Disney Advisors

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World is not only expensive, it's daunting. There is so much to do and see and coordinate in advance, you want to make sure you thought of everything, particularly purchasing tickets to popular shows in advance.

The Walt Disney World Moms Panel, compromised of 11 moms and one dad, can answer questions online at http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/

The site is definitely worth checking out before you put on your big black ears and go into the red. I hope it can help you save some green.

Shapedown

As a kid growing up in an Italian-American family in North Jersey, I quickly learned that food was love. It comforted us when we were sad. It filled the void when we were bored, and it was the focal point of every holiday.

I remember fondly sleeping over my grandmother's house the night before big family gatherings so I could help her make ravioli, using a clean glass to cut circles from long sheets of dough. The next day we filled homemade cannoli shells with sweetened ricotta before the company arrived. Food and its preparation were how we bonded.

As I grew older, both of my parents worked and there weren't as many home-cooked meals around the table. We went to restaurants more often. We ate more processed and fatty foods. We didn't always stop to think about what we were putting in our bodies.

It never dawned on me back then that what we ate -- and the huge portions we consumed at each sitting -- were learned behavior.

With the prevalence of obesity in our society, however, we are forced to take a hard look at those patterns and see if we are passing on certain traditions better left in the past.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway runs a weight-management program for children and adolescents that focuses on nutrition, exercise and the behavioral aspects of eating.

Lauren Bernstein, a dietician and certified diabetes instructor, and Paula Rovinsky, a registered nurse, offer the twice yearly program called Shapedown that essentially teaches families how to eat better and get more exercise. It is a nine-week program that discusses the basics of healthy meals and snacks, the importance of reading labels and determining proper portion size.

Why is this important?

"When it comes to managing kids' weight, it's got to be a family thing," the women write in a recent article that appeared in the Home News Tribune. "Studies have shown a family-centered approach to weight management is the most effective way to long-term success in managing weight and developing a healthy lifestyle. So unless the family environment changes, weight loss isn't going to happen."

It must happen. One out of three children in the United States is considered overweight or obese. If you look at their parents, you will probably notice they are a bit beefy themselves. We can't always blame it on recessive genes, either. Chunky adoptive parents often raise chunky adoptive kids. They may have different skin colors but their protruding bellies look the same.

"We live in a society of giant portions and empty calories," the women write. "We start by telling parents they are the gatekeepers and have to be vigilant in their roles. After all, they are the ones who are buying the food, stocking the shelves and making the meal decisions. Adults, not kids, decide whether the refrigerator holds fruit and vegetables or cheesecake and ice cream."

My family began to change its ways after my father had his first heart attack on my seventeenth birthday. My mother prepared only low-calorie meals that, frankly, didn't have the same appeal as her lasagna. Slowly we resumed many of our old eating habits but with an understanding that there would be serious ramifications to an unhealthy lifestyle.

Parents with babies and toddlers have a wonderful opportunity to examine their own eating habits and begin to make healthier choices before their children are old enough to start mimicking parental behavior. If you stand in front of the refrigerator eating ice cream out of the container after receiving some bad news, surely your little girl will do the same once she is tall enough to reach the handle.

The next Shapedown session begins on Sept. 19 at a cost of $250 per family. For more information program, call the hospital at (732) 499-6109.

Staycation

The Monmouth County Park System has cleverly come with the "staycation" slogan to entice local residents to look no further than the county line to have fun this summer. Here's the press release that outlines some of the county's recreational facilities:


STAYCATION IN YOUR PARK SYSTEM

LINCROFT -- July is Parks and Recreation month! Celebrate by going on a staycation in the Monmouth County Park System. With soaring gas prices and overscheduled lives, a staycation is the perfect way to reap the benefits of a vacation without the hassle and cost of traveling far. At the heart of a staycation is the belief that a great vacation can be had close to home. For residents of Monmouth County, there is no need to look farther than their county park system for their staycation itinerary.

Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Ocean Avenue, Long Branch
The ideal place for fun in the sun, Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park has it all –beach, playground and skateplex. Guarded swimming is available daily (weather permitting) through Labor Day weekend. Both daily and seasonal passes can be purchased.

Turkey Swamp Park Campground, Georgia Road, Freehold Township
Whether you’re looking for a night away from home or a memorable camping experience, Turkey Swamp Park Campground is sure to fit the bill. This family-friendly campground features 64 wooded campsites (52 which can be reserved). Once in the park, there’s plenty to do. Turkey Swamp Park features a lake where visitors can bring or rent canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddleboats. Anglers can try their luck with the bass, crappie, catfish and bluegills that call the lake home (NJ Fishing license required for ages 16 and up). The park also offers picnic areas with charcoal grills, playgrounds, over nine miles of multiuse trails and plenty of open space. Call (732) 462-7286 for more information.

