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Health

Want to Lose Weight? Sleep!

March 29, 2011

If you’re having trouble losing weight, it could be because you’re not sleeping enough.

Scientists have discovered that you can double your chances of achieving your weight loss goal if you get between six and eight hours of sleep a night.

Any more than that is too inactive and any less increases stress levels and increases cravings for unhealthy food, the study suggests.

People trying to lose at least 10 pounds were more likely to reach that goal if they had lower stress levels and slept moderately.

Nearly 500 adults took part in the study by Kaiser Permanente, in Portland, USA, with an average age of 55 and all of whom suffered from obesity.

Getting a healthy amount of sleep, avoiding stress and following a weight-loss plan (such as keeping a food diary) seem to boost the odds of success, according to a new study.

Those involved in the study were asked to attend counseling sessions, cut 500 calories a day and exercise at least three hours a week. They also had to keep a diary of their habits including sleep patterns and stress levels.

After six months, 60 per cent of the participants had lost at least 10 pounds. The successful dieters were more likely to report that they slept between six and eight hours each night.

Almost three quarters of dieters who had both low stress levels and six to eight hours sleep a night were likely to achieve the 10 pound weight loss target. They were also twice as likely to be successful as participants who reported the highest stress levels and got six or less hours sleep a night.

The study is published in the International Journal of Obesity.

Motherhood

My Boys Are Growing Up

March 28, 2011

My boys are growing up.

Obviously I know this but it really sunk in over the last few days.

Last night, while I was giving the boys a bath, I stopped – all thoughts and chatter in my mind – and just watched them. My mind almost saw their cute little faces morph into those of teenage boys and I couldn’t help but tear up.

Then my moment was interrupted when The Boss said:

“Mommy, when I grow up I want to marry you.”

Heart melt.

“I love you baby. But when you grow up you’re going to marry someone else.”

Pause.

“When we grow up, are you going to have other kids?”

I was floored.

“No, honey. I’ll still be with you when you grow up. You and Daniel will always be my babies.” I said.

And with that, I started to cry.

“Why are you crying mommy?” The Boss asked.

“Because you’re growing up so fast,” I replied.

I want them to be kids forever.

I want to cherish this moment forever.

I want that image of them, like this, at this age, etched forever in my brain so that I can pull from my memory whenever I want to relive these precious moments.

It left me feeling terribly sad.

“Do you want us to stay kids?”

I nodded.

“Do you miss when we were babies?”

I nodded again.

“Mommy don’t worry, I’m only 6 ½,” The Boss reassured me.

“It’s ok mommy, I won’t grow up too fast,” The Destroyer chimed in.

Heart melt.

This was just another reminder that I need to slow down and enjoy these precious moments amidst the chaos of our lives.

Because it all really does go by too fast.

My hope is that my boys will always remain close to me. And although I realize this may not be the case, I know I will try my absolute best to make sure that I am nearby.

Motherhood

Mommy: The Really Useful Engine

March 28, 2011

by Julie Green

It was the nicest compliment I’d received in a long time. Not foxy. Not clever. Not kind, even. But really useful. For those of you unfamiliar with Thomas the Tank Engine, allow me to enlighten your poor sheltered lives for a moment. Thomas, based on a series of old books by Rev. W Awdry, tells the tale of a little blue steam engine from a little island remarkably like Britain, only sunny. For some odd reason, Thomas and his ‘steamie’ friends are positively revered by the under-four set. And my two-and-a-bit-year-old is no exception to this enduring trainspotting obsession. He knows every engine by heart according to its colour and number. He asks to watch Misty Island Rescue at least five times a day and, I’m slightly loathe to admit, can recite whole sections of the film verbatim. If you have a girl, count yourself lucky. But then, I guess payback comes with puberty…

If, on the other hand, you haven’t heard of Thomas, you’ve obviously been living under some quaint rock in the Gulf of Mexico, and frankly I’m jealous. The Thomas franchise is thriving, to say the least. The cost of the full wooden railway set will make your eyes water. Not to mention the DVDs, books, CDs, T-shirts, shoes, toddler beds, bedding… You name it, and Thomas is probably steaming all the way to the bank on it. He’s my son’s first superhero crush, and I suppose he could do worse. Thomas is known as ‘the cheeky one’, and even though he tends to goes about it the wrong way, he’s always trying to be useful. Usefulness, you see, is next to godliness on the quasi-British island of Sodor.

