Windsor Parent April-May 2018 by Windsor Parent

April / May 2018 â&#x20AC;¢ FREE

Raising a Reusable Generation

Why what we do with single use plastics in front of our kids is critical

Pregnant? Protect yourself and your unborn baby with four key food safety steps

INFORMING AND ENCOURAGING AREA PARENTS SINCE 1997

POLICE WEEK TH

MAY 10 -12

THE CARNIVAL RETURNS MAY 3RD-13TH

• Carter Shows Ltd. returns for more spring fun • Rides, games food and more! • Stay tuned to our website and social media for further information

For more details and other events and promotions visit: TecumsehMall.com 2

April/May 2018 | Windsor Parent

Contents

On the Cover: From left, Ava, Kinsey, Edan, and Lennon Photo courtesy of Julie Rivest

in this issue 4. Raising a

10. Spring Into Action With Safe Biking Reusable Generation The Health Unit offers Why what you we do with tips on helmets and single use plastics in front prepping a child’s bike. of our kids is critical.

6. Teach your child French 13. Pregnant? with confidence Antoine Khoury explains the role parents play in the learning process. 8. Earth Day Contest Local students are invited to submit their creative stories. GENERAL MANAGER: Bob Thwaites ADVERTISING CONSULTANT: Shelley Oswald GRAPHIC DESIGN: Sarah Mitchell EDITOR: Bill England CONTRIBUTORS: Stephanie Renaud, Dan Schwab, Matt Weingarden, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Essex Region Conservation HOW TO REACH US: Windsor Parent Magazine, 1116 Lesperance Road, Tecumseh, ON N8N 1X2 ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL INQUIRIES: Mary McLeod, 519-735-2080 ext. 110 E-mail : mamcleod@postmedia.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Shelley Oswald, 519-978-3062 Cell: 519-965-4551 E-mail: dwoswald@sympatico.ca

Protect yourself and your unborn baby with four food safety steps. 14. Children’s Oral Health Begins at Home Creating a dedicated space for adolescents in your home. Windsor Parent Magazine is published eight times a year by Windsor-Essex Community Publishing, a division of Postmedia Community Publishing Inc. Articles and advertisements in Windsor Parent Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine. We do not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information being advertised. We do not knowingly present any product which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Windsor Parent can be found in locations around the city and county, like Ontario Early Years Centres, municipal community centres, public libraries and Parenting & Family Literacy Centres. Windsor Parent is also available inside select copies of the Windsor Star. We are where families are!

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Commentary

Raising a Reusable Generation Why what we do with single use plastics in front of our kids is critical H By Stephanie Renaud B.A., B.Ed.

ave you bought your reusable shopping bags yet? If you have, how many times have you forgotten them in the car when you head into the grocery store? Inevitably, you remember them at the cash register, when it is “too late” to go and get them, which means you take ten or twelve more plastic shopping bags home with you. No big deal, right? Wrong. Single use plastic shopping bags, and all other single use plastics for that matter, are a way bigger deal than you might realize. Let me blow your mind with some statistics. More than 1 million plastic bags are used in North America every minute. EVERY MINUTE. The average working life of each of those one million plastic bags is 15 minutes. According to the Centre for Biological Diversity, only one per cent of these bags are returned for recycling. Which means that 99 per cent of these bags end up somewhere else.

