Sunday, March 27, 2011

Be Smart!

   I would like to start this blog by saying thank you to all my readers. Today I would like to discuss healthier food options and making sure we know the difference between what is healthiest for us and what is not. Make sure that the fruits and vegetables you are eating are all organic. These are more healthy for your body and they are also the "Green" choice. When you eat organic foods companies do not have to spray your food with chemicals that are harmful to your body and the environment. What appears to be the best food for you isn't always the best choice. Yes, that may be the brightest and most red tomato in the basket but that does not mean that it is the best one for you to eat. The food that looks the best is more than likely the food that has been chemically altered to be more appealing to consumers so that you will purchase it. Trade in the bright tomato or the prettiest steak for the steak and tomatoes that are 100% organic. It is always fun to see how many of your everyday snacks can be traded in for a healthier option. Substitute a bag of patatoe chips for a bag of baby carrots, or even swap out a slice of cake for some apple slices. There is always a healthy choice when it comes to eating right. Being healthy is very smart choice whether you are obesed or not. Obesity poses severe health risks. Obesity leads to heart problems, diabates, slow metabolism, and even death if not taken care of properly and in a timely manner. Eating right and being active are great ways to fight childhood obesity. You can find more great tips ad information on this subject from First lady Michelle Obama. She has been speaking out against childhood obesity with her campaign "Let's Move!" You can visit this campaign athttp://www.letsmove.gov/. For more of my information on the topic you can add me on facebook @www.facebook.com/acallahan and follow me onmailto:mtwitter@LowkeyMcgee.

Photo provided by Momlogic.com

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Self Evaluation!

           So far this semester I think im doing well in this course. I show up for class regularly and I keep up with the assignments. My performance has not been perfect but it is effective. i have missed a couple of deadlines and this reflects my time management. i was also experiencing some technological problems at the time and was not sure of how to ask for help. I am a very timid and shy person when i feel out of my comfort zone. I could participate a little more but the class is very choppy. I like to have more of a conversation or a discussion when I speak out. Everyone in our class is quiet and that makes it hard for me to feel comfortable enough to speak. That is something that I really plan to work on. I enjoy the class overall and have seen improvement in my writing skills. I am more savvy when it comes to using technology for research. I understand how find the information I need and how to apply it. I have also learned how to clearly state my argument in an essay and how to analyze the arguments of others. The class has shown me how to see the issues of each topic. I look at things from a more global perspective and not just from my own personal point of view. I can really see a change occurring in my writing patterns. Overall Ihave really grown and expanded in my writing through the duration of class this semester.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Eating Right!

       Hello everyone, Today is a good day to discuss maintaining a healthy diet. What you eat is very important to your physical health. Be sure to incorporate fruit, vegetables, whole grain, and protein into your diet. Snacks are a good energy booster but be sure not to over indulge. When I say snacks i do not mean cookies and candies I mean a small healthy food choice that you can grab and go. Eating healthy has so many benefits. When you eat right you give your body more energy to get you through the day. Always start your day off with a healthy breakfast, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You need to eat in order to jump start your metabolism. Otherwise all of the activities you do before eating will not be very effective. What you eat for breakfast should be a full meal and you should not be hungry again until it is time for lunch. 
     Eating healthy foods can help to prevent certain diseases from entering your body and keep your immune system strong and alert. Aside from being very important to your health, your diet directly effects your academic performance. Studies show that students who eat healthy perform better academically in every field of study. Having a good diet also protects your brain from mental dissorders and protects your heart from diseases and cancer. You brain and your heart are two of our most important organs, without one of them we would not be able to survive. People should do anything they can can to ensure the protection of their hearts and brains. Be sure to regulate everything that you are eating and stay active.


Photo provided by uwec.edu

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Be Safe!

           Hello all and welcome again. This week I would really like to take the time to warn parents of the hazards online and to make sure to promote internet safety. There are a lot of people on the internet who do not have honest intentions. These people range from child predators to identity theives. Be very cautious when putting your information online and make sure that your children do the same. If your child is not at least 16 years old I advise you to supervise them whenever they are using a computer. Children do not fully understand how dangerous the internet actually is and it is much easier for them to fall into trouble when it comes to protecting themselves online. Being in the room with them and monitoring what the do is the most effective way to ensure internet safety in your home, especially for younger children. Make sure that you also explain to them exactly what to look out for when they are online. Just watching them and making sure they stay safe is only the first step. You make sure that they totally understand what not to do so that they will have this knowledge later on in life. Even as teens and adults they will ned this knowledge in order to stay safe and be cautious while online.There are other methods of online safety for those parents who are not so fond of hovering over their children. A great way to protect your computer is to apply child protection software. They give you as a parent the ability to restrict certain websites. This software is available online. If you want a highly effective system you can purchase it but it is also online for free at http://www.kidswatch.com/. Their systems have good ratings and should serve you and your child appropriately.

Photo provided by ruralking.com

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Work it Out!

       I hope that everyone has been getting out and getting active. I have been talking a lot about how to get active and stay active. This week I would like to make sure you know how to prevent being absorbed back into the lure of the media. This millennium several social websites have emerged attracting mostly teens and young adults from ages 14-20. At the same time the rate of obesity went up. These websites have become an epidemic and have played a major role in the rise of childhood obesity. Be sure to regulate the amount of time spent online and be strict with yourself. Just in case your unsure of what to do with your free time here is a list of ideas to get you moving.
--Get out your art supplies and get crafty.
--Make a homemade slip and slide in your backyard and have fun.
--Go out and wash the dog.
--Plant some flowers in the front yard.
--choreograph a workout/dance routine
--Set up a tent in the backyard and go camping.
--Play hide and seek with your parents/children
         These are all just some ideas of what you can do. You are free to improvise any of the things listed above and make them fit you. There are a million things you can do to be active and have so much fun while your doing it. As long as you are being active and influencing your children to be active than it is an improvement. Each small step has the power to make a huge difference.

Photo provided by ayushveda.com

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Double Dutch!

       Greetings parents and children. I hope you have enjoyed playing together this past week, I have some more suggestions for you all. A great way to get and stay in shape is by working your full body. I know it can be hard to exercise every muscle but it is much easier when you are having fun. A great way to work your full body while having fun is to jump rope. Turning works your arms and back muscles and jumping works your legs and abdomen just be sure to switch positions. A great way to get that same exercise at a greater level of difficulty is to double-dutch. Aside from it being a great workout, double-dutching will serve as a great bonding experience between parents and children. physical activity ensures strong mental development as well as great health. Children who regularly get active show improvement in schoolwork. They also acquire better social skills over time.  Double-dutching in particular is a great activity to carry long term. Many students get into it as a hobby and go on to entering serious double-dutch competitions. Now some cities even recognize double-dutching as an official sport. Encourage your child to find a sport that they really enjoy and to stick with that sport long term. Children love to play along with their parents and they need your encouragement, it shows them how much you are interested in their activities. If you care they care remember you are the example. I have just uploaded a video tutorial of how to double-dutch, I hope you enjoy it.