Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Sex and the Six Year Old
"So today's the last day you'll ever be five. Isn't that wild? You'll be six tomorrow."
"Lucy told me she is sex today. I told her the word was sexy, not sex."
At this point I'm trying to figure out what in the world prompted him to tell me this. I guess "six" is close enough for any male?
It's just their DNA.
"I think Lucy just wants to know she's beautiful. Maybe next time she says it you can tell her sexy is an adult word and she's more than that- tell her she's beautiful to you."
"I will Mamma because she is."
Parenting is on the fly. Kids are always listening and learning from you and how you react to the world. Maybe this conversation is one brick of a thousand to build a wonderful young man.
(Note: I did change the little girl's name. And he truly does adore her.)
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Respect
It was a hard decision to make- football or martial arts this fall. I didn't leave the decision totally up to Luke, our soon to be 6 year old. He changed his mind every time I asked which he preferred. I realized he was conflicted between what he wanted to do and what he thought we wanted him to do. He knows his daddy played football and watches every UGA game filled with passion. Luke barely glances at the T.V. preferring to draw, jump off the couch, and play super hero as we cheer for every great play.
I stepped in and decided I would take the pressure off and push for the activity best suited to him- jiu jitsu, a Thai martial art. Would we love going to Saturday morning flag football games and cheering for our little tribe of 5 & 6 year olds? You bet! But would he love it? Probably not. He would enjoy the environment at times, but it wouldn't build his confidence or strengthen his weaknesses. In fact, I think it would have been a step backwards for him.
He's played three years of organized baseball. The first two were laid back leagues where it was just cute seeing the little ones running around. This season was different- some kids began showing real interest and talent. Coaches began worrying about winning. Parents started pushing for their children to perform. I get all of the above as I was a pretty good player who loved everything about softball. I have a drive to compete against myself and others. Throwing for thirty minutes was fun to me as I pushed myself for improvement...
Luke doesn't give a damn. I never yelled at him for not doing one thing or another on the field, but would praise him when he did something with effort correctly. I'd remind him to continue with the same effort as his "give a damn" faded quickly. It was so frustrating because he could throw, catch, and hit just as well as anyone else on the team. But he'd do it a couple times to pacify me and get back to to goofing.
He doesn't have that traditional sport personality. I had to come to terms with it and it wasn't bad. I just had to swallow it as an athlete myself. For the sake of allowing my son to be himself, I have to acknowledge and respect his unique qualities.
We are three weeks into jiu jitsu and he is loving it. He gets to be around kids as he learns discipline. Instead of walking away deflated from practices, he's got a little strut to his step. I learn something from him every single day and I respect my 6 year old little man.
I stepped in and decided I would take the pressure off and push for the activity best suited to him- jiu jitsu, a Thai martial art. Would we love going to Saturday morning flag football games and cheering for our little tribe of 5 & 6 year olds? You bet! But would he love it? Probably not. He would enjoy the environment at times, but it wouldn't build his confidence or strengthen his weaknesses. In fact, I think it would have been a step backwards for him.
He's played three years of organized baseball. The first two were laid back leagues where it was just cute seeing the little ones running around. This season was different- some kids began showing real interest and talent. Coaches began worrying about winning. Parents started pushing for their children to perform. I get all of the above as I was a pretty good player who loved everything about softball. I have a drive to compete against myself and others. Throwing for thirty minutes was fun to me as I pushed myself for improvement...
Luke doesn't give a damn. I never yelled at him for not doing one thing or another on the field, but would praise him when he did something with effort correctly. I'd remind him to continue with the same effort as his "give a damn" faded quickly. It was so frustrating because he could throw, catch, and hit just as well as anyone else on the team. But he'd do it a couple times to pacify me and get back to to goofing.
He doesn't have that traditional sport personality. I had to come to terms with it and it wasn't bad. I just had to swallow it as an athlete myself. For the sake of allowing my son to be himself, I have to acknowledge and respect his unique qualities.
We are three weeks into jiu jitsu and he is loving it. He gets to be around kids as he learns discipline. Instead of walking away deflated from practices, he's got a little strut to his step. I learn something from him every single day and I respect my 6 year old little man.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Go Fishing and Make Memories
Fishing was one of my favorite things to do as a child. It wasn't just because of the fishing, the whole event was special. I was outdoors with my parents with little distraction other than what nature provided.
This time of year is classic fishing weather. Plan to go either early morning before it gets too hot or go late afternoon and fish into the cooler hours. Pack a picnic meal, chairs, and maybe a frisbee too. Leave the Gameboy DS at home and unplug for uninterrupted family time.
This short article provides some practical advice for the making the fishing as successful as possible.
http://www.weather.com/sports-rec/fishing/tips-fishing-kids-20120726
Don't keep putting days like this off- your child is here now. Have fun!
This time of year is classic fishing weather. Plan to go either early morning before it gets too hot or go late afternoon and fish into the cooler hours. Pack a picnic meal, chairs, and maybe a frisbee too. Leave the Gameboy DS at home and unplug for uninterrupted family time.
This short article provides some practical advice for the making the fishing as successful as possible.
http://www.weather.com/sports-rec/fishing/tips-fishing-kids-20120726
Don't keep putting days like this off- your child is here now. Have fun!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Building With Nature
As our summer vacation comes to a close, the kid has become slightly bored with his arsenal of toys. Swimming wasn't an option today as the weather wasn't bad, but timing between looming dark clouds would have been a gamble. What's worse than getting your swim suits on and getting all the gear packed and the bottom falling out?
So, after a bit of Xbox and and him asking me to play Legos again, I knew I needed a distraction. I honestly can only handle Ninja Turtle and City Legos once a day. And I only do it then out of guilt. Bad mom.
The solution was a compromise of our interests. He likes building and I like doing anything outside. We set off on a hunt for building supplies on the edge of the woods. I told him he could build anything he wanted with what he found. He took off on the blaze of a12 volt powered four wheeler. I meandered behind to remind him to not crash into things.
We returned home from our journey with a grocery bag of dirty sticks, long blades of grass, and a few sprigs of bamboo he snatched from my aunt's garden unbeknownst to me. Sorry Aunt Judy.
It seems kids will let you think for them as long as you allow it. I try not to allow it. For example, he wanted to build a house first. I said okay and he could get started. But he didn't want to actually think it through, he wanted me to do it. Instead of doing it for him, I asked leading questions so he could figure it out himself. And because he created something himself he learned from the process. He gained a little critical thinking skill while also gaining a little self confidence. Real self confidence from real accomplishment.
Take a look at his cabin and his teepee. Pretty cool for a five year old.
Oh, and he learned how to whittle a stick.
So, after a bit of Xbox and and him asking me to play Legos again, I knew I needed a distraction. I honestly can only handle Ninja Turtle and City Legos once a day. And I only do it then out of guilt. Bad mom.
The solution was a compromise of our interests. He likes building and I like doing anything outside. We set off on a hunt for building supplies on the edge of the woods. I told him he could build anything he wanted with what he found. He took off on the blaze of a12 volt powered four wheeler. I meandered behind to remind him to not crash into things.
We returned home from our journey with a grocery bag of dirty sticks, long blades of grass, and a few sprigs of bamboo he snatched from my aunt's garden unbeknownst to me. Sorry Aunt Judy.
It seems kids will let you think for them as long as you allow it. I try not to allow it. For example, he wanted to build a house first. I said okay and he could get started. But he didn't want to actually think it through, he wanted me to do it. Instead of doing it for him, I asked leading questions so he could figure it out himself. And because he created something himself he learned from the process. He gained a little critical thinking skill while also gaining a little self confidence. Real self confidence from real accomplishment.
Take a look at his cabin and his teepee. Pretty cool for a five year old.
Oh, and he learned how to whittle a stick.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Drop the Zero Calories, Get With the Hero Calories
I was on the roadthis weekend, which means I visited a place I rarely see in person- aconvenience store. We needed gasolineand were thirsty, so I did what I must. I walked in and began browsing the drink coolers. How in the world are there so many optionsfor such a simple need? There are sodas,diet sodas, teas, energy formulas, flavored milks, coffee beverages, sportsdrinks, plain water, and specialty waters.
I gravitated towardsthe water section and reached for a new bottle I'd not seen before, FruitWater. It sounded like it might be agood treat for my son, something we'd meet in the middle on. I did the label check to see what fruit juicewas used and !GASP! It contains no juiceat all. Zero. None. Nada.
So, I'm wonderingwhy the heck are they calling it Fruit Water? I continue to read the label and see it has zero calories. Okay, that might be good. But my interest quickly goes away once I seethat it has food colorings Red 40 and Blue 1. See, we still had two more hours of driving and there was no way I wasgoing to suffer through a "food dye episode" trapped in the car withthe kid. Don't believe it affectsbehavior? I've experimented on the boyand he's not cute when he gets a big dose of this stuff. You're welcome to try it on him too. You just can't bring him back until thecrying mixed with hyperactive outbursts are over.