April/May 2018 | Windsor Parent

Now, if you are anything like me, you have a stash of plastic bags somewhere in your house. Mine is in my front closet. Yours is probably under your sink. I hear that’s a popular place for them. Those plastic bags go for use in your garbage bins, or to contain the noxious stink of an epic dirty diaper, or to give to a child to carry something to or from school. I get it, they are convenient. What I don’t get is how their convenience somehow trumps the health of our celestial home. The bags that do not end up in the recycle depot, or under our sinks, make their way into the water system, and end up in the ocean, affecting endless marine species habitats and lives. And poisoning our water. In the time it will take you to read this article, 5-7 million plastic bags will have been taken, used and discarded. What’s the big deal? It’s really easy to brush off the small picture. You only use a few, and most of them are still in your closet, what’s the big deal? The big deal is that eight million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the oceans every year.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is made up of mostly plastic, is estimated by some to be about the size of Texas. This is composed of plastic cast off trash from land, and the lost contents of ships that have gone off course or sunk. And single use plastic bags are only a small piece of the bigger picture. Single use plastic water bottles are another big piece of the puzzle. In North America we use and discard 35 million plastic water bottles every single year, and 91 per cent of those do not make it into the recycling depot. They end up in our landfills, and our water systems, disrupting the ecosystem and poisoning the human habitat. I realize that the scope of the problem seems overwhelming, insurmountable even. Yet, it will take the individual actions of millions of men and women just like you to change the trajectory of this runaway plastic train. Don’t put another plastic bag into the system. Carry a small reusable with you whenever you leave the house. Keep it in your purse or pocket or car. Say no thanks to the cashier who reflexively reaches for one when you cash out. Consider it an investment in your children’s future Spend a few extra dollars on a handful of reusable shoppers for your groceries. Sure, they cost you more than plastic the first time. Consider it an investment in your children’s future. One that will pay for itself quite quickly. The cost of a reusable shopper at Walmart is 97 cents. Each single use plastic bag costs five cents. If you buy a new reusable shopper each time you go for groceries, you will have enough within a couple of months to stop using plastic altogether. Within a year that investment will have paid for itself. Your convenience is not worth the destruction of your children’s and grandchildren’s future habitat. One bag at a time, one purchase at a time, one bottle at a time, we can change these horrifying numbers. It’s going to take all of us. Our kids are watching. Stephanie Renaud is a Windsor-based writer specializing in parenthood. For more information, please visit StephanieARenaud.wordpress.com and follow her on Instagram @Stephanie_Renaud

Windsor Parent | April/May 2018

Teach your child French with confidence By Matt Weingarden

So you as a parent, after much consideration, have decided that a French immersion education would be best for your child or family. But what is the best plan to move their French education forward? While it is fine to send a child off to a French immersion school, how as a parent can you best help your child to excel? According to French Language professor Antoine Khoury, the key to success is you as a parent to be involved in the process of learning the language. However, not all of us are able to converse with our child in French at home. Furthermore, what goes on in the French classroom isn’t always the best situation either. For example, what happens to the use of the language during the summer vacation? Khoury believes that the use of the language is lost for two Antoine months—and that’s a big problem. Khoury “It’s one thing to be able to listen and understand the language, but to have the confidence to actually converse freely is where we fall short,” said Khoury. “We learn a language to speak it first.” Khoury has recently developed an online course that can engage the student helping them to improve their French fluency at home allowing you the parent a way to monitor their progress. Not only is it designed for the student - but also for use by professionals, teachers and public servants. There is also a course designed for home-schooled students from Grades 4 to 9. There are also courses available to college and university students.

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April/May 2018 | Windsor Parent

“Whether you are a French major student, a public servant or a parent whose children are enrolled in a French immersion program, I am offering my services and material to help you express yourself well in French by following my methodology summarized in the following word ‘SKURT’, which stands for Say it, Know it, Use it, Read it, Trace it, or write it,” said Khoury. Easy French as a Second Language is a one on one video course with Khoury made up of four lessons with an individual evaluation built into the end of the session. Each lesson comprises a dialogue in French with its English version, a set of questions and the answers. In the courses, the priority will be given to vocabulary and oral proficiency over grammar at first. “In my view, in a second language class, students should be able to use the vocabulary they learn in context, verbally, properly and enables them to understand the grammar rules more efficiently,” added Khoury. If you are the parent of a child enrolled in a French program, looking to help them improve their French verbal fluency at home, become engaged in the work of your children and monitor their progress at school by learning French yourself, at your own pace and time from the comfort of your own home, check the following comprehensive video-course that will accompany your children up to high school, by visiting Lernsys.com/en/french-language-introductory-course or EZFSL.com/webinar. Antoine Khoury is an author and languages professor at the University Of Windsor’s Faculty Of Education. He can be reached by e-mail at akhoury@cogeco.ca

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Three reasons to thank your mother

Workshops make great in-class field trips!

