From Vimeo, even I’d take time to eat a proper breakfast if it was this fun. Forget TV, forget the computer, just give me a beat machine made of bread and fruit.
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healthy eating
Pay Attention To What You Feed Your Kids. Maybe Even Occasional Treats Should Be Reconsidered.
I generally eat pretty well, though like most others I indulge myself in the occasional treat. While personally McDonalds doesn’t factor into that list of indulgences, I know that many a child gets more than an occasional Happy Meal craving.
A recent post over at Boing Boing will likely change your mind about giving in. Some lady has apparently saved a McDonald’s hamburger for 12 years (I know what you’re thinking) and you can hardly tell its not fresh. Her 1996 hamburger has somehow preserved itself, meat, bun and all without any apparent ill effects.
I pity the children whose parents take advantage of dollar menus and such… kids who need to somehow extract nutrients from crap like this in order to grow up “big and strong.”
Sure, this may have been faked, but is it worth taking the chance with your children? I don’t know about you, but McDonald’s is going to stay off my treat list until I’m a little closer to being embalmed.
Canada.com Lifestyle Offers 10 Environmentally Friendly Things You Can Do For Your Kids
This article actually has 10 suggestions, vs the healthy eating post from earlier today.
I’d suggest that this one might prove as beneficial for the parents as it will for the kids. We all know that once a child gets something in his/her head it’s difficult to reprogram them. I can still remember harrassing my parents about recycling back in the day. As such, these little items may not only help your kids in the near term, but also the planet in the near and long term.
So, the list… here we go:
- Don’t drive the kids to school if possible. Walk or bike with them both to and from. Not only will this encourage them to be environmentally friendly, but it will get them in shape and let you spend time with them outdoors.
- If you live in an area with high smog or allergen concentrations be sure to monitor those levels and keep your kids inside when they’re too high. You may have the urge to send the kids outside to play, but in some cases it can do them more respiratory harm than good.
- Make sure their plastic toys don’t include PVC plastic – or any of the other recently recalled plastics for that matter.
- Don’t spoil them with gifts and toys. Kids can make their own fun, and if you don’t pile them with toys it may just encourage their creativity… something that will serve them well later in life.
- Eat organic. There are some suggestions that the hormones added to meats that we regularly consume are serving to accelerate children’s development. The last thing your kid needs is to grow up physically before they’re mentally ready.
- Avoid high fat, high chemical processed foods. ‘Nuff said.
- Use natural health and beauty products. Why use chemical-filled soaps and shampoos when natural alternatives are reasonably priced and readily available these days?
- Avoid toxins in the house where possible. Your children find their way into the craziest places… so why tempt fate?
- Use cloth diapers rather than disposable diapers. If you must use disposable, make sure they’re as environmentally friendly as possible. Sure its more work, but think about the extent to which those tossed diapers are polluting the environment. Don’t be selfish.
- Teach them to love nature. I stole that one directly
You can find the article here.
CBC Offers 10 Ways To Get Your Kids Eating Healthy
Nothing like a top 10 list to ease the pressure of posting, particularly when its referencing content posted elsewhere
In this case elsewhere is CBC.ca and the content is a number of recommendations to get your children to choose healthy foods rather than junk.
A few examples (paraphrased from the article):
- The obvious – avoid fast-food and don’t keep junk food easily accessible around the home.
- Serve reasonable portions so your kids aren’t tempted to eat themselves unhealthy.
- Where possible, include vegetables in the foods served.
- Don’t use junk food as a reward… and if you are going to serve it, serve it early in the day so they can burn it off before bedtime.
- If your kids won’t eat what’s offered, send them to bed hungry. They’ll learn.
Strangely I didn’t get ten suggestions out of this one, but perhaps there are a few that I missed. Have a look for yourself.