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Spring into Style

April 1, 2014 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

Designing with the season is a great way to update your space. Interchangeable pillow covers for the family and living rooms, different table cloths and runners for the dining table, and throw blankets for the bed and sofas are all great places to start. Bringing in new designs also means it is time to clean and declutter. Nothing makes a room feel better than a freshly cleaned, bright and airy space. Updating is an excuse to purge and replace items that have seen better days.

Did you know that reupholstering a sofa can cost about the same as buying new? The cost largely depends on the type of fabric chosen and if the cushion fill needs to be changed out. It is always a good idea to look into the cost of buying new before you settle on updating the old. A new style of sofa in the living room can brighten the space and lighten it up. Older sofas that weigh down a room can have a huge, negative impact on the space. Working around one element or item in a room that you are not in love with is difficult. Make sure the base elements of your room are to your liking; paint colors, flooring, and lighting elements.

Spring is the perfect time to start designing. The winter market is over and manufacturers are just starting to release their new styles, so you are sure to get the latest fashions for your home. Fun new fabrics and furniture styles come into my office every day; I am able to present them to my clients before anyone else has a chance to see them. Working with a designer on your springtime update will save you valuable research time and money. Brighten up your space just before the rush of summer!

Famous Pairs!

April 1, 2014 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

In honor of National Pear month, let’s discuss famous pairs, like Abbott & Costello, Martin & Lewis, Lewis & Clark. (I made that stuff up about a National Pear Month. Just being silly).

1. In the early 40’s, Universal Studios tried to advance a vaudeville team to be competition for Abbott and Costello. Their two movies were “Hellzapoppin,” and “Crazy House.” Who were these two comics? (Last names will do).

2. They played shortstop and second base together for 17 years for the Detroit Tigers during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Who were they?

3. They were responsible for the Broadway musicals “Babes in Arms,” “Pal Joey,” and “On Your Toes.” Who was this wonderful team of composers?

4. He was a squirrel and his friend was a moose. They made kids laugh on TV in the early days and delighted parents (like me) with their offbeat humor. Who were they?

5. Their last names were Elliott and Goulding, but we knew them by their first names. They delighted radio listeners of the 40’s and 50’s with their whimsical humor. By what names did we know them?

6. They made several musicals for MGM in the 30s and 40s, such as “Rose Marie,” and “Naughty Marietta.” Who were they?

For anyone interested in watching the cream of the Bay Area Triviaphiles in action, you are urged to run, not walk, to WPLJ in Walnut Creek on Sunday April 27 from 11AM to 3PM for the annual Kings X Trivia Tournament. You will certainly thank yourself for attending.

Raise Wages? Let’s Raise Everything!

April 1, 2014 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

What would you think if tomorrow’s lead newspaper headline read: Gas Prices Skyrocket Overnight: Pass the $5 Barrier to $5.25 per Gallon!? As bad as it sounds, as you read more, the news gets worse. A gallon of milk isn’t $3.50 like it was yesterday, it’s now $4.88. And what about your daughter’s planned enrollment to Cal? You’ve been budgeting for tuition of $13,800.00, but today it is announced that you’ll need to come up with quite a bit more–$ 19,300.00 a year!

When the price of a new car that costs $38,000 today jumps to $53,000 overnight, and when a house valued at $800,000 at 9:00 a.m. is worth $1,114,000 at 5:00 p.m., I would say something is horribly wrong in the marketplace. This is exactly the kind of out-of-control economic spiral possible when some in the federal government believe one of their constitutional duties includes tinkering with the free market.

Right now, several marketplace intervention ideas are being proposed by the Obama Administration. The first is a raise in the minimum wage, from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour. If the prices hikes mentioned above seem incredible, then the one in wages should as well—they all represent a 39% increase. Other proposed regulations include mandated paid sick, family and parental leave laws.

There is nothing within the General Welfare Clause of our constitution that implies the authority or responsibility of our elected representatives to set prices or wages, and all Americans should be concerned when politicians—especially ones with zero business experience—start down this path. Our antennae should be up for their election year game of “We’d Like to Buy Your Vote,” with promises of chickens in every pot, two cars in every garage, and… higher wages—all mandated via government decree!

The fact is, wages are a cost on any business’ income statement, and when wages are arbitrarily forced to rise, business owners will make adjustments in other areas of their budget to account for that rise. They will either raise their prices or cut costs in other areas—like laying people off. In a recent survey by the nation’s largest privately held staffing firm, Express Employment Professionals, 65% of business owners said they would raise prices to adjust for an increase in the minimum wage and 38% said they will cut their workforce. In other words we’ll all pay more for goods and services and unemployment will rise.

Those who support government mandated wage hikes argue that it stimulates the economy by giving consumers more money to spend. By that logic, why then only raise it to $10 per hour? Wouldn’t a minimum wage of $20, $40 or even $150 per hour be even better? As the level of these spurious wages rises, so too the flaw in the logic supporting them becomes more obvious.

The real value of goods, services and labor are most accurately determined by the marketplace. Prices and wages are inextricably linked and should reflect a legitimate relationship between market-driven forces of supply and demand.

Whenever the government imposes changes on one part of the market, the rest of the market will react in kind.

Shadow Dogs—Faithful Lifesavers

March 1, 2014 by Anita Venezia Leave a Comment

When a 13-year girl died last year from a peanut allergy after eating a snack at a children’s camp near Sacramento, my heart broke for the family. By the time her father, a doctor, gave her the epinephrine shot, it was already too late. The child went into anaphylactic shock and died within minutes.

