Idaho Family May/June 2024

FOOD

Volume 12, Number 3

Publisher J.J. Plew

Associate Publisher

Adrianne Goff adriannegoff@me.com

Cover Photo

Idaho City photographed by Trey Downs

Editor Gaye Bunderson editorgaye@gmail.com

Sales & Marketing

J.J. Plew jj@idahofamilymagazine.com 208-697-2043

Contributors

Kimberly Blaker, Roxanne Drury, Luke Erickson, Cara Johnson-Bader, Melanie Nelson, Jenna Shaver, Joanne Wilcox

Graphic Design

Carol Smiley csmileydesign@gmail.com

Distribution Shauna Howard, Doris Evans

Idaho Family Magazine, published monthly by Gem Production Co., LLC, is committed to providing readers with informative and entertaining information to help them in maintaining healthy families and positive lifestyles. It is distributed throughout the valley as a free publication. Idaho Family Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements or opinions expressed by editorial contributors or advertisers. The acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. Idaho Family Magazine does not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. Idaho Family Magazine reserves the right to edit or reject all materials submitted. All rights reserved. Copyright 2024 by Gem Production Co., LLC.

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Children’s Photos Wanted

Idaho Family Magazine would love to put your child or children on our cover. All photos should be high quality, sharp and clear, and high resolution of around 300 ppi. Color photos are preferred, and all photos need to be vertical not horizontal. Please identify the children in the photos, the children’s ages, and what Treasure Valley community they reside in. (If chosen for the cover, their last names will not be used without permission.) Send the photos to editorgaye@ gmail.com.

YOUNG EXPLORERS Places, activities and toys for active minds

By Kimberly Blaker

Does it seem like every time you turn around your home has been taken apart by your little explorer? Don’t despair. It may only result from an extraordinary desire to learn. Who knows? Your child may be a future scientist, inventor or leader in the making.

boredom busters

When your child needs to occupy her creative energy, have her try some of these fun, educational activities.

Put together a book of facts

Make the book about a personal interest of your child’s, such as dinosaurs, insects, rock bands, sports, or astronomy. Clip pictures and descriptions from magazines and internet printouts. Then trace drawings from books and write about personal experiences with the topic.

Make up a scavenger hunt

Make a list of easy to find items for your small children. Make it more challenging for older kids by providing them with a list of puzzles to solve to determine what items to find. Kids can also create a scavenger hunt for family or friends to try.

Play restaurant

Have your child make up a restaurant menu with several simple dishes he can prepare. At dinnertime, he can seat the family, take orders, then prepare and serve the meals. (Suggestion: Bring along some reading while you wait.)

Recycling fun.

Start a discard collection and teach your kids the importance of recycling and reusing disposable items. Then get their creative juices flowing. Save zippers and buttons from old clothing, plastic containers, fabric strips, packing materials, small scraps of wood, carpet and wallpaper scraps, and more. Then supply your kids with scissors, tape, and glue, and let them go to work. Offer ideas to get your kids started, then let them come up with their creations.

Make a United States puzzle

Purchase several colors of clay and a United States map. Clip each state from the map, place a state clipping over the rolled out clay, and trace the shape into the clay with a toothpick. Cut out the shapes then write the name of the state with a pencil tip. Be sure to use a different color of the clay for each neighboring state, and then let the shapes dry or bake according to instructions.

Play Thomas Edison

Save old kitchen appliances, computers, DVD players, and other electronics. Give your child a supply of tools such as pliers, screwdrivers, and safety glasses, and let him go to work. Kids love this type of exploration and learn by taking apart and examining the inner workings of electronics. As a word of caution, cut the electrical cord before your child begins, to prevent any mishaps. And supervise for sharp parts or mechanisms that could pinch fingers.

Create a video. Have your kids make up several humorous TV commercials using household items for props and dressing up for the part. Once they’ve rehearsed their skits, set up a video camera and tape their production.

toys that teach

Keep kids entertained with these educational toys that won’t quickly lose their appeal.

Try K’nex, which puts a new twist on building blocks. With K’nex, there are endless possibilities of what a child can create, from dinosaurs and airplanes to roller coasters, space shuttles, and motorized cars. Find K’nex in educational toy stores.