Okay, so I really doknow why they named it Fruit Water. Sodo you. It sounds like a responsiblechoice. It appeals to the side of you thatwants something that appears to be healthy. Many people still judge a book by it's cover. It's not smart, but they trust theimage. "Everyone knows soda is badfor you, but this is water and fruit guys! I'm a health nut here!"
So, let me breakdown what red flags one should look for and at least consider when choosing adrink you plan to have on a regular basis.
*Zero Calories: If it has lots of flavor and zing, then restassured it has artificial sweeteners in it.
Artificial sweeteners are lab madechemical mixtures even if they contain something
that was once naturally sweet. There is a lot, and I mean a lot of evidencethat regular
consumption of these sweeteners is justas bad, if not worse for you than plain old sugar. I tend to trust nature over profit driven scientists.
Read some information for yourself onthis topic by following the links below.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/04/saccharin-aspartame-dangers.aspx
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/artificial-sweeteners-milk
*BraggingLabel: If the label is loud with lots ofbragging about what they've put into the product,
I'msuspicious. What are they trying to makeup for or hide? What bandwagon are
they jumping on? Yeah, not much scientific data here. I'm just skeptical. Honest people and products tend to be morehumble in my opinion.
*BrightColored: If the drink is eye catchingcolorful, you can bet the bank it has food coloring in it.
Food dyes may belinked to both short term and long term health problems. Remember, ifyou'd like to see a reaction to Red 40 in person, you may borrow my
son and give hima Kool Aid pouch.
Research foryourself, seriously, with the following to get you started.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/01/16/new-fear-about-food-dyes/
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/02/23/synthetic-food-dyes-raising-health-concerns-among-doctors-parents/
Maybe, you'rewondering what's the alternative? Createyour own drink with natural ingredients! If you like teas, brew it at home. If you're a water fan you can jazz it up with the Pinterest worthy fruitinfusing trend. If you like sodas, tryadding flavors to plain seltzer water. My favorite is seltzer with a lime squeezed in it. It's so simple and refreshing.
If you're not aDIYer, or just need something on hand, there are some better options outthere. Check out these two I found. Both can be ordered through Amazon.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese
It's been one heck of a summer! So much so, I haven't posted in ages. All good things, but slow go and frustrating. Maybe in a later post I will share. Gluten free macaroni and cheese takes priority at this time- as it should.
I haven't made mac and cheese since I went GF 1 1/2 years ago. At one time it was a weekly staple twice a week. Maybe one reason I was chubby but lovable LOL.
Tonight was electric in our households the boys realized what was coming. It did not disappoint. Not a bit.
Here's what you need and how:
Gluten free elbow noodles cooked (1 pkg)
1/2 standard block mozzarella cheese cubed
1/2 cup Alfredo sauce
2 tbs butter (I like Kerrygold)
1-2 tsp mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine ingredients in sauce pan over low heat. Stir as it all combines and cheese melts. Bam! Good stuff.
I haven't made mac and cheese since I went GF 1 1/2 years ago. At one time it was a weekly staple twice a week. Maybe one reason I was chubby but lovable LOL.
Tonight was electric in our households the boys realized what was coming. It did not disappoint. Not a bit.
Here's what you need and how:
Gluten free elbow noodles cooked (1 pkg)
1/2 standard block mozzarella cheese cubed
1/2 cup Alfredo sauce
2 tbs butter (I like Kerrygold)
1-2 tsp mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine ingredients in sauce pan over low heat. Stir as it all combines and cheese melts. Bam! Good stuff.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Ten Minutes
Ten minutes of magic just happened here. I walked outside to see what the racket was. The boy and the dad were throwing a super bouncy ball on the roof and chasing after it. Pure joy was beaming from little guy's face. Giggling as he raced his dad for the ball.
I joined in but after a couple minutes the game evolved. A bat began swooping nearby for mosquitoes and so began phase two. We began tracking the bat and when it got close we'd toss the ball in his path. The bat of course went for the ball every time! Luke was thrilled to be interacting with a wild animal he's only seen in books.
It's those little unplanned things that make up a childhood. Peace y'all.
I joined in but after a couple minutes the game evolved. A bat began swooping nearby for mosquitoes and so began phase two. We began tracking the bat and when it got close we'd toss the ball in his path. The bat of course went for the ball every time! Luke was thrilled to be interacting with a wild animal he's only seen in books.
It's those little unplanned things that make up a childhood. Peace y'all.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
BBQ Chicken Legs
Tonight I'm trying something new for me. Nothing exotic- I just don't cook a lot of chicken and rarely have I made chicken legs. However, these organic legs were on sale so I'm giving it a go.
First I'm browning them in a skillet with butter. Next they go in a very hot oven at 500 degrees for a about five minutes. Then I'm basting with BBQ sauce and broiling almost at the highest setting the remainder of time. I'm estimating it will take about 15 more minutes.
I found the recipe on Foodnetwork.com and it had a 5 star rating. I'm about 7 minutes into the broiling part and my goodness look at that second picture! Looking great!
Update: you must make these. Taste is great and man look at the finished product!
First I'm browning them in a skillet with butter. Next they go in a very hot oven at 500 degrees for a about five minutes. Then I'm basting with BBQ sauce and broiling almost at the highest setting the remainder of time. I'm estimating it will take about 15 more minutes.
I found the recipe on Foodnetwork.com and it had a 5 star rating. I'm about 7 minutes into the broiling part and my goodness look at that second picture! Looking great!
Update: you must make these. Taste is great and man look at the finished product!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Pretend Play
As we speak, Luke and I are outside playing restraunt with his Little Tikes grill set. I'm obviously half way playing (bad mom) as I write this.
I am the customer. He is the chef. What a great opportunity to learn about making healthy food choices! We've done this a lot, but I never really thought much of it. I'm just a teacher at heart and usually weave lessons into our play time.
I asked him for a menu of his healthier choices. He obliged by drawing a full stay of weird combinations five year olds think of:
Veggie pizza with a fried egg
Butternut squash with a hamburger patty
Hot tea, water, or coffee to drink
Weird, but healthy. He even offers me a gluten free cookie. Sweet boy knows Mommy can't have gluten.
So maybe next time you're playing together, throw a lesson in with it. Kids learn my modeling behaviors. Its important they learn the right ones.
I am the customer. He is the chef. What a great opportunity to learn about making healthy food choices! We've done this a lot, but I never really thought much of it. I'm just a teacher at heart and usually weave lessons into our play time.
I asked him for a menu of his healthier choices. He obliged by drawing a full stay of weird combinations five year olds think of:
Veggie pizza with a fried egg
Butternut squash with a hamburger patty
Hot tea, water, or coffee to drink
Weird, but healthy. He even offers me a gluten free cookie. Sweet boy knows Mommy can't have gluten.
So maybe next time you're playing together, throw a lesson in with it. Kids learn my modeling behaviors. Its important they learn the right ones.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
A Crappie Mother's Day
This has truly been a wonderful day of relaxation. My sweet boys (husband and son) made me an omelet with enough ham and peppered bacon to feed the state of Georgia to start things off. This was followed by a huge cup of coffee laced with butter and creamer. We did absolutely nothing for a couple hours before heading to my aunt's lake for a picnic lunch and fishing.
We spent hours just eating, sipping wine, and pulling crappie out of the water. Crappie are fish by the way. I'm a country girl (although with a mix of hippie) so I don't know if that's common knowledge.
Maybe. But then again, it bewilders me people don't eat biscuits all over the US.
Crappie probably is a southern name for these particular fish. I'm having a hard time picturing a man in Connecticut saying , "Let's go catch some crappie!"
Yeah, you pronounce it just like you had a crappy day.
I, however, didn't have a crappy day. I hope yours was wonderful too.
We spent hours just eating, sipping wine, and pulling crappie out of the water. Crappie are fish by the way. I'm a country girl (although with a mix of hippie) so I don't know if that's common knowledge.
Maybe. But then again, it bewilders me people don't eat biscuits all over the US.
Crappie probably is a southern name for these particular fish. I'm having a hard time picturing a man in Connecticut saying , "Let's go catch some crappie!"
Yeah, you pronounce it just like you had a crappy day.
I, however, didn't have a crappy day. I hope yours was wonderful too.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Homemade Bath Products
It all started with a little "Secret". For years I've heard rumors, as maybe you have, that commercial body deodorants are full of nasty chemicals. Finally, a couple weeks ago I looked at the ingredients list. Well hell. I didn't know what any of it was. And still I do not.
