How to Get Your Kids to Make Lifestyle Choices and Combat Childhood Obesity

September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Children learn from the influences around them. Part of growing up is creating the habits that will follow your children throughout their lifetimes and shape them as they mature. Instilling a healthy lifestyle in your children when they are young can help build the framework for an entire lifetime of healthy habits.
Here are 10 ways lead your children toward a healthy lifestyle:

1. Eat at least one meal a day as a family
   Eating at least one meal a day as a family ensures that your child is making healthy choices during that time of the day. This also gives you the opportunity to lead by example and use the opportunity to teach your children about food choices and healthy portion sizes. By modeling healthy cooking habits in the home, you are helping transfer your choices into your child’s lifelong habits.
2. Get your children outside and involved
   This is another area where you can create these healthy lifestyle habits as a family. Play games in the yard, go on hikes, and just get outside

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Fitness Tips for Every Age Group

Fitness should be timeless, and a lifelong commitment. However, fitness should also be fun. As a mother of a toddler and now a newborn, I love to watch the little ones' attitudes toward fitness. It is just part of play, and an innate part of each day. 

There is no second thought, but most likely a motivating thought like, “I have to run as fast as I can, so I can get that ball over there!” Wouldn’t it be great if we could spend each day like that and expend all of that energy, aka calories?

If you have a young child who is less active getting them involved in a baby or toddler fitness class is a great way to get them started. There are many venues which encourage kids to do the things that they are excited to do at this stage of development. 

They learn to roll over, to sit up by themselves, to crawl, to walk, and to climb.

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Depression in Teens Looks Almost Nothing Like Depression in Adults

First, let's review the symptoms.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a depressed teen will experience the same symptoms of depression as adults (profound feelings of unhappiness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, relentless fatigue, etc.), but those symptoms manifest themselves in ways that can be difficult to distinguish from normal teenage behavior. Depression in teens feels the same but it looks totally different than what you'd expect in adults.


So it's vitally important that you have good communication with your teen about mental health.
Talk to them about what's normal (feeling sad occasionally) and what isn't (feeling sad constantly). Ask them if they're having any problems with bullying, social rejection, or pressure to perform well in academics or extracurricular activities. Most importantly, let them know that it can get better.

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Don't Go Broke this Holiday Season

Your Guide to Frugal Cheer

Finding it hard to feel festive when all you can think about is that fat credit card bill or those student loans you're (still) paying off? Unfortunately, you're not alone: three in four American households are currently saddled with some kind of debt.
So, as we enter a new holiday season — with shoppers planning to spend even more than last year — here's how to affordably take part in the giving season and keep a lid on debt.

Plan Around Your Real Budget 

Aiming to cap your holiday spend at $500? Map out your spending according to that exact figure, not on money you "think" is going to come rolling in. Avoid temptation by sticking to cash and prioritizing your budget.
First, set aside money for folks who deserve nice tips — the babysitter, dog walker, house cleaner, etc. — and buying a few gifts for the kids.

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WeCareOnline December Staff Highlight - Melanie Fischer

This month we meet Melanie Fischer. 

Melanie has worked in healthcare for the past 21 years.  She originally needed a summer job when she was in high school and applied for a housekeeping position at Ellis Good Sam.  Melanie enjoyed the position, but wanted to do more to help the residents she served. Her love for helping others is what attracted her to healthcare and made the healthcare field a perfect fit.  Melanie is now an RN.

Melanie and her husband have been married for 16 years and have a farm in the Ellis area where they have cattle running about. Melanie and her husband have 4 beautiful children.  

When she is not working, Melanie likes spending time with her children.  Her boys are in 4-H and the entire family is very involved in the club. 4-H is the Fischer family’s biggest activity and involves all family members in raising and caring for the animals they show at the fair. The family has raised and shown different types of livestock.  They have raised and shown bucket calves, show pigs and flocks of show chickens and ducks.

Melanie’s advice to anyone seeking to enter healthcare is to have patience with those you work with, including residents and workers. Melanie’s mantra is to always put first those you are serving, and to put your own wants and needs last. Melanie believes in working as a team player no matter what personal conflicts you may have with another co-worker, and to always show respect for those you work with and to be professional when you are working.