I knew about allergies to this lowly legume, knew that children couldn’t take peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in school lunches, and knew about severe allergic reactions, but until I researched the subject did not understand the extent of the problem. Peanuts and tree nuts can cause fatalities, not only with direct contact, but with cross-contact, or even the culprit being airborne.

I learned that peanut allergies can send someone into sudden anaphylactic shock, restrict the airways, and in some cases, cause death within minutes. This severe reaction mostly affects people between 14 and 24, and also young children. As many as 500 cases a year are reported; about 150 of those affected will die. Strict avoidance of either ingesting or being around peanuts, and its by-products is advised. If inadvertently indigested, the allergic person must be given an epinephrine injection immediately.

There seemed to be no way to alert anyone that peanuts were in certain foods or even near the allergic person, and even the most vigilant parents could be caught off guard.

I did not know about the lifesaving medical detection dogs, also called peanut sniffer dogs until shopping in a big box store. I saw a young girl with a dog wearing a red vest indicating it was a service dog. Out of curiosity I asked the child if I could pet the Labrador which immediately wedged itself between the girl and me as I approached.

“He’s my peanut dog…” she explained, and told me of her allergy.

I had not heard of ‘peanut dogs’. I soon found out the working sniffer dogs alert children with serious allergies when peanuts, or derivatives, are nearby. This allergy is also caused by peanut by-products; peanut butter, peanut oil, or even a smidgen on an unseen mousetrap. Medical detection dogs sniff out the culprits and save lives.

Dogs have 1000 times more powerful olfactory senses than humans, able to discern multiple odors within a single object. I knew about the narcotic sniffers from the Danville Police Department when I wrote about the K-9 Unit and the Patrol Belgian Malinois dogs, but knew nothing of peanut dogs.

To get the scoop from one of the nation’s best service dog trainers, I called Sharon Perry in Texas. Sharon has trained Narcotic sniffer dogs since 2000, and was the first person to train allergy alert peanut dogs in 2005.

Sharon Perry took an early retirement from her job in chemical engineering, and started her own K9Motel; Southern Star Ranch Boarding and Canine Training Centre in Florence, Texas. She said it takes about nine months to train a medical detection canine, and concentrates on only three dogs at a time.

Once the dog is trained and tested, it then takes another two weeks or so to work with the parent handlers to build trust and understanding with the peanut dog. After the allergy sufferer meets the dog, it becomes the child’s shadow, they become as if one.

Perry said the difficult part of the training is to find the perfect sniffer dog, mostly Labrador Retrievers or Lab mixes. The bomb and narcotic German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois dogs must have high-energy focus, be aggressive and feisty, and are tested to meet standards to be deployed to the military and K-9 Police Patrols. In other words, the shadow dogs need to be calm, obedient, and accurate, and devoted to taking joy in their job.

“It can take four months to find perfect peanut hunter dogs, before training even starts. I choose them for their calm temperament and ability to learn. I’ll drive 800 miles or so to pick up the perfect dogs,” Sharon Perry said.

After the nine-month preparation period, and thorough testing, the dog is ready for its new home and will shadow the child twenty four hours a day. The cost for a lifesaving canine is about $15,000.00; a small price to pay to save a child’s life and have peace of mind for an extra layer of security,

After the dog’s new handler has gone through the onsite two-week training to learn to work with the service dog, it then becomes a bond of trust between child and the shadow dog. It is not often an easy task initially to establish the trust. Perry explained.

“One eight-year old boy had never eaten in a restaurant for fear of being served something with peanuts. He was scared; he knew how dangerous it was. We took the boy and his new dog to a restaurant; they ordered manicotti. The boy finally put some in his mouth after the dog checked the food. It was the first time he had eaten outside his mother’s kitchen. I explained to the boy that he had to trust the dog.”

The child and his dog become one; they go on planes, trains, busses, cars, and the dog accompanies the child to school daily. The dog is not a plaything or pet, it is a vested working service dog with impeccable manners to provide independence for the child with allergies.

Many children with peanut allergies only travel in their family’s own vehicle, rarely visit other’s homes, and are often home-schooled. But when they do attend regular school the children are advised to let the service dog stay calm and sit under the desk.

After explanation to the other students that the shadow dog is working, soon no one even notices the animal. The alert dog faithfully remains close to his ward protecting him from the hypersensitivity of peanuts or other pre-determined allergens night and day. The medical detection dog is a hero; the medical detection dog saves lives; the medical detection dog is always obedient and can be taken everywhere.

PEANUTS

Peanuts do not grow on trees, they are not really nuts at all; they are legumes, like lentils, beans, and soybeans that grow on low-growing hypogaea bush-like plants. Pod seeds drop from tendrils and the peanuts mature underground.

China is the world’s largest peanut producer, introduced by Portuguese traders in the 17^th century. South Africa, India, Nigeria and Indonesia grow peanuts. The U.S.A. produces only 7% of the world’s peanut crops in Georgia and Texas.

The peanut was already known in pre-Columbian cultures in Paraguay and Bolivia, and archaeologists have found evidence of the oldest specimens in 7000 year-old ruins dating to circa BC 5000.

Peanuts are everywhere, even in the most unexpected places such as animal feed until the 1930s. Since the turn of the last century peanuts have been in Cracker Jack and other nut-studded candies; Babe Ruth and Mars Bars. Peanut butter is a high-protein mainstay of summer camps and school lunches.