Honestly, that's enough for me to act on. I don't like not knowing what I'm getting in the products I buy and use. So what began with cleaner eating has now gushed over to my bathroom. I'm experimenting with more natural, simple bath and body products.
Your skin is the largest body organ. It's designed to protect your innards (LOL) by keeping bad things out. Think radiation from the sun...it also allows good things to enter. Maybe enough sunshine to produce Vitamin D or minerals from sea water. Unfortunately it seems I've been assaulting my system with a bazillion chemicals, many considered carcinogens. Whatever sits on the skin soaks in. Not good in many instances.
Yeah, I'm thinking that's over and done with for me and soon for my family. Right now I'm experimenting with homemade deodorant, the no shampoo method of hair washing, and a batch of freshly made toothpaste.
I truly thought I'd end up being the the stinky, greasy chick and run back to my store bought products quickly. I'm a week into using my own deodorant and shunning shampoo. It seems I'm socially acceptable still on the cleanliness scale. Tonight was my first use of homemade toothpaste and my mouth is dancing as we speak.
I'm looking forward to tinkering with my recipes and soon will introduce them to my familia.
Why? I trust myself and my motives over a corporation any day. My interest is my family's well being and not profit. Plus, it's fun! Well, it is to me.
Honestly, that's enough for me to act on. I don't like not knowing what I'm getting in the products I buy and use. So what began with cleaner eating has now gushed over to my bathroom. I'm experimenting with more natural, simple bath and body products.
Your skin is the largest body organ. It's designed to protect your innards (LOL) by keeping bad things out. Think radiation from the sun...it also allows good things to enter. Maybe enough sunshine to produce Vitamin D or minerals from sea water. Unfortunately it seems I've been assaulting my system with a bazillion chemicals, many considered carcinogens. Whatever sits on the skin soaks in. Not good in many instances.
Yeah, I'm thinking that's over and done with for me and soon for my family. Right now I'm experimenting with homemade deodorant, the no shampoo method of hair washing, and a batch of freshly made toothpaste.
I truly thought I'd end up being the the stinky, greasy chick and run back to my store bought products quickly. I'm a week into using my own deodorant and shunning shampoo. It seems I'm socially acceptable still on the cleanliness scale. Tonight was my first use of homemade toothpaste and my mouth is dancing as we speak.
I'm looking forward to tinkering with my recipes and soon will introduce them to my familia.
Why? I trust myself and my motives over a corporation any day. My interest is my family's well being and not profit. Plus, it's fun! Well, it is to me.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Don't Blow It
Well, I just blew it and allowed temporary gratification get the better of me. Four chocolate chip cookies later and I sit here dreading the possible side effects.
GLUTEN BOMB INCOMING!
I'm hoping the gluten gods will see I'm remorseful and give me a break this time. Doh! As Homer Simpson would say.
Prevent this kind of mishap by being prepared with easy healthier for you options and by not skipping meals. Oh and not allowing yourself to wallow in a bad mood helps too- I'm guilty of all three presently.
So, in hindsight I shouldn't have skipped dinner or at the very least I should have had a plan for what I'd eat later. I could have had a Lara Bar, some corn chips with salsa, even a whole bar of dark chocolate would have been better. My knees ache for days after gluten. My skin breaks out. My stomach is a mess. I get lethargic and blah. Just a few of the fun things that happen.
Bad mood fix? Oh with my 20/20 hindsight I see I should have moved around and done something enjoyable. Instead I chose to lay around and think about feeling upset. I wallowed in it like a pig. Oink.
OK. I made an error and have thought of solutions for future temptation. Let's see if I can apply it next time. Acknowledge and move on.
Later y'all-
GLUTEN BOMB INCOMING!
I'm hoping the gluten gods will see I'm remorseful and give me a break this time. Doh! As Homer Simpson would say.
Prevent this kind of mishap by being prepared with easy healthier for you options and by not skipping meals. Oh and not allowing yourself to wallow in a bad mood helps too- I'm guilty of all three presently.
So, in hindsight I shouldn't have skipped dinner or at the very least I should have had a plan for what I'd eat later. I could have had a Lara Bar, some corn chips with salsa, even a whole bar of dark chocolate would have been better. My knees ache for days after gluten. My skin breaks out. My stomach is a mess. I get lethargic and blah. Just a few of the fun things that happen.
Bad mood fix? Oh with my 20/20 hindsight I see I should have moved around and done something enjoyable. Instead I chose to lay around and think about feeling upset. I wallowed in it like a pig. Oink.
OK. I made an error and have thought of solutions for future temptation. Let's see if I can apply it next time. Acknowledge and move on.
Later y'all-
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Shaping His Future
No pressure, but every choice I make, every day gently shapes the future reality of my son. Every time I'm too distracted to play, too tired to make a proper meal, lose my cool to little boy antics, I set an example. Thankfully, the same is true when I am at my best.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
BuhBuh TV
We did it. We cut the cord to cable/satellite television. For an entire month we have survived without the news telling us we live in the most horrible times, without commercials telling us what snack crackers need to be in our pantry, and even without a play by play of our beloved Atlanta Braves. The baseball games are the only part I'm not kidding about. We kinda miss that, but not enough to shell out $85 a month.
We do use the Internet for streaming some content, but we choose what enters our household! No more intruding blah blah blah about the trendy political scandals! Hooray!!! No more toy ads enticing Luke to want more and more! Hooray!!! No more flashing Big Macs in my face to make me drool! Hip Hip Hooray!!!
As I sit here alone on a rare occasion, I don't hear anything but the frogs and a train. It's calm. I'm calm. And I'm $85 richer every month.
We do use the Internet for streaming some content, but we choose what enters our household! No more intruding blah blah blah about the trendy political scandals! Hooray!!! No more toy ads enticing Luke to want more and more! Hooray!!! No more flashing Big Macs in my face to make me drool! Hip Hip Hooray!!!
As I sit here alone on a rare occasion, I don't hear anything but the frogs and a train. It's calm. I'm calm. And I'm $85 richer every month.
Monday, April 22, 2013
A Breakfast Solution On The Go
I'm fortunate to work four days a week, although it seems to make Tuesday through Friday more hectic working longer hours. One of my biggest stumbling blocks in eating well is breakfast. On a regular basis I tote three eggs to work that I nuke once there. It gets boring though. Plus I've heard over eating one thing can lead to sensitivities. I don't know.
So today before I made the grocery run, I pondered how to shake things up this week. I came across some meatball recipes and went from there. I ended up with meatballs with some veggies hidden inside. I'm happy and think you and your family will like them as well.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 package no preservatives sausage
Diced onion to taste
Two handfuls of dry slaw mix
Preheat oven to 375
I mashed and smashed all ingredients by hand. Make sure everything seems equally distributed.
I rolled the mixture into balls about the size of golfballs.
I placed them in the oven for 15 minutes and then broiled them on low for maybe 3-4 minutes. Perfectly browned.
I sampled one and bagged the rest for the fridge. One less thing to stress about!
So today before I made the grocery run, I pondered how to shake things up this week. I came across some meatball recipes and went from there. I ended up with meatballs with some veggies hidden inside. I'm happy and think you and your family will like them as well.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 package no preservatives sausage
Diced onion to taste
Two handfuls of dry slaw mix
Preheat oven to 375
I mashed and smashed all ingredients by hand. Make sure everything seems equally distributed.
I rolled the mixture into balls about the size of golfballs.
I placed them in the oven for 15 minutes and then broiled them on low for maybe 3-4 minutes. Perfectly browned.
I sampled one and bagged the rest for the fridge. One less thing to stress about!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Appreciative Child
Ok, so I intentionally try to not boast about how awesome of a little guy my son is. Of course I think he's great because he's my little biological, psychological project LOL. But I also am aware that he is special to me because he is mine. You know those parents who go on and on about how special baby girl is because she's counting to 100 at age 3? Yeah, impressive but annoying.
So, your attention please! I am proud of Luke for being genuinely appreciative of things we give and do for him much of the time. Not all the time, but most of the time. Not bad for a five year old.
We have intentionally not given him everything he asks for. He's an only child and the youngest grandchild by 11 years. I am hellbent on him being NOT being spoiled by material things. It's not easy because we can afford to lavish him with more things and the instinct of parenting is to make your child happy. But we are looking to his future. Learning the meaning of no, making choices, and earning things is what will bring peace to him as a man. That $1 gadget in the checkout lane is momentary.
He keeps a mental tally of things he really wants. We give him opportunities to earn extra money to save for his list. After he's saved a chunk of cash we ask if he'd like to buy something. He's learned to prioritize in a 5 year old way and is thrilled once he gets his prize.
Today I happened upon a chance to buy a couple sets of Monster Legos used at a great price. I immediately set the sale up and met the lady twenty minutes away. Why? Because he's been patiently waiting for them since Christmas. He got one set from Santa and plays with it daily. I knew he would be genuinely thankful.
