GaGa Sisterhood
June 2011
GaGazine Contents
2011 Calendar
2011 Programs
Beautiful Bubble Brew Recipe
Meet Joni Sare, Therapeutic Chef
6 Tips to Help Your Grandkids Eat Healthy
Our First Mother-Daughter Retreat
The GaGa Zone
Quick Links
2011 Calendar 

Date      Host          Presenter

July 10   Carol W      Julie M.

Sep 18   Carleen       Rona Renner 

Nov 6     Dee            Ruth O'Hara
  


2011 Programs

July 10  

Author and grandmother Julie Matsushima will share the inspiring story of her granddaughter who was born with cerebral palsy. In her book, For the Love of Aimee, Julie writes about the disappointments, challenges, and amazing achievements Aimee and Julie experience as they embark on a journey to find a breakthrough for Aimee.  

September 18

Rona Renner, RN, a nationally recognized parent educator and radio talk show host of Childhood Matters, will lead a discussion about learning differences, temperament, and family communication. "Nurse Rona" has four children and two grandchildren.  

November 6

Dr. Ruth O'Hara, research professor at Stanford School of Medicine, will discuss some of her work on sleep issues and give us some suggestions for improving our sleep. 


Beautiful Bubble Brew Recipe

Amelia bubbles

Whenever I visit my granddaughters, I bring some new activity for us to enjoy. I always find lots of great ideas in Sue Johnson's book,GrandLoving: Making Memories with Your Grandchildren. On my last visit I brought a large container of homemade "beautiful bubble brew" that I found in her book. Here's the recipe:

 

6 cups water
2 cups dishwashing liquid (Joy or Dawn works best)
3/4 cup Karo light corn syrup
Bubble wands: canning jar rings, funnels, wire coat hanger shaped into a big 6" wand, straws

 

1. Combine the water, dishwashing liquid, and syrup.

2. Let the mixture sit for four hours before using.

3. Pour into a frying pan or large pan and dip in your wand, then blow!

4. Store the mixture in covered glass or plastic containers for future use.

Greetings!

 

I can't eat the way I did when I was younger. My metabolism has slowed down and I don't burn as many calories as I used to. My waistline is expanding and elastic waistbands are looking more appealing every year.

 

So how does a grandma who loves to eat solve this dilemma? I know I could make healthier food choices and I've been looking for someone to show me how.

 

The universe answered. On my Stillheart Retreat, I met Joni Sare, a therapeutic chef and nutrition educator who teaches people how to eat for health--mindfully and consciously.

 

Joni's goal is to inspire people to create and share healthy, tasty dishes using natural ingredients with a variety of colors, flavors, textures, and techniques.

 

We spoke on the phone and she had some interesting proposals for our members. I've included three of her ideas below and would like your feedback on which ones interest you.

 

Happy Summer,

 

  SigColor

Meet Joni Sare, Therapeutic Chef        

 

joni sareChef and nutrition educator Joni Sare has a wealth of information on her website that includes recipes and tips for healthy eating. Here are some of Joni's suggestions for a GaGa Sisterhood event: 

 

1. Dialog Dinner:  Joni would have a sit-down dinner at her home or some other home that is conducive to serving a group of 8 - 14 people. She would invite an expert in some field to sit at the head of the table and talk about anti-aging and quality of life issues for those over 50.

 

2. Cooking class for grandmas: Joni would teach a private healthy cooking class at Whole Foods Los Altos or Cupertino's Culinary Center or at her home with a follow-up cooking class for grandmas and the grandkids.

 

3. Tour of Whole Foods and/or tour of the Farmers Market for grandmas: Joni would lead a private tour (maximum of 5 grandmas) to discuss produce, gluten-free items, nutrient-dense prepared foods, budget shopping, etc.  

 

6 Tips to Help Your Grandkids Eat Healthy


Getting children to try new foods can be a real challenge. That's why I'm constantly amazed by my two granddaughters' willingness to taste new dishes when we go out to restaurants together. The credit goes to my daughter and son-in-law, who introduced healthy food with the first bites of solids. Those early days of mashed avocado and brown rice cereal have resulted in girls who enjoy cuisines from around the world, but have never stepped inside a fast-food restaurant.  

 

Given the challenges today's parents face in feeding their children, it isn't easy to get kids to eat healthy. Tanya Wenman Steel, author of Real Food for Healthy Kids, offers some tips for developing healthy eating habits.

 

1. Introduce a wide range of healthy foods when children are young and can feed themselves. Studies show that kids need to try foods over a dozen times to get used to the flavor, taste and smell.

 

2. Institute "no, thank you bites." Tell children they just have to taste one tiny bite, that's the rule. Steel believes that parents have the authority when it comes to food and there's no negotiating. Parents should not be short-order cooks and make special meals for picky eaters.

 

3. Engage children in the kitchen as young as possible so they'll associate the kitchen with fun. A two-year old can sit on the floor and wash lettuce or sugar snap peas.

 

4. Let children help you at the grocery store. Ask them to pick out the most colorful fruits and vegetables. Involve them in planning and preparing meals.

 

5. Watch portion sizes. Children's portions are half of what parents think they should be. 

 

6. Be sure you eat the same food you serve your children. "You have to be the ultimate PR person for spinach or seven-grain bread. And that means not just talking the talk, but walking the walk and  eating that way every day in front of them." 

 

Our First Mother-Daughter Retreat 

   

 MoDa trio

On June 11, Jackie Long, my daughter Deborah Davis, and I held a daylong retreat for mothers and daughters at Stillheart Institute in Woodside, CA.

 

I've always known that the mother-daughter relationship can be fraught with tension, hurt feelings, and unresolved issues. If those issues are left unattended, they can grow and prevent the relationship from flourishing.

 

What I didn't know before June 11 was whether mothers and daughters would be willing to focus some attention on their relationship and nurture it in a safe setting.

 

Now that we've given our first Mother-Daughter Retreat, I'm happy to report that mothers and daughters are not only willing to work, they are eager to nurture this precious relationship that has such an enormous impact on their lives. Click to read more  

 

The GaGa Zone   
Please continue sending me pictures and stories of you with your grandchildren for the GaGa Zone.

Edna

GaGa Edna with granddaughters Anora  

and new sister Elena