Pampers-A Benovolence for Babies

What is common to all babies around us? Undoubtedly, it is the  innocence, sweet smile, soft skin, baby odour and their irritating  wailing styles. And the thread that holds all these traits is "comfort". A mothers comfortable lap, timely diet, daily bath for freshness, a healthy body, a sound sleep etc ensures the happiness of babies and minimizes the parental discomfort. As a mother I was concerned about my child’s diet and enough sleep. A child’s overall performance( generally) in terms of being a happy-go-lucky kiddo, largely depends on five factors.

Good Sleep:   is the perfect measure of good health. Pampers ensure uninterrupted and comfortable sound sleep thus rejuvenating the skin.

The overall wellness of the baby depends on the good health of the mother too. Sound sleep of the baby also de- fatigues the mother as she gets good sleep too who is otherwise all hands full looking after the baby.

Good Diet: A well balanced diet rich in proteins, which is the nutrient which act  as the  building ,  is important and  good for the supple skin of kids .

Skin –the first line of defense must be pampered with soft clothing, accessories and   essentials to avoid bruises,  scratches , allergies and thus avoid infections to tender skin. Pampers bring the softest pampers premium care pants . Its cotton like softness is #softestforBabySkin and allows it to breathe , thus keeping baby’s skin

soft and healthy, and your baby happy.

Effective skin cream and moisturizers –which act as a shield to protect the skin and restore moisture, thus providing the best conditions for the effective use of pampers.

Exposure to sunlight during early hours of the day, should be in the routine to ensure absorption of Vitamin D. Skin can be protected from UV rays by application of an effective SPF lotion.

Skin is the largest organ of the human body and one of the sense organs which feels the sensation of touch – cold or hot. It rejuvenates fast and encounters all attacks by microbes and deals with infections on the epidermis if any. Care taken during the early years sustains the glow and health of the skin for lifetime which gives confidence and boosts the self esteem of any individual. Good skin is the reflection of good skin care during childhood. Pampers proves to be a comfortable solution for a long term investment which is good skin. Pampers save  mothers  from hassles of the messy instances.

 Go for Pampers, lead a carefree life and gift your kids soft smooth skin!

Cyber Evolution: From Hacking, Crimes, Bullying,Snooping,Spying...

During the PTM , I am usually bombarded with a variety of  FAQ’s but majority revolve around internet abuse. How much is too much(time)? What is good or bad? How to help kids refrain from abuse ? So typical of any type of  addiction!  Late to bed, late  to  rise and a lethargic day in school followed by poor academic performance is a matter of concern for the parents and the teachers. Dealing with it requires a two pronged approach so that there is no room left for excuses and untoward incidents. 21^st century generation has easy access to gadgets like smartphones, tablet etc. We cannot capsulate our kids or keep them in a cocoon. Exposure to latest technology is mandatory to learn  the latest . Our duty as adults in their life is to show them ’direction’ which is missing in their lives.

Epitome of technology being misused! The latest threat which school kids are getting hooked to- cyber snooping for a mere five hundred rupees. Snooping (or cyber stalking) and downloading messages, pictures, emails etc for few hundred is picking up fast and requires quick and early intervention. It gives me goose bumps to see what these kids can do confidently. The wi-fi password is changed every week in our school with the view to safeguard the important data. It is time to tie loose ends and set ground rules for knowing the right from the wrong, pull the kids out of grey areas. I was developing this article since the time I attended the Intel Security event on Teens, Tweens and Technology, but Delhi Times edition of Sunday ,November 8, 2015, fostered my views on the subject.(link: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Delhi-students-turn-cyber-detectives-for-quick-bucks-08112015137033)

But the challenge which we face is when parents refuse to accept the addiction which is reflected in their wards. Parents provide latest gadgets to their kids but unfortunately do not guide them through the operations, alerts and threats associated with it. Right use of technology does not lie only in its operation but requires correct guidance to know the repercussions associated with abuse of internet liberty. Our kids emulate us parents and  therefore we need to be role models and help them to know the  right from the wrong by being alert. We must develop confidence in our kids and   maintain good rapport with them so that our kids can share with us the good , bad or the ugly. Internet abuse may lead to cyber bullying if mishandled. Talking about the case by knocking the right door to seek help prevents unnecessary tension. Its important to maintain privacy and be careful about sharing credentials on the social platform. The use of powerful social tools is a boon if used sensibly . Immediate reporting to the customer care cell of the digital platform provider proves very helpful.