He hugged me so tightly this evening and has told me at least ten times how nice it was of me to do that for him. He makes my heart smile. Such a great little man.
Does he have a lot of toys? Yeah, we buy him toys and treats, but he has things he actually plays with. This is in line with our values and hope it serves him as well.'
So, your attention please! I am proud of Luke for being genuinely appreciative of things we give and do for him much of the time. Not all the time, but most of the time. Not bad for a five year old.
We have intentionally not given him everything he asks for. He's an only child and the youngest grandchild by 11 years. I am hellbent on him being NOT being spoiled by material things. It's not easy because we can afford to lavish him with more things and the instinct of parenting is to make your child happy. But we are looking to his future. Learning the meaning of no, making choices, and earning things is what will bring peace to him as a man. That $1 gadget in the checkout lane is momentary.
He keeps a mental tally of things he really wants. We give him opportunities to earn extra money to save for his list. After he's saved a chunk of cash we ask if he'd like to buy something. He's learned to prioritize in a 5 year old way and is thrilled once he gets his prize.
Today I happened upon a chance to buy a couple sets of Monster Legos used at a great price. I immediately set the sale up and met the lady twenty minutes away. Why? Because he's been patiently waiting for them since Christmas. He got one set from Santa and plays with it daily. I knew he would be genuinely thankful.
He hugged me so tightly this evening and has told me at least ten times how nice it was of me to do that for him. He makes my heart smile. Such a great little man.
Does he have a lot of toys? Yeah, we buy him toys and treats, but he has things he actually plays with. This is in line with our values and hope it serves him as well.'
Thursday, April 11, 2013
WHY?
Short post here. Today I made my first ever trip to Trader Joe's because I was in Atlanta for the day. I'd heard the buzz about their great prices on healthier foods (whatever your idea about that may be).
I saw quite a few options that I liked- organic vegetables and fruits, uncured bacon, raw yogurt, etc. I was very impressed with the prices. Very little difference between price of conventional products and the special products. The grass fed beef hotdogs I bought were $4.99! A bag of organic avacados were $3.50. That's a great value.
As I was looking through the frozen foods I spotted pizzas. They are made in Italy. You know, one of a zillion other places that don't mess with wheat and over process everything. I got to wondering- maybe I could eat one of these once in a blue moon and it wouldn't harm me like the others I use to buy here. I flipped the package over and the short list of ingredients about knocked me over! There's not a essay size list of foreign and weird things. Take a look at the picture below and compare to a Tombstone pizza in your local market. Why?
I saw quite a few options that I liked- organic vegetables and fruits, uncured bacon, raw yogurt, etc. I was very impressed with the prices. Very little difference between price of conventional products and the special products. The grass fed beef hotdogs I bought were $4.99! A bag of organic avacados were $3.50. That's a great value.
As I was looking through the frozen foods I spotted pizzas. They are made in Italy. You know, one of a zillion other places that don't mess with wheat and over process everything. I got to wondering- maybe I could eat one of these once in a blue moon and it wouldn't harm me like the others I use to buy here. I flipped the package over and the short list of ingredients about knocked me over! There's not a essay size list of foreign and weird things. Take a look at the picture below and compare to a Tombstone pizza in your local market. Why?
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Transitioning Your Family's Way of Eating
Let's say you've resolved that you and your family are going to eat better. You've decided that fresh, unprocessed foods will be the norm rather than the exception.
What's step 1? Many would suggest opening the pantry door and throwing all the junk away- I don't think that's such a great idea unless you are prepared for the battle of your life.
In many situations, the mother is the instigator of change. We have so much influence on what happens in our household, but never mistaken it for power. Power is for dictators. We want our families to see the new way of eating as a choice they are making with you.
My advice, especially with kids, is to slowly transition from Point A, to Point B, to Point C, and so on until you are where you wish to be. Children (and husbands) tend to revolt if they are suddenly pushed into something without input. I might have a slight tendency of pushing back if pushed too strongly as well. Ask anyone.
So if your current eating style is the Standard American Diet...Poptart and juice for breakfast, cold cut sandwich and Doritos for lunch, and a couple of frozen pizzas for dinner...please don't think your family is going to quietly accept asparagus and organic bacon as the new breakfast of champions.
Go ahead and finish the junk in your fridge and pantry. However, begin talking about nutrition and the value of food from nature. It may seem silly at first to talk about vitamins found in fruits and vegetables to a three year old as you shop or fix a snack, but it works. You are influencing them slowly. It builds a base for why a change is coming. Openly talk about the coming changes and show excitement. Get them prepared for a change.
The next time you go grocery shopping, decide what less healthy household items you are going to trade in for real food items. Just pick one or two. For example, if you normally buy fruit gummies for Junior, negotiate a trade with him. Tell him/her that you are no longer buying gummies to keep in the house but he/she can pick any fruit to replace it. Make it theirs. You are making a parent decision here, but allowing them to assist in the process. It alleviates some of the resistance.
Think about it. In two months, you could eradicate the majority of the processed food from your home. Slowly and steadily. But please don't mistakenly replace one piece of junk for an advertised "healthier" version. For example, regular soda for diet soda. That's just wheel spinning.
Perfection isn't your aim at this time. Well really it never is. Improvement and overall health value. Yes, I bought Luke Spaghetti O's per his request last week. Yesterday I warmed them up for his lunch. He was so excited! He ate about five bites. The end. I have to admit, I was pretty smug about it. I'm tweaking his taste buds and winning.
Best of luck in your transition. Key points to remember are casually educating your family as you go, slow but real changes, and commitment to the process. Your family deserves the best in life and health!
What's step 1? Many would suggest opening the pantry door and throwing all the junk away- I don't think that's such a great idea unless you are prepared for the battle of your life.
In many situations, the mother is the instigator of change. We have so much influence on what happens in our household, but never mistaken it for power. Power is for dictators. We want our families to see the new way of eating as a choice they are making with you.
My advice, especially with kids, is to slowly transition from Point A, to Point B, to Point C, and so on until you are where you wish to be. Children (and husbands) tend to revolt if they are suddenly pushed into something without input. I might have a slight tendency of pushing back if pushed too strongly as well. Ask anyone.
So if your current eating style is the Standard American Diet...Poptart and juice for breakfast, cold cut sandwich and Doritos for lunch, and a couple of frozen pizzas for dinner...please don't think your family is going to quietly accept asparagus and organic bacon as the new breakfast of champions.
Go ahead and finish the junk in your fridge and pantry. However, begin talking about nutrition and the value of food from nature. It may seem silly at first to talk about vitamins found in fruits and vegetables to a three year old as you shop or fix a snack, but it works. You are influencing them slowly. It builds a base for why a change is coming. Openly talk about the coming changes and show excitement. Get them prepared for a change.
The next time you go grocery shopping, decide what less healthy household items you are going to trade in for real food items. Just pick one or two. For example, if you normally buy fruit gummies for Junior, negotiate a trade with him. Tell him/her that you are no longer buying gummies to keep in the house but he/she can pick any fruit to replace it. Make it theirs. You are making a parent decision here, but allowing them to assist in the process. It alleviates some of the resistance.
Think about it. In two months, you could eradicate the majority of the processed food from your home. Slowly and steadily. But please don't mistakenly replace one piece of junk for an advertised "healthier" version. For example, regular soda for diet soda. That's just wheel spinning.
Perfection isn't your aim at this time. Well really it never is. Improvement and overall health value. Yes, I bought Luke Spaghetti O's per his request last week. Yesterday I warmed them up for his lunch. He was so excited! He ate about five bites. The end. I have to admit, I was pretty smug about it. I'm tweaking his taste buds and winning.
Best of luck in your transition. Key points to remember are casually educating your family as you go, slow but real changes, and commitment to the process. Your family deserves the best in life and health!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Food Deserts and a Sensible Solution
http://www.facebook.com/TheHealthyHappyChildProject/posts/460696480672616
Eating, outside the box
Cooking a healthy, home cooked meal in our world is the ultimate expression of family love these days. It requires two precious things hard to come by: time and attention. I use to think whipping up one of those frozen pasta meals and adding chicken was healthy. Then I learned better.
Flip that package of Stoufer's over and take a peek at the paragraph of ingredients- I bet you only know what 20% of them are. I'm with ya. We don't know what the other 80% are because they aren't food; they are products or chemical concoctions. As I've said somewhere else on this blog, your body doesn't necessarily recognize these things as food because, well, they're not. It's not sure what to do with these processed versions because its not what the body expects. The RDAs of vitamins and minerals look good, but all that stuff has been artificially put back in. It's not in natural forms or ratios.
