Monthly Archives: June 2008

Food for Thought

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Comment: as I sit home this morning on a rare morning off, I am weeding my garden, and reading some untouched mail. I came across this article and thought it was a wonderful approach to life – but then I’m older and have more stuff…

Letting Go of All that Does Not Serve
by Mama Donna Henes, Urban Shaman

On my birthday this year, a friend presented me with a gorgeous amber necklace that she had gotten in Russia twenty years ago before she immigrated to the United States. Though she felt that it did not suit her, she held onto it for two decades for sentimental reasons. When she gave it to me, she apologized that it was not a new store-bought necklace, but I was thrilled. Not only does it suit me perfectly, but I was extremely touched by her sharing of this nostalgic gem.

And I completely understood her motivation for giving it away. It is common for people in midlife to display an overwhelming urge to purge, to clean out, throw out, refuse, release, discard, to distill and streamline all of our attachments. We refine our needs and tastes and want to be surrounded only by those people, places, and things that add something positive to our lives.

If we are to practice living life with intention, purpose, and appreciation, we are called to take stock — on every level imaginable — material, mental, emotional, and spiritual. And we feel the need to evaluate everything in terms of its value to us. Do our belongings, attitudes, ideas, obligations, commitments, habits, goals, dreams, relationships, and wardrobes still fit us? Do they suit us and our current life style? Are they flattering? Do they please us? Do they continue to serve us? Do they feed us what we need? Or do they drain our energy and slow us down by the amount of maintenance that they require?

It seems to me that we spend the first half of our lives accumulating things and the second half getting rid of them, paring our possessions down to a manageable cache. At some point in our middle years, it is important to take the time to catalogue what it is we have, what we have accumulated, what we hold onto, what we have carried with us through the years, and what we would be better of letting go of. As we face the second half of our lives, it is prime time to check our baggage and lighten up our load.

With practice, we can distinguish which of our possessions and commitments expresses our true desires, needs, values, and aesthetics, and which do not. Which relationships serve us in a reciprocal manner, and which do not. Which engagements, involvements, and assignments are fulfilling and life-affirming and which are empty busywork. “It’s not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy,” the writer Marie O’Conner reminds us. “The bee is praised; the mosquito is swatted.”

A thorough house cleaning, internal as well as external, is a fabulous way to delineate the purpose of our lives. Letting go of the inessential creates an elegant order to our existence. An orderly house always seems like the invitation to a fresh start, which is why so many cultures incorporate a thorough house scrubbing, a clean sweep, as it were, as well as an internal ablution in their New Year’s rituals. Our messy thinking and sloppy habits come more easily into focus when our surroundings are tidy and beautiful and filled with only what is meaningful, so that we can release them, as well.

When we clear out the inessentials, we make space for ourselves to grow and expand to fill the void. With the chaff, the distractions, and dirty corners of our environments and minds cleared away, we can better see the structure of our lives–the foundations of our support, the bare bones that comprise our true Selves–and dedicate ourselves to living a more authentic life.

House Cleaning From the Inside Out

• Throw out, re-cycle, or donate one thing every day. This is a great practice in claiming what is important to you and discarding what is not.

• Spend an evening in the closet playing dress up. Get rid of everything that that doesn’t fit your figure or your evolved Self-image.

• Eliminate one food from your diet that you know you should not eat. When you get used to living without it, eliminate one more.

• Send all of the novels that you know you will never re-read to a school or hospital library. And that pile of magazines, too.

• Clean out your paper and computer files, your address book, old correspondence, and tax records. How much of that clutter is really relevant any more?

• Do the same with your medicine cabinet and cosmetic drawers. How many of the products crammed in there merely mask superficial symptoms and flaws rather than enhance your essential strength and beauty?

• Remove yourself from situations and relationships that no longer nurture you. Refuse what does not interest you.

• Monitor your thoughts, and edit the negative, Self-derogatory ones in mid-stream. Eliminate stinking thinking.

• Reduce stress through yoga, exercise, breathing techniques, warm baths, sex, music, art, meditation.

• Eliminate the accumulated toxins in your body by fasting occasionally.

• Slough off the old, like a snake shedding its skin, or a butterfly its cocoon. Emerge renewed and energized.

Told You So!

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Comment: I always new the kids loved cookies best ! Here’s an article from the UK about what their kids love best too. Now the idea is to make what they like healthy; that’s what we are doing at the GS.