Go on a dig

Archaeology excavation kits are found in many educational toy stores or online. Children can dig for ancient treasures from replicas of dinosaur fossils to Egyptian reliefs. Kids also learn about the history behind the excavated items through stories included with the kits. Once kids’ interest has been sparked, parents can print out additional articles from encyclopedias or the internet.

Scientific Explorer kits have won several awards. These kits offer a variety of educational activities, experiments, and worksheets. They are available in the following themes: Ancient Greece: The Dawn of Modern Science; Galileo: Renaissance Astronomer and Physicist; Charles Darwin: The Life of a Naturalist; and many others. Look for these kits in gift shops at science museums and in other educational toyshops.

Your child may be a future scientist, inventor or leader in the making.

exploration on the go

Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids? Try some of these spots:

Art museums...

offer a variety of activities to spark your kids’ interests. Many offer art and craft workshops, traveling exhibits, book signings by children’s illustrators, and even musical performances and other arts.

Head to a natural history museum...

where kids can discover the past from dinosaur displays and stuffed animal exhibits to geology collections, ancient mummies, and astronomy. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are available for kids and any special events that are coming up.

Youth theater

Look for one in your region offering plays for child and family audiences. Area artists and educators conduct pre-

show “playshops.” Kids can explore the performing arts from puppet making to stage make-up and more. Ask about summer arts programs, too.

Hands-on science

Visit one of the many hands-on science museums around the country. These science playlands are great fun for kids and adults alike. They’ll keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day while pushing buttons, winding cranks, playing instruments, experimenting, and building. When everyone is exhausted, enjoy a fun, family science show, the observatory, an IMAX movie, or simulator rides, all commonly found in these museums.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online store, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera; and more at sagerarebooks.com.

FROM THIS SIDE OF THE DESK Building children’s minds and muscles

By Roxanne Drury

Teachers see all levels of development in their students. It is a known fact that all children do not develop at the same rate. The process of child development involves physical, social, and cognitive growth. That’s a lot of ways to grow, and it is hard work. This process begins at birth and continues throughout the lifespan of the individual. Variables, such as genetics and environment, play a big part in development as well. What is important to know is that child development does not need to be left to chance. There are definitely things parents can do to aid in the development of their child through mind-, social-, and muscle-building activities. Mindbuilding activities can be cognitive (something they learn), or thought-provoking (something that forces them to think or focus).

Imagine your child is asking for a snack. They would like a graham cracker. What would you do? If you are like most parents and are okay with your child having a graham cracker, you will pull the box out of the pantry, open it, open the sleeve of crackers, and give your child a graham cracker. Easy peasy, for you. But what has your child learned? They have learned that if they ask for something, someone will do it for them. I know, some of you are smiling and saying yeah, right! Hear me out on this. As parents, we should not do for our children what they can do for themselves.

Now let’s see what happens if the child is allowed to get their own graham cracker. This is assuming the child is at the age to be capable of doing this activity. The child asks if they may have a graham cracker. Mom or Dad opens the pantry door and says, “Yes, you may have one graham cracker.”

The child reaches and stretches to retrieve the box of graham crackers under your watchful eye. (Muscle-building is going on right there.) The child figures out how to open the box. (Mind- and finger-muscle building.) The sleeve might be tricky if it is not open so you could ask if you can help them. (Mindbuilding and some social development – the child has learned, “I can ask for help if I need it.”) Hand the now open sleeve back to the child. They pull out one graham cracker. (Mind-building – counting and social skills, such as obeying.) They put the sleeve back in the box, close the box, and put it back in the pantry. (Mind-, muscle-, and social development building all around.) Can you see how this helps in your child’s development?

As a teacher, I would be astounded when some of my second and third graders did not know how to tie their shoes and would ask me to do it. “No,” I would say, “I will not tie your shoes. You are capable of tying your own shoes, so I will teach you how to do it.” Remember, we must not do for children what they can do for themselves. Yes, we do need to teach them how to do things first. Does that take time? Yes!

But look at it this way: a short time investment in the long run will save you a boatload of time in the future. How many fewer times will you be bending down to tie those shoes? And look at the benefit to the child’s sense of accomplishment, not to mention a much lesser sense of entitlement.

