My friend Sara has officially launched her fabulous website that is designed to be a social site for autistic children. Her concept was brilliant and I could not resist being a full supporter for her vision. Below is an email she shared with her friends and family after her launch. Please take the time to read it and pass it on. And if you have a family member or a friend with autism or some other learning difference, please let them know about SquagpadTM.

Content is everything. Both parents and kids wanted more content and be able to access it easier from our photo and video libraries. We’ve redesigned the way photos and videos are accessible from the SquagpadTM. Now users can find things easier and get more feedback with each click. Their favorite photos go on their wall, as well as into their scrapbook, and anything a parent comments on is separated and more easily available for the child to see when they arrive in their pad.

Everyone’s an author waiting to get out. We are so excited to find that so many kids love to journal! We’ve tweaked it so that kids can get writing sooner making it easier to express themselves. Fonts are bigger and bolder, showcasing your child’s inner voice consistently throughout the SquagpadTM.

Self-advocacy is great at every age.  Many parents and kids have told us they’d love a visual way to open the conversation up about different abilities, obstacles and achievements. We are now proud to offer SquagTM Nation content (as an option) for our users to learn about other kids with different abilities who are smashing every stereotype through their art, writing, athletic prowess and filmmaking.

Every kid deserves to find their thing. And for lots of our users, it’s photography! Now we are able to feature original photographic work of our SquaggersTM in the SquagpadsTM for all our users to see through our weekly SquagTM Nation Photo Contest.  Soon, we will be featuring original artwork and homemade short films too!

Labels Are Personal. Whatever label your child has or doesn’t have, uses or doesn’t use, they are welcome here, and so are their siblings. We were thrilled to hear from many parents of kids with other exceptionalities and experiences enjoying the SquagpadTM.

Kids are so ready to make friends. They are ready to find other kids with common interests and shared experiences! The peer-to-peer version of the SquagpadTM will be launching soon. We are very excited about the partnerships we’ve made with fantastic non-profit organizations and health technology platforms to ensure that everyone is absolutely safe and secure for the big day.

So what’s the bottom line?

We would like to offer you our new SquagpadTM for 14 days – absolutely free.

(Remember, parents can sign up all of their kids through this one account)

The rest of the pricing details and exciting news about our partnerships can be found on squag.com

So Get Started Now!

PS I loved this video they had on their site!

In our family, we all have type O blood and we all tend to do so much better having meat a part of our diets. However, consciously and environmentally, I like to have at least one meatless day a week and here is why.

Better for your health

• People who refrain from eating meat one day a week tend to have less cancer,  reduced heart disease and live longer

• Animal meat is difficult for most people to digest therefore taking it out of your diet for one day a week  will improve digestion

• People tend to eat more fiber rich foods when they reduce meat, therefore, elimination ( i.e.: pooping) occurs more frequently – a good thing.

Better for the planet

• I recently read that it is estimated that the meat industry generates close to 1/5 th of the man made greenhouse gas emissions

• Animals require a great deal of water – up to 2500 gallons per pound of beef ( that is almost 1000 times more than soy)

• Factory farms are major contributors to land erosion and water pollution

Better for the animals

• Less demand therefore less animal farms needed.

When you do eat meat, it is very important to choose great quality – no added hormones  or antibiotics, sound farming styles and well treated animals. There are hundreds are animal farmers who have great integrity and a conscious mind with raising their herds.  Below are a few things that organic meat farmers take pride in.

• They give their animals 100% organic feed

• No hormones or antibiotics are given and if a sick animal, it is given appropriate medicine and then added to the label

• The animals are given plenty of outside time to graze on pastures

A side note: Animals that are grass fed and not eating grains usually have a higher level of essential fatty acids ( better for you).

Tonight we will have a stir fry with heaps of veggies  – bok choy ( see video below), pepper, carrots, green onions – and brown rice. I may throw in some tofu as well.

Do you have a favorite meatless Monday recipe?

Be well,

PS Don’t forget… The HBD curriculum is now on sale through Homeschool Co-op. It is 70% off which means each unit of more than 4 weeks with of activities and lessons plans is less than $28. Smashing great deal!

My husband came home the other day very proud… he purchased organic olive oil. I decided not to burst his happiness but it gave me an idea for a blog post.

