Learn how to provide healthy meals and snacks for your families with the help of a registered  dietician. Topics include portion sizes made easy, stocking your pantry, milk vs. juice vs. soda and sample menu ideas. Adults only. 10 to 11:30 a.m. $5 per person. St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Even if you are living under a rock, you probably know that health care reform is a hot topic. I’m not trying to start a political debate here, but I need to throw in my two cents' worth on the subject: weekly massages for every American. The country would be so much more relaxed, healthy and happy if we had the kinks worked out every week. And we would be less cranky and more productive.

But massage's benefits aren't reserved for adults. Children can reap its rewards, too. Besides being a great bonding experience, massage can help babies relax, sleep better and cry less.

Block parties are a popular summertime activity in St. Louis. We went to a great one on Tuesday night for the National Night Out event. Arts and crafts, karaoke, music, food and games are all part of the experience. Out in St. Charles they are throwing a block party on steroids. Come on down to the fourth annual Kid’s Block Party at the St. Charles Convention Center. This free event encourages healthy, active and safe lifestyles for kids ages 3-to-10 years old.

Like any respectable block party, this shinding has tons of fun activities just for the kids. Youngsters can jump their hearts out in two bounce houses, a giant obstacle course, and a giant slide. Climb aboard the Kids Club Gymbus.

This full-sized school bus is full of gymnastic activities for the kids. Additional activities will be provided by the St. Charles Parks and Recreation Department, St. Louis Science Center, Simply Fun Games, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Midwest Martial Arts Academy, Swing-A-Round Fun Town, the River City Robots and the St. Charles Fire Department. St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the St. Charles Police Department and other vendors and will be on hand to provide information on children’s safety and health issues.

It just seems wrong to be talking about school. For pete’s sake, it's only July! But much to the chagrin of kids everywhere, school is right around the corner. The very thought of school brings lot of anxiety to both parents and kids. Going to school — especially for the first time — is huge.

I don’t pound the pavement very often. I’m much better suited on a bike. But I always wanted to run a 5K. So last year my friend Becky and I took the plunge and signed up for the Highway 64/40 Reopening Race. I huffed and puffed in the freezing cold, but I finished. I swore it would be my first and final 5K. But last week Becky asked me if I wanted to run in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Make Tracks for the Zoo 5K. Her entire family – even her 5-year old son – is racing. If I can run 3.1 miles in the middle of winter with a sinus infection, I can definitely outrun a kindergartener on a nice day, right? Ugh.