As parents  its important to keep abreast with the nuances of technology and learn to fire fight the situations. Expand your knowledge and widen your horizons – after all no one other than you can help your child . Bond with your child , be friendly but do not become their friend!

Festivals and Sustainability

Festivals and Sustainability

“No! No! No! I hate to go out “ cried Aditya when he was just three years old. As a mother I was perplexed as Diwali, Dussehra, Holi  etc used to be an indoor affair for many years. The unending sound of the crackers and choking air during Diwali,  the itchy colours during holi  was nothing less than a horror movie. When did the transition of fun and laughter turn into a nightmare? Signature campaign in schools,  petition drives, street plays, skits, walkathons etc have no meaning because we elders are a spoil sport and buy crackers and colours and gift it to the kids . Dichotomy in thoughts and actions keep us and our kids on different pages and hence act as stumbling block towards a constructive  clean approach.  My childhood memories of festivals were  so different - there used to be a de-clutter drive at home, buying new clothes,upholstery, preparation of sweets like mathri, shaker paaras,besan ki chakki, bhujia, gujias, dahi bada, kachori etc for distribution to the neighbours  place and for taking to school for teachers and friends. Making rangolis and decorating the house in various ways was planned well. There was no concept of exchanging gifts ,  no recycling of gifts and no wastage of paper for wrapping or wastage of fuel and time for shopping and distribution of the same. How systems and traditions evolve is beyond comprehension. I remember one Diwali, my Mom had to be away for some work and my Dad and my two sisters celebrated Diwali. When mom returned she asked us as to how we celebrated Diwali. My elder sister (who was 14 yrs old) said she was reading the specialities made by Liberty Sweets( mentioned on the box), I was 11 yrs and said that I was reciting “Hanuman Chalisa” in my mind and my little sister( who was six years old ) said she was reciting –Our Father in Heaven ,Holy be Thou name....( that’s all she knew from school), till Dad finished his silent prayer. A couple of sparklers were all that was bought to create more light. It was so simple yet an enjoyable affair. Pollution was never a menace.

Usually it is the bursting of crackers during Diwali which contributes to the most evident and observable air pollution but water pollution due to idol immersion (and tons of floral offerings along with it) ,poor quality colours used during Holi, noise pollution caused by loud speakers, thermal pollution due to burning of effigies , etc are some evident instances which cannot be ignored either . There are other silent pollutants that form bulk of the trash post festivals which go unnoticed . Packaging material like chocolate boxes, sweet boxes, fancy fruit baskets, dry fruits containers etc etc;  form major chunk of trash. Who is going to alter the trend? Are we waiting for some government policy or blindly convinced to follow the rat race? Be the change – its actually disgusting to listen to the kids when they come to school and tell us how their parents and  relatives pamper and load  them with all this stuff ( their way of showering  love). Education and action has no age- for once think about the repercussion on the flora and fauna( which is our life line) and eventually about the imbalance which is created in nature. The circle of life goes for a six due to these anthropogenic actions. Who will take the responsibility? The government, schools, NGO’s or some Alien from space?

This festive season lets be innovative and change the trends for a better living  by being traditional  and celebrating  all the festivals with happiness and cheer. Let us exchange smiles and culture, let us guide our kids and leave a meaningful  legacy . Keep it simple and bond with each other. It is not difficult - try out this time and focus on spending quality time rather than running around distributing gifts. Check out your carbon footprints and promise mother Earth an extravaganza of  green festivals.

Wishing you all a happy and joyous festive season!

How safe are the indigenous snacks for our kids?

Safety Standards for Indigenous Snacks...Escaping Attention!

All time hot favourites,  a samosa or a kachori , cannot boast of meeting  food safety norms. All praises to the Indian stomach, which is an epitome of ‘high degree tolerant zone’, may it be microbes, spices, trans fats etc. What are the safety standards that are set for indigenous snacks? A ‘bidi’ bud, a stapler pin, a match stick, hair, insects and other contaminants make the food substandard and unsafe for consumption. All this and the hygienic parameters or measures observed around eating joints cannot be ignored. A lot goes unnoticed or conveniently ignored. So, are we compromising with the most important issue? For whom? For what? One has to take a call and give a thought to develop the norms inorder to ensure food safety and hygiene , not ignoring to keep the foodie culture alive. Indian snacks offer wide range of snacks but the vendors lack nutritional know how. The awareness regarding trans fat, reuse of pre-heated oil, maintenance of optimum temperature is all Greek to the most successful vendors. They are doing very well for themselves but who will take the responsibility of our health. Which door to knock incase of an adversity? A wake up call to all concerned –  Maggi, Cerelac, Kelloggs are under scanner , why not these ever popular favourites too? The much sought after street food of Delhi is the craze of the foodie community.  The survival of street food culture calls for awareness and involvement of all stake holders. Food safety is the key to good health and cannot be compromised. As an informed citizen and a mother,  raise voice against this unnoticed issue. Train your kids to choose the best and to be aware of the existing but hidden hazards of our all time favourites. It is disheartening to be a witness to the prevailing times- though being a foodie myself  it does call for a  lot of responsibility in terms of action!

