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At this stage of my life, I am not considering a career change unless it would be a restaurant critic who gets to eat for free all around town, a booking agent for a new Hawaiian bed and breakfast where a requirement is that I HAVE to stay on the island site, or of course President, because…well, you fill in the blank. I also might consider being a detective, as I have acquired a set of CSI like skills since becoming a mom.
Granted, I am not solving murders, and most of the time, no punishable crime has been committed, other than to offend my sensibilities or generational morals. Despite the fact I have never trained professionally, little eludes me when solving the many mysteries in my world. I just use the brain God gave me, my finely honed five senses, and a little common sense. First, I have a pretty good sniffer. My once petite nose has grown to Karl Malden like proportions as I have aged, and the benefit is it works pretty well. Colleagues and co-workers will say to me, “Do you smell that? What is it?” and a simple sniff allows me to supply an answer. “The burner was left on too long under the coffee pot again,” I say, yawning, and not even looking up from the computer to see if I am right, because I am. No blood hound from here to the Mason Dixon line can sniff out something better than I can. When my husband and I recently returned from a trip to the store, our daughter had been alone for approximately 40 minutes. The smell hit us when we hit the door. “Oh, geez, what is that?” my husband gasped. “It’s either nail polish remover or embalming fluid,” I say. She had not had enough time to plan anyone’s demise, and she isn’t into undertaking, so we deemed the smell safe. To be fair, I have had a bit of practice with the old nose. When my daughter was younger, she would often read a book and try something she had read about. Her interpretation of what she had read sometimes produced amazing results. Other times it produced horrific smells. “Mom, smell this,” she said, at about age 8. “I bet you cannot guess what three things I combined to make invisible ink.” I was no closer than six inches from the container when I said, “Windex and milk—no wait, 2% milk to be exact, and lemon juice—not fresh lemons, the squeeze stuff.” She shrugged in resignation and walked away before I could even ask if the ink worked. Some investigative work is done just by observations, as noted by a recent set of orange crumbs ground into the carpet of my car, impossible to vacuum out. I immediately compiled a list of prospects: Hot Cheetos, Goldfish, Cheez-Its, and as an outlier, the inside of a Butterfinger bar. Since my husband wouldn’t ever leave a Butterfinger bar uneaten, I know who owns the mess, and I call my daughter down for clean up on “aisle car.” Just Tuesday, a red splotch appeared on my counter top, and it didn’t go away with my microfiber cloth and elbow grease. Like lightning, three possibilities flash through my mind: Kool-Aid, marker, blood. A little detective footwork shows me the Kool-Aid packs are still in the pantry and there is no sign of sugar spilled on the floor. No one has disturbed the first aid kit for a bandage and left its contents spread all over the bathroom counter, thus no blood. Deduction? The splotch is marker, no doubt the result of my daughter testing her school supplies that I paid approximately $6 million for last week. Some of my skills would be really good on an FBI resume. I can decipher almost any handwriting and its owner at a glance. Here I have a distinct advantage, since I was a school teacher. A random note on the driveway? If there are no capital letters, I know it likely the work of my daughter or a friend, who seem to have no respect for proper nouns. A downhill slant to the letters? Probably my neighbor, a lefthander of an age. I have a photographic memory for most handwriting as well. I can clearly visualize the handwriting of my 4th grade teacher, a former boss, and like all good Americans, John Hancock. I literally once interpreted my doctor’s handwriting for the pharmacist, who of course, called to verify the prescription with the doc. The pharmacy manager offered me a job on the spot, but I prefer to focus on things a little closer to home. I am not a busy body, but as an amateur detective, I track habits of my neighbors like Gladys Kravits watched the Stephens’ family from Bewitched. One day last winter, I asked the lady next door how her husband was feeling. She answered that he was better--- then she stopped mid-sentence and asked how I even knew he was sick. I did not confess that I had not heard his ‘alarm clock’ truck start up in the driveway at 5:45 a.m. for his commute in the middle of the week, so I just assumed he was ill. I smiled mysteriously and just said, “Oh, I just knew.” She hasn’t stopped by for coffee lately, likely fearful of my supposed physic abilities or that I have a thing for her sickly hubby. I mimic the actions of television show detectives if I have to dig a little deeper to solve a mystery. I am not above driving carpool just to pick up a sliver of a conversation to provide a clue. I will friend another mom on Facebook temporarily just to see if my daughter’s bad mood is the result of being slighted an invitation to a party or event. I have donned exam gloves and a flu mask to check out the dog’s poop if we fear he has devoured a Lego. I play