www.foxrunner.weebly.com email: [email protected]SERVING THE PARKFARM COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 The Parkfarm Housing Co-operative Housing Newsletter is issued 7 times per year. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, JANUARY/FEBRUARY, MARCH/APRIL, MAY/JUNE, JULY/AUGUST and a SUMMER ISSUE SUMMER 2014 Volume 4. 14
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
3 cups of uncooked macaroni salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat a cast iron Dutch oven over the stove and brown the ground beef.
2. Drain off excess grease. Pour in the mixed vegetables, tomatoes, macaroni and water.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Cover, and cook the macaroni until tender and the stew has reached thickness.
SWEET GARLIC CHICKEN
Quick and easy--- everyone will eat this Maybe even seconds…… INGREDIENTS 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 4 garlic gloves, minced 4 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and pepper, or your own herbs and spices
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 450F. Line a cookie sheet with
aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
2. In a small skillet, sauté garlic with the oil until tender.
3. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar. Then add you herbs and spices if you desire.
4. Place chicken breast in a baking dish and cover with the garlic and brown sugar mixture.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes or until juices run clear. Cooking times will depend on the
625ml Campbell`s ready to use low sodium chicken broth 250ml quinoa 15 ml olive oil 125ml sliced shitake mushroom 125ml sliced carrots 125ml thinly sliced leek 125 ml diced red bell pepper 125ml diced yellow bell pepper 500 ml shredded swiss chard 30 ml grated parmesan cheese 15ml butter
DIRECTIONS
1. Bring broth to a boil over medium heat in a
sauce pan and stir in quinoa. Reduce heat to a
medium low and cover.
Cook for 15 minutes, remove from heat and let
stand for 5 minutes covered. Fluff with fork and
set aside.
2. In a large skillet warm oil over medium heat and
sauté mushrooms, carrots, leeks and peppers for
5 minutes or until vegetables have softened.
3, Reduce heat to medium and stir in quinoa and
chard and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often.
4. Add parmesan cheese and butter and stir for 1
minute until well combined.
And there you have your quinoa pilaf…., it is good
and very healthy……
What Kids Learn in the Kitchen Certainly, it is easier and faster to do it yourself. So
why encourage your school-age child to join you in the
kitchen? Because the lessons learned there can be a
benefit both at home and in the classroom.
Cooking teaches kids about eating well.
Kids are usually receptive to conversations about
nutrition. Planning a menu can become an opportunity
to explain smart food choices. Take the time to discuss
the different food groups. Kids who have a hand in
making the vegetables might be a little more willing to
sample them at the table.
Sharing food means sharing memories and good
conversation.
Grandma's secret zucchini bread recipe can be your
chance to pass on a little bit of family lore. Tell your
child about the kind of foods you liked as a kid. Ask
questions like: To make a really colorful dinner, which
foods would you include?
Cooking can also foster responsibility.
Kids start out learning to follow recipe directions and
then they learn to clean up after themselves when the
project is completed. Learning how to safely handle
kitchen equipment is an important part of learning to
cook. Kids need safety reminders and help with
following the steps in a recipe, but they can learn to
clean up spills as they happen and to put things back
where they belong.
Your kitchen is a learning lab.
As kids learn to crack eggs and stir sauce, they also gain
new science, language, and math skills. Basic math
skills ("are we putting in more salt or baking soda?")
and sequencing skills ("what is first...next...last?") give
way to fractions ("is this ¾ of a cup?") as your child
gains confidence in the kitchen. Reading recipes can
improve reading comprehension, and something as
simple as salt sprinkled on an ice cube demonstrates
basic science principles.
Starting school can be a difficult time for children. Every child is hesitant to go somewhere new and see people she's never met before. Here are some helpful ways to prepare your child for her first day of school:
1. Let your child know what his schedule will be like. Tell him what time school begins and ends each day.
2. Ask your child about her feelings -- both the excitement and the concerns -- about starting school.
3. Visit the school with your child to see his new classroom and meet his new teacher before school officially starts.
4. Point out the positive aspects of starting school. It will be fun and she can make new friends.
5. Let your child know that all kids are nervous about the first day of school.
6. Leave a note in your child's lunchbox that will remind him you're thinking of him while he's at school.
7. Reassure your child that if any problems arise at school, you will be there to help resolve them.
8. Try to have your child meet a classmate before the first day of school so she will already have a friend when school starts.