Not ‘Style’ but Approach to ‘Life’Style is Important.

Ms. Sheelu Mathew, Principal, St. Mary’s School, Dwarka, way back in 2002 ,in one of the staff meetings discussed on how young kids absorb and imbibe values all along the way. Ma’am put forth a very simple yet beautiful example of a situation , if  you ask a group of students , how much will it make if 5 litres of water is  added to 10 litres of milk? 15 litres -pop comes the answer. There will be some   who will think that it is a good way to increase income ( we are unintentionally introducing the concept of cheating and adulteration) and the important FACT about food safety gets ignored completely. We as educationists, are always careful in exposing kids to facts without harming the underlying important issues concerned with our daily lives. Integrating the academic subjects to daily applications and adopting as life skill is imperative in today’s scenario. Even as parents it is imperative that we keep in my mind these nuances of parenting.

It’s not about style but ‘lifestyle and approach towards it that should be positive and hopeful which goes a long way. We can shun the adulterated cheap products and adopt healthier and safe options for a healthy and happy living. Let each day be a meaningful day and each act –safe and worth living. Lets enjoy our life to its fullest with our families, friends, neighbours and countrymen. Make smart choices not because it’s ‘cool’ but because it’s safe and a step towards sustained happiness and holistic well being.

Todays headlines says-F for food and F for fake, true but sad. We can be more optimistic and say F for first and F for food; so food safety should come first and should be each ones priority. Even  Bollywood blockbuster “Roti ,Kapda aur Makaan” prioritized ‘roti’amongst the three basic components required for  human survival. We have to be alert and delete the ‘fake’ element from our food.

We cannot compromise with the health of our families and cannot afford to waste our hard earned money in fixing the repercussions caused due to adulterated food. A wide range of food products are available in Tetra Pak cartons which cater to our daily needs. . UHT (ultra high temperature) treatment provides germ free, safe, nutrients intact and products with longer shelf life. Moreover, polyethylene, paper and aluminium which constitute the Tetra Pak cartons are 100% recyclable and have minimum impact on the environment. What a boon in todays world!

A balanced diet- Wholesome mango treat

Ingredients- Handful of assorted dry fruits as per choice, one mango, two strands of saffron and half spoon of soaked cous cous, one cup UHT milk, one small cup vanilla ice-cream, cornflakes half cup, a slice of brown bread, two leaves mint, a pinch of cinnamon powder.

Method- Cut the slice of bread with a steel bowl and place it in a glass bowl. Beat the ice cream and spread on the bread , place the cornflakes, arrange a layer of mango slices, blend milk,a spoon of ice cream, mango, saffron, cous cous, and pour on the arrangement in the bowl, top up with dry fruits and sprinkle powdered cinnamon. 

Your requirement of carbohydrates, proteins, roughage, fats, vitamins, spices is taken cared of.
Makes healthy breakfast or a dessert.

Optional-Instead of ice cream, you can blend thick curd and mango or diet ice cream.

Make the Best of Holiday Home Work - Attitude Matters !!

As a mother of two young kids and a teacher, I come across friends or parents of my students who complain about the holiday home work, mostly the bulk of it, and the objective waters down due to this attitude. The prime objective of holiday home work is to help kids and parents to brainstorm, plan, execute the holiday task in such a way that it is constructive and the kids to be in sync with their academic content in one way or the other. It is not a just another job or responsibility entrusted on the parents .Lot of effort goes in the planning of holiday home work and subsequently lot time is invested in going through the  work submitted.