Which leads me back to the compliment. The other day when my son declared for no good reason, ‘Mommy is a really useful engine’, I (no pun) stopped in my tracks. Talk about nailing it. Talk about kids being perceptive. Really, I could hardly argue with him. Most days I feel exactly like that machine, chugging thanklessly from one task to the next. And yet I knew in my son’s limited estimation, being ‘useful’ was a compliment of the highest order, and I was tickled for the recognition. So, at least he isn’t taking the endless diaper changes, cooked meals, and laundry loads for granted.

But toddlers by their very nature are tempestuous and contradictory. One moment there will lovely cuddles, the next whining and sprawled-on-the-floor tantrums to rival the likes of Naomi Campbell. The other day, though, was a first for us. And as firsts go, it’s one I’m not proud to admit. He tore a brand-new library book. I was mortified. My son. Tore. A. Book. I had to breathe in the bag. Where did he learn such destruction? Was it an innate impulse? Here, in our very own book-worshipping household, he ripped a freshly illustrated page…

And yet he is inexplicably sensitive and will cry at the slightest thing. Like when he hears the song ‘Home on the Range’, which just so inconveniently happens to be on many children’s CDs. What’s so offensive about this song, anyway? Beats the heck out of me. I can think of many songs off the top of my head that make me want to cry (Bieber), but none of them are about buffalo or antelopes.

So the next time he’s writhing on the floor or throwing his dinner overboard, I’m going to smile and recall my usefulness. And the time he announced at the dinner table — without prompts or bribes, I might add — ‘Mommy, I love you’. Forget the Bieber, that was music to my ears. Now, if only I can find a way to record such utterings, for playback when he turns 16…

Julie M Green (aka Little Green Mom) is a novelist and freelance writer who rants and raves about all things mommy at Little Green One. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two-year-old son, Jackson. Visit www.juliemgreen.ca or follow her on Twitter.

Food

Surprising Foods You Think Are Good For You But Aren’t So Healthy

March 27, 2011

Some health-food masqueraders can fool even the savviest shoppers and people who pride themselves on their nutritional know-how.

A new report in the April 2011 issue of ShopSmart magazine, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, unveils some foods that may seem good for you but aren’t necessarily—and advice on truly healthful foods to choose instead.

“Don’t let seemingly healthful foods derail your diet,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “If you think you’re making a good choice by having a bran muffin or trail mix for breakfast instead of a bowl of cereal, you could be undermining your health—with lots of fat—and sabotaging your waistline—with excess calories.”

Here is a sampling of ShopSmart’s unhealthy health foods and what to try instead:

VEGETABLE CHIPS: Their colors may be mesmerizing, but they’re usually high in calories and fat and they don’t count as a serving of vegetables. TRY THIS instead: Have some air-popped popcorn or dried veggies. Try the Just Tomatoes brand of dried vegetables because they have no added fat, salt, or anything else.

GRANOLA CEREAL: It’s usually high in sugar, fat, and calories and relatively low in vitamins and minerals. There are about 400 calories in a cup. TRY THIS instead: Have a bowl of an airy, oat-based cereal, like Cheerios, which topped ShopSmart’s last tests of kid-friendly cereals. For extra crunch and sweetness, add just a sprinkling of granola on top.

TURKEY HOT DOGS: A lot of turkey hot dogs are surprisingly high in fat, and some are even higher in fat than regular hot dogs. They also might contain loads of sodium and nitrates. TRY THIS instead: A turkey breast sandwich is a better choice. But if you’re really craving that hot dog, read packages and go for the turkey version with the least fat.

