Can You Retrieve @@IDENTITY Using ExecuteNonQuery() In Batch Mode?

Is there a clever way of reteiving the identity of an INSERT query in SQLServer?

The example below is a the first insert (into the "parent" table with an identity column) of a heirarchical multi-table update.

sqlCommand.CommandText = "INSERT INTO Orders VALUES ( Date,  Customer ) ; SELECT  @@IDENTITY AS ID" ;
sqlCommand.ExecuteNonQuery() ;

The ExecuteNonQuery() method returns the number of rows inserted but I need the ID for the INSERT into the "child" table.

My options based on my current understanding appear to be:
a) use command parameters and set ID as an output param
b) use a stored procedure, use command parameters and set ID as an output param
c) issue the SELECT @@IDENTITY as a subsequent seperate command using ExecuteScalar()

Is there a more elegant way to get the ID using SQLServer's "batch" query mechanism and ADO.NET v1.1?
Thanks,