Back to School: How to Raise Healthier, Smarter, Fitter Children

SCHOOLS HAVE BECOME HAZARDOUS health zones full of empty calories, junk food, and stripped-down physical education programs that are cultivating a nation of fatter, dumber, and more aggressive kids.
In the film, The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg tells his friend that there are more geniuses in China than there are people in the United States. The Cold War gave us the missile gap, but now we have something much more threatening to our future and our children’s future – the achievement gap.
When most school kitchens have only deep fryers, microwaves, and displays for candy and junk food at the checkout counters, how can children stay healthy or learn? When the food served is as addictive as heroin or cocaine, who is accountable?
General Jack Keane, former Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, shared with me that 70 percent of applicants for the military are unfit to serve and can’t pass standardized qualifying tests for military service. The school lunch program was started in 1946 because military recruits were too thin to serve in the military; now, in part because of our school lunch program, our children are too fat and academically challenged to serve.
Kids who skip breakfast and eat sugar-laden, additive-laced foods, and who get 10-15 percent of their calories from liquid sugar drinks like sodas and “sports” drinks not only gain weight and get early diabetes, heart disease and stroke in adolescence, but also can’t pay attention, are less alert, can’t solve problems or do math, have a myriad of learning deficits, and are more depressed, anxious and even violent.
One in six children in America has a neuro-developmental problem such as learning deficits and attention deficit disorder. Could it be due to what we are feeding our children and the lack of physical activity?

When the average kid logs eight hours of screen time a day but only one in five kids meets the recommended levels of physical activity a day developing brains don’t work.

In his landmark paper, Healthier Students are Better Learners: A Missing Link in School Reforms to Close the Achievement Gap, Columbia professor, Charles Basch documents the self-evident premise that kids brains don’t work if they don’t eat well and they don’t move their bodies.
When one in three kids skips breakfast and the rest have vending machine fare of chips and soda, sugary cereals or worse, how can they learn? When the average kid logs eight hours of screen time a day but only one in five kids meets the recommended levels of physical activity a day developing brains don’t work. Professor Basch has recently met with Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, and recommended a series of policy changes that will lead to healthier and smarter kids.
Research shows that food additives contribute to attention deficit disorder that affects almost one in ten children with many more suffering a milder version.(i) A landmark new paper in the Lancet, found that delayed food sensitivities caused attention deficit disorder and removing food sensitivities could reverse attention deficit disorder in 75 percent of children.(ii)
Aggression, violence and bullying are on the rise in schools. In 2005 there were 628,000 violent crimes among students 12–18 years old. Twenty-eight percent of these kids reported being bullied in the previous six months, and eight percent were threatened or injured with a weapon in the preceding 12 months. A prison study in England found that supplementing prisoners with a multi-vitamin and fish oil could reduce violent crime in prisons by 37 percent.(iii)
So what can you do to help your child and what can we do as a nation to raise a smarter, fitter, happier generation of children? It is a two-part solution. We have to take back our homes and our schools, which have been hijacked by the food industry.
Take Back Your Homes
You have total control over what you bring into your home, and what you choose to do there. Small changes can have a big impact on your family’s and your children’s health and happiness. These changes also impact the food industry, agriculture, and marketing practices.

• Eat at home. In 1900, two percent of meals were eaten outside the home. In 2010, 50 percent were eaten away from home. One in five eat breakfast from McDonald’s. Family meals happen about three times a week, last less than 20 minutes, and are spent watching television or texting while each family member eats a different microwavable “food” made in a different factory. We complain of not having enough time to cook, but Americans spend more time watching cooking on The Food Network, than actually preparing their own meals.
• Eat a real breakfast. This is a critical life skill we must reclaim and teach our children. Kids (and adults) who eat breakfast are thinner and smarter. Think real, whole protein-rich food to power up the brain and metabolism for the day.
• Eat together. No matter how modest the meal, create a special place to sit down together, and set the table with care and respect. Family meals are a time for empathy and generosity, a time to nourish and communicate. Research shows that children who have regular meals with their parents do better in every way — from better grades to healthier relationships to staying out of trouble, and are 42 percent less likely to drink, 50 percent less likely to smoke, and 66 percent less likely to smoke pot. Regular family dinners protect girls from bulimia, anorexia, and diet pills. Family dinners reduce the incidence of childhood obesity. In a study on household routines and obesity in American preschool-aged children, kids as young as four, had a lower risk of obesity if they ate regular family dinners, had enough sleep, and didn’t watch TV on weekdays. Taking back our family dinners will help us learn how to find and prepare real food quickly and simply, teach our children how to connect, and build security, safety, and social skills, meal after meal, day after day.
• Reclaim your kitchen. Throw out foods with high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, and sugars or fat as the first or second ingredient on the label. Fill your kitchen with real, fresh, whole, local foods whenever possible. Join a community-supported agricultural network to get a cheaper supply of fresh vegetables, or shop at nearby farmer’s markets. Read the tips I have shared on how to eat well for less.
• Plant a garden. It’s the tastiest, most nutritious, most environmentally friendly food you will ever eat. You can create a small garden in a box on your roof or porch if you have limited space.
• Conserve, compost, and recycle. Bring your own shopping bags to the market and recycle your paper, cans, bottles, and plastic. Start a compost bucket and use it in your garden or find out where in your community you can share this rich fertilizer.
• Give your children (and yourself) a multivitamin, fish oil, and vitamin D every day. It will help to build better brains and better bodies.