I think one of our greatest downfalls as modern humans is the belief we might be wiser than nature. Now, I am in awe of our abilities to learn, invent, and modify. We are highly intelligent beings, but are we humble enough to use these things only where appropriate? I don't know. Sucking out all the natural vitamins and enzymes from a piece of fruit, processing the fruit, molding it back together with man made nutrients seems arrogant. (Pointing finger at myself at this moment) And how dumb to believe that fat free milk is healthier than its purer full fat form? I personally feel nature rules. The closer it is to how it came from its source, the healthier it is. I am sure there are exceptions, but a general rule in my book.
Finally, the point of this commentary is this experiment: Pick a day and feed your family three meals and snacks without opening a box or container. Three meals made purely from real foods. Spices and maybe condiments are an exception made up to you. If this feels overwhelming, stop and think. Meats, fresh vegetables, and fruits are abundant. You're just not use to cooking that way. You can do it and it doesn't need to be elaborate.
Maybe one meal is enough of a challenge at first. Fine. It's a step in a healthier direction nonetheless.
Best of luck y'all.
Flip that package of Stoufer's over and take a peek at the paragraph of ingredients- I bet you only know what 20% of them are. I'm with ya. We don't know what the other 80% are because they aren't food; they are products or chemical concoctions. As I've said somewhere else on this blog, your body doesn't necessarily recognize these things as food because, well, they're not. It's not sure what to do with these processed versions because its not what the body expects. The RDAs of vitamins and minerals look good, but all that stuff has been artificially put back in. It's not in natural forms or ratios.
I think one of our greatest downfalls as modern humans is the belief we might be wiser than nature. Now, I am in awe of our abilities to learn, invent, and modify. We are highly intelligent beings, but are we humble enough to use these things only where appropriate? I don't know. Sucking out all the natural vitamins and enzymes from a piece of fruit, processing the fruit, molding it back together with man made nutrients seems arrogant. (Pointing finger at myself at this moment) And how dumb to believe that fat free milk is healthier than its purer full fat form? I personally feel nature rules. The closer it is to how it came from its source, the healthier it is. I am sure there are exceptions, but a general rule in my book.
Finally, the point of this commentary is this experiment: Pick a day and feed your family three meals and snacks without opening a box or container. Three meals made purely from real foods. Spices and maybe condiments are an exception made up to you. If this feels overwhelming, stop and think. Meats, fresh vegetables, and fruits are abundant. You're just not use to cooking that way. You can do it and it doesn't need to be elaborate.
Maybe one meal is enough of a challenge at first. Fine. It's a step in a healthier direction nonetheless.
Best of luck y'all.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Busy Meals and Saving Money
I wanted so badly to call Dominos tonight. A hot Gluten free Hawaiian pizza would have hit the spot and man, I'm just tired. I resisted. I want to save money and eat a bit healthier tonight. Check back tomorrow for which urge is stronger then.
I looked in our pantry and the fridge. The hamburgers I'd laid out weren't thawed and I don't like the texture of burger done in the microwave. I almost made that call to Dominos- but then I said every meal doesn't have to be awesome! Just eat.
Well, it was awesome...quick meal idea loaded with awesomeness...
Ham Alfredo Pasta
Here's the simple directions:
Ham
GF pasta
Alfredo sauce
A veggie for a side
I quick cooked a ham steak in a skillet as my pasta boiled. Meanwhile I let little guy pick a vegetable. It's always brussel sprouts and then zapped in the microwave. Toss the chopped ham, sauce, and pasta together. Boom. Dinner.
Not ideal. But not too shabby.
Do your best y'all. Later.
I looked in our pantry and the fridge. The hamburgers I'd laid out weren't thawed and I don't like the texture of burger done in the microwave. I almost made that call to Dominos- but then I said every meal doesn't have to be awesome! Just eat.
Well, it was awesome...quick meal idea loaded with awesomeness...
Ham Alfredo Pasta
Here's the simple directions:
Ham
GF pasta
Alfredo sauce
A veggie for a side
I quick cooked a ham steak in a skillet as my pasta boiled. Meanwhile I let little guy pick a vegetable. It's always brussel sprouts and then zapped in the microwave. Toss the chopped ham, sauce, and pasta together. Boom. Dinner.
Not ideal. But not too shabby.
Do your best y'all. Later.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Spring Into Playing...Outside
There's nothing like the first couple of days when the weather begins to turn in the right direction. Your spirits are lifted and you swear you'll never take another sunny day for granted. Embrace that enthusiasm by playing this cool little game with your kids. After a time or two, they'll easily be able to play SKULLIES on their own and with friends.
Watch this neat video for the simple rules...
Watch this neat video for the simple rules...
Have fun!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Yoga for Yours
Could your children benefit from practicing yoga at home?
I've tinkered with yoga myself. I've yet to attend a formal class, but have a book of poses and a DVD to follow. Every now and then I get an urge to do it- usually when I'm feeling tense or stressed. It seems to cure me every time.
Thanks to us parents and our culture, kids live a pretty stressful life these days too. In every facet of school there's pressure to perform in testing. I even have to administer a state test to my P.E. students- Good Grief. (Note: I understand why it's required, but it doesn't really encourage the concept of fitness through fun.)
Then in order to better our kids and give them opportunity to play, we drive them to an assortment of practices four days a week. We encourage them to pick one sport or activity at age 7 to focus on earning a scholarship. But do your homework as we carpool to the soccer tournament because you've gotta keep your grades up. Pressure. Pressure. Pressure.
All these things are done by us with the best of intentions. We love them and want for them to be successful. But maybe we are putting too much on them. Maybe time spent at home exploring a variety of activities in a relaxed environment two nights a week would be better than private lessons with a pitching coach.
Yoga is known for its calming, relaxing, focus enhancing effects. My son is five and tends to be high strung. He's a natural worrier with a tender heart. I believe he might benefit from a couple informal home yoga sessions per week.
Perhaps your family too could use a few minutes to just be. Ten minutes of simple poses just might make a world of difference!
Later y'all.
I've tinkered with yoga myself. I've yet to attend a formal class, but have a book of poses and a DVD to follow. Every now and then I get an urge to do it- usually when I'm feeling tense or stressed. It seems to cure me every time.
Thanks to us parents and our culture, kids live a pretty stressful life these days too. In every facet of school there's pressure to perform in testing. I even have to administer a state test to my P.E. students- Good Grief. (Note: I understand why it's required, but it doesn't really encourage the concept of fitness through fun.)
Then in order to better our kids and give them opportunity to play, we drive them to an assortment of practices four days a week. We encourage them to pick one sport or activity at age 7 to focus on earning a scholarship. But do your homework as we carpool to the soccer tournament because you've gotta keep your grades up. Pressure. Pressure. Pressure.
All these things are done by us with the best of intentions. We love them and want for them to be successful. But maybe we are putting too much on them. Maybe time spent at home exploring a variety of activities in a relaxed environment two nights a week would be better than private lessons with a pitching coach.
Yoga is known for its calming, relaxing, focus enhancing effects. My son is five and tends to be high strung. He's a natural worrier with a tender heart. I believe he might benefit from a couple informal home yoga sessions per week.
Perhaps your family too could use a few minutes to just be. Ten minutes of simple poses just might make a world of difference!
Later y'all.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Pretty Healthy Muffins
I can't do justice in describing how yummy my kitchen smells right now. What's the smell? Read on, you'll be glad you did.
It's rainy today and I've had a hankering for muffins the past few days. Great time to experiment. I'm not a veteran cook; really began cooking a little over a year ago when we went paleoish or real food. My baking skills are even less developed.
But I've been experimenting here and there with lots of guidance using other people's recipes found online. Today I made banana, cranberry, blueberry muffins. My friend, Ms. G.F. Bisquick, made it simple.
In the future I hope to learn to bake totally from scratch, but this feels like an accomplishment right now. And the naturally sweet blend of flavors make me want to do them every week!
Here's the how to:
Preheat oven 375 degrees
Gather: 1 1/4 cups Gluten Free Bisquick, 1 egg beaten, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 3 tsp vanilla,2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp brown cane sugar, 7 tbsp milk, 1 ripened mashed banana, handful dried cranberries & blueberries. Muffin tin and liners.
Mix all the above ingredients with a fork until well blended. Batter will be a thick, sticky consistency. Fill the lined muffin tins to just below the top. Bake for 15 minutes. The tops will be slightly browning. Remove and let sit for 5 minutes and then cool out of the pan.
This makes 5 regular sized muffins. I made the first batch to test- after trying I immediately made a second batch to freeze. They won't last long, for sure.
It's rainy today and I've had a hankering for muffins the past few days. Great time to experiment. I'm not a veteran cook; really began cooking a little over a year ago when we went paleoish or real food. My baking skills are even less developed.
