Parent Influence

Consuming nuts as part of a healthy diet is a very good idea. Not only are nuts a good source of dietary fiber that can help satiate your hunger for a long time, they also contain a cocktail of nutrients that are great for cardiovascular health. These include vitamin E and L-arginine, which play a big role in keeping your arteries healthy, as well as plant sterols and unsaturated fats, which are essential to maintaining healthy levels of good cholesterol in the body. Nuts are also rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which are known to help prevent anomalous heart rhythms.

Being such a powerhouse of nutrients, nuts definitely need to be part of your everyday diet, but exactly how can you consume them more enjoyably? Naturally, you can eat them in their original form and take pleasure in their rich, earthy flavor, but there are also many creative ways to have them without unnecessarily overindulging. Read on to find out just how!

Salads. Adding crushed almonds or walnuts into your salads is an easy way to lend more texture and to your favorite greens. Also consider adding aromatic vegetables like arugula or basil, as well as slices of fruits like apples, oranges, or grapes to add further dimension to your salads.

Cereals. Whole grain cereals are a great source of fiber, B-vitamins, vitamin E, minerals and phytochemicals all on their own, but add nuts on them as toppings, and you can easily make your cereal breakfasts more nutritious. Also consider adding fruits and seeds to further boost your cereal’s nutrition profile.

Asian Dishes. Nuts are a quintessential ingredients in many Asian cuisines, with peanuts being used in popular dishes like the Chinese stir-fry dish kung pao, the Thai noodle dish pad thai, and the Filipino stew kare-kare. Other popular nuts used in Asian stir-fry dishes are walnuts and cashews.

Milked Nuts. Drinking milked nuts is another great way to enjoy the nutrients afforded by nuts without eating them whole. The best plant-based, milked nut products are those that are made through cold milling process, which doesn’t use heat. This means the nutrients of the whole nuts are preserved, and the milk products produced are naturally creamy, eschewing the need to use artificial stabilizers or food gums.

Nut Butters. Whether they’re from almonds, pecans, peanuts, pistachios, or macadamia nuts,  nut butters offer a great way for everyone to enjoy the wholesome goodness of nuts. Spread your favorite nut butter on toast or on a banana for a boost of healthy carbs and potassium, respectively. You can also eat them on their own as a tasty treat after a savory meal. Always choose nut butters that are low in sugar so you can really enjoy the health benefits of the source nuts without the negative effects of too much sugar.

Nuts with Popcorn. Looking for healthy alternative to those grease- and flavoring-laden potato and corn chips from supermarkets? Consider snacking on roasted nuts and popcorn instead. However, make sure not to use the super oily popcorn that you get from cinemas or groceries. Air-popped, home-cooked popcorn is always best.

Nuts on Ice Cream or Yogurt. What better way to enjoy nuts than by using them as healthy toppings for your ice cream or yogurt dessert? Make sure to pick the low-sugar variants of these popular treats to cut back on unnecessary calories.

Nuts are unquestionably versatile, and it only takes a little imagination on your part to find out how they can be of better use to your everyday meals and desserts. Have fun!

As a dog owner, you understand only things that dogs owners understand—how dogs can restore your sense of wisdom and wonder. It’s hard to feel lonely when you have a warm, loving companion by your side always ready for a rubdown or a walk.

Bringing you joy and igniting your spontaneous sense of love and generosity, dogs can touch your heart and help you laugh again after a particularly hard day at work. Blissfully ignorant of things like tyrannical bosses, conniving colleagues, missed deadlines, and scope creep that pushes projects over budget, dogs can help you find your sense of balance when you get home.

So, what can you do to return the favor? How can you help your dog enjoy a wonderful life? Here are a few ways you can help your dog feel happier, more carefree, and well-loved:

Buy a GPS collar 

The purpose of getting your dog a GPS collar is simple: it helps prevent your dog from getting lost. This can happen, for instance, when you’re in the woods and your dog joyfully romps out of sight chasing a squirrel. When it comes to GPS dog tracking collar, the DU Supply Garmin Astro 320 is the next generation. This type of collar is particularly useful if you live in a remote area and your dog gets out of the house and wanders off.

Provide Your Dog with Special Foods

Besides giving your dog a favorite brand of dog food, or your own home-cooked dog food after doing some online research, consider giving your dog some nutritious snacks.