Yes, the olive oil was organic but  just because it says organic doesn’t mean it’s the best. Below ere are a few healthy olive oil shopping tips.

Purchase olive oil in a dark glass bottle

why? All oil is very susceptible to oxidation and when ingested can create free radicals thus doing some damage in the body. If the oil is in a dark glass the chances are much slimmer that oxidation will occur.

Make sure it is “extra virgin” olive oil

why? Extra virgin goes through less processing therefore the flavor is much more vibrant ( ie: tastes better).

A few marketing misleads…

Product of Italy or Greece

why? It may have only been packaged in Italy or Greece. Check to see where the olives were grown.

Organic olive oil

why? Double check the label. If it says, USDA organic, it means that at least 95% of the olives used were grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides…. this is a better choice.

Do you have any suggestions?

Be well,

Recent post of interest

Ideal cardiovascular health. 5 heart myths uncovered

Another superfood for your pantry: Coconut oil

Fats

HBD series on Amazon is on sale. On the right, click on the links!

I am very happy to announce that we have teamed up with the Homeschooling Co op to offer the HBDs Go to School elementary curriculum for an unbelievable price (89% off!). The offering is good until the end of the month. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me ( drheather@drheathernd.com).

If you do now much about the HBDs Go to School curriculum, watch the video below

An important side note: The teacher’s notes, activities, games, audio and worksheets comfortably stretch each curriculum package out over at least 4 weeks. Each of the four 50-minute lesson plans gets you started with your week and then pick as many of the exploration games and activities provided to keep the kids engaged until the next lesson plan. It is likely that you will might not be able to fit all of the activities into your schedule but you have the flexibility to choose.

Therefore, each curriculum package is good for an adventurous, entertaining and engaging month!

If you do not know much about HBD, read these posts:

Human Body Detectives. I love what I am doing and creating.

Why Human Body Detectives?

If you you are curious about Home school Co – op, journey over to their site ( it is well worth the visit and to sign up!).

Be well,

PS Here is the link to the  Introductory Video on YouTube about the curriculum. It gives a glimpse into the teacher/parent support materials, labs and other activities the complete curriculum provides.

Thank you Kickstarter!

There are 3 days left. It has been a fabulous journey and I am humbled with all of the enthusiasm and support. Kickstarer has been a fabulous place for Human Body Detectives – the amazing creative people who run Kickstarter to all the fabulous believers in entrepreneurs. I truly thank everyone who pledged, shared links and who have been cheerleaders for Human Body Detectives. I feel grateful to have all the support in helping Human Body Detectives empower kids by teaching them how their bodies work, what foods best fuel them and and enabling them to make healthier lifestyle decisions.

If you still have not checked out HBD on Kickstarter, please do. There is still time to pledge – every dollar helps and the rewards are fabulous! Here is the video I did…

Have a great weekend,

Related blog posts:

Human Body Detectives. I love what I am doing and creating.

Why Human Body Detectives?

A side note: Are you a homeschooling family? HBD curriculum is now available on Home school Co op for a very very amazing price!

Sinusitis… Pressure on the face

Sinusitis is usually a chronic condition with the symptoms  varying from tolerable to intolerable. Children will complain about headaches ( sometimes unilateral), a feeling of pressure around the eyes and cheeks, and a mild fever. Parents may notice their child has bad breath.

How to prevent: The best way to prevent sinusitis is to evaluate the diet. Gluten and dairy are the usual culprits by creating inflammation in the body (ie: sinus cavities). Remove all gluten and dairy for at least 2 weeks then  re-introduce one for a whole day. Observe for 72 hours to see if there are any symptoms. Repeat with the other food.

In the moment: Hot and cold compresses to the affected area will increase the blood circulation and may be quite powerful in soothing and relieving any pain.

Ear infections… Ouch

Ear infections are very painful especially if not caught early. The classic sign is when kids begin pulling their ears, are a little more fussy and they may have a fever.  Ear infections have a tendency to go away on their own but finding comforting ways to relive the pain is very important.

How to prevent: If your child has tendencies for ear infections, have them do ear exercises while in the car or watching television. They can gently pull their ear upwards, down and out. This may help release any pressure, wax or liquid in the ear canal that may lead to an infection.

