BEWARE THOSE LINGERING COLD & FLU GERMS

Spring is near, but cold and flu season is still here. Don’t let down your guard. Keep those bugs away with healthy habits.

• Wash your hands. Cold and flu viruses often creep inside your body by way of your hands to your face. Keep your hands clean by thorough washing, with soap and lots of water. Use hand sanitizer in between. It works.


• Use the sanitizer setting on your dishwasher. Get your glassware, dishes and utensils germ-free.


• Be aware of potentially hazardous surfaces – door knobs, phones, computer keyboards. The tops of desks at work are notorious. Use sanitizer wipes as needed.
  
• Don’t get too close to sneezy, sniffly people. Some things you don’t want to share.


• Stay dry and warm. Spring showers may bring flowers, but they can also chill you, which may make you more vulnerable to viruses. Use common sense.
  
• Keep your immune system strong. Get the right foods, especially those with Vitamin C and antioxidants, to keep your body’s protective system strong. Citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes and green vegetables are good sources of many key nutrients.


• Get a good night’s sleep. Yes, you still need about 8 hours, and children and teens need more. Don’t short yourself on nature’s great healer and soother. A sleep deficit can accumulate slowly and leave you worn out.

Goodbye, Pyramid. Hello, Plate.

The Obama administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have launched a new guide for healthy eating, dumping the familiar but confusing Food Pyramid. The new symbol is a plate with four sections, the two larger ones for vegetables and grains, and the two medium-sized ones for fruits and protein. A smaller circle on the upper right side, like a moon, represents dairy products.

The name of the new symbol? MyPlate, of course. The website? http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
We are pleased to see the new graphic, having previously suggested the idea on our own websites. Other organizations have offered the healthy plate concept, too. For kids, it makes a lot of sense to see what and how much to eat. For all of us, the daily reminder to eat vegetables and fruits is worthwhile. As we eat more health-promoting foods (especially high-fiber vegetables and fruits), we eat less of the fattening processed carbs and high-fat meats and treats. This new concept supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign to combat childhood obesity, an initiative that we wholeheartedly endorse.

For the grains, the USDA notes that the hearty portion on the plate should be at least one-half whole grains. We would suggest more.

For dairy, the USDA advises nonfat and low-fat. This could include milk and yogurt

Two more tips from the USDA:

Check sodium levels and choose lower-sodium foods

Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Plus another tip from us:

Use a smaller plate to control portion size and thus calories. An 8-inch diameter plate, for instance, holds about 36 percent less food than a 10-inch plate.

Also be aware that eating and preparing food with your family promotes healthier eating patterns.

Kid’s Nutrition!!!

I’m so happy to share my new kid’s website at jaspersfoodiefriends.com with all of you! I hope you and your families will love my approach to making nutrition entertaining for kids! I developed these characters over the years after seeing how my daughter was teaching her kids to eat healthy and how the lessons I once taught her she was now teaching her children. There are characters, animation, games, lesson plans and so much to learn with the Superfoodies and our quirky guide Jasper. Make it a Superfoodie adventure with all your friends and family! Have fun, get healthy, and have loads of energy for school and play.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

We hope the season is happy and healthy for all. Bringing in 2011 giving and feeling grateful for all we have is a wonderful way to start the year and end the year! One thing we are especially grateful for is our men and women in the military. We want to let them know we honor and support them all year long
We are also very grateful to have become associated with The Alliance for a Healthier Generation this past year. Our lesson plans are downloaded all over the world! Heather and I have been working diligently to help kids learn nutrition at an early age.
Health & Happiness
Chris

ALLIANCE FOR A HEALTHIER GENERATION APPROVES OUR LESSON PLANS!

We received some exciting news recently -- our lesson plans have been approved by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, which was founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation to combat childhood obesity. Specifically, we can say: “The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has approved the ChrisSare4Kids.com lesson plans to be included in the Healthy Schools Resource Database used by schools enrolled in their Healthy Schools Program.”
We feel very gratified that our concept has received such prestigious recognition. Much of the credit goes to our education consultant, Heather S. Kahn, who has a multiple-subject clear Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) credential with a multicultural emphasis, as well as a bachelor’s degree in biology. A proud mother of two sons, Heather has used many of her teaching strategies, lesson plans, and activities featured on ChrisSare4Kids.com at home and hopes to inspire a healthy lifestyle and eco-awareness with her children and other families. Visit our website and use these materials at home and at school for your family's health. Together, we can build a healthier generation.

COOL SUMMER SALADS

This summer I have enjoyed having family and friends over and making salads filled with fresh fruit, such as mangos, papaya, avocado, pears, grapefruit and oranges, along with walnuts or pecans and grilled chicken or grilled salmon.
Add raspberry or lemon vinaigrette and you have a powerful meal packed with nutrients including Vitamin C, beta-carotene, potassium, zinc and more. Instead of lettuce, I use spinach leaves combined with other greens. You can add shredded carrots and low-fat cheese if you like.
This salad, with its Omega 3’s and beta-carotene, is also great for your hair and skin. Papaya has Vitamin K, which is necessary for normal blood clotting and helps your body absorb calcium, which especially important for people at risk for osteoporosis. Raspberry is full of fiber and Vitamin C. Enjoy summer’s bounty. It not only tastes good, but it’s good for you.

June 2010

Summer is here and hopefully that gives us more time to spend with our families. In addition to reading outdoors under a shady tree with my grandsons, we’ll also be playing soccer, baseball and basketball and just running around. Boys are full of energy! My oldest grandson is taking swimming lessons, which I have to admit makes me very nervous. My little grandson is taking his first steps! We really enjoy taking the time to watch a sunset together, eating outdoors, and listening to each member tell a story about their day. Tucking my grandsons in bed at night is the perfect time for a make-believe story, cuddling and tenderness … they bring me so much joy.

Here are some summer tips!

• Remember heat slows the metabolism so you need fewer calories. Also alternate your cardio workout with swimming; you will enjoy the change and enjoy doing it with your family. This is also a great time to rev up your metabolism twice a day. Try doing half of your cardio in morning and the other half in the evening. It’s a great way to keep your metabolism charged.
  
• Good nutrition is key! Eat for fuel.
  
• Stay hydrated. I cannot stress how important it is to drink water and lots of it. Your skin will glow!
  
• Exercise properly to avoid heat exhaustion and remember to rest more often -- along with staying hydrated.
  
• Now is the time for biking, hiking and many outdoor activities. Consider modifying your routine and work out outdoors.
  
• Sunscreen. I can’t stress enough how important it is to use your sunscreen and spread it on liberally. Using too little is like diluting it and leaves you unprotected. Also, if swimming, reapply each time you get out of water. If you’re working up a sweat, you also need to reapply your sunscreen.
  
• Add a little extra salt to replace sodium lost in perspiration. Eat more nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables. They supply water and potassium.
  
• For protein, try eating more fish, soy and lentils.
  
• For a refreshing drink, have water with fresh orange slices, fresh strawberries, fresh mint, and crushed ice. Your family will enjoy it all summer long.