both good and bad cop in interviews with my niece, whose mom swears she never tells her anything, but who sings like a proverbial canary to me. “Are you having fun in college? I loved my sorority date parties,” I say. “I love our date parties, too. We had one where we dressed like the 80’s,” she shares. “Did you and your date both wear neon? Now that was an 80’s wardrobe staple,” I reply. “Evan wouldn’t wear any neon except for sunglasses,” she laughs, and I have all I need. Not only did she have a date, his name is Evan, and I already don’t like him, ‘cause no self-respecting man would take a chance on being photographed in neon sunglasses. I hit up her Instagram, find the 80’s party, and there he is, Neon Sunglasses Man. I Google search his image, and I find he was captain of his school’s debate team and was a National Merit finalist. I like him a little better now. Sometimes I have to be a little tougher with my niece to crack her. When she was little, I tell her, I thought she would never get in any trouble, because she was so sweet, but I guess I was wrong about all that. I shake my head and glare at her with just the right amount of irritation and no information whatsoever that she has actually done anything wrong at all. “It wasn’t that big of a deal,” she says. “No one at the frat house even saw us tip over the pool, and we would have totally gotten away with it if Chloe hadn’t bragged to somebody.” Bam! Snared like a jungle animal, right into my net. On very rare occasions, I have to combine my full set of skills for a diagnosis. Case in point, my husband’s best friend is at our house a lot, and on a recent trip he wore a jacket with a stain on the right cuff. In the entryway, out of what he thinks is my hearing range, my husband bet his friend $5 that I could guess the origin of the stain, and his friend took the bet. “Honey, look at the stain on Pete’s jacket. What do you think it is?” I step back into the family room to glare at them both before I make my pronouncement. I noticed the stain when I hung up his coat, deduced from the size that it wasn’t an actual spill but just a drip, and determined it must be dairy-based due to a crusty ring around the stain’s edge, formed between two to three days earlier. “It’s Chik Fil A sauce,” I say, insulted not only that our friend has no faith in my abilities, but also that my husband only put $5 on that action. Pshaw. Beginner’s work. Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer. by Linda Ebert and Debbie Reardon The Xi Iota Phi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi is off to a great start for our upcoming year! June found members at our annual Camp Outback at the lake home of Jim and Linda Ebert. Fun and relaxation was had by all with swimming, a boat ride, hanging out on the dock, food including some homemade ice cream, and a lot of quality “Sister” time.
Everyone also had the opportunity to try their hand at completing a short story by filling in the blanks between existing parts of the story! Programs at our meetings this year are on National Parks. June’s meeting was at the home of Linda Ebert with her sharing information about Glacier National Park. Our August meeting was held at the home of Sharon Simpson and she spoke about Denali National Park. In July at the home of Kim Meyers we welcomed member Diana Boyce, returning from her leave of absence. Marty Meyers, with Meyers Funeral Homes, gave us information on making prearrangement plans for end of life. This was very interesting and informative. In May donations were made to Hope House and in July school supplies were donated to the Grain Valley Assistance Council. A check to NAMI was also given in honor of last year’s Woman of the Year, Cathy Talley. Our inspirational Parliamentarian readings by Debbie Reardon and Debbie Woods were on the origins of “The Mizpah” closing, “Why we are Sisters”, “Why Learning is Important”, and on the celebrating of “Beginning Day”. We are looking forward to the upcoming months – more National Park programs, service projects, and social events! Michael Shane Fisk It is with great sadness that the family of Michael Shane Fisk announce his passing on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at the age of 45 years. “Shane” was a general contractor. He attended schools in Grain Valley, Stockton, Harrisonville, Butler, Higginsville, and Appleton City, respectively. “Shane” will be lovingly missed by his wife Melena and his children Ember Blaze (18 months) and Stormy Rain (6 months), Branson, first born son Damon Michael Fisk, 26, Kansas, and second son Caleb Fisk, 13, of Branson. He leaves behind his parents Carl Ray Fisk of Grain Valley and Kathryn Self of Clinton, sister Carla Ball of Leawood, Kansas, brother James E. Cantrell III of Fair Play, two half brothers Danny Fisk and Shawn Fisk, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 24th at 2:00pm at Bear Creek Methodist Church, 9655 NE 300 Road, south of Osceola. We will meet at Casey’s in Osceola and form a procession line to the church for our celebration of Shane’s life. by Wayne Geiger I remember the scene vividly. Some years ago, when the kids were much younger, one of them, visibly upset, came running in to tattle on one of their siblings. In frustration they blurted out, “So and So’ said the ‘S’ word”! My wife and I were shocked. Not that pastor’s kids are perfect, but it was a little early to have this conversation.