Take Back Our Schools

• Help reinvent school lunch programs. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 removes junk food from schools by applying nutrition standards to all foods sold in schools (including vending machines in hallways), and supports access to fresh produce through farm-to-school networks, the creation of school gardens, and the use of local foods. It doesn’t solve the void in education for self-care and nutrition, but it is a beginning. Watch the movies Two Angry Moms and Lunch: What are Kids Munching On? to learn how to take back the lunchroom.
• Support schools as safe zones. Where  access is only to foods that promote health and optimal brain functioning.
• Support changes in zoning laws.  Prevent fast food and junk food outlets from operating next to schools.
• Build school gardens. Teach children about the origins of food and let them experience the sensory delight of real, garden-fresh fruits and vegetables. Jamie Oliver could not get one child in a classroom in West Virginia to identify one vegetable. This is national crisis.
• Support the integration of self-care and nutrition curriculum into schools. Work with your local or regional school board to introduce programs like Mehmet Oz’s HealthCorps into schools around the country.
• Bring back basic cooking skills to schools as part of a curriculum - including essential life tools.
• Bring back mandatory physical education programs into schools. Physical activity has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety, improve cognitive performance ,and stimulate BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) production (like Miracle Grow for brain cells) that increases the number and connections between brain cells.

Remember childhood obesity is not the only risk of poor diet. Kids with bigger bellies have smaller brains. The insults of poor diet and lack of activity have staggering implications for our children and their health and cognitive abilities. But we have the knowledge and capacity to take back our homes and our schools and create healthier, smarter, and fitter children.
Now I’d like to hear from you …
What do you think of the nutrition crisis facing children today? Do you believe it affects their ability to live and learn?
Do you view the school lunch program and nutrition education as a problem in this country? What are the problems and what could we do to change it?
What strategies have you implemented in your family to take back your home and take back our schools? How have they worked?

Syria Appeal

Assalaamulekum brothers and sisters in Islam do view this like and try your level best to help the Muslim  brotherhood in Syria........

 http://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/current-appeals/syria-appeal/

Eid Mubarak!!!

Eid Mubarak every brother and sister in Islam........
___Ali's Zone.......__________-________________

The Joyful Face of Pakistan During `Eid Muslim Culture and Traditions

In Pakistan `Eid-ul-Fitr means Choti Eid (small `Eid).

`Eid is the  occasion of gratefulness, festivity, and joy. Over 1.5 billion Muslims across the globe wait for this festival throughout the year. And Pakistan is no different.

Bearing the second largest population in the Muslim world, Pakistan has its own culture and traditions in celebrating `Eid, which vary from province to province, and in some cases from town to town.

Generally, in Pakistan  `Eid-ul-Fitr means Choti `Eid (small `Eid). Eid-ul-Adha is known as Bari (big) `Eid or `Eid-e-Qurban (sacrifice). `Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawaa’al, the 10^thmonth of Islamic calendar.

`Eid buzz begins with the advent of the last Ashra’ (ten days) of noble Month of Ramadan that reaches at its zenith from 25^th of Ramadan. Bazaars, shopping centers, markets, and even small shops in residential localities remain open till late night during the last ten days of Ramadan. In some areas, shopping centers remain open till late night from 15^th of Ramadan, but the crowd actually moves in after 20^thRamadan.

Chaand Raat (moon night), the last night of Ramadan itself is a separate festival. It’s considered the peak night of `Eid shopping. In most of the areas, shopping centers, markets, and shops do their businesses till 3:00 am in the morning.

Massive rush is seen during last ten nights of Ramadan, especially on moon night in the markets, and shopping centers, where organizers make special security and space arrangements to cope with the huge crowds.

In big cities like Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad and others, `Eid shopping is a post Tarawih business.

However, in small cities, and towns, women and children do not go out late night. They do their `Eid shopping early morning or in the evening.

One can be surprised to see a traffic jam in big markets, and bazaars in big cities at 1:00 am during last ten days of Ramadan as crowds of men, women, and children throng their favorite shops to buy clothes, shoes, bangles, perfumes, make-up stuff, and other items.