I had four children and they created a ton of laundry. School clothes, play clothes, baseball uniforms, softball shirts, Sunday clothes, and the ‘I just feel like changing my outfit 3 times a day’ clothes. In our house, each child between ages 10 and 12 learned how to do their own laundry as a mindbuilding life skill. Did they fuss a little? Yes. Did I care? No. Did they thank me later? Yes. This taught them how to be responsible for themselves and gave them a tremendous awareness of their capabilities, as well as empowering them to meet their own needs. Did my boys end up with pink underwear? Yes, but only once, each. Then we learned about the value of bleach.

The above scenarios are geared toward a little older child. But what can parents do to build the minds and muscles of younger children? As an Early Childhood Development major, as well as a long-term preschool teacher, I have learned some of the most valuable mind- and musclebuilding activities you can allow and encourage your child to participate in.

Below, are just eight of them:

1. Puzzles – mind-building, logic, finger and hand muscles, social skills (sense of accomplishment)

2. Legos – mind-building, logic, finger and hand muscles, creativity, imagination

3. Wooden blocks – mind-building, logic, finger and hand muscles, creativity, imagination

4. Playdough – mind-building, finger and hand muscles, creativity, imagination

5. Threading beads – mind-building, finger and hand muscles, patterns, social skills (patience)

6. Picking objects up with tongs, tweezers, or clothespins – mind-building, finger and hand muscles, social skills (patience)

“What is important to know is that child development does not need to be left to chance.”

7. Make-believe play – mind-building, large muscles, creativity, imagination, social skills (leadership, sharing, taking turns)

8. Book reading – mind-building, logic, finger and hand muscles, creativity, imagination, social skills (empathy, listening, self-control, memory, language learning)

In the grand scheme of things, if parents participate fully in the development of their child, the child is the winner. By the way, it is always a good idea to get their buy-in by explaining the benefits or the fun of doing things for themselves. This is not to say that anything should ever be forced on a child. Every activity must be age-appropriate. We would not expect a 2-year-old to get their own graham cracker, but we most likely could expect a 5-year-old to be able to do this. The more we teach, expect, and allow our children to be responsible for themselves the better off they will be as they age.

From This Side of the Desk, I see less lost homework, fewer forgotten lunches, and less laundry in your future. Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? The ball is in your court.

Follow me on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/ roxannedrury1/gloryland-books/for All Things Kids and more information on Education & Readiness and Parenting Tips. JUNE 15th

FOOD WARS Tips to help deal with a picky kid

By Cara Johnson-Bader

We’ve all been there. After a long day at work, you come home and cook dinner only to have your child refuse to eat anything on their plate and demand mac and cheese or chicken nuggets. You want your child to eat a well-balanced meal, but they simply refuse, and you feel frustrated and concerned that your child isn’t getting enough to eat.

If this sounds familiar, and your child’s nutrition and diet are touchy subjects, you are not alone. Many parents struggle to get their child to eat what they cook and worry about what their children eat or don’t eat. Picky eating, or as we call it at New Horizon Academy ‘selective eating,’ is most common between the ages of 2 and 5 years. During this age span, children’s taste becomes more sensitive, and they are becoming more autonomous with control over what they want to eat.

4. Be a role model.

Sit together as a family and eat the same foods. Talk with your child about the food as you eat. At New Horizon, we are fans of talking about the concept of ‘from seed to table’.

5. Cook together.

While cooking together requires a little more time, a lot more patience, and involves extra clean up, it is totally worth it! Not only do you spend quality time with your child, but your children also build language skills, math skills, fine motor skills, and life skills. And, most importantly, your picky eater is more likely to eat what they helped make – a huge bonus for families concerned about the eating habits of their picky eater.

Here are a few tips from the director of food and nutrition at New Horizon Academy.

1. Look at what your child is eating over the course of a week.

Most children will eat more variety over several days than in one day. Try to keep attention to your child’s selective eating behavior low-key, avoid power struggles, and focus on the positive. Selective eating is temporary for most children and ends before they enter elementary school. If you are concerned about your child’s development or eating behavior, discuss it with your child’s doctor.

2. Try new foods. Introduce new and healthy foods with your child’s favorite meal. If a new food is paired with a familiar and favorite meal, your child is more likely to try it. Research tells us that children need to be offered a new food at least 15 times before they may even try it.

