Your week
YOUR HEALTH
Trying to get your kids to eat healthier? Here are some tips from the experts:
• Emphasize moderation. Offer junk food occasionally – not daily – and keep portion sizes small.
• Don’t cut out snacks, but continually introduce healthier ones. Instead of Oreos, offer graham crackers or small boxes of raisins. Try fun shapes – like celery stalks with peanut butter and raisins, aka “ants-on-a-log” – and healthy dips such as hummus.
• Make homemade versions of favorites. Create pizzas with whole-wheat muffins, tomato sauce and low-fat mozzarella cheese, or cook “fries” by spraying potato wedges with olive oil, sprinkling on salt and baking at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes per side.
• Involve kids in food preparation. They’ll be more likely to try new foods if they have helped select recipes, pick out foods and cook.
» Find more health tips in Tuesday’s Today section.
YOUR HOME
It’s easy to forget about your furnace while it’s doing its job, but don’t ignore it for too long.
Many heating contractors recommend yearly inspections and maintenance for gas furnaces, particularly with more sensitive newer models, which are designed to shut down when problems arise.
The nonprofit American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy says servicing every other year is sufficient for natural-gas furnaces. It recommends servicing every year for oil-fired systems and every two or three years for heat pumps.
A technician can spot and correct problems that cause your gas furnace to run less efficiently or wear out faster, as well as combustion and venting issues that can lead to the production of deadly carbon monoxide.
» Find more home and garden ideas in Sunday’s Today section.
YOUR FOOD
So the weather says soup, but your stomach wants something heartier? Try a quick-cooking winter casserole soup full of vegetables, beans and pasta. For the recipe, see page C7.
» Find more recipes and restaurant news in Wednesday’s Food section.
YOUR FUN
Here’s what’s on the schedule for this week:
On CD (Tuesday)
Adele, “21”
Celtic Thunder, “Heritage”
Jeff Beck, “Rock ’n’ Roll Party”
On DVD (Tuesday)
“Due Date”
“Get Low”
“Megamind” (Friday)
In theaters (Friday)
“Drive Angry” (action)
“Hall Pass” (comedy)
On TV
“The Real Housewives of Miami”: The reality franchise moves to the steamy city. (Tuesday, 10 p.m., Bravo)
“America’s Next Top Model”: A new round of runway hopefuls strut their stuff for Tyra Banks. (Wednesday, 8 p.m., The CW)
“American Idol”: This season’s Top 20 are revealed. (Thursday, 8 p.m., Fox)
The 83rd Annual Academy Awards: Find out which film will give the king’s acceptance speech. (Sunday, 5:30 p.m., ABC)
On stage
Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival: Wednesday-Sunday, University of Idaho
“Privilege”: Interplayers, opens Wednesday
Spokane Symphony: Saturday-Sunday, The Fox
Los Lobos: Sunday, Knitting Factory
Around town
Winter Wildlands Backcountry Film Festival: Thursday, Gonzaga University
Spokane Home & Yard Show: Thursday-Sunday, Fair and Expo Center
Yokes Outrageous Air Show: Friday-Saturday, Schweitzer Mountain Resort
Chocolate & Champagne Gala: Friday, Mirabeau Park Hotel
» Find a full arts and entertainment roundup in the Thursday and Friday Today sections.