What's In and What's Out in "After-School" Snacking

I recently volunteered to become an after-school helper for a family.  And my first temptation (actually I succumbed) was to take everyone out for yogurt!  So when I uncovered a recent Washington Post article on how to prepare healthy after-school snacks, I was “schooled,” not only by its thorough information, but on how easy it is to provide energy-boosting foods for lunches and snacks—for kids and adults.

Though the article was packed with ideas, he following little changes are sure to give you big results:

Make popcorn, instead of serving chips – it’s quick, easy and fibrous.  You can choose with or without butter and if you prefer, buy organic brands. 

Cut up veggies and serve with humus or cut up apples with almond butter.  They're chilled and crispy, healthy and chemical free. Perfect and easy!

The article even listed “what’s in” and “what’s out” for healthy snacks, such as serving graham crackers instead of cookies, almonds instead of peanuts, and skim milk instead of flavored milk. 

Honestly, it just takes a little “schooling” and you can get everyone moving in the right direction.  

Whether it is hyperactivity or obesity, our kids need to see adults making and providing healthy choices for the entire family.

Be encouraged,

Do you REALLY want to change?

If you are like me, you REALLY want to change one or more areas of your life.  Well, I have a suggestion that can get you started today!

Begin to change your life by making any changes that you can identify that are voluntary and visible…

I regularly coach people who are trying to make big, sweeping changes in their health or weight, marriage relationships, personality weaknesses (such as procrastination), or their job situations but they are stuck!  They cannot get focused on where to start nor can they keep momentum once they get started.

My observation is that people who are desperate to change erroneously focus (if not obsess) on what is out of their control rather than on what they can control.  Chasing after that which is elusive or invisible most often leads to inaction. And the only way I have found to make and sustain change is through an action plan!

So what is the antidote to inaction—otherwise fondly labeled “procrastination” or “paralyzation”? 

Immediately make any and all—no matter how small--visible and voluntary changes that you can make.  Right now.  Today, not later, not tomorrow, but today. At this very moment make a list of those things that hurt you and others and stop doing them right now.  Turn immediately away from every little thing that keeps you stuck and run toward the actions (and people) that will help you change.  It's that simple.  

In other words, if you want to change your diet, or your marriage, or your job, then change what you can see and what you can do right now.

A little change will have a big result when it…

shuts the door on old habits,

tells the tempter to go away,

gives you a feeling of achievement rather than disappointment,

empowers you to give back to others,

allows you to receive forgiveness from those you’ve hurt,

reminds you of who you are and affirms your purpose in life!

If you need help making a little (or a big) change, contact me or visit my website, ChangeYourLifeDaily.com or call my office at 800.444.6189 for personalized life coaching packages that are designed to help you start over in 60 days, tackle one issue in 6 weeks, or receive coaching to become a more effective communicator.

Be encouraged,

Becky

Certified Life Coach and ACE Certified Fitness Instructor

Author and Speaker

Understanding Grief

Today, our nation grieves the loss of those who died on September 11th, 2001.  Through religious services, silence observed at athletic events, and ceremonies held in the cities most impacted by the terrorist attacks ten years ago, we remember.

It was the sacred and emotional ceremony that took place this morning at the beautiful 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero in New York City that caused me to choke back tears. Water streaming over the sides of the memorial pool, then gently rolling toward its center, only to slip into a deep and unseen place seemed a perfect way to reflect on each life that had been lost but not forgotten.

These national ceremonies remind us that grief and loss are part of life.

In the past few months, I've experienced the loss of a family member and a friend. What I have found is that everyone experiences grief differently. Yet knowing how to help those who are grieving begins with understanding those differences.

Studies show that men experience grief differently than women:  

“No matter what sex, we oscillate between positive and negative emotions, between waves of sadness about the loss and hope for the future,” he said in a telephone interview. “This can be frustrating for men, who often seek the ‘quick-fix’ approach.” Sherry Schachter, director of bereavement services at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx and a grief specialist for 25 years, said in a telephone interview: “While women grieve intuitively, open to expressing their feelings, men are ‘instrumental’ grievers. They’re not comfortable with talking about their feelings, and they prefer to do things to cope.” In a men’s group she has run for the last few years, she said, “I never ask, ‘How do you feel?’ Rather, I ask, ‘What did you do?’ ”  

How do children process grief?

The Child and Teen Program at Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado suggests helping kids process their grief through artwork:

   “…grief can be a complicated emotion for kids to deal with. Whether they're dealing with a lost loved one or a sick family member, putting their emotions on paper can help kids better express how they feel.  "I think it makes all the difference," says art therapist Joni Beckner.  Beckner works with kids from age 3 to 18. With markers, ink and paint, they put their feelings of loss and grief on canvas.  "For situations like this, with loss and trauma," she says, "often there are no words to really articulate the experience and what's felt."  A therapist can learn a lot from what a child creates, for instance scenes with their family. The art can also be used to gauge how a child is dealing with grief."  

You don’t have to be a therapist to help others process their grief.

But to most effective, you might just need to make a few little changes in the way you communicate or approach men, women, or children who are grieving.  You can always be a good listener, provide warm meals, ask the right questions, or offer to attend a grief group with someone who is grieving.

Today, we remember the lives of those we’ve lost and love.

Be encouraged,

Becky