Although you don’t want to overdo it, some good times to give your dog treats are as a reward during dog training, during holidays when everyone around your poor dog is relishing treats, and during those times when you think your dog is looking a little too lean.

So, while your kids might be enjoying their Halloween candy or your family and friends savoring your special Thanksgiving dessert, give your dog snacks designed for dogs. Natural treats are often made with peanuts, apple, carrots, oats, and similar wholesome ingredients.

Special foods like green tripe, milk thistle, raw eggs, organ meats, and coconut oil can help your dog build muscle and get a shinier coat. Think of them as doggy supplements.

Help Your Sick Dog Feel Better

While, of course, a trip to your caring veterinarian is the most sensible way to help your dog get well again, sometimes your local clinic may be so busy that it will take a few days before you can get an appointment.

What do you do in the meanwhile? Here are some home remedies you can try to make your pooch feel a little better:

• If your dog is suffering from nausea, vomits often, or has diarrhea, give your dog plenty of fluids with electrolytes to help them shake off their lethargy.
• If you suspect your dog is suffering from gastrointestinal distress, which often happens with puppies, then give your dog some yogurt to help repopulate their gut bacteria.
• If your dog is constantly scratching because they have a minor skin irritation, get a spray bottle and fill it with chamomile tea. Chamomile has soothing qualities that can help your dog feel less itchy.

Use a Dog Stroller

The idea of dog strollers is slowly getting wider acceptance. Although dog strollers are often used for elderly dogs who tire easily after long walks, they are also useful for taking your sick dog to the vet or for providing your dog with a safe space they can curl up for napping if you have to take your dog for a day at your busy office or have to stay overnight at a motel.

Find Great Places for Dog Walks

Humans aren’t the only ones who love to go to interesting places. A family vacation could include finding comprehensive trail guides for your dog to enjoy some outdoor adventure. There are numerous long-distance trails in populated Eastern and Midwestern regions and in the more remote Western areas.

There are many special things you can do for your dog. After all, as a New York Times article by researcher Gregory Burns says, “Dogs are people, too.”

The concept of family is not just about those who were born to you or share a blood relation. The family is defined by a person or group of people with whom you feel closest to. I have a large extended “family” that doesn’t involve just blood-related family members. The family structure regardless of blood relation is a vital component of society and the mental health of our children.  When children grow up in a household that puts family bonding at a high level of priority, tend to be more caring, compassionate and great at relationships in the future.

Keeps Family United

Bonding is not just an important word for family. It makes us feel united as one. Strangers all over unite to bond over a similar passion or cause all of the time. Family bonding is much like those instances when a portion of society meets up to discuss their favorite cause, passion or business goal. Family bonding goes a bit deeper as emotions are involved. This type of bonding helps a group of people who call each other family learn more about each other’s likes, loves, and passions. It helps solidify a love like no other person or group will ever provide to the family members.

Healthy Connections

One benefit of family bonding that I personally love is that it helps inspire healthy connections and relationships. This goes beyond the initial family unit. When children grow up in a home that put bonding time as a priority, they tend to foster healthy connections with others in society. Children who spent quality time with their family unit have a more positive outlook on life and know how to maintain healthy connections with their friends and love partners.  Family bonding time helps children learn how to communicate, listen and act appropriately within a safe environment.

A post shared by Brandy Ellen (@brandyellen1) on Jun 24, 2018 at 8:42am PDT

Promote Happiness

Spending quality time bonding as a family helps promote happiness within the entire household as well as within individuals. Letting go of adult responsibilities and sitting down to enjoy the game time, movie time or even just a casual conversation with your children can help ease your stress and promote happier times. Children who grow up in a household where they feel heard and respected will grow up to treat others in the same way and promote happiness everywhere they go in life. Being happy is important to maintaining healthy habits in life, love, and business.

Family bonding is a beautiful thing and there are so many things you can do to boost and promote this time together. Whether you set a specific day of the week for family bonding time or do it at spontaneous moments, family bonding will truly inspire a healthy connection that will run deeper than your immediate household with your family members.

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Easy Family Bonding Idea

Schedule a weekly family movie night, we have Family Friday Night where we eat pizza and my three kids vote on a movie. When the kids were younger, we’d do a slumber party in the living room as well as pizza and a movie. This solidified the bond between my children and me, I highly recommended a Family Friday Night for any family who’s raising kids still.