What's in a FOOD label?

ALWAYS READ THE LABELS ON THE FOODS YOU BUY--NO MATTER WHAT THE FRONT OF THE BOX OR PACKAGE SAYS, TURN IT OVER AND READ THE BACK---CAREFULLY! With all the food and pet products now coming from China, it is best to make sure you read label at the supermarket and especially Walmart (ASDA - US owned) when buying food products.

• Many products no longer show where they were made, only give where the distributor is located.
• The whole world is concerned about China-made goods.
• The world is also concerned about GM (Genetically Modified) foods; steroid fed animals etc in USA.
It is important to read the bar code to track its origin.
• If the first 3 digits of the barcode are 690 691 or 692, the product is MADE IN CHINA.
• 471 is Made in Taiwan .
• If the first 3 digits of the barcode are 00 - 09 then it's made or sourced in USA
• 690-692 ... then it is MADE IN CHINA
• 00 - 09 ... USA & CANADA
• 30 - 37 FRANCE
• 40 - 44 GERMANY
• 471 ... Taiwan
• 49 ... JAPAN
• 50 ... UK

Healthy fasting?

So, I found this so-called SAFE Fast and I wanted to share it.

• During the first seven days you must abstain from all alcohol You must drink 10 glasses of water each day.
• Day One All fruits except bananas. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.

Sounds okay? A day of pure water and ALL the fruit you can eat? YUM! But, losing 3 lbs? Wouldn't you be REALLY bloated from all the water intake and constantly in the bathroom?

• Day Two All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large baked potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.
• Day Three A mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.
Sounds easy enough right? Drinking a ton and eating fruits and vegetables? I think I would be full. Do you think the lack of calcium, protein or potassium would be dangerous or exhausting? Do you think You could incorporate a vitamin to 'level off'?
• Day Four Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. This will be combined with the special soup which may be eaten in limited quantities.
• Day Five Today is feast day. You will eat beef and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. portions of lean beef. Hamburger is OK. Combine this with six whole tomatoes. On day five you must increase your water intake by one quart. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.
Sounds like all the bases are being covered. It doesn't seem more extreme than any regular diet or intake modification. There is not a single day that sounds like you would be starving or eating anything unhealthy. I worry though, after going several days without meat, how would your body adjust to the recent intake?
• Day Six Beef and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of beef and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content.
• Day Seven Today your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.
I seem to sense a trend... this JUST MIGHT be the HEALTHIEST FAST I have ever found...Who's with me?? Tomorrow morning you will be 10-17 lbs. lighter than one week ago. If you desire further weight loss, repeat the program again. You may repeat this program as often as you like, however, it is suggested that you are allowed two glasses of white wine in addition to the instructions on the program. You may substitute champagne for white wine. Under no circumstances are you to drink any other alcoholic beverages with the exception of beer which is allowed. Any liquor (bourbon,vodka, rum) is forbidden. Cream drinks are especially forbidden. You may have an occasional cordial such as creme de menthe or schnapps, but you must always limit yourself to two drinks. If you wine, drink only wine that day. If you have beer, drink only beer that day, etc. Alcohol adds empty calories to your diet. However, after the first week it will help your digestion and settle your stomach. I would definitely SKIP the alcohol,... SO NOT NECESSARY. G.M.’S Wonder Soup The following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to consume large quantities of this soup. 28 oz, Water, 6 Large Onions, 2 Green Peppers, Whole Tomatoes (fresh or canned), 1 Head Cabbage, 1 Bunch Celery, 4 Envelopes Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Herbs and Flavoring as desired. Additional Comments Vegetables as may be taken in the form of a salad if desired. No dressing except malt, white or wine vinegar, squeezed lemon, garlic, herbs. No more than one tea spoon of oil. WONDER SOUP can be eaten in unlimited quantities. This soup is a supplement while you are on the program and it should be a pleasure to eat. Not everyone likes cabbage, green peppers, etc. This recipe is not inflexible. You may substitute OR ADD vegetables according to your taste. Beverages you may consume while on the program : 1. Water (flavoured with lemon/lime if desired). 2. Club Soda is OK. 3. Black Coffee. No cream or cream substitute. No sugar or sweetness. 4. Black Tea = Herb or Leaf. 5. Absolutely nothing else except the fruit juices which are part of day seven. No fruit juices before day seven. How and Why It Works
• Day One Preparing your system for the upcoming program. Your only source of nutrition is fresh or canned fruits. Fruits are nature’s perfect food.
• Day Two starts with a fix of complex carbo-hydrates coupled with an oil dose. This is taken in the morning for energy and balance. The rest of day two consists of vegetables which are virtually calorie free and provide essential nutrients and fiber.
• Day Three eliminates the potato (carbohydrates from the fruits). You system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. You will still have cravings which should start to diminish by day four.
• Day Four bananas, milk and soup sound the strangest and least desirable. You probably will not eat all the bananas allowed. But they are there for the potassium and the sodium you may have missed. You will notice a definite loss of desire for sweets.
• Day Five The beef is for iron and proteins, the tomatoes are for digestion and fiber. Lots and lots of water purifies your system. You should notice colorless urine today. Do not feel you have to eat all this beef. You must eat the six tomatoes.
• Day Six Similar to day five, Iron and proteins from beef, Vitamins and fiber from vegetables. By now your system is in a total weight loss inclination. There should be a noticeable difference in the way you look today, compared to day one.
• Day Seven Completion of the program! You have your system under control and it should thank you for the flushing and cleaning you just gave it.

