Weekly Topic: December 2008 Archives

Written by guest author Maura Ammenheuser on the Weekly Topic "Resolution to get fit:"

Mothers have a tendency to put their own needs or plans last, after their children's, their job's and their husband's. It's very easy to let a lot of other tasks (housework, errands, helping with homework) gobble up so much time that exercise gets postponed or canceled.

Maura Ammenheuser
Guest Author

To keep a New Year's resolution to improve fitness, it helps to treat exercise as an actual commitment, not just wishful thinking. If you're serious about regular exercise, find an activity you like, figure out which days and times you can do it, then write it (in pen!) in your calendar and treat it like any other appointment.

Do not cancel that appointment with yourself for any reason short of illness or emergency, and don't feel guilty for turning down competing demands for that time. If you do this for a few weeks you'll establish a regular schedule of exercise.

Not only will that make your fitness goal more attainable, you're also less likely to fall off the workout wagon for more than a couple of days when something unexpected comes up.

If you're regretting that third helping of pecan pie and all those plates heavy with turkey, mashed potatoes, tamales or lasagna eaten over this holiday season then GOT MILK? has some tips for you.

The agency has teamed up with trainer to the stars, Jason Walsh, to show Californians how to get healthy. Here are his Top 10 Tips to get fit like a celeb:

Nutrition
1. Cut calories, cut fat. Lessen intake of foods and beverages that are high in calories and fat. Choose foods that are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber to keep you full longer. Save your splurges for the weekend!

2. An apple a day. Consume more fruits and vegetables daily. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber, and they fill up the stomach making you feel full faster. Most fruits and vegetables are also low in calories.

3. GOT MILK? Milk is rich in essential vitamins and minerals and is the No. 1 source of calcium for optimum bone health. Health experts recommend getting at least 3-4 servings of milk and/or dairy products daily.

4. You can drink chocolate. After a workout, reward yourself with a cold glass of chocolate milk, which helps with muscle recovery post workout. Studies have shown that chocolate milk competes effectively with commercial sports drinks because it has the right combination of proteins and carbohydrates necessary for muscle recovery after exercise.

5. Watch portion size. A good rule of thumb is to cut portions in half, saving the other half for the next meal a couple of hours later to keep hunger sensation low and energy high.

Exercise
6. Cardio. Cardio. Cardio. Californians simply aren't moving enough to maintain good health. Doing 30-60 minutes of exercise daily is integral to a healthy lifestyle.

7. Step it up. Interval training or high intensity training is key. Interval training also spares lean muscle, which is optimal in maintaining a higher metabolism.

8. Movement matters. Perform squats, lunges, step ups, push ups and pull-ups. These exercises help you obtain maximum results for a toned body and should be included into every exercise regimen.

9. Increase your workout. All workouts should be based on a progressive scale. Aim for a 10 percent progression each week.

10. Recuperate. Recovery from each workout is absolutely crucial for optimal results. Make sure to get enough sleep, stretch properly, and eat a balanced diet.

Each New Year's Day moms across the nation vow to get in shape. It's something we all have in common. And we mean it ... for a while. But with little ones in tow, it's easy to slowly give up on those exercise dreams.

That's where Stroller Strides comes in. The stroller fitness program features classes that incorporate the stroller and resistance training into a workout program for moms. And get this, there are more than 600 locations across the nation.

2006/The Press-Enterprise

Stroller Stride participants push their children through the neighborhood streets surrounding Eagle Glen Community Park in Corona.

"We are a power-walker class and we do resistance band training for body toning," said Michele Sapp, Temecula Valley Stroller Strides franchise owner. "We start out stretching and then end with abs and cooling down. It's really a head to toe workout."

Moms with children about 4 years old and younger - stroller aged - can sign up for local classes. Visit www.strollerstrides.com for locations and more details.

"This is a fun way to get fit again. And, it keeps the moms mentally fit, which can be the most important thing," Sapp said. "It's like one stop shopping for moms. They get their workout, social interaction with friends and the kids get their social interaction with friends too."

The Stroller Strides annual Get Fit Challenge starts February 1 and lasts through May 1. The contest will measure the highest percentage of body fat lost.