VITAMIN INFUSED WATERS: While vitamin infused waters do have some added nutrients, they’re often loaded with sugar and sometimes caffeine. TRY THIS instead: Have plain old H2O with a squeeze from a lemon, lime or orange slices.

WRAP SANDWICHES: They’re usually huge— enough for two people sometimes—and high in calories and sometimes fat. White flour tortillas often have 300 to 400 calories alone, and offer little nutritional value. TRY THIS instead: Have a sandwich on whole-grain or whole-wheat bread. When shopping for bread, make sure whole grain is first on the ingredient list.

COUSCOUS: Just like white pasta, regular couscous is a processed, refined grain with little nutritional value. TRY THIS instead: Buy whole-wheat couscous or opt for a whole grain like quinoa or brown rice.

News

Earth Hour: What You Can Do With Your Kids During Earth Hour

March 26, 2011

On Saturday, March 26 at 8:30pm, we are all being asked to turn off our lights for Earth Hour.

Around the world, people will participate in Earth Hour, a global event organized by World Wildlife Fund, and making the symbolic gesture of showing they support a cleaner world by switching off lights and power for an hour.

This simple and amazing idea of going dark and unplugging for an hour to drive action on climate change began in Australia in 2007.

This year it’s expected that well over 1 billion people in over 145 countries will take part.

So turn off the lights and unplug – it’s also about shutting down all those power-hungry electronic devices that have become such an integral part of our lives, including the television and computer.

What can we do with our kids during Earth Hour?

It’s a great opportunity to talk to our kids about electricity, saving energy, our earth.

You can show the kids your electricity meter and work out how much less electricity you use during Earth Hour.

Do your kids need reminding to turn the lights off after leaving a room? Leaving the TV on? Earth Hour is a great opportunity to talk about cutting back on power usage every day.

Talk to your kids about global warming. Sitting in the dark by candlelight is a good time to discuss this issue and how we all can make a difference!

Did you know that an empty freezer uses up more energy than a full one? If you have empty space in your freezer, fill empty containers 2/3^rd full with water and put them in your freezer. The ice will keep the temperature inside allowing your freezer to use less energy.

Unplug all of your appliances, even if they aren’t being used, like the toaster or coffee maker.

Think about setting your furnace lower by one or two degrees at night.

For more information see the official Earth Hour website and follow the link to find your local site.

Do you plan on sitting in the dark this Saturday night?

Motherhood

Blogging About Our Kids: How Much Do You Share?

March 23, 2011

Last week, there was quite the outrage and controversy with respect to a post of a mother who admitted in her blog that she loved her son more than her daughter.

I won’t go into all the details of the post but there was one particular paragraph that left me feeling disturbed and quite sad, actually.

The responses to the blogger’s post were overwhelming. Some folks were understanding. Others were horrified.

Many said the blogger should not have published the post for the sake of her daughter, who may read her mother’s words one day.

Questions being hurled around: did the blogger think of the consequences of publishing that post? Did she imagine that her daughter may read her mother’s true feelings about her? Does she truly feel this way???

But it also triggered the question, what kind of privacy do we owe our kids?

Do we have the right to air out our every feeling, thought, emotion, experience about our children for the world to read, judge and comment?

What if what we write about them when they are too young to understand, comes back to haunt us when they are older?

It might.

It might not.

This puts a whole lotta power into the hands of parents, doesn’t it?

Some bloggers don’t post photos of their kids while others change their names to protect their privacy.

Others spill it all on the internet… because this is who they are. They are truthful bloggers who feel their writing is an art form, and art has no restrictions.

But is it for hits? Shock value? To build their name? Or purely for the love of blogging?

Would some things be best left for a personal diary, journal or even therapy?

What do you think? Do you limit yourself to the content you blog about?

News

Kids Should Stay in Car Seats Longer

March 23, 2011

The American Academy of Pediatrics published new recommendations Monday citing strong evidence that children are safer remaining in rear-facing car seats until age two, and in booster seats as late as age 12.