In the moment: Hot and cold compresses to behind the ear, like with sinusitis, will increase circulation and bring some relief to the pain. Ear exercises may help as well.

Cold… It’s all in the nose

A cold will often begin 1 to 5 days after being exposed to a virus or bacteria. Symptoms will mainly stay in the nose giving runny, stuffy nose, and sneezing symptoms. Some colds will bring on a fever.

Flu.. you are sick all over

Flus will begin abruptly with hardly any notice. Generally, a high fever will be the first sign following a flushed face, body aches and lack of energy. After a few days, symptoms may travel down the respiratory system creating sore throats, coughs and bronchitis.

A side note: It is best to consult your primary care physician if you suspect any of these illnesses, especially, if your child is under the age of 2.

The key to avoiding school or work absences is to be proactive and preventative. Below a few simple tips to help you and your family be healthy this spring and summer!

Be diligent with hygiene. Make sure everyone is washing their hands with warm water and soap and covering their sneezes.

 Eat whole colorful foods. These foods are packed with vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that will boost immune systems and keep your family healthy.

Drink water or herbal tea. Keeping hydrated is important as it keeps blood circulation moving optimally which will fuel your cells with nutrients, oxygen and white blood cells.

Sleep. Get a good night sleep. Sleeping is a time for the body to rest and do a little maintenance and repair.

Be well,

Human Body Detectives is on KICKSTARTER! There are only 7 days left ( YIKES) and we are 85% funded so PLEASE PLEDGE today and remember, … For $100 you will spend 45 minutes me ( phone or person) plus all the HBD ebooks and apps! ( this values for over $200 – sweet deal!)

( If you are unfamiliar with Kickstarter, it is a place where entrepreneurs can pitch – video and content – their creative ideas and be funded for a specific amount.)

My kids have been spending much more time in the kitchen cooking up some healthy (okay mostly healthy) dishes. I can’t tell you how much I adore this! Although, as I was watching my youngest scrambling some eggs, I realized that passing on a few simple tips that will help avoid any long-term bad, energy deficient habits.

1. Use the correct burner size: Both my kids will use the larger burner with a small pot. This creates a lot of unnecessary heat loss. Once I pointed this out to them, they completely understood what I was saying.
2. Use the top rack of the oven: Sometimes the kids will just throw their foods onto whichever rack they feel, however, keeping the food closer to the heat source can help reduce cooking time.
3. Use the oven light: We all fall a little guilty of this especially when baking. It is more energy efficient to take your peeks by using the over light versus opening and shutting the over door.

Do you have any others to share? 

Be well,

Human Body Detectives is on KICKSTARTER! And I just added a new reward… For $100 you will spend 45 minutes me ( phone or person) plus all the HBD ebooks and apps! ( this values for over $200 – sweet deal!)

( If you are unfamiliar with Kickstarter, it is a place where entrepreneurs can pitch – video and content – their creative ideas and be funded for a specific amount.)

Here are Pearl and Zoe making some guacamole…

When my kids were little one of their favorite snacks was nori. To be honest, I am not sure I would have ever picked it out for them, but living in Hawaii with many Japanese, they were exposed to it all the time… so we gave it a try. At the time I embraced the fact they were eating more greens and now, I feel quite lucky that they ate them happily as a snack because seaweeds are packed with vitamins and minerals and are among the healthiest foods around. We are all aware that eating more whole vegetables in your diet wards off many diseases and not surprisingly, our ocean veggies give us an extra boost of nutrition.  Here are a few:

• Most seaweeds contain 2 important minerals – iodine and vanadium. We know a lot about iodine but we are now discovering the importance in vanadium. Vanadium aids in carbohydrate and sugar metabolism. There is still much research being done, but it all looks promising that a daily dose of ocean greens is a good thing.

• Ocean veggies are anti – inflammatory due to their fucoidan content.

• Ocean veggies have a good source of iron and vitamin c. Having this team combination is an added bonus as the vitamin c increases the bio-availablity of iron which in turn allows for a better absorption of iron.

• Ocean veggies are packed with vitamin k, folate, and magnesium.