Trying not to overreact, and yet gain more information, we asked, “What did they did they say?” “They told me to shut up!” was the reply. With a sigh of relief and a little chuckle, we had a conversation about respect and proper ways to communicate. We had tried to teach our kids to be kind and respectful and telling people to shut up was neither. Conversation is tough stuff. I’ve had the privilege to teach communication courses at the college level for about a decade. You’d think that I would be a good conversationalist. Not so much. When it comes to formulating and delivering a talk, I feel much more comfortable. But, when it’s one-on-one, I’m an ambivert who often behaves as an introvert, and I clam up. It just doesn’t come naturally. Perhaps, you struggle too. Here’s 5 things I’ve learned about how to be a good conversationalist 1. Strategically listen There is a difference between hearing and listening. We’ve been there. Someone is speaking and all we hear is Charlie Brown’s mysterious teacher, “blah, blah, blah.” There are a lot of problems with listening. First, the average person talks at about 150 words per minute. The average person can listen, however, at about 450 words per minute. So, we can listen, but also evaluate our surroundings, wonder if we turned on the crockpot, analyze the speaker’s fashion sense, and solve world hunger. And the entire time, we’re shaking our head and making grunting sounds to indicate that we’re listening—when we’re really just hearing. Another problem with listening is that we get tired and just want people to get to the point. So, we try to help them out by finishing their statements. “Why continue the endless babble?”, we contend, “I already know what they’re going to say?” That could lead to heartache and headaches. Listening is hard—no doubt about it. But it’s not impossible. Some good practices of listening are to reduce distractions. That might include moving to a different location and telling the person, “Can we switch seats? That TV is annoying and I really want to pay attention to what you’re saying.” Also, make solid eye contact and listen empathically. You may also consider asking clarifying questions like, “Are you saying that…” or “You mean to tell me that…” or even “How did that make you feel?” 2. Don’t hijack the conversation Many of us like to talk. We like to share our stories and experiences. However, we all know “that person” that when we tell the story of how our kid won an award, they feel obligated to tell us that their kid won two. At that point, they turned the subject of the conversation from you to their favorite person—themselves. In truth, there have likely been times for all of us when someone has been talking and we’re not listening. Instead, we’re thinking, “I can’t wait for you to close your pie hole so I can share something really interesting.” To be a good conversationalist, allow the other person to set the topic—especially if they initiated the conversation. You’ll be able to tell if they’re enjoying the conversation because of their verbal tones and nonverbal language. As they continue to share, ask them to elaborate. 3. Don’t solve a problem—unless asked Oftentimes, people just want to talk. Maybe a friend has had a rough day and they’re frustrated and need to unload. They value the relationship they have with you and just want you to listen. If you’re “a fixer”, that might cause problems. When they begin talking about their issue or problem, you want to help them and fix the issue. So, you tell them exactly what to do to solve the problem. For you, it’s a win/win. You’ve solved their problem and you feel good about it. But, to them, the problem wasn’t a problem that needed fixing. They weren’t asking you to fix it, they just wanted you to listen and care about them. Try this: First, connect with them. Say, “Wow, you must feel awful.” Second, reaffirm the relationship. Say, “As your friend, I am here for you.” Finally, offer counsel or advice—if wanted. Test the waters by saying, “Something similar happened to me one time and it was awful.” At that point, they will either reaffirm the relationship and say, “Thanks for listening,” or ask for your advice. Either way, you remain a good friend. 4. Watch for nonverbal and verbal “leave behaviors” “Leave behaviors” are signals that people use to communicate to others that that they don’t want to talk anymore. Nonverbal behaviors might include a person looking at their watch or phone to see the time—repeatedly hoping you’ll get the hint. They might also glance around the room or wave and smile at someone else. Also, glance down. A person’s feet determine their direction. If their feet and body are not pointed at you—there is a chance they’re ready to be somewhere else. Beat them to the punch and exit stage left. Verbal leave behaviors might include, “It’s been great talking with you” or “it’s great to see you.” This is not designed to be fuel on the fire for let’s talk some more, but rather, “it’s been fun, but I need to run.” 5. How to get away from “that” person Finally, and most awkward of all, is how to get out of a conversation. Unfortunately, some people don’t understand social norms or proper etiquette in conversation. They progress from one story to another monopolizing the conversation, dominating your time, and draining your energy. You’d really love to use the “S” word. First, utilize all the nonverbal and verbal leave behaviors above. Step back or to the side. If they mirror your behavior and “follow you”, they’re not “getting it” and are not ready for the conversation to end. Apparently, they think you’re an engaged listener. Plan B. Leaving a conversation almost always requires a verbal break. We need to let the other person know, politely, of course, that the conversation has come to an end. If you are shy, by nature, this can be difficult, but it’s critical to verbalize your exit. If this is a person that you care about, you may need to interrupt them mid-sentence by putting your hand on their shoulder and firmly stating your exit. If there is no relationship with the person, clasp your hands in front of your body, smile and say, “I’m sorry to interrupt. It’s been great to talk to you, but I really need to go.” Then, leave quickly and methodically. Don’t look back. They’re probably still talking. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer. He can be reached at waynegeiger.com. by John Unrein Grain Valley High School’s Annual Fall Blue and White Day highlighted noticeable changes for the Eagles football program. Among them were emphasized offensive plays and new faces on defense. Action was live during the scrimmage on August 17th, meaning that players were in full pads and were tackling to the ground.
