Who among us has not over-indulged in the holiday goodies?  Heck, they are everywhere we look, just calling out to us!  From grocery stores, to desk tops to platters given by friends, you just cannot escape all the calories.  Sweet potatoes, cookies, pies and even grandma’s green bean casserole (healthy… nope), they are all torture to pass up during the holidays.

Tempting little holiday goodies and yummy holiday meals can add up to serious problems for your waste-line.  It takes consuming 3500 extra calories to add up to a weight gain of 1 pound.  The average person gains 2 pounds from Thanksgiving thru New Year’s.  Most people do not lose the weight that they put on during the holidays.  This weight gain will translate into 20 pounds over a 10 year period.  This additional poundage can cause serious long term health problems.

Here are some tips to help keep those calories away when you are going to a party:

Position yourself away from the buffet table so that you are not tempted to nibble while you mingle.

Have a healthy snack before you arrive at the party.

Minimize the amount of alcohol that you consume.  Not only does it have useless calories, it will dehydrate you and you will drink even more.

Use a small plate or a cocktail napkin to hold your food. 

Don’t forget the fruits and vegetables.  They are filling and have the least amount of calories.

With a little planning, you too can avoid gaining those unwanted calories!

You should also consider the safety of your pet when you have a Christmas tree.  Don’t let your pets drink the water out of your tree stand, especially if you have added a preservative to the water.  Stagnant water is also not healthy to drink and can cause serious stomach problems.  Cats love to climb Christmas tress and dogs can easily knock a tree over with their powerful wagging tail.  Be sure to anchor your tree securely.  Keep ribbons, bows, tinsel and garland out of your pets reach.    Cats seem to especially love to eat these items.  Ingesting them can lead to surgery or death.  Be sure to clean up your dropped pine needles often as they can be toxic if eaten by your pets.

Keep your pet safe from your holiday lights by investing in a pet-proof extension cord or spray your cords with a product like Bitter Apple.  Pets who chew through cords risk electric shock or electrocution.  Never leave a burning candle out where your pet is.  It could be knocked over easily and a resulting fire could occur.  Scented candles are a wonderful addition to any home, but the fumes are deadly for birds.

Don’t forget to make the holidays special for your pet.  Buy them a special toy or yummy treat.  They will thank you for it in more ways than you can imagine.

Real Christmas trees add a wonderful scent of pine and spirit to the holiday season. It is important to keep tree safety in mind when selecting a Christmas tree.  You should look for a tree that is green with no browning on the needles.  If you choose a spruce or pine tree, the needles should bend and not be easy to pull off the branches.  If you choose a fir tree, check to see that the needles snap when you bend them.  They should be somewhat like a fresh carrot.

Look for a trunk with sticky sap.  This is a clue that the tree is fresher than those without oozing sap.  You will want to cut off about 2 inches of the stump and place the tree in a tree stand with water immediately.  Don’t forget to add water daily.  Trees will drink more water when first purchased than they will as the season rolls on.

Make sure to place your tree away from all heating sources, such as a fireplace or a radiator.  Be sure to only use lights that are designed for indoor use and only those that display the UL label.  Using outdoor lights inside of the home will increase your risk of having a fire.  You should not connect more than three stands of lights together.  This is also a fire hazard.  Never run any cords under a rug.  Never place lighted candles on a Christmas tree, real or artificial.

Each year there are more than 400 residential fires nationwide involving Christmas trees.  These fires can have tragic results.

With a little planning, you too can have a safe Christmas tree and a wonderful holiday season.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and officially starts the Christmas holiday shopping season in the United States.  Black Friday can fall on any date from November 23rd through November 29th,since Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November.

Most retailers will start decorating their stores weeks before Black Friday in an effort to entice early shoppers into their stores.  Most retailers will advertise their super low prices for Black Friday on Thanksgiving Day.  Stores typically will open very early on the Friday following Thanksgiving.  It is not uncommon for lines to begin forming the night before.  Patrons will put up with the most commonly cold weather to be the first to receive the super bargains promised to them for their efforts.  Once inside the stores, customers will fight and grab for the treasured low priced items they are seeking. Electronics and popular toys are often the most sought after items and may be sharply discounted.  Unfortunately, many stores nationwide will advertise these items, but only carry a few for their customers to purchase.