Many ethnic foods contain peanuts; Asian, Indonesian, African, Middle Eastern and South American. Peanuts, oils and by-products are found in candies, chocolates, ice cream, vegetarian foods, chili, eggrolls, enchiladas, hot chocolate, pancakes, medicines, cosmetics, soaps, dyes, varnish, paints, polish, solvents, lotions, salad dressing, nitroglycerin, plastics, glue, fuel, bird-feed, wall-board, compost and fertilizer. Peanut flour is in gluten-free products, peanut powder, pastries, breads, pancakes, desserts, cooking oils and canned goods. We may never be aware of where the peanut lurks.

Peanuts are susceptible to underground contamination during growth and storage, leading to infection by the mold Aspergillus flavus releasing the carcinogenic substance aflatoxin. We voraciously consume peanuts on the presumption that all peanuts are tested for this mold.

We ask, what could have caused the recent rash of allergies? Could there hypothetically be problems with peanut crops handling? Could there hypothetically be a problem with the inspections? What standards are set in place for imported peanuts? How much of the imported peanuts withstand stringent testing? How much is allowed through without being declined?

The mystery to be solved is why there has been a tripling of allergy related cases, an 18% increase from 1997 to 2007? What changes took place during that specific ten-year span?

There are no confirmed treatments to cure allergic reactions to peanuts according to F.A.R.E.—Food Allergy Research and Education. About 10 – 20% of kids outgrow the allergies. But in the meantime, will parents continue to take chances?

According to some hypotheses; the banning of peanut products in schools, public places, and some homes, may mean that the gradual desensitization of an entire generation may be the culprit. Parents are advised to gradually introduce peanuts, or peanut products to children age three or over. The operative word is gradually.

Some researchers state that children who are over-protected from germs and dirt by hand-sanitizers and over-washing, called the “hygiene hypothesis” may add to the situation by inhibiting their natural immunity.

Others hypothesize that imported peanuts with different harvesting practices, oven-drying methods, processing and storage, may present the problems heretofore unknown. Some researchers hypothesize the theory that peanuts that are roasted may cause the peanut allergen Ara h2 to become a stronger inhibitor of the digestive enzyme trypsin. We may never know the true culprit for the rash of so many allergies.

In the meantime, parents who have a child with known peanut allergies may consider introducing the shadow dog into the child’s life to guarantee that no peanuts or by-products ever get close. The shadow dog is not only a working canine, but a faithful pet, and a tried and true solution to accidental ingestion.

I recall now with a deeper understanding why the shadow dog in the store put itself between me and its ward. It was sniffing me out in case I had peanuts in my pocket or residue on my hands, and that’s why the faithful Labrador created a gentle wall of defense.

Enquiries: www.southern-star-ranch.com

Luck of the Irish

March 1, 2014 by Michael Copeland Leave a Comment

With the Northern California spring season now starting in mid December, it was no big surprise when I uncovered a four-leaf clover at Hap McGee Park in Danville while I was letting my dog “do her business,” on a recent Saturday afternoon. With the temperature in the high 70’s, we were frolicking amongst the clover when the Luck of the Irish blessed me with a wee bit of the blarney. I don’t know what that means, but it sounds Irishy.

Legend has it that when Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden, she took a four-leaf clover with her for good luck. Since then, four-leaf clovers have been synonymous with luck, much like horseshoes, a rabbit’s foot, a cat’s eye or a wishbone. Being someone who considers himself somewhat lucky, and half Irish, I sealed my four-leaf clover in a Glad zip-lock baggy with a plan to crack it out on March 17^th –Saint Patrick’s Day. That’s when I’ll be loaded up on Super, Mega and Power Ball lottery tickets. When I unleash my Luck of the Irish super power on the California lottery commission, I expect good fortune to rain down on dis laddy in the form of green cash currency.

If you’re interested, Squidoo.com has a list of 50 good luck symbols from around the world, however I find a lot of them can get you in a little bit of trouble. Being a bit of a nervous flyer, I was once pulled aside by the TSA for a full body cavity search when a horseshoe was discovered sewn into my underwear before I boarded a Southwest flight to Palm Springs. Despite my cries of innocence, and a weak bladder/desert turbulence explanation, I am now on a “watch list” with every airport on the West Coast. Did I mention the very invasive wand?

Similarly, it’s apparently frowned upon to try and extract a wishbone or cat’s eye from a living, breathing animal. Who knew you could dig through a Safeway rotisserie chicken for a wishbone or that a cat’s eye is actually a stone? I do… now! I would like to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to the injured turkey buzzard I found staggering along Old Blackhawk Road, and to our neighbor’s cat, Mr. Furry Pants. I feel terrible if I caused you any undo stress. As for the rabbit—let’s just say I learned a valuable (and horribly messy) lesson.

Different nationalities possess different symbols of luck. In China and other Asian countries, the cricket is a lucky symbol. Alligator teeth are said to bring luck to gamblers in Africa. In ancient Greece, dolphins were said to be a lucky sign for safe sailing. A legend from Old England says the chimney sweep is the ultimate bringer of good luck. The Hopi, Pueblo and Zuni Native American tribes believe the Kachina dolls bring good luck and a long life. Finally, Catholics have always relied on a St. Christopher medal in their cars to bring luck in their travels. In high school, I thought St. Christopher was supposed to bring me good luck with the girls in my car, if you get my fast and furious drift.

