Archive for December, 2010
Teen Loneliness – Teen Depression – Teen Suicide
You can be surrounded by family and friends and still feel alone.
You can be alone in your home and feel full of life.
As an adult, there are those that struggle with being alone at the holidays. Even with maturity and intelligence, loneliness can be frightening.
As a teenager, it can be more difficult. Teens want to be accepted, as do adults, however in many ways their feelings are not mature enough to understand that you are never really alone if you can find your happiness from within.
Everyone has moments of sadness, that is normal. Everyone feels alone at one time or another, but when the holidays are here, it can escalate your feelings of sadness.
Many parents get caught up in the hustle and stress of the holidays – from buying Christmas gifts you know you can’t afford, to grocery shopping and cooking the meals – parenting at the holidays can be considered overtime work.
However, if you have a teen in your home that seems to be feeling a bit blue, be sure you include them in your work. Encourage them to join you in the kitchen – even let them help you wrap gifts for others. Let your teen know that their family is always there for them.
During the holidays, sadly we hear more about suicides, including teen suicide. In Florida and Broward County we have Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention. Know the warning signs and don’t be a parent in denial.
Learn more – be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens.
Being alone at Christmas can be a blessing. Take the time to count those blessings, watch an old movie, take a long walk and just enjoy being with yourself. Your teens will learn by your example.
Students, teachers and beneficial mistakes
As we round up first semester of school, a recent article entitled “Five Mistakes Students and Teachers Should Make” was released. They write “mistakes lead to learning and growing. Mistakes challenge you to learn from them in order to succeed. Mistakes represent success in disguise.”
Their suggested mistakes include:
1. Pick the wrong major: A student should explore any possibility that interests him, and future careers might just be around the corner. Remember, “If you don’t know what to do, it’s OK!”
2. Get too involved: Getting good grades and attending classes are all very important, but in the end, it is just a portion. Join clubs, help out with your community and strive to go above and beyond assignment guidelines. Learn about and participate in the things of interest … that will not only make the student a more knowledgeable and skilled individual, but also create a larger interest in the student’s education.
3. Assume your teachers don’t know everything: Students may view their teachers as gods who know everything, but that really is not the case. Students should view teachers as individuals who can help them grasp and understand concepts in class. Students can research answers on their own and get their own opinions instead of having the teachers tell them the answers.
4. Take a day off: In this sense, students have power in their education, but it is also their responsibility to learn and be proactive in their education. So students can slack off here and there, but they should always keep in mind how that might affect their schoolwork. Take a day off to recharge, check out class notes online and relax. You may come back a refreshed student. Just don’t do it too often!
5. Talk too much: Students can be under the impression that they must maintain some distance between themselves and their teachers. Intimidated, afraid, or whatever it might be, they do not confront their teacher when they have a problem about their class. Whatever the case, students cannot get help about a class if they remain distant from their teacher. Students need to be on friendly terms with their teachers in order to best get help in their classes. Go to office hours, stop in after school, or e-mail questions as they come. Not only will they get help, but they will also get the maximum potential of knowledge from the class.
To read the complete article click here: http://bit.ly/c4G3uK Be an educated parent, you will have smarter, safer and healthier teens.
Parenting Healthy Lunches for Teens: 100 Nutritious Brown Bag Lunch Ideas
From grown-ups to teens to toddlers in daycare, brown bag lunches have been a part of many of our lives.
Most people already know that bringing their lunches can be a lot healthier and more nutritious than going out to eat every day, but doing so isn’t enough to make sure you’re eating right. You also need to make sure that what you’re bringing in those brown bags and lunch boxes is good for you. This part of the equation doesn’t have to be complicated, however, and can be pretty delicious, too. If you’re struggling to figure out what to bring along with you for lunch, whether you’re headed to work or school, check out some recipes that are both nutritious and tasty. Many of which are kid-friendly, too!
Sandwiches
These sandwiches go above and beyond the standard PB and J in terms of nutrition and taste.
- Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Tuna Sandwich. Ditch the boring old tuna sandwich in favor of this option that adds in veggies and herbs to give taste without loads of calories.
- White Bean and Avocado Sandwich. This rich and creamy sandwich will fill you up without filling you out.
- Cheddar and Apple Sandwich. Even kids will love this tangy and sweet combo for lunch.
- Better BLT. A regular BLT may not be the healthiest sandwich, but this revamped version changes things up.
- Falafel Sandwich. Enjoy this vegetarian Middle Eastern treat for lunch without even having to go out.
- Grilled Eggplant Sandwich. Instead of meat, consider this burger made with eggplant instead.