Traditional snacks still top of kids’ wish-list

By Linda Rano

Children’s favourite snacks are crisps, biscuits, cakes and confectionery but the healthy eating message is filtering through, according to a new survey.

The survey was commissioned by the UK Federation of Bakers (FoB) and Flour Advisory Bureau (FAB).

When asked to list their favourite after school snacks, school children aged 11 to 16 voted for crisps (48 per cent), chocolate/sweets (39 per cent), biscuits/cakes (32 per cent) and fizzy drinks (27 per cent).

For children aged 4 to 11 years, a similar picture emerged. Some 51 per cent preferred tucking into crisps after school, 44 per cent favoured biscuits, 40 per cent chocolates/sweets and 24 per cent fizzy drinks.

However, 32 per cent of 11 to 16 year olds and 54 per cent of 4 to 11 year olds also snack on fruit. Yogurt and smoothies were popular with 27 per cent of 11 to 16 year olds and 42 per cent of 4 to 11 year olds.

These findings suggest that the bottom line for snack manufacturers, bakers and confectioners still depends on traditional products but an appreciation of healthier alternatives by children and young people is creeping in.

The push by parents, consumers, and legislatures for the industry to provide healthier options appears to be joined by a level of acceptance of healthier snacks by children and young people.

The UK, along with some other western countries, has an alarming childhood obesity problem that is forcing society to re-evaluate British children’s lifestyles and eating habits. Data issued by the UK’s department of Health in February suggested that 22.9 per cent of four to five year olds were overweight or obese and 31.6 per cent of ten to 11 year olds were overweight.

In response, the bakery industry is in the midst of a major reformulation process to reduce sugar, fats and salt. A new survey of Food and Drink Federation members found that the recipes used for at least £15bn worth of foods had less fat, sugar and salt compared to 2004. Also, a further £11.5bn worth of products have been launched as ‘lower in’ versions.

Other survey findings

School home time is the peak snacking period for 64 per cent of British school children, followed by mid-morning and before bedtime.

One in four parents admitted that they still struggled to persuade their children to eat healthier snack foods.

Some 66 percent of 11 to 16 year olds claimed their parents know what they snack on and how much they spend, and for a third of 11 to 16 year olds this spend is £5 during an average school week. However, 20 per cent of girls in this age group claimed that they do not tell their parents what they snack on or spend.

In a statement issued by the FAB, nutritionist Fiona Hunter advised parents to “balance treats with more nutritious snack foods”, and suggests that toast is the “Ideal post-school snack” because it is speedy, can be served with a range of toppings and white bread is “fortified with calcium, iron and the B vitamins (niacin and thiamine) so children are receiving the nutrients they need for growth and development.”

Survey method

The research for 11 to 16 year olds was conducted by Consumer Analysis Limited in May 2008 by interviewing 500 British young people in this age group. The survey for 4 to 11 year olds was conducted by Opinium research in May 2008 whereby 2000 parents/carers were asked to list top after-school snacks.

Yoga with Kids

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Shores students take yoga to senior center

Posted by llupo Latest News Muskegon Chronicle

Chronicle/Kendra Stanley-MillsManmeet Kaur, 16, helps Ella McKay, 81, in yoga stretching exercises. The Mona Shores student is involved in a “work experience” program, where she learns lifeskills outside of the classroom. Enlarge photo

What began as a pilot project to increase exercise for some special-needs students has netted so many health benefits that it’s now part of the special education curriculum at Mona Shores Public Schools.

From pre-K through 12th grade, Mona Shores students are bending, stretching and deep breathing their way to better overall health and fitness.

This is the second year the district’s special-needs students have used yoga during the school day for exercise, and parents and teachers are hailing its benefits.

Many of the students — who range in abilities from cognitively, physically and emotionally impaired — live with limitations such as poor muscle tone, rigidity in posture or poor balance.

Chronicle/Kendra Stanley-MillsRyan Burns helps lead Seminole Shores Living Center residents through yoga stretches. He said his favorite move is the warrior pose. Enlarge photo

But after using yoga movements, they have experienced a greater range of motion, increased physical strength and better general mobility, according to students, their parents and teachers.

Teachers also found the usually “chatty” students became “centered” and focused during the hour-long exercises. They developed social skills by leading class and helping their peers with moves.

