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Archive for June, 2010

Kids today need Healthy Foods and Snacks more than ever. Poor diet, junk foods, lack of physical and mental activity, cause lazy, over weight children with poor concentration/social skills as well as poor learning skills.

Here are a Few Ideas for Your Kids:

HEALTHY SNACK IDEAS FOR KIDS:

Introducing healthy eating habits to your kids is very important. Especially these days where take-out and drive throughs are very popular. Eating healthy foods and snacks is a very important factor in all children’s physical and mental development. Here are some ideas for fresh, tasty, healthy snacks in mid-afternoon and other times of the day.

Things you will need:

knife napkins celery cream cheese or peanut butter (or both) crackers olive slices raisins

Have chopped celery sticks on the table. Ask the children if they would like their celery filled with either cream cheese or peanut butter. If they don’t want any filling, don’t force it. Ask if they would like to decorate their cream cheese with olive slices or peanut butter with raisins.

Do the same as above with crackers. Great choices for crackers are Ritz, Breton, and/or Graham Crackers. Makes a Great, Healthy and Fun Snack for kids.

Have fresh juice, milk or water available to drink.

Circle Idea For Kids Using Balloons:

This Circle Idea should be implemented with children at least 3 years of age and up. Any children who are still in the stage of exploring sensory oraly need to be supervised with great caution. Balloons are serious choking hazards so please use caution when implementing the activities mentioned in this Circle Idea. It is a good idea to go over the safety issues with children so they understand the risks as well.

Opening Song: (sung to – Farmer in the Dell)

Hello to everyone, ( wave to children)

and how are you today?

We come to our circle time,

to laugh and sing and play.

And when you’re up you’re up, (hold hands in the air)

and when your down your down, ( place hands on floor)

and when your only half way up, (hold hands about chest level)

your neither up nor down. (throw your hands up and down quickly with words)

So roll your hands so slowly, (make fists with hands and roll about chest level like your punching a bag)

and roll your hands so fast, ( same action as above except fast)

give your hands a clap clap clap and fold them in your lap tap tap. (follow directions in this line)

Talk to the children about balloons and balloon safety. Ask open ended questions such as “Where have you seen balloons before?” “What different shapes and colours of balloons can you remember?” “Why or where do we use balloons?”

Have a bag of different shaped balloons with you. Blow up a balloon and talk about the shape and color of it. Ask, “What do you think will happen if I let it go?” ( let balloon go).

Blow up a different balloon and talk about the shape and colour of it. Ask “What do you think will happen if I pull the bottom blow whole tight and slowly let the air out?” (Make high pitch noise with balloon).

Then blow up a third balloon and talk about the shape and colour. Ask, “What do you think will happen if I hold the balloon and let the air come out by itself without touching the blow whole?” (Let the air out so it makes a low airy sound).

Have children stand up and sing The Balloon Song: (tune- Here We Go ‘Round The MulBerry Bush)

I’m a balloon can’t you see, can’t you see, can’t you see, I’m a balloon can’t you see so please do not pop me. (float/dance around like balloons)

I can fly and dance around, dance around, dance around, I can fly and dance around (stop dancing and say) “OH NO! YOU POPPED ME!”

Have the children pretend the air is going out of them and fly around like the balloons at circle time that lost their air.

Now have all the children sit down in a circle again and hold hands.

Then sing the “End of CircleSong” (tune-Skip to my Lou)

Shake hands with friends ’cause it’s time to go, Shake hands with friends ’cause it’s time to go, Shake hands with friends ’cause it’s time to go…..We’ll see you again next time.

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Everyone wants to have good, healthy skin. Aside from cosmetics and beauty products, vitamins and minerals are good sources to achieve the goal of having healthy skin. These vitamins and minerals can be obtained in the foods that you eat like vegetables and fruits. But if you do not like to eat fruits and vegetables, supplements in the form of tablets and capsules as well as liquid products can be obtained from the local stores and dealers. Just be careful in choosing it and always consult the experts like the doctor especially for the correct supplement dosage.

1. Vitamin A is essential for tissue repair and it also helps to strengthen the skin. Aside from these, it is also believed to help prevent acne and dry skin.