Park System Golf Courses
Get into the swing of your staycation at one of the county’s golf courses. With seven golf courses at six locations throughout the county, staycationers can pick a different course for each day of the week. Seasoned golfers can tee off on Hominy Hill Golf Course in Colts Neck. The crown jewel of the Monmouth County Park System’s golf courses, this classic Robert Trent Jones design is often rated as New Jersey’s top public golf course in numerous national and regional publications. Novice golfers can rent clubs at Bel-Aire Golf Course in Wall and perfect their stroke on this 27-hole facility. Other golf courses are Charleston Springs in Millstone, Howell Park in Howell, Pine Brook in Manalapan and Shark River in Neptune. Visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com and learn more about Park System golf courses.

Historic Sites
Travel back in time by visiting one of the Monmouth County Park System’s two historic sites – Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel and Historic Walnford in Upper Freehold. Immediately upon arrival at Historic Longstreet Farm, visitors are greeted by the sights, sounds, and smells of this 1890s living history site. Donned in period clothing, staff work the farm by plowing fields, tending the garden, or milking the cow (at 3 p.m.). While Historic Longstreet Farm focuses on the Victorian era, Historic Walnford showcases over 200 years of history. A walk through the site reveals buildings and structures that illustrate its progression as a mill village, working farm, and manor estate. Highlights include the elegant, Colonial-era Waln House and the 19th century gristmill.

Both sites are open year round. Visitors are invited to enter free of charge and enjoy the grounds. Mark your calendars, Key Ingredients – America By Food, a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian, will be at Historic Walnford through July 13.

Trails, Playgrounds and more…
Some things are just too much fun to be limited to one or two parks. Trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing opportunities and boat launches can be found in parks throughout the county. To learn more about the Park System’s offerings, visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com or call (732) 842-4000. The TTY/TDD number for persons with hearing impairment is 711.

Weekend Getaway

My husband and I needed a break from our busy routine so we packed up the family and drove to our summer place in Cape May County for the weekend.

Sounds nice, even relaxing, doesn't it?


Obviously, you didn't come with us.

The trouble started on Friday. We were supposed to leave right after dinner, but I couldn't find enough time during the day to write another news story, wash clothes, pack clothes, feed the kids, wash the kids and dress the kids -- a process that was repeated each time Sophie spit up and Hendrick wiped peanut butter all over his clothes.

John, my hard-working man, was supposed to get home early enough to help load the car before dark. That, of course, was as realistic as asking my 2-year-old son and his baby sister to make the meatloaf while I stuff the suitcases.


We decided it was better to leave first thing in the morning. For most people that would mean right after breakfast. For us, breakfast turned into lunch because we had all those last-minute tasks, like filling the baby bottles and packing a cooler with drinks, before we could take off.

The two-hour ride was quiet. Hendrick listened to his baby songs and Sophie slept. There's something about the purr of an engine that lulls babies and pacifies toddlers and gives parents the time they so desperately need to recharge. I felt like driving all the way to Florida.


Once we unpacked the car and got settled it was almost time for dinner. We headed to our favorite restaurant in Ocean City because, well, nobody remembered to bring food.


Mammas, by the way, should never order meals that they need to eat with two hands. One inevitably is needed to hold a bottle in baby's mouth and the other to feed toddler. Perhaps a liquid diet would be best, that way you can just bend your head down and reach for the straw.


I, regrettably, didn't have time to finish my eggplant casserole. Hendrick melted down quicker than the mozzarella on my meal and we had to go. My friend Marilyn, the mother of four young boys, jokes that her family stopped going to restaurants because the waitress always brought the check well before they were finished eating. I'm sure she didn't swallow too many mouthfuls either.


Our Sunday in Cape May wasn't as leisurely as it used to be before the kids came along. This time, we took turns going into the shops. One of us waited outside with the children for the other to come and report on all the pretty things we can't afford anymore.


If we did spend money, it was on the kids. John couldn't resist buying Hendrick a new tow truck and taxi cab. We also bought him a whirligig to stick in the front yard of our summer place. We offered to let him pick one, but it was well past nap time and the choices overwhelmed him. I decided on the school bus; he cried and screamed on the way home for the train.


Outside one shop there was a wooden plaque that read: "Parenthood is like getting pecked to death by your children."


I laughed, and looked over to two silver-haired ladies who were also reading the sign.

