Autumn in New Brunswick

Apple picking is a traditional New Brunswick activity in the fall. Those of us in the city head to the gentle rolling hills of the countryside for some fresh air and fresh produce.

Last Sunday was also Open Farm Day in Atlantic Canada. Combined with the nice weather, it made for long lineups at many farm markets and farm gates in the region.

I was hoping to pick some of the Honeycrisp variety, but trends take a bit longer to catch on in eastern Canada than they do in the rest of the country. McIntosh and Cortland apples still reign for popular choice here.

Belliveau Orchards in Memramcook have established a wonderful farm market at the orchard. Along with tree fruit, they also carry other favourite fall vegetables and autumn decor.

Out of the mouths of babes

Like most kids, my children have an uncanny ability to cut to the chase and make their point. They often weed through a message and summarize with a statement that starts something like, "so basically, what they're saying is..."

They're promoters of the KISS method of communication: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

New research released today from the registered dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada show my kids aren't alone.

The survey of Ontario kids, one of the largest of children's attitudes and opinions on healthy eating, shows kids have strong opinions and advice for both parents and teachers about healthy eating.

According to a news release from the Dairy Farmers of Canada, the survey shows pre-teens are concerned about nutrition and healthy eating, and not just interested in greasy take-out food and sugary treats.

Another encouraging finding is that pre-teens actually care about what their parents do and say when it comes to healthy eating -- they are still interested in guidance and support from their parents (but don't tell my daughter, because she would deny deny deny).

Highlights of the research include:

- 89 per cent of kids agree their parents are their most important role models for healthy eating.
- 82 per cent of kids want to learn how to cook in school.
- 80 per cent of kids want to know about the benefits of healthy eating and not just what they should not be eating.
- Three out of four children agree that if their parents had healthy food in the house, they would eat it.
- 71 per cent of children describe their eating habits as 'sort of healthy', while 21 per cent describe their eating habits as 'very healthy'. Only eight per cent say their eating habits are 'not very healthy.'

The registered dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada have combined the results of this survey with their more than 35 years of experience as nutrition educators to create a brand new online resource. Parents and teachers can visit http://www.kidsonfood.ca/. Along with a summary of the research, the website includes video clips of advice from the kids in the research, tips for parents and teachers from children, recipes for home and school and free resources and tools.

Back to school blues

The beginning of the school year always feels far more like the start of a new year than Jan. 1. There's the bittersweet ending of summer, the change in temperatures and the excitement of new notebooks, pencils and pens. Really, what other simple joy is there than a new, pure white eraser, a box of new markers, or (gasp) cracking open a new notebook and starting to write on the first page?

My excitement is dulled, however, with the back to school lists. Really, I want to know what my kids need for supplies in the upcoming months, but I would rather have a list of supplies the kids will truly need, rather than what seems like a made-up list.

This year, two of the more unbelievable items on my son's list included 48 HB pencils and a box of plastic bags with a zipper.

With class sizes up to 30 children, that means the teacher will be collecting 1,440 pencils on Tuesday morning. There are about 195 school days a year, so that means each child will have 7.4 pencils a day at their disposal!

Conversely, the Grade 2 list doesn't even have pencils on it.

And I'm extremely curious to know what 30 Grade 3 children are going to do with a box of Ziplock bags this year.

I know there are kids who arrive at school on the first day who don't know the joys of new school supplies and I am happy to help them experience this same excitement. But if that's the case, tell me.

Equally annoying is the need to request specific brands of school supplies. There is always a note pointing out that after years of testing, the mentioned brands have proven to be the best, but why is one type of marker or crayon recommended in one grade and another brand the next year?

I suspect the teachers aren't aware of the lists, haven't been kept up-to-date on changes or brand recommendations and just make the best with whatever arrives on the first day of school.

Perhaps it's time they give the lists a quick review, just to make sure they really do make the grade.