2. Vitamin E is an antioxidant effective in preventing free radicals to promote further damage on the skin. This is a very good treatment for skin damage caused by prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays.

3. Vitamin C is very effective in promoting would healing, strengthening the immune system as well as treating other types of skin damage. Actually, it is believed that it is also promotes skin rejuvenation.

4. Vitamin D is an essential antioxidant that plays a role of the skin’s pigmentation process.

5. Vitamin B complex is also needed in promoting a healthy skin aside from being the vitamin of choice for stress. Vitamin B1 is a good antioxidant and is needed to flush out toxins from the body. Vitamin B2 is good in preventing acne. Vitamin B3 is great in improving blood circulation while Vitamin B5 is effective in reducing stress. Finally vitamin B6 is essential for a strong immune system.

6. Zinc is very effective in promoting natural healing of the skin and for a strong immune system. Aside from this, it is believed that Zinc works to reduce production of oil in the skin thus preventing acne and pimples.

Healthy skin need not be done through complex regimen and expensive products. Knowing these vitamins and minerals that could enhance your skin’s health is enough to achieve that coveted flawless, good looking and healthy skin.

Toddlers are notorious for being picky eaters. I remember being so excited when my babies reached the age of 6 months and started experimenting with various foods – they loved food and loved to eat! As they got older, they were especially excited about food they saw us eating.

Fast-forward a few months, and all of a sudden they developed a mind of their own! Toddlers know what they like, and they know what they don’t like, and this is true for everything, from the clothes they wear to the foods they eat (or don’t eat, as the case may be).

The thing is, you can’t expect to reason with a toddler. They are not reasonable, and they are not supposed to be reasonable – they haven’t yet developed that ability. So it’s futile to say ” but it’s good for you” and it’s definitely never a good idea to try to force children to eat – this could lead to miserable battles, and even if you “win,” to a lifetime of food issues for your child.

Instead of reasoning, forcing or begging, try enticing. We all appreciate food when it’s presented in a way that appeals to our senses, and toddlers are no different. Since toddlers are very independent and love to feed themselves, one of the best ways to get them excited about food is to give them finger foods.

An ideal daily menu for toddlers should include about 3 ounces of grains, 2 cups of milk, 2 ounces of meat, beans or legumes, 1 cup of vegetables, 1 cup of fruit, and a tablespoon of fat and oils.

This is not a lot of food – in fact, if you were to take all the food your toddler eats in a day, it could easily fit on a dinner plate. The trick is to get your toddler to actually eat all those “good for you” foods voluntarily.

When searching for toddler meal ideas, the concept of finger foods comes up fairly often. This is because finger foods give toddlers a sense of control and independence, which are very important to them – so they tend to eat finger foods happily or at least are open to trying them.

For example, a simple toddler recipe that tends to become an immediate hit with most toddlers and is also very healthy, is to cut half an apple to slices and serve it to your toddler with a tablespoon of peanut butter for dipping, and a glass of milk. This simple meal, which your toddler is likely to eat happily, takes care of half of her milk, meat and fruit requirements for the day.

Another great toddler meal idea is to serve half a cup of baby carrots with a dip made

From either hummus (if your toddler will eat it) or cottage cheese.

A few more simple toddler finger food recipes and ideas:

1. String cheese is a huge favorite with toddlers. My toddlers used to like it so much that I was actually taken by surprise when they reached school age and decided that they don’t like it anymore! String cheese and a piece of fruit make a great meal for toddlers.

2. Cooked whole-wheat pasta of any shape, with a little olive oil and grated cheese on top.

3. Banana wrap. Warm a flour tortilla in the microwave for 10 seconds, spread with peanut butter and jelly, place a banana at the edge and roll over to make a wrap.

4. Mini “Pizza.” Spread catsup over half a mini-bagel (whole wheat is best), add shredded cheese and toppings (my kids used to love black olives) and warm in a 350-degrees oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese melts. Catsup is rich in anti oxidants and can be considered as a veggie serving. Try to find a brand that does not contain high fructose corn syrup.

5. Fish sticks. Either make them yourself or buy frozen ones. Serve with catsup or applesauce for dipping – toddlers love dips!