Medicated Children

In order to curb some of the behaviors the "bug" has been exhibiting, I have decided to start introduce him to yoga and meditation to relax him before bed.

With his cast on, we'll start with some REALLY easy stretching and avoid the broken arm and once he's in his pj's and in bed, we will do a bit of visualization before letting him say his prayers and go to sleep.

"Let's go on an adventure... But instead of rushing up and out the front door, we'll take a journey into our imagination, a beautiful place in our thoughts. Lying on your bed, stretch you legs out to a comfortable position, resting easy like a doll, gently close your eyes. Although you are staying still and lying in your bed, imagine standing up and walking right out your door onto the beach. Feel the sand between your toes and smell the gentle ocean breeze. Hear the waves crashing slowly onto the shore, and the birds gentle chirp in the sky above you... Find a nice comfortable spot on your imagination beach to sit and watch the waves crash, the birds sing and the sand circle you..Now, nice and relaxed, drift to sleep."

 

ADHD & Med-Free

Once you discover your child may (or has been confirmed) to be afflicted with ADHD, the whirlwind CONTINUES! I would say begins, BUT knowing a child with ADHD, the whirlwind had begun YEARS before the diagnoses.
I am a FIRM believe in our natural world, for hundreds of years people survived the SAME afflictions we have today WITHOUT medication, of course this was either because the medication did not exist or the diagnoses did not. REGARDLESS, we survived!
I do NOT like any medication, I find that our bodies were constructed to fight off, pain, discomfort and to some extent illness. I am not a radical-naturalopathic-hairy-hippie-femisnist-christian-homeschooling mom,, . I do vaccinate my children when necessary, Tylenol them when they are ill, and feed them junk WHEN I want too. I just don't take ANY medications myself, or have them prescribed unnecessarily to my family.
We plan to manage our son's ADHD medication free. And here is the plan....
Give shorter lessons and more of them, which makes it easier for children to stay focused. Focus is so limited at this young age anyway!
Acknowledge even partial success and extend approval generously. We have a marble jar that is WONDERFUL!
Compliment even in mid-assignment to encourage continued focused performance.
Make corrections with a light hand. Instead of “try harder next time,” try – I see how hard you tried. Keep up the effort. It’s really paying off.
Lots of smiling, make eye contact with child, or pat him on the back.
Alert child’s attention with phrases such as “This is important.”
Break down longer directions into simpler chunks.
Allow physically hyperactive children out of their seats for FREQUENT movement.
Compliment a child, publicly, at least once daily, on some organizational or attentional task or effort.
Take a moment or two once or twice daily to speak privately; give a two-second pep talk, mention something positive you happened to notice regarding his work, behavior, self-control, focusing, etc.
I am also planning a somewhat Buddy system for cooperative learning both at and above level.

I will not make excuses for him, but rather encourage him strongly to manage his own behaviors and succeed despite the challenges ahead.