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Your Compass MONTHLY
NOVEMBER 2018
FROM THE DESK OF Ty Wilson
A year of near misses. As I am writing this, we are excited to say that on November 30, 2018,
hurricane season will officially be over with.While at the time of writing we have not evacuated for a storm this year, it marks the first time in three years we have not left or evacuated. While we had a near miss with Hurricane Florence, I am very happy to say our mandatory evacuation order was lifted and we stayed. My heart goes out to the people of North Carolina and South Carolina who were impacted in a very serious way. Also, at month end is the eating holiday of the year: Thanksgiving. It is the time of year to look forward to seeing family. The weather is hopefully cooling, as this has been one hot
How a Thanksgiving meal is eaten is just as important as what’s on the table. On Thanksgiving Day, we gather to express gratitude, reflect on the things we are thankful for, and share a communal meal with loved ones. And, almost always, we do it at a “kids table” and a “grown-ups table.” Separating diners by age is tradition for a reason, and it also highlights the difference in the Thanksgiving experience for children and adults. According to data analytics site FiveThirtyEight, Thanksgiving is America’s second-favorite holiday, with only Christmas ranking as more popular. If you were to conduct the same study with children, you’d probably expect the results to be different. Think back to your childhood. Did you prefer Thanksgiving to Halloween? Independence Day? Easter? New Year’s? Probably not. And there’s good reason for that. Thanksgiving’s focus on family, food, and gratitude lacks the kid-friendly appeal of gifts, candy, or fireworks. That doesn’t mean, however, that kids should pass the holiday wallowing in boredom. Done right, Thanksgiving can be a wonderful experience for children, but you have to make a concerted effort to engage them. Here are a few ways to do just that. Control in the Kitchen “Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes, and cooking,” says gastronomy luminary and fashion icon Guy Fieri. “It’s about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity.” So why not let the little ones in on the culinary journey to Flavortown this year? Nothing will get your kids more excited about a Thanksgiving meal than having a chance to play a role in it. A THANKSGIVING FOR ALL AGES How to Create a Kid-Friendly Holiday Experience
year as far as temperatures are concerned. Enjoy the cooler weather.
Stay safe,
-Ty Wilson
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Depending on the size of your kitchen and your ability to navigate the space, it’s up to you to decide whether or not you want children to participate in the cooking on Thanksgiving Day itself. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner can be hectic, and there’s no need to add unnecessary stress. What you can do, though, is create a side dish with your kids on the night before or give them very easy-to-accomplish tasks that can be done without supervision. For a lot of children, Thanksgiving is a holiday of waiting around. Allowing them to take part in the cooking process gives them something to do, but it also adds significance to the meal. Everyone playing a role in the assembly of a communal meal is what Thanksgiving’s all about, after all. Gratitude Gamified Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to teach children about the importance of gratitude and appreciation for others. All too often, we let that opportunity pass by with little more than saying grace and going through the motions. It doesn’t have to be this way.
There are so many fun ways to make your child reflect on who and what they are thankful for. One easy method is to have children spend the morning gathering leaves — though, if you live in a city, you may need to come up with an alternative. Once they have a certain number of leaves, ask the child to distribute them to friends and family members. While doing so, the child can share something they are thankful for with each person. It requires no preparation, costs nothing, and could end up being the most meaningful activity anyone does all day. Of course, it’s also a smart idea to have a few games on hand that the kiddos can play just for fun. You can buy tablecloths that also serve as coloring books, set up a crafts table, or let the kids roam in the backyard, but whatever you do, you have to provide some outlet for them to let loose within reason. New Traditions No matter how hard you try, there are certain aspects of Thanksgiving that appeal to adults more than children. You may love sitting
around a table exchanging stories with loved ones you haven’t seen all year, but most 10-year-olds have a different idea of fun. Remember to consider that when you plan your holiday. Attending a turkey trot, scheduling a family football game, or holding an annual three- legged race are all activities that anyone can get a kick out of. Really, you’re only limited by your imagination and the interests of your family. Choose something that will be special and enjoyable for everyone in attendance. Who knows? Future generations may look back on you as the creator of a long-standing Thanksgiving tradition. Crafting a Thanksgiving that children look forward to and can look back on fondly requires a little bit of ingenuity. Put in the effort to create an experience kids will love, and the rewards will be sweeter than even the best piece of apple pie.
Thanksgiving Prep for the Whole Family Thanksgiving is more than just a feast; it’s about coming together as a family and being thankful for one another. So why wait to get into the spirit until everyone is seated at the table? Here are a few ways you can make the actual preparation of Thanksgiving dinner fun and engaging for the whole family! Give Everyone a Role No, not those rolls — yet. Making the feast a family project can turn the day from a hectic list of chores into a magical bonding experience. It’s important to match each family member to a job that best fits their abilities. Young children can mash potatoes or rinse ingredients in the sink. Older kids can take on more responsibility, like measuring ingredients, keeping an eye on timers, and setting the table. Teens and young adults can supervise their younger siblings and cousins in these important tasks and may be called upon to stir what’s on the stove while an adult checks on the football game. Roll Out the Decorations Still not talking about bread. Not everything in Thanksgiving preparation needs to be tied to the kitchen. Creative family members of all ages can
work together to bring some seasonal flare to the dining room. Maybe this means picking up some Thanksgiving coloring books, or perhaps the family can venture outdoors to collect autumn trimmings for crafts. It’s a great way to let each family member put their own personal spin on the holiday! Have a ‘Roller Derby’ Finally. While an adult should be the one to put these delicious baked goods in the oven, the whole family can help shape the dough. In fact, Care.com recommends making this a contest. Set aside a time when everyone can vie for the title of Fastest Roll Maker, and you’ll have plenty of warm, flaky, delicious treats come dinnertime. Letting everyone play a part may take a little more planning and add slightly more chaos to your Thanksgiving preparations. But it’s sure to produce a lot of great memories and bonding moments among your loved ones. And by the time you sit down to eat, you’ll all have something to be thankful for right in front of you — Those. Delicious. Rolls.
