According to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. government is poised to spend an additional $1 billion on the development of a vaccine for the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu virus. The goal is to have a vaccine ready for October. Billions of dollars have already been spent on the development of bulk ingredients for a vaccine.

The swine flu program is scheduled to coincide with the regular flu vaccine program, and health officials say they may encourage schools as vaccination centers. Officials are hoping to head off a crisis: An estimated one million people have the swine flu virus, and though the disease has only killed 211 people in the U.S. -- a relatively small number compared to the tens of thousands of people who are killed by the regular flu each year -- the fear is that swine flu could become more serious as it circulates. In the event of a pandemic, children especially those with pre-existing health conditions, will be among the first candidates for a vaccine, followed by healthy children.

If and when a swine flu vaccine is available, will you have your child vaccinated?

Here's some good news about kids' eating habits in America: Healthier kid fare such as soup, yogurt and fruit are increasingly becoming more popular at restaurants while orders of less desirable choices like burgers, fries and colas are decreasing, according to recent research from NPD Group, a market research information service.

Researchers think the shift to healthier eating stems in part from changes in kids' taste preferences. Another factor may be that many restaurants, including fast-food outlets such as Burger King and McDonald’s, are offering better-for-you choices such as sliced apples, fat-free chocolate milk, fruit and yogurt.

Whatever the reason, the new trend may prove the old adage that if you give kids healthier choices, they'll eat it. My 8-year-old certainly has an occasional pizza or fries, but since he usually eats a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, it all balances out. And who knows? The more restaurants go healthier for kids, he may even skip the fries and go right for a side of veggies the next time we go out. Well, there’s always the option, anyway!

How often do you let your kids indulge in unhealthier choices like burgers and fries? Have you noticed a change in kids' restaurant menus to healthier food?

Do you go with your gut or follow the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) ratings system when it comes to movies you okay for your grade-schooler? I’m facing this interesting dilemma in my household as the hype builds for the latest Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which is rated PG for some violence, language and mild sensuality.

My son turned 8 recently, and he has been immersed in the Harry Potter series. He’s now just started book 6, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Many of his friends have already read all the books, and have also seen the movies. But I’ve held off on the films for two reasons: One, my child tends to get very upset when he sees violent or emotionally-wrenching scenes (I haven’t shown him Bambi yet because I don’t want to have to deal with the emotional fallout that I know would come once Bambi’s mother is shot). And two, I’ve always gone with mother’s intuition about what’s best for my child rather than follow what other parents were doing.

I don’t always go strictly by the MPAA rating. I nixed The Dark Knight (a movie many of my son’s friends have seen in the theaters or DVD), but I did let him see most of Iron Man (I skipped over the scarier scenes, such as when Tony Stark is held by terrorists or when a group of civilians, including kids, are threatened). I read helpful reviews for parents such as the ones from Carey Bryson, About.com’s guide to kids’ movies and TV. And then I make a decision on a movie-by-movie basis.

So while Sam’s 8-year-old peers are flocking to see the latest Transformers installment and are gearing up for the next Harry Potter movie, we are sticking to the movies like Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. There will be plenty of years ahead when he sees violence and gore on the screen. I’m glad he’s sensitive, and I don’t see any reason to rush things for my young child.

If your kids usually spend a little more time in front of the TV in the summer, you may want to pay closer attention to the commercials they watch. A new study has found that watching food commercials can lead to increased snacking in children and adults.

In one experiment, researchers found that kids aged 7 to 11 who watched a cartoon interspersed with food commercials snacked 45 percent more than kids who watched the same cartoon with commercials that were not food-related. A similar study in adults also found a link between watching food commercials and increased eating.

If you pre-record programs, you can always skip over the ads. But if your kids get the munchies after watching food commercials on live TV, give them healthy choices such as fresh fruit or veggies with hummus. Better yet, get them outdoors for some fresh air and exercise!

Have you ever noticed that your kids get snack cravings when they watch TV? Have you experienced this yourself? What are your solutions to combat TV commercial munchies?