Eagles Head Football Coach David Allie was pleased with what he saw. “We had a lot of kids getting after it in full pads. The big thing we look for is effort on film. Mistakes will be made. What you do though needs to be full speed and to the whistle.” “I was pleased with both sides of the football. What should’ve happened occurred. Our defense shut us down at times, along with us having some big plays on offense. We will evaluate film, make corrections, and move forward,” Allie said. A Missouri high school football field is 53 and 1/3 yards or 160 feet in width and 100 yards in length between the goal lines. The evolution of the spread offense continues to put strain on defenses by making them defend things both vertically and horizontally in space. The Eagles offense scored during the scrimmage with success on jet sweeps and play action waggle passes to the fullback in the flat. The jet sweep came to notoriety under Manny Matsakis when he was the head football coach at Emporia State University during the 1990’s. Former players under Matsakis such as Brian Shay garnered much success from the play. Shay would become a three-time All-American Division II Football selection while racking up 15 two hundred-yard games during his career. He would go on to get a training camp tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1999 prior to spending time on the practice squad with the team in 2000. The advantage gained for the offense on jet sweep occurs by putting a slot receiver in motion across the formation. The snap of the football is timed so that the receiver in motion is handed the football as he meshes with the quarterback running full speed. The blocks of wide receivers on the other side of the formation are read by the ballcarrier, determining where he cuts and gets upfield. If all goes right, the slot receiver carrying the football is one on one with a safety. The advantage in that matchup tends to go the offensive player. Especially, if they have speed or quickness. “The jet sweep is something that we haven’t had for a little bit. We have speed at the slot and some guys who can block on the edge. We want to bring the jet sweep back to prominence in our offense. The inside running game gets set up by your ability to move the football outside as well.” “The waggle gives us a boot action with the quarterback when the backside of the defense starts to fall asleep on the trap and counter runs that we do. Today, the two linebackers we have brought over to fullback caught passes in the flat that stretched the defense and allowed them to score. Both jet sweep and waggle have big play potential in attacking the edge and we didn’t execute them as well as we could’ve last season,” Allie said. Junior Linebacker Hunter Newsom was among the new faces on the Eagles black shirt defense who showed up with the contributions he made on the field during the scrimmage. Newsom paused momentarily before grinning when giving his response regarding what enjoyed most about the scrimmage and what it meant to be a member of the black shirt defense. “I love the game of football. It’s great to be around my teammates. I enjoy hitting. The defense did pretty good today. We gave up a play at the end of the scrimmage and had to run for it. That is what it is. We have room for improvement, and we will climb to continue getting better.” “We are held to a higher standard because we get to wear a black shirt and play defense. It’s an honor to wear the skull and cross bones and what it means. You’re excited when you get to put on the jersey for the first time because you know the responsibility it carries. I want us to become even closer as a unit and that starts with me continuing to get better with my reads at the linebacker spot,” Newsom said. The term black shirt defense came to significance in the 1960’s at the University of Nebraska. The Cornhusker first string defenders were the original players to wear the jersey during practice. Longtime Nebraska football coach Charlie McBride continued to build the tradition during his tenure as defensive coordinator. The student section at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is named the “Boneyard” after the black shirts. Allie cited situational football as the thing he would like to work on the most over the next couple of weeks prior to the home opener kickoff against the visiting Savannah Savages on Friday, August 30th. “Practicing with a twenty-five second clock will be important. Adding special teams in a live situation now that we are in full pads is needed. We will explore and look to execute in situations that come up during a football game during practice.” The Eagles will participate in a jamboree at Raytown South High School on Friday, August 23rd. Opponents will include the Raytown South Cardinals, Truman Patriots, and Lee’s Summit West Titans. Valley Oaks Steak Company announced its closure in a social media post on August 19th, stated it was closing “due to economics” and the “constant barrage of legal battles and extensive marketing efforts needed to counter misinformation”.
