The Tri-State Italian-American Congress

WCBS-TV President and General Manager, Peter Dunn, served as the Chairman for the Tri-State Italian American Congress 2009 Dinner Reception held in honor of WCBS-TV’s Food Editor Tony Tantillo on Friday, May 15th, 2009. The Tri-State Italian-American Congress, formed in 1988, is a non-profit organization whose membership includes individuals active in Italian-American affairs in the tri-state area. Its purpose is to provide educational opportunities for Italian-American children, to support organizations and charities benefiting Italian-Americans and to support other programs and individuals with similar goals. WCBS-TV plays a vital role of the community by bringing awareness to many causes and non-for-profit organizations. Dunn, along with other WCBS-TV employees, were honored to be a part of this celebration for one of their own, Tony Tantillo. Tantillo is completely dedicated and proud to serve the organization's mission of educating young people and preserving the Italian heritage.

Back to School Deliciousness!

While your kids are at school, its important that they are eating the right foods to stay fueled throughout the day. Packing a good lunch is crucial for them! There are lots of creative ways to help get the kids actually wanting to eat healthy foods! Adding little extras like peanut butter or nuts give fruits and vegetables a more fun taste, while still keeping things healthy. Remember, kids like food thats FUN! Try making the all time favorite, Ants on a Log. You can't go wrong with their silly nature, and kids will still get vitamins and nutritious value. They're fun and easy to make, and the interaction will help them like what they are eating. Another simple snack is mini caramel apples. Using a melon scooper, scoop out pieces of apple, and let the kids dip them in caramel packets. The apple keeps things healthy, but gives them a little sugary treat with the caramel. If your kids really love apples, try making apple pinwheels. Peel and core an apple, then mix some peanut butter, honey and raisins and stuff the core with this delicious mixture.

Remember that peanut butter is healthy! The monosaturated fats have been proven to help keep health risks at bay, and like apples, they are good for a healthy heart. It will also help to keep children full throughout they day, unlike treats with high glycemic indexes, which will only make them feel hungrier faster.

Try some of these treats in your kid's school lunches, and help make a difference in the way they eat. There's always a way to get kids to eat healthier!

**image from homebakedrecipes.com**