CrossRoadsNews, July 28, 2012 - Section B by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

Family & Back-to School Expo August 4, 2012 July 28, 2012

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Embrace the Fun, Get the Info

Information, Performances, Fashion Show, Prizes Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the fun on August 4 at the Mall at Stonecrest Lower Level, Noon to 5 p.m.

CrossRoadsNews

Expo

July 28, 2012

Visit at least 20 Familiy and Back to School exhibitors during the expo and enter to win $250 Mall at Stonecrest Giftcard

“East Metro Atlanta’s Weekly Newspaper” 2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888

Aug. 4, 2012 - Noon to 5 p.m. • The Main Stage in front of Sears Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest

www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

The 2012 Family & Back-toSchool Expo Special Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews Inc. Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphics Editor Curtis Parker Reporters Jennifer Ffrench Parker Donna Williams Lewis Proofreader Brenda Camp Yarbrough

Noon

Pajanimals Live

Emcees Rae Clark, Pamela Holmes

12:30 p.m. Rae Rae, Shaniah, & Vanice Walker 1 p.m.

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

Healthy School Lunch Demos with Life Chef Asata Reid

1:45 p.m. DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston

2:45 p.m. The Nation of Islam Youth Drill Team Macy’s Back-to-School Fashion Show

3:30 p.m. Beulah Boys 4 p.m. Pajanimals Live Pamela Holmes

Rae Rae Clark

Pajanimals Live

4:30 p.m. Conservatory of Dance 5 p.m.

2:30 p.m. Sh’Boss Boys

Grand Prize Drawing Expo ends!

Circulation Audit by

The Nation of Islam Youth Drill Team

Sh’Boss Boys

2012 Family & Back-to-School Expo Grand Prize Entry Form Visit at least 20 of these exhibitors* at the Mall at Stonecrest on Aug. 4 and enter to win a $250 Mall at Stonecrest Gift Card.

_____ Aflac - Pamela Holmes

_____ Faith Community Christian Academy

_____ Oakhurst Medical Centers

_____ Amerigroup

_____ Forever Pink Foundation

_____ Optimal Health & Wellness

_____ Big Thinkers Science Exploration

_____ Georgia Perimeter College

_____ Organic Root Stimulator

_____ Compassionate Nurses

_____ Green Pastures Christian Ministries

_____ Organizing for America

_____ Craig B. Williams DDS

_____ Greenforest McCalep Christian Academic

_____ Sparks Christian Academy

_____ CrossRoadsNews

_____ Kaiser Permanente

_____ Sykes Tutoring Services

_____ DeKalb County Board of Health

_____ Kingdom Covenant Leadership Institute

_____ Walgreens

_____ DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office

_____ Neighbor to Family

_____ WellCare of Georgia

_____ Excellent Montessori

_____ Newburn Reynolds Photography

Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________City _______________________________________ St: ______ Zip: ___________ Email ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Home phone: _________________________________________________ Cell phone: ____________________________________________________ *Exhibitors must write their validation code on your entry form. Your name, address and a telephone number are required to win. Employees and immediate family members of CrossRoadsNews and the Mall at Stonecrest are not eligible for awards. Must be 18 years or older to win. Must be present at the drawing to win.

CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2012

Expo

The colorful puppets will appear in half-hour shows at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the Main Stage in front of Sears.