Everyone at WeCareOnline plays an important role in helping students have the best online learning experience possible. Melanie answers phone calls that come into her office for all CNA and CMA questions. She also assists in the set up process for classes; helping the clinical instructors in the set up process.  She helps students to enroll in classes, and provides support and assistance to advertise upcoming classes. While Melanie supports WCO mission in numerous ways, she views her most important role at WCO is the work she does educating the students in the classroom, monitoring grades, and answering emails from students/instructors or individuals interested in the WCO program.

What is the Best Way to Wash Your Hands?

National Handwashing Awareness Week is December 1-7. Make sure you are washing your hands the right way to prevent the spread of cold and flu this season.

When you see that sign in the restroom with instructions on how to wash your hands, you can’t help but roll your eyes, right? It’s OK to admit it. We all know the best way to wash our hands and how important this simple act is to helping us stay healthy and avoid disease. At least that’s what many people think.
But are you really washing properly? Do you know why you are doing it? What is the recommended amount of time? What’s better: hand washing or hand sanitizer? Take a moment to answer the following questions to see if you have all the information necessary to take your health into your own hands this cold and flu season…your clean hands that is.

Handwashing: what is the best way to wash your hands?

Did you know that a third of Americans don’t wash their hands after using the restroom? Rule number one: wash your hands frequently, and always after using the restroom. Rub your entire hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. This includes the backs of your hands and between your fingers. If there’s a hand towel available, grab one. The good thing about drying your hands with a clean towel is that you can use the towel to turn off the faucet.

What is the best way to reduce germs?

As simple as it may sound, it still holds true. Washing our hands frequently is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick during flu season and throughout the year.

For More and Original Article:
http://www.healthbytesnyc.com/cold-and-flu/national-handwashing-awareness-week-2014-dec-1-7/

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Great Winter Vegetables to Add to Your Meals

Sparkly snowflakes, cozy blankets, rich hot chocolate… Winter has a lot going for it, but fresh produce is usually not on that list. In colder climates, eating locally through the winter can be downright challenging. But we’re here with some good news: Every meal doesn’t have to revolve around potatoes and onions until April. With a bit of advanced planning and creativity, it’s possible to eat fresh fruits and vegetables with plenty of nutrients and flavor all winter long.

Read on to learn about some of the unexpected vitamin-rich cold-weather foods you should stock up on right now.

1. Cabbage 
Time to head to the cabbage patch, kid! This super-healthy, budget-friendly vegetable is a close cousin to other cold-weather favorites like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, and broccoli . Cabbage is loaded with vitamins and minerals (Vitamins C and K and folate, in particular), fiber, antioxidants, and anti-carcinogenic compounds called glucosinolates. Some studies claim that the spherical vegetable can even reduce cholesterol and lower risk of cancer and diabetes .

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The 5 Best Tax Breaks Uncle Sam Offers Moms and Dads

Parents are one of the best-treated groups when it comes to credits, deductions and other ways to reduce your tax bill. Here are five key tax breaks.

1. The Credit You Get Just for Being a Parent

The Child Tax Credit gives you as much as $1,000 per child to offset your tax liability, reducing what you owe dollar for dollar. To qualify for the credit, the child has to be a U.S. citizen age 16 or younger; a dependent on your tax return; and related to you by blood, marriage or adoption. You also have to provide more than half of the child's financial support, and the child has to live with you more than half the year. Finally, those whose adjusted gross income is above certain thresholds -- $75,000 for single filers and $110,000 for joint filers -- will see their credit phased out by $50 for every $1,000 in additional income above the threshold. The best part about the credit is that under certain circumstances, any unused portion of the credit can be refundable, allowing you to get a refund check even if you zero out your overall tax liability.

2. Get Help to Pay for an Adoption

If you're adopting a child, you know how costly the process can be. But the Internal Revenue Service has a substantial Adoption Credit you can take against your taxes to help you handle those costs.  

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Multigenerational Household - Is This For You?

Several of my friends are living in multigenerational households. Some of their arrangements are by design and others a result of unplanned life events. Whether it’s a college-aged child moving home to save money while job-hunting, a senior choosing to live with an adult child, or a daughter bringing a new baby to live with her grandparents, this communal living has primarily been driven by recent economic uncertainties Although multigenerational strictly means three generations under one roof, two age groups living together have similar benefits and challenges. Even as the economy shows signs of recovery, it’s clear this is a lifestyle trend that’s not going away.