After years spent chasing rainbows in the hills of Dublin (California not Ireland), hoping to find a pot of gold, I think I’ll place more faith in my four-leaf clover than ever finding a leprechaun or pot of gold. As most people know, a leprechaun is a fairy in Irish folklore. While leprechauns aren’t necessarily associated with good luck, if a human captures a leprechaun, legend has it they have magical power to grant three wishes in exchange for their release. Personally, I would say it would be very lucky day to find a leprechaun, just for the three wishes angle; however, they are also known to be very mischievous and a little nasty. That said, in Ireland they are revered.

Few people know that there is a Disney Channel original movie entitled Luck of the Irish. It’s a delightful tale about an Irish high school basketball player who possess a magic coin that provides him with certain amount of… wait for it… luck. Did I mention his mother is a leprechaun who’s been able to live a normal size life, as long as her son was in possession of the coin? When the coin goes missing, she shrinks to diminutive-leprechaun status. I hate when that happens.

If your St. Patrick Day cinema taste runs a little more mature, I recommend Far and Away, starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise. As most of you know, Tom Cruise is about the actual size of a leprechaun.

If you’re a lad or lassie that prefers Gaelic music, let me steer you toward U2, Van Morrison, or the Chieftains—all exports from Emerald Isle.

Speaking of Ireland and Irish Luck, virtually everyone knows that St. Patrick’s Day is Ireland’s national holiday. It’s much like our 4^th of July, but disguised as a religious and cultural day celebrating the patron saint of Ireland. There are parades and festivals all over the world celebrating Irish lore. Sadly, most Americans think St. Paddy’s Day is just an excuse to get drunk on Irish beer. It is, but I have news for you, getting drunk can potentially be unlucky. I’m still looking for my Shamrock green knickers from last year’s McNeighborhood pub-crawl. Needless to say, I Mc-crawled home.

All kidding aside, here are a few things in my life I feel truly lucky for

I’m lucky I have my wonderful wife and two incredible daughters in my life. I truly appreciate how they inspire, support and love me. Their daily presence makes me feel whole and complete.
I’m lucky I have good friends because friends are the family we choose.
I’m lucky that I like and respect the people I work with and the company I work for at my day job.
I’m lucky for the community I live in and the wonderful neighbors we have on our block. See pub crawl above.
I’m lucky I didn’t really hurt myself when I fell of my ladder during the holidays.
I’m lucky I have my health, although my doctor says I would be a lot healthier if I lost 20 lbs.
I’m lucky I have a doctor that wants me to live well and thrive.
I’m lucky Eric Johnson at ALIVE Magazine allows me to express my creative side on a monthly basis. There are more than a few people that undoubtedly wonder why he publishes my mindless dribble.
I’m lucky I have a devoted following of loyal readers that appreciate my monthly mindless dribble. I’m also lucky that I know all seven of you by name. Steve, Danielle, Elaine, Ho, Mark, Debbie and Prisoner #24954582.

It’s probably a good thing that I have no way to get in touch with Indianapolis Colt’s quarterback Andrew Luck or he and I might be on our way to Vegas baby for a little March Madness bracketology session at the MGM Grand. For now I’ll just have to rely on my little four-leaf clover and the ever-present Luck of the IRISH to bring me good fortune.

Luck of the Irish

In the Village of Blarney
There’s one luckyrock
They say when you kiss it
good luck is a lock

While visiting the Isle
once a few years gone by
I figured why not
being a “why not” kind of guy

I tracked down the spot
and got down on my knees
I kissed and I kissed it
until the authorities seized (me)

They sent me back home
where I live to this day
chasing my dreams
in the old Irish way

I’m still not sure if it worked
the lottery hasn’t yet phoned
but it’s all in the chance
of the kissed Blarney Stone.

By Michael Copeland

Inspired by The Blarney Stone by Denise Rodgers

Book Review by Robin Fahr: 400 Moms by Jill West, RD

March 1, 2014 by Robin Fahr Leave a Comment

The solution to obesity may be found in one four-letter word: MOMS. That according to Jill West, Registered Dietitian, mother of three, and author of 400 MOMS: Discover What 400 Nutrition Experts Feed Their Kids.

Beyond obesity, West and health professionals everywhere agree that the foods we serve our children can make a huge difference in their behavior, school success, sick days, health, fitness, and even their self-esteem. But it’s not easy–with both parents working, running a household, after school commitments, homework, and modern-day stressors, getting something on the table that’s fast AND healthy seems nearly impossible sometimes.

Jill West can relate. She’s the picture of health, obviously practicing what she preaches, but preaching is far from West’s style as she confesses that she doesn’t really like to cook and that the question at rush hour, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” isn’t exactly music to her ears. She has a way of making moms everywhere feel a bit better about the job we’re doing to healthfully fuel our families in a stressed out, non-stop world. In 400 MOMS, West surveys over 400 Registered Dietitians, also moms, to find out how they do it. The result is a comprehensive “Go-To” guide for mothers everywhere with hundreds of practical tips, strategies and solutions for raising a healthy child.

ALIVE Magazine: Tell me about 400 MOMS and how you came up with the title.

Jill West: The 400 MOMS book is about helping moms provide healthy meals and snacks for their children and shaping their eating habits for a lifetime. The idea for the book came after years of hanging out at sports events and waiting to pick up kids after school. Knowing I was a Registered Dietitian, other moms would frequently ask me questions about how I feed my kids, such as “How often do you let your kids eat fast food?” or “What do you think of sports drinks?”