Mother’s Day—May 13 this year—is a nice time to think about all the ways your mom has been there for you. It is important to let her know all the things you are grateful for, so check out this list to jog your memory of ways she has shown you her love: Encouraging you. Even when moms give tough love, they are there to urge us to be our best and brightest. When life feels too rough, they never doubt us. Think about a time your mom encouraged you to achieve your dreams when no one else did and let her know how much it meant to you. Teaching you how to be an adult. You may not realize all the invaluable life skills your mother taught you over the years. From treasured family recipes to cleaning hacks to tips on how to interact with your boss, your mom prepared you for the real world. Moms are often the leaders and teachers of communities. Female empowerment organizations like Beautiful World Canada know how important a mother or grandmother’s knowledge is, which is just one of the reasons why they support women’s education in sub-Saharan Africa. Making sacrifices. Part of parenting is making sacrifices for your kids so that they can have the best life possible. You probably don’t even know all the ways that your mom has made sacrifices for you, and you don’t need to. Just thank her for the life that she has given you and for all the hard work she put into raising you. Find out more about amazing things moms around the world accomplish at BeautifulWorldCanada.org Source: NewsCanada.com

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www.learnsomethingnew.ca Windsor Parent | April/May 2018

Student submissions sought for Earth Day contest In celebration of the countdown to Earth Day, the Essex Region Conservation Authority and Detroit River Canadian Cleanup are asking students in the Windsor-Essex Region to highlight how they will reduce their plastic consumption. This is in conjunction with Earth Day’s 2018 goal of providing information and inspiration to fundamentally change attitudes and behaviours surrounding plastics. “Plastic pollution has become one of the biggest threats to our natural habitat, and we see it every day: In our rivers and waterways, and on our beaches and landscapes,” explains ERCA communications and outreach services director Danielle Breault Stuebing. “We’re asking local students to think creatively about what they would do differently each day and how they can implore others in the community to follow their lead.”

Book Your Ad in our June issue of Windsor Parent Publication Date: May 29th, 2018 Ad Reservation Deadline: May 14th, 2018

Students have a number of creative options to tell their story. ERCA welcomes pictures, poems, essays, and even photographs for the contest. The submissions will be separated into five grade-based categories, with one winner declared from each category. “We wanted this contest to be as open as possible,” Stuebing adds. “It’s really about young people sharing their thoughts, perspectives, and ideas on how to create a game plan, and be leaders in the community to help end plastic pollution.” The student submissions will be shared with the public on the ERCA website and social media pages. The winning students will also be recognized at ERCA’s annual Earth Day tree planting event, which happens at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 22 in east Windsor. The five winning submissions will be rewarded with an Earth Day prize pack, sponsored by Windsor Crossing Premium Outlets, at the Earth Day Tree Planting event. Submit your entries with the subject heading “Earth Day Contest”: By e-mail: Contest@erca.org By mail: 360 Fairview Ave. W., Suite 311, Essex, ON, N8M 1Y6 By fax: 519-776-8688 A full description of contest rules and ERCA’s Earth Day activities can be found at ERCA.org/EarthDay

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April/May 2018 | Windsor Parent

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Mad Science’s ‘Krypton Kat’ uses a hair dryer to levitate a ping pong ball as part an air pressure demonstration during last month’s 10th anniversary celebration of the Vollmer Culture & Recreation Complex in LaSalle.