Planning and executing holidays home work, hones skills like time management , creativity, learning, innovation, research, etc. Make it interesting by clubbing it with some game, inviting friends over, planning a meal or a picnic. Wear your thinking caps and you will be surprised how beautifully you can turn the whole thing around the attitude that matters. I personally feel that it is the best bonding time with your kids and it is the time that the juices of your brain overflow with out of the box ideas. Just try out this time, not as a liability but as learning, because I have seen parents who go out of the way to present the best holiday home work which even while planning does not cross our brain. Looking at their enthusiasm and positive attitude it boosts up the spirits of the kids too and they get an edge above other kids who might have just worked for the heck of doing it. There is no dearth of ideas and resources these days, a click of a button gives all the information one requires or probably more than that. Researching enables one to know so many other facts which enrich one with knowledge.

While executing the holiday home work, remember to use eco friendly materials. The use of non-biodegradable should not be encouraged. The raw material ,  picked from the home itself, turn out to be more economical, promotes creativity and fosters best use of resources. Checking the home work for spellings, facts etc establishes concern to present good work. Compiling the completed work in a systematic manner gives a chance to recheck and ensure completion. It gives a sense of pride and satisfaction to the child to see the hard work in the form of beautifully presented work. It acts as booster to resume school after the holidays to gain all the appreciation from the teacher. The smile and happiness builds confidence and self esteem cannot be bought online or from any store.

So, give up the lethargy and does not crib about the unending holiday home work rather make it interesting, after all- Attitude Matters!!!

Food Safety vis-a-vis Environmental Concerns.

All this is detrimental to agriculture as it depletes the nutritional contents of the produce and also causes bio-accumulation. Human activities are the main cause of global warming, which leads to rapid climate change. The enzymes which help in biological reactions are temperature and pH specific; hence show inefficiency at high temperatures. It’s a really scary situation as all this effects our overall well being .It takes a toll on our health and our body starts reacting adversely to such changes. In such a scenario it becomes imperative that we take care of the food that we consume. In the interest of the holistic development and good health of our family, we need to make sure that we keep in mind the parameters governing The deteriorating air quality (and rising temperatures) in Delhi and adjoining areas, captures the headlines of the newspapers these days. What are we looking forward to?  Some respite from the scorching heat, suspended dust particles, or the result of the same which is the acid rain that pollutes the water bodies and the landfood safety. The repercussions of the same are unbearable as Healthcare facilities in India leave a hole in the pocket. A miserable situation, if one has to shell out major chunk of the salary on medical expenses. `Therefore a smart move requires one to be careful and take all precautions to keep our food safe’.

The goodness of milk should be enjoyed and exploited to its maximum –as it is a wholesome diet. It does not require much effort-thanks  to the Aseptic Technology (processing and packaging) provided by Tetra Pak, which takes care of all our apprehensions regarding safe milk. The technology involves heating milk at ultra high temperature (UHT) at 135 degrees to 150 degrees for 3 seconds, which kills all the bacteria (including the spores) but still preserves all the nutrients. Without the addition of preservatives to the products, shelf life of 3 to 6 months is ensured without refrigeration, in easy to store cartons, which are six layered ( made of aluminium, paper and polyethylene and are 100% recyclable) with no scope for contamination. So in the times when you can’t trust the air that you breathe and the water that you drink at least Tetra Pak takes a leap to provide products that are trust worthy.

 What a convenient option with no compromise on health!  Not only milk but a range of products like lassi, yoghurt, juices, etc are available at all the stores.  Another important benefit of products packed in Tetra Pak cartons is that it forms easy to carry, important part of Tiffin to school, college, workplace and is equally good for infants and senior citizens. It’s the power packed goodness all along the way which is protected from harmful contaminants. With the fear of adulteration haunting us all the time aseptic technology comes in as a boon. The nutrition quotient online course provides one with an edge to understand the facts, myths, misconceptions, etc  related to food safety and equips one  with tools to keep healthy and to be a green consumer(since empty Tetra Pak can be recycled) .  Do not give up, adopt healthier options and ensure food safety. So be hopeful and play your part well!

Perspective Of A Foodie Mother: To Eat Or Not To Eat!

Everyday is a Mother’s day.

Perspective of a foodie mother :Eat or  not to Eat!

At one point or the other, all mothers do come across situations when they have to multi task or switch over to various roles , yet camouflage all this under a smile. A mothers designation is far beyond a ‘home maker’ and should be called a ‘fighter’ as she is loaded with challenging responsibilities. A mother is a mom ,a wife, a daughter,a daughter-in-law ,a sister, a nurse, honorary domestic help(to help herself),a warm host, a driver, a nurse ,a cleaner and above all a “Professional”. The list goes on and I m sure this is the malady of every mother.