"We want to encourage moms to become leaner and stronger," Sapp said. "It's not a weight loss contest, it's a fat loss program."

Inland Empire Stroller Strides franchises will participate in the contest and there will be cash prizes. Visit www.strollerstrides.com for more information.

For Michele Sapp's Temecula Valley chapter, visit www.strollerstrides.net/temecula.

Written by guest author Debbie Yocum on the Weekly Topic Christmas Traditions:

Debbie Yocum
Guest Author

Christmas Eve we usually go to church and spend the evening there watching the Christmas program that they put on every year. They kids love it and so do we because it is what Christmas is all about. Christmas morning is always very busy.

Most of the time the kids are up bright and early. My husband and I make coffee and then we join the kids next to the tree. We make them take turns, which drives them crazy since there are six of them.

The wait can seem like forever when you have to wait your turn. After their gifts are open my husband and I make breakfast while the kids and the rest of the family compare their gifts.

My sister spends the night Christmas Eve night so that she is at our house when the kids all open their presents in the morning. My mother and father-in-law usually are there early in the morning too.

For breakfast we usually make banana pancakes, eggs and bacon and we squeeze some fresh orange juice. Everyone sits around the family room eating breakfast and relaxing for a little bit. We are always amazed that it takes all those weeks shopping for presents and then it only takes a short time to open them.

This year it might go even quicker since there aren't as many gifts under the tree but I can already tell that everyone will have the Christmas spirit and will be thrilled with what they have. As a mom, I am just glad that we are all together. Merry Christmas everyone!

Written by Guest Author Tina Schumacher on the Weekly Topic of Christmas traditions:

As a child my family always had fresh baked cinnamon rolls. We pretty much only ate them on Christmas day (and we looked forward to them every year).

Tina Schumacher

Guest Author

My mom would put them in the oven and we would go through our stockings while they were baking and then take a breakfast snack break before we actually opened all the presents.

I have tried to keep this a family tradition with my kids but we now have Gluten issues so I am at a loss as to what to try to make. Gluten-free anything is just not the same. But, my kids always want to open presents before we even get our eyes open anyway, let alone wait until after breakfast.

Have a happy holiday and I hope Santa put you on the Good List! :) And I hope he brings you everything that you wished for.

Written by guest author Maura Ammenheuser on the Weekly Topic Christmas traditions:

We don't have a Christmas breakfast tradition per se, but we do indulge in our favorite foods that are too fattening or too time-consuming to eat most of the time.

Maura Ammenheuser
Guest Author

My kids never want breakfast right away; they're way more interested in whatever Santa left under the tree. We let them open a bunch of gifts, then when I can, I drag them into the kitchen to eat.

But once they remember they've got special food coming, they're happy to eat it! We usually make bacon and cinnamon rolls. Sometimes I make quiche but if that didn't happen, we're good with very cheesy scrambled eggs.

The cinnamon rolls and bacon are the big attractions anyway. Sometimes the kids get to drink eggnog or cider with breakfast, too. The object of the game is to gulp down as much sugar as possible before going back to all the toys!

Written by Guest Author Alyson Foote about the topic, Christmas traditions:

Isn't this the most magical time of the year? The faces of our children on Christmas morning always make the hustle and bustle of shopping and wrapping and cooking and cleaning and more shopping worthwhile!

Alyson Foote

Guest Author

My daughter is very excited this year about our Christmas Eve traditions. We, of course, leave cookies for Santa (chocolate chip are his favorite, my daughter tells me) and we also make food for Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer.

Reindeer food, in case you were wondering, consists of oats and sparkles. The sparkles are added so they can see the food spread out on the grass when they are flying overhead. Very effective for attracting a sleigh full of presents to your house!

Christmas is a wonderful time to enjoy each other and remember the meaning of tradition. I wish you and your families a peaceful Holiday season! Have fun!

Written by Guest Author Alyson Foote on the Weekly Topic, "Brown bag ideas":

Alyson Foote

Guest Author

When I was in elementary school, lunch was the most important part of my day. I always looked forward to opening my Muppet Show lunch box and finding out what my mother had packed inside.