The research reference in the journal, Pediatrics, shows that children under two who ride in rear-facing child restraints are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash.

Along with keeping kids in rear-facing seats until age two, the academy also suggests children remain in a seat with a five-point safety harness until they reach the weight and height limit of that harness. For older kids, the academy says children should use boosters until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall, likely between the ages of 8 and 12 years old.

This is a significant change from the prior recommendations, which called for babies to stay in rear-facing seats until they were at least one years old and 20 pounds. Rear-facing seats offer more support to the head, neck and spin of infants and toddlers in a crash.

The rate of deaths due to motor vehicle crashes in children under age 16 fell 45 percent between 1997 and 2009, according to background information in the article.

Yet motor vehicle accidents are still the leading cause of death for children ages 4 and older. Each year, more than 1,500 children under age 16 are killed annually in motor vehicle accidents. And for every death, some 18 children are hospitalized and 400 are hurt seriously enough to require medical attention, according to the article.

The recommendations also say that a forward-facing car seat with a harness offers more protection than a booster seat, while a booster seat is better than a seat belt alone.

Kids should be kept in a forward-facing car seat as long as possible, even through age eight if their weight or height is under the limit allowed by their child safety seats, according to the new guidelines. Studies show that the car seats reduce the risk of child injury up to 82 percent and the risk of death by 28 percent, compared to wearing seat belts.

Parents are also advised to keep older children in a booster seat, which properly positions the seat belt, until they’re 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between the ages of 8 and 12. The average child reaches that stature sometime after age 10, Hoffman said.

Booster position the seat belt so that the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder and keeps it off the neck or face, while the lap belt fits low and snug on the hips and upper thighs, not across the soft tissue of the belly.

Prior research shows booster seats can reduce the risk of injury by 45 percent in 4- to 8-year olds compared to kids of that age in seat belts.

Children should ride in the backseat until they are 13 years old, since studies have shown this reduces the risk of injury by 40 to 70 percent, the AAP added.

Fashion

What are the Trends for Spring and Summer 2011?

March 22, 2011

Trying to make sense of fashion trends? Most of us want to look nice and presentable and every now and then want to look current. So read on to find out what is “in” this Spring!

Spring 2011 Colour Trends

There was an abundance of WHITE on the runway this Spring. But in addition to white, a pretty array of exotic colours was shown at all shows this year. One of the best ways to pull together your wardrobe is to look for existing items in your closet and pair them with one or some of these trendy colours.

An Exotic Journey

The Pantone Color Institute cites exotic destinations like Africa, India, Peru and Turkey as inspiration for spring 2011.

The colors that designers have chosen for the spring season present an interesting blend of unexpected warm and cool tones. Combining complementary colors, those that are opposites on the color wheel, create a striking intensity to the palette. So go ahead and pair existing pieces in colors traditionally associated with fall, with new favorites to punch up your springtime wardrobe!

Spring 2011 Fashion Trends

Pretty in Pink

Blush & bashful color schemes were very popular on the orunways. Look for pieces, especially dresses and shoes in light pinks, honeysuckles and nudes. Flowy fabrics make this style even more girly.

That Seventies Trend!

It’s HUGE this season. Think STUDIO 54 meets Taxi Driver.. late ’70s and early ’80s… I can almost hear the Charlie commercials now!

Draped colorful maxi dresses and caftans, brightly colored pantsuits, full-length halter dresses, wide leg jeans, halter tops, dolmain tops, platform heels, strappy sandals, floppy hats and round sunglasses

Need I say more?

The Bright and the Bold-iful

Bold, bright colours like blues, greens, yellows, oranges and reds will make a statement this Spring. The most stylish of these colors is bright orange. It was seen most on the runways and is perfect for the fun and flirty styles you’ll wear this Spring.

