting, and the Australian singer, 23, is said to be supportive of her newfound sobriety.  (“We keep each other in a good place,” Cody’s said.)

One Last Thing:  Jerry O’Connell-(People)

The actor,46, stars in the new film The Secret:  Dare To Dream, now out on demand.

Last guilty pleasure-

Butter pecan ice cream.  I’ve been taking my [twin 11-year-old daughters Dolly and Charlie] every night.  At first I’d just eat off theirs, but they got angry, so I got a scoop.  Now it has turned into a pint.

Last thing I learned about myself-

I am completely incapable of sixth-grade math.  Apparently it’s long division, but to me it looks like something Stephen Hawking discovered.

Last time I got teary-eyed-

Both my daughters were in school musicals, and it was so sweet.  They certainly did not learn how to carry a tune from me, that is 100 percent from my wife [Rebecca Romijn].  I might have crying out of shock.

Katie Couric:  Vegging Out-(In Touch)

July 25

You grow, girl!  “You reap what you sow-in this case, a zucchini the size of a baby,” [pictured cradling very large squash in her arms].

 

STUPID NEWS

Cow Emerges From The Sea

A visitor to an Irish beach captured video of the arrival of an unusual fellow beach-goer: a cow that came charging out of the sea.  The video, recorded at Magheraclogher Beach in Bunbeg, shows shocked onlookers watching as a cow wades from the sea to the shore and runs up the sand.  The footage shows the cow fleeing from the human beach visitors and running off toward dryer pastures.  The photographer said the cow had been stranded on a nearby island when high tides came in and apparently decided to return to the mainland when the water levels returned to normal.  See the video HERE.
*****We have sea horses!! Why not sea cows??
*******Come to think of it, we also have CHICKEN of the sea!!
FUN FACT: There was an animal called a “Sea Cow!” It was hunted to extinction in the 1700’s. Bummer.

See Thru Toilets!!

A pair of Tokyo parks are attracting extra attention for their unusual new features: public toilets with transparent walls.  The restrooms, designed by Shigeru Ban Architects as part of The Nippon Foundation’s Tokyo Toilet Project, feature see-through walls that turn opaque when a user enters the facility and locks the door.  The restrooms, installed at Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park, are designed to allow those in need of facilities to quickly determine their cleanliness and whether they are already occupied.  “There are two things we worry about when entering a public restroom, especially those located at a park,” the Tokyo Toilet Project’s website states. “The first is cleanliness, and the second is whether anyone is inside.”  The walls change from transparent to frosted opaque when the door lock is activated.  “This allows users to check the cleanliness and whether anyone is using the toilet from the outside,” the website states. “At night, the facility lights up the park like a beautiful lantern.”
********A bunch of perverts are lurking around, waiting for the opaque effect to fail!!
*******They don’t need these in New York!! The whole city has turned into a toilet!
*******Wouldn’t it make you nervous if you wondered whether it REALLY goes opaque?? Or are we just worry warts??

Sea Turtle Rescued From Swimming Pool

Wildlife rescuers in the Caiman Islands were called out to a condo to rescue a large sea turtle that became stranded in a swimming pool.  The Caiman Islands Department of Environment said a turtle rescue team was dispatched when a family that had just moved into a condominium reported a green sea turtle had ended up in their pool and appeared unable to climb out on its own.  Conservation Officer Mark Orr said the turtle is believed to have laid her eggs on the beach the previous night.  “We found tracks leading from the pool to a large nest on the beach,” Orr told the Cayman Compass. “It looks like she made a bad turn while trying to get back to the water, and because the pool is designed so that it is flush with the beach, she must have wandered over and fallen in.”  Orr led the team that lifted the turtle out of the pool.  See the pic HERE.
********The turtle said, “It all happened so fast!!”
*******A nearby snail said, “She just whizzed past me!!”
******Before going back to the beach, she asked for a drink and a towel!!