Colorful, cuddly ‘Pajanimals’ to entertain young ones Sweetpea Sue, Squacky, CowBella and Apollo are coming to town. “Jim Henson’s Pajanimals” will appear live on stage at the Mall at Stonecrest on Aug. 4 during the CrossRoadsNews 2012 Family & Back-to-School Expo. The colorful puppets will appear in halfhour shows at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the Main Stage in front of Sears. Parents should bring their cameras to capture the fun. The annual expo takes place from noon to 5 p.m. on the lower level and includes performances, healthy food demos, free health screenings and immunizations. The Pajanimals’ imaginary bedtime journeys resolve challenges like brushing teeth, friendship and sharing, typically encountered during every preschooler’s day. “Pajanimals” debuted as a full-length series in October 2011 on PBS Kids Sprout and also appears on NBC Kids! It is co-produced by Sprout, the Jim Henson Co., and Northern Ireland’s Sixteen South Television. The show features: Sweetpea Sue, a pink and orange pony with a Southern accent. She makes sure she brushes her big bucked teeth and washes her hooves before she goes to sleep each night. Squacky, a very excitable blue and yellow duck. He loves to play practical jokes and to read. CowBella, a pink, purple and white cow. She is well-mannered and very neat and

The “Jim Henson’s Pajanimals” characters resolve challenges like brushing teeth, friendship and sharing that preschoolers encounter.

organized. She loves elegance, loves to play dress-up and puts bows on her horns. Apollo, a purple and lime green dog. He is the leader of the bunch and loves everything to do with space. He finds any excuse he can to avoid going to bed. The show includes characters the Pajanimals turn to when they don’t know what to

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do, and there’s always something. In one episode, Squacky doesn’t know what to snuggle with when his blankie is in the wash. In other episodes, CowBella is afraid to go to sleep because she’s afraid she’ll have a nightmare. Sweetpea Sue is worried that her birthday party won’t be a success. Apollo is disappointed that he keeps losing

every race. The Pajanimals were designed and built by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop from original concepts by Los Angeles-based toy and clothing designer and artist Jeff Muncy. The Mall at Stonecrest is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road. For more information, call 404-284-1888.

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Expo

CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2012

“You gotta move or you’ll lose. If you don’t do anything with [your body], it won’t do anything for you.”

Fitness mavens, young singer to get crowd moving in style By Donna Williams Lewis

Get ready to “hustle it up” on Aug. 4 at CrossRoadsNews’ Back-to-School Expo. Exercise motivator Rae Rae FreemanClark will be joined by soul line dancer Vanice Walker and little local singing sensation Shaniah Jones for an energetic good time. They will be on the Main Stage near Sears on the mall’s lower level at 12:30 p.m. Freeman-Clark said she will do her own “Sassy Classy” hustle. Walker will show off some line dancing, and Shaniah will perform her hit song “Tutus and Tennis Shoes.” Just under 6 feet tall, Freeman-Clark reached a weight of 300 pounds during her child-bearing years, but today at age 49, she is about half that weight. The svelte fitness instructor does exercise warm-ups and classes for conferences and programs across metro Atlanta. She wants her session at the expo to get people young and old excited about moving. “I say let’s hustle it up. Let’s get busy!” she said. Shaniah is a pretty busy rising third-grader at Atlanta’s Benteen Elementary School. Girls across the world are sharing their own versions of the 8-year-old’s song “Tutus and Tennis Shoes.” Her mother and manager, Cherlon Jones of southeast Atlanta, said Shaniah is an excellent reader with an exceptional memory. “She’s a natural and such a professional at her young age, and she’s still a kid at the same time,” Jones said. “She might be timid Shaniah has her own line dance for kids and humble and laid-back in person, but called the “Kiddie Shuffle.” when she gets behind the mike she’s a whole Two years ago, she was a finalist on Q different person. It’s like lights, camera, ac- 100s’ The Bert Show - “Bert’s Big Break,” and tion. She’s on!” recently performed her “Tutus and Tennis

Shaniah Jones, 8, a rising third-grader at Atlanta’s Benteen Elementary School, will perform her hit song “Tutus and Tennis Shoes.”

Rae Rae’s Cardio Commitment Campaign Freeman-Clark shares her four-step fitness program: n Start your day by drinking water. n Follow that by eating fruit. n Eat salad as a meal four times a week, twice for lunch and twice for dinner. n Exercise for a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes at least two to three times each week.