9. Arrange for your child to walk to school or ride together on the bus with another kid in the neighborhood.
10. Find out about after-school activities that your child can join. Will there be a back-to-school party? Can she join a sports team?
With hundreds of books on back to school and school life, I have just picked a few of my favourites. Visit
the library and we can show you all kinds of amazing books and school help guides to get you ready for
September.
I am too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School by Herman Parish
Mouse Loves School by Lauren Thompson
Max and Mo’s First Day at School by Patricia Lakin
Schooled by Gordon Korman
Frindle by Andrew Clements
The World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Find your way to a good book
Donny and Wendy Bond have celebrated their “30th” Wedding Anniversary just like Parkfarm on Monday July 7th. The couple did a road trip to Old Quebec, Quebec City that weekend for a week to celebrate their milestone.
The two got together when he was 20 and she was only 16. They met in their community in Toronto, near Danforth and Jones and from there continued to grow on each other. They moved in together and got married in 1984. The family moved up to York Region in 1991 when she was pregnant with their youngest and the oldest was 4. Today, they have 2 grown boys (23 & 27) and have lived here for 14 years, August this year.
Our newsletter front cover is adorned with their wedding pic.
We all wish Wendy & Donny Bond continued blessings …..
What is reiki?
Reiki helps balance our energy force which are called
chakras. We all have 7 chakras.
1. Root Chakra - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded. Location: Base of spine in tailbone area. Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money, and food. More on Root Chakra healing 2. Sacral Chakra - Our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences. Location: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches in. Emotional issues: Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, sexuality. More on Sacral Chakra healing 3. Solar Plexus Chakra - Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives. Location: Upper abdomen in the stomach area. Emotional issues: Self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem. More on Solar Plexus Chakra healing 4. Heart Chakra - Our ability to love. Location: Center of chest just above heart. Emotional issues: Love, joy, inner peace. More on Heart Chakra healing 5. Throat Chakra - Our ability to communicate. Location: Throat. Emotional issues: Communication, self-expression of feelings, the truth. More on Throat Chakra healing 6. Third Eye Chakra - Our ability to focus on and see the big picture. Location: Forehead between the eyes. (Also called the Brow Chakra) Emotional issues: Intuition, imagination, wisdom, ability to think and make decisions. More on Third Eye Chakra healing 7. Crown Chakra - The highest Chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.
Location: The very top of the head. Emotional issues: Inner and outer beauty, our connection to spirituality, pure bliss. One of the greatest Reiki healing health benefits is stress reduction and relaxation, which triggers the body’s natural healing abilities, and improves and maintains health. Reiki healing is a natural therapy that gently balances life energies and brings health and well-being to the recipient. This simple, non-invasive healing system works with the Higher Self of the Receiver to promote health and well-being of the entire physical, emotional and psychic body. Therefore it is truly a system of attaining and promoting wholeness of Mind, Body and Spirit. Some Of The Reiki Healing
Health Benefits: - Creates deep relaxation and aids the body to release stress and tension, It accelerates the body’s self-healing abilities, - Aids better sleep, - Reduces blood pressure - Can help with acute (injuries) and chronic problems (asthma, eczema, headaches, etc.) and aides the breaking of addictions, - Helps relieve pain, - Removes energy blockages, adjusts the energy flow of the endocrine system bringing the body into balance and harmony, - Assists the body in cleaning itself from toxins, - Reduces some of the side effects of drugs and helps the body to recover from drug therapy after surgery and chemotherapy, - Supports the immune system, Increases vitality and postpones the aging process, - Raises the vibrational frequency of the body, - Helps spiritual growth and emotional clearing If anyone would like to try a reiki session feel free to email me [email protected]
Active and Safe Routes to School is an initiative geared towards encouraging families to
choose active transportation for the trip to and from school. Active transportation
programs encourage school communities to walk, wheel (cycle, scoot, wheelchair, skate) or
bus to and from school. Active transportation increases physical activity, improves physical,
mental and emotional health while also benefiting our environment.
The Issues
Childhood obesity rates are increasing.
• The number of students walking to school has been steadily decreasing over the past
25 years.
• Automobile dependency is contributing to increasing greenhouse gas emissions and
negatively impacting the environment across Ontario.