I wondered how other nutrition experts would answer, so I surveyed over 400 dietitians, who are also moms, about how they feed their kids. I asked what they give their kids for breakfast, how they get their kids to eat vegetables, what quick and healthy dinners they serve their kids, and hundreds more relevant questions. 400 MOMS is my own personal experience and advice combined with the ideas shared by these 400 dietitian moms about what works with our own children.

AM: What is your breakfast suggestion for busy school mornings?

JW: Cereal was the #1 choice for the 400 Moms. Why? Because it’s quick, it can be eaten dry “on-the-go” or with milk, and it’s healthy, as long as you choose the low sugar cereals. Guess, which is the #1 cereal nutrition experts, feed their kids: Cheerios! Why? Because kids from highchair age all the way up to adults can eat them, and they’re healthy. My criteria for healthy cereals are six grams of sugar or less and three grams of fiber or more per serving. Cheerios is both: low in sugar and a good source of fiber.

I also have lists of “Best Picks” and “Worst Picks” in the book, which moms tell me they love! Moms can turn to the “Best Picks” page for cereals and have many options to choose from. It simplifies their grocery shopping because they can go straight to the “Best Picks” list and know they’re making a healthy choice for their kids.

AM: How important is eating organic?

JW: The most important thing is to eat fruits and vegetables, whether they are organic or not. I’m really concerned that focusing too much on organic will decrease the amount of produce kids eat, which is far more harmful. The produce grown in this country has tighter regulations around pesticides than many countries, so most importantly, choose produce grown locally if possible and, if buying organic is important to you, focus on the ones that have thin skins because these are likely to have more pesticide exposure. For example, apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, spinach, and cucumbers would be more important to buy organic than bananas, watermelon, green beans and cantaloupe. I have a list in my book, and the Environmental Working Group website also lists them (www.ewg.org).

AM: You have a section in each chapter called “Your Game Plan.” What is that about?

JW: My thinking behind this was to help moms take what they’ve just read to the next step, which is to decide on a few specific “action steps” to start with their families. I give some examples to help get moms thinking about what changes they want to make, for instance, in trying to get the kids to eat more fruits and vegetables, I suggest they commit to “serve fruit at all 3 meals” or “serve fruit as the afternoon snack.” Another commitment related to healthy snacks would be, “I will buy cookies with no more than five grams of fat” or “We will try snacks from the Healthy Snacks List.”

AM: Give us a Game Plan for the New Year. What are some quick and easy changes we can make in our children’s diet, as a resolution to better eating?

JW: I suggest moms think about what they want to see improve this year in their kids’ eating habits or what they are buying at the grocery store. Next, choose and write down one or two “action steps.” And finally, think about the specifics of how you will make that Game Plan work. For example:

I will decrease the sweet drinks my kids consume.

The Specifics or “How To” might be:

1. I will serve milk or water instead of juice at meals.

2. I will allow soda no more than once a week.

3. I will limit juice to a ½ cup serving and no more than two days per week.

AM: What are healthy snacks Moms should have on hand?

JW: Some great snacks for the cupboard are almonds and other nuts, dried fruit, low sugar cereals, and whole grain crackers. Snacks for the refrigerator should include yogurt, cheese sticks, fresh fruit, and fruit cups. It really helps to have fresh fruit already washed and cut to make it easy for kids to “grab and go.”

AM: What about school lunch vs. packing a lunch from home?

JW: To buy or not to buy school lunch depends on the school district. Fifty-six percent of Nutrition Experts said they buy school lunch for their children one day per week or less. If the school lunches at your school are not very healthy, then I recommend once a week, which allows the child to participate and gives Mom a break from making lunch while still having peace of mind that most of the meals her child eats are healthy.

One of my three boys took the same lunch (peanut butter sandwich and dried mango) to school EVERY DAY for the entire year in 2^nd grade. I’ve had moms tell me what a relief it was to read that story in my book, because they worried about their child not getting enough variety. I believe what’s most important is that kids are getting refueled for the afternoon, so they can focus academically, and if packing the same lunch means they will actually eat it, then that’s a win! Moms can then focus on getting a variety of foods at other meals and snacks without creating a battle over lunch.

AM: Dinner is such a challenging meal. What do Nutrition Experts do?

JW: Yes, I agree dinner is challenging in many ways. And although I care very much about healthy eating and teaching my kids about being healthy, I really don’t like to cook. Every Mom can relate to the kids asking, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” Certainly my kids do! Then about 30 minutes later, I get the next question: “When will dinner be ready?” That’s code for “I’m starving and want it now.” After a full day, along with after school activities and homework, that’s a lot of pressure, so I consider myself a “cook to feed” kind of mom. Nothing fancy, just get food on the table quickly, and yet still keep it healthy.

Based on the responses from 400 MOMS about the quick, healthy dinners they fix, I’m not alone. The #1 quick and healthy dinner was pasta and #2 was sandwiches. That one surprised me a little, but it makes sense.Here’s why: My #1 tip to moms when it comes to dinner is visualizing The Healthy Plate: half of the plate grains and protein and the other half of the plate fruits and vegetables. A sandwich takes care of the grains and protein portion of the plate, and then you can cut up an apple, add a handful of baby carrots and a glass of nonfat or 1% milk and you’ve got a healthy plate. You can do the same with one of the quick recipes in 400 MOMS. The entrée takes care of the grains and protein half of the plate, so all you have to do is add a fruit or vegetable and milk, and you’re done.