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Windsor Parent | April/May 2018

Spring into action with safe biking

Spring is here and with it comes annual spring-cleaning, working on indoor/ outdoor home projects, or just getting outside to enjoy the warmer weather and our favourite activities. For children, they can’t wait to get outside to play, ride their bikes, or just explore. All of these options are better than being indoors spending too much time being inactive or on screen time. No matter what physical activity children take part in, their safety should always be looked after before the fun begins. Take riding a bike for example. The first requirement for any child is to make sure they are riding with a properly fitted bicycle helmet. Head injuries are the #1 serious injury and cause of death to children on bicycles and helmet use can help reduce the risk of a head injury up to 80 per cent (Parachute Canada, 2017). In addition to being essential for safety, it is also the law. In Ontario, every cyclist under the age of 18 must wear an approved bicycle helmet and every parent should wear a helmet to serve as a good role model. When purchasing a helmet consider the following: • Buy a “new” helmet that fits, not one that your child has to grow into. • Get familiar with the 2-V-1 rule or salute: - two finger distance from edge of helmet to brow; - straps should meet in a V shape just below the ears; - one finger fit between chin and bottom strap. For more information on helmet safety, please visit ParachuteCanada.org Preparing the Bike Whether you are taking the bike out for the first time after winter or purchasing a new one for your child, it is important to keep the following in mind: • Make sure the bike is the right size; check to see if your child can straddle the bike with both feet on the ground with a space between the top tube and their crotch. • Ensure the bike is properly equipped (i.e. reflectors, bells, lights), with everything in working order (i.e. air in tires, brakes, handlebars, chain, gears). For new riders it is important to practice a lot in a safe area (e.g. park trail) to develop the skills for safe cycling. As well, it is important to teach your young cyclist the rules of the road and the requirement to follow them. For a complete list of cycling safety tips, check out the Ministry of Transportation’s Young Cyclist Guide at MTO.gov.on.ca/english/safety/pdfs/young-cyclist-guide.pdf Is My Child Ready to Ride their Bike on the Road? As a parent, before allowing your child to ride on the road you need to consider whether they are ready. Although children usually develop their physical and thinking skills around age 10, their ability to make good judgement about traffic and riding on the road will depend on their experience; the environment they are riding in; and their individual physical and mental readiness. To assess this, have them practice riding in a park. They should practice figure eights, zooming around fixed objects, arm signals, and looking behind while controlling their bike in a steady manner.

In Ontario, every cyclist under the age of 18 must wear an approved bicycle helmet and every parent should wear a helmet to serve as a good role model.

March 2018 | Windsor Parent

Remember cycling can be a lot of fun. It’s a great way to be active and it provides a cheap, earth friendly way to get from place to place. However, in order to enjoy these benefits, everyone needs to ride safe! Source: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

School suspensions issued to Grade 11/12 students Last month, 388 students born in 2000 and 2001 with incomplete immunization records have been suspended from school for up to 20 days. As soon as the required vaccine information is provided to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, the student’s immunization record will be updated. Both the student and the school principal will be informed that the suspension has been lifted and the student can return to school. Students that are suspended can submit their completed immunization record in the following ways: • By bringing their immunization record in to the Health Unit to be updated • By having their updated immunization record faxed in by their doctor or nurse practitioner Immunization records are accepted in person between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at 1005 Ouellette Ave. in Windsor or 33 Princess St. in Leamington. Once the information has been verified, the student and principal will be notified that the student can return to school. In an effort to keep our community safe and healthy from the spread of vaccine preventable diseases, the Health Unit has been reviewing the immunization records of all students registered with the school boards. About 4,300 students born in 2000 and 2001, with incomplete immunization records at the Health Unit received immunization notices in December 2017. Final notices were mailed home in February 2018.

For students with a medical condition that prohibits vaccination, an additional option is to complete and return an original medical exemption form signed by their doctor or nurse practitioner. For students requesting an exemption for conscientious or religious beliefs, completion of an educational session for the parent, provided by the Health Unit, is required. In addition, an exemption form must be completed, notarized and the original brought to the Health Unit. These actions have been put in place to meet the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), which became law in 1990. The law protects the health of children and the community by ensuring students are up-to-date with their immunizations in an effort to stop the spread of preventable diseases.