3. Use books to reinforce healthy eating. Introduce your child to books about healthy food. Then head to the kitchen and cook together. Some relevant books include:

• “Little Sweet Potato” by Amy Beth Bloom and Noah Z. Jones

• “Eat Your Colors” by Amanda Miller

• “Little Helpers Toddler Cookbook: Healthy, Kid-Friendly Recipes to Cook Together” by Heather Wish Staller

• “Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z” by Lois Ehlert

6. Dig in the dirt and start a garden.

Start a garden and work with your picky eater to grow healthy fruits and vegetables. Research indicates that children involved in growing their own food are more likely to try eating it.

7. Don’t force your child to eat.

Forcing your child to eat leads to power struggles and avoidance of eating the food on their plate. Your responsibility as a parent is to provide healthy food choices.

8. Avoid bribing, nagging, or making deals.

I don’t know about you, but I have resorted to bribing and making deals. Such as, “Just two more bites, then you get dessert.” Or “Just try one bite, and you can go outside with your friends.” Bribing, nagging, and making deals almost always turn into a power struggle and won’t work in the long run, as it teaches your child to use the “Let’s make a deal” tactic in all scenarios. “I’ll brush my teeth if you let me stay up past bedtime.” Our goal is to teach children to eat a well-balanced meal for their entire lives, so we need to focus on the long game, not the short-term gain.

9. Skip making a special meal.

Making a special meal sets the precedent that may be difficult to implement long term. Instead of creating a special meal, include a food item you know your child

Cara Johnson-Bader

“Our goal is to teach children to eat a well-balanced meal for their entire lives, so we need to focus on the long game, not the short-term gain.”

enjoys into each meal and then encourage your little one to try something new.

10. Listen to the Parenting Pickup Podcast for more information on navigating picky eating.

The hosts of the Parenting Pickup Podcast interviewed Jill Weldon, Director of Food and Nutrition for New Horizon Academy. She shared a wide variety of helpful hints and tips to help you support healthy eating for your picky eater.

11. Check out these resources to support your quest to assist your child in eating healthy.

• MyPlate for Preschoolers

• USDA’s Resources for Picky Eaters

• Solid Starts

Rest assured that your child’s picky eating is temporary, and these hints and tips will help you support your child as they expand their food preferences. Do your best to patiently guide your little one on their path toward healthy eating. If you are concerned about your child’s eating habits, speak with your pediatrician, who can offer guidance and support to ensure your child is getting all the necessary nutrients to grow and develop.

Cara Johnson-Bader is the Vice President of Marketing and Parent Experiences at New Horizon Academy and mother of two young boys. Learn more about New Horizon Academy at newhorizonacademy.net

Raw Trail Mix

Recipe submitted by Melanie Nelson, Mary Ann’s Cupboard

I love raw trail mixes. They take just minutes to make and last forever on the shelf. They are lightweight for hiking and backpacking and can be made with just about anything you have around. I will mix up a big bowl, pack it in individual servings, and stash it. I keep some in my snack drawer, the console of my car, etc. It’s the perfect snack for soccer games, running errands, or just a quick bite when you are between meals. I hope your family loves it too.

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw almonds

• ½ cup raw nut of choice, lightly salted, not toasted. I like pumpkin seeds and walnuts or pecans.

• ½ cup raw coconut shavings. These are a larger shred and are easier to eat.

• 1 cup freeze-dried fruit or berries of your choice. My kids like blueberries, raspberries, pineapple and peaches. I mix and match them, to eliminate boredom.

• 3 tablespoons honey

Directions

Mix all the ingredients except for the honey together with clean hands. Pour in the honey in a small stream while stirring the other ingredients until everything is well-coated. Store in an air-tight container.

For more information, go to MaryAnnsCupboards.com.

CALENDAR

Please send family-related calendar items to editorgaye@gmail.com

M A Y

Discovery Lab

Join the Education Team at Discovery Center of Idaho each week on Thursday afternoons to explore all sorts of different STEAM activities for all ages, including science demonstrations, building and problem-solving challenges, hands-on activities with take-home components, and even some guest experts sharing their knowledge about various topics. The program runs from 2 to 4 p.m. at the center located at 131 W. Myrtle St. in Boise. For more information, go to dcidaho.org.