"You're going to miss these days," one of them said before they walked into the shop.

Really, I said, while struggling to turn the double stroller away from the breakable items. Maybe when I, too, have lived long enough to forget the hard part and reflect back only on all that was good.

Opening Day

Today was opening day for picking organic blueberries at Earth Friendly Organic Farm in Millstone. I was so excited when I talked to owner Roz Ressner this morning that I gathered my playgroup posse and we headed straight to the farm.

Hendrick, my 2-year-old, had a grand time eating berries off the bushes. We tried to explain that we are supposed to pay for the berries before we eat them, but he couldn't contain himself.

I waited until I got home and made a blueberry pie. It was quite delicious, I must confess.

Earth Friendly is one of many pick-your-own farms in central Jersey, but I really love this one because it's such a pretty setting and so close to my home. The children really enjoyed watching the chickens in their spacious pen, venturing into the bamboo patch and crossing a little wooden bridge over the marshy ground.

The price for the blueberries - $10 a bucket - is very reasonable compared to supermarket prices.

Moreover, I love the pick-your-own experience because it teaches children where food really comes from and gives them a taste of how tedious and labor-intensive gathering food from the fields is.

To find a pick-your-own farm nearest to you, check out the state Department of Agriculture Web site: http://www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/searches/pyo.htm

If you want to learn more about Earth Friendly Organic Farm, Greater Media's Examiner profiled Roz and her partner, Michael Diehl, this week. Here's the link:
http://examiner.gmnews.com/news/2008/0619/Front_page/

Scorpions for Breakfast

Here's a wonderfully written story from a New York Times writer who is raising his children in China and how they devour foods that American children would never let pass their lips.

June 11, 2008
Scorpions for Breakfast and Snails for Dinner
By MATTHEW FORNEY

IN Beijing, where my family lives, I once returned home from a restaurant with a doggy bag full of deep-fried scorpions. The next morning, I poured them instead of imported raisin bran into my 11-year-old son’s cereal bowl. I wanted to freak him out. The scorpions were black and an inch long, with dagger tails.

“Scorpions!” shrieked my son, Roy. “Awesome!” I had to stop him from chomping them all then and there, like popcorn. Then an idea struck him. “Dad, can I take them to school as a snack?”

This is what eating is like in my household. My children eat anything. My 9-year-old daughter reaches for second helpings of spinach, and when we eat out I have to stop her brother, now 13, from showing off the weird things he’ll consume by ordering goat testicles. Think of a child staging a sit-in at his suburban dinner table because there’s a fleck of dried parsley on his breaded fish finger, and you have imagined everything my children are not.

So when I read of American parents who hide spinach in brownie mix and serve it for dessert (“Your kids will never guess,” Parents magazine promised), it spurs me to offer advice to my compatriots back home.

First, however, a bit of background. Both Roy and Alice were born and raised here in China, where people eat anything. I’ve seen animal markets in the southern city of Guangzhou where vendors sell live porcupines, pangolins, badgers, crocodiles, cobras and civet cats, all destined for the tips of chopsticks in the city’s costlier restaurants. My wife, who is Italian, makes sure olives and strong cheeses reach our table every day, even in China. Roy and Alice never faced the snare of microwave pizzas, Cheez Whiz or spaghetti from a can.

“Hey, Dad,” Roy asked me, “is it true that when you were a kid, you didn’t know Parmesan was cheese? You thought it was just something that shook out of a green canister? Like sprinkles for spaghetti?” He could listen to that story every night. Yes, I tell him. It’s true. I thought cheese was the color of a traffic cone, each slice individually wrapped in plastic. Even with an adolescent’s natural conservatism — he still eats more pork chops than pork lips — Roy is a more adventurous eater than I am.

As for Alice, she says her favorite meal is Sichuanese snails and her favorite snack is Tibetan yak jerky in wrappers with the ends twisted, the way peppermints are wrapped. I suspect that behind this statement lies some gustatory one-upmanship with her brother; she also wants the crust chopped off her bread. Still, when I offered her an imported banana-flavored granola bar, her nose twitched, and she requested “dried beans or seaweed.”

I asked my wife if we deserve credit for rearing such adventurous eaters. Not we, she said. According to Paola, our kids started off right because she breast-fed them, which “opened their taste buds.” I’m not sure that’s scientific. It’s possible Italians are so haughty about their cuisine that they think even their breast milk is superior.

But Paola also said that in poor countries like China, people learn to eat what’s available or they starve. Fussiness never enters the picture. (As I write this, a crew of construction workers who migrated from distant villages is squatting outside my window eating a lunch of rice and boiled cabbage. No meat. These men toil all day on what I would consider a starvation diet.)

