GoMom

In honor of the panic that will hit us around, say Wednesday morning, when we've run out of ideas of what to throw in the bag.

First of all, get a SIGG, because how do you not have one already? Fill it with chocolate milk shaken with a touch of cinnamon and vanilla.

If you have the time for homemade sports-bars, these are cheaper and tastier than most shelf brands.

Dark chocolate covered bananas, and they're organic, fair-trade, and will get your kid an A from the hemp-wearin' English teacher.

Shun just any pbn'j, surprise them with a pbn'mf: peanut butter and marshamallow fluff sandwich. Relax, it's all natural and probably no worse than jelly. Plus you'll get a huge smooch when they get home.

The least you can do is throw in some Pocky sticks, but better yet, send along some choice Double Whammy Hard Candy! Who doesn't want that?

Surrender Dorothy: I'd like to stay home, but we'd be broke

Washington Post: The nutritious "mid-meal"

Business Week: (yes, Business Week): Tips for getting kids to help clean

My daughter's graduation party is next weekend and I am in a tither. Let's get this right out on the table, I am a food snob. The hard part is that everybody knows that and so are expecting a huge gourmet spread at the party. I have thrown countless dinner parties for all sizes, the most recent for 20, without stressing too much. After Megan sent out her Facebook invites last night, the total replying with a positive YES was about 200. In her words, OMG. So I'm planning on doing a cocktail-like spread, with nosh and snacks: bread with spread, veggies, fruit salad, cheese table, etc. Do you have any life-saver, favorite party recommendations for me? Besides calling Subway?

Okay, so I've been a vegetarian for fifteen years. Back in the day, I ground my own wheat, juiced my own vegetables, and baked with date sugar.Then, I had two more kids and got a job. Now, it seems all I eat is wheat thins. Really. I just can't get hold of a way to cook decent food on a regular basis. When I buy fresh vegetables and other ingredients with the best of intentions for cooking them, they too often end up in the trash when we rush in the door harried for the tenth night in a row at 7 or 8 PM after so-and-so's concert or the other one's play or the meeting I had or whatever. And what do you do at that point? Break out the crackers or order a pizza.  What do other people do?