Since she worked full time and was raising us three girls, there wasn't a lot of time to devote to making interesting or "trade-worthy," lunches, but we could always be sure that what she packed was a balanced, healthy meal.

As parents, it is our responsibility to help our children learn about the importance of eating healthy foods every day. One way we can do that is to provide a nutritious meal for them to enjoy while they are at school.

With a little planning, this can be an easy thing to do. Here is a tried and true recipe I have used for my own brown bag lunches and I'm sure my kids will enjoy when they reach their school days as well!

Easy Black Bean and Corn Lunch Wraps

2 cups uncooked brown rice

2 cups frozen corn, thawed

1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies

4 (15 oz) cans of black beans, drained and rinsed

3 cups shredded cheese (I use medium cheddar)

16 (10 inch) flour tortillas

Cook rice according to package directions, allow to cool. Combine black beans, corn, and tomatoes in a large bowl. Stir in cooled rice and cheese. Divide the mixture evenly among the tortillas, roll up tightly. Wrap each in plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Reheat in the microwave. Enjoy!

Written by guest author Maura Ammenheuser on the Weekly Topic "Brown bag ideas":

The sack lunches are a lot easier with kids who are adventurous eaters, and one of my kids is a foodie, but the other is very picky.

Maura Ammenheuser
Guest Author

However, I find both kids will eat most of these sack lunches (at least most of the time): peanut butter on whole-wheat mini-bagels; deli turkey or ham, with or without cheese, rolled up in a tortilla (it's basically a sandwich but because it looks different it's novel to them); store-bought cheese sticks and fruit cups, though you have to watch the sugar content on the latter; apple slices (tossed in some lemon juice to prevent browning); granola or protein bars (again, read the labels to find some with maximum fiber and protein and minimum sugar); cheese tortellini (make them the night before and toss with a teensy bit of olive oil to prevent them from sticking, then throw a handful in a baggie and the kids can eat them as finger food); and hard-boiled eggs you peel in advance (this is probably a hard sell for a picky eater).

I'm also a big fan of raw food -- nuts (if your school allows them); grapes, bite-sized chunks of melon they can eat with their fingers; tangerines, pre-peeled at home; strawberries; and baby carrots if your child will eat them plain.

Then there's the stuff I WISH my kids would eat but won't. Maybe someone else's kids would go for these: short celery sticks filled with peanut butter (wrapped tightly in plastic wrap); chunks of leftover grilled chicken; raisins; whole apples and bananas cut in half.

I also dream of the day I can send my grade-schoolers off with thermoses of soup, but I know better. Regardless of whether they'd eat the soup, they would most definitely misplace the thermos and I'd never see it again.

Many families are saving funds by packing lunches.

The beauty of making kids lunches is that parents control the ingredients and can involve the kids in shopping, which offers the opportunity for pointers on nutrition, said Amy Quinn, nutritionist for the City of Temecula.

About this time of year, many parents could use some fresh ideas. So, the question is, how do you keep up a creative lunch rotation that's still healthy?

"The trick is to keep introducing new things in different ways," Quinn said.

Children may not like raw vegetables alone, but partnering the veggies up with Ranch dressing or hummus or cottage cheese and salsa may be a different story, she said.

There are also a lot of different breads and wraps for sandwiches that can be mixed to keep things fresh and new in lunches.

Quinn also recommends using weekend time to plan for the work/school week.

"Do the shopping on the weekends," she said. "Get the fruits and veggies, wash them and chop them ... put them in some snack bags. That way they are ready to go and you don't have to do it at night or in the morning."

She also recommends lots of water and 100 percent fruit juices to drink. For those who can't kick the soda habit, mixing mineral water and fruit juice makes a healthy homemade soda.

"We know a good diet has a positive impact on health and less days missed of work and school," Quinn said.

Temecula mom Jill Leech had a problem. She was struggling with potty training her youngest daughter, who was adopted from China.

With her bachelor's degree in psychology and a teaching credential in social sciences, she knew she should be able to figure out a way to make this process easier for her daughter, herself and other families struggling with the same issue.