The latest U.S. Census figures support that multigenerational households are continuing to grow. In 2000, 3.7 percent of U.S. households were inhabited by three generations and by 2010, that number had grown to 4 percent. Citing areas with housing shortages, single parents, and new immigrants living with relatives, census reports give detailed breakdowns of geographic locations, etc. But a recent Pew Research Social & Demographic Trends report found young adults to be the biggest driver of multigenerational living situations.

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Simple Steps to Start Saving Money

Save your loose change. Putting aside fifty cents a day over the course of a year will allow you to save nearly 40% of a $500 emergency fund.

Keep track of your spending. At least once a month, use credit card, checking, and other records to review what you've purchased. Then, ask yourself if it makes sense to reallocate some of this spending to an emergency savings account.

Never purchase expensive items on impulse. Think over each expensive purchase for at least 24 hours. Acting on this principle will mean you have far fewer regrets about impulse purchases, and far more money for emergency savings.

Use debit and credit cards prudently. To minimize interest charges, try to limit credit card purchases to those you can pay off in full at the end of the month. If you use a debit card, don't rely on an overdraft feature to spend money you don't have. With either approach, you'll have more money available for emergency savings.

- See more at: http://americasaves.org/for-savers/make-a-plan-how-to-save-money/54-ways-to-save-money#sthash.gArg5FF2.dpuf

Save your loose change. Putting aside fifty cents a day over the course of a year will allow you to save nearly 40% of a $500 emergency fund.

Keep track of your spending. At least once a month, use credit card, checking, and other records to review what you've purchased. Then, ask yourself if it makes sense to reallocate some of this spending to an emergency savings account.

Never purchase expensive items on impulse. Think over each expensive purchase for at least 24 hours. Acting on this principle will mean you have far fewer regrets about impulse purchases, and far more money for emergency savings.

Use debit and credit cards prudently. To minimize interest charges, try to limit credit card purchases to those you can pay off in full at the end of the month. If you use a debit card, don't rely on an overdraft feature to spend money you don't have. With either approach, you'll have more money available for emergency savings.

For More Ideas and Original Article.

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Tips to Get Ready for the New School Year

Move over, summer--a new school year is coming!
With the start of school, families face new organization challenges. 

School bells ring--and so do early-morning alarm clocks.
Paper piles swell as hand-outs and homework stream into the house.

Shorter autumn days bring a hectic round of sports, activities and events, and calendars fill with cryptic notes. Can the holidays be far behind?

Get organized now for the best school year ever! Use these ideas to prepare your home and family for the busy days ahead.

Ease the family into a school year schedule.

The first day of school is no time for a drastic adjustment of household sleep schedules. Instead, ease children back into a school year routine gradually. During the last two weeks of summer, re-introduce a school year bedtime. Begin waking late sleepers earlier and earlier, closer to the hour they'll need to rise when school begins.

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Beat the Heat with These Cool Desserts

Too hot to turn on the oven? Would you rather slurp something cold for dessert than bake cookies? Yeah, me too.

Here's a look back at 25 desserts and sweet treats that don't need an oven — some don't have to be cooked at all! From a frozen nectarine pie to a matcha milkshake, and icebox banana cheesecake to peaches and cream gelatin dessert, there's something sweet here to cool you off.

No-Bake Baked Goods
• 1 No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake
• 2 Icebox Banana Cheesecake
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How to Develop Your Child's Self-Esteem

Healthy self-esteem is like a child's armor against the challenges of the world. Kids who know their strengths and weaknesses and feel good about themselves seem to have an easier time handling conflicts and resisting negative pressures. They tend to smile more readily and enjoy life. These kids are realistic and generally optimistic.

In contrast, kids with low self-esteem can find challenges to be sources of major anxiety and frustration. Those who think poorly of themselves have a hard time finding solutions to problems. If given to self-critical thoughts such as "I'm no good" or "I can't do anything right," they may become passive, withdrawn, or depressed. Faced with a new challenge, their immediate response might be "I can't."

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8 Vital Traits for Every Allied Health Professional

Visiting a clinic or hospital can be one of the most nerve-racking experiences for an individual. As such, allied health professionals should be attentive to patients and make certain they are meeting their unique needs. Whether you’re a paramedic, dental hygienist, phlebotomist or any other allied health professional, here are eight important traits that patients look for in their healthcare providers:

Communication: Communication is a vital part of your relationship with the patient. The job of an allied health professional requires great communication skills, especially when it comes to speaking and listening. The way in which an allied health professional explains information to a patient is just as important as the actual information being communicated. Patients, who clearly understand you, are more likely to admit their ailments, carefully evaluate their treatment options, and be more apt to following directions.