- Nut Butter, Honey and Banana Sandwich. You could whip up a traditional peanut butter and jelly, but this recipe will help you change things up and add some health with banana and honey. A concoction even little ones will love.
- Hummus, Avocado and Tomato Sandwich. Combining these health foods into one sandwich is a great way to build a tasty and filling lunch.
- Balsamic Tuna Salad Sandwich. Go another route with your tuna sandwich by using this healthier recipe.
- Turkey Burger with Feta and Spinach. This burger is simple but tasty, plus lower cal than its beefy cousin.
- BBQ Chicken Sandwich. This sandwich, made with BBQ chicken breast, is a great meal any time of the year.
- Pita Pockets with Avocado and Sprouts. Grownups and kids alike will enjoy this healthy veggie pocket. Go with whole wheat pitas for an even healthier lunch.
- Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwich. Grill up a portobello mushroom the night before to ensure you’ll be ready to take this great sandwich to work with you the next day.
- Meatball Parmesan Sub. Don’t think a meatball sandwich can be healthy? Try this recipe to enjoy an old school classic with a healthier twist.
- Tangy Roast Beef Sandwich. This sandwich is a great choice for dinner or lunch and healthy to boot, with fat-free ingredients and sprouts for a topper.
Wraps and Rolls
Ditch the heavy bread without losing an ounce of taste with these delicious and nutritious wrapped meals.
- Whole Wheat Hummus and Veggie Wrap. Whole wheat tortillas, hummus and veggies help make this recipe a super healthy lunch choice.
- Rotisserie Chicken Wrap. Use leftover rotisserie chicken to fill this yummy wrap.
- Vietnamese Salad, Shrimp and Turkey Roll. Using thin, rice-based wrappers, these rolls let you combine healthy ingredients with an Asian flair.
- Salmon Veggie Wrap. Salmon isn’t just for dinner. Roll it up in this wrap for a great lunchtime treat too.
- Ham and Cheese Rollups. Kids will love this simple classic that can taste good and actually be healthy, too.
- Thai Chicken Wrap. Rachael Ray offers this recipe for a spicy peanut Thai chicken wrap that will impress your coworkers or classmates.
- Pepperoni Pizza Wrap. Pizza doesn’t have to just come in slices. Add a little health to your lunch with this wrap version.
- Black Bean Burrito. If you’re craving Mexican for lunch, don’t go out. Bring this healthy burrito from home instead.
- Mediterranean Wrap. Stuff your wrap with zucchini, hummus, tomatoes, spinach, onion, pine nuts and mint to give it a Greek flair.
- Caesar Turkey Wrap. Caesar salads don’t have to go in a bowl. Wrap them up using this recipe.
- Grilled Chicken Pesto Wraps with Sun-Dried Tomato. Pesto and sun-dried tomatoes combine to give this wrap and Italian flair.
- Mushroom and Rice Wrap. Canned mushroom, corn and rice topped with salsa and lettuce makes a healthy lunch.
Want soup and salad ideas? Click here —->
Contributor and source: Ken Martin and Nursing Schools
Part 1 (Sandwiches, Wraps and Rolls)
Part 2 (Soups and Salads)
Part 3 (Leftovers and Sides)
Part 4 (Desserts, Snacks, and Drinks)
Teen Energy Drinks: Are they healthy?
College students jamming for an exam, high school students getting ready for SATs, or teen athlete’s needing that boost – Energy drinks seem to be more and more popular among our youth. But is it safe? Is it healthy? Read more about what your teens could be drinking today.
Source: Connect with Kids
Energy Drinks and Teens
“They’re going to get that boost, but in the long run they’re not going to be doing their best. And they may not even notice they’re not doing their best.”
– Elizabeth Redmond, Ph.D. and Nutritionist
According to a recent Time magazine article, the afternoon coffee break for an energy boost — may just become a generational thing. Those under age 24 are now more likely to reach for a caffeine-loaded energy drink, a trend that just might mean risky business for today’s teens.
Researchers from the University of Buffalo have found a link between teens who consume a large quantity of high energy drinks and risky behavior. Is it that these drinks cause risky behavior? Or is it that kids who consume these drinks take more risks? The jury is still out, but nutritionists say these drinks are risky in another way.
In the past few years the market for so called ‘energy drinks’ has exploded. Full of sugar and caffeine, there’s now around a dozen energy drinks on the market, and they’re very popular with kids.
“I’ve had Rockstar,” says Hunter, 13.
Thirteen-year-old Will’s favorites? “Monster, Rooster Booster.”