An Opportunity
In working together, school administrators, teachers, parents, other school board staff,
public health departments and municipalities can implement an Active and Safe Routes to
School Program focussed on promoting active transportation. Green Communities' Canada
Walks collaborates with organizations and schools across Canada to help support active
school travel initiatives and manages the School Travel Planning process. The Active & Safe
routes to school website contains numerous resources to support schools and communities
which can be found under the useful links section.
The Benefits
There are so many benefits to having an Active and Safe Routes to School Program,
including:
• Improving student health by increasing daily exercise.
• Improving student success by improving health and wellness.
• Enhancing school safety by decreasing the volume of vehicles at school.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollutants.
From Recreation Committee.....
The Benefits of an Evening Walk
By: Leaving Healthy 360
Walking is one of the healthiest ways to exercise. It’s a low impact activity which can be done at any
time and in any place with any one. There are many benefits to starting a walking routine today.
1 – Walking in the evening can relax you after a long day. During this time you are working different
muscles of the body other than your mind which helps your body relax. Even though it’s exercise and
you may feel tired after a long day, going for a walk will improve your energy levels and boost
your mood.
2 – An evening walk means that your body is getting some exercise. People don’t exercise enough
which is the cause of many health problems around the world. Going for a walk in the evening can
help you get some exercise every day without being too exhausting. Thirty to sixty minutes is all you
need for a decent workout after a tough day.
3 – Use the time during an evening walk to clear your mind. Walking is a soothing activity that can
help you unwind and clear away any negative or stressful thoughts that may have plagued you over the
course of the day.
4 – Taking a walk in the evening can help you sleep better. Many times it’s difficult to get to sleep
because of thoughts running through our minds as we lie awake in bed. This is annoying and can
deprive you of much needed sleep. A walk can fix that. You get some extra oxygen in your lungs, think
things through as you walk and return home relaxed so that when it’s time to go to bed you can fall
asleep easily and get a good nights’ sleep.
5 – Digest your dinner better by going for a walk. Taking a walk half an hour after you’ve eaten can
help your body digest your food. Proper digestion is something that many people don’t think about but
it can affect the way you feel. Digesting your food properly by taking a walk will help you feel lighter
on your feet, reduce or even avoid bloating, and make you feel better overall.
There are many benefits to taking an evening walk. Stress less, get some exercise and digest your food
properly before heading off to bed. Going for a walk in the evening is a great way to unwind and finish
the day on a good note.
COME AND WALK WITH US.........STARTING SOON
School Supplies
Bedtime
Healthy Living
School Year Priorities
Homework
Bullying
Learning at Home
Elementary School High School
B A C K T O S C H O O L T I P S
Check to see what supplies you still have available from last year. Checkthe dollar store for bargains or take advantage of back-to-school sales.Use a checklist to avoid duplication.
About a week before the beginning of school, start a routine wherechildren are going to bed earlier, especially if they have been staying uplater over the summer holidays.
Children need good food,daily physical activity and a healthy environmentthat supports learning and growth.Through Healthy Schools initiatives,such as 20 minutes of daily physical activity and having healthy food invending machines, the Ontario government is working with schools toensure kids maximize their potential. Look for crunchy fruits and vegetables and low-fat food choices to tuck into lunch boxes and enjoyfamily walks, biking or hikes so everyone gets exercise.
Figure out the ground rules for after-school activities, chores, home-work, television and Internet use. By discussing priorities early, you canset a schedule and avoid confrontations later on.
Set up a well-lit, quiet place with a good work surface for your child todo homework. Encourage a regular homework time and discouragedistractions.
Bullying is a serious problem, can be verbal, social, physical and electronic and needs to be dealt with promptly through dialogue. Aswell, children can speak directly with Kids Help Phone. The Ontariogovernment recently provided funding to the helpline so additionalcounsellors are available to help with bullying problems.The governmentwill also be producing a booklet on dealing with bullying that you canorder from www.edu.gov.on.ca.
Parents can support the government's literacy and numeracy programsby incorporating learning into everyday life - for example, by havingkids read package labels and weigh produce during grocery shoppingtrips. Reading to your child for just 20 minutes a day can amount tomore than 1,420 hours by age 12.
Check to see what supplies are usable from last year, work out a budgetand then let teens buy their own supplies. Buy supplies just beforeschool starts, to take advantage of back-to-school sales. Use a supplychecklist and don't forget to get lock for their lockers.