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Windsor Parent | March 2018

Windsor Dance eXperience presents

‘The Golden Apples’ Windsor Dance eXperience will be performing three high-energy and hugely entertaining shows of ‘The Golden Apples’ at the Capitol Theatre in May. The name of the show is taken from Norse mythology, where golden apples are the source of the gods’ immortality and youth. “So what happens when one mischievous god steals them? Windsor Dance eXperience is about to tell you the only way we know how—dance!” The 42 WDX dancers (ages six to 12) have been busy rehearsing for their performances under director Jessica Charron. The soundtrack includes popular hits from Cirque du Soleil, Imagine Dragons and Lorde. “They not only learn dance, but the whole professional aspect regarding theatre, from acting to professional theatre etiquette,” Charron explains. “They learn how to work well with others. They form more of a family than a team. With this being said, the dancers make friendships that could last a lifetime.” Windsor Dance eXperience presents ‘The Golden Apples’ on Friday, May 11 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, May 13 at 2:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre, 121 University Ave. W. For more information, please visit WindsorDanceeXperience.ca

Photo courtesy of Windsor Dance eXperience

Windsor Dance eXperience’s junior dancers are part of the cast for ‘The Golden Apples’. Performances are May 11-13 at the Capitol Theatre, 121 University Ave. W.

Top dance hits featured at proms for the last 40 years

High school is a pivotal time in a teenager’s life that is marked by many academic and social experiences, including sports games, extracurricular clubs and school dances. School dances are so iconic and intertwined with student life that they have—together with their accompanying musical score—provided a setting for popular movies like Pretty in Pink, Never Been Kissed, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Perhaps no dance is more widely associated with high school than prom. Soon-to-be graduates have been attending proms for many decades. Music and dancing is at the centrepiece of these celebrations. Many people look back fondly on their prom experiences and remember the hit songs of their heydays. The list on the right are some of the chart-topping dance songs and popular hits were likely featured at proms over the last 40 years, courtesy of Billboard.

What was the chart topping song when you went to prom? 12

March 2018 | Windsor Parent

1978: “Last Dance,” Donna Summer 1979: “Le Freak,” Chic 1980: “A Lover’s Holiday,” Change 1981: “Try it Out,” Gino Soccio 1982: “Glad to Know You,” Chaz Jankel 1983: “Billie Jean,” Michael Jackson 1984: “When Doves Cry,” Prince 1985: “Neutron Dance,” The Pointer Sisters 1986: “Two of Hearts,” Stacey Q 1987: “Come Go With Me,” Exposé 1988: “Never Gonna Give You Up,” Rick Astley 1989: “Secret Rendezvous,” Karyn White 1990: “Groove Is in the Heart,” Deee-Lite 1991: “Gonna Make You Sweat,” C+C Music Factory 1992: “Rhythm Is a Dancer,” Snap! 1993: “Supermodel,” RuPaul 1994: “100% Pure Love,” Crystal Waters 1995: “Bedtime Story,” Madonna 1996: “Make the World Go Round,” Sandy B. 1997: “Discotheque,” U2 1998: “Ray of Light,” Madonna 1999: “Believe,” Cher 2000: “Your Child,” Mary J. Blige 2001: “Keep Control,” Sono 2002: “Escape,” Enrique Iglesias 2003: “Into the Sun,” The Weekend Players 2005: “Don’t Cha,” The Pussycat Dolls 2006: “House Is Not a Home,” Debora Cox 2007: “I Need Someone,” Ralph Falcon 2008: “Together,” Bob Sinclar & Steve Edwards 2009: “Waking Up in Vegas,” Katy Perry 2010: “Bad Romance,” Lady Gaga 2011: “We Found Love,” Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris 2012: “How We Do (Party),” Rita Ora 2013: “Lose Yourself to Dance,” Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams 2014: “Chandelier,” Sia 2015: “Something New,” Axwell /\ Ingrosso 2016: “Closer,” The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey 2017: “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Food & Nutrition