In the capacity of a  Foodie-Mom, I am perplexed by the fact –eat or not to eat. When mothers feed babies, they usually end up popping in a morsel  or a two in their mouth and sometimes even wiping out the plate. While clearing the table after meals ,in a spree to not shove  anything into the refrigerator  and moreover not to waste and spoil food ,she eats the substantial leftovers , which just LOAD her with extra calories. On the contrary, there are times wherein she parts with her share of food because it is the requirement of one of the family members and hence compromises with a slice of bread and jam/butter/ cheese or  even pickle or extra dessert just an addition again into her calorie pool .And at times , when you pack your favourite chicken biryani to work(much enjoyed by your friends),the nocturnal members of your family wipe it out to your surprise and  leave you  scratching your head and pondering –what next? . One can quote number of instances to support this “unnoticed trivial sacrifices”( although sacrifice is a misnomer in this context).

Salute to all the” Moms “ who load themselves with extra pounds, knowing that it is the most difficult task to shed the same. They definitely deserve a “pat on the back” everyday, for the smile which masks the unnoticed sacrifices.

Moms are angels with a magic wand and they just know how to fix all the problems. Don’t they deserve all the love and appreciation?

#EveryDayIsAMothersDay #MothersDay #KeepFoodSafe #TetraPakIndia

Count your calories...watch out the smooties and the shakes!

Enjoy Summer drinks but be healthy.Some easy tips towards a healthy balance sheet, right place to debit and credit the calorie content.Rely on fresh fruits for the sweetening of smoothies and shakes.Use jaggery instead of sugar in Aam Panna,Nimbu Paani, etc.Consume less salt to avoid water retention.This is the period when weight gain is imperative.Share some healthy coolers which are low on calories.

Nutrition online course for Moms

Mothers, register and complete the NQ course while your kids constructively execute the exciting plan for the week!
Congratulations to all the "Super Cool Moms" who have completed the NQ.

Excite your Endorphins(Happy Hormones) and hone a skill while you de-stress after your exams.

Here is a  constructive weekly  plan for the kids and Moms.

Sunday  - Prepare a shopping list and cycle to the market.
Monday - Make a "Crunchy Salad"
Tuesday - Blend a "Fruity Smoothie"
Wednesday-  Bake a "Never go wrong Cake"
Thursday   - Fry a "Mouth Watering Snack"
Friday       - Pack a "Healthy Tiffin"
Saturday   - Reward yourself with a "Pudding and Pie"

Share your experiences, recipes and pictures.

A Sumptous Bridge:Exams and Holi

Much awaited festivals of colours,love ,compassion,fun laughter...all here. Do not let the' Examination Stress'deprive you of the mouth watering goodies of the season!Post and share nutritive and healthy tips ,recipes so that we do not regret later...Make the best use and plan a treat for your kids!Life is to enjoy  so why DEPRIVE!

A Fun Way to climb the Food Safety Ladder....

Climb the ladder of FOOD SAFETY with Snakes and Ladders...The Do's and Dont's of nutrition.

'Nutritive Tips ' are welcome...to fight examination stress...Share and help the students boost the performance! It will earn you "Feel good factor"...

Carrots boasts of varied applications...juice ,halwa,pickle,murabba,parantha,kofta,etc and can be used with other veggies ...All time favourite with all age groups,,,Make the best use and recharge yourself with the goodness "Bunny Favourite" before summer sets in.!!!PROMISE.... not showing you any carrots!

Please watch the Keep Food Safe videos

The following is the link to the video . Kindly see this and give your comment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iha-ZgGYYM

Go "Natural"

Opt for seasonal veggies and fruits . These are the store house of brain boosters.
 Wash them thoroughly in running water /  water + potassium permanganate/water+vinegar+salt. 

Consume safe food to stay healthy and fit.

Right food…. A sure stress buster during Exam

Are your kids going “bananas” because of board exams?

 Good…. Bananas  , milk, dry fruits etc. are  brain boosters.

Share some healthy tips and lets boost the mental health of our kids for their better performance.

Be a smart Home Maker

Like "Charity begins at home" good practices also begin at home.  Nutritive choices are smart steps to a healthy home and family.
Join the Nutrition Quotient (NQ) online course   log on to www.nutrition-quotient.com and be smart home maker.