The beef cattle operation was headquartered in Lone Jack and began operating in 2016, with the intent of becoming a “hoof-to-table” supplier of premium beef. The company had approximately 900 cattle and had recently applied for a permit to expand operations up to 6,999 cattle. The expansion plan faced backlash from nearby residents and Powell Gardens, a botanical garden, due to environmental and odor concerns. In an appeal filed June 2018 by Powell Gardens, the organization argued “The facility -- which will be the largest cattle CAFO in Missouri -- includes several sources of environmental contamination from on-site animal housing, waste storage, slaughtering and retail meat market. Some call it “state of the art,” but environmental experts for Kansas City-based SES Inc. have calculated the cattle will generate 1,547 tons of feces, urine and bedding material a day. The list of adverse environmental impacts that are of concern to Powell Gardens and its Lone Jack neighbors includes gaseous odors from bones, urine, blood and carcasses from the barn and slaughterhouse; wind-blown particulates from manure spread at Valley Oaks and surrounding land parcels; ground and surface water contamination; pests that endanger flora and fauna; decreasing land values; and wear and tear on the local infrastructure.” Last month, a class action lawsuit was filed by residents near the operation, represented by Independence attorney Ken McClain. In a statement on social media, Powell Gardens expressed surprise to learn of the closure, and stated “We are currently awaiting Valley Oaks’ confirmation of their closure with the judges in all pending legal actions”. In its statement, Valley Oaks called out Powell Gardens, claiming the nonprofit organization capitalized on the controversy to “advance their own fundraising campaigns”. Governor Mike Parson shared his dismay over the closing in a statement on social media, stating “80 Missourians have lost their jobs...because environmental extremists put fear above fact. Some will call this a ‘win’, but this is a major loss to every farm and ranch family in our state.” by John Unrein Attending a Grain Valley Eagles Girls Volleyball practice is a loud experience. Communication is present on both sides of the net along with cheering in celebration when something positive occurs. The Lady Eagles will be a young team with only a few returning starters. Among those with experience is Senior Setter Jessica Slater. Slater is quick to identify what she loves most about volleyball. “I love the team being together as one. Working for team goals helps create a better bond between us,” Slater said. Being a setter comes with important fundamental responsibilities on the court. The setter is typically in charge of the offense through setting up the ball for their teammates to attempt a spike. This is a challenge that Slater embraces. “The setter will always touch the ball. She’s going to be second in line to get the ball all the time. That’s kind of her job. She has a responsibility of being the team leader and someone that everyone can look up to,” Slater said. Slater understands and accepts her leadership role with the team. “Being a senior means being there for all the underclassmen. Making sure they feel at home and comfortable. Teaching them the boundaries of volleyball and how the game’s played is important as well as being someone that they can look up to,” Slater said. Eagles Head Volleyball Coach Kelsey Carver is in her second year with the program after serving as the junior varsity coach last year. This is not her first tenure as a head coach, after previously serving in that role at Clinton High School for three years prior to coming to Grain Valley. Carver was quick to offer praise for Slater. “Jessica is a solid kid. She’s consistent and we can rely on her. Her levelheadedness keeps the team together pretty well.” Carver also has a plan for how her team will attack the second year of competing in the Suburban Conference. A big part of that blueprint will be a fast tempo offense. “We worked a lot last year on speeding up our offense. Playing these bigger schools, they run a quicker offense. Running a slow offense against them allows their defense to be successful. We have worked very hard throughout the summer on running quick sets. Having a quicker offense will pose a challenge for our opponents,” Carver said. There are advantages that may come with a quick offense. Various NCAA volleyball coaches, along with Coaches Choice Coaching Forum, have described fast tempo sets as being difficult to defend for both front and back row defenders. They go on to explain that teams who develop the ball control needed to run fast-tempo sets will find themselves hitting quite often against zero or one person blocks, giving the offense a clear advantage. Even if there are two blockers, to get a well-formed block over the net, the blockers