Paola knows something about how poor regions dine. One of our favorite dinner-table stories is how, as a child, Paola refused to eat trout skins. Her father had caught the fish that morning, and Paola sat at the table with the untouched skins on her plate from lunchtime until bedtime, when her father threatened to kill her. Paola totally understood. “He was hungry when he was young,” she said. “He prayed for trout skins.”

We didn’t raise our kids poor, thank goodness. We did, however, send them to a Chinese nursery school that fed them a daily lunch of zhou, a rice porridge with various seasonings: pickled turnips, flakes of dough sticks, green or red beans, sesame paste, or something called hot prickly mustard tubers. Roy and Alice ate it with perfect manners. It was only after they grew older and we sent them to the French school in Beijing that they started chewing with their mouths open and slopping their food on the table.

If you’re not lucky enough to raise your children in China with an Italian mom, you could always try bribery. Roy’s realization that it was cool to enjoy foods that his cousins in Indiana would never even sniff began with raw fish. He liked it, to his surprise, only after I paid him a buck to try a slice of salmon. The steps from there to pig ears, cow lung, camel feet and squid tentacles were as smooth as an uncooked oyster.

Or else, when the spinach brownie emerges from the oven, you could try cauliflower in the vanilla icing.

FDA: BPA is Safe

For those of you who are worried that bisphenol A in plastic baby bottles is unsafe, the FDA has assured the public that the chemical is not harmful.

The Diaper Diva is a little late with the June 10 announcement but this issue is too important not to report. The news that studies suggest BPA and phthalates may pose health risks angered many mothers and prompted Playtex to promise that it will remove the chemicals from bottles by next year. (They are already banned in some countries whose governments take these matters more seriously.)

The diva is not convinced that the FDA is diligently protecting our children so I would recommend that mothers continue to use bottles that do not contain BPA or phthalates. I switched to Born Free bottles for my children. They were a bit expensive but they offer a peace of mind that, sadly, the FDA does not give me.

Also, I followed the advice of Consumer Reports magazine and only use plastics marked with the recycling codes 1, 2 or 5.

Working Mother magazine further recommends to avoid throwing plastic utensils in the dishwasher and to avoid abrasive scrubbing, which can release these chemicals. The mag also says to opt for BPA- and phthalates-free toys and to pack your child's lunch in glass or metal containers.

As always, never microwave food in a plastic container. Use Corningware or another type of glassware to ensure chemicals aren't seeping into your family's foods.

Below is a copy of the Associated Press story from June 10. Please read:

FDA official says baby bottles with bisphenol A safe

By KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Plastic baby bottles and water bottles are safe, a federal health official said Tuesday, seeking to ease public concerns about the health hazards of a chemical used in the products.

The National Toxicology Program said in a recent draft report that there is "some concern" that bisphenol A can cause changes in behavior and the brain, as well as reduce survival and birthweight in fetuses. It drew its conclusions from animal studies.

Canada has announced its intention to ban the use of the chemical in baby bottles, and U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation to ban bisphenol A in children's products.

Small amounts of bisphenol A can be released as plastics break down. Dr. Norris Alderson, the Food and Drug Administration's associate commissioner for science, said, however, that the level of exposure was safe. Some studies had reported higher release levels than projected by the agency, but many of those studies were conducted under unrealistic conditions, he said.

"Although our review is ongoing, there's no reason to recommend consumers stop using products with (bisphenol A)," Alderson told a House subcommittee.

Bisphenol A also is used in many other products, from helmets to compact discs to goggles. Any ban of the chemical could result in less effective protection for children who wear the protective gear, said Dr. Michael Babich of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. About 99 percent of human exposure to the chemical comes from diet.

Dr. Ted Schettler, director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, took a more cautionary view. He told lawmakers that animal testing showed low-level bisphenol A exposures during fetal development can alter development of the prostate gland and breast. These changes could increase the risk of cancer, he said.

"Do we wait for irrefutable proof of harm in people before taking action?" he asked.

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee also is reviewing the safety of phthalates, which is used to make vinyl soft and flexible. Phthalates are used in medical devices, cars and toys.

Dr. Earl Gray, a toxicologist at the Environmental Protection Agency, said he had serious concerns about the potential effects in children who are exposed to phthalates from IV tubes. He said that although the level of exposure for most people is low, there can be exceptions. In rats, phthalates have been shown to cause liver cancer and reproductive tract malformations in offspring.

Bills filed in Congress would prohibit the manufacture and sale of certain children's products that contain phthalates.