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One of the biggest takeaways from the experience, and something we can all apply to our daily lives, is how they managed to eliminate so much sugar from their diet. It all came down to controlling what they ate — making all their snacks and meals from scratch and being aware of every single ingredient they were using and putting in their body. This is also one of the biggest reasons why so many people fail at cutting down on sugar. It’s hard and it takes effort. But it’s not something you have to do all at once. Going cold turkey on added sugar is a miserable experience. What you can do instead is just make incremental changes. One way to do that (and in my opinion, the easiest way) is to portion it out. Start with one meal or your daily snacks. For example, remove all added and extra sugar from your dinners. Do this for a week or two. Then add in lunch and do that for a week or two. Slowly cut out sugar from each part of your day until it’s gone. It might take a couple of months, but you’ll get there! And once you do, you’ll start thinking more clearly, you’ll feel better, and as a bonus, because you’re eating less sugar, naturally sweet foods will have a more intense flavor. That sounds pretty good to me!
Sprout Your Kids’ Imagination WITH 3 FUN EARTH DAY PROJECTS With spring officially underway, April showers starting to bring May flowers, and Earth Day on April 22, now is a great time for outdoor family activities. One for the Birds Making a pine cone bird feeder is a fun and inexpensive project. In addition to creating and hanging your bird feeder, you’ll get hours of extra entertainment from watching the birds it will attract to your yard. If your kids are older, take photos of the birds or note their colors and features and look them up in a field guide or online. This craft just requires a pine cone (the bigger the better), peanut butter, and some twine or string. Top the peanut butter with “sprinkles” of mixed birdseed or small pieces of nuts and fruit to appeal to even more birds. For full instructions, visit TheSpruce.com and search “pine cone bird feeder.” An Egg-cellent Planter Save those eggshells from breakfast (and the paper carton, too!) and use them to start a garden! Your little ones will enjoy planting some seeds, watering them, and watching them sprout and grow into something new. When the sprouts are big enough and it’s warm enough outside, you can plant the shell and carton directly into the ground! The researchers gave sugar to the rats and increased their intake over time. Eventually, the rats were used to the sugar (that is, they consumed it, but it took more to achieve the same brain stimulation). Then, the researchers reduced and removed the sugar. The rats went into what could only be described as withdrawal. They had what was interpreted as cravings and manic behavior as well as relapse later in the experiment. Testing hasn’t just been limited to rats. In 2015, a writer with Fast Company put their sugar “dependence” to the test. They tried to cut it out of their day as best as they could. It turned out to be much harder than expected. As part of this experiment, the author tried to make all their meals only using fresh ingredients — keeping all added sugar out of the equation. Initially, they didn’t notice much change. But it didn’t take long before they noticed things were changing, describing it as a “roller coaster ride” of emotion and cognition. Early in the experiment, the author noted having extreme sugar cravings. It was something they had to desperately fight — but they fought it. After two weeks, they reported feeling significantly better. They could think more clearly and had better focus. It’s a state of mind we could all use more of!
This easy project just requires rinsed eggshell halves, some lightly moistened potting soil, and seeds of your choosing. Note that smaller seeds, like those for herbs, lettuces, peppers, or tomatoes, work best for this project. For full instructions, visit GardenBetty.com and search “starting seeds in eggshells.” Stick With Magic Nature is a magical place. Many kids know this instinctively and often point out things adults take for granted or overlook, like bright-colored leaves, fun-shaped rocks, and acorn “hats.” Making a nature wand is a great way to let your kids explore their environment, whether that’s in your backyard, on a neighborhood walk, or in your favorite park. Let their imaginations run wild with what their magic wand can do! This simple project starts with a stick and masking tape. Your kids add all the extra flair by hunting for natural treasures and sticking them onto their wand. Complete instructions can be found at LaughingKidsLearn.com/nature-wands-outdoor-play .
2 • www.ptstn.net
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