Blog Posts by Real Simple Magazine

Quick-what's the best thing to do for a burn? You (and your sitter) never have to wonder again, thanks to this first-response guide to the most common kid calamities. By Laura Vogel and Allison Cutler

Head Bump

What to do first: Assuming your child is conscious and responsive (if not, call 911), apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables for 20 minutes to reduce any swelling.

What to do next: Watch him carefully. Get medical help if there's a change in his pupils (one is larger than the other, or they don't react to light); he's vomiting often or won't eat; or he feels dizzy, has a worsening headache, or seems unlike himself. Otherwise, for the next 24 hours, check him every few hours to see if he's still feeling well.

What not to do: He can sleep, but wake him every four hours to check in. And don't let him play sports. Even if he's feeling better, he needs to sit out the day.

See More: Health Facts and Fiction

Cut or Scrape

What to do first: If there's

Between-meal bites don't have to be boring (or bad for you). Here are 42 tasty options-for the car, the couch, and beyond. By Sharon Liao

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The Healthy-Diet Foods that Health Experts Really Eat

Know a few little delinquents? Don't get out the handcuffs (yet)-it's normal. With some shrewd police work, you can get to the bottom of why they're committing those petty crimes.

Remember the famous story about a young George Washington who could not tell a lie? What a whopper. The more realistic tale is the one about Pinocchio-the would-be boy who lied until the web of deception was as plain as the ginormous nose on his wooden face.

It's the truth: Almost all kids lie. They might also cheat and steal. But that doesn't mean they're headed for juvenile hall. To learn the boundaries of acceptable behavior, a child occasionally has to steamroll through them; doing wrong is an essential part of how a kid learns-with parental guidance-to do right. Here's what's normal (along with what might be more troubling) and how you can be soft on the little criminal but hard on the crime.

See More: New Uses for Old Things: Kids Edition

Lying

Lying may be the most common underage

More than a popcorn popper, this versatile appliance was underutilized―until now. By Melissa Clark and Lindsay Funston

1. Disinfect and Deodorize Sponges
Don't throw out the kitchen sponge that smells like last night's salmon. Soak it in water spiked with white vinegar or lemon juice, then heat it on high for 1 minute. (Use an oven mitt to remove it.) This will also disinfect any sponges you used to wipe up the juices from a raw chicken.

See More: New Uses for Kitchen Items

2. Cook an Entire Dinner in Under 10 Minutes
Not just the TV variety. We mean braised salmon with green beans and mashed potatoes. Use the microwave for any recipe that calls for braising, poaching, or steaming. Just subtract about three-quarters of the cooking time. Remember to stir liquids often to redistribute the heat, and always take the food out a minute or two before it's completely done, since it will continue to cook.

3. Disinfect Plastic Cutting Boards
Wash the board well, rub

These recipes for soups, pastas, salads, and stews will banish lunchbox boredom-no sandwich required.


photo credit: Charles MastersPasta Salad with Salami and Mozzarella

Toss together this salad the night before; your kids will love the combination of fresh tomatoes, cheese, and sliced salami for lunch the next day.

Get the recipe.

Related: The Best and Worst Appetizer Choices





End-of-Summer Vegetable Soupphoto credit: Quentin Bacon

A great way to take advantage of the last of summer's produce, this soup is loaded with nutritious vegetables and protein-packed cannellini beans.

Get the recipe.

Related: Guide to Buying Frozen Food




photo credit: Sang AnTortellini Soup

Hearty pasta and chicken will please picky palates and keep your kids full for the entire afternoon.

Get the recipe.

Related: 24 Nutritious (and Tasty) Snacks




Turkey and Bean Chili photo credit: Romulo Yanes

Using ground turkey instead of beef lightens up this dish, and your kids will never know the difference.

Get the recipe.

Related: Healthy Snacks for Common Cravings




photo credit: Sang AnBLT Pasta

This fun take on a typical BLT

By Renee Schettler
photos by Kana Okada

How to salvage overcooked chicken, a crumbly cake, mushy vegetables, and more.

How to Fix Mushy Potatoes

Problem: You intended to boil those new potatoes just until fork-tender. But when you drained them, they collapsed into mush.

Solution: "Make mashed potatoes,'" Rozanne Gold, a chef and author of the 1-2-3 series of cookbooks, says. Not in the mood for a mash, make home fries: Drain the potatoes and fry them in a skillet with a small amount of fat―olive or peanut oil, butter, or bacon drippings―stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 20 minutes.

Related: 10 Recipe Ideas for Potatoes

Next time: Gently simmer the potatoes instead of boiling them. The lower temperature causes the starch in them to swell more slowly. As a result, only a bit of the gummy starch leaks out of the potatoes and into the cooking water, says Shirley O. Corriher, a food scientist and the author of CookWise: The Secrets of Cooking Revealed (Morrow, $30,

By Lindsay Funston

If you use this gizmo only to zap popcorn or heat up leftovers, prepare to be impressed. If you already know about all these, we think you'll be glad you were reminded. Here are more than 20 ways your microwave can save you time in the kitchen.

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Teachers, school nurses, and even waiters deal with children all day, every day-and they have news for you. Here, wise tips from the pros. By Marisa Fox; Additional Reporting By Nubia DuVall; LaToya Evans

Doctors, Dentists, and School Nurses Say:

Slather 'em in sunscreen. "Eighty percent of sun damage occurs before the age of 18," says Jody Levine, a pediatric dermatologist in New York City. Later in life, it shows up as wrinkles and skin cancer. "Apply sunscreen during your morning routine. It doesn't have to be sunny for people to wear sunscreen, as damaging rays are always shining, even through window glass," she says.

See More: Best Budget-Friendly Sunscreens

Go low-carb in the morning. "Make kids eat a real breakfast, not a sweet breakfast," says Judy Bearman, the nurse at St. Mary's Episcopal School, in Memphis. "The simple carbohydrates in doughnuts, strudels, and juice enter the bloodstream quickly, giving them energy but leaving them groggy by 9 A.M. I see so