AM: I know a big struggle for parents is getting kids to eat their vegetables. What do you suggest?

JW: In my book I have 37 ideas that the 400 Moms suggest to help other moms get their kids to eat vegetables. A few of my favorites that Nutrition Experts suggest are:

1. Serve vegetables when kids are hungriest: right after school or right before dinner, while making dinner. I use this strategy myself. Before cooking dinner, I prepare the fruit and vegetable so it’s already on the plate. That way when my boys start hovering around the kitchen, waiting for dinner to be ready, they will often snack on what’s already on their plate.

2. Offer two options. Ask your child, “Do you want broccoli or carrots with dinner?” The child has some choice, which increases the odds they’ll eat some of it. If, however, the child says, “I don’t want either of them,” then I get to decide. Pretty quickly they realize they would rather make the choice.

3. Blend them in. Add vegetables to omelets, soups, pasta sauce, stews, and casseroles.

4. “It’s what we do.” Many Nutrition Experts said that vegetables are always served and that Mom and Dad eat them too. It’s just a normal part of the meal and kids are used to it, so there’s no room for complaining or unnecessary drama.

I do have some Words of Caution, though, on the subject of vegetables:

Don’t insist your child “Clean Your Plate” or eat all the vegetables served.
Avoid power struggles about food and meals. Mealtime should be as pleasant and relaxed as possible.
Mom’s job is to provide the fruit and vegetable; Child’s job is to decide how much to eat.
Mom job is to model healthy eating.

AM: Let’s talk about childhood obesity.

JW: It’s a major problem that has really serious long-term consequences. For the first time in our history, this generation is expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. The reason is that obesity leads to many medical complications. For the first time ever, young teens are developing high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol that used to only be seen in adults, and this has the potential to significantly shorten their lives. If there’s one strategy I can suggest to begin reversing this trend, it is to stop sweet drinks of all kinds—not just soda, but sweet teas, juice drinks, coffee drinks, sports drinks, etc. When you look at the data since 1970, there is a striking correlation between obesity, sweet drinks and milk intake. In 1970, obesity in kids was at 5% and soda intake was 6.5 oz./day on average; in 2010 obesity in kids had tripled to 17% and soda consumption had quadrupled to 24 oz./day. That’s just soda. If we add in all sweet drinks that kids consume, then the amount they’re drinking is much, much higher. And these statistics only apply to obesity; if we combine overweight and obese kids, 34% (one in three kids), are overweight or obese.

It’s also important to look at what has happened to milk intake since 1970. Kids are drinking half as much milk now compared to 1970. Sweet drinks are pushing out milk, which is really alarming because kids are getting liquid sugar in place of really important nutrients, such as protein, calcium, vitamin D and potassium. This will have a major impact on their bones as they become adults.

AM: What advice do you have for picky eaters?

JW: The 400 Moms had many great ideas, but two that stand out for me are:

#1: Try, Try Again!

My oldest always loved to try new foods; my middle son would look at a new food and decide he didn’t like it. My youngest was somewhere in between. However, I would periodically keep trying vegetables and other foods they didn’t like because kids’ taste preferences change, and if you stop serving it, they never have an opportunity to discover they like it later.

It’s also important to avoid drama when using this strategy. The goal is to casually keep trying foods, minimizing the attention given, and oftentimes, kids will eventually come around to eating a wider variety of foods.

Moms need to remind themselves that their job is to model what a healthy plate looks like. That way the child has the skills and knowledge to make healthy choices as they get older, when he or she decides it’s important. An example of this was a former neighbor’s son. He didn’t like vegetables as a child, but his parents always served them, and his parents ate them. It wasn’t until after college that he started eating them regularly and paying closer attention to his diet because his body was changing, and it became important to him.

#2: The Bite Rule

Nutrition experts had several variations about how they implemented this strategy. The idea is to ask your child to try one bite, two bites or three bites, and then thank her for trying it, even if she didn’t like it. This strategy was very helpful with one of my boys who would look at a food and decide he didn’t like it. I would ask him to try it and if he said, “yuk,” then I would say, “Thanks for trying it!” The good news is, he also learned there were foods he didn’t think he would like that he ended up liking because he tried one bite. It avoids a battle at the dinner table yet gradually expands the variety kids will eat.

AM: Is fast food ever ok?

JW: In my opinion, once a week is not going to cause any health or nutritional problems. Eighty percent of the 400 Moms serve fast food once or less per week. The problem is, children are eating meals out four times per week on average. That’s a real problem! It adds up to too much sugar, fat, and calories and not enough fruits, vegetables, milk, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

I know families are busy and after-school schedules can be crazy. I’ve been there too! But there are many ways to get a quick meal on the table. It takes a little grocery planning and having some quick options in the freezer, but it’s definitely doable. For example, while frozen chicken nuggets are baking, you can steam some broccoli or make a basic salad, wash some grapes and pour a glass of milk. That’s a healthy, balanced meal in 20 minutes, with nothing fried and no added sugar.

AM: What’s some of the best advice Nutrition Experts gave?

JW: There are so many great suggestions, strategies and ideas, that’s a difficult question. And what works for each family can be different, so having lots of suggestions helps.

