Simple, healthy, and affordable ways to weather the rising price of food

by Karen Collins, R.D., American Institute of Cancer Research

Grocery prices are projected to increase again in 2008 – that’s following 2007’s highest annual increase in 17 years. But surviving these tough economic times doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good nutrition. Some simple strategies can help you cut food costs and eat more healthfully, too.

Kid of the Month

Nicholas is Kid of the Month

Kids make a difference in the war on hunger

Christian group uses young volunteers to distribute food worldwide

If you sometimes get the feeling kids today only care about themselves, then maybe you should take a road trip to Brighton, Iowa, where a few nights each month dozens of children, heck, even teenagers, roll up their sleeves, don hair nets and go to work making meals for for hungry children thousands of miles away.

"It's changing them on the inside," says Don Fields. "Every one of these kids will want to come back and do this again."

Don Fields launched this operation two years ago, after a mission trip with his wife to Honduras. It's part of a national Christian program called Kids Against Hunger.

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10 Tips for Improving Your Family's Eating Habits

With today’s busy lifestyles, families don’t always eat as healthfully as we would like. But by practicing healthy eating habits at home, you can make it easier for your family to eat right. Try these 10 tips designed to encourage healthy eating habits:

1. Be a good food role model. Telling children to eat nutritious foods is one thing — showing them is better. If you offer nutritious foods regularly — and if they see you eating them — your children likely will learn to like them.

2. Serve a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. In addition to bananas and apples, try something new like kiwi or papaya. Add vegetables to stir fries or casseroles.

3. Schedule a snack time and stick to it. Space snacks at least two to three hours before a meal.

4. Involve kids in meal planning and preparation. Children often will eat foods they help plan and prepare.

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Science for Kids

Putting DNA to Work

Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences

The mission of the Marian Koshland Science Museum is to engage the general public in current scientific issues that impact their lives. The museum’s state-of-the-art exhibits, public programs, and educational programs provide information that stimulates discussion and provides insight into how science supports decision-making.

Physics

National Science Foundation

Offers a bird's-eye view of the great challenges in physics today. Read about self organization, network theory, superconductivity, superfluidity, supersolids, quantum mechanics, quantum computing, quantum cryptography, nonlinear equations, chaos theory, the human genome, human consciousness, fundamental forces, grand unified theories, Higgs field, string theory, loop quantum gravity, supernovae, cosmic microwave background, neutrinos, dark energy, & cosmic rays.

Is a "relativity gyroscope" experiment designed to test two unverified predictions of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity (1916): that the presence of a mass in space, such as the Earth, would warp local spacetime, creating a dip or curve in spacetime, & that the rotation of a mass in space would twist or drag the local spacetime frame around it. An educator's guide & space science activities are included.

Features scientists & machines that explore the universe's tiniest particles. Follow a proton through the accelerator. Meet scientists at CERN. Hear why they search for the secrets of matter. Learn about the antimatter, the Big Bang, & other "big ideas" behind experiments at CERN.

Origins

Lets us look over the shoulders of scientists & glimpse the often-unseen moments of investigation. Take "virtual field trips" to eight observatories -- Arecibo, where astrobiologists search for signs of life beyond the solar system; Las Cuevas, a research station in Central America's largest remaining rainforest; & others. See interviews, photos, & broadcasts that explore the origins of matter, the universe, & life itself. (NSF)

Hubble, a View to the Edge of Space

Looks at the people, tools, ideas, & places of the Hubble Space Telescope. See how scientists on earth talk to the telescope in space. Dissect Hubble's images & see what they tell us about the universe. Take a tour of Hubble, from the telescope to the control rooms. (NSF)

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

The NRO designs, builds and operates the nation's reconnaissance satellites. NRO products, provided to an expanding list of customers like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Department of Defense (DoD), can warn of potential trouble spots around the world, help plan military operations, and monitor the environment.

• NROJr.com

Playtime for kids: Hurricanes, Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Thunderstorms/Lightning, Floods, Safety Tips, General Weather Information, Other Fun Stuff

Hands on the Land

We all check up on, watch out for, and keep track of the things and the people we care about. Why should the outdoors be any different? Browse the environmental monitoring programs below and see how students and others are helping to protect your land, air and water.

Science of Music

Invites children of all ages to explore the "science of music" through movies, questions, & online exhibits. Compose, mix, & play with music in ways you probably haven't before. Find out what makes sad music sad, why some songs get stuck in your head, & how opera singers are able to sing notes that seem to last forever. (NSF)

AstronomyCenter

AstronomyCenter.org is a collection of digital resources for college-level introductory astronomy faculty and students. Astronomy Center is brought to you by the American Astronomical Society, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the NSF-NSDL.