Find Shaniah:

www.twitter.com/therealshaniah www.facebook.com/shaniahjones www.youtube.com/therealshaniah http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tuustennis-shoes-sngle/id44082

Shoes” on Fox 5 Atlanta. She has performed at schools, charity events and birthday parties. Walker, 52, has been teaching soul line dance for several years as the founder of

“Watch My Feet.” She can teach the steps to about 150 line dances and choreographs her own steps. Walker had to get two artificial discs after falling on her FedEx job in 2007, but the injury could not stop her. She dances for therapy and does lots of stretching. “You gotta move or you’ll lose,” Walker said. “If you don’t do anything with [your body], it won’t do anything for you.” The Decatur grandmother leads line dancing at family reunions and parties and three times a week at 8 p.m. at the following locations: n Tuesdays: Central Park Bistro, 5231 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain. n Wednesdays: V&J’s Sports Bar and Grill, 1917 Pryor Road, Atlanta. n Thursdays: Bigelow’s Sports Bar and Brill, 2564 Gresham Road, Atlanta.

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July 28, 2012

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CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2012

Each year, the DeKalb School System refers 700 cases of alleged educational neglect to the solicitor general.

For a better future, keep our kids in school and out of trouble By Sherry Boston

DeKalb County children should have every opportunity possible to learn and grow so they can build a better future for themselves and, in taking a larger view, build a better future for our county and state. After all, education is powerful. It can energize, enlighten and, quite simply, lead to better jobs. That’s why education is one of my four key goals for DeKalb County: Keep our kids in school and out of trouble; keep our community safe; improve our quality of life; and protect the vulnerable. State law in Georgia requires that all children between the ages of 6 and 16 attend school. Any parent or guardian found to be violating the compulsory attendance law shall be guilty of educational neglect, a misdemeanor offense, and can face stiff penalties, for each day that a child has more than five unexcused absences, according to the law. These unexcused absences can include oversleeping, not feeling like going to school, staying home to work or baby-sit, or keeping a lonely parent company. Individuals convicted of violating the state law can be fined, sentenced to 30 days in jail, and ordered to perform community service. Each year, the DeKalb School System refers roughly 700 cases of alleged educational neglect to the Solicitor General’s Office. Some children have missed more than 40 days of school in just a six-month time period. In talking with families, the SolicitorGeneral’s Office has found that sometimes parents keep kids home from school because they don’t realize that there are resources available to help solve problems a child may be having – whether it is due to a learning disability, bullying, or transportation issues caused by homelessness. These absences are preventable because the schools can provide resources to help parents and guardians cope with these problems. Jailing parents is the last resort The Office of the Solicitor General works with a team of school administrators and education experts to provide support and resolve attendance issues before they rise to the level of prosecution of parents or guardians. The solicitor general offers parents and guardians whose children are chronically absent an opportunity to complete a diversion program called the Attendance Review Team, which requires parents and guard-

Education for the common good

DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston says education is one of her four key goals, which include keeping the community safe, improving quality of life, and protecting the vulnerable.

Tips for a successful school year n Send your child to school every day school is open – except when he or she is sick. n Wake your child up early enough so he or she can get to school on time, even if that means 15 or 30 minutes earlier than he or she used to wake up. n Encourage your child to eat a good breakfast every morning; try not to let him or her skip breakfast. n Pack healthy snacks and lunches that will maintain their energy and help with learning. n Talk with your child about their school day. Ask what was the best and worst part of the day. n See if your child needs help with his/her homework and make sure it’s completed each night. n School officials can be great problem solvers. Contact your school if you think your child has a learning disability, is being bullied, has transportation or attendance issues due to homelessness, or needs other support. n Create a study routine for your child. A good rule of thumb is to have your child do his or her homework right when he or she gets home from school. n Have your child prepare for school each night: Pick out clothes or uniforms, socks, shoes, place homework assignments in book bags, etc. n Be sure your child gets a good night’s sleep.