must correctly guess where the set is going to go. A quick offense has the potential to be exciting and entertaining for both players and spectators. Carver is confident that her team will be able to compete in the Suburban Conference this year. “I would like to be in the top of our conference, and I believe we have the potential to do that. Being solid and prepared for the beginning of our conference schedule is what we are shooting for.” “I love watching our team and kids get better. Seeing improvement regardless of whether we win or loss in big moments against good competition where the kids really have to fight is rewarding,” Carver said. Eagles Volleyball opens their season on Tuesday, September 10th at home against Blue Springs South.
Grain Valley Eagles varsity team prepare for season opener on September 10th vs. Blue Springs South.
Photo credit: Valley News staff by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD We have all been there; we get home from a day of work and the first thing we think of is “What can I snack on before it’s time for dinner?” Like many adults, kids may be having the same thought after getting home from a long day of school. Snacking consumption among kids is on the rise. It has been estimated that more than 27% of a child’s daily calories are coming from snacks, so providing the right kind of snacks is not only important but necessary in helping meet a child’s daily nutrition requirements. The first thing the child may need when he or she gets home is a small source of fuel. The best way to get that is by snacking on carbohydrates. Our brains’ preferred source of fuel is sugar and, luckily, all carbohydrates break down into sugar. So having different sources of carbohydrates available for kids to snack on when they get home is a great way to give them a burst of energy so they can be active and alert before their next meal. But there are different sources of carbohydrates, so it is important to choose the right ones. Look for whole grains such as whole-grain crackers and bread to give them energy but also provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. Of course you can never go wrong with a piece of cut-up fresh fruit. Leave the skin on for the added fiber bonus! For those chip cravings, try bean chips to get more nutrition such as fiber and protein from chips. One important nutrient to always have on hand for after-school snacks is different sources of protein. Protein builds, maintains and repairs the tissues in your body such as muscles, which is important for active kids. Protein also requires a longer time to digest than carbohydrates, so putting a protein in your snack can give you just enough energy to get to the next meal, without overeating and spoiling dinner. A child’s protein needs vary by his or her weight: an average of 1 gram of protein for every 2 pounds the child weighs. So simply take your child’s weight and divide by 2 to find his or her protein needs. With snacking on the rise, it is important to fit protein sources into those in-between-meals snacks to help kids meet their needs. Quick sources of protein can be a cheese stick (about 7 grams), a glass of milk (8 grams), turkey slices (2 ounces, about 10 grams) a hard-boiled egg (6 grams) or 2 tablespoons of peanut butter (7 grams.) Pairing carbohydrates and protein together in a snack is a perfect combination of providing enough energy without overdoing it. It is always important to factor in your child’s hydration when he or she gets home from school. Children require 5 to 11 glasses a day of total water (coming from liquids and food) to meet their needs. With this in mind, stock your refrigerator with water flavored with fresh lemon or other fresh fruit for your children to grab when they get home. It will help meet those needs and avoid the calories and sugar that come from juice or other sugar-sweetened beverages. Of course you can always prepare fun and different snacks for the kids to grab when they get home. Chickpeas provide a great source of carbohydrates, fiber and protein, while still staying low in fat. Try this Spicy Oven-Roasted Chickpeas recipe for a new snack. Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian at the Blue Springs Hy-Vee. She can be reached at tshaffer@hy-vee.com. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. by Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor, University of Missouri Extension- Jackson County If your garden or fruit and berry orchard has been successful, now is the time of the year that you have an abundance of fresh produce to feed your family and friends. Maybe the local grocery store or farmers market is keeping you supplied with fresh produce this summer. How do you encourage children to eat fruit and vegetables? I asked three University of Missouri Extension Nutrition Program Associates (NPA) in our Blue Springs, MO office for advice: First, from Jennifer Backlund, NPA: “Kids love to get involved and are more likely to try new things if they helped to prepare it. Even very young children can help wash veggies or gather ingredients. They love seeing the process of growing something in the garden then bringing it into the kitchen to be prepared. If you do not have your own garden space, going to a local farmers market or you-pick farm can help connect them to where their food comes from. Make sure to season and prepare veggies to make them tasty and interesting or add them to dishes kids already enjoy. Often, we serve them on the side and plain, which is not appealing to anyone. The Seasonal and Simple app https://seasonalandsimple.info/recipedetails.aspx?RecipeID=849 is free and a great resource for simple, tasty ways to enjoy produce! We find that kids like learning about why foods are healthy for them and are more open to trying foods when they understand why they are important for their bodies. Through the University of Missouri Extension Family Nutrition Education Program, we teach nutrition education, gardening and cooking skills to children and adults in Jackson County. For information on getting Nutrition Education programs at your school or facility contact Ara Staab, Nutrition Coordinator, 816-482-5861 or Andrea Wikiera, Nutrition Program Manager, 816-482-5859.” Next, from Dalton Guess, NPA: “Kids prefer food with bright colors. It is important that they have foods, especially fruits and vegetables that come in a variety of colors as different colors help different parts of their bodies. Try the tasty ‘Cowboy Caviar’ recipe below that highlights vegetables that will attract their eyes and their taste buds:” Ingredients: 1-tablespoon oil (canola, olive, or vegetable) 1-tablespoon cider vinegar 1-tablespoon lemon juice ½-teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 can (15 ounces) beans (drained and rinsed) ¾ cup frozen corn, thawed or fresh sweet corn cut off the cob ½ cup onion, diced ½ cup bell pepper, diced 1 cup tomatoes, chopped (1 medium tomato or 1 cup of chopped cherry tomatoes) 1 avocado, chopped Instructions: 1. Whisk oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and mustard in a small bowl. 2. Stir beans, corn, onion, bell pepper, and tomatoes in a medium bowl. 3. Pour liquids over bean mixture. Cover and refrigerator until ready to serve. 4. Add avocado just before serving. Gently stir to combine. Last, but not least, here is some excellent advice from Paige Shoemaker, NPA: “Smoothies are an easy and fun way to get kids excited about fruits. This recipe only takes three ingredients and uses fruit in season now.” Blueberry Smoothie ¾-cup blue berries (substitute red raspberries, black berries, or peaches, if blue berries are not available) ¼ cup nonfat vanilla yogurt ¾-cup skim milk Pinch of cinnamon (if desired) Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Contact Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor, University of Missouri Extension- Jackson County, at the Blue Springs office, 816-252-5051, if you have any questions about this article or about vegetable, fruit, or ornamental gardening. Jackson County residents who would like a piece of Arrowhead history in their homes can take advantage of an exclusive sale for county residents for the next 48 hours. Starting 6:00am on Friday, August 16th, www.arrowheadseatsale.com will go live and a very limited supply of Arrowhead Stadium seats will be on sale to fans. Jackson County residents will have exclusive access for 48 hours, then the sale will open to the public at 6:00am on Sunday, August 18th. “With a preseason win in the books, fans are excited for another great season of Chiefs football,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “Countless memories have been made at Arrowhead Stadium and what better time than now to own a piece of that special history. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for Chiefs nation and I’m excited that we’ve been able to work with Schneider Industries, Inc. to provide Jackson County citizens first priority to buy seats.” The upper deck seating was removed as part of an off-season renovation and now Schneider Industries, Inc. has partnered with Jackson County to sell a select number of those seats to fans. These 20-year old seats have been through nearly 170 games at Arrowhead and now those same seats can adorn a Man Cave, a garden or an office. A portion of all sales proceeds will support upgrades to Jackson County Parks + Rec parks and playgrounds Approximately 2,500 seats are available for sale. Costs range from $199-$399 plus shipping for a pair of connected seats or a single seat which includes stand up brackets. County residents must provide proof of residency during this special 48 hour period. Sales to the general public will open at 6:00am on Sunday, August 18th. |
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