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BALANCE INTHEBELLY
Why Good Gut Bacteria Die and What You Can Do About It
Probiotics play a critical role in your digestive system. These good gut bacteria help your body digest food more efficiently and protect your overall health. However, these microorganisms are susceptible to many negative influences that can cause them to die. More often than not, probiotics die off due to a disruption in the balance of your digestive tract. One of the harmful things to your gut bacteria is antibiotics, which is self-explanatory when you think about it. Antibiotics attack all forms of bacteria in your body, good or bad. In some cases, people who take too many antibiotics or take them for longer than prescribed experience significant damage to their intestinal flora, leading to digestive issues. Another big threat to probiotics is medication in general. When you start or stop a medication, probiotics in your system can be adversely affected. Taking new supplements or changing your dosage can have the same effect. A major change to your diet can also harm your gut flora. If you introduce new foods or alter your diet significantly, it can shock your system with the sudden change, resulting in a die-off. In this case, even an insignificant die-off can cause you to feel under the weather.
For most people, simple and small changes to medications or diets will not have much effect on existing gut flora. After all, the average person has roughly 3 pounds of gut bacteria in their system at any given time — that’s about 100 trillion microorganisms working for your body! But when they do die off, all they need is time to repopulate and restore balance to your digestive system. You can help speed up this process by consuming probiotics like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha.
Take a Break!
Pumpkin Chickpea Fritters
INGREDIENTS •
1 can chickpeas, drained
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1–2 teaspoons flour, for binding (optional) 1 cup panko bread crumbs, for coating 1/4–1/2 cup safflower or canola oil, for frying
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1/2 cup organic pumpkin purée
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1/4 cup sunflower seeds
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2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
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1 teaspoon garlic granules
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1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large mixing bowl, mash together chickpeas and pumpkin purée until the majority of peas are mixed with purée. 2. Add sunflower seeds, apple cider vinegar, spices, and flour to mixture. Fold until fully integrated. 3. In a large skillet, heat oil on medium-high.
4. Formmixture into golf-ball-sized spheres and roll to coat in panko breadcrumbs. Pat into flat cakes and carefully drop into hot oil. 5. Fry fritters, flipping once, until golden and toasty, about 2 minutes per side. 6. Transfer cooked fritters to a
paper towel to dry and cool. Serve 5 minutes after cooking.
Solution on page 4
Recipe Inspired by epicurious.com
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Inside This Issue From the Desk of Ty PAGE 1 AThanksgiving ChildrenWill Love PAGE 1 Let Kids Play a RoleThis Thanksgiving PAGE 2 Achieve Balance in Your Belly PAGE 3 Pumpkin Chickpea Fritters PAGE 3 Take a Break! PAGE 3 How to GiveThanks Year-Round PAGE 4
AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE Should Last Beyond Thanksgiving
are archetypal depictions of later life. But these fictions don’t have to be your reality. Recognizing and acknowledging gratitude will help you take stock of the positive aspects of your life and dwell less on unhappy thoughts. Being grateful has also been linked to significant health benefits. According to gratitude expert and author Dr. Robert A. Emmons,“Preliminary findings suggest that those who regularly practice grateful thinking do reap emotional, physical, and interpersonal benefits. Adults who keep gratitude journals on a regular basis exercise more regularly, report fewer illness symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future.” How to Practice Gratitude In the above quotation fromDr. Emmons, he mentions the practice of keeping a gratitude journal. This activity is a great way to start seeing the world with a more positive, appreciative eye. As often as you can, take a fewminutes to write
down the acts, people, andmoments that you’re grateful for. Some will be big, others small —but all will have an impact on your mood and bring a smile to your face. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire book full of goodmemories and warm feelings. While keeping a journal is great, there are other ways to go about cultivating and expressing gratitude. The easiest one is simply to say “Thanks”whenever you can. It may seem insignificant, but you’d be surprised what a difference it makes. When you approach the world with the perspective that every day is Thanksgiving, it’s only natural to be grateful. We all have moments when we want to curse the world, especially as we get older, and those experiences are perfectly normal. Just as frequently, though, we have moments that are worth celebrating, often with people who are worth appreciating. Which will you think about more?
Taking the time to acknowledge who and what you’re grateful for is a Thanksgiving tradition far more important than turkey or football. It’s the cornerstone of the holiday and the reason we feast together in the first place. But when you really think about it, should expressing our gratitude and appreciation for others be limited to one day every year? Of course not! Why Gratitude Matters As we get older, it’s easy to succumb to negativity and pessimism—“Kids these days,” “The world isn’t what it used to be,”etc. The crabby grandparent and angry old neighbor
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