ians to sign a contract agreeing that their month for a specific period of time. Failure child will have no unexcused absences and to complete these conditions may result in that they will meet with the child’s teacher, criminal prosecution. counselor, or social worker at least once a

We believe that education is a building block for a good quality of life, that we all win when a child succeeds in school, and that our county’s success tomorrow depends on how well we educate our children today. We believe that every child deserves an education, a great school and great teachers. We believe it also takes strong families, a stable home life and good health. We believe that high school dropouts are years in the making, and that early intervention is the key to success. Our vision is that every child will enter school ready to learn, read proficiently by 4th grade, make a successful transition to middle school, and graduate from high school on time. We believe in the power of parents, teachers, students, companies, elected officials, law enforcement and members of the community, working together for the common good. I pledge to strive for perfect school attendance. I pledge to support the United Way’s Campaign for the Common Good and help cut the high school dropout rate in half by 2018.

Education matters Nearly one-half of all high-school dropouts ages 16-24 are unemployed. High school dropouts earn an average of $270,000 less than graduates over the course of their lives. For Georgians, this represents a $7.3 billion loss in earning potential. Many social issues can be linked to educational neglect: Dropouts are six times more likely to be unwed parents and they are 7.5 times more likely to be dependent on welfare. Truancy is the No. 1 predictor among boys and the No. 2 predictor among girls for future criminal activity. In Georgia, 88 percent of all prison inmates are high school dropouts. And 90 percent of the inmates in the DeKalb County Jail never obtained their high school diploma.

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CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2012

Expo

“Mr. Nick said he almost forgot their steps because Benjamin was out there doing their dances.”

Lil’ Beulah Boy joins DeKalb’s senior line dance phenoms By Donna Williams Lewis

The high-stepping, booty-shaking Beulah Boys are used to wowing audiences across Atlanta, but an Aug. 4, they have a little something extra for the CrossRoadsNews Family & Back-to-School Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. The group of eight dancers, ranging in age from 57 to 72, will be joined by 7-year-old Benjamin Ravenel, a kid who literally danced his way into the band. “Y’all gonna love Benjamin!” said the group’s spokesman, Nick Bowers. “He’s good. When we brought him to practice, he caught onto it instantly.” The group was performing at the Best of Small Business Expo in April when Benjamin began following along. His mother, Debra Ravenel, said he just started dancing, doing their moves. “Mr. Nick said he almost forgot their steps because Benjamin was out there doing their dances,” she said. When the performance ended, Benjamin took pictures with the Beulah Boys and then wandered off with his mother through the expo’s exhibition tables. They were headed back toward the stage to catch the expo’s final prize drawing when a woman they’d been standing near earlier came rushing toward them. “They’re looking for you!” she said. “They want your son to dance with them!” She handed Ravenel a business card the Beulah Boys had given her. What happened next was a match made in Western heaven. Ravenel said her son has been dressing up like a cowboy since he was 2 years old. So all Benjamin needed to look like a Beulah Boy was a matching shirt. Now a Lil’ Beulah Boy, he will join the men, some of whom are old enough to be his grandfather, on the Main Stage in front of Sears during the expo at 3:30 p.m. The dancers will wear their trademark black cowboy hats, black jeans and black boots. And so will Benjamin, who’s looking forward to his third performance as a Beulah Boy. “Because I dance pretty well,” he said. Benjamin is headed to the second grade at Lithonia’s E.L. Bouie Elementary School where he’s on the Principal’s

Benjamin Ravenel, 7, is the newest Beulah Boy. He will perform with the line dancing group at 3:30 p.m. on the Main Stage near Sears on the mall’s lower level.