Offers annotated references to articles, books, films, & websites for the study of nuclear issues. Topics include fission & fusion, nuclear power & waste, plutonium & tritium, arms control & proliferation, weapons programs of various countries, particle accelerators, the Manhattan Project, Robert Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, & hundreds more. Historical & scientific overviews of the Atomic Age are provided. (NSF)

MarsQuest Online

Invites students to launch a spacecraft to Mars, pilot a "flyover," explore the Red Planet's canyons & volcanoes, drive a Mars Rover, & see the latest photos. (NASA)

The Science Club

A Non-profit educational corporation.

Kids’ Science Build-It Projects, Science Fair Ideas Exchange, Science Projects At Other Websites, “Ask Science Questions” Sites, Fun Science Sites, Cool Science Links, Science Educational Resources, etc.

Science Educational Resources

K-12 Science education resources, including video experiments, build-it projects, demos.

The telegraph, photophone, animation, sewing machine, ice cream cone, nuclear fission, flight, & others. It includes Thomas Edison's journals & failed inventions, & Alexander Graham Bell's notebook entry describing the first successful experiment with the telephone (March 10, 1876). George Westinghouse, James Smithson, Benjamin Banneker, & Samuel Morse are among others profiled.

Engineering Design Challenges

Offers students the chance to tackle challenges faced by NASA engineers who are developing the next generation of aerospace vehicles. The challenges: thermal protection systems, spacecraft structures, electrodynamics propulsion systems, propellers, & personal satellite assistants. Students design, build, test, re-design, & re-build models that meet specified design criteria, using the same analytical skills as engineers. (NASA)

Introduces the work of basic biomedical scientists -- scientists who seek answers to key biological questions like how cells talk to each other, how biological machines fold into their active shapes, & how genes are regulated. Topics include Alzheimer's disease, anthrax, flu vaccines, Nobel Prize winners, & more. (NIH)

Idea Locker

Say it – Build it – Design it – Chang it!

BKFK is a company entirely dedicated to inspiring the innovative spirit within every teen. BKFK inspires young innovators to create and share their ideas. They can also enter their ideas in various competitions to win amazing prizes with big time innovators. BKFK also transforms outstanding ideas into commercial products where the young people earn self esteem, business experience and royalties. BKFK represents some of the most brilliant young minds in America.

Patent Cafe

Advanced Technology Patent Search, Patent Analytics and Intellectual Property Management Solutions.

Tsunami and Earthquake

Uses animation & virtual reality to show how tsumanis are generated by earthquakes. Learn about tsunami research & mitigation efforts -- how sediments are transported by a tsunami, how researchers decipher the geologic record of prehistoric tsunamis, & the seismograph network of the west coast tsunami warning system.

Oceans Alive

The oceans are alive! Our planet, mostly covered by water, is filled with movement and life.

Explores the mountains, abysses, & other physical features of the ocean floor, as well as the movement of the continents, the water cycle, the four oceans, waves & wind, currents, tides, marine life near the surface, & ocean predators & prey. Activities are provided for learning about the water cycle, water currents, web of life, & tides.

Water Science for Schools

Information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can give opinions and test your water knowledge.

• The Water Cycle for Schools, Science for a Changing World

National Science and Environmental Organizations

• Interactive Water Cycle

• Water Filtration

• Water Treatment Process

Science Education

The National Institute of Health

Rich educational resources for all grade levels in different resource formats.

NeMO Explorer

NeMO Explorer allows you to explore the NeMO seafloor observatory at Axial Seamount either geographically or by subject matter. Visit one of six virtual sites for an animated tour with links to video clips. Or browse a collection of information on research at NeMO organized by concept with links to imagery and movies.

National Science Digital Library

Invites students to try its "ask an expert" service to get answers to questions about math, science, technology, & engineering. A portal for middle school math & science teachers features hands-on experiences with measurement, how energy moves & changes, & the basics of aerodynamics. (NSF)

World Book for Students

Students in grades 4-8 can use these resources for help with homework and reports.

Activities for kids and their parents.

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Tight Pockets - Optimize Your Auto Insurance Rates Today

9 Cash-Saving Tips That Pay Big Bucks

complaintsboard.com

The expression "a penny saved is a penny earned" doesn't cut it these days. But saving a few dollars here and there can add up...

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Create a festive Thanksgiving table on a budget...

Try out these Thanksgiving recipes from tasteofhome

You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options

How Life Works

If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.

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Suze Orman's Recession Rescue Plan - helps you survive in times of financial crisis

OPRAH.com

Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you devise a recession rescue plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis...

Could fat babies mean fat toddlers?