Roaring Springs opening weekend

Get your swimsuits, flip flops, and beach towels ready for the kickoff of Roaring Springs’ summer season – including the site’s new expansion. The waterpark will be open weekends from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Saturday and Sunday, May 11 and 12. The park will be open seven days a week starting May 25. For more information, go to roaringsprings.com.

Mother’s Day Weekend Celebration

Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa will be closed for Mother’s Day but is offering free admission for all mothers from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 11. Come see the sights at Warhawk. For more information, go to warhawkairmuseum.org.

Mother’s Day Market

Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell will transform into an outdoor market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11. Moms (and their girlfriends or family members) may come sip on mimosas, listen to live music, and shop around. There will be more than 50 different vendors to shop from. For more information, go to indiancreekplaza.com.

Idaho Renaissance Faire event

Idaho Renaissance Faire, Inc. will present a fantasy festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 11, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 12, at Expo Idaho on the carnival grass at 5610 N. Glenwood St. in Garden City. Children ages 0-8 will be admitted for free, and ages 9 and above will be charged a $10 fee. Those interested may purchase tickets at the gate or online at IdahoRenFair.org. (No firearms will be permitted at this event.)

Free round of mini-golf for moms on Mother’s Day

All moms are welcome to a free round of mini-golf at Wahooz from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 12. For more information, go to wahoozfunzone.com.

Community Yard Sale, Flea Market, and Swap Meet

An all-in-one community “trunk sale” is planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, on the east side of the Nampa Civic Center parking lot. What’s a trunk sale? It’s a type of market where individuals come together to sell used household and garden goods. The idea of a trunk sale is that people will be selling items from their cars’ trunks. (There is also typically a small portion of professional sellers there also, who will sell new products.) Concessions will be available during the event. For more information, go to nampaciviccenter.com.

Courageous Kids Climbing

Courageous Kids Climbing will be taking up to 20 people to participate in

a climbing event for children and adults with special needs. The program will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, May 19, at Wings Center in Boise. Reservations are required. Contact organizer Jeff Reichmann at courageouskidsclimbing@gmail.com to register or for more information.

Gold panning for all ages

Learn how to pan for gold with the Nampa Gold Prospectors from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology at 2455 Old Penitentiary Rd. The event will be in the courtyard of the Women’s Ward of the Old Idaho Penitentiary across from the museum. The program is free for youth and IMMG members. Cost is $5 plus Eventbrite fee for all non-members. Pre-registration is required at www.idahomuseum. org/events. This will be great fun for families, and you might strike it rich! Contact operations@idahomuseum.org if you have questions.

Memorial Day flyovers

Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa will hold Memorial Day flyovers over Nampa, Meridian, Eagle, and Boise from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 27, with a mere $5 general admission fee to the museum that day as well. For more information, go to warhawkairmuseum.org.

Sesame Street Live!

Say Hello Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their friends from Sesame Street are coming to Ford Idaho Center Arena to say hello and lead kids in singing and dancing – with some surprises – at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 29. For tickets or more information, go to fordidahocenter.com (https://www.fordidahocenter.com/events/detail/sesamestreet24).

42nd Annual Greek Food Festival

If you like Greek food or don’t know if you like it and want to give it a try, attend the 42nd Annual Greek Food Festival beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, May 31, and ending at 9 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at 2618 W. Bannock St. in Boise. Visit Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ BoiseGreekFoodFestival/ to learn more, or email boisegreekfoodfestival@ gmail.com.

J U N E

Wizarding Camp

Two separate Wizarding Camps on different dates will be offered through a partnership between the Discovery Center of Idaho and the Idaho Botanical Garden on June 3-6 and June 10-13. (Note: This will be the same camp both times; only sign up for one.) The camp is for kids ages 7-10. Maximum number of participants for each camp is 20, so don’t delay. Learners will start their day at the Garden and end each day at the Discovery Center, where campers will learn about herbology, potions, magical creatures and more. The week will end with a scavenger hunt and an official wizarding ceremony. To register or for more information regarding costs, times, etc., go to idahobotanicalgarden.org or contact IBG Education Program Coordinator Kayla Wakulich at kayla@ idahobotanicalgarden.org.

