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June, 2010:

Nutrition with Your Eyes Open

Jun 21st, 2010
by Leah.
7 comments

If you have followed this blog for any period of time, you must have notice that nutrition is a big item on my list. Today, I came across a video lecture that will change the way I feed my family. No, we don’t drink Coke and we do eat whole grain everything. Still, this talk has transformed the way I view food and the nutritional choices I will be making starting today.

For years, we’ve been “spoon-fed” about the benefits of a low-fat, high-carb diet. Guess what, it’s a hoax. In this video Robert H. Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California San Fransisco  debunks everything we take for granted about nutrition:

  • natural does NOT mean good-for-you
  • animal fat and LDL are NOT (always) bad
  • exercise is NOT there to burn calories
  • all calories are NOT created equal
  • carbohydrates are NOT all the same
  • USDA recommendations were NOT created to benefit us
  • fruit juice and (some) baby formulas ARE toxic

If you want to raise healthy kids and be there to enjoy their adulthood, you owe it to yourself to watch this video.

Beyond the realization that the seemingly harmless fructose is so horrible for our health, I loved the simplicity of the solution.

  1. No sweetened beverages (soft drinks, fruit juice). Only milk and water.
  2. Eat plenty of fiber.
  3. Wait 20 minutes for the second portion.
  4. Buy screen time with exercise (it’s not what you think).

What was your most shocking revelation in this video?


 

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza – Gourmet Videos

Jun 16th, 2010
by Leah.
6 comments

What images does “humanitarian crisis” conjure in your mind? For me, it’s the stories of the siege of Leningrad during WWII, which some of my family members experienced first-hand.

Leningrad siege 253x300 Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Gourmet Videos

The face of a humanitarian crisis

The Hamas and its supporters (especially in the media) would like us to believe that something of the sorts is happening in Gaza. Then, last week, the Israeli Government Press Office spoiled the show by sarcastically inviting the foreign press corps in Gaza to visit the Roots Club and get a first-hand glimpse of the humanitarian situation in the strip.

The owners of Roots have reportedly invested over US 1 million into the site, which leaves us with two options: either they are stark-stupid, throwing money to the wind or there is no shortage of clients for this posh establishment.

Lest you think this ritzy restaurant is one-of-a-kind place for the rich and famous (as Palestinians have been claiming since the publication), think again. Just in case you should ever  find yourself in Gaza with nothing to eat, here is a sampling of YouTube videos from Gaza restaurants in a variety of price ranges (use Google Translate to verify Arabic captions). Note that all videos are from 2008 and on (well into the Israeli blockade of the strip).

Lighthouse Restaurant – Gaza

Pay attention to the fountain and the manicured lawns (in view of the severe water crisis in Gaza).

Key West Restaurant – Gaza

If you’d like something simpler, this Gaza-style Kentucky Fried Chicken should suit your fancy. (I do hope the Hamas doesn’t burn them down for identifying with enemy values).

Almat’haf Museum and Restaurant

Man doesn’t live on bread alone. At Almat’haf Museum and Cultural House cultural experiences and fine dining go hand in hand. Note the planned construction of a boutique hotel, which seems to be unhampered by the alleged Israeli embargo on building materials.

Falafel – Gaza Style

Finally, no Gaza dining guide would be complete without some first-class falafel with an assortment of pickled vegetables.

Wow, that looks appetizing!

Parental Control – Will It Do the Trick?

Jun 7th, 2010
by Leah.
3 comments

Over at Minnesota Mamaleh, Galit has written an excellent post on the importance of boundaries, direct communications, and lots of love as the way for turning out value-centered, drug-free kids.

I completely agree with Galit’s approach to parenting. All too often, we are so concerned with letting children develop their own identities that we give up the responsibility for setting boundaries too early. This hit home a couple of months ago, when I noticed my teen going to sleep at all kinds of hours.  After putting her to sleep at the right hour for a decade, I was sure the good habits had sunk in. Apparently, I was mistaken. It wasn’t easy discussing bedtime with a 14-year-old, even though I was determined on doing it nicely. However, the message of parental involvement was worth the unpleasantness.

One thing is important to remember. There is no 100% guaranteed recipe to producing good kids. Yes, we are responsible for educating ourselves about parenting methods, for setting boundaries, and developing unconditional love for our children. However, we are not responsible for the final outcome.

The Hebrew word for child-rearing, chinuch, also means dedication of vessels or buildings as in Chanuka (the holiday on which the Temple was rededicated) or chanukat hamishkan (the dedication of the Tabernacle in the wilderness). Rashi, a medieval Jewish Biblical commentator,  explains chinuch to mean the preparation of a person or a vessel for his/its future function (Genesis 14:14). That’s all there is to child-rearing. The parents’ job is to equip the children with a necessary measure of self-esteem, good habits, and clear values for a lifetime of challenges. Once that treasure-trove is in the kids’ hands, they are free to do with it as they please.

We try so hard to do things right that, inevitably, we set ourselves up with high expectations of picture-perfect kids. We would like to think that if we do this and that and press all the right buttons, we will not be disappointed. In reality, our children have free will to follow the path we have shown them, go astray, or maybe even find an altogether different trail. I know that a terrifying thought, but we are not in control.


 

If it weren`t so sad..

Jun 4th, 2010
by Leah.
No comments yet

Chief Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels is credited with saying that if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. His dubious success must be the inspiration behind Hamas-proxy “peace activists““ attempt to deliver “humanitarian aid,“ while in search of enough blood to cause a PR sensation.

What really gets to me is that seemingly intelligent people continue buying into these cheap tactics. In a situation as grotesque as this, satire is the only way to go.

Gaza Flotilla – Just the Facts

Jun 1st, 2010
by Leah.
7 comments

As the world condemns Israel for exercising its right to self-defense in boarding the so-called Free Gaza flotilla, three claims are made:

1. Israel has violated the international law by boarding peaceful ships in international waters.

2. Israel ambushed the ships.

3. IDF troops used excessive force to kill peace activists.

For anyone with even a drop of intellectual honesty, here are the facts:

1. Here’s the relevant paragraph from the “international law” (HT to The Yid with the Lid):

According to the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 12 June 1994:
SECTION V : NEUTRAL MERCHANT VESSELS AND CIVIL AIRCRAFT

Neutral merchant vessels

67. Merchant vessels flying the flag of neutral States may not be attacked unless they:

(a) are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture;
(b) engage in belligerent acts on behalf of the enemy;
(c) act as auxiliaries to the enemy’s armed forces;
(d) are incorporated into or assist the enemy’s intelligence system;
(e) sail under convoy of enemy warships or military aircraft; or
(f) otherwise make an effective contribution to the enemy’s military action, e.g., by carrying military materials, and it is not feasible for the attacking forces to first place passengers and crew in a place of safety. Unless circumstances do not permit, they are to be given a warning, so that they can re-route, off-load, or take other precautions.

2. Israel gave the ships ample warning to re-route or pass the humanitarian assistance through the available channels either in Israel or in Egypt.

Here’s the video of the message being communicated:

3. The  “peace activists”  attacked IDF soldiers, who had boarded the ship, with iron bars, knives, and axes. Remarkably, IDF troops took a beating for 40 minutes before finally opening fire to defend themselves.

Here’s that footage:

I am sure that brainwashed Palestinian sympathizers will not be confused by the facts. As to decent people looking for truth, I offer just one small question to ponder. How many acts of terrorism and violence have been committed by Jews in your native country? How many by Muslims?  Why should this be any different in the Middle East?


 

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