Exercise

Exercise can be as easy as playing catch with your daughter.  Mackenzie and I really like to hang out and play catch and get our arms warmed up.  It is important to take those moments and hang onto them.  Our kids grow so fast and before you know it there won't be anyone to play catch with except the dog.

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day top all of the people that represent our armed forces.  There are so many people that have made amazing sacrifices for the rest of us.  A special heartfelt thank you to all of the families that have lost loved ones.  Most of us don't understand what that is like, but we very much support what your loved ones represented.  We are very lucky to have the freedom of choice in this country.  Don't take things for granted as it can be easily taken away.

Everything in moderation!

Yes, we do have many problems with obesity in this country, especially with the younger generation.  What are we going to do about it?  We can't blame the food industry and the way the food is processed.  We can blame the parenting and lack of supervision some times!  We can blame junk food, but who buys this junk food?  We can't blame farmers who produce milk which contains the 9 minerals and vitamins that a body needs.  Oh!  The dairy farmer does get blamed for not taking care of their animals properly and not handling the milk properly.  If dairy farmers are being observed doing things wrong, I would like to have some real evidence instead of the pointed finger with no evidence.  All Americans have to do in order to see the obesity problem in our children, is to go to a school where they can see kids that are larger then their teachers and that have many more health issues.  We have more children with health issues then ever before.  This is where our tax dollars should be put to good use.  We need to educate now on just one more topic - nutrition.  No, maybe the answer is that parents should be spending quality time with their kids teaching them the basics about life.

Omega-3s

Three different types of omega-3 fatty acids, and they aren't all created equal.  Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), occurs in plant foods like soybeans, canola oil and pumpkin seeds.  The second and third types, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docasahexaenoic acid (DHA), found mostly in seafood, are most closely associated with boosting heart health.  Since your body has to first convert ALA into EPA and DHA for it to be effective, and only a small amount actually converted, it's important to get the bulk of your omega-3's from fish sources. 


References:April 1, 2011, Family Circle

Dairy Destination is a great hit!

Dairy Destination Day is a great success!  Yes, they are still writing about it. 

Once at Ocooch Dairy, students toured the freestall barns, milking parlor, calf raising facility and bunkers. The day also included lunch on the farm, activities such as gunny sack races and kickball on the lawn, and presentations by Laurie Kyle, a dairy producer and nutrition educator, and Laura Daniels, a dairy producer and dairy nutritionist.

Any chance you get to let people know what is going on in the dairy industry is a good day.  

Healthy tip about local honey

True or False?
Eating honey from your hometown will help fend off seasonal allergies?

False!  Consuming honey containing local pollens will not increase your tolerance for the allergens, say experts at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.  In fact, if you're especially sensitive, eating raw honey could cause a severe reaction.

Get the truth about more health myths at Spryliving.com/healthymyths


References:Spry, May, 2011, Spryliving.com

Recycling is important

We need to remember to take care of our environment by picking up garbage on the side of the road.  Spring time is a great time to get together with kids and walk the side of the road and pick up the cans and other items that people throw out of their windows.  I miss those days when my kids were little and we would walk together and clean up the countryside.  It was always fun taking the cans in and getting some cash for the aluminum cans.  My kids and I would always go out for ice cream with the money we got from the cans.  Oh...for those days of long ago. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of those special women who take the most important job in the world to heart!  Being a mother is an amazing experience each and every day!  I enjoyed a little R&R today and also worked outside in the yard.  Thank goodness for sun and warmth today.  It made Mother's Day that much better.  Enjoyed a fun Mexican restaurant in Elkhorn with my family.  I hate too much!  I will work it off tomorrow.

"Destination Dairy" Day in Hillsboro - success!

Thank you for inviting me to speak at "Destination Dairy" day in Hillsboro.  The 4th, 5th and 6th graders and their teachers were great listeners and very engaged.  It is so important to enjoy the little things that the great outdoors provides.  You don't just have to live on a dairy to enjoy the little things.  I was very excited to see all of the kids having fun running around the farm and playing kickball.  We had a great lunch in the shed and enjoyed each others company for the afternoon.  I really love talking dairy and nutrition and hope you went home with one tidbit of information that you maybe didn't know before.  I sometimes sound like I am preaching about good health, exercise, having good relationships with family and friends, good amount of sleep, but happy, healthy people speak for themselves.  Look around you and see which people have the smiles and which don't.  The passionate, caring people are those that care enough to do what is right for their body and mind. 

Everyone at Hillsboro School District - enjoy the rest of your school year and have a great summer!

Thanks Jacqui for asking me to come to Hillsboro for a great day!

Mrs. Kyle

Chocolate milk versus energy drinks

The energy drinks that are now on the market are the fastest growing drinks on the market.  The risk to your children is based on scientific information and testing. 

Caffeine is the main ingredient in most energy drinks, and consumption of high doses of caffeine has been associated with a variety of serious adverse effects.  The potential problems from taking too much caffeine or other ingredients that act as stimulants include heart palpitations, seizures, strokes, behavioral disorders, and even sudden death.

"Energy drinks have no therapeutic benefit, and many ingredients are understudied and not regulated," concluded a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics by researchers from the University of Miami (Florida).

References:WEA Partners in Health, May, 2011

How much spinach would we need to eat if chocolate milk wasn't on the menu?

Interesting tidbit - Did you know you would need to eat 10 cups of spinach to get the same amount of calcium in 1 cup of fat-free chocolate milk!


OK!  You tell me how many kids would be able to consume 10 cups of spinach in a year, let alone let it happen in one day!


Moms - yes, you are doing the right thing by buying for your home and encouraging your kids to drink chocolate milk at school.  There is no other drink that packs the punch of the important 9 nutrients.  Kids today are lacking vitamin D, calcium and potassium.

The ABC's of Omega - 3s

There are three main dietary omega-3 fatty acids, and they aren't all created equal.  Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), occurs in plant foods like soybeans, canola oil and pumpkin seeds.  The second and third types, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found mostly in seafood, are most closely associated with boosting heart health.  Since your body has to first convert ALA into EPA and DHA for it to be effective, and only a small amount actually gets converted, it's important to get the bulk of your omega-3s from fish sources.
If you don't love fish you can always add flaxseeds, walnuts and leafy greens into your diet.  It is important to talk to your doctor about possibly adding a fish oil supplement.


References: April 1, 2011, familycircle.com, page 106