“It’s cool. I’m doing more exercise and I can feel stronger,” said Manmeet Kaur, a st Mona Shores High School sophomore.

Some of the district’s special-education teachers began using yoga last year in a few classes. After seeing the benefits, school officials decided to integrate yoga districtwide for special-needs students, said Penelope Miller-Smith, director of special education for Mona Shores Public Schools.

Another benefit has been increased self-esteem among the students as a result of speaking positively about themselves, or using affirmations at the conclusion of each yoga session, such as: “I am strong. I am fun to be around. I am confident. I am kind to others,” Miller-Smith said.

“They are more cognizant of their bodies, but they also recognize their self-value and self-worth. They’re saying things that a year ago they wouldn’t have believed,” she said.

Chronicle/Kendra Stanley-MillsMelissa Richardson, left, leads Seminole Shores Living Center residents and her special-education students in yoga stretching exercises. Enlarge photo

One high school class has taken its yoga moves on the road. Down the street from Mona Shores High School, several elderly residents at Seminole Shores Living Center look forward to Tuesdays and Fridays when roughly six students visit and participate in arts and crafts and yoga with the residents. Together, they gently stretch and bend to music.

Mona Shores junior Caitlin Semelbauer said it was hard touching her hands to her feet when she first began, but it got easier as she did more yoga moves.

She also enjoys visits with the senior citizens at Seminole Shores.

“They need a little help, but they’re getting the hang of it,” she said.

Kathy Guiles, life enrichment director at Seminole Shores, said she is amazed that some of the residents who live with Alzheimer’s and dementia are able to focus on the miniclass for 25 minutes at a time.

Chronicle/Kendra Stanley-MillsNo, it’s not the Hokey Pokey. Richard Bell, left, and Ella McKay, right, stretch with Melissa Richardson (leg in center foreground) during a yoga class. Enlarge photo

Either the students or their teacher, Melissa Richardson, lead the class. One recent spring day, Richardson donned a T-shirt and leggings and gently prompted the students and the residents into the warrior, butterfly and prayer poses, many of which were modified so the elderly could stay in their chairs.

Guiles said the residents enjoy contact with the young people.

“The students sit among the residents and encourage them to do the movements, which is how I believe they can do the movements for a longer period of time. They mimic their movements,” said Guiles. “The yoga is fantastic. I’m always surprised they can keep them engaged for that length of time.”

Carolyn Brown, a physical therapist who has worked 35 years in various schools, is certified in “Yoga for the Special Child.” She teaches yoga to pre-kindergarten at Ross Park Elementary.

Teachers don’t always like to try new things, but she said yoga has been well received.

“Many of our students don’t like gym because they can’t keep up, Brown said. “I feel this is a more effective therapy model because they motivate each other, they help each other and they don’t feel isolated.”

Couldn’t Resist!

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A Florida senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette Convertible out of the dealership. Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. ‘Amazing,’ he thought as he flew down I-75, pushing the pedal even more.

Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw the state trooper behind him, blue lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. Suddenly he thought, ‘What am I doing? I’m too old for this!’ and he pulled over to await the trooper’s arrival.

Pulling in behind him, the trooper walked up to the Corvette, looked at his watch and said, ‘Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a reason for speeding that I’ve never heard before, I’ll let you go.’

The old gentleman paused and said, ‘Three years ago, my wife ran off
with a Florida State Trooper. I thought you were bringing her back.’

‘You have a good day, Sir,’ replied the trooper.

For the Picky Eater

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From Food Navigator

By Sarah Hills

Texture Dictionary Needed for New Sensations:

Comment: this article is for Stoggy, Kanin, William, Jack, Phoebe, Sam, Spencer, and Miss Kelly!

10-Jun-2008 – A standard language is needed to describe texture, according to National Starch, to help manufacturers understand the needs of consumers and increase speed to market of their products.

National Starch recently opened its new Texture Center of Excellence, in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Joseph Light, senior director of customer solutions and product innovation group, said that developing a set of texture definitions will be one of the aims of this center.

This would help translate descriptions such as “crispy” and “crunchy” and “creaminess” into clear technical sensory language. The idea is to ensure that customers and technical specialists each understand what the other is talking about.

Light told FoodNavigator-USA.com: “There is not really an industry standard when it comes to texture from a sensory perspective.