Pregnant? Follow these four food safety steps! When you’re pregnant, food safety is more important than ever because you and your unborn baby are at an increased risk of foodborne illness or food poisoning. Your immune system is weakened, making it harder to fight off infections and leaving you vulnerable to serious health problems. Your unborn baby’s immune system is also not developed enough to fight off harmful foodborne bacteria. There are approximately four million cases of food poisoning in Canada every year. It’s especially important for pregnant women to pay attention to food safety. Food poisoning can be even more dangerous to your unborn baby’s health than yours. If you develop food poisoning during the first three months of pregnancy, it can cause a miscarriage. If it happens later in the pregnancy, it can cause your baby to be born prematurely. Food poisoning can also cause a stillbirth or a baby who is born very ill. Because your baby depends on you for everything it needs, it is very important that you are careful about what you eat and how you store, prepare and cook your food. You can protect yourself and your unborn baby by following four key steps to food safety — clean, separate, cook and chill: CLEAN: Wash hands and surfaces often with warm, soapy water. SEPARATE: Make sure to always separate raw foods, such as meat and eggs, from cooked foods and vegetables. COOK: Always cook food to the safe internal temperature. You can check this by using a digital food thermometer. CHILL: Always refrigerate food and leftovers promptly at 4°C or below. Some foods carry a higher risk for foodborne illness than others for pregnant women. Here is a list of tips, including foods to avoid: • Make sure to cook hot dogs and non-dried deli meats until they are steaming hot before eating them. • Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, poultry and seafood. • Avoid refrigerated smoked seafood. • Avoid unpasteurized juice, cider and dairy products. • Avoid unpasteurized and pasteurized soft and semi-soft cheeses including blue-veined cheeses. • Avoid refrigerated pâtés and meat spreads. • Avoid uncooked foods made from raw or unpasteurized eggs. • Avoid raw sprouts. Find more information at Canada.ca/foodsafety Source: NewsCanada.com

Windsor Parent | March 2018

New twist on a classic taste This take on a juicy burger uses melted mozzarella, fresh mushrooms and caramelized onions for a delicious result. Using the blend-and-extend technique of combining mushrooms with ground beef provides an extra serving of vegetables, boosts flavour and adds a serving of vitamin D. Directions: 1. Blend/pulse mushrooms until fine in a food processor.

Recipe courtesy of James to Jamie

2. Cook mushrooms on a griddle or large frying pan over medium heat for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often. Set aside to cool.

MUSHROOM BEEF BURGER

3. Give the griddle a quick wipe-down, turn it down to low medium, and toss in your sliced onions along with butter. Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until soft and golden.

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 35 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: • 200 g cremini mushrooms • 400 g extra lean ground beef • 1/2 tsp salt, dash of pepper • Medium yellow onion, halved and sliced • 1 tbsp butter • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar • Extra virgin olive oil • 4 brioche buns • 4-8 slices fresh mozzarella • Mayonnaise • Barbecue sauce

4. While onions are cooking and once mushrooms have cooled, combine mushrooms together with ground beef in a prep bowl. Stir until well-combined and form into four patties. Place on a plate, cover and put in the fridge. 5. Once onions are the right texture and colour, add balsamic vinegar and cook another 2 minutes, stirring often. Remove from griddle and set aside. 6. Wipe down griddle, turn it back up to medium, then add a small lug of oil and spread it around. 7. Combine salt and pepper in a small prep bowl, then sprinkle roughly half of the seasoning on burgers. Place them on the griddle with the seasoned side facing down. 8. After about 4 minutes, season the tops with the other half of the salt and pepper mix, then flip. Cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes until no pink remains. 9. Build burgers by applying mayo to both sides of buns, then add patties and top with one to two slices of fresh mozzarella and caramelized onions. Find more recipes with fresh local ingredients online at Mushrooms.ca Source: NewsCanada.com

