Mamapedia New York Voices ( See National )

Sitting in Central Park this weekend, I watched as a professional photographer brought her clients to a picture-perfect hideaway for the classic holiday card photo shoot. The little munchkins and their parents, all dressed up in holiday-wear, were positioned in just the right way and instructed to say “cheese” for the camera. Let’s face it. This photo is important. It represents an entire year of existence and growth for the family, as it is mailed out to close friends and family.

The problem, however, is that toddlers are significantly less invested in sitting still and staying focused. In this case, the grass, sticks, rocks and ducks were much more interesting than posing for the photographer. “Sarah, sit still for Daddy.” “If you don’t sit still, you’re going to get a time-out.” “Sarah, come here…”. While this photo may be important to you, it is not in any way important to them.

So, given the significance of this particular photo, how can we get kids to cooperate?

There are two ways to go….More

Even though New Yorkers pay some of the highest prices for food in the country, we are blessed with a few special resources that can help us chomp away at that giant grocery bill.

Fruit and vegetable vendors on street corners

Authorized by the city as part of a plan to foster healthier New Yorkers, you can save as much as 50% on produce by patronizing these men with carts.

My corner vendor buys his stock from the Hunts Point Wholesale Farmer’s Market in the Bronx, an initiative funded by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets and led locally by the Council on the Environment of New York City, which runs retail greenmarkets throughout the city. You can read more about the Greenmarket here.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Even though farm shares are available across the USA, pick-up points are more plentiful and accessible in the City. In a CSA, you pay a local farm up front to receive a share of its harvest, a box of fresh local produce delivered to your neighborhood.

Last year, I split with a friend a farm share from Stoneledge Farm. Total cost: $10 per week for all the vegetables our family needed. Considering the food is not only organic, but also grown locally (thus cutting down on pollution), the deal is even sweeter….More