Do you do all the cooking in your household? Is it always up to the parents to prepare every meal? Sometimes it’s good to teach preteens or teens how to make their own meal, so if you can’t make it home in time to prepare dinner, they can still make something that’s filling and nutritious (something other than a peanut butter sandwich). I’m a senior in high school now, and though my parents typically still prepare meals, they can’t always be there. When that happens, I don’t have to order pizza or resort to mac-n-cheese; I can make my own meals. One of my favorites, which is easy to learn and teach, is an omelet. When I was 10, my dad let me help him make omelets. Each time he made them, I would help with a different part. Eventually, I could do it all myself. Here are the steps to create an omelet (like the one pictured):

1. In a medium-sized bowl, beat 3 eggs and an “eggs-worth” of milk (I use 2%) until the mixture is relatively even and a little bit frothy.
2. Cut up whatever extras you want on the inside of your omelet (I like tomatoes and ham) and allow them to simmer in a smaller frying pan.
3. After adding butter to prevent the omelet from sticking, pour the egg mixture into a frying pan that is large enough to let the mixture create a layer no thicker than a centimeter. Allow it to fry until most of the egg mixture has cooked through, except perhaps a thin layer on top.
4. Flip it over! Wait until there is no longer any uncooked egg mixture left over.
5. Turn off the heat. Now’s the time add the “filling” on top of one side of the omelet, add cheese if you’d like, and fold the uncovered half over this one. Salt and pepper as needed, and enjoy!

I like making omelets, because you can add a variety of “fillings” depending on your taste or what’s available in the house. Of all the meals I cook, I enjoy my omelets the most; they are easy to make and taste great!

Tweet This Post

Every year, on the fourth Thursday of November, one of my, and many Americans’, favorite holidays comes around.  This holiday, Thanksgiving, is a holiday of food, family, and football.

First, a little Thanksgiving history.  In the middle of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, prompted by a series of editorials written by Sarah Josepha Hale, proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated on the final Thursday in November 1863.  Abraham Lincoln’s successors as president followed his example of annually declaring the final Thursday in November to be Thanksgiving. But in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt broke with this tradition. November had five Thursdays that year, and Roosevelt declared the fourth Thursday as Thanksgiving rather than the fifth one. In 1940 and 1941, years in which November had four Thursdays, he declared the third one as Thanksgiving. With the country still in the midst of The Great Depression, Roosevelt thought an earlier Thanksgiving would give merchants a longer period to sell goods before Christmas. Since 1942, this holiday has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday. (more…)

Tweet This Post

That’s right, the dreaded time of year has arrived for most American students!  With this comes panic, fatigue, and suffering.  So, in order to keep you from quarantining your child or wallet, I’ve made a teen’s back to school survival guide for you, the parent.

• Don’t buy school supplies in advance:  Almost every year I have gotten school supplies in advance, only to show up at school and discover I need something else or something I got isn’t the right type.  Get it all after the first day of school in one easy trip to avoid miscalculation.  Most schools aren’t going to force you to have everything on the first day of school.
• Get a good night’s rest:  The first day of school is stressful and exciting , so the night before, have your child get a good rest.  Not only will they be tired and confused without it, they will irritate everyone around them, and that will not help their school year.
• Feed them well:  On the first day of school, my mom always makes breakfast and in my opinion, that helps my attitude and gives me energy to get though the day.  Also, a good meal the night before doesn’t hurt.
• Run a ‘trial night’:  A few days before school starts, have your children go to bed at school bed times and wake up and get ready like it’s a school day.  You can try to work out the kinks like showering and a decent wake up time to prevent commotion on the real school day.
• Don’t stress:  Your child (or children) is already stressed enough without you freaking out, too.
• Prepare the night before:  Pack school bags and lunches, pick out outfits, and other things in advance, so the first day’s morning runs smoothly and without a hitch.
• Don’t overdo it: This is the first day of school, not World War Three.

This guide should help you along, but it won’t be perfect, so just run with the ball. . .

Tweet This Post

It’s all about the family. Bringing and keeping the family together is one of the highest and best endeavors to which a human being can aspire. One simple but essential facet of family togetherness is the forging and keeping of family traditions.

Family traditions come in all sizes, from elaborate annual gatherings involving distant relations to daily prayer time with just a parent and a child joining together. Each type of tradition has its own merits and usefulness. As far as I’m concerned, when it comes to a family tradition the simple things really are the best.

One of my favorite traditions is Cinnamon Roll Saturday. Every Saturday morning our children pile into our bed, where much wrestling and tickling ensues until either my wife or I drag ourselves into the kitchen to start the cinnamon rolls. Eight to ten minutes of additional tickling, wrestling, and general smack-down follow until the sound of the oven timer signals the end of the preliminary festivities.

It started as a whole series of weekly themed meals. We tried Meatless Monday. The carnivore in me chafed against that one until it went away quietly. Taco Tuesday was fun for awhile, but we got tired of that before long. Wacky Wednesday never really amounted to anything, and the non-alliterative Leftover Thursday was not a fan favorite. The sole survivor of the themed meals was Cinnamon Roll Saturday, interestingly enough, the only tradition that involved a strong possibility of a serious pillow fight as well as a meal.

Whether your tradition centers around a meal, a sport, a faith-based observance, or whatever else you may choose, find something that everyone enjoys and can look forward to on a regular schedule. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive; I think we spend $2.29 a week on a tube of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. The important thing is that you make the most of the time together. These simple moments will be a source of joy for many years to come, and may inspire your children to create traditions of their own for the next generation.

Tweet This Post

There are more overweight children today than there were 10 or 15 years ago. This is because more and more children today  lead unhealthy lifestyles. Today children spend at least five hours in front of the TV each day and eat unhealthy food. More and more children are not into sports and other physical activities because they’d rather watch TV or play computer games.

Who is to blame for this? We adults. Children are quick at copying what adults do; parents are the role models for children. Parents who spend their free time in front of the TV are more  likely to turn their children into couch potatoes. The bad eating habits of parents are also easily transferred to children. Children eat what they see their parents eat and what they see in the refrigerator; they eat what is available and not what they think is good for them. Children who spend much time sitting or lying down and eating the wrong foods are at risk of developing heart disease when they are older.

Parents who practice healthy lifestyle raise healthy children. It is the duty of parents to teach their children how to lead healthy lives. The best way to teach healthy lifestyles to children is by living it. Parents should stress healthy eating habits at home.  Never allow your children to eat in front of the television. You also should fill your cupboard with good food like veggies, fruits, and grains. Good food must be matched with good physical activities, so spend your free time exercising together with your children. This can be done by playing outdoor sports and games. When you spend your free time engaging in sports and other physical activities with your children it is not only good health that you and your children are gaining, you also strengthen your bond with them.

Children who learn early the value of healthy eating and exercise are more likely to continue such habits throughout their lives.  It is our responsibilities as parents to guide them to the road of healthy living.

Tweet This Post