Special food stalls are also set up by the organizers and individuals, who too do a roaring business during these days.

“Last ten days of Ramadan means a lot for every Muslim. This is the time to get rid of hellfire. Therefore, we never go shopping before Tarawih,” Zulfikar Shaikh, a lecturer at a local college told OnIslam.net.

“No doubt, `Eid shopping is a fun. We all, especially kids, really enjoy that. But we must not forget the reverence and the reward for the last ten days of Ramadan.”He observed.

Kids Are a Big Winner

Boys remain restrict to new clothes, and shoes, but girls add a third item to their shopping list. This item is Bangles

There is a famous cliché in Pakistan which goes like “`Eid to bachon ke hoti hay” that means `Eid is meant for Kids. And in case of Pakistan, This seems to be true to an extent.  Large numbers of kids throng the shopping centers and bazaars along with their parents and utilize most of `Eid budget on their clothes, shoes, and bangles.

Boys remain restrict to new clothes, and shoes, but girls add a third item to their shopping list. This item is Bangles, which are considered an indispensible `Eid item. Not only girls, but women of all ages too buy colorful bangles on “moon night”.

Bangles have a romantic value as well. A husband is supposed to take his wife to the bazaar in order to buy her bangles or bring them home for her. The in-laws too send bangles and new clothes for their daughters-in-law for `Eid.

Even engaged girls receive bangles from their would-be in-laws on the occasions of both `Eids.

As for women, Henna-decoration is a must on `Eid. Usually women and girls decorate their hands, and wrists with beautiful designs of henna, however minor boys too use henna at their hands, and feet.

Generally, women apply henna at home, but at many shopping centers, and bazaars, henna decoration is complimentary on moon night that propelled many women to take advantage of this free service.

`Eidi: The Significant Tradition

`Eidi means cash that elders give to younger on `Eid day. Though, there is no religious background or binding for this tradition, it is considered a must in all over Pakistan. After `Eid prayers, men come back home, and greet to everyone. This is the actual `Eidi time, when children surround their parents, uncles, aunts, and everyone else whom they know, and demand for `Eidi.).

“This is just a gesture to show love to kids,” Zulfikar Shaikh, the lecturer said about `Eidi while recalling his childhood days with a big smile on his face.

People go to meet their relatives, family and friends usually in the evening, where they give `Eidi to children as well. In return, the hosts too give` Eidi to guests’ children.

“It’s more or less no profit-no loss affair,” Shaikh observed.

Unlike Arab world, women do not go to perform `Eid prayer at Mosques or `Eid Gah (a big Eid gathering place) in Pakistan. In few big cities, there are arrangements for women to offer `Eid prayers in mosques, however most of women prefer to perform `Eid prayer at home.

In small cities, and towns, only a few `Eid congregations are held. Men along with their children travel from nearby villages and localities to gather at one `Eid Gah, and offer prayer. Usually, there is one `Eid Gah in small town, and two or three in big towns. People there prefer to go to `Eid Gah rather than Mosques to offer `Eid prayers.

However, in big cities, long distances, and space shortage have compelled people to go to nearby Mosques for `Eid prayer.

There are different ways to greet in different parts of Pakistan. In Southern parts, people usually hug and shake hands once to greet, whereas in northeastern and western parts, people hug thrice to greet each other by saying “`Eid Mubarik” after offering `Eid prayer.

People pay Fitra (It is about 5 pounds of wheat, flour, barley, dates or raisins) before `Eid prayer.

After `Eid prayer, it is common for men to visit graveyards and pray for the salvation of departed family members.

`Eid Delights

Like any other festival, special food items are prepared on `Eid.

`Eid-ul-Fitr is also called Meethi (sweet) `Eid in Pakistan because most of items prepared for this` Eid are sweet. Sheer Khorma, Kheer (rice pudding), and sivayyan (fine, toasted sweet vermicelli noodles with milk and dried fruit) are the most famous dishes.

People usually take some dates or a plate of sweet dish before leaving for `Eid prayer.

`Eid parties, which last for three days are a good opportunity for family members and friends to sit together for some time.

The Journey Has Just Begun (Eid Khutbah)

In the name of Allah, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy. All praise, thanks and gratitude are due to the Lord of the Worlds, the One, the Ever Living, the Most Generous, the Most Loving, the Creator, the Evolver, the Shaper of beauty. There are no god but He, the Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is in between, our Lord and the Lord of everything and our King. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His messenger.

My beloved brothers and sisters in Humanity and in Islam, may Allah accept our righteous deeds from all of us. May He accept our fasting; may He accept our standing in prayers; may He accept our Du`aa’; may He accept our charity; may He accept all our good deeds and may He, theMost Forgiving, who loves to forgive, forgives our shortcomings and our mistakes.