Best ways to get these nutrient rich foods into our diet:

NORI

Nori are paper thin ( like a sheet of paper) and  has a subtle earthy taste.

why? Nori is protein rich and just one sheet of nori has a heavy dose of fiber. Nori also boosts a good dose of omega -3s ( more than half an avocado),  vitamin c and iron.

how? Nori is used in rolling a sushi wrap but many children will eat the nori on its’ own. It can also be crumpled and used as a topping to brown rice.

KOMBU

Kombu has a full-bodied and savory taste.

why? Iodine is the main mineral found in kombu. Iodine is essential food to the production of thyroid hormones which control metabolism in the body.

how? The next time you are cooking beans, throw in kombu leaf. The leaf, due to its’ glutamic acid content,  will make the beans more easily digestible.

What is your favorite OCEAN VEGGIE?

Be well,

Human Body Detectives is on KICKSTARTER! And this past weekend ( and still is), HBD was on the kickstarter main page… YAY!

Now we need HBD campaign to be an employee pick – help make this happen by spreading and sharing the HBD Kickstarter page and making a pledge – even a dollar will help. And every pledge gives an award so it is a win- win for everyone!

( If you are unfamiliar with Kickstarter, it is a place where entrepreneurs can pitch – video and content – their creative ideas and be funded for a specific amount.)

We had another question from a curious student who was using the HBDs Go To School curriculum in his classroom. Pearl decided to answer it….

Schools are planning their curriculum for next year so if you are interested in having your school use Human Body Detectives to educate the students about how the body works and what foods best fuel, please have them contact me!

Be well,

Human Body Detectives has launched a campaign on Kickstarter! Please help spread the news… and pledge if you can – lots of amazing rewards!

Essential oils are another one of nature’s true gifts to us.  I was in my teens when I ventured into a health food store, made my way to the oil section and opened my senses to all the amazing scents. At the time, it was all about how they smelled and had nothing to do with what these essential oils could actually do for me but I definitely know better now.

I played with essential oils in my twenties ( especially tea tree oil when I was traveling in Africa and South America) but it wasn’t until I had my daughter that I became completely dependent on them. As with most toddlers, naps and bedtimes are not so pleasant for either child or parent. I quickly came up with a strategy that involved an afternoon at the local essential oil store. The owner helped me create a combination of oils for both the bath and to spray all over her bedding. I only used these oils during nap and bedtime. It was brilliantly successful.

A little side note: she also suggested I make one for myself… she caught onto my panicky stressed out first time mom energy!

Historically, essential oils have been used for centuries mostly for healing the sick, but have now evolved with usage in massage therapy, emotional health, nutritional supplements and in household cleaners.

Below are a few of my favorite oils:

Clove bud oil

• Try it when your toddler is teething or when you have a toothache.

• How it works: clove oil has the chemical, euganol, which is both an analgesic and antibacterial.

• Word of caution: Rub sparingly into the gums as swallowing may cause digestive upset.

Eucalyptus oil

• Try it when someone has a cough or seems congested.

• How it works: eucalyptus oil acts as an expectorant meaning that it will help clear mucus from the lungs, nose or sinuses.

• How to use it: I suggest adding a few drops in a hot shower or bath.

• Word of caution: if you are pregnant, ask you doctor if he says it is okay that you use it.

Peppermint oil

• Try it when you feel a headache coming on.

• How it works: peppermint oil has the chemical, menthol, which will dull the pain by blocking pain receptors.

• Word of caution: best to dilute the oil in a carrier oil ( apricot kernel is good) as the peppermint oil may irritate the skin.
  

Sweet orange oil:

• Try it when your have a tummy ache.

• How it works: sweet orange oil is useful for many things but I often suggest it to girls and women who have tummy aches due to their menses. It is both calming and anti inflammatory.

• Word of caution: it is nice to add this to a carrier oil, like apricot kernel oil, and massage it directly onto your belly.

Lavender oil

• Try it when anyone in your house is feeling stressed.

• How it works: lavender oil calms the nervous system.

• Word of caution: none!

Tea tree oil

• Try it when your tween or teen has a little breakout.

• How it works: tree tree oil is antimicrobial and research has shown it has helped with blemishes.

• How to use: clean the skin and dot very sparingly to blemish.

Does anyone else have any to add?

Be well,

Human Body Detectives has launched a campaign on Kickstarter!

Please spread the news – facebook and twitter ( #HBD)  and pledge!