List. His mother calls him a great kid. “He’s an ambitious fellow,” she said. “He likes to play, but he’s not just all play. He likes to think about his future.” She says that he always talks about the movies and what he wants to do. “He draws pictures and makes cards. He works on little books. He makes robots out of toilet paper rolls,” she said. “He doesn’t want to miss Sunday school and he likes to go to Bible study.” When he grows up, Benjamin said, he wants to be a dancer and a doctor. And, he said, “I want people to be happy.” The Beulah Boys now plan to recruit other young boys for their group. Bowers’ grandson, 6-year-old Kenton Bowers, is rehearsing to become one of them. Kenton isn’t ready to join the group on stage just yet but he will be dressed up like the group for a “guest appearance.” The Beulah Boys recently won DeKalb County’s Senior Line Dance Competition for the second time in a row and are now performing every weekend. “There’s no type of dancing we don’t do, but we don’t do anything raunchy,” Bowers said. In May, they performed at an Alabama Connection scholarship dinner and dance in Cincinnati. On Thursday, they were at Atlanta City Hall for a celebration of the July 26, 1990, passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act. They perform at senior centers, schools, community events and churches and are booked up for two months. They have three events scheduled on the day of CrossRoadsNews’ Expo, including a black-tie event at the Atlanta Hilton in Buckhead. These guys make sure their bodies are up to the challenge. Every weekday, Monday through Friday, they hit the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church gym at 6:30 a.m. for a workout. At 8 a.m. they start their one-hour dance rehearsal. How do they do it? “God is good,” Bowers said. “That’s all I can say.” For more information, call Nick Bowers at 404-3100067.

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Expo

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July 28, 2012

“Anything there’s a vaccine for is usually a pretty bad illness to get, and we generally do not have cures for them.”

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Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc. will provide a “limited number” of free immunizations to school-age children at the CrossRoadsNews Back-to-School Expo on Aug. 4 at the Mall at Stonecrest.. “We plan to serve from 25 to 65, depending on our manpower for that day,” said Tarri Johnson, coordinator of research and collaborative services. Children must have their shot records with them, and kids who are immunized at the Expo will get free backpacks packed with school supplies, while they last. Free hearing and vision screenings will also be provided by Oakhurst physicians. Dr. Shaveanda Queen, a pediatrician at Oakhurst Medical’s Decatur location , will process immunization s and greet families. She talked about the significance of the shots. “Anything there’s a vaccine for is usually a pretty bad illness to get, and we generally do not have cures for them,” she said. She tells kids: “It’s a little hurt to prevent a big sickness.” She reminds families about the importance of handwashing and staying home from school when a child is sick with fever until the fever has been gone for 24 hours.

“That reduces their ability to spread sickness,” Dr. Queen said. People who miss out on Oakhurst’s immunizations at Stonecrest can try to get them the same day at Oakhurst Medical Center’s main office, 770 Village Square Drive in Stone Mountain. The health provider will hold its own Back to School Health & Wellness Family Fun Day Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The immunizations given there will also be free and available while they last. Immunization records are required there as well.

Other screenings Kaiser Permanente will do blood pressure screenings. Compassionate Nurses will offer blood pressure screenings and tips on natural holistic treatments for stress and other issues.

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July 28, 2012

Exhibitors:

Aflac - Pamela Holmes Amerigroup Big Thinkers Science Exploration Compassionate Nurses Craig B. Williams DDS DeKalb County Board of Health DeKalb County Solicitor-Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office Excellent Montessori Faith Community Christian Academy Forever Pink Foundation Georgia Perimeter College Green Pastures Christian Ministries Greenforest McCalep Christian Academic Kaiser Permanente Kingdom Covenant Leadership Institute Neighbor to Family Newburn Reynolds Photography Oakhurst Medical Centers Optimal Health & Wellness Organic Root Stimulator Organizing for America Sparks Christian Academy Sykes Tutoring Services Walgreens WellCare of Georgia

CrossRoadsNews

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July 28, 2012

“It is a little glitz and glam, but it’s like a fairy tale, honestly.” The Forever Pink Foundation will be recruiting high school girls for its 28th debutante cotillion.

