Peaches are a delicious and tasty summertime staple meant to be enjoyed mixed in a cobbler or pie and served under ice cream. But strip away the ice cream and these juicy gems are packed with amazing health benefits.

Homer called pears "gifts of the gods," and when it comes to health benefits, this isn't far from the truth.

August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month so before school starts, take some time to get your child's eyes checked.

Most children have healthy eyes, but there are conditions that can threaten good vision. Because you can't always “see” eye health problems, set up some time today for an eye exam.

Have your child's eyes examined during regular pediatric appointments.

Vision testing should start around age three.

Here are a few signs to look out for that could mean you child has vision problems.

• Wandering or crossed eyes
• A family history of childhood vision problems
• Disinterest in reading or viewing distant objects

• Squinting or turning head in an unusual manner while watching TV

Eye Safety:

More than 12 million children suffer from vision impairment, and eye injuries are one of the leading causes of vision loss in children. There are an estimated 42,000 sports-related eye injuries each year and the majority of them happen to children.

Use this month to discuss the importance of eye safety with your children.

Children should:

• Wear protective eye wear while participating in sports or recreational activities
• Play with are age-appropriate toys
• Avoid toys with sharp or protruding parts

To find more information about children's eye health and safety visit: www.preventblindness.org.

Though the summer in Oklahoma has been unusually cool, things have started heating up lately. Here are 5 reminders to keep you safe when exercising outside.

1. Go early or late

Don't exercise in the heat of the day. Either go early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures aren't as hot.

2. Use sunscreen

Remember if you're outside for longer than 20 minutes at a time wear sunscreen, preferably sweat-proof.

3. Drink plenty of water

Bring plenty of water with you if you're exercising outside. Also, store water in shade so that it doesn't get too hot while you're working out.

4. Cold towels

If you feel overheated, wrap a cold towel around your neck, wrists and/or ankles to cool off.

5. Don't over do it

If you're exercising outside pay attention to your body. When you start getting overheated take a break.

The school year is about to begin and soon the lazy, carefree days of summer will be replaced with homework and after-school activities. Getting back into a regular schedule can be difficult for both parents and children alike.

Here are a few tips to help you get back into the swing of things a bit more smoothly.

1. Reestablish mealtime / bedtime schedules

You may have been a bit lax during the summer about when your children went to bed and what time they ate, but the key to your child's success at school is dependent on getting plenty of sleep and proper nutrition.

2. Designate a place to do homework

Make sure your child has ample workspace to complete their homework. Proper lighting is important, as is having a quiet place to study.

3. Shut off electronics

When school is in session, and even on breaks, limit your child's use of electronics. During the summer it's easy to let your child play video games and watch TV a little longer or more frequently. Start cutting back now so the transition won't be a total shock for your child.

4. Good physical and mental health

Scheduling physician visits, eye exams, and dental checkups early in the school year is a great way to help you remember when your child's last check up was.

5. Buy school supplies / clothes early

You don't need to spend a lot of money getting back to school supplies and attire, but know that the closer it gets to the start of school, the less options you'll have.

All in all the start of school can be an exciting time to change things up and get focused again. It can also be a stressful and rushed time of year, but with a little effort and planning, you'll ace the start of the school year. No problem.

A little goes a long way when it comes to fennel, but that little packs a powerful punch when it comes to health benefits.

Bruce Lee was ahead of his time when it came to believing in and concocting health drinks. In the spirit of Bruce Lee Week, here are a couple of smoothie recipes you're sure to shout "Hi-ya" for.

The Banana Suit

Ingredients: (Serves 1)

1 banana cut into rounds
1 cup skim milk
2 Tbl peanut butter
4 Tbl whey protein
1 Tbl honey
8 cubes of ice

Directions:

1. Blend until smooth.

The Frozen Berry Concoction

Ingredients: (Serves 2)

1 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup apple juice
1 1/2 cups of a mixture of frozen peaches and raspberries
2 1/2 Tbl whey protein

Directions:

1. Puree yogurt with fruit juice in a blender until smooth.
2. Add fruit and continue to puree until smooth.

Peachy Melon

Ingredients: (Serves 2)

2-3 cups watermelon (seeded)
1 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
1 cup strawberries
1/2 cup peaches

Directions:

1. Blend until smooth

The PB & J

Ingredients: (Serves 1)

2 Tbl peanut butter
1 apple, core removed and coarsely chopped (not the core, the apple)
1/2 cup grapes
2 Tbl agave nectar
1 cup of water
8 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Put the water, apple, grapes, peanut butter, and agave nectar into a blender in that order.
2. Blend.
3. Add ice and blend again until smooth.

