How to serve flaxseed for children?

This nutty plant food is packed full of Omega-3 fatty acids which are needed for optimal brain development. Flaxseed is sold whole and ground, but research suggests that ground is absorbed by the body better. Try sprinkling ground flaxseed onto cereal or into the batter of sweet treats like Apple Upside-Down Cake or Banana-Cinnamon Waffles (pictured). Replace 1/4 cup of flour with ground flaxseed in your child’s favorite muffin, bread, or pancake recipe to add a healthy boost to baked goods.

Vitamin E

What are the Vitamin E Benefits?

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, which plays a role as an antioxidant in the body. It also helps to prevent free radical damage to specific fats in the body that are critical for your health. Vitamin E is an important vitamin that is required for the proper function of many organs in the body and is extremely useful in naturally slowing aging. It is found in many foods including certain oils, nuts, poultry, eggs, fruits and wheat germ oil. It is also available as a supplement. Vitamin E benefits include treating and preventing diseases of the heart and blood vessels; such as chest pains, high blood pressure, and blocked or hardened arteries.

Top 10 Vitamin E Benefits: 

Supplementing and consuming vitamin E rich foods have the following health benefits: 

1. Balances Cholesterol 

Cholesterol is a naturally occurring substance made by the liver and required by the body for the proper function of your cells, nerves, and hormones. 

2. Fights Free Radicals and Prevents Disease Development 

Free radicals fight and break down the healthy cells in your body and this can lead to heart disease and cancer. 

3. Repairs Damaged Skin 

Vitamin E helps to strengthen the capillary walls in your skin and to improve moisture and elasticity, acting as a natural anti-aging nutrient within your body. 

4. Thickens Hair 

Because Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, it helps to decrease environmental damage to your hair. 

5. Balances Hormones 

Vitamin E can help to play a crucial role in balancing your endocrine and nervous system, naturally working to help keep your hormones balanced . 

6. Helps PMS Symptoms 

Taking a vitamin E supplement 2-3 days before and 2-3 days after a menstrual period can reduce the cramping, anxiety, and cravings that are related to PMS. 

7. Improves Vision 

Vitamin E may help decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration, which is a common cause of blindness. 

8. Helps People with Alzheimer’s Disease 

Vitamin E may slow down the worsening of memory loss and functional decline in people with moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease. 

9. Improves Effects of Medical Treatments 

Vitamin E is sometimes used to lessen the harmful effects of medical treatments such as radiation and dialysis. 

10. Improves Physical Endurance and Muscle Strength 

Vitamin E can be used to improve your physical endurance.

Play tic-tac-toe during p.e. classes!

Tic-tac-toe (also known as noughts and crosses or Xs and Os) is a perfect sport game that teaches players strategic thinking, teamwork and forces them to make really quick decisions.

Divide children into two teams consisted of 4 players each (it is also possible to play with more or less players). Every team gets 3 bags of rice. You can use different equipment like for example colourful stones or plastic blocks. Teams stay at the start line. 10 meters further set the space in a 3x3 grid with using 9 rims to hula-hop. 

The team which succeeds in placing three of their bags in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row wins the game. 

At the starting signal first players from both teams run to the grid, put the bag with rice in a desired ring and come back to their teams. Next players can start after touching the hand of previous players. When third players won't succeed, next players can remove bags on the grid as long as it is needed. 

You can set up the rules, that children have to play to 5 wins. You'll see that when you have to hurry this simple game is not so simple.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylations in the body for activation. 

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption. It is also needed for bone growth. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.

Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation.

Happy Easter!

Sports Song

What kind of sport do you like?
Do you like singing?
Do you like learning english?

Here in this song you can find all the answers. 

Enjoy your time! 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgUSHk6JaTY

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Humans, unlike most animals, are unable to synthesize vitamin C endogenously, so it is an essential dietary component.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissue. Foods that contain vitamin C include citrus fruit, tomatoes, and potatoes.

Excursion to ‘La Fania’ - Mountain Pastures in Flower & Games in Piazza

On Saturday, 1st April the Municipality of Forte dei Marmi organized a hiking trip to the Apuan Alps that involved 50 school children from the Istituto Comprehensive of Forte dei Marmi.

We started from the small town of Pruno and walked along the old mule track until we reached the cableway point. From there we took a footpath that passes through the woods to reach the mountain pasture of ‘La Fania’ at the foot of Mount Pania.

Along the route we paid attention to the smells and the colors the forest provided us with. We observed the vegetation and spoke of the animals that come out of hibernation this time of year. The excursion lasted for approximately two hours before we reached the pastures of ‘La Fania’ where the children had lunch.

For the occasion the teachers organized a series of games based on the biodiversity that could be found in this location. The children were divided into groups and were provided with: a small shovel, a sieve and a piece of paper with the following:

Is it just a meadow full of grass?

1. The colour of the soil
2. The different types of grass
3. The different types of leaves
4. The different types of stones
5. Eggs
6. Excrements
7. What insects/birds surround us
8. Types of flowers
9. The animal kingdom

At the end of the research each group told a short story of what they had observed and found. They also built a totem with stones, timber and the various herbs.

During the day we had a pleasant surprise visit from the local sheperd’s donkey that came to greet us and stayed with us all afternoon.

Our return home was back through the trails in the woods.

Children’s Games in Piazza Garibaldi

Forte dei Marmi

For the younger primary school children that did not participate in the excursion to ‘La Fania’, a series of activities were organized for a couple of hours in the morning in the main square at Forte Dei Marmi. These included:

• Drawing
• Sports games
• Recitation
• Music
• Learning English through sports terminology

A happy and fun day was had by all participants!!

Vitamin B12

Are you getting enough vitamin B12? Many people don’t, and that deficiency can cause some serious problems.

Vitamin B12 does a lot of things for your body. It helps make your DNA and your red blood cells, for examples.

Since your body doesn't make vitamin B12, you'll need to get it from animal-based foods or from supplements, and it needs to be consumed on a regular basis. Exactly how much you need and where you should get it from depends on things like your age, the diet you follow, your medical conditions, and in some cases what medications you take.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms-causes#1