LEGO Piece Falls Out Of Kid’s Nose

A piece of Lego has fallen out of a seven-year-old boy’s nose two years after it went missing.  Sameer Anwar from Dunedin, New Zealand, told his parents he had put the piece up his nose while playing in 2018.  His father, Mudassir Anwar, told the New Zealand Herald that they tried themselves to retrieve it but couldn’t.  They eventually took him to a doctor, who also could not see the small piece. The doctor told them Sameer may not have put the piece into his nose, but if he had, that it would enter his digestive tract and pass naturally.  Mr Anwar said “since then he’s never complained or anything” and the family had mostly forgotten about it.  However, on Saturday, Sameer felt a pain in his nose after sniffing cupcakes, telling his parents he might have snorted some crumbs.  His mother helped him blow his nose and saw the missing piece come out.  His father said: “His eyes were wide open and he was like ‘Mum, I found the Lego!’ You were telling me it wasn’t there, but it was there!’  Mr Anwar added: “It was shock, y’know? And it had a bit of fungus on it.”
*******New slogan: “Legos – Built to Last!!”
*******”Is that a Lego?” “No… it’s snot!!”

 

STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL

VIDEO: DRIVE THRU ROBBERY AT THE HOME DEPOT!  ANOTHER ONE HERE

VIDEO: DOG WATCHES FIREWORKS!

 

A LIST FOR THURSDAY

Nutrition Experts Share What To Feed Kids While Distance Learning

Huffington Post

 

Start with a schedule

If you’ve had a Cheetos-for-breakfast, snow-cones-for-lunch kind of summer, it’s time for a change, our experts said.

“All schools run on schedules, and home school should be the same way,” registered dietician nutritionist Amy Myrdal Miller said. “Establish and enforce a schedule for classwork as well as meals and snacks from the first day of school. Print the schedule and, if necessary, set timers or alarms to keep your student on track.”

No one is going to love this at first, including you, but it’s absolutely necessary, experts said. “Those first few days back to school may feel difficult, but by week two or three, their minds and bodies will anticipate meal times and break times more naturally,” registered dietitian nutritionist Amy Gorin said.

How many breaks for food are enough? “Provide kids with about six daily eating opportunities — three meals and two to three snacks,” registered dietitian nutritionist Amanda Frankeny said.

“Try to feed kids every two to four hours, or even more frequently for smaller children or for light breakfast eaters,” Rowell said. “Be willing to check in and adjust. Going from 8 a.m. to noon may be too long between eating, for example, so you might need to add a snack at 10:30 a.m. and then eat lunch later.”

And while eating is important, sleep also has a big role, Rowell added. “Regular sleep and eating times help with attention and mood. Reinstate rules about screens and bedtime, and move lights-out up by 15 minutes every few days.”

 

Pizza for breakfast? That’s OK, too.

Keep your child’s natural inclinations in mind, especially first thing in the morning. “Some kids wake up hungry, but others take a little more time to develop an appetite,” Rowell said. “If you’re at home full time, you can more easily respond to that natural rhythm. If your child is sometimes in school and sometimes at home, try to establish the same schedule for all weekdays.”

“Kids will focus and behave better if they eat breakfast,” Myrdal Miller said. “It doesn’t have to be fancy — a granola bar and glass of milk, or yogurt and a piece of fruit are great ways to start the day.”

If nothing sounds good to them first thing, ask your kids to brainstorm foods they might enjoy for breakfast. “Some prefer to eat leftover cold pizza or stir-fry instead of breakfast foods, and that’s OK,” Rowell said. “Food is food. A slice of pizza with a banana and a glass of milk is a great breakfast.”

 

Smart options for lunch

“I’m always thinking how to get veggies in meals, and that’s easy to do at lunch,” registered dietician Barbara Ruhs said. “Sandwiches are a great way to offer a vegetarian option. Use hummus spread or nut butters, then top with fruit or veggies. Frozen burritos — bean or veggie — can be jazzed up with fresh salsa and guacamole. Or serve fruit salad as dessert, with your choice of apples, grapes, blueberries, avocado, mango or jicama.” Not sure about jicama in fruit salad? “Try it— you’ll love the crunch,” Ruhs suggested.

 

Snack time rules

“Because you’re home and the snack pantry may seem super tempting for your child, try to set ground rules about how many snacks are eaten each day, and aim to make those snacks healthy and balanced,” Gorin said.

