MIGHTY KIDS

FIND YOUR CHILD'S INNER SPORT

By Michele Robert Poche

“Sports teaches you

character, it teaches

you to play by the

rules, it teaches you

to know what it feels

like to win and to

lose – it teaches you

about life.” – Billie Jean King

How’s his balance? How’s her handeye coordination? Does he like to finish things quickly? Can she stay focused during lengthier activities? Does he prefer to fly solo or does she soar highest when part of a team? The answers to these questions are not only important to your pediatrician, they’re also great indicators in determining the best sport for your child. How can you help your kids find their inner sport?

 Expose her to as many forms as possible. Yes, television and computers are the easiest way, but bringing her to live events will produce a more salient response. It can be anything from a college softball game to a community volleyball league. She needs to see the players in action so you can gauge her understanding and enthusiasm at different events.

 Match the activity to his body type. Taller children often gravitate to basketball, children with more physical bulk are inclined to play football, and those with leaner physiques frequently excel at track. Of course, these suggestions are not inflexible, but they can generally help determine a child’s level of success and proficiency in various athletic disciplines.

 Determine whether she wants to compete individually (swimming, tennis, etc.) or as a team (soccer, cheer, etc.). Sometimes this answer can be obtained simply by asking your child. However, when she is unsure, you can derive your conclusions from observations made from exposure as well as discussions with her teachers, especially those of physical education.

 Work with him independently. Together, you can develop his skills in areas like throwing, catching, kicking, hitting, running, dodging, etc. You’ll not only spend some quality unplugged time with your child, you’ll also be able to identify his strengths and weaknesses firsthand to determine what you need to work on and where he might best be suited athletically.

In any event, know that there is a sport for everyone. It could be anything from pitching for the school baseball team to playing Frisbee with the dog. The important thing is finding the activity that best builds self-confidence and coordination, releases stress and provides a fun, relaxing outlet of exercise for your child. 

ASPARAGUS AND BROCCOLI QUICHE

Makes 1 10-inch quiche Serves 3-4

INGREDIENTS • 1 12-oz. ready made sheet of shortcrust pastry • 4.7 oz. chickpea flour (gram flour) • 15.2 fl. oz. non-dairy milk • ¼ cup nutritional yeast • 2 tsp. vegetable stock powder • Florets of one small head of broccoli • ¼ cup peas • 3-4 green asparagus, sliced in half lengthwise • Sea salt and black pepper

DIRECTIONS  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.  Lightly grease a 10-inch loose bottomed, fluted tart tin. Gently line the tin with the pastry, easing into the base & trimming off any excess from the outer edge.  Lightly prick the base with a fork and line the pastry case with foil, shiny side down. Fill with baking beads or dry beans and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.  Carefully remove foil and beans and bake for a further 4-5 minutes until the pastry is pale golden. Remove and set side at room temperature.  To prepare the filling, in a food processor combine the flour, non-dairy milk, nutritional yeast, stock powder and a generous grind of sea salt and black pepper. Process this mixture to create a smooth batter.  Place the broccoli and peas in a large mixing bowl and pour over about two thirds of the flour batter. Stir well to combine, and pour the mixture into the pastry case.  Use the remaining third of the batter to top up the quiche (you may not need all of it).  Arrange the asparagus slices on the top and scatter

over the vegan cheese.  Bake the quiche for 20-25 minutes or until golden and softly set. When cooked, remove from the oven and lest rest at room temperature for 4-5 minutes before serving.

Recipe courtesy of KaleKitchen, a whole-food, plant-based recipe app

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WAYS TO GO GREEN AT HOME 5

WHY?

• “I don’t have time.” • “It costs money.” • “If it’s biodegradable, can’t I just throw it away?” • “I’m just one person. What’s the point?”

Sound familiar? The fact is conserving our planet takes no longer than a few minutes and no more than a few dollars. Recycling is the fastest, most effective method of preserving our resources. One person can make a difference because recycling has a ripple effect. Set an example for someone else by getting started today.

By Michele Robert Poche

The average American generates nearly 5 pounds of garbage per day. That’s almost a ton of garbage per person per year. These numbers are twice what they were 50 years ago. And 75 percent of that waste is eligible for recycling, but only 30 percent is actually recycled.

1. Call your local recycling agency. Request a receptacle(s) and ask about guidelines and pick-up days. In most cases, aluminum, paper and plastic are all accepted. In some cases, glass is also accepted. Many cities have moved to single-stream recycling, enabling you to store everything together in one bin, and they don’t always require pre-washing anymore. Now, that’s progress! 2. Strategically position your containers. Find a convenient spot for your bin(s). If you have to walk to the garage every time something needs recycling, you might not do it — unless, of course, you’re trying to get in extra steps on your fitness routine. Then it’s a great idea! (You heard it here. Recycling burns calories.) 3. Don’t have a lot of space? Consider mounting bins vertically up a wall to take up less space in a closet or utility room. Or, if it’s convenient, set everything up outside near one of your home’s exterior doors for easy access. Just remember that any receptacle for paper should be lidded, as wet cardboard can clog up the sorting machines at recycling centers. 4. There are three Rs in the slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Most people jump ahead to the last one. You can reduce the need for recycling by using your own canvas grocery bags, cloth napkins and refillable water bottles, and you can reuse items by donating them to charity or breathing new life into them with fresh paint, upholstery or other repair. 5. Purchase goods made from recycled materials. We’ve all seen the recycling logo with three interlocking arrows arranged in a triangle, right? The first arrow represents the collection of recyclables, the second the manufacture of goods from those recyclables and the third the purchase of those recycled goods. It’s called completing the loop. Why not give it a try?  HOW?

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