The term Black Friday has only been traced back to the 1970’s.  In current day, the term “Black Friday” is considered to refer to the time in which retailers are turning a profit (“in the black”).  It was previously regarded “Black Friday” because of the heavy traffic on that particular day.  Target stores nationwide have decided to call the Friday after Thanksgiving, “Green Friday”, because of all of the “green” they will be making.

Most media outlets refer to Black Friday as the busiest shopping day of the year.  Some years, this is a true statement.  At times though, the Saturday before Christmas has proven to be the busiest shopping day of the year.

So if you feel brave; dress warm, grab your coffee or hot chocolate and hit the streets to find some great bargains!

Tryptophan….Are You Feeling Tired Yet?

Have you ever eaten a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and all the fixings? Are you tired afterwards? Tiredness can be related to preparing for the holiday festivities, eating a big meal or most commonly believed, Tryptophan.

Although high levels of Tryptophan are naturally found in Turkey, it is comparable to other meats as well. One widely-held urban myth is that a heavy consumption of turkey will result in drowsiness. Tryptophan can also be found in other foods that we eat daily such as; cheddar cheese, rice, potatoes, chicken, beef, milk, chocolate, and yogurt to name a few.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. The human body cannot manufacture essential amino acids. Our bodies can only receive Tryptophan from food. Tryptophan helps our body produce Niacin. Niacin in turn helps our body produce Serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that acts as a calming agent in our brain. Serotonin helps us to sleep better, feel calm and at peace. One can deduce that by eating turkey, you would sleep easier and feel calmer because of the Serotonin produced in the brain. That may or may not be altogether true.

Your Thanksgiving sedation may have more to do with what is consumed along with the turkey, and in particular carbohydrates, rather than the turkey itself. Carbohydrates trigger insulin and insulin triggers amino acids, but not Tryptophan, into our bloodstream. These amino acids also produce the feast-induced drowsiness that we all have experienced so many times before.

So while you are enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner this year, prepare for, and enjoy a nice long nap afterwards!

Eastern Madera County SPCA…Who are they, what do they do, and how can you help?  Part II

Owners should visit the shelter often to check for their lost pet.  By the time pets reach the shelter, many pets will not have their tags on and resulting owner identification will be difficult.  Owners of lost pets should distribute many flyers throughout the community at large.  If you are considering offering a “reward”, information should show prominently on the flyer.  Flyers can be placed in eating establishments, beauty salons, gas stations, laundromats or anywhere people might have a moment to read your flyer.  Veterinarians within a 30 mile radius of where your pet was lost should also be notified.

Pets are always available for adoption.  New owners are encouraged to micro-chip their pet in case of accidental loss.  Each week the Madera County SPCA offers a “Pet of the Week”.  A dog or cat will be showcased in hopes of finding a “forever home”.  Additionally their website will show other animals available for adoption.  Potential pet owners should visit often as many new pets are being added to the website. 

The Madera County SPCA does not receive any outside funding.  Volunteers are always in need for membership drives, mailing newsletters, foster homes for pets, and
classroom education, to name a few.  Volunteers are welcome to attend the monthly meeting held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month (except December) at the Cat’s Meow, 40315 Junction Drive, Suite C, in Oakhurst at 7:00 p.m..

For a small donation, you can become a member of the Eastern Madera County SPCA.  Donation prices range from $5 to $1000.  If you are interested in the welfare of animals in the mountain area or want information on the adoption of either a cat or a dog, visit (http://www.emcspca.org/index.html) or call (559) 675-7891.

Autism Spectrum Disorders can only be diagnosed by a clinical psychologist or physician that specializes in diagnosing Autism.  Autism is complex and often difficult to understand for families and professionals alike.  Autism is described as a brain development disorder.  It is characterized by social and communication impairments and repetitive and restricted behavior.  Most children exhibit these behaviors before the age of three.

Parents in Madera County are encouraged to join the Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT).  They are a non-profit organization providing advocacy, support and education for the Central California community at large.  Family support for Autism can be obtained from the many people who provide their time and dedication to help insure understanding and treatment for this disorder.