”Kids shouldn’t snack on the hour, every hour,” Frankeny said. “Their snacks should be able to tide them over for the following two to three hours.” She added that snacks can also fill in the nutritional gaps by adding fruits, vegetables or other food groups missed during the rest of the day. “If kids didn’t eat their lunch, they should snack on more filling foods, like half a peanut butter-and-apple sandwich on whole wheat bread,” she suggested. “If they had a heavy lunch, top them off with fruit. Did they miss a serving of vegetables at breakfast? Try carrots and dip at snack time.”

“For healthier snacking, consider putting a fruit bowl within easy reach,” Myrdal Miller said. “Studies show kids will often choose the most convenient option for a snack, so if you put it where they see it, they’re more likely to eat it.”

“I pre-portion highly snackable treats like pretzels, popcorn and nuts so the entire bag doesn’t disappear at snack time,” Ruhs said. “Let your children make their own pre-portioned trail mixes in snack-sized bags.” Some of her favorite combinations include wasabi peanuts, pretzels and dried fruit; corn nuts and dried fruit; and pretzels and yogurt-covered raisins.

 

Every 20 minutes, take a water break

Not only do you have to feed the little darlings, but you need to keep them hydrated, too. “Once they’re thirsty, kids already are well on their way to being dehydrated,” Frankeny said. “Water is always the best choice. Every 20 minutes, you should offer small kids 4 ounces and big kids 6 to 8 ounces.”

She said that kids under age 4 require about five to six cups daily; 4- to 8-year-olds need about seven cups a day, and older kids need between nine and 12 cups daily.

If you’re running into resistance over water consumption, Ruhs suggested occasional treats of “mocktails” made from 100% juice liberally diluted with water, seltzer or flavored water.

 

Dinner rotation

Congratulations, you made it to dinner time. Don’t feel pressured to produce a test kitchen masterpiece every night, our experts said. In fact, a little predictability might be welcome by everyone concerned.

“Repetition is fine,” Frankeny said. “Parents can stick with 10 staple meals and rotate through them. That kind of routine helps standardize your shopping list and still leaves some wiggle room for when you’re feeling creative.”

 

Get ahead of the game

Whatever you do, cook ahead and in batches to make things easier on school days. “I’m a big fan of prepping ahead of time and creating fun, picnic-style meals,” Gorin said. “You can hard boil eggs ahead of time, grill or roast a bunch of veggies, cook up a big batch of whole grain pasta or quinoa and pre-portion nuts. Day of, you can add fun ingredients like avocado and toasted bread. Then mix and match.”

Ruhs encouraged parents to get kids involved in food prep. “The first few times it might seem like more work than it’s worth, but you can get it down to an assembly line to prepare items like sandwiches, snack bags or trail mixes.”

And please, take it easy on yourself. “Involving kids is great, but try not to battle over it,” Rowell said. “It’s OK to rely on prepared foods. A can of baked beans with tortilla chips is a great lunch. Pasta with jarred sauce and cut up cucumbers or canned fruit is a balanced dinner. Slow-cooked meats like chicken thighs or pork can be the base for tacos, or served on a bun with sauce and some peas on the side. When you have the energy and resources to cook and shop more, that’s great, but when you don’t, it’s OK too.”

 

Mealtimes are for connecting, not perfection

“As a parent, not everything is in your control,” Myrdal Miller said. “The pandemic has put additional pressure on everyone, especially working parents who also are trying to manage school at home. Do the best you can to provide a healthful variety of options, but if all they’ll eat is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with chocolate milk, that’s OK. Maybe next week — or next month — you can add some variety to the menu.”

“Don’t try to make every meal and snack perfect,” Rowell said. “Parents offer the choices, and children decide what to eat from what’s been offered. The attitude and connection around meals and mealtimes matter more than how many bites of veggies they eat.”

 

The preceding material was compiled and edited by Brandon Castillo.  The Editor-In-Chief is Gary Bryan.  The Radio Genius Show Prep Service is licensed for use on-air only by subscribing radio stations.  Other means of redistribution is forbidden.
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