So she came up with an idea - a kit that would meet the needs of a variety of learning styles and would be effective for all kids, including those with reactive attachment disorder, autism and autism spectrum disorders.

That's where Potty Tots came from. It's a program that offers child-centered potty training products and resources that include a book, a DVD with music videos and illustrated "how to" training chart meant to foster independence, confidence and self-esteem.

There is also a rewards game to help kids keep track of their progress.

For more information, visit www.pottytots.com.

Are you a mom-trepreneur like Jill? If you have a product or service that could make life easier for moms (dad's too) or DIY ideas for anything from cleaning products to crafts, share your bright idea here.

The 61st Anniversary of The Feast of Lights at the University of Redlands Memorial Chapel will be celebrated Dec. 5 at 8 p.m., Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. and Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.

The service's theme," Renewing of Tradition," is meant to put a fresh emphasis on the past feast tradition of celebrating the birth of Christ through music, tableaux and spoken word.

Greg Schneider.com/The University of Redlands

Candles are lit during the Feast of Lights.

At the conclusion there will be the traditional Ceremony of Candlelighting, which symbolizing spreading the word of the Messiah throughout the world.

This year there is a new Feast of Lights Director and Conductor - Nicholle Andrews.

"I am only the third director over all of the past 61 years, so it's quite an honor," Andrews said.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.redlands.edu/events or on campus at the Ticket office on the first floor of the Hunsaker University Center. The ticket office phone number is 909-748-8881.

Written by guest author Debbie Yocum on the Weekly Topic Budgeted Holiday:

Almost everyone is feeling the economic pinch this year. Maybe this year can be more about Christmas and less about buying Christmas gifts. This year all 6 kids will get together and select a cookie, cake, fudge or brownie to make, then package it up and deliver it to the neighbors.

Debbie Yocum
Guest Author

We will go out together and pick the best tree (always a living tree) and bring it home and decorate it in front of the fireplace. We could make some of the decorations ourselves like my sister and I did when we were little. Then there is the Mission Inn Festival of Lights that we've been too busy to see over the last couple years, which we'll do this year.

Who wouldn't feel the Christmas spirit by just spending an evening drinking hot chocolate and walking around looking at the lights? Maybe taking a ride in the carriage?

Why couldn't we start a new Christmas tradition and buy a few extra gifts for a family that might not get a Christmas this year because of the economy? What about the men and woman in the military? There has to be a way that as a family, we could buy a gift for someone in the armed forces and send it to them?

Then there is the Christmas dinner which is always overlooked because opening gifts always took center stage. Maybe this year we could invite more family and friends over and make the dinner a bigger event than ever before.

We plan go to Christmas Eve services at our church before dinner and after dinner we will do a white elephant gift exchange. We do the white elephant gift exchange every year and everyone looks forward to it and it doesn't cost a dime.

Our kids will get gifts this year but not as many as years past. We will focus on things that they need and get during the year such as new motorcycle gear or snow gear. These are things that they always want and always need but that we usually buy for them outside of Christmas.

We plan to be more practical this year. Then we will spend more time together as a family snow boarding or riding the motorcycles on the property my husband's parents own. This economy is horrible and I wish that things were better but it doesn't have to ruin our Christmas.

I am looking forward to Christmas this year because I am going to spend less time in the stores and more time with my family doing things that bring the Christmas spirit alive.

Written by guest author Bonnie Woodrome in response to the weekly topic, Budgeted Holiday:

Bonnie Woodrome
Guest Author

Last year, my husband and I were in a financial crunch and wanted something we could do for the family that was memorable on a tight budget. We asked all of our family members and friends for a favorite recipe or two from their files and made a collective cookbook.

What a great thing! We were able to collect dozens of recipes and use an online template to put them all together in a book. I took the finished product to a copy store and had the pages printed and bound. Everyone who participated received a copy of their own.

Not only do we now have a copy of the foods we see at all the holidays, but we now have Grandma Price's Lemon Meringue pie recipe, that we have all been trying to get for years! It was so popular, we have been asked to create Volume II. Maybe next year, because I have got too much cooking to do =).