Being Marge: February 2017

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Review of It's Your World: Get Informed! Get Inspired! & Get Going!


It's Your World: Get Informed! Get Inspired! & Get Going!

I bought It's Your World: Get Informed! Get Inspired! & Get Going! for our only grandson when he was 8 years old. He told me he would rather have an electronic game strategy book, so I made the exchange for him. I brought the book back home and decided to read it for myself, even though it's written for junior high students.

The bottom line for me is that I'm so glad I read this book! Chelsea Clinton is a highly-educated, well-informed, and passionate global citizen. In her comprehensive book, she explores global issues, ranging from the economy, to education, climate change, health, and endangered species. She highlights junior activists who are tackling these issues and growing many grassroots world-changing campaigns.

One campaign that caught my attention is Pencils of Promise (www.PencilsofPromise.org), an organization founded by a young man named Adam who asked a young Indian beggar what he wanted most in the world, and he replied, "A pencil." That's how Adam started backpacking through 50 countries handing out pencils, and he eventually started this organization. Pencils of Promise has already built 300 schools serving over 30,000 students, and they don't intend to stop until every child on the planet has access to a quality education.

This story is just one of many inspiring profiles shared by Chelsea Clinton in her best-selling book. In every case, a junior activist is prompted to be a change agent to make their world a better place today and for future generations. I was struck by a common characteristic of these young leaders, i.e., they don't see obstacles, they only see solutions.

Chelsea Clinton's book inspires me, a grandmother, to want to do more to support worthy global causes, such as Pencils of Promise. In fact, I just made a donation to that organization, when a colleague organized a Pencils of Promise fundraiser involving her clients. I immediately recognized the name of the organization to benefit in the fundraiser, because I had read Chelsea Clinton's book.

I believe this book belongs in every school's library and in every home with children age 10 and up. We collectively need to become more educated about the state of our world and do our parts to "get going" and tackle major world problems that are not solving themselves.

I'm going to visit my grandson (now age 10) again in a few weeks, and he's going to get It's Your World: Get Informed! Get Inspired! & Get Going! from me again. This time, I won't be convinced to trade it for an electronic game strategy guide! I look forward to encourage him to read it and discuss with me or his parents what he learned and what he thinks he can do with his new found information. I believe in him and his generation; they just need to be pointed in the right direction!


Thursday, February 2, 2017

Part 4 of 12 Essential Foods to Stock in Your Healthy Kitchen


Part 4 - 12 Essential Foods to Stock in Your Healthy Kitchen

If you missed Part 1 of 12 Essential Foods to Stock in Your Healthy Kitchen, you can check it out here: 
http://beingmargebrown.blogspot.com/2017/01/12-essential-foods-to-stock-in-your.html

If you missed Part 2 of 12 Essential Foods to Stock in Your Healthy Kitchen, you can check it out here:
http://beingmargebrown.blogspot.com/2017/01/12-essential-foods-to-stock-in-your_19.html 

If you missed Part 3 of 12 Essential Foods to Stock in Your Healthy Kitchen, you can check it out here:
http://beingmargebrown.blogspot.com/2017/01/part-3-of-12-essential-foods-to-stock.html




Green Tea


 The catechins (antioxidants) in green tea make it such a healthy drink because they promote healthy cell growth, lower cholesterol, and help keep blood pressure in check. Green tea also helps reduce inflammation, counteracts bad breath, and has been shown in some studies to promote short-term fat-burning. Imagine what a relaxing daily green tea break can do for your overall stress level! Although green tea has less caffeine than coffee, it has been shown to stimulate brain function and even lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Resist the temptation to add daily products or sugar to your green tea, to gain its maximum health benefits.

  Beans

 

Beans are a near perfect food staple for your healthy kitchen. They are low in calories, available in many varieties, inexpensive, and high in antioxidants, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. When you eat beans, they tend to make you feel full and can thus promote weight loss. Make sure to cook beans thoroughly, because some varieties can be toxic if undercooked. Check out the variety of beans at your grocery store. If you buy dry beans, then you need to soak them in water overnight before cooking them. Consider all the ways to incorporate healthy beans into your diet – salads, stews, dips, stews, soups, and make them a diet staple.



1     Sweet potatoes

 

 


Sweet potatoes, commonly confused with yams, are a versatile food you can use for snacks and side dishes. They are rich in beta-carotene and Vitamins A, E, and C, and they also contain high levels of heart-healthy Vitamin B6 and potassium. Another reason to stock and eat sweet potatoes on a regular basis is that they are also high in antioxidants to fight damaging free radicals in your system. Sweet potatoes have a relatively high fiber content, making them a slow-burning starch. With their mild flavor, mouth-watering color, and exceptional health benefits, sweet potatoes should be consumed in every season!



 P.S. How about 70 Super Foods for breakfast? 

 
 
And, if you want to learn more about why I jump start my day by drinking 70 super foods in Shakeology, go here: http://fitsolutionsblog.com/shakeology/#!1872.