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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2442 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 \ Fighting Obesity In Toddlers (NAPSA)—With childhood obesity continuing its dramatic rise, it’s clear that America’s weight problem has moved beyond just affecting adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 14 percent of children ages 2 to 5 are overweight, putting them at increased risk of becoming obese adults. Experts agree that the key to combating these weighty statistics is to get parents involved with their children at an early age to teach them the importance of healthy eating habits and exercise. That explains why a new project called Sprout Smart, from the folks behind the popular and well-respected PBS KIDS SPROUT television network for preschoolers, is generating such excitement. “Kids develop healthy diet and exercise habits as preschoolers,” explains Mary L. Gavin, MD, Medical Editor, KidsHealth, Nemours Center for Children’s Health Media. “Parents can be both teachers and role models when it comes to eating right and being active.” That’s where Sprout Smart comes in. In partnership with KidsHealth and sponsored by Mott’s for Tots, Sprout Smart helps moms and dads find fun and simple ways to keep kids both active and eating healthy. Parents can visit the Web site SproutSmart.com for expert articles and related blog discussions about ways to connect with their preschoolers and watch videos about children’s health. Topics include “The ABCs of Getting D o c t o rs s ay h e a l t h h a b i t s learned as toddlers can carry into adulthood. ZZZs,” “Kids in the Kitchen” and “The Power of Play.” “The idea is to help parents and kids find fun ways to build healthy habits and relationships,” says Dr. Gavin. Sprout Smart offers these tips and more: • Get preschoolers moving— and have fun doing it. Try walking like a penguin, hopping like a frog or imitating other animals’ movements with your child. • Teach kids that healthy foods taste good. Serve delicious but low-sugar juice beverages, such as Mott’s for Tots, with a handful of whole-grain cereal for a tasty, nutrient-packed snack. • Connect with your child through active play like dancing. The key is to have fun. For more ideas and information, visit www.SproutSmart.com. Instant Appetizers (NAPSA)—For entertaining purposes, cheese and crackers remains a classic combo. But are your crackers up to the task? If you’re serving a spreadable cheese, your guests might be in for a classic crumble. One of the reasons that cheese and crackers is so popular is that there’s little prep work involved— always a plus for busy hosts. Having a variety of cheeses on hand can be fun, especially if you throw in a few adventurous choices such as sheep and goat cheeses (your lactose-intolerant guests will certainly appreciate the effort). In addition, having a few other ingredients on hand can make quick preparation a snap. Suggested items to keep in stock include pepperoni, green olives, grape tomatoes, dill and frozen shrimp. Meanwhile, a thin, crunchy pretzel cracker, such as Pretzel Crisps from The Snack Factory, can be a great base for a variety of tasty appetizers. These crispy treats are great with dips and spreads, and they come in a variety of flavors, such as Original, Everything and Garlic, to complement whatever you serve. For more instant appetizer ideas, visit www.pretzelcrisps.com. Manage Your Mortgage To Build Financial Security In Tough Economic Times (NAPSA)—Many people may have heard that the Chinese expression for “crisis” consists of two characters—“challenge” and “opportunity.” The expression could also describe the dual nature of the current housing market downturn—peril and potential. Whether you are taking advantage of current prices to buy a house or trying to cope with a difficult financial situation to keep your home, it is important to understand how a mortgage works and what to do if you start to encounter payment problems. According to an HSBC-North America consumer survey, one out of three people don’t even know if they currently have a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage. Moreover, three out of 10 consumers surveyed have no idea of what types of fees are associated with their mortgages. Loretta Abrams, senior vice president of HSBC Consumer Affairs, says improving mortgage know-how will help consumers protect their investment. Before you obtain a mortgage, make sure you understand the following: •What types of mortgages are you considering? Is it fixed-rate or adjustable-rate? What are the advantages and disadvantages to your personal situation? •What’s the interest rate and how much are the fees associated with the loans? Costs such as points and processing fees can add 2 to 10 percent to the loan. You don’t want to be surprised by an extra $2,000 or $10,000 in fees when you close your loan. •As a general rule, you should spend no more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income on housing expenses. Besides the mortgage, remember to include taxes, insurance and other related expenses. •If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loan, make sure you know when the payment can change, by how much and what the maximum payment can be. •Do you have money to cover costs if your roof suddenly leaks or your furnace goes out? Set aside an emergency fund (3 percent of your home value) for maintenance and other unexpected costs. If you’re having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments, remember that it’s never appropriate to “do nothing.” No one—neither you nor your lender—wants you to lose your home. The earlier you take action, the more options you may have. Take the following steps: • Contact your lender at the first sign of trouble. Respond to all your lender ’s communications, describing your circumstances. • If you prefer to speak first to a trusted third party about your options, call Homeowner’s HOPE™ Hotline, (888) 995-HOPE. You can also dial (800) 569-4287 or visit www.HUD.gov for a HUDapproved counselor. • Take advantage of free resources on YourMoneyCounts. com, available in both Spanish and English, to find information that will help you manage your finances.