“We are trying to create a much more thorough lexicon for foods and link that to consumer understanding.

“We want to come up with some standardized methods which can be used around our organization and around the globe.

“Texture is not nearly as well understood as say flavor.”

According to Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD), 12 percent of new products launched in 2006 featured texture claims on the front panel, a 50 percent increase from 2003.

The Center of Excellence will host meetings with National Starch clients from across the globe to visit, not just the US. It aims to meet the growing industry need for texture understanding and control and help accelerate innovation and new product development. It includes a focus group room, testing booths and culinologists who will help introduce market place trends, such as fine dining, to the final product.

Light said that consumers want enhanced food quality and more textural sensations. There is also a market trend towards healthy eating, with the transition to more fiber fortified foods and the addition of nutrients.

National Starch products such as Hi-maize (used for breads, cookies and cakes) and NUTRIOS, for more liquid products such as sauce, add resistant starch and fiber to a food product, apparently without impacting the texture in a negative way.

However, Light added: “Many of our customers are looking for us to reduce cost in their over all supply chain and their formulation, replacing expensive ingredients and reducing cost.

“This is going to be a driver for us, at least in the near future, because of what has been seen with raw material prices.”

The Garden School Tattler

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It could not be a busier time than it is right now at school. Just getting ready for our first long excursion kept me hopping night and day. I wake up all night wondering how we are going to do this, or that, or how well this will work etc.

Friday’s trip to Louisville was a lot of fun, and worked out fairly well. It’s a difficult zoo to maneuver because the picnic spots are at the end of the zoo, which ultimately means returning to the entrance and carrying food through the zoo.

When we arrived, we broke into groups and took off for about an hour. My group saw the white – and he was very white – alligator, and the tigers ( there was a cub) and the baboon, and the bird house which is lovely, and the dragon, and the penguins who were in their “private moment.”

We climbed the hill and saw the snow leopard and the wolves, and then went up to the polar bear exhibit which was closed. Apparently, the polar bears were miserable in the heat, and were moved to another zoo. I hope for the summer. You know polar bears get hot at 40 degrees below zero, so our summers here would be most horrible for a polar creature!

We ran around like nuts looking for the zoo train to take us back to the entrance for lunch, and the kids really liked that. It went through a couple of tunnels and everyone loved the ride.

Then it was on to lunch. It was so hot, most of us wanted a cool drink and not much to eat. We tried a new dish – a pasta salad, and the kids ate more of this than the adults.

We then went to the water park to cool off. It was great fun, and most of the kids came out drenched. After somewhat figuring out shoes and socks, we took off to see the rest of the zoo. There was a nice breeze on the top of the hills, and we tried to hydrate with water as often as we could.

We saw the gorillas, the hippo was no where to be seen; we saw the camels, the elephants, the rhynos, and the giraffes. There was a family of some kind of deer with a new baby. They were out on their lawn enjoying the sun.

Louisville is a marvelous zoo, and I think aside from the heat, the kids had a good time. We had a long cool drink of lemon lime soda before we got onto the bus, and then it was straight home.

This week we will go to our own zoo and picnic in Newburgh.

The Difficult Ones

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Just got this email from my daughter Kate. She rescued a beautiful Siamese cat a year or so ago that had been mistreated and then left in a cage for 3 years. She has been working with this huge 20 pound cat to tame him down and make him a real pet. Like working with a naughty child, it’s a daily work of art. It takes patience and understanding 24/7. I thought it was funny and nicely written, and I’ve included it here to put a smile on your face:

Jasper and I just had a “moment.” Every day after work I put my stuff down, pet him….then we go into his room so I can give him a treat. Before he partakes of the treat, I lie down on the bed and he comes up to be petted. Today he lied down right next to me and put his head back, touching my chest and he just looked and looked at me. Of course I was telling him how handsome he was which I think he liked.

Then he got over stimulated and bit my face. But….it was nice while it lasted! LOL.

Fancy Nancy

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Every once in a while I get a post from a company with a new item.

This time a great gal, Janis, wrote to tell me about a new doll, clothes, and all kinds of wonderful just plain play things for girls.

I was enchanted by the things and wrote to Janis to say it’s about time we had some really cute things for the ladies to play with. Well, one message led to another, and Janis has sent the things in the pictures to the Garden School for us to try.