A new study from Harvard Medical School found that babies who gained weight quickly had a sharply higher risk of obesity. The study followed close to 600 babies and found those in the top quarter of weight for their length at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of obesity by age 3 than smaller babies.

The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip

By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman

... In his latest “How to Cook Everything” segment on the Today Show, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman makes it surprisingly easy to cook a week’s worth of dinners with just a 10-ingredient shopping trip.

Finding last-minute tuition money

There's still time to find funds for this semester's college tuition. But you'll have to move quickly.

By Gerri Willis

It's only a couple of weeks or even days until school begins. And if you don't think you'll be able to get a handle on your college tuition bill, here with your guide to last minute money.

Short-term Payday Loans

econ4u.org

...Which are more expensive, late fees or short-term loans?...
A short-term payday loan can be a better option than overdraft fees, reconnect fees, late payment fees or a damaged credit rating when the loan is repaid promptly. However, these loans are not suited for longer repayment periods... Being realistic about budgeting can help avoid the need for short-term borrowing.

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Your Just-in-Case Emergency Plan

by RealSimple

Who do you call if you can't make it home in time to meet the kids' bus? Who do you trust to take in your mail when you're on vacation? Who do you trust with the extra set of keys to your house?

How to save $10,000 in 2009

By Liz Pulliam Weston

If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that $10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, such as: Housing, Transportation, Food.

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The Super, Sexy, Single Mom on a Budget

by Renee Rayles

A quick reference guide designed for the busy, single mom who has

little time to read while running the mom taxi, cooking dinner, helping with homework, and trying to fit in a date night every now and then.

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32 and Counting? Finding Your Happily Ever After Today

by Gi Gi

The author talks about the struggles a single mom goes through and the discovery that you can have HEAT (Happily Ever After Today) just as you are, being single, taking care of your kids...

Single Mothers &
Male Role-Models / Mentors

Single mothers carry an enormous load of responsibility, especially those having sole and/or primary custody of minor children. They nourish, they nurture, they teach, they discipline, they shelter, they protect, and they provide… all without the assistance of another equally-invested adult.

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Your 5-minute guide to protecting your identity

20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim.

TheOnlineMom.com offers parents and consumers a guide to the top-rated, age-appropriate, kid-tested and parent-approved tech toys and gifts.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney

For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...

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Discover your personality type and what careers are best suited for you

What to get the kids? Think outside the toy box

You can find non-toxic dolls and cars, but there are other options, too

by Victoria Clayton, MSNBC contributor

Dangerous dolls, trains and other lead-tainted toys. Beads that metabolize into "date-rape" drugs. It's enough to ruin Christmas for any parent stressing over what's left to buy the tots this year.

After the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall of these and many other toys, moms like Stephanie Gonzalez just don't know what to think. "I’m assuming this is mostly about China," says Gonzalez, who lives in the Los Angeles area. “They must be using the most low-cost, bad-for-you products and chemicals because everything is so cheap.”

Eat This, Not That! Authors Grade 43 National Chains; 6 Receive an "F"

New York (August 1, 2008)

A year-long study of children's meals has revealed vast dietary differences among America's favorite fast-food and sit-down chain restaurants... and discovered that many of America's most popular chain restaurants are nutritional nightmares for America's children.

7 Secrets to Raising a Happy Child

What Makes a Child Happy?

We all want the same things for our kids. We want them to grow up to love and be loved, to follow their dreams, to find success. Mostly, though, we want them to be happy. But just how much control do we have over our children's happiness? My son, Jake, now 7, has been a rather somber child since birth, while my 5-year-old, Sophie, is perennially sunny. Jake wakes up grumpy. Always has. Sophie, on the other hand, greets every day with a smile. Evident from infancy, their temperaments come, at least in part, from their genes. But that doesn't mean their ultimate happiness is predetermined, assures Bob Murray, PhD, author of Raising an Optimistic Child: A Proven Plan for Depression-Proofing Young Children -- for Life (McGraw-Hill).

FIND A CHEAP HOME

Do You Want To Know How Your Nanny Is Doing Her Job?

Sources by Amanda Bach

As we review some of the useful website each month, I want to introduce to you this new website HowsMyNanny.com - this website service started in the Fall of 2006 by Jill Starishevsk, a nine-year veteran of a District Attorney’s Office in New York City who works in the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Bureau. While she was on maternity leave of her second child, she started this wonderful website. It is a service that provides license plates for strollers with a unique identifying number on them so if your nanny is out and about and does something bad to the baby or something praiseworthy, a passerby can get a message to the parent via the internet. HowsMyNanny.com website has received a great deal of press including Good Morning America, CNN, The BBC and Fox News National. Please spread the words about this as the more people who know about the site, the more likely a mom or dad is to receive a report if there is a problem.

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