Free round of mini-golf for dads on Father’s Day

All dads are welcome to a free round of mini golf at Wahooz from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 16. For more information, go to wahoozfunzone.com.

of Events

Father’s Day Celebration

Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 16, for Father’s Day. All fathers will get in to see the sights at the museum for free. For more information, go to warhawkairmuseum.org.

Friday and Saturday night slides

Enjoy unlimited access to waterpark attractions as the sun sets on Roaring Springs from 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays June 21 through August 24. For more information, go to roaringsprings.com. Admission is $27.99+tax per person.

Dig into Geodes

Join the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology, 2455 Old Penitentiary Rd., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 23, and crack open geodes. Anyone who has not cracked open a geode with a giant pipe-cutter before is in for a fun time. The event will be set up on the grass in the courtyard of the Women’s Ward at the Old Idaho Penitentiary across from the museum. Because of the cost of geodes, the ticket prices have increased and are now approximately $5 per person for both kids and adults. Each child receives a small geode. Event details will be posted by mid-May at www.idahomuseum. org/events. Pre-registration is required. Contact operations@idahomuseum. org if you have questions.

Adventures in Gardening

The Idaho Botanical Garden will hold an Adventures in Gardening program for children ages 5-6 and another for children ages 7-8 during June 24-27. Maximum number of children for each cohort is 20 per age. The theme is “Oh, the things you’ll grow to know,” and campers will work together to plan and plant raised garden beds and more gardenthemed projects. To register or for more information regarding costs, times, etc., go to idahobotanicalgarden.org or contact IBG Education Program Coordinator Kayla Wakulich at kayla@idahobotanicalgarden.org. Programs are also available in July and August, so don’t delay – check out the website now.

SUMMER SALADS a few fresh ideas

Submitted

by

Melanie Nelson & Joanne Wilcox, Mary Ann’s Cupboard

Summer will be here soon – on June 20, actually. Holy cow! Is it just us or did the school year fly by? While so many of us are working or getting ready for summer or both, we thought it might be fun to share a few fresh ideas in the salad department. Summer is a time for fresh produce like squash, melons, and berries. We love paring our favorite citrus fruits and berries with nuts and greens for tasty summer salads. Whether an entree or a side, we love a good salad!

• Put your wettest ingredients in first. These are things like grapefruit or orange slices, beans, corn, proteins like tuna or salmon, etc. For summer, one of our favorite ways to pack salads is in Mason jars. They can be prepped days in advance and are a quick, healthy lunch or dinner on the go for moms and kids alikeWhen it comes to packing a salad jar, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Pack your dry proteins and veggies first. Diced chicken (baked, not canned), diced bell peppers, carrots, celery, etc.

• Always put your greens on the top. This helps shelf life, but if you dump out your salad jar onto a plate or bowl before you eat it, everything comes out in the right order.

• Use grape or cherry tomatoes when you can. They will stay good longer. If you can’t, make sure to put your diced tomatoes in the bottom of the jar with your wet ingredients.

• Dressings can be placed at the top of a jar in a small, closed container.

• Secure with plastic canning lids, not metal. Your greens will react with metal and turn brown much faster.

For more information, go to MaryAnnsCupboards.com.

REAL MONEY, REAL FAMILIES Having a healthy relationship with money

By Luke Erickson

Healthy relationships are crucial to our happiness. And there are many types of relationships to consider. Yes, those with your romantic love interest are front and center. But what about relationships with friends, cousins, coworkers, siblings, your dog, your mother-in-law, and even your mother-in-law’s dog? All relationships that can affect your well-being to one degree or another.

And one of the longest lasting and most defining relationships you will ever have in your life is your lifelong relationship with money.

But money is an inanimate object. And it’s pretty clear that we all like money and just want more of it. So how could this be considered a relationship? Shouldn’t we just chase it, and find any way we can to get more of it? Before we get there let’s explore the concept of relationships a bit more.

Ever met someone who was obsessed with their favorite celebrity? For example, Taylor Swift fans are such huge fans that they have their own name – Swifties. Many of whom couldn’t tell you which teams were playing in the Super Bowl but could tell you exactly what Taylor was wearing there.