But I've been experimenting here and there with lots of guidance using other people's recipes found online. Today I made banana, cranberry, blueberry muffins. My friend, Ms. G.F. Bisquick, made it simple.
In the future I hope to learn to bake totally from scratch, but this feels like an accomplishment right now. And the naturally sweet blend of flavors make me want to do them every week!
Here's the how to:
Preheat oven 375 degrees
Gather: 1 1/4 cups Gluten Free Bisquick, 1 egg beaten, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 3 tsp vanilla,2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp brown cane sugar, 7 tbsp milk, 1 ripened mashed banana, handful dried cranberries & blueberries. Muffin tin and liners.
Mix all the above ingredients with a fork until well blended. Batter will be a thick, sticky consistency. Fill the lined muffin tins to just below the top. Bake for 15 minutes. The tops will be slightly browning. Remove and let sit for 5 minutes and then cool out of the pan.
This makes 5 regular sized muffins. I made the first batch to test- after trying I immediately made a second batch to freeze. They won't last long, for sure.
Hope y'all enjoy.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Grab a Shovel Junior
Okay. I know this has little to do with fitness or nutrition, but it's definitely something that contributes to the total wellbeing of your child...CHORES. Sometimes I baby my baby too much and don't ask enough of him too. But I want him to be a capable, confident man. Capable, confident men don't just wake up that way. They are created by parents who empowered them by asking them to do for themselves and for the family. (Insert your little princess here if needed. Princesses are not cute past age 6 or so in my opinion- laughing on the inside begins here)
If you begin really early, like as soon as they can walk, he or she will never know the difference. Up to about age 4 or so, small chores can be worked into the routine without much trouble as well. Make a big deal about how they are growing up and are able to do things. As they progress in age and you ask nothing of them, you might encounter more resistance. But I teach kids age 5 to 10 and in general they are all pretty eager to help when asked. Maybe it's time to reflect on whether or not your child is learning the value of pitching in or just how to do the menial tasks of life. If you don't teach them, who will?
Here are some ideas to kick around.
Just remember, if you lean towards the perfectionist side of life, accept that most things won't be up to par at first. Give mostly positive, honest feedback. Little by little help them to do things better, but don't overly critique if they're giving an honest effort.
Later y'all.
If you begin really early, like as soon as they can walk, he or she will never know the difference. Up to about age 4 or so, small chores can be worked into the routine without much trouble as well. Make a big deal about how they are growing up and are able to do things. As they progress in age and you ask nothing of them, you might encounter more resistance. But I teach kids age 5 to 10 and in general they are all pretty eager to help when asked. Maybe it's time to reflect on whether or not your child is learning the value of pitching in or just how to do the menial tasks of life. If you don't teach them, who will?
Here are some ideas to kick around.
- Putting away his/her own dinner plate and cup. As they get older, have them put everyone's at the sink.
- Putting the silverware up after being washed
- Carrying folded laundry to the appropriate room
- Bringing grocery bags in from the car
- Wiping the bathroom sink and counter down
- Sweeping the porch or sidewalk
- Picking up sticks in the yard
- Riding on the mower as you cut grass- PC police beware- I don't care if this is "too dangerous" in your opinion
- Assisting you in meal preparation
- Removing sheets from beds and putting in the laundry hamper
Just remember, if you lean towards the perfectionist side of life, accept that most things won't be up to par at first. Give mostly positive, honest feedback. Little by little help them to do things better, but don't overly critique if they're giving an honest effort.
Later y'all.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Majority of kids with ADHD face mental health woes as adults, study shows
My child doesn't have ADHD, so I cannot speak from the place of such a parent. I have opinions, theories derived from experience as a teacher and just as a parent. My opinions and theories may tick you off. If we disagree, I respectfully disagree. Many ADHD cases, in my opinion, are the result of poor diet and lack of physical activity opportunities. Not all, but we could save many kids the devastating effects of drugs and labeling through modification.
My son began PreK at the public school system in which I work. Before the first day of school, I already knew that I would be sending his lunch daily due to our choice to limit his exposure to grains, dyes and sugar. Breakfast is offered free, so I looked over the monthly menu. Well, it took about 10 seconds for the next decision; breakfast would be on us as well. The choices were basically chicken biscuit or Trix cereal. Ummm, no thank you. Even with the stamp "Smart Choice" on Trix, Cocoa Pebbles, etc. I decline the freebie. It wouldn't cost me a dime, but it would cost a bit of my child's health, behavior, and ability to focus at school. So, my little buddy totes two lunch bags to school. Dork. Healthy, well-behaved, focused dork. Good trade off in my book.
See, I've witnessed the aftermath of allowing him to eat the Standard American Diet. I'm not being snotty, but I am a food snob because what you eat matters. Little Dude eats Fruity Loopies, Little Dude has emotional breakdowns. Little Dude drinks Kool Aid, Little Dude is as ADHD as they come. If he has extra sugar beyond his normal allowance, he's worse than a crack head looking for his next hit. He begins craving it. Begging for it. It takes a day or two of reminding him we limit for our health, not because I enjoy saying no. He's not the same kid when eating lots of highly processed food. "Healthy Stamp" or not. I don't need a big, corporate funded campaign telling me that its fine to feed him tablespoons of sugar just because it surrounded by whole grains. Oh, how I loathe the term whole grains now. Marketing genius.
Do you think that maybe the diet we are providing our kids affects their behavior, academic success, and general health indicators? In my opinion, yes. I walk through the school cafeteria and look at my students' lunches. The school provided lunches now look to be making more of an effort to be "healthy" by general standards. But I've got beef with the Food Guide Pyramid or My Plate in case you haven't noticed. LOL. The home prepared lunches are the show stopper though. Your average kid has a processed ham sandwich on white wheat bread, chips, fruity gummies, desert, and juice box that's about 25% actual juice.
Let's break it down:
Ham
Bread
Doritos
Angry Birds Gummies
Cookies
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57572360/majority-of-kids-with-adhd-face-mental-health-woes-as-adults-study-shows/
My son began PreK at the public school system in which I work. Before the first day of school, I already knew that I would be sending his lunch daily due to our choice to limit his exposure to grains, dyes and sugar. Breakfast is offered free, so I looked over the monthly menu. Well, it took about 10 seconds for the next decision; breakfast would be on us as well. The choices were basically chicken biscuit or Trix cereal. Ummm, no thank you. Even with the stamp "Smart Choice" on Trix, Cocoa Pebbles, etc. I decline the freebie. It wouldn't cost me a dime, but it would cost a bit of my child's health, behavior, and ability to focus at school. So, my little buddy totes two lunch bags to school. Dork. Healthy, well-behaved, focused dork. Good trade off in my book.
See, I've witnessed the aftermath of allowing him to eat the Standard American Diet. I'm not being snotty, but I am a food snob because what you eat matters. Little Dude eats Fruity Loopies, Little Dude has emotional breakdowns. Little Dude drinks Kool Aid, Little Dude is as ADHD as they come. If he has extra sugar beyond his normal allowance, he's worse than a crack head looking for his next hit. He begins craving it. Begging for it. It takes a day or two of reminding him we limit for our health, not because I enjoy saying no. He's not the same kid when eating lots of highly processed food. "Healthy Stamp" or not. I don't need a big, corporate funded campaign telling me that its fine to feed him tablespoons of sugar just because it surrounded by whole grains. Oh, how I loathe the term whole grains now. Marketing genius.
Do you think that maybe the diet we are providing our kids affects their behavior, academic success, and general health indicators? In my opinion, yes. I walk through the school cafeteria and look at my students' lunches. The school provided lunches now look to be making more of an effort to be "healthy" by general standards. But I've got beef with the Food Guide Pyramid or My Plate in case you haven't noticed. LOL. The home prepared lunches are the show stopper though. Your average kid has a processed ham sandwich on white wheat bread, chips, fruity gummies, desert, and juice box that's about 25% actual juice.
Let's break it down:
Ham
Bread
UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, SUGAR, FIBER (MAY CONTAIN SOY, OAT, COTTONSEED, AND/OR CELLULOSE), WHEAT GLUTEN, YEAST, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: CALCIUM SULFATE, SOY FLOUR, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, SOYBEAN OIL, CULTURED WHEAT FLOUR, DOUGH CONDITIONERS (CONTAINS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, CALCIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, MONOGLYCERIDES, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM PEROXIDE, CALCIUM IODATE, DATEM, ETHOXYLATED MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, AZODICARBONAMIDE, ENZYMES, ASCORBIC ACID), VINEGAR, GUAR GUM, CITRIC ACID, AMMONIUM SULFATE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM CITRATE, SOY LECITHIN, NIACIN, IRON (FERROUS SULFATE), THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID, NATAMYCIN (TO RETARD SPOILAGE), 102111
Doritos
Angry Birds Gummies
Cookies
ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, DEXTROSE, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN - AN EMULSIFIER), SUGAR, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA, AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, WHEY (FROM MILK), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARAMEL COLOR.
