Monday, March 4, 2013
Do you have a question about something in Braintree? Comment on this article or email joseph.markman@patch.com.
With nearly 400 Facebook members, the group Braintree Full-Day Kindergarten often hosts lively virtual discussions on topics ranging from space needs to after-school options, and even serves as a place for parents to connect on sharing rides and play dates. Recently, a question about bringing special foods into the classroom stirred up a healthy discussion (pun-intended) about what the policy should be in Braintree. The vast majority of those weighing in said that treats should be allowed, for events like birthday parties and holidays. But there was also some concern about food allergies and the message that celebration requires junk food. To provide clarification on what is and what is not allowed in schools, Braintree Patch contacted …
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
BASHY's mission is to support both school and community programs and projects which promote comprehensive school health and human services including: health education, tobacco, alcohol and other drug prevention, and more.
Members of the Braintree Alliance for Safe and Healthy Youth (BASHY) – students, educators and community partners – meet throughout the year at Braintree High School to discuss and put into action ways to make sure students are, well, safe and healthy. Areas of focus have included bullying and substance abuse, and most recently their efforts have centered on providing students information about eating well and dealing with stress. Below are some of those ideas, and attached are the fliers put together by the program, headed by physical education and health director Melonie Bennett and nursing service coordinator Paula Dowd. The fliers have been distributed along with posters throughout the high school. Stressed Out? Stress is your body's …
42.202443
-71.021136
Braintree High School
128 Town St, Braintree, MA
/articles/braintree-youth-alliance-offers-nutrition-and-stress-tips
1582512
/locations/6190780
Saturday, October 1, 2011
How to make healthier choices at all of your favorite restaurants
The year was 2001. I was a Culinary and Nutrition Student at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. At the time I was slumming it like every other college kid. You know: living in less-than-stellar neighborhoods (I actually heard gun shots one night), wearing oversized flannel pajama bottoms and a hoodie like only college kids can and subsisting on toast and peanut butter for dinner. So on the rare occasion that my then-boyfriend and I could actually afford to go out to eat, it was a BIG deal. Back then, I would starve myself all day long in hopes of conserving calories so I could eat to my heart’s desire at the restaurant. I would arrive famished (remove the bread basket from my table and I will hurt you) and would inevitably eat so …
Saturday, September 17, 2011
McDonalds vs. Burger King...whose grilled chicken sandwich is on top?
My five-year-old nephew Justin loves McDonalds, particularly if it has a PlayPlace. He’s smart too. He knows just the right look to get me to cave and let him play for “just another 5 minutes” in that bottomless swamp of balls crawling with germs. He also likes to hide way up in those tunnels where he knows Auntie Val cannot reach him when his five minutes are up. Aaaaah. Our last trip to McDonalds got me thinking. How many moms, dads and aunties like me get hungry while enduring a sweaty PlayPlace full of screaming children or the never ending drive thru? Is there anything on the menu that is somewhat healthy, tastes good and is easy enough to eat while chasing kids? If you’ve seen McDonalds recent commercial advertising its new and …
Saturday, September 10, 2011
How to get moving and motivated after Labor Day Weekend.
The morning after a holiday weekend is never fun. I’m tired, bloated and not exactly looking forward to crawling out of bed. Not that I ever wake up and pump my fist with anticipation of the week ahead, but this past Tuesday was the worst. And I’ve got no one to blame but myself. Well me and the abundance of food I splurged on. Surely, some of you out there can relate? What is it about a holiday weekend that leaves us so drained and positively un-motivated to eat well and exercise? Aside from the excess food, alcohol and lack of sleep that throws our blood sugar waaaaaay out of whack, our motivation seems to fall by the wayside too. Say hello to lethargy, cravings and the couch. So, what are some quick and easy ways to get back on track …
Saturday, September 3, 2011
How to pack a better bagged lunch.
Aaaah… it’s back to school time. For all of you moms out there, this means busy mornings fighting for the bathroom, attempting overly complicated math homework (whatever happened to basic addition and subtraction?) and packing lunches that your kids will actually eat. Though I may not be a mom, I’ve coached more of them than I can count. And the majority of moms that I’ve worked with recognize how significant an impact the right nutrition has made on not only their physical health, but their energy levels and ability to stay focused throughout the day. They realize that kid’s bodies work the same way theirs do. For example, skipping breakfast causes hunger pangs, low energy and cravings later in the day and a high carbohydrate lunch …
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Learn how you get hooked on the dieting roller coaster (and how to get off for good).
We’ve all been there. We’re minding our own business, feeling good about life when out of nowhere, we catch a glimpse of rippled thighs in the mirror, or an unflattering photo that a so-called friend tagged of us on Facebook. Thanks friend. You know what happens next. It starts with denial (my personal go-to, “It’s just bad lighting…right?”), then sheer panic (“Do I really look that bad?”) and finally a drastic diet (“I’ve got to do something!”). After all, desperate times call for desperate measures. So you swear off carbs, skip meals and exercise like a maniac to drop 10 pounds. Fast forward 12 weeks later. You’re sluggish, bloated and somehow even heavier than before you started dieting. How did this happen? It’s known as yo-yo dieting …
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Can this new yogurt hot spot keep me away from ice cream?
If you’ve read my articles in the past, then you probably have learned a thing or two about me. First, I love food. I could devote entire articles to describing a perfectly seared sea scallop or the melt-in-your-mouth texture of Beef Carpaccio. You may have also noticed that on the occasion when I go “off” eating healthy, I really go “off." After all, one or two “off” meals a week thrown in the mix keeps you from craving and can actually shake up your metabolism a bit. And like many of you, ice cream happens to be one of my most coveted splurges. So when Pinkberry arrived at the local Derby Street Shoppes in Hingham, I was curious. Could a tangy frozen yogurt replace my much-loved Cold Stone Creamery concoctions? After a quick calorie …
Saturday, August 13, 2011
When all hope feels lost, use these tips to take your body to the next level
Let’s face it; plateaus are a major pain. And because it’s a guarantee that you will encounter at least one of these road blocks while trying to lose weight, it’s important to learn how to tackle them ahead of time. With an arsenal of the right tools and a kick-butt mindset, you can and will bust through any plateau. Here’s how. Fuel your body “correctly." The majority of clients that have walked through my door ate “healthy” before they ever met me. They counted calories, relied on low fat snacks, added fruit and veggies when they could and saved the fried food for special occasions. So why couldn’t these same people move beyond their “set point” (what their body wants to weigh) and just reach their goals already? The problem was, …
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Why reaching your health goals is never black and white.
Last week, I shared qualities that my most successful clients have in common. And I promised to follow up this week with one more powerful way to help you reach your goals from the inside out. The good news is I happen to be an expert at this particular subject; mainly because I’ve screwed it up so badly in my own life. See, I’ve learned the hard way that when it comes to reaching your health goals, it’s never black and white. I’m a black and white thinker by nature. I'm either in or out, up or down, and honestly gray bores me. My all or nothing mindset has pushed me to become a straight A student throughout high school and college and a motivated, decisive leader while owning a nutrition consulting business thereafter. …
kim. mitchell
7:24 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Kids arent getting overweight from snacks at school,face it...If parents are feeding their children well balanced meals at home, then the occasional treat in school teaches everything in moderation. more ›