It's one thing to eat badly when its just you but as soon as you are charged with feeding a little, one the stakes are risen. However, buying all organic food isn't always possible or even the best choice, and in this day and age where we sometimes have too many choices the whole thing can feel really overwhelming.

The book that broke it all down for me is Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, it??™s a fascinating read and has made an indelible impact on how our family shops and eats every day. But, since we know that reading books is not always possible, we have put together this little cheat sheet for you.

Earth Day is a big deal. It's a time to take stock of our environmental impact and reconsider the choices we are making. Befitting the importance of Earth Day, we have a big deal giveaway, in fact it's actually THREE giveaways! The grand prize is A YEAR OF FREE LAUNDRY from new eco-detergent dropps. First, Second and Third prize winners will all receive a set of the new must-have Munchlers lunch packs from Built NY. And we even have runner up prizes of Fruitabu organic fruit snacks. Read on to find out more about these recommended products and your chance to win.

Just cause the last time you sat down to read a newspaper was when ???pooped out??? still meant tired to you doesn??™t mean you can??™t stay up to date with what??™s going on. We??™ve rounded up the top stories you don??™t want to miss from the NYC media this week.

Another story in a growing trend of press about kids in Europe doing less academics in early years.

Empire United emphasizes an integrative, group approach to its training system. Students in all of the offered programs benefit from the insight and attention of our entire coaching staff. Empire United's cohesive approach translates into an enriched, structured training environment conducive to the growth of both our fencer's skill and overall enjoyment of the sport.

Unique to our approach is the prioritization of physical, mental, and body awareness skills that promote lifelong discovery. Students are challenged in ways that not only increase their flexibility and coordination, but also their ability to problem solves and overcome adversity.

The coaches and staff at Empire United Fencing are Olympic caliber, having been represented in the eternal games for the past twelve years: Atlanta, Sydney and Athens and have a combined 60 years of coaching expertise.

Fencing Day Camps

Fencing is unique in its capacity to engage and challenge a child. The sport encourages a union between physical and mental development. Students are challenged in ways that not only increase their flexibility and coordination, but also their ability to problem solve and overcome adversity. No two fencing bouts are ever the same. The fencing day camps at Empire United are designed to introduce fencing through activities and games aimed at the development of coordination, flexibility, and focus. Participants will experience the Empire United approach to fitness, coordination, and tactics.

Hours:

9am-4pm (Late pick-up or early drop off available for an additional fee)

For more information, visit www.empireunited.net

And for more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide! 

Italian Summer in the City 2009

Collina Italiana is pleased to announce the Italian Holiday Fun in the City mini camp on the Upper East Side for children.

The program is designed for kids who want to learn and practice Italian, meet new friends, have fun Italian style, and absorb the warm and lively culture of Italy while enjoying the holiday season in the city. The program includes:
- Il Tavolo in Italiano: summer school but more fun!
- Giochiamo in Italiano: learn Italian through play, music, theater, and games.
- Movimento: learn Italian through movement,modern dance and songs.
- Piccoli Cuochi: make the best foods of Italy; pizza, pasta, and biscotti... while absorbing Italian vocabulary of chefs.
- Cinema Italiano: study Italian through animated movies and cartoons.
- Arte Insieme: be creative; make art and speak Italian.
- Piccolo Teatro: perform your favorite star. Act in Italiano.
- Il Computer: create graphics and learn Italian software.

The Italian Summer in the City 2009 program runs from:
Summer Camp 1: June 3 - July 3
2009 Summer Camp 2: August 17 - September 4

Option 1 is $350 , Monday/Friday (5 days, 9am-3pm)
Option 2 is $250 , Tue , Wed ,Thu (9am-3pm)
Option 3 is $180 , Tue and Thu  (9am-3pm)
Option 4 is $110 , Tue and Thu from 9am to 12pm

10% Discount for siblings
Early Drop off (8.30 am): $10 per day / Late Pick up (4.30 pm): $20 per day

135 east 96th street new york, ny 10128
tel 212.427.7770
info@collinaitaliana.com
www.collinaitaliana.com

 And for more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide!

Broadway Superstars and Applause are bringing you week-long theater intensives for your children this summer for K through 8th grade., Monday through Friday for five and a half hours everyday, your children will arrive and attend theater classes all day long.

Many of the classes that your child will cycle through, throughout the week or weeks, are acting classes, singing classes, scene study, audition technique, Broadway dance class, Hip-Hop class, acting for TV, costume design, and so much more!

Each week will include an entirely new curriculum so you can join us for one week or all six. Come join in the best summer ever! Visit us at

http://www.applauseny.com for more information.

For more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide!

Get ready for another terrific summer at Summer Days Camp! We have lots of new and exciting adventures planned to make for fun filled summer days. For those of you who are new to the 74th St. MAGIC family, Summer Days Camp is located in the spacious, air-conditioned home of Epiphany Community Nursery School and 74th St. MAGIC. Summer Days Camp offers a well-rounded summer experience for children ages 2.5 -6 years old.
Children use fully equipped preschool classrooms, library and playground. Each of our weekly themes, such as Dinosaur Days and Space Odyssey, encompass both active and quiet activities, with arts and crafts, creative movement, music, story time, cooking, science, group games and circle time.

The Summer Days Camp experience would not be complete without outdoor time on our rooftop playground. Kids have a blast cooling off in our wading pool, riding bikes, shooting baskets and exploring our playground equipment. Our afternoon program is growing by leaps and bounds! Campers will learn age appropriate gymnastic skills through a progression on all apparatus and tumbling circuits on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons in 74th St. MAGIC's well equipped, air-conditioned gym. In addition, our afternoon campers will have tons of fun with our Monday afternoon theme-related activities.

We're in session Monday through Friday, with half-day and full-day options Monday through Thursday, and half-days on Fridays. One of the best parts about Summer Days Camp is that we allow for optimum flexibility--you're only required to sign up for two weeks, and they don't need to be consecutive. Additional weeks can be added on, but be sure you do so quickly because weeks fill up fast! Summer Days Camp tours are given on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

For more information about our program visit our website at www.74magic.com or call us at 212 737 2989. We look forward to spending our summer with you! Julie Flansbaum Director 74th St. MAGIC and Summer Days Campwww.74magic.com

For more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide!