EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Family News
|
||||
|
Athlete mom Wheat Council says to fuel yourself FAST FACT The latest figures indicate that more than 80 million so-called “empty-nesters” now find themselves with at least one grown child living at home, according to FOCUS Over Fifty, a website for people in the prime time of life. A nationwide survey shows that moms like to compare themselves to athletes, but they don’t eat nutritiously like one. The Wheat Foods Council has embarked on an education campaign, “Mom, the Everyday Athlete,” to provide information on the importance of grains in a woman’s diet. The campaign focuses on pregnant mothers, moms with kids, and empty-nesters. “Moms are always on the run, juggling everything from family and career to household and community involvement. This athletic lifestyle is why healthy ‘fuel,’ such as wheat, is essential to keep them going strong,” says council President Marcia Scheideman. Enriched grains are one way to keep a balanced, healthy diet and can benefit a mother throughout motherhood. The survey, conducted with 1,604 mothers last November by Impulse Research, found some interesting facts about moms on the run. These include: Most moms (62%) complete more than 11 tasks a day, from grocery shopping to laundry; and nearly one-quarter complete 21 or more tasks a day. The athlete for whom most moms (23%) would compare themselves to is the long-distance runner, (on the go all day long). Some 20% chose golfer (leisurely pace, but still active); 18% said sprinter (get a lot done quickly); and 8% chose gymnast (nimble and adept). More than one-third of moms believe they burn most of their daily calories while doing housework. Some 40% report drinking a beverage with caffeine when in need of an energy boost, while 30% turn to a snack. Snack food containing wheat, such as whole grain crackers, cereal or a tortilla, provides nutrients and carbohydrates to help fuel the day. For free nutrition materials: wheatfoods.org. The Wheat Foods Council, founded in 1972, helps increase public awareness of grains, carbohydrates and fiber as essential components of a healthy diet. Divorce Numbers 30 percent say they’ve cut the tie. Some 30% of adult Americans say they have been divorced at some point in their lifetimes, according to a recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll. The last time Gallup asked the same question, in 1985, 23% said they had been divorced. Among those who say they have been divorced in their lifetimes, 46% are currently married, 36% are single, 8% are living together with a partner, 8% are widowed, and 3% say they are currently separated. Women (35%) are more likely than men (24%) to say they have divorced at some point in their lifetimes. Tuck in Tommy Children need more sleep – now Some 62% of children ages 9-13 are not getting enough sleep, and 70% wish they could get more. It’s time to turn off the long movie and close down the late hours. A KidsHealth KidsPolls notes that experts hope school-age children get 9 1/2-10 1/2 hours of sleep each night. A bedtime routine will help accomplish this, as well as more focused parents. The poll notes that children who report that their parent “decides what time to go to bed” were more likely to get an adequate amount of sleep; they average about 45 minutes more per night than children who get to choose. “One of the most troubling things to recurrent sleep deprivation is the effect on the immune (system),” reports Dr. Kate Cronan, a pediatrician and medical editor for KidsHealth. “One or two nights of poor sleep is not the issue. It is those children who repeatedly receive too little sleep… Kids’ bodies are not able to fight infection as effectively.” Here are tips for the bedtime routine: • Set a bedtime for school nights and stick to it. • Make sure homework gets done early. • Some 30 minutes before bedtime, encourage your child to wrap up any project or activity. • Include activities in the routine that are relaxing, such as reading. • Spend a few minutes together recapping the day. • Say goodnight and remind the child to stay quiet and in bed. The survey reached 1,187 children, ages 9-13.m For parents, go to: kidshealth.org/breakingnews/poll_sleep.html For children, go to: kidshealth.org/kid/talk/kidssay/poll_sleep.html For survey findings: nahec.org/KidsPoll. KidsHealth KidsPolls is a project of the National Association of Health Education Centers, the Nemours Center for Children’s Health Media and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Safe return Program saved the lives of 112 children On April 10, two Inland Empire children – a 17-month-old boy and a 3-year-old girl – were taken from their mother. The abductor, who was the father of one of the children, allegedly shot the woman before fleeing with both kids. It didn’t take authorities long, though, to locate the missing children. Shortly after the San Bernardino County sheriff’s Department had requested an AMBER Alert, the two were safely found at their grandmother’s residence. Similar outcomes have played out dozens and dozens of times since the AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert program was established statewide in July 2002. In all, more than 110 abducted children in California have been successfully recovered – many ofwhom otherwise may not be alive today. The program, which was originated in Texas in 1996 after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted and murdered, allows for the immediate sending of information