Capri Sun
Ingredients: WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CITRIC ACID, SUCRALOSE (SPLENDA(R) BRAND SWEETENER), NATURAL FLAVOR.
First off, do you see how much sugar, corn syrup, and other sweeteners are in that lunch? What is that doing to a body? Your body handles sugar as toxic waste- it's working it's butt off to get it out of the bloodstream. When that sugar high goes south an hour later, how's your child's ability to learn going to be?
I don't know how to pronounce most of those chemicals, flavorings, whatevers. And I don't know exactly what most of them are right off hand. Lastly, I don't know what they do to a growing human mind and body. Neither does the company making your child's gummies. But the evidence ain't looking good. Honestly, they don't care as long as you buy it.
Finally, children are being given controlled substances that are hardcore drugs to settle them down. Many ADHD drugs are AMPHETAMINES. Folks, drugs are serious business. Business built on a model of profit. Billions of dollars of profit. Drugs should be the last resort. Period.
Follow the link to see a story written today on this topic. Have a great day and keep on loving your kids. Later y'all.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Horse Around
Ok. It's the dead of winter and there are way more indoor days than I would like. Thankfully here in Georgia we are blessed with more 60 degree winter days than many places- but that hasn't been happening much. It can be a challenge to keep your child from sitting like a zombie doing mindless things such as TV or video games. I know!
And folks playing isn't rocket science. Many of the ideas I share are classics or a spin on a classic. Just seems many make it more complicated than it needs to be.
So if the weather has you down, bring the the game HORSE inside. It's a quick set up, minimal equipment, and it's something your child will be able organize on his/her own once you've taught them.
Equipment:
A ball or something soft OK for throwing inside (I like aluminum foil balls)
A goal of some sort- empty trash can or box
Guidelines for two players:
The first player takes a shot at the goal from anywhere in the play area. If the first shooter misses, the shot goes to the next player. They also may shoot from anywhere one time. This continues until someone makes a shot. Once a person makes a shot, the next shooter must make an identical shot from the same spot. If they don't, they get an "H". The first player would again get to shoot from anywhere. Play continues in this way until someone has completed the word "HORSE" by matching the opponents made shots.
Have fun. Later y'all-
And folks playing isn't rocket science. Many of the ideas I share are classics or a spin on a classic. Just seems many make it more complicated than it needs to be.
So if the weather has you down, bring the the game HORSE inside. It's a quick set up, minimal equipment, and it's something your child will be able organize on his/her own once you've taught them.
Equipment:
A ball or something soft OK for throwing inside (I like aluminum foil balls)
A goal of some sort- empty trash can or box
Guidelines for two players:
The first player takes a shot at the goal from anywhere in the play area. If the first shooter misses, the shot goes to the next player. They also may shoot from anywhere one time. This continues until someone makes a shot. Once a person makes a shot, the next shooter must make an identical shot from the same spot. If they don't, they get an "H". The first player would again get to shoot from anywhere. Play continues in this way until someone has completed the word "HORSE" by matching the opponents made shots.
Have fun. Later y'all-
Monday, February 25, 2013
Explore
Learning by doing. Overcoming fears by trying. Experiencing rather than just watching. That is what childhood is for. (Or life!)
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Just Sharing
https://www.facebook.com/becomingminimalist
I recently found the page Becoming Minimalist on Facebook after looking at a picture an old friend shared. I'm so glad I followed the link and hope you will take a look too. This is where I am in life. I crave a simpler life so that I may actually enjoy life. Later y'all-
Friday, February 22, 2013
Rainy Day Play
Looks like it will be raining again tomorrow...sigh. Oh well. I do love sunny Saturdays, but rainy days have their own charm. I hope little dude is better tomorrow after having a fever all evening. He rarely gets sick, but has been fighting something all week and it came to a head tonight. I can't even remember the last time he had a fever- Maybe November before last?
So, what's it like at your house on a rainy weekend day? We live in a rural area so outsourced entertainment isn't always convenient. Bowling alleys, malls, indoor playgrounds, and such are at least a 30 minute drive from our home. My husband and I are closet geeks in that we enjoy reading every chance we get. He's read more spy and tough guy, hero books than I can imagine possible plots to. I've read more health books and articles than, I'm sure, he can imagine being interesting. I also cook way more food than we can eat. It feels productive. So, there's lots of nerdom going on. Meanwhile, our son can be found playing Legos, pirates, and grocery store in 30 minute shifts. He also watches some TV, plays a little Xbox Kinnect, and usually demands a somewhat friendly game of cards. He's into the game War right now. Having an ace is a sign of supreme power in his world.
Pretty low key, low energy stuff. Days like that are awesome. True rest is overlooked sometimes in our hectic lives and we suffer for it. But honestly, it's just in me and I have to pull out an active game even on days like that. My favorite indoor game we do is balloon tennis. Yeah, I'm pretty lax about rough housing- I guess I encourage it. If you'd like to quieten your "Mamma Voice" and have ten minutes of fun with your kids, check out this game.
You're gonna need 3 things: a balloon, 2 spatulas
Find an open space and serve it up. Hit the balloon back and forth. Make up your own rules as you go to fit your kid and situation. Just don't make too many rules. Have fun and laugh.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
"Sugared" Vegetables and Watered Down Parenting
Let me begin by saying that my intent here isn't to be "preachy" or to look down on others. I do try to look at both sides of every story, but I also call B.S. on a lot too. I know parenting is hard. I know children show resistance to our guidance. It's natural. It's also natural to want was is best for children in the long run. Parenting along the path of least resistance really isn't parenting. It sets the standard for all future interactions between parent and child. Unfortunately, this standard usually means the child doesn't learn self control or the process of thoughtful choice. Immediate gratification becomes the means to an end. Making excuses doesn't help anyone.
The article I came upon today describing a new sugar spray for vegetables set me off on this tangent. How many times have I heard a fellow mother say her child refuses to eat anything besides chicken nuggets, french fries, and pizza. I'm calling B.S. Our tastes develop and mature according to tastes we are exposed to. The truth is, the parents have not taken the time to expose the child to different foods. Truth is, you don't want to deal with the emotional outburst of a child who doesn't want to do something outside his/her comfort zone. Truth is, you don't value the importance of nutrition.
Now, to soften my tone a bit. I have not achieved perfect parent status and I never shall. Parenting is a never ending process fueled by love and a drive for making your child's life the best it can be. Many of our mistakes in parenting come from that love and desire to make Junior happy. Here's the thing...you can't make your child happy. Happiness and a good life come from within. It comes from a place of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. All of these things requiring thoughtful, quality choices on a regular basis.
Here's the thing: you have to have a set of guiding principles and beliefs in order to consistently parent. I'll share mine concerning nutrition.
1. Real foods that are close to their most natural state should make up the majority of my family's diet.
2. I believe in buying the best quality foods we can reasonably afford.
3. Eating at home or food from home should happen as much as possible so we know what we're getting.
4. Vegetables, fruits, and naturally grown protein are central to the majority of our meals.
5. Added sugar will be avoided when possible.
6. Life is too short to not have treats and living by the rules 24-7 is almost impossible.
Agree or disagree with our family's nutrition principles, not the point. The point is, we know where we stand and what we believe in. So, when my son asks for a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pie for breakfast and I go along with it once in a blue moon, I know where we stand the rest of the day. He won't get another sweet until much later in the day after getting quality foods down the hatch. (Am I the only person left that calls things sweets?) And here's the kicker...he knows it too. He might try for another, but my "no" comes with little resistance because he never really thought it was going to happen.
Our little guy (I still think of him as little, but he's 5) eats a pretty wide variety of things. He stonewalls on different foods weekly and we roll with it according to the situation. Is he holding out for a snack later? Is it a food we haven't had in a while and he doesn't remember it? Or does he think it's a tomato? Because, dude will not touch a raw tomato with a ten foot pole just like his father. As the parents, we usually make him try the food. We ask him if he liked it and listen. If he does, he eats it of course. If he says he doesn't like it today, we usually require him to eat at least some of it for nutrition sake and so he knows everything doesn't have to be a culinary field day.
Take a look at the hissy fit inducing article for yourself if you like.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/02/18/sugar-mist-makes-veggies-more-palatable-to-kids/
It's time to make dinner and since I won't be spraying any sugar on the stir fry, I'll need to give it my full attention.
Later-
The article I came upon today describing a new sugar spray for vegetables set me off on this tangent. How many times have I heard a fellow mother say her child refuses to eat anything besides chicken nuggets, french fries, and pizza. I'm calling B.S. Our tastes develop and mature according to tastes we are exposed to. The truth is, the parents have not taken the time to expose the child to different foods. Truth is, you don't want to deal with the emotional outburst of a child who doesn't want to do something outside his/her comfort zone. Truth is, you don't value the importance of nutrition.