Young ladies sought for debutante cotillion By Donna Williams Lewis The rap trio the SH’Boss Boys will perform at the Aug. 4 expo at Stonecrest. They appeared on “America’s Got Talent.”

SH’Boss Boys to rap at back-to-school expo

A year ago, the SH’Boss Boys were seducing the judges and audiences on “America’s Got Talent.” On Aug. 4, they will be wading into the hearts of expo-goers at the CrossRoadsNews 2012 Family & Backto-School Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. The rap trio of Javan Jr., 7, also known as Captain SH’Boss and Young J; Tobias, 8, also known as Senior SH’Boss; and Joshua, 6, also known as Junior SH’Boss and Lil Josh; will be on stage at 2:33 p.m. Young J is responsible for the SH’Boss Boys becoming a group. At the age of 4, he read a poem written by his aunt and put his own rap twist to it. He told her he wanted to act and rap. She added two more boys and with their positive lyrics and commanding stage presence, the boys were well on their way to stardom. Since 2010, they have performed more than 100 times at festivals, birthday parties, and talent shows. They will be showing their moves from the Main Stage near Sears on the mall’s lower level. They are the 2012 winners of Maury’s Mini Idol competition. The Youtube video of their “America’s Got Talent” appearance has more than 4 million views.

Long white gloves. Lavish white gowns. Tuxedoed escorts. A waltz. The Debutante Cotillion, a truly old-school event that historically presented young ladies to “polite society,” is still going strong in some circles. One of those circles is DeKalb County’s Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The chapter’s 330-plus members are recruiting high school girls now for their 28th Debutante Cotillion. Information about the Cotillion and the six-month grooming program that precedes it will be distributed during the CrossRoadsNews Aug. 4 Family & Back to School Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. The noon to 5 p.m. expo takes place on the lower level of the Lithonia mall. Deloris Birch, 2012-2013 Cotillion General Chairman, said debutantes and their escorts will meet at least once monthly for programs and weekly for dance classes beginning in January. “To see how they grow during that time and to just listen to them, it is amazing,” Birch said. The students participate in arts, social etiquette, community service and college prep activities designed to help broaden their perspectives and prepare them for life, she said. They also compete for awards and scholarships. The Debutante Cotillion is the signature event of the Forever Pink Foundation, a nonprofit community service affiliate of the Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter. High school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors from any school in metro Atlanta are invited to apply to the

Website:

Debutante Cotillion Community Service Program. Freshmen and sophomores are invited to apply to be hostesses. The program culminates with the formal “Prevue of Celestial Pearls”28th Debutante Cotillion in March 2013. Taylor Harris, a 2012 Chamblee High School graduate, is the chapter’s current “Miss Debutante.” Harris said 75 percent of the $17,000 she raised to win that honor goes back to her as a scholarship to her school of choice, Florida A&M University, where she plans to major in occupational therapy. Her fellow debutantes, whom she called “awesome,” elected her their president early on in the program. “It was really great and humbling to see that people saw leadership in me,” she said. Some of her acquaintances told her the cotillion seemed “kind of fake” to them. “It is a little glitz and glam, but it’s like a fairy tale, honestly,” Harris said. Harris said the program helped her grow socially through the new friends she met, the volunteer work, dance rehearsals and showcases where the debutantes were presented. At an etiquette workshop, “I learned how to eat at a table with influential people, how to take bread from a basket, “she said. “We learned how jewelry pieces can say things you don’t want them to say, and about the right amount of cleavage.” She said the program had “just about the right amount” of female interaction. Debutantes pay a registration fee; and must raise a minimum of $750 to be presented at the Cotillion. Applications can be obtained at the Expo or by visiting www. leo-foundation.com.

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E OUS12 H N OPE . 5, 20 . g Au -5 p.m 2

6400 Woodrow Road Lithonia, GA 30038

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(770) 696-9678

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July 28, 2012

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CrossRoadsNews

“I’ve made a discussion at our house around food. A lot of edible stuff at the grocery store is just not food.”