Avocado - Banana

Ingredients: (Serves 4)

1 avocado, halved, pitted, and peeled
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
2 bananas
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 tsp sugar
1 Tbl freshly grated ginger
1 lime squeezed
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. Combine the avocado, orange juice, bananas, yogurt and sugar in a blender and puree until smooth.
2. Add the ginger and blend until well combined
3. Mix in the lime juice and salt.
4. Serve immediately.

We typically think of picnics when celebrating the 4th of July, but did you know that July is National Picnic Month? That's right. For the entire month of July we encourage you to take time out of your normal routine for a good old-fashioned picnic.

To help boost the health benefits of your picnics, here are a few recipes for you to try throughout the month.

1. Light and Fresh Potato Salad

This potato salad cuts out the fattening mayo and replaces it with a light vinaigrette, and it also packs in antioxidant-rich tomatoes and bell peppers.

Ingredients: Canola oil, seasoned rice vinegar, red potatoes, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green bell pepper, orange bell pepper, green onions, ripe olives

2. Grilled Veggie and Hummus Wraps

Take advantage of summer's fresh vegetables and the health benefits of garlic by grilling by preparing these delicious wraps to take along on your picnic.

Ingredients:

• 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices red onion $
  
  
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and quartered $
  
  
• 1 (12-ounce) eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices $
  
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  
  
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  
  
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  
  
• 1 (8-ounce) container plain hummus
  
  
• 4 (1.9-ounce) whole-grain flatbreads (such as Flatout Light)
  
  
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Preparations:

1. Heat a large grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush onion, bell pepper, and eggplant with 1 tablespoon oil. Add onion and bell pepper to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until grill marks appear. Remove from pan. Add eggplant to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until grill marks appear. Remove from pan; coarsely chop vegetables. Combine vegetables, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, parsley, and salt; toss to combine.

2. Spread hummus over each flatbread, leaving a 1/2-inch border around edges. Divide vegetables over each flatbread; top each serving with cheese.

3. Roll up wraps, and cut diagonally in half.

3. Jicama and Watermelon Salad

This delicious and refreshing combo will keep everyone around the picnic basket coming back for more. Guaranteed.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, plus 1 teaspoon zest
  
  
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, plus 1 teaspoon zest
  
  
• 2 tablespoons honey
  
  
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  
  
• Kosher salt
  
  
• 1 jicama, cut into matchstick pieces
  
  
• 4 cups watermelon in 2-inch chunks
  
  
• 1/3 cup roughly torn fresh mint leaves
  
  

Preparations

Whisk together juices, honey, pepper and salt in a large bowl. Add the jicama, watermelon and mint and toss to coat.
 

4. Tortilla Pinwheels

Pinwheels are a quick and easy way to pack a protein punch into your picnic basket.

Ingredients

• Flour tortillas
  
  
• Cream cheese, softened (or substitute other cheese)
  
  
• Kale
  
  
• Ham, thinly sliced (or substitute turkey)
  
  
• Choice of veggies
  
  

Preparations

Spread cheese evenly over each one of the tortillas.  Top with meat, followed by the kale and other veggies.  Tightly roll up and slice into rounds

5. Fruit Kabobs

Create a sweet and healthy twist on traditional kabobs by cutting up a variety of fresh fruit, such as pineapple, apples, peaches, strawberries and bananas.

Keep the chunks around cubic inch or less in size, and stack them on skewers, alternating among the different types of fruit as you go.

To give the kabobs an extra kick, before you head out, heat up some dark chocolate to dip in. This technique works best on warmer days.

Food Safety

When deciding what to pack in your picnic baskets you must consider food safety. Some foods spoil quicker than others, so whatever food options you bring, be sure you're practicing safe handling and storing procedures. To learn more about food safety visit foodsafety.gov.