Kids Corner

Silly Faces. Sometimes it is okay to play with your food! Here is a great activity that allows you to play with your food. Take a paper plate and decorate with fresh fruits and vegetables to create a face. Carrots, kiwi, cucumbers, grapes, bananas, star fruit, strawberries are perfect for this project. You can even use dried fruits and nuts. Take a picture of your silly face and then eat. While you are eating your silly face, submit your picture to www.healthyfamilyhome.org.

Hey Kids! Here is a quick snack that you can make and everyone will enjoy. Wash some fresh grapes, put them into a freezer bag, and freeze them. When it gets hot outside, eat this nice cool refreshing snack.

Ask the Food Dude – Nutritionist

Why is Omega-3 good for me?

Research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help prevent risk factors associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. These essential fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be particularly important for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioral function. Omega-3 fatty acids, also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), are considered to be essential fatty acids, but the body cannot produce them. So omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from foods. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, certain plants, and nut oils. Omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish, in particular fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon, at least 2 times a week. There are products available at the grocery store where omega-3 fatty acids have been added, for example butter/oleo, yogurt, pasta, and milk. Check them out the next time you go shopping.

Family Time

August is the perfect time to get the family’s body and minds back into the swing of things. How about taking turns planning a family scavenger hunt? One person from the family can plan a different “themed” hunt each week. Here’s what to do:

First decide what you want to be found on the scavenger hunt; come up with at least 10-20 items.
Here are some example scavenger hunt themes:
1. Find nature in our “back yard.” This could be your neighborhood, or a local park. Your list could include “things that grow”: a yellow flower, a blade of grass, a leaf from a tree, and a pine needle.
2. Walk in the neighborhood and base your list on people or objects related to physical activity: a runner, a walker, a swing set, a bicycle, a baseball, a lawn mower, a tricycle, etc.
3. Search for animals: bird, cat, dog, mouse, rabbit, butterfly, etc.
Along the way during the scavenger hunt sing songs together!

Fun with Fruits and Vegetables

Does a plant come from an egg? No. Eggplant, which is also known as Aubergine, grows on a vine, just like a tomato. Eggplant is an odd -looking veggie that comes from the nightshade family, which is the toxic family! Although eggplant is not toxic, it still retains some of the typical nightshade bitterness, especially the round ring at the bottom of the vegetable. The best season for eggplant is the summer. Eggplants come in different sizes and colors, such as orange or white. The most common colored eggplant is dark purple. What is common to all eggplants is their spongy interior. This spongy part melts together into a smooth mass when it is cooked. Be careful when cooking eggplant because this spongy part soaks up liquid well, so precook the eggplant or add salt to sliced eggplant to draw out the water. When buying eggplants, make sure they are fairly hard, without blemishes, and nice and shiny with tense skin. Eggplant should be stored at room temperature, as they normally grow in a hot climate and the cold will deteriorate their flavor and offset their color. Eggplant goes well with just about anything, so be adventurous and experiment. Classic additions to eggplant includes ingredients such as basil, cheese, garlic, herbs like thyme or rosemary, black pepper, onion or shallot, tomatoes, and olive oil. Try to spice things up with your eggplant!

Ask the Play Ground Guru

Does a good night sleep help me perform better in daily activities?

Yes it does! Sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Getting good sleep helps you to feel your best during the day. Sleep not only affects how you feel, it affects your ability to learn and obtain new information, quality of life and your mood. Did you know that when you are sleeping, your brain is still working? While you sleep, it is saving the day’s activities into memory. Sleep also reenergizes the body for the next day. You can start good sleep habits tonight.

Remember a good night’s sleep:

Kids between the ages of 3–5 years old need 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night
Kids between the ages of 5–12 years old need 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night
Create a restful environment that is cool, quiet and dark
Have a nighttime ritual to help your body and mind relax and unwind from the day
Most importantly, go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends

Meal Ideas

Cook whole wheat pasta, add chopped eggplant to your tomato sauce and serve. If whole wheat pasta is new to your family and not going over well, try using a 50/50 combination to slowly introduce whole wheat pasta. Give it a few weeks and everyone will enjoy the healthier swap.

Meat is not the only thing that can be marinated, so can vegetables! Cut up vegetables that you can grill, such as eggplant, zucchini, peppers and yellow squash. Place the cut up vegetables into a plastic zip lock bag and pour low-fat Italian dressing in the bag. Marinate vegetables in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour. Place veggies on metal skewers or on aluminum foil and grill.