A Fantsi “MISS” – Calvin Klein – leSack (this image)

Um… Crayola calling … Agent Orange return to your nearest 64 count crayon box please … sharpening required.

Exotic Prints

Unique and exotic prints graced the Spring 2011 runways…. Some of them all at once (oh vey)

The key to this trend is mixing unique prints in unexpected ways. Batik, tie-dye, stripes, animal prints and tribal prints can all be intermingled to create an interesting whirlwind of patterns.

I quite like this dress … a good transition piece AND it covers one too many winter indulgences and one too less sessions on the treadmill.

Pajama Party

Step right out … of bed that is!

The pajama style is in this year! Lots of silky, flowy fabrics in light colors. Styles include pant suits, gowns, short sets and jumpsuits. Not quite sure how this trend will translate on the street.

Does this mean the flannel pajama bottom in public trend won’t go away anytime soon? Ick…..

It’s a Sheer Joy!

Sheer fabrics are stylish on tops and dresses, but they are especially stylish this season when featured unexpectedly on maxi-dresses.

Wearing sheer can be pretty tricky and done incorrectly the trend can look tacky and inappropriate. The most obvious way to wear sheer tops is with a camisole underneath but choose a camisole that is either close to the color of your skin or close to the color of the sheer top you are wearing. Staying monochromatic maintains the mystery and romanticism of the sheer top. Pairing with a camisole in a contrasting color can make the look harsh and overly bold.

That’s White!

I love this trend. It should never be a trend but a spring/summer staple!

This year we saw an astounding number of shows featuring White.

Simple white dresses, tops, suits, jumpsuits and shorts … all back again this Spring. Look for silky fabrics, flowing lines and styles that show a lot of skin.

spring summer 2011 fashion

Stay Fantsi Fashionistas!

xoxo

Featured

What’s For Dinner? Smart Meal Planning for Moms

March 18, 2011

by Amanda Goetz

I am an avid meal planner.

If I didn’t plan out our weekly meals, I would never have the complete ingredients for anything and every night at 5pm, I would be standing in the kitchen like a deer caught in the headlights wondering what to make.

I thought I’d share with you all some tricks and tips I’ve come up with on meal planning and how it can help you become more organized and less stressed out about what to for dinner every night!

The Benefits

Having your week’s meals planned out makes shopping a lot easier, and cheaper. If you have a list you’re less tempted to buy stuff you don’t need (Oreos will be the death of me!). It also keeps you from forgetting items and buying duplicates of things you might already have in your pantry. I display our meal plan on the fridge, which also cuts out the usual “what’s for dinner?” question I would otherwise hear 50 times in a week. If you have small children, you might want to display a version with pictures so that they can see what’s going to be on their plates later. A quick google search for Food Icons should give you lots to work with.

Pick a shopping day

I plan my week on Friday mornings cause that’s the day the weekly sales start at my grocery store. I try to get 90% of the items I’ll need for the week, but I usually have to make one pit stop at the store later in the week to get items we’ve run out of (fruits that spoil quickly I buy in smaller quantities twice a week). I’ll also pick up items I want to be as fresh as possible when we eat it, like kaisers for our Wednesday night burgers.

Get organized

First, I made a list of all the meals we enjoy, including breakfast foods (more on that to come), that I refer to when making my weekly meal plan. I have them organized by categories like Breakfast, Poultry, Beef, Pasta, Pork, Fish and Miscellaneous.

I also roughly assigned food categories to the days of the week, like every Tuesday I plan a pasta dish, and every Friday is “fun meal” (pizza, tacos, etc…) night. Doing this helps me make sure we don’t have too much overlap from the different categories. It also helps me ensure that we make a rotation through all our favourites and we’re not eating the same 10 dishes over and over.

The next thing I do is take a quick inventory of the pantry, fridge and freezer to see what I have on hand that I can use for that week’s meals.