I love the idea of giving kids choices. For example, moms can give kids two fruit and vegetable options; you can involve them in deciding which school lunches to choose, and involve them in grocery shopping, cooking, and gardening, when possible. There are many ways to give them choices.

I also love the “It’s What We Do” concept. The whole family, including parents, is served the same healthy plate. It’s all about what’s healthy for our bodies, not about weight.

AM: How would you summarize the book, 400 Moms?

JW: The most important takeaways can be summed up in the acronym: BEST

B: Breakfast everyday

E: Encourage five servings of fruits and vegetables daily

S: Stop sweet drinks and soda

T: Trim down on fast food

I believe moms are the solution to raising healthy kids and reversing childhood obesity. My hope is that 400 MOMS will empower moms to make small changes that can have a big impact on the health of their kids. What a gift to give your child!

400 MOMS is available at Amazon and at www.400Moms.com.

Stamps in My Passport: Random Comments

March 1, 2014 by Harry Hubinger Leave a Comment

The other day I was trolling through my notes of trips long gone, and I found myself chuckling over some comments that I had made during various trips – ones that have never made it to one of my longer stories. They cover a wide collection of countries, but I would like to pass them on. So forgive the randomness of it all, and see whether you’ve shared any of these locations or situations.

On one bright sunny day in Munich, which in itself is rare, we decided to visit the zoo. Incidentally, Munich has one of the best zoos I’ve ever visited. The zoo sits on an island surrounded by the Isar River. We marched across the foot bridge heading for the main entrance when we noticed a strange thing. The bridge fence was composed of a large wire mesh and hanging on this fence were hundreds, maybe thousands, of padlocks. Upon closer inspection we noticed that each padlock bore an engraved message. “John and Lisa, 2003 forever.” “Carl and Maria, together 2006.”” Hans and Eva 2010.” And on and on – but all were, of course, in German.

Apparently newlyweds in this area of Munich dedicate their lives together by affixing an engraved padlock on this bridge railing and then toss the keys into the flowing water beneath. How romantic can you get?

On a different note, local sarcasm can easily be lost to us travelers, in either our ignorance of area politics or in the nuances of idiomatic phrasing. One such reference nearly slipped by me in Skopje, Macedonia. Over the past few years this city has erected hundreds of statues. They range from the huge – repeat huge – image of Alexander the Great on horseback in the city center, to smaller, more manageable images of other historical figures. The range and quantity of these monuments are hard to ignore. Even in the center of the Vardar River, resting on a small spit of land there is even a statue of a young woman diving into the river.

I commented about the number to our local guide who replied with a disgusted grunt, then uttered these lines,

“Yes, in Skopje we don’t need friends. We can just hang out with the statues.”

Almost missed the sarcasm in his voice.

For those of you, our friends, who received Ecuadorian coffee and/or Ecuadorian chocolate, there are the seeds of a story here which we would like to share.

As is our choice when traveling, we stayed at a very traditional local hotel in Quito, Ecuador. I hesitate to mention the number of stars it received because under even the broadest of terms it would have been an exaggeration. Certainly it was clean and tidy, but well worn, with none of the conveniences included. The lighting was poor – no, it was inadequate. We were on the third floor, and it had no elevator. The bath was a step up and tiny, and the beds were as hard as a rock.

The location, just off the area known for night life and violence, was a thoroughfare by day, but a collection point for groups of hoodies and drunks after the sun set. We were about ten blocks from the main street, and the police patrolled our street regularly.

We dedicated our second or third day in Quito to picking up gifts, touring the markets, and studying the people – and stayed in our hotel after dark. Barb had decided we would choose something local to bring back to family and friends. As we walked these back streets looking and debating, an almost miraculous store appeared. “Ecuadorian Coffee and Chocolate – Our Specialty,” the sign read. We marched in to find a young couple in their late twenties or early thirties behind the counter, with a little three year old boy playing on the floor. They spoke flawless English. They had grown up in Quito and worked in stores all their lives, perfecting English to further their ambition to own their own place. About six months before they had used their savings to open a small shop featuring these Ecuadorian treats with the hope of becoming totally self-reliant.

Barb and I visited them several times and had pleasant discussions about growing up here in Quito at nine thousand feet, surrounded by volcanic peaks reaching twelve to nineteen thousand feet. We wish them success in being a South American entrepreneur, and we did our part to help.

One last story that tickled my fancy. We were enjoying lunch at the Mt. Meru Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania. The hotel was about two hundred yards from the main road, and after our mid-day repast, I decided to walk down the dirt road to the main highway. About half way down I noticed the stream which the road followed had been dammed up, and the result was a pool of water, about thirty feet across, and maybe two feet deep.

Here, waiting in a neat line, were cars and trucks – including the vehicle we used in our game drives. As I watched, each vehicle in turn drove in to the shallow pool, and four or five employees with brushes and sponges washed the car. After the bath, the car would be driven out the other side and towel dried by another crew. Hey! Who said the modern car wash was invented by the industrialized world?

Pluck

March 1, 2014 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

Other than being used as a verb, as in “he plucked some feathers,” as a noun rarely used in the United States, it’s an old English term meaning courage, resolution, or determination. Someone with pluck has backbone; spunk. They have heart! It’s a quality of character worth cultivating. I consider it more valuable than talent, knowledge, education and even experience, for without a good measure of pluck, dreams and goals take a back seat to obstacles and challenges, and excuses come easy.

