If your children think dessert is the reason to eat a meal or that appetizing means anything advertised on television, then the revised "Taming of the C.A.N.D.Y. Monster" (Book Peddlers, 1999) by Vicki Lansky is the resource for you.

The book, which first was published 20 years ago, offers practical hints and uncomplicated recipes for the pickiest eaters. Try Angel's Delight for less than 200 calories a serving. Take an angel food cake (store-bought or homemade), top with frozen whipped topping (regular or light), and add fresh strawberries for a treat that's low in fat and sugar.

Orange juice vs. cola

While the sweetness of both orange juice and colas comes from the simple sugar fructose, they are not equal nutritionally, according to the Children's Nutrition Research Center. Consider that 1 cup of OJ provides 110 calories and vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, riboflavin, potassium, copper, folate, thiamine, niacin, zinc, magnesium and, in some fortified juices, calcium. A cup of cola has 120 calories and caffeine.

Great grannies

If your grandma -- or someone else's -- is the apple of your eye, you might want to enter her in the World's Greatest Granny contest sponsored by the Washington Apple Commission. In 100 words or less, tell why your granny is unique, and send nominations and nonreturnable photo to Granny Smith, P.O. Box 18, Wenatchee, Wash. 98807, by April 2.

Pub Date: 03/10/99