Serve up nutritious chocolate smoothies! Morning, noon or night, this chocolate peanut butter cup smoothie does an excellent job of satisfying your sweet tooth. Packed with fibre and protein, your family will drink up the classic flavour combo in this recipe from Ontario Bean Growers.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUP SMOOTHIE WITH BLACK BEANS Prep time: 4 minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: • 1 cup sweetened almond milk (or 1% milk) • 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed • 1 tbsp natural peanut butter • 1 tbsp chia seeds • 1 frozen ripe banana, cut into chunks • 2 tbsp cocoa powder • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 2-4 ice cubes (2-4)

April/May 2018 | Windsor Parent

Directions: 1. Place all ingredients in a high-powered blender and whirl until smooth, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. 2. Garnish with drizzle of peanut butter and cocoa nibs if desired. Serve immediately. Nutritional information per serving: Calories 209; protein 7.7 g; fat 7.8 g; carbohydrates 32.4 g; total dietary fibre 9.1 g; sodium 224 mg; vitamin A 53 mg; vitamin C 6 mg; calcium 230 mg; iron 2.7 mg Find more recipes online at OntarioBeans.on.ca Source: NewsCanada.com

MARCH IS NATIONAL ORAL HEALTH MONTH

Children’s oral health begins at home Good oral health is essential to total health and well-being at any age. Parents and guardians can reduce the risks of dental decay by helping children and youth with their daily oral hygiene care. From the moment your baby is born, you should wipe his or her gums after every feeding. Once the first tooth appears, clean your baby’s teeth with a small, soft toothbrush and use floss to clean between teeth that are touching. Young children should be taught how to brush their teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and to clean between their teeth. Continue to assist them with brushing until they have the dexterity to do it properly on their own. Remind your teenagers that brushing their teeth only takes two minutes twice a day, followed by oral rinsing and cleaning in between the teeth. Let them know about the latest apps designed to make oral hygiene care more fun and interactive. And, of course, children of all ages should be encouraged to make healthy food and beverage choices, avoiding sugary snacks and carbonated drinks in particular. Together with regular visits to a dental hygienist beginning at age one, your guidance will give your children and teens something to smile about. Find more tips at DentalHygieneCanada.ca/kids Source: NewsCanada.com

Three ways to help simplify your health management If you’re like most people living with a chronic condition, you have no plans of letting it stop you from leading an exciting, active life. But this takes careful management, which can sometimes be challenging and complicated. Fortunately, you can use these smart tips to make managing an illness like diabetes easier. 1. Try a weekly meal prep routine. Whether your lazy day for staying in and catching up with your to-do list at home is Sunday or Wednesday, use it to plan and prepare nutritious meals and snacks for the whole week. Browse online or use an app for recipe ideas, and take steps to take the hassle out of cooking on your busier days. Think about a slow cooker to make comforting one-pot dinners and pre-cutting veggies for quick salads and stir-fries. 2. Take the stairs. Squeezing in more exercise becomes a no-brainer when you look beyond the gym to accomplish your fitness goals. Take the stairs over the elevator, get off transit one or two stops early or park your car at the back of the lot for short boosts of activity you’ll barely notice but that add up over time. 3. Choose a smarter monitoring system. Whether you’re on your way to work, enjoying yourself outdoors or spending time with family, if you need to test your blood glucose every day, you want a system designed to reduce the hassle.

The Accu-Chek Guide system is a simple and smart solution for an easier testing experience. The new spill-resistant SmartPack vial holds test strips tightly in place, even upside down, and lets you take just one strip at a time. Testing is also easier thanks to its new strip design with a wider dosing area. Find more information, please visit Accu-Chek.ca Source: NewsCanada.com

Windsor Parent | April/May 2018

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April/May 2018 | Windsor Parent