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Tips for a Safe Fourth of July

Be a safe swimmer. Water sports and fireworks are two of the biggest pastimes for Fourth of July celebrations, and these are both linked to numerous deaths and injuries each year. Never swim alone, and make sure that kids' water play is adequately supervised at all times. Many drownings occur when parents and other adults are nearby, so always have a designated chaperone for water play and don't assume that others are watching the kids. Statistics show that most young children who drown in pools have been out of sight for less than five minutes.

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3 Creative Ways to Keep Cool with your Toddler

Beat the heat!

Sizzling summer weather can make for a tired, hot, cranky baby — and mama. But being fussy is no way to spend the summer. Here are three ways to stay cool and have fun doing it.

Mini water table

Here's a creative way to cool off: Move the highchair outside, strip your child down to a diaper, and fill the highchair tray with about a half-inch of water.
It's especially fun to watch your baby's facial expressions during self-inflicted splashing. You can add a squirt toy to play with, or put her to work with a clean sponge.
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Is "Golden Girls" Style the Next Trend in Senior Living?

Having roommates is normal for those in their twenties and early thirties, but older adults aren’t usually looking to share living space with people who are not romantic partners or family members. But with the growing, aging population, there is a new trend of boomer and senior women forming households together. Dubbed “Golden Girls” after the ‘80s TV show, single women in their fifties and older are moving in together and forming a unique household model.

It makes good financial sense to share the expenses of housing with others who are finding it increasingly difficult to afford living alone. Financial concerns aren’t the sole driving factor, though, for many of these Golden Girls. Companionship and social interests play a big part in many older women’s decision to take on a roommate. PBS Newshour recently talked with some boomer women about the benefits of sharing space with other single women.

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Celebrating the Holidays in an Interfaith Family

You grew up with memories of Santa Claus and Christmas trees, but your spouse spent the holidays lighting a menorah and playing dreidel. If yours is one of the thousands of interfaith families in the United States or elsewhere, chances are you've either tried to find ways to incorporate the best of both traditions into your own family or agreed as a family to choose one faith and follow its traditions.

The holidays tend to bring the religious choices you've made into sharp focus. As a result, some interfaith families find December especially stressful, while others have discovered ways to make it a joyous time. Even families with religious differences that are not exactly "interfaith" — a Catholic / Protestant couple, for example — find themselves dealing with thorny issues about what to do during holidays.


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Avoiding Extra Pounds During the Holidays

This is a hectic time of year.  We are all very busy working a full time job, part time job, managing the household, chauffeuring the kids to everyplace under the sun. The fall sports season is about to end, the winter sports season is gearing up. Holiday shopping is on your mind and you are behind schedule.  Your friends and family are beckoning you for visits,  your laundry is overflowing and you have to still figure out what to cook for dinner.

Does this sound familiar?  The holidays can be a stressful time of year.   There is so much stuff to do and the days don’t grant you extra hours to get it all done. The daylight turns to a night time sky earlier than you desire and you feel sleepy at 5 pm because of it.

On top of all of the above, it becomes difficult for many of us to eat healthy during the holiday season because we are always on the go and sometimes we make bad choices. Not to mention, we are perpetually surrounded by baked goods and delicious treats . . .

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Top 10 Reasons to Shop at a Farmers Market

Why shop at a farmers market?

10. Farmers markets are easy to find.
Use the USDA Farmers Markets Search to find one near you. Due to their flexible locations, some community farmers markets provide fresh, healthy foods when other sources aren't as easily accessed. Learn more about how the USDA helps to expand healthy food access through the development of local food systems.


9. SNAP and WIC cards are accepted at most farmers markets.
Click here for more information on food assistance programs.


8. You can try a new fruit or vegetable!
Have you ever tasted gooseberries or rhubarb? Many farmers markets offer lesser known fruits and vegetables, providing a variety that can be both tasty and nutritious. Learn how to select the best quality, how to store, and about the nutritional values of these rarer fruits and vegetables (and some common ones, too) in the Fruit Nutrition Database and Vegetable Nutrition Database.


7. Farmers often have good recommendations on ways to prepare their products.
For more inspiration, visit Fruits and Veggies More Matters to see recipes using fresh fruits and vegetables.



To Read More of this article at Nutrition.gov.
 
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