FEAT will be able to provide you with various resources such as; internet resource services, networking, conferences, social events and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training.  There are strong partnerships between government organizations, schools, corporations, physicians and educators.  FEAT may be able to arrange help for your child with Autism with Early Intervention Therapy, speech programs and occupational therapy.  FEAT also provides assistance with IEP, educational materials, Parent Resource Groups and training.

FEAT holds parent meetings on the fourth Tuesday of every month at Children’s Hospital Central California, 9300 Valley Children’s Place, Madera, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  They are free and open to the public.  Each meeting has a featured guest speaker who is an expert in the field or will provide information on services or research based information. 

If you would like to join their database or find out more information, please visit http://www.feat-fmc.org/aboutFEAT-FMC.htm or call 559-459-5958.

Now is the time of year when everyone is thinking about gifts and shopping.
It is not only the season of giving; it is also the season of spending.
One of the best gifts you can give your kids is to teach them how to manage money so when it is time to buy gifts they are prepared.

Saving
Good saving habits start early. Require your kids to save their money—be it an allowance, birthday money, Christmas money, or money they get from babysitting and odd jobs.

You could offer to match their savings after they reach a certain amount. This will encourage them to put money aside.

Spending
Teach comparison shopping. Go through the ads with them and compare what different stores are charging. Look at quantity and quality. The lowest price isn’t always the best. Ask them to think of a reason why you might want to pay more for certain items.

Borrowing
If you give your kids an allowance, don’t give them advances. If they spend all of their allowance quickly, help them set up a budget for next time. Talk to them about how much borrowing really costs and that when adults borrow money, they often have to pay interest.

Check out these websites for more thoughts on teaching kids about money:

MoneyInstructor.com 

Kidsmoney.org 

As the holiday season is approaching, so many people begin to collect food for those in need. At the Madera County Food Bank, you will find a wonderful place in need of your donations. “It is the purpose of the Madera County Food Bank to provide and distribute supplementary/emergency food to our community’s low-income individual, families, and Senior Citizens, in a manner that promotes health, self-sufficiency and preserves recipients’ dignity.” http://www.maderafoodbank.org/ This facility offers so much for our community, when and where, it is needed most.

The “Compassion in Action” clients are referred to the food bank by hospitals, service providers, and ministers, etc… This program offers on-going nutritional support to families who suffer from a long term crisis such as Cancer and AIDS. Their need for food is met at the Madera County Food Pantry when they cannot be met elsewhere. Compassion in Action families will receive approximately 70 pounds of food two times per month. The items donated to the family are individualized to better aid in the recovery of the client.

Another great program is SNAPP (Senior Nutrition and Produce Program). This is a service providing bags of food for low income seniors. Not only do they provide a service, but also a social outlet for our seniors. Seniors 55 and over will be given fresh fruit and vegetables each week. Seniors who are 60 and over can receive additional food once a month. They offer many sites for seniors to come together and package food for those in need. For more information, call (559) 674-1482.

As we “fall back” and the afternoons turn dark, it is important for parents to teach their kids safety tips to keep them safe.

Here are a few to keep in mind:

1. Teach them your phone number and address at a young age.

2. Teach them not to talk to strangers, especially when you are not around.

3. Teach your kids to walk home in groups of 2 or more.

4. Teach them not to go to a car just because a stranger calls to you.

5. Teach them to move away from an unfamiliar stranger or car that gets too close.

6. Teach them to scream “help” or “you are not my mommy or daddy” if a stranger tries to drag them away. And teach them to SCREAM.

7. Practice these drills regularly.

8. Teach them not to be enticed by promises of toys or candy.

9. Teach them not to be scared about something bad happening to mommy or daddy.

10. Teach them to stay in the last place they saw you, and not wander around.

11. Teach them to ask a policeman for help.

12. Enlist the help of your neighbors to watch the kids at play outdoors.

13. Teach them what to do if you should get separated in public.

14. If you have a medical condition in the family, teach your kids what to do about it, and what to do in an emergency.

The Sherriff’s department has many helpful tips for parents on their website