For those of us experiencing extreme heat in our parts of the world right now, two items of note: The Extreme Heat Prevention Guide from the CDC. Includes useful tips on how to keep cool and how to recognize signs of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related ailments. (And don’t forget: Never leave your […]
Should parents be able to prevent their children from buying certain items in the school cafeteria? Newsweek reports on a new cafeteria checkout system that monitors what each child eats so that parents can view the information online. This could provide the opportunity for discussion about healthy eating choices, although it does seem a bit
A new federal law that took effect July 1 requires schools to meet certain wellness guidelines in an attempt to reduce childhood obesity. Schools must provide healthier meals, fewer sweets, and more physical activity. At the same time, as the Associated Press notes, the new rules don’t come with any consequences if schools don’t comply.
My son, like most preschoolers I know, goes through phases with his book, CD, and video interests. For the past few days, his video of choice has been Sesame Street’s Learning About Letters. I love this video. I was part of the first generation of children to grow up with Sesame Street, and many of
If you buy organic milk for your family, you may want to read this article about the corporate feedlot farms that are moving in on traditional small-scale organic dairies. The demand for organic milk has skyrocketed, and dairy corporations want in on it. They feed their cows organic grains, but don’t always provide the open
Amazon is now offering over 10,000 different non-perishable groceries online. This sounds useful for moms (and dads) in a number of ways: For hard-to-find items that local stores may not carry. Amazon has a good selection of natural and organic products, for example, as well as items like vegan and gluten-free foods. (My personal hard-to-find
Whether you prefer tenderloin or tofu, Memorial Day represents the official start of grilling season here in the U. S. (I’ve been known to stomp out to the grill in six inches of snow when the mood strikes, but that’s an exception.) This seems as good a time as any to suggest that people review
While I’m on a roll with the silly posts, here’s a review of The Twinkies Cookbook: An Inventive and Unexpected Recipe Collection from Hostess, courtesy of NPR. The collection includes such . . . ahem . . . delights as Twinkie Sushi and Twinkie Burritos. I think I’ll go bake a loaf of whole-wheat bread
We try to plant a garden each year, but they’re hit-or-miss affairs. Sometimes the beans grow, but not the squash, or vice versa. No matter how hard we try, we end up with too many tomatoes. Then there was the unfortunate period I call “The Year of the Ten Thousand Habaneros”. . . . Still,
My folks were visiting a few weeks ago, and gave me the chance to escape the house child-free one afternoon. I went down to a local bookstore (a major chain, which shall remain nameless), selected a title of interest, and sat down at their café for a drink. Normally, I tend to order coffee drinks,
