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Making Connections that Make a Difference. |
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INSIDE...
-Cooking with Kids Empowers Families
-Detox Recipes for A New Year, New You
-The Unique Benefits of Mindful Parenting
-Cancer Prevention Is In Your Hands
-Upcoming Community Events
OUTSIDE...
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Two Princeton-Area Moms Hope to Empower Families to Get Back into the Kitchen
"A healthy relationship with food begins at home," says Nicole Koroghlian, social worker, parent educator, and co-founder of Wholesome Kids Cook. "Our goal is to help families rediscover the lost art of cooking as way of spending time together,  communicating with each other, and having fun as a family."
Together with Stephanie Goodman, a family nutritionist who specializes in ADHD, autism, and digestive disorders, Koroghlian started Wholesome Kids Cook, a Princeton-based company that offers educational cooking classes for preschoolers and their parents.
"If kids learn at an early age that preparing food and eating it together is fun, they are more likely to have a healthy association with food as they grow," says Koroghlian.
"Society today has made it easy for us not to cook," says Goodman. "But convenient fast food and packaged, processed foods are seriously contributing to obesity-related diseases in kids and adults. We're the first generation to be less healthy than the generation before us."
Wholesome Kids Cook offers a unique class environment where parent and preschoolers explore cooking together using all-natural and organic ingredients. Child and parent alike learn the value of choosing healthy foods and how to enjoy preparing and eating them together. In this hands-on class, kids ages 3-5 learn basic cooking skills such as mixing, measuring, cutting, and kitchen safety, as well as table etiquette, recycling and composting.
Wholesome Kids Cook will be offering free sample cooking demos at Tiger Hall in Princeton on Jan. 14 at 1 or 2 pm; Sample classes in Howell on Jan. 22 at 1 or 2 pm. Space is limited. Call 609-937-5215 to register. Classes begin in both locations in February. More info at www.wholesomekidscook.com
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Is A New Year's Cleanse the Way for You to Start Off Fresh?
Holiday indulgences make many of us feel like we need to clean house (our body, that is) as a way to start off the new year fresh. Natural foods chef Tara Bogota offers these tips and a recipe to try.
"Cleansing can be as simple as enjoying fresh fruit or vegetable juices as a meal replacement, adding lemon to your water, slowly eliminating caffeine (replacing it with green tea) or cutting down on your animal protein to give your digestive system a little break," says Bogota. Here, she offers a recipe for a cleaning tea:
Shiitake Mushroom Tea
Shiitake mushrooms have been used medicinally  by the Chinese for more than 6,000 years. This tea may help dissolve excess fats and salt from your body and help relax your system.
3 dried shiitake mushrooms
3.5 cups spring or filtered water
Pinch sea salt or a few drops shoyu sauce
Soak dried mushrooms in water for 30 min or until soft; Finely chop mushrooms and place in a pot with soaking water; Gently bring to a boil; Add sea salt or shoyu toward the end and drink when hot
Bogota specializes in healthy and healing foods with an emphasis on vegetarian cuisine. She is co-owner of VeggieNanda Organic Catering Food Services. For info, visit www.thepoweroffood.net |
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What Is This Thing Called Mindfulness and How Can It Help Me Be A More Present, Patient Parent?
Most people associate the practice of mindfulness with yoga, meditation, or Zen Buddhism. So how may it be applied to troubleshooting parenting challenges?
In his workshops and class series, psychotherapist Dr. Rob Handelman helps parents understand the power of  mindfulness and its use in parenting, particularly when it comes to confrontations that evoke strong emotions in us, such as grocery store tantrums or teenage fits of rage.
"Using mindfulness, we increase our awareness and our understanding of our own reactions to our kids," says Handelman. "It's a very rude awakening to realize what we have control over and what we do not. But, what changes when we take a moment to stop amidst a conflict? By becoming present, particularly to our feelings and thoughts, as well as our child's feelings and thoughts, we are more able to accept who they are and who we are. This gives us freedom to be more flexible, less reactive, and to choose more effective parenting skills."
In Handelman's upcoming 4-week Mindful Parenting course in Maplewood, participants will ask themselves: What kind of parent do I really want to be? How can I parent by my values? What behavior am I modeling for my children? As a group, we learn tools for troubleshooting interactions with our kids, for communicating with them more patiently and peacefully, and for bringing the practice of mindfulness into our homes and family lives.
Handelman's class will be held in Maplewood on Wednesdays, Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, and 17, from 7:30 pm - 9 pm. Cost for the series is $120/person; $220/couple. Space is limited. For more information, email Dr. Rob Handelman, drrobh@hotmail.com
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Simple Dietary Strategies for Cancer Prevention That Are Within Your Power
Dr. Marda Sussman, a naturopathic doctor who will be presenting a free lecture on Jan. 11 called "Natural Approaches to Preventing Cancer," offers these nutritional tips for keeping cancer at bay.
- Keep your diet alkaline by loading up on vegetables and keeping grain and protein amounts lower.
- Decrease meat consumption, replacing it with legumes and soy.
- Use onions and garlic with gusto.
- Consume a high fiber diet -- 30 grams of fiber daily.
For more information, as well as suggestions for lifestyle and environmental adjustments that may prevent cancer, register to hear Sussman speak at The Rocking Chair Women's Wellness Center on Mon., January 11, from 7:30 - 9:30 pm. In addition to interactive discussion, guests will be treated to a guided imagery session with Creative Arts Specialist Debra Korman. Space is limited so register in advance here or call 201-308-5325.
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Upcoming Community Events |
Light Vibe Healing Presents Room Spray Launch Celebration & Space Clearing Workshop
Space Clearing Workshop with Maia Gilman marks the launch of her line of essential oil room sprays. Tues., Jan. 12, 10 am to 11 am. Mia Cose Bella, South Orange NJ. More info at www.lightvibehealing.com
Nuturing the Nature of Our Children: A Teach and Talk Workshop
Learn what modern brain science teaches toward holistic, attachment-based parenting. Tues., Jan. 12, 7 pm. The Messy Artist, South Orange, NJ. $10. childcare available for $10. Register by calling 973-378-2425. www.themessyartist.com
Reiki Level 1 Workshop in South Orange
Saturday & Sunday, January 16 & 17, 8 am to 12 noon.
Bodhi Tree, 75 South Orange Avenue, South Orange. $135. www.lightvibehealing.com
Balance Your Life! A Wellness Gala in Morristown
Experience mini sessions, workshops and demonstrations by wellness professionals. Includes music, light refreshments, and raffle. Jan. 30, 1 pm. $20/person. Register before Jan 20 and receive 3 free raffle tickets ($10 value). www.wellnessgala.com
Natural Ways to Balance Hormones
Naturopathic doctor Marda Sussman offers free lecture. Discover how diet and supplements may help you treat hormone imbalance. The Rocking Chair Women's Wellness Center, Englewood, NJ. Feb. 22, 7:30 pm. www.therockingchair.org
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WHO WE ARE
Mindful Living NJ strives to educate and empower individuals to take charge of their health. We help individuals connect with holistic health and wellness practitioners through consultations, educational presentations, and events. We also help holistic health and wellness professionals gain access to the community through marketing and public relations support. Find out more by contacting Jen Maidenberg at jen@mindfullivingnj.com |
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This is not medical advice, nor is Mindful Living NJ a licensed physician providing medical treatment. If medical treatment or advice is necessary, please contact a qualified medical practitioner. As part of our service, if you desire, we can put you in contact with a qualified medical practitioner. All information provided is for general purposes only. | |
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