When planning a daily menu for toddler, it’s important to remember that all you need to do is offer a variety of healthy foods, and let your toddler decide how much she wants to eat. Don’t pressure your child to eat more than she wants to. Even if her diet seems out of balance on a particular day, usually it will balance out over the course of a week.

Alzheimer’s disease, or pre-senile dementia, is a progressive, degenerative brain disease which affects mental function, personality, and motor skills. In Alzheimer’s the brain tissue usually degenerates over a long period of time, and can takes many years to considerably alter the normal functioning of the brain. Alzheimer’s usually begins as a mild form of memory loss, common in older people, and is sometimes misdiagnosed as mild senile dementia.

Alzheimer’s, however, eventually leads to a total loss of memory. Since the disease progresses over a long period of time, it is normally in old age that a person really is affected by its characteristic symptoms. The neurological and nervous tissue in the affected person’s brain are destroyed to such an extent that most areas of the brain which perform as reservoirs for memory are functionally impaired, the person looses the ability to recall, and the affected person may not even be able to recognize members of his or her own family.

Herbs may be helpful in preventing Alzheimer’s. These include: alfalfa, beets, bell peppers, blueberries, Brazil nuts, brown rice, coffee, dandelion, flaxseed, ginkgo, gotu kola, rosemary, sage, shavegrass, Siberian ginseng, stinging nettle, turmeric, and willow. Also helpful may be supplements, or foods rich in: B Complex, B1, B3, B6, B12, C, calcium, E, folic acid, magnesium, and Selenium.

A healthy lifestyle may be useful for preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Avoid artificial sweeteners, unhealthy fats, and tobacco smoke. Also limit consumption of meat. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, & whole grains. Enjoy activities which requires mental exercise. That means stay away from television. Physical exercise also reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Some researchers believe there is a link between aluminum intake and Alzheimer’s, but recent studies seem to disprove this theory. Toxic levels of aluminum in the body, however, aren’t going to do anyone any good, so why take the chance. To reduce the risk of becoming aluminum toxic, avoid the following: aluminum cookware, baking powder, non dairy creamers, baby food, buffered aspirin, white flour, pop in aluminum cans, municipal water, acne medications, antacids, anti-diarrhea products, antiperspirants, deodorants, lipstick, skin cream lotions, toothpaste, any bread products with baking powder, processed cheese, pickles, salad dressings, and salt. Consume foods high in calcium as it reduces absorption of aluminum. A high fiber diet is also helpful. Other vitamins and minerals helpful for aluminum toxicity include: B complex, C, magnesium, E, lecithin, and selenium.

An ounce of prevention is normally worth a pound of cure. But in the case of Alzheimer’s disease, where there is no known cure, prevention is your only hope.

Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.

Even if your company has a successful product with very little competition, it’s important to stay on the defense. Getting too comfortable can leave you vulnerable to competitors – or, even worse, leave you unprotected if your product becomes obsolete. This process starts by shifting from a sales based approach to a marketing based approach, allowing you to focus more heavily on the customers’ current and future needs.

Defining your Business

When defining your business, it’s important to have an open mind. For example, a car manufacturer may choose to expand their business from automobiles to transportation – looking at new ways to address customers’ needs. Having a vague or outdated definition of your business can negatively impact the future of your company and severely limit growth opportunities.

Reshaping your Focus

Companies need to think about customers in a new way. Often times, companies are focused on sales efforts which directly impact revenue. However, understanding the customers’ unique needs, and addressing them through marketing efforts, will do a better job of driving results.

Piggybacking on New Innovation

New technology that makes a company’s core products irrelevant or obsolete often feels devastating. However, this should be a welcomed opportunity for businesses, allowing them to tap into new customer needs, or even serve an untapped market segment. This can also reduce the amount of time a company spends at the drawing board coming up with new products designed to sustain and grow a company.