As the past five-plus years have been challenging, with high unemployment and a supposedly widening gap between high and low income, speaking as an employer, I have a theory as to what might be a contributing factor to our problems: Our supply of pluck is seriously depleted!

Not long ago, I placed an ad on Craigslist for a job opening here at ALIVE. One of the criteria for consideration was to provide a compelling cover letter along with a resume. Over 30% of those responding failed this first simple test, providing one or the other, but not both. After reading through a mountain of applications, I scheduled appointments for the most qualified. I confirmed four applicant interviews for our first day of evaluations.

Upon arriving at my office on that morning, I received an email from applicant #2. He had “just remembered” a prior commitment and would not be able to come in as scheduled for his eleven o’clock interview. No matter; I had three other seemingly qualified applicants to interview. I was really hoping to meet the person scheduled for the first interview at ten o’clock, as she seemed a perfect fit for the position. By 10:20, with no phone call or email, I knew she wasn’t coming.

Can you guess where this is going? Around 11:30 I received a phone call from my one o’clock, apologizing for car trouble and asking to re-schedule for the following week. Applicant number four, scheduled for two o’clock, followed the lead of “Miss Most Promising Ten O’clock No-show.” No call. No email. No job. I was most disappointed with this last one, as he claimed to be a Marine Corp veteran with self-employment experience. It would have been his job to take.

You may ask: Was this for a minimum-wage position offering no opportunity for growth? It was a sales position with a $43,000.00 first year base salary, plus commissions and bonuses. All four applicants had solid, confirmed appointments. All had relevant experience and were college graduates.

Words and resumes never reveal one’s level of pluck. Actions do.

Battle of the Bands

March 1, 2014 by Staff Writer Leave a Comment

The Second Annual San Ramon Arts Foundation DeliRadioHigh School Battle of the Bands is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2014. This event keeps music alive for high school teens by providing much needed funding and a performance opportunity for young musicians.

This San Ramon Arts Foundation event is a truly unique event in the Tri-Valley area, with great media exposure through our partner, DeliRadio to extend the experience online.

The competition is free and open to high school bands throughout the bay area. Imelda Alejandrino, a President at AP42 is a volunteer and the event organizer for the San Ramon Arts Foundation. She says, “Students with a passion for the arts and music need a positive environment to showcase their art and play their music. The battle of the bands is an opportunity for local student bands to play at the Dougherty Performing Arts Theater and play their music to at least150 fans. It’s also, a fun-filled day of music, food and student artwork!”

The winner of the event gets a free professional recording session at Ninth Street Opus Studio in Berkeley. Last year’s winner, Rundown Radio, has performed locally at Red House, Starry Plough, and at San Ramon events such as Run for Education. They also recently recorded their latest EP, professionally, in Los Angeles.

The Tri-Valley ins the home of numerous up-and-coming young bands such as, Minute2Midnight, Crossout, Adelyne. MdK, Scarlet Machine and Fallen Impact, to name a few.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center

10550 Albion Road, San Ramon, CA 94583

For Event & Sponsorship Details, email Imelda@ap42.com or steve@coastlitho.net

Tax Exempt ID #: 94-2833174

He Said/She Said: He’s 23 and Still at Home

March 1, 2014 by Robin Fahr and Shawn Alikian Leave a Comment

Dear HSSS-

My 23-year-old son recently moved back home after graduating college nine months ago. He’s having a hard time finding a job and needs my financial assistance to get his life started. So how do I teach him responsibility and motivate him to stand on his own two feet? ~ Jennifer in Dublin

She Said: Getting a job is a lot tougher for college graduates than it used to be, so compassion and understanding for the returning young adult is necessary. But failure to launch is what happens if parents make it too easy, so finding the balance is key. Definitely do not give him money! If you are providing a roof over his head and food in the fridge, he’ll survive without pizza and beer. He should be spending most of his time looking for a job in his field (great resource: dearjane.info), and ask him to share with you his progress at the end of each day. Encourage him to take a part time or freelance job to cover some costs while he’s waiting to land the career job. Once he starts earning some money, have him pay rent (no more than 33% of what he’s earning) and put it into your own retirement account. As soon as possible, he should be paying for his gas, cell phone, car insurance, etc. I’ve seen these modern-day arrangements work out really well, and you may even find you like having a roomie you know and trust. To be sure, your son will feel a lot better about himself when he’s contributing to the household, and you will have better prepared him for the real world.

He Said: Let’s clear something up right off the bat: Your son’s not having a hard time finding a job, he’s having a hard time finding the job he wants. And unfortunately, as Robin mentioned, a college education doesn’t guarantee that dream job nowadays the way it used to. If you have the means, you should help your son, but within some well thought out guidelines. Absolutely DO NOT give him money. This includes not paying off his credit card bills. If he doesn’t have the money, he shouldn’t be buying it. Let him know he can stay with you for six months, but charge him a small amount of rent beginning immediately. After the six-month period, let him know that you will start charging him something equivalent to the market rents in your area, maybe with a $100 discount for being your son. This will both motivate him to support himself financially and move on from your home. As a parent, you’re walking a fine line here: you want to make sure you’re not an enabler and shirking your responsibility of giving him a reality check, but at the same time, lending a helping hand is what family does.

Robin Fahr and Shawn Alikian host Conversations and He Said/She Said seen daily on Tri-Valley TV, Channel 30. Send your questions to AskHeSaidSheSaid.com.