on the abduction to the media and general pubic, according to the California Highway Patrol. Upon meeting set criteria, the information is disbursed in a variety of ways, including television and radio broadcast and the activation of electronic changeable messages signs operated by the California Department of Transportation. The alerts also are now available at no cost to cell-phone users who have text messaging capabilities. (Visit www.wirlessamberalerts.org to sign up for the service.) The program has been met with similar success on a national level as well. More than 240 children have been recovered since AMBER Alert began in 1996, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Of those, more than 85% occurred since October 2002, when AMBER Albert became a coordinated national effort. Got syrup? Chocolate milk ideal for exhausted muscles Don’t be surprised to see young athletes start showing up at the gym and sporting events with a carton of milk in hand. Researchers at Indiana University Bloomington have found that drinking chocolate milk is one of the best things an athlete can do to recover shortly after a rigorous practice. In fact, the drink proved to be just as effective a recovery product as Gatorade and almost twice as effective as Endurox. According to the study, chocolate milk, as opposed to white milk, has a high carbohydrate and protein content, which is ideal for exhausted muscles. It also replaces fluids lost through sweat during workouts. Researcher Joel Stager says the drink would be particularly helpful for athletes who endure long or intense practices, such as swimmers, long-distance runners and cyclists, and for those who practice more than once a day. $20 million gift Irvine Co. chairman helps Irvine schools Donald Bren, chairman of The Irvine Co., recently announced a 10-year gift of $20 million dedicated to fine arts, music and science programs for fourth- through sixth-graders in the Irvine Unified School District. This Excellence in Education Enrichment Fund will allow students to receive a more comprehensive education by supporting more than 30 professionals in the arts, music, and science who will serve as specialist teachers. The gift almost triples the amount currently being spent on these programs in the district. As a result, this enrichment program will be the most thorough of any in the state. A well-rounded education including fine arts, music, and science has long been a priority to Bren, who recognizes the importance of these disciplines in “the broadening of a student’s academics.” The Irvine Unified School District already ranks among the top academically in the state. By Carlin Schneider family news bites POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION PROGRAM TO EXPAND St. Joseph Hospital in Orange has been awarded nearly $1 million to fund a new postpartum depression program. The grant, donated by Unihealth Foundation, will finance a program “Caring for Women with Maternal Depression” and will allow St. Joseph Hospital to expand its current postpartum depression program. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 12% of women reported being moderately depressed after they delivered their baby, and 6% reported being very depressed after delivery. HOME RAFFLE DEADLINE EXTENDED Mater Dei High School recently announced that the deadline to purchase tickets for its $1 million home raffle has been extended to June 15. Tickets are on sale for $200 each, with all proceeds going to the Monarch Legacy Endowment, a fund that will support need-based financial aid and enhance faculty and staff salaries. The $1 million home is located in Costa Mesa’s Half Moon Lane community. Information: 866.962.8373 or mdhomeraffle.org CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER RECEIVES $25,000 GIFT The Child Guidance Center in Santa Ana has received a gift of $25,000 from the Miracle Foundation. The funds will be used for the center’s Parent-Child Interaction Treatment program. The 14- to 20-week program offers real-time coaching to parents whose young child, age 2 to 8, exhibits severe behavioral problem and with parents/caregivers who abuse their child. LIBRARY OPENS IN NEWPORT BEACH The Donna and John Crean Mariners Branch Library has opened in Newport Beach. The 15,305-square-foot-facility will serve as Mariners Elementary School’s student library as well as a public library for local residents. Located adjacent to the school, the library features a collection of 58,000 items, more than 40 PC and laptop computers and a 3,710-square-foot children’s room. NEW CAMPAIGN PROMOTES HEALTHY HABITS The Junior League of Orange County is helping to launch a program of Junior League International known as “Kids in the Kitchen.” The education initiative is designed to prevent childhood obesity and aid nutritional education. As a part of the campaign, the website, kidsinthekitchen.aili.org, offers kid-friendly, nutritious recipes, tips, nutritional quizzes and more. ONLINE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES A breakthrough Web source is now available to Orange County residents and healthcare service providers. The site, Orange County Network of Care: A Road Map to Health Care, provides online access to comprehensive services available within the county. The website (ochealthcare.org) also provides easy-to-search libraries and information about healthcare. – Reported and compiled by OC Family Magazine staff |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This ArticleSEARCH THE SITE