Healthy, balanced snacking, a good recipe for success By Donna Williams Lewis

When your kid needs a snack, don’t reach for a bag of chips, some cookies or a candy bar, says Life Chef Asata Reid. “Change the vocabulary,” she said. “That’s not a snack. It’s junk.” The popular food guru will share her tips on healthy, balanced snacking at the CrossRoadsNews’ Aug. 4 Family & Back-to-School Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. Reid takes the stage at 1 p.m. on the main stage in front of Sears. “I like to drive home how we make snacks – that we’re making small plates based off as many food groups as possible. Crackers and cheese, that’s not a snack. It’s a carb, loaded with salt, fat, artificial colors and preservatives. “Don’t think Snickers. Don’t think Twix,” she said. “Think whole-wheat crackers and grapes.” And when you’ve got your snack act together, put those little goodies right on “kid level” in the fridge, Reid says. That way they can see and reach what you want them to have: sliced fruit, washed fruit, low-fat string cheese, yogurt, carrot sticks, hummus. Her No. 1 tip for parents: “If you don’t want them to eat it, don’t buy it. That causes battles.” The East Atlanta mother practices what she preaches with her two boys, ages 7 and 2 1/2. “I’ve made a discussion at our house around food,” Reid said. “A lot of edible stuff at the grocery store is just not food.” An example: frozen meals. To Reid, frozen meals are worthless because they lost nutrients when they were precooked, lost more when they were frozen, and even more when they passed through the microwave. “That’s kind of the nail in the coffin,” she said. “If there were anything nutritionally viable left, you just nuked it. Just take 10 minutes and cook yourself something.” Teaching people to cook is Reid’s passion. She demonstrates dishes and shares her knowledge at the Sevananda Natural Foods Market, a food co-op in Little Five Points at 467 Moreland Ave. Reid’s classes are at noon

Nutritious combos

Asata Reid will share her tips on healthy, balanced snacking. She said snacks should be placed at “kid level” in the fridge.

on second Saturdays monthly, except in August. The class costs $15 for Sevananda members and $20 for visitors. She also conducts demonstrations at churches and community organizations and does one-hour lunch-and-learn sessions at a number of Atlanta companies. Reid goes by the moniker “Life Chef ” because she teaches people to have healthy relationships with food and to let food fit their lifestyles. She has been a chef at the Dish Restaurant, the Food Studio and Nikolai’s Roof, and the vegan restaurant Lush. She also has catered through Bold American Catering and

When snacking, try to pull in something from each of the main food groups: fruit, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy, says Life Chef Asata Reid. Here are some of her snack suggestions: Multigrain Cheerios + yogurt-covered raisins + toasted pumpkin seeds Veggie chips/straws + wasabi peas + sesame sticks + shredded coconut Popcorn + banana chips + peanut butter chips (or peanuts) + dark chocolate chips Banana chips + almonds + dark chocolate nibs + dried cherries Rice crackers + garden veggie cream cheese + sliced turkey Apple slices + peanut butter + Craisins Carrot/celery sticks + hummus + multigrain crackers Low-fat cheese + multigrain crackers + cherry tomatoes Whole-wheat mini pitas + hummus + olives & grape tomatoes Multigrain crackers + marscapone cheese + grapes + honey Whole-wheat tortilla + peanut butter + banana + agave nectar Whole-wheat tortilla + low-fat cheese + turkey breast + spinach

has worked as a private chef with an upscale staffing company for private estates in Atlanta. Reid teaches at the Viking Cooking School in Buckhead. She also works with families who want to eat better and people with health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, cancers and obesity.

Follow the Life Chef Chef Asata Reid can be found on Facebook and Twitter. You also can reach her at 404-95D’LISH (404-953-5474). For classes and recipes visit www.lifechef.net; for videos, www. youtube.com/chefasata.

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CrossRoadsNews

July 28, 2012