Plan your week

A lot of people just plan their dinners, and if that’s all that you need help with, then by all means do that. I plan breakfast, lunch and dinner. Why? I can’t tell you how many times we’ve woken up on the weekend with a hankering for pancakes, or bacon and eggs only to discover we’re out of maple syrup or bread. Planning out breakfast also helps to keep my kids from having toast with Nutella seven days a week (which they would have NO problem with, but I do!).

When I wake up I’m already in gear with my plan and get right to work, even if it’s just toast and cereal there’s no standing around trying to guess what they want. I just make it and they eat it and everyone is happy… usually.

I plan lunches for the same reason. Being prepared cuts down on the repetition. My husband takes leftovers in his lunch so I like to make sure I make a dish or two a week that reheats well and is easy for him to eat at work.

Do your shopping, but be flexible

This week’s meal plan included salmon steaks on Monday night. However, when I got to the store they were out of fresh salmon. BUT, they always have canned so I did a quick switch in my head from Salmon Steaks to Salmon Cakes. Being flexible like that will help you with your shopping.

I also sometimes find myself switching nights if we’re busy and need a less complicated dish, someone is against that night’s meal selection, or even on account of weather (who wants to BBQ in the pouring rain?).

When I shop I keep an eye out for deals on items that are not needed for the current week’s meal plan and will pick them up to use the following week.

If you’re a working parent

Back in the days when I had a leave-my-house job, I used to prep some meals on the weekend. Things that could keep in the fridge for a few days like casseroles and lasagnas. I’d also marinate meats in ziploc bags and wash and prep veggies. Doing this on the weekend saves time mid-week and makes it less likely you’ll abandon your meal plan for fast food if you had a crazy day.

Here is this week’s meal plan at our house. As you can see, we keep it simple. We have a lot of little palates in our house, simple is best for now!

meal plan, meal planning, what's for dinner

Friday: Easy-Peasy Stove Top Mac & Cheese

Saturday: Homemade Pizza

Sunday: Pancakes and Juicy Roast Chicken

Monday: Hashbrown Quiche (make on Sunday for a quick breakfast on Monday!) and Salmon Cakes with Herb Cream Sauce

Tuesday: Baked Gnocchi

Wednesday: Soup-er Easy Chicken à la King (use leftover chicken from Sunday!)

Thursday: Quesadillas

Download the meal plan here

Happy meal planning and happy cooking!

caffeinated mom, amanda goetz, best mom on the block blog

Amanda Goetz is a WAHM to 3 kids under the age of 5. Her love of cooking was fostered when she was a preschooler helping her grandma in the kitchen. After a year long stint as a sous chef, she left the industry to continue cooking as a hobby before the stress and politics of a professional kitchen killed her love of cooking. Now she creates delicious dinners and delectable desserts for her family and friends and blogs about it at The Best Mom on the Block.

Holidays

Slainte! Five Things You Need to Know About St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2011

Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on March 17. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. It is observed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutherans.

Saint Patrick’s Day was made an official feast day in the early 17th century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general. Can’t forget the ~~drinking~~ music too!

The day is generally characterized by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire, especially shamrocks, and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on fasting and drinking, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season.

Sláinte is commonly used as a drinking toast in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, literally translating as “health”. Variations of this toast exist, it can for example be expanded to sláinte mhaith “good health” in Irish (mhaith being the lenited form of maith “good”).

The shamrock (♣) is a symbol of Ireland. It is a three-leafed old white clover. The name shamrock is derived from Irish seamróg, which is the diminutive version of the Irish word for clover (seamair).

The four leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common, three-leaved shamrock, also known as clover. According to tradition, such leaves bring good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally.

Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness (1725–1803) at St. James’s Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide.

Corned beef and cabbage is not a traditional Irish meal, it has been an integral part of Irish-American culture and is often related to Irish holidays such as Saint Patrick’s Day. In Ireland, the closest traditional dish is bacon and cabbage (more akin to Canadian style bacon or ham). Corned beef and cabbage became popular in America after Irish immigrants in the eastern United States used corned beef instead of pork in their traditional dish.

Source: Wikipedia