Mark

Each year a block party is organized and now it was our turn to be in charge of the event. This responsibility rotates from one home to the next in our small community. Our houses are stretched along a lake and the block party involves 12 homes. The host family is supposed to take care of the food and beverages. This year it was decided that finger foods were to be served at the block party. I found this idea appealing as by serving finger foods the host family could prepare all the food beforehand and would be able to enjoy this annual block party visiting with our neighbors. I found quite many recipes for salty and sweet finger foods in my recipe books. As our annual block party starts at 3pm and end at about 7pm we had to provide food that was substantial enough to be considered a meal. Many children come to our parties as well, so we also had to provide foods that they would like. My husband and I went to the supermarket a few days before the party and bought all the products we needed according to our recipes. There were breads for sandwiches and...

One of the main issues facing caregivers for people suffering from Alzheimer s disease is how much risk they should endure. It is very tempting to coddle a person once they begin exhibiting signs of Alzheimer s disease. However, it is important, especially in the early stages when the patient may be frightened, that the Alzheimer s patient s routine is disrupted as little as possible. Additionally, as the disease progresses, it continues to be important to minimize disruption to their routine as this enables the Alzheimers sufferer to remain independent for as long as possible. Understandably, caregivers feel a responsibility towards their charge. Generally, they want the Alzheimers sufferer to be insulated from danger as much as possible. Deciding to allow someone who is in the early stages of Alzheimer s disease to do something as routine as going for a walk alone can be a very difficult decision. It would also be very tempting to restrict them from doing seemingly mundane tasks, such as making a cup of tea or a simple meal, due to fears about...

Acid reflux occurs when the acids that can be found in the stomach get into the esophagus because the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach cannot close properly. These acids are very strong, and they can severely damage the esophagus walls. They do not damage the stomach s walls because it is protected by a special membrane. Acid reflux is pretty serious, it can cause pain in the chest area, and if it is left untreated the esophagus will become very erroded and gastric acid will also reach the lungs, where is can cause coughing and asthma, and the mouth, where it corrodes the teeth. Diet has an important role in both treating and preventing acid reflux, and an acid reflux diet is not expensive or hard to follow. The idea is to reduce the acids inside the stomach and to keep it from filling, which can cause the food and acid inside it to reach the esophagus. Here is what you can eat and what you should avoid: You can eat all the cereals and vegetables you want. They contain a lot of vitamins and nutrients that help the body fight not only...

America s children are overweight. Two-thirds 66 of Americans are overweight according to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention, with 15-30 of the children either overweight or dangerously close to being overweight. That means that nearly 200 million Americans fall into the overweight category. We are setting a horrible example for our children. According to a study conducted by Weight Watchers International Inc. and the American Health Foundation, 25 of American children are now officially overweight, and the youngest are especially at risk. These extra pounds are more than just a passing phase; another ADA study suggests that half of obese children will become fat adults. Obesity among children is increasing at an alarming rate, and the health consequences are very severe, confirms Karen Miller-Kovach, RD, chief scientist for Weight Watchers. Billions of dollars every year are spent on medical bills by overweight obese patients due to preventable obesity related illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. What s behind the...