I got nothing against Ms. Swift. She’s proven herself a talented artist and has done well for herself. But typical Taylor Swift fans are not just fans. They are super fans. Obsessed. They often know every word to every song, every fact about Ms. Swift that is publicly known, and perhaps even a disturbing amount more than that. Now just because they love and know a ridiculous amount about their beloved Tay Tay, and would give their left kidney for a day with her, doesn’t mean that they would actually have a good friendship with her if they were somehow suddenly given the chance. At a minimum they would have to be told numerous times to stop screaming and might also need medical attention from hyperventilating and passing out.

So, it’s more of a one-sided relationship, but it’s a relationship all the same.

Similarly, a relationship with money is far more than simply liking or being obsessed with money. And it’s far more than simply knowing a lot of facts about money.

There is a plethora of books on the how-to’s of financial success, but precious few on how to build a healthy money relationship. That is, precious few on the psychology and behavior around money. And that is why so many of us still struggle with money. The how-to’s are fairly easy. They are mostly pretty simple rules of thumb and math equations. The relationship part is where the real work needs to happen.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that celebrates people who get rich quick and who develop codependent relationships with money. These are the people whose identities are defined by

their displays of wealth, and they would do anything for more money even if it doesn’t align with their values, and where the existence of their very persona would be dramatically altered if money “divorced” them and they were left all alone.

So what does it mean to have a healthy relationship with money then?

Like any relationship it starts with differentiation. Or identifying first who you are and want to be if money were not part of the equation. Only then can money serve a healthy purpose in your life by supporting and magnifying this identity instead of being used to alter it or define it.

Morgan Housel, author of “The Psychology of Money,” said, “The highest form of wealth is the ability to wake up every morning and say, ‘I can do whatever I want, when I want, with who I want, for as long as I want.’ Money’s greatest intrinsic value is its ability to give you control over your time. This, more than your salary, more than the size of your house, more than the prestige of your job, more than anything, is the highest dividend money pays.”

The problem with this quote is that far too many of us, if given unlimited time and control, would be at a loss with what to do with our lives. To illustrate my point, it is a fairly common thing when someone retires, that they spend a few years ticking off the bucket list and visiting grandkids, and then start to become bored out of their minds. What this means is that this person has never really answered that question of identity and purpose aside from whatever job they happened to use to pay the bills. Most people spend far too much of their working years earning and spending money in ways that do not really align with who they are, what they really want, and how they would prefer to spend their time. So once they retire and have both money and time and no work, they flounder because they really haven’t given much thought into what it is that they truly want.

Financial success and personal happiness and fulfillment around money depends more on how someone manages their psychological and emotional relationship with money, more than their ability to do financial math. Behavior trumps math every time in personal finance.

Not sure if your relationship with money has been healthy in the past? Just do what Taylor would do and “shake it off!” It’s never too late to start over. Decide first who you are and what you want aside from money, then earn and spend in a way that supports and magnifies that purpose and identity.

Luke Erickson, Ph.D., AFC®, is an associate professor of personal finance for the University of Idaho. He works and lives in the Treasure Valley. @ drlukeerickson (Instagram), erickson@uidaho.edu

Luke Erickson

street Tacos

pulled pork

Tender pulled pork, cabbage slaw, fresh salsa, sriracha ranch drizzle, cotija cheese, cilantro, and sweet pickled red bell pepper.

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RUFFINO PINOT GRIGIO

Pulled pork

Smoky Pulled Pork Nachos

Pulled Pork Flat Bread

fish tacoS

Neat notes of meadow flowers, pears and hints of golden apple.

Crispy tortilla chips topped with tender pulled pork, black bean corn salsa, melted and cotija cheeses, and sriracha ranch.

Riverwalk BBQ Pork Salad

Summer cocktails

Tequila Manhattan

El Mayor Reposado Tequila, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters, a classic with a twist.

Ranch Water

El Mayor Blanco Tequila with fresh lime juice and soda water. Simply delicious on a hot summer day

Tender pulled pork with spicy pineapple relish, and cotija cheese, drizzled with a sriracha ranch, and finished with fresh cilantro.

Chopped romaine tossed with our ancho lime vinaigrette, topped with BBQ pulled pork, gouda cheese, black bean corn salsa, fresh tomato, crispy tortilla strips, cotija cheese, and fresh salsa.

Paloma

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Crispy tilapia fillet with cabbage slaw, spicy pineapple relish, sriracha ranch, and cotija cheese.

