LEARNING & SHARING
NEWSLETTER
FOR PARENTS
How important is the mealtime?
Every body is worried more about what
their kids are eating than how they are
eating?
If we want to build strong families, we
have to spend time together, which never
is an obligation but a pleasure.
Mealtime gives us many opportunities to
be together as fun and learning time. In
some cases having breakfast or lunch
together is not possible for all the
families, especially the ones with busy
schedules. Maybe they can just join
together three or four times a week, but
this is a special time around the table to
interact and share values.
It is concerning how our children come
home; heat their meals in the microwave
and go to their bedrooms or other room
to watch TV, while eating. They miss
the opportunity to interact with parents
or siblings.
At mealtime it is best to always have a
pleasant atmosphere, turn off television,
radios, and computers and put aside
newspaper or pending homework. Don’t
start negative conversations or
interrogations, instead share your
childhood memories, interesting
experiences, learn about each other and
relax.
Once in a while, it is fine to have friends
sharing our mealtime, but remember that
this is the most important occasion to
talk to your children. It is more
important to pay attention to your family
rather than your friends. Depending on
your time and situation, sometimes you
will set your table with paper dishes or
regular dishware but also with your
china and tablecloths; don’t save those
for just obvious great occasions, because
this is one of them.
CULTURAL CORNER
Cinco de Mayo celebration
Cinco de Mayo is the day Mexicans
celebrate the victory of the Mexican
army over the French militia at the
Battle of Puebla in 1862. The French
army left the port of Veracruz and
marched toward Mexico City where they
encountered strong resistance at the
Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe.
child's participation in physical
activities. Plus it helps you stay fit too!
If you do not have kids, you can still
hoola-hoop to some fun music on the
radio. Any song with a quick beat will
help you get those hips moving! A 150
lb person can burn approximately 50
calories hula-hooping for 10 minutes.
Note: always consult with a physician
before starting a new exercise program.
General Ignacio Zaragoza led a group of
4,500 men, poorly armed, that were able
to stop 6,500 French soldiers.
Cinco de Mayo has become popular
along the US-Mexico border and is
celebrated on a larger scale here in
United States than it is in Mexico with
parades, food and festivities.
However, still “Cinco de Mayo” is
confused with Mexican Independence
which was on September 16, 1810.
NUTRITION AND HEALTH TIP
Hula – Hooping
(www.extension.iastate.edu/healthnutrition)
You probably haven't tried hula-hooping
since you were a kid, but it is actually a
really great work out for your
abdominal, back, and hip muscles. If you
have kids, go out and join them in a
hula-hooping contest. As a parent, being
an active role model will increase your
For questions and suggestions about
this letter contact:
Nancy Nicho
Family County Educator
Iowa State University
Woodbury County Extension
712-276-2157
nicho@iastate.edu
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the
basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion,
age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and
marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made
available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To
file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office
of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th
and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.