Now, to soften my tone a bit. I have not achieved perfect parent status and I never shall. Parenting is a never ending process fueled by love and a drive for making your child's life the best it can be. Many of our mistakes in parenting come from that love and desire to make Junior happy. Here's the thing...you can't make your child happy. Happiness and a good life come from within. It comes from a place of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. All of these things requiring thoughtful, quality choices on a regular basis.
Here's the thing: you have to have a set of guiding principles and beliefs in order to consistently parent. I'll share mine concerning nutrition.
1. Real foods that are close to their most natural state should make up the majority of my family's diet.
2. I believe in buying the best quality foods we can reasonably afford.
3. Eating at home or food from home should happen as much as possible so we know what we're getting.
4. Vegetables, fruits, and naturally grown protein are central to the majority of our meals.
5. Added sugar will be avoided when possible.
6. Life is too short to not have treats and living by the rules 24-7 is almost impossible.
Agree or disagree with our family's nutrition principles, not the point. The point is, we know where we stand and what we believe in. So, when my son asks for a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pie for breakfast and I go along with it once in a blue moon, I know where we stand the rest of the day. He won't get another sweet until much later in the day after getting quality foods down the hatch. (Am I the only person left that calls things sweets?) And here's the kicker...he knows it too. He might try for another, but my "no" comes with little resistance because he never really thought it was going to happen.
Our little guy (I still think of him as little, but he's 5) eats a pretty wide variety of things. He stonewalls on different foods weekly and we roll with it according to the situation. Is he holding out for a snack later? Is it a food we haven't had in a while and he doesn't remember it? Or does he think it's a tomato? Because, dude will not touch a raw tomato with a ten foot pole just like his father. As the parents, we usually make him try the food. We ask him if he liked it and listen. If he does, he eats it of course. If he says he doesn't like it today, we usually require him to eat at least some of it for nutrition sake and so he knows everything doesn't have to be a culinary field day.
Take a look at the hissy fit inducing article for yourself if you like.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/02/18/sugar-mist-makes-veggies-more-palatable-to-kids/
It's time to make dinner and since I won't be spraying any sugar on the stir fry, I'll need to give it my full attention.
Later-
The Multi-purpose Tennis Ball
It's a beautiful day in February. Where is your child? Mine is stuck in the car for the next hour as we continue home from a two night camping trip. But we have an appointment with a tennis ball after we unpack.
A good strategy for encouraging your child to play actively outdoors is to have an outdoor play box. The box should have simple toys in it for quick and easy game play. My favorite choice is a tennis ball. You can do so much with it.
The most obvious activity to play is catch. You can spice it up by throwing high flys, rolling it, bouncing it, awarding points for good catches, etc. My personal favorite version is throwing the ball on the roof and trying to catch it once it rolls off.
Hey, I know these aren't groundbreaking ideas! But believe me, lots of kids no longer think this way. You give them a ball and they have no clue what to do with it. They need some guidance at first of how to play without the Wii giving them specific guidelines.
You have the power to teach your child the joy of free play while acquiring a basic level of fitness. Your life could probably use a little more fun and activity as well.
So go grab a ball and get to it. Enjoy your child today.
A good strategy for encouraging your child to play actively outdoors is to have an outdoor play box. The box should have simple toys in it for quick and easy game play. My favorite choice is a tennis ball. You can do so much with it.
The most obvious activity to play is catch. You can spice it up by throwing high flys, rolling it, bouncing it, awarding points for good catches, etc. My personal favorite version is throwing the ball on the roof and trying to catch it once it rolls off.
Hey, I know these aren't groundbreaking ideas! But believe me, lots of kids no longer think this way. You give them a ball and they have no clue what to do with it. They need some guidance at first of how to play without the Wii giving them specific guidelines.
You have the power to teach your child the joy of free play while acquiring a basic level of fitness. Your life could probably use a little more fun and activity as well.
So go grab a ball and get to it. Enjoy your child today.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Cavemen Didn't Need Dentists
Last week, the Tooth Fairy in all her glory visited the students at my school to remind them of the essentials of dental care:
1. Brush at least twice a day
2. Floss daily
3. Visit the dentist twice a year
4. Eat and drink dairy products
Sound and solid advice according to conventional wisdom. Pretty much the same things I was told as a child and into my graduate studies.
How many of you were raised in a rural area without public water and did the monthly flouride mouthwash at school? Definitely a memory for me; not a good one either.
This evening I was looking through health articles and came across one that mentioned prehistoric populations had better teeth than we do. As a fan of the Paleo/Primal lifestyle, I had heard such claims before. Just not something I followed up on researching, but after reading the article, I am going to further examine the evidence.
The archaelogical evidence seems to suggest that in general, pre-agricultural humans had perfectly spaced teeth and no cavities. What?!? You mean those dirty, grunting, no Crest having, much less a toothbrush primitives had a leg up on oral health? How could that be true? I'll respect your intelligence and ability to read for yourself, but the answer seems to be diet. According to archaeological record, human remains didn't show evidence of tooth decay until after agriculture became established.
So, what might this imply in the big picture? Possibly that eating large amounts of processed grain and sugary foods created a less favorable oral environment.
Here's the article. Study Finds Historic Root of Tooth Decay
What do you think? Combine this evidence with claims of the Weston A. Price Foundation concerning hunter gatherer populations and oral health. I'm pretty sure I will continue to require my son to brush his teeth, but the mouth rinse may need to go.
I hope you all have a wonderful week. Later y'all.
1. Brush at least twice a day
2. Floss daily
3. Visit the dentist twice a year
4. Eat and drink dairy products
Sound and solid advice according to conventional wisdom. Pretty much the same things I was told as a child and into my graduate studies.
How many of you were raised in a rural area without public water and did the monthly flouride mouthwash at school? Definitely a memory for me; not a good one either.
This evening I was looking through health articles and came across one that mentioned prehistoric populations had better teeth than we do. As a fan of the Paleo/Primal lifestyle, I had heard such claims before. Just not something I followed up on researching, but after reading the article, I am going to further examine the evidence.
The archaelogical evidence seems to suggest that in general, pre-agricultural humans had perfectly spaced teeth and no cavities. What?!? You mean those dirty, grunting, no Crest having, much less a toothbrush primitives had a leg up on oral health? How could that be true? I'll respect your intelligence and ability to read for yourself, but the answer seems to be diet. According to archaeological record, human remains didn't show evidence of tooth decay until after agriculture became established.
So, what might this imply in the big picture? Possibly that eating large amounts of processed grain and sugary foods created a less favorable oral environment.
Here's the article. Study Finds Historic Root of Tooth Decay
What do you think? Combine this evidence with claims of the Weston A. Price Foundation concerning hunter gatherer populations and oral health. I'm pretty sure I will continue to require my son to brush his teeth, but the mouth rinse may need to go.
I hope you all have a wonderful week. Later y'all.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
A Healthy Child is a Happy Child
Welcome and thank you for reading the inaugural post of The Healthy, Happy Child Project. The aim of this blog is to share ideas and information concerning the health and wellness of children in your life. I am both a Physical Education teacher and a mother, so the topic is close to my heart.
There is much discussion in the media and health industry about the current state of our youth's health. You've got obesity, depression, ADHD, diabetes, violence, and the list truly could go on for an hour I'm sure. Although we will certainly discuss the looming problems along the way, my intention is to primarily focus on solutions. Problems, we've got those covered. Solutions, we need'em.
I have my theories and personal beliefs about why many children (and many former children, now adults ) are in a less than happy, healthy place in life. We will explore those ideas, discredit some, and try again. I'm okay with being wrong. I love being right. And I'm all for learning new points of view. I may not adopt the point of view, then again, I just might.
I hope that this blog will evolve into a well rounded source for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of children. However, to begin with I will likely concentrate on physical activity and nutrition.
Later y'all
There is much discussion in the media and health industry about the current state of our youth's health. You've got obesity, depression, ADHD, diabetes, violence, and the list truly could go on for an hour I'm sure. Although we will certainly discuss the looming problems along the way, my intention is to primarily focus on solutions. Problems, we've got those covered. Solutions, we need'em.
I have my theories and personal beliefs about why many children (and many former children, now adults ) are in a less than happy, healthy place in life. We will explore those ideas, discredit some, and try again. I'm okay with being wrong. I love being right. And I'm all for learning new points of view. I may not adopt the point of view, then again, I just might.
I hope that this blog will evolve into a well rounded source for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of children. However, to begin with I will likely concentrate on physical activity and nutrition.
Later y'all
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