Establish acceptable hours for school nights that you can both live with.Despite what teens think, they do need a good night's sleep.
Buy a variety of healthy food choices and ask your teens what theywant to eat, so that lunches are enjoyable and nutritious. Breakfast isthe most important meal of the day, so encourage teens to take timeto eat in the morning.And remind them that daily physical activity is animportant way to maintain their ideal weight and have a positive bodyimage. A family run is a great way to spend quality time together andburn calories.
Set priorities for after-school activities, job and chore hours, home-work and leisure time. Encourage your teen to stick with the list, andrevise it if priorities change.
Encourage a regular homework time with limited distractions. Establishappropriate times for phone calls, instant messaging, electronic gamesand other activities.
Bullying is a serious problem, can be verbal, social, physical and electronic and needs to be dealt with promptly through dialogue. Aswell, children can speak directly with Kids Help Phone. The Ontariogovernment recently provided funding to the helpline so additionalcounsellors are available to help with bullying problems.The governmentwill also be producing a booklet on dealing with bullying that you canorder from www.edu.gov.on.ca.
Encourage reading for pleasure in the home and provide a variety ofreading materials, from novels to magazines, you know your teens willenjoy.Your local library is a great place to start.
So we just recently finished our month long
fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and let me tell
you, fasting can be good for your health if it’s done
correctly.
When the body is starved of food, it starts to burn fat so
that it can make energy. This can lead to weight loss.
However, if you fast for too long your body will
eventually start breaking down muscle protein for
energy, which is unhealthy.
Ramadan isn’t always thought of as being an opportunity
to lose weight because the spiritual aspect is
emphasised more generally than the health aspect;
however, it’s a great chance to get the physical benefits
as well.
The changes that happen in the body during a fast
depend on the length of the continuous fast. The body
enters into a fasting state eight hours or so after the last
meal, when the gut finishes absorbing nutrients from the
food.
In the normal state, body glucose, which is stored in the
liver and muscles, is the body’s main source of energy.
During a fast, this store of glucose is used up first to
provide energy. Later in the fast, once the glucose runs
out, fat becomes the next source of energy for the body.
With a prolonged fast of many days or weeks, the body
starts using protein for energy.
This is the technical description of what is commonly
known as "starvation". It is clearly unhealthy and
involves protein being released by the breakdown of
muscle, which is why people who starve look very thin
and become extremely weak.
However, you are unlikely to reach the starvation stage
during Ramadan, because the fast is broken daily.
As the Ramadan fast only lasts from dawn till dusk, the
body's energy can be replaced in the pre-dawn and dusk
meals.
This provides a gentle transition from using glucose as
the main source of energy, to using fat, and prevents the
breakdown of muscle for protein.
The use of fat for energy helps weight loss. It preserves
the muscles and eventually reduces your cholesterol
level. In addition, weight loss results in better control of
diabetes and reduces blood pressure.
A detoxification process also occurs, because any toxins
stored in the body’s fat are dissolved and removed from
the body.
After a few days of the fast, higher levels of endorphins
appear in the blood, making you more alert and
giving an overall feeling of general mental wellbeing.
A balanced food and fluid intake is important between
fasts. The kidneys are very efficient at maintaining the
body’s water and salts, such as sodium and potassium.
However, these can be lost through perspiration.
To prevent muscle breakdown, meals must contain
enough energy food, such as carbohydrates and some
fat.
The way to approach your diet during fasting is similar to
the way you should be eating outside Ramadan. You
should have a balanced diet, with the right proportion of
carbs, fat and protein.
Fasting and its Benefits
By Shiraz Hudda
Too often fasting becomes a
challenge of what we do when
it should be about changing
what we are.
WORKING TO SERVE YOU BETTER!
PRE – AUTHORIZED PAYMENT
AVAILABLE OCTOBER 1, 2014
We are pleased to be able to offer the residents of PARKFARM CO-OP a Pre-Authorized Payment process for your monthly HOUSING FEE beginning
OCTOBER 1, 2014. Once you have completed the required forms your monthly payments can be withdrawn from your bank account on the first of each month. You won’t have to wait for a cheque to be processed…..it’s an instant transfer of funds! If you are interested, please obtain the form from your site office, complete it and return it to the office with a void cheque. It’s that easy. Note: If there is a change in your housing fee due to renewal you will be informed in writing and the adjustment made to your withdrawal. Thank you, Valerie Hayes