Watching for Signals of a Changing Industry

According to the Harvard Business Review’s article “Marketing Myopia,” there are four factors that can indicate that turbulent conditions may be ahead. Here’s a quick breakdown:
There isn’t any competition for your product. Once your product gains popularity, competitors will quickly swoop in to cash in on the new “needs” created by the product. Your product serves an affluent client base. This gives businesses a false illusion that their product is safe from the highs and lows of market conditions. Having too much confidence in pricing the product lower, and selling more volume. This creates a disproportionate focus on sales instead of marketing efforts. These two components need to be carefully balanced. Your product is reliant on scientific experimentation and improvement to continue to grow.
Focusing on Improving Efficiency

Many companies focus on improving efficiency in hopes that larger profits and growth will follow. However, this can be a mistake for companies if it results in neglecting other important areas, such as focusing on marketing efforts or improving their generic product for future growth. Striking a balance between these factors will produce the best results.

Breaking a False Sense of Security

Often times, when a company creates a product that appeals to an affluent consumer base, they feel overly confident in the success of their business. This lack of focus can open up opportunities for other competitors to create products that appeal to the customers’ needs.

Also, some companies have the misconception that their product is “indispensable.” Although you might not see an immediate substitute for your product, it’s important to not get too comfortable. New developments in the market can quickly make your core product irrelevant, which will result in a downward spiral of profits.

Evaluating Mass Production

As a product gains popularity, often times a company will ramp up production to drive down per unit cost. However, companies should be careful about managing this process. This also creates a high amount of pressure to “move” the product. This attitude can shift the focus of staff to sales, rather then marketing the product to drive sales. This process is important because selling focuses on meeting the needs of your company, while marketing addresses the needs of the consumer. And, ultimately what drives growth is the connection consumers feel with your product.

Creating an Emotional Connection with Consumers

When a consumer is purchasing a product, they need to be able to connect with the item. For example, products that consumers “have” to buy instead of “want” to buy lack emotional appeal. For this reason, it’s important to approach these products differently. For example, buying gas for your car isn’t always pleasurable, but getting more gas mileage or another added benefit can create an emotional connection. This will drive growth in sales, and create enhanced profitability.

Creating Better Marketing Campaigns

Focusing on creating more creative advertising strategies and sales promotional strategies can protect your product from competition, and help establish a unique position for new products. Often times, when exploring these strategies, companies will discover they haven’t asked basic marketing and sales questions.

Changing the way your company thinks about marketing can give your business a competitive edge in the marketplace. Also, understanding that even though your company has a strong position in the marketplace right now – it’s possible for that to change anytime. Investing resources in marketing will help protect and grow your company in the future.

Resource:

Theordore Levitt. “Marketing Myopia.” Harvard Business Review.

Brain foods are so important to both adults and children. Many people focus on sugar rushes that may give you a burst of physical energy, but it is short lived while it plays havoc on your brain function.

What you eat does affect your brain performance. You can subdue your brain activity by snacking on high-carbohydrate foods and consuming sugars, or you can enhance your brain attentiveness by including brain foods as healthy snacks in your day to day diet.

The secret of increasing your brain power is to eat brainfood regularly, to be physically active and to do mental exercises from time to time.

Here are some foods that will enhance your brain activity…

Blueberries–Research has proven that consumption of blueberries can reverse memory loss and this food is even used to treat mental-related disorders and diseases. They make a great snack that people of all ages enjoy. Tomatoes–Tomatoes are a wonderful snack and they come in so many varieties. While some may not like a sliced tomato, cherry tomatoes, pear tomatoes and grape tomatoes are hard to resist. Tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant the shields the body against radical damage to brain cells. Walnuts–Walnuts are high in Omega 3 fatty acid which contributes to the health of your nervous system. You can also get this nutrient from fish which also contains iodine to improve your brain’s clarity and focus. Fish may not make an easily accessible healthy snack, but walnuts are easy to keep around for snacking. Peanuts–Peanuts are a fabulous source of vitamin E, minerals, amino acids and carbohydrates which combined are known to sharpen one’s memory. They are great to snack on alone, or mixed with other healthy snacks in a trail mix. Broccoli–Broccoli is an excellent source for vitamin K. It is considered a brain food because of its ability to improve or restore cognitive activity. It is commonly recommended to people who have experienced brain injury.

Learning to feed your brain with healthy snacks such as these will improve your energy, your cognitive ability and your mental alertness. Staying mentally and physically active combined with this eating style will drastically improve your quality of life.

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