In this day of `Eid, many of us thinks that we reached the end of our Ramadan journey. Not at all, my friends! The Journey has Just Begun. Our Journey has just begun and will continue with us until the next Ramadan, may Allah extend our life until we reach next Ramadan.

The month of Ramadan is like the preseason camp for a football team or the prelaunch work for a new store or the development time for a new product. The football season only starts after the camp is over. The store opens after the prelaunch work and the product goes to market after the development time is over.

Our Journey has just begun.

This year, our theme was the month of Love. Through the fasting, prayers, charity, helping the needy, cooking food for our friends and families and sometimes for people that we do not even know, we tried to revive in our hearts the love for Allah, the love for our families, the love for humanity and the love of our environment.

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him said:

“A person will taste the sweetness of faith if they have three qualities: To love God and His Messenger more than he loves anything else, to love a person for no reason but to please God, and to hate to return to disbelief after God had saved them from it as they hate to be thrown in the fire.”(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Believing in Allah has a sweet taste that is experienced by those who clean their hearts from anything but love. Our love for Allah supersedes our love for even ourselves. This is the reason that we prevented ourselves from what we love and enjoy during the 16-hour days that we had this year. This is evidence that deep in our hearts, we have love for Allah. We tried to revive it and it is definitely revived to a degree.

Anas also reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Whoever likes Allah to extend his provision and to extend his life, let him connect his family ties.” (Al-Bukhari)

Our families are our most important social network. Our love for our families should be deep in our hearts, even if we feel that our families do not reciprocate or do not show us back. Connecting with them, asking about them, ensuring that we have connected strong ties with all our family members, returns back to us with extension of our provision and our life.

Seeking to spread peace among ourselves is the key to open the door of love.

Abu Hurairah(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessingsbe upon him him) said:

“By Allah, you will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I guide you to something to do to that will make you love one another? Spread the greetings of peace (salam) among yourselves.” (Muslim)

This Ramadan, we have been experiencing many different events throughout the world that reflect hatred from one group towards others. Shooting, killing, disputes, harassment and many other acts of bullying at small and large scales reflect lack of love towards one another. Loving one another is evidence of our belief. Our belief is not validated until we have in our heart such love and seeking to spread peace among ourselves is the key to open the door of love.

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

“If the Hour (the day of Resurrection) is about to be established and one of you was holding a palm shoot, let him take advantage of even one second before the Hour is established to plant it.”

This hadith is very deep in meaning as it reflects a level of altruism that is difficult to even comprehend. Not only we should love our environment and take steps to sacrifice to keep it healthy and alive, but we should do that even if we realize that there is a possibility that the environment is about to change and our effort may be altered. If this is all what we can do, then we should do it.

The love we learned this Ramadan is a different type of love. It is love based on putting something else ahead of our own self. With this love, we prepare ourselves to start a journey back in life. Outside the camp of Ramadan and as we depart it with its strict rules and schedule to go back to our different lives with its own rules and its own schedules, we are going back with something different.

As we leave the camp of Ramadan, we observe around us a world that is in dire need to what we experienced together: Love. Our community, our nation and the world is in need for new ideas to bring love and peace to everyone.

I was reading a book called Where Good Ideas Come From? It accompanied me throughout the summer and every time I finish a chapter, I say to myself, there is no more things to learn. However, once I open a new chapter, I realize that good ideas do not just come in random to anyone anywhere. Good ideas need environments that nurture them and grow them, environments that do not block or limit new ideas, that encourages experimentation, that opens new branches of possibility, that invites and encourages everyone to explore the edges.

In those environments are people exploring what is around them and bringing knowledge and experience across different domains. People who develophunches and write them down to think and act upon; people who appreciate the connection with one another and the diversity of experiences and background that everyone brings.

Let's have the will and the courage to face our limitations and push our boundaries.

As I read through the different chapters and look at our community here, I realize that each one of us and collectively as a community, we are utilizing very little of our full potential. Through believing in ourselves as individuals and as a group, by connecting with one another across cultures and disciplines and by exploring the edges of our relationship, we form fertile ground for new ideas that instill love and spread peace. Ones that would increase confidence in faith and belief and that will bring people together to focus on building a better future.

Armed with love to everything around us and with the foundation provided to us by the Qur’an and the examples of the messengers of Allah, we owe it to our nation and community to seek new ideas and find opportunities to make a difference and offer solutions. We owe it to ourselves, to change our conditions to the better. We owe it to ourselves to take a step further outside our comfort zone, to try new things, to connect with new people, to learn new cultures, to expand our horizons and to offer our nation a better path forward.

Let us leave this Ramadan with determination:

• To carry in our heart nothing but love towards everyone
• To have the will and the courage to face our limitations and push our boundaries
• To have an intention to make a difference in ourselves first and in those around us

Through love, courage and determination, we can make a difference.