Please take time to visit our family dress up station to view these cute things which I hope will arrive shortly.

Red Wine Again

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Comment: Sooooooo after a long day with the kids it’s a healthy idea to pour a BIG glass of delicious red wine…

Low-dose resveratrol may slow ageing: for mice at least

By Stephen Daniells

04-Jun-2008 – Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine, may mimic the effects of calorie-restriction and inhibits various aspects of the ageing process, says a new study.

The study adds to a growing body of research linking resveratrol and red wine consumption to a range of beneficial health effects, including brain and mental health, and cardiovascular health.

Red wine and resveratrol have also been lauded as the answer to the “French paradox” as to why people who live in some regions of France where diets are soaked in saturated fats but washed down with a glass of rouge, but the incidence of heart disease is low.

Previous in vitro and in vivo studies with resveratrol suggest that the compound may help prevent the negative effects of high-calorie diets and has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer potential.

The situation is complicated however with critics of the compound noting that in order to gain such benefits from dietary sources, one would have to drink 350 to 1250 litres of red wine – a wholly inappropriate endeavour. Moreover, resveratrol supplements would not be effective since a daily dose in the region of 2500mg would be required to mimic the effects observed in other studies.

“Resveratrol is active in much lower doses than previously thought and mimics a significant fraction of the profile of caloric restriction at the gene expression level,” said researcher Tomas Prolla from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The amount of resveratrol in a bottle of red wine can vary between types of grapes and growing seasons, and can vary between 0.2 and 5.8 milligrams per litre. But nearly all dark red wines – merlot, cabernet, zinfandel, shiraz and pinot noir – contain resveratrol.

The new study, published in the open-access journal Public Library of Science One, suggests that low doses of resveratrol in the diet of middle-aged mice may influence on the genetic levers of aging and may confer special protection on the heart.

“Our findings that a low dose of resveratrol partially mimics calorie restriction at the gene expression level and leads to prevention of some age-related parameters suggests that clinical trials with resveratrol should be conducted to test the relevance of these findings to humans,” wrote lead author Jamie Barger from LifeGen Technologies in Wisconsin.

“Because cardiac disease is a major contributor to age-related mortality, positive findings could lead to a novel and important approach to improve the quality of human life.”

Vacation Materials for Worried Parents

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Comment: I thought this might be of interest to those families thinking of traveling sans kids.

I got this from Linda Kagan:

Judy, please place the promo code where you mention the 25% discount currently being offered.

Users must add the phrase SummerTravel (one word) in the promo code box on the credit card page to receive the 25% discount on all forms purchased on the site.

Thank you for including my site on your wonderful blog.

Linda Kagan

Despite economic concerns and rising gasoline prices, 70% of U.S. families intend to travel this summer, according to a new survey sponsored by ADlytics. However, shifts in demographics and lifestyles have broadened our definition of “family” and nuclear family travel is no longer the norm.

According to the 2006 Statistics for the Travel & Tourism Industry, 43% of weekend trips are taken by couples without their children. In addition, children are now more likely to travel with family members other than their parents:

20% of grandparents have been on a trip with their grandchildren in the past year and,
15% of singles have been on a vacation with their nieces, nephews or other young relatives in the past year

So how do you ensure that your children remain safe and protected while traveling without you? Forms4Parents.com is a website that allows parents to customize forms to their unique family situation and provide travel consents, temporary custodial authority and medical authorizations, with important medical information about your child along with emergency contacts and insurance information. This is all clarified in a comprehensive legal consent form designed for your family. The forms are prepared online and downloaded in a matter of minutes!

From now until Labor Day (Monday September 1, 2008) Forms4Parents.com
is offering 25% off your total purchase.

Launched in February 2008, Forms4Parents.com addresses the need to provide security for children and peace of mind for parents and guardians alike when traveling.

Created by mother and attorney Linda Kagan, Forms4Parents.com allows parents to customize consent forms to their unique family situation and specify travel authority, temporary custodial authority, medical authority with important information about your child along with emergency contacts and necessary insurance information.

Forms are separated individually by category and may be purchased individually or as packages such as Traveling Parents; Traveling with Relatives; Babysitter or Relatives Caring for Baby, Toddler or Children; Traveling Children & Teenagers (Domestic & International Travel); and Americans Living Abroad. Individual forms are priced at $16.95 and packages are $34.95.