“Sobe’s Adrenaline Rush,” answers T.J., age 14.
“It tastes very good,” explains 16-year-old Corrissa, “It gives me energy.”
Energy, according to promotional materials, makes these drinks good for school or sports performance. “They do kind of imply they’re sports drinks,” says Nutritionist Elizabeth Redmond, Ph.D., “but a sports drink like Gatorade or something would hydrate you. And these drinks have a lot of caffeine, and they’re actually going to have a diuretic effect and can dehydrate.”
And while the caffeine in many of these drinks, the same as the amount in an average cup of coffee, gives kids a boost, a couple hours later, they crash.
“Yeah if I drink one I might be kind of hyper for a while and then I’ll be like ‘Ehhhh’ and get real tired,” explains 12-year-old Luke.
Experts add the side effects of caffeine also include loss of appetite, moodiness, headaches, nausea, difficulty sleeping.
And while there haven’t been any long term studies on the effect of regular caffeine use by kids, Redmond explains that, “Once you get used to the caffeine boost you’re going to want to keep getting it. But it’s just not a healthy lifestyle that you want to get into.”
Experts say parents should teach kids caffeine can be addictive, and that if they’re looking for better performance, there’s a much better way. “Getting enough sleep, being hydrated and eating a healthy diet would be the three biggest things you’d want to look at if you wanted to get more energy to do better at sports,” says Redmond.
What We Need To Know
Now more than ever, it seems that students are relying on caffeinated products like Red Bull to help them stay awake to study for tests. In fact, some experts report that caffeine dependency among high school students has steadily increased over the past five years. Consider these recent studies of children and caffeine consumption:
- A researcher at the University of California-San Francisco found that when school-aged children took a high daily dose of caffeine, their attention span decreased. And after the effects of the caffeine dissipated, their performance in various tasks was impaired.
- National Institute of Mental Health child psychiatry researcher Judith Rapoport, M.D., found 8- to-13-year-olds who regularly consumed high doses of caffeine were judged more restless by teachers, and that one-third were hyperactive enough to meet the criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- In a study by Stanford University neurobiologist Avram Goldstein, fifth- and sixth-graders at a Denver school deprived of daily caffeine reported having symptoms including trouble thinking clearly, not feeling energetic and getting angry. Even children who typically consume 28 milligrams a day (less than an average soda) felt symptoms.
- Since caffeine leaches small amounts of calcium from the bones, a 1994 Harvard study concluded that soda consumption increases the possibility for bone fracture among teenage girls.
Even though these products may seem like a quick fix for helping students study late into the night, most teens are unaware of how caffeine affects their bodies. According to the Nemours Foundation Kids’ Health online resource, caffeine is a mild stimulant that causes increased heart rate and alertness. Most people who are sensitive to caffeine experience a temporary increase in energy and elevation in mood. Yet, this energized feeling quickly evaporates and leaves students feeling tired and irritable. The Mayo Clinic cites these additional side effects of caffeine:
- Insomnia
- Heartburn
- Intestinal upsets, such as constipation and diarrhea
- Headaches
- Jitters, anxiety, heart palpitations or rapid heart rate
- Increase in blood pressure
- Temporary depression
- Calcium loss: Kids build their peak bone mass as they grow through calcium intake and exercise. Yet, caffeine causes calcium loss, so if they’re drinking more coffee and soda, but less milk, they not only get less calcium from the dairy products but also lose calcium due to increased caffeine intake.
- Dehydration: Because caffeine is a diuretic, it can cause your body to become weak from not having enough water. Although you may think you’re getting plenty of liquids, caffeine works against the body in two ways: It has a dehydrating effect on the body’s cells and increases the need to urinate. It is particularly important for active teens who play sports to drink non-caffeinated beverages each day to avoid dehydration.
Energy drinks are not harmful if you have them occasionally, but they’re not the healthy choices the advertising hype makes them out to be either. The truth is, the best energy boost comes from healthy living. People who eat well, drink water, and get enough physical activity and rest will have plenty of energy — the natural way.
There is also concern about the combination of “energy drinks” and alcohol, especially on college campuses. The company that produces the Four Loko beverage recently announced that it will remove the caffeine and two other ingredients from its products after facing a cascade of criticism and regulatory scrutiny for producing the energy drinks, which combine high levels of the stimulant with alcohol. According to an online publication of the Boston University School of Public Health, the beverages are used by party-goers to get drunk faster. What you get, one nutritionist says, is “a wide-awake drunk.” Just because your child may be drinking energy beverages, doesn’t necessarily mean he or she is mixing them with alcohol.
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