El Mayor Blanco Tequila, grapefruit juice, fresh lime, and soda water.

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Choose from 7 varieties, featuring Patrón Silver and Piedra Azul Reposado 100% Agave. Available by glass or pitcher, ask your server for details.

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SMoky Pulled Pork Nachos

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CHILDREN’S BOOK CORNER

How Earth is a home to share

By Jenna Shaver

It’s officially spring, and with the coming summer season on June 20, changes arise in our environment and in ourselves.

“The Home Builders,” by Varsha Bajaj, is a darling book about the journey all animals make to find a lovely and “just right place” to make a home.

In this case, home is both physical and emotional as the animals make their nests ultimately to bring about a family. The rhyming prose accompanied by creative and realistic illustrations makes this book a beautiful addition to any bookshelf. “The Home Builders” brings about an awareness of nature and its cycles, in addition to bringing about a powerful message: Earth is for everyone to share; it is everyone’s home. After reading “The Home Builders,” this sentiment hopefully will resonate with you and your children.

In addition to learning about the cycles of nature, I call your attention to a book that focuses on the nature of children. “Wild for Winnie,” written by Laura Marx Fitzgerald, is a fantastic book about a girl named Winnie with some sensory processing differences. Winnie interprets and interacts with the world differently, and the children and teachers in Winnie’s class take an intentional moment to join Winnie in her world.

While we as adults become more self-aware and begin to understand why we behave the way we do, young children are still absorbing input from their environment and learning how to interact with it in their own way. Often we assume an undesirable behavior from a child is due to their not listening, or we label them as “naughty.” This book shows how we can look at other children who may not be behaving how we’d expect through a lens of compassion and understanding. Winnie struggles and instead of punishing her, the children in her class, along with her teacher, provide her intentional ways to safely meet her needs. This book also includes an informative resource in the back, listing suggestions for intentional movement that will satisfy a child who is need of a specific sensory input.

“These books offer another view of our world and of those with whom we share it.”

These books offer another view of our world and of those with whom we share it. Perhaps through the joy of reading we all can see spring (and summer) with greater compassion and a broader sense of community.

Jenna Shaver is an accredited teacher, developing and educating young minds as a Certified Lead Guide. She is a graduate of Montessori Northwest, an Association Internationale training center and one of a small cadre of AMI-certified teachers in Idaho. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees from Boise State University, one in Early Childhood Intervention/Early Childhood Education and the second in Elementary Education.

WEDNESDAY’S CHILD

Valentin, age 16, is an ‘old soul’ with humor

The following information is provided by Wednesday’s Child, an organization that helps Idaho foster children find permanent homes.

If you’re someone who loves the outdoors, 16-year-old Valentin is an amazing teen who would fit right in with your family. This resilient young man is a bit of an old soul and relates really well with the adults in his life. Though he can be a little quiet at first, once he gets to know you, you’ll see what a wonderful personality and sense of humor he has. Everyone who knows Val well describes him as a great kid who is so much fun to spend time with.

Val describes himself as a caring person who has a huge passion for all things outdoors, including hiking, hunting, camping and especially fishing. Basketball, wrestling, and football are a few of his other favorite pastimes and he’s a huge Raiders fan. Some of this well-rounded youth’s other hobbies and likes include building things; working on cars; reading and traveling (hopefully to Alaska sometime soon to hunt and fish).

A driven young man, Val is working hard on himself and doing the work necessary to build the life he wants, which might include a future in welding or something where he can work in the outdoors.

Though Val is both Native American and Hispanic, he tells us that he is open to becoming part of a family that is not and is okay with really any type of family makeup. He wouldn’t mind being an only child but is also open to having siblings in the home around his same age.

Val would like fun, active caregivers who love adventures and have time to spend with him. The ideal family for Val would reside in the Idaho Falls area; however, Val and his Permanency Team are open to hearing from folks who live elsewhere if they share in his interests and believe that they may be a great match for him.

This deserving teen is searching for a place to call home and a family that will commit to loving him for a lifetime. Could you be the right family for Val? Inquire today at www. idahowednesdayschild.org.

For more information on the Idaho Wednesday’s Child Program, visit www.idahowednesdayschild.org, or contact Specialized Recruitment Services Administrator Shawn White at swhite52@ewu.edu or cell (208) 488-8989.

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