Packing a lunch is no easy task.  When you have two kids that do not like the same thing, and are as picky as kids can be it doesn’t make things any easier. Back in September when school started I went out to buy some reusable containers. I’ve always been against putting any type of plastic in the microwave. So I picked up some reusable storage containers that are microwaveable. Even though it said that it was safe on the package I was still uncomfortable sending my children to school with something that had to be heated and opted for sandwiches.  It turns out that my kids are not particularly fond of sandwiches, which is why it makes my job as lunch packer much more difficult. One day while having lunch at a local park, a few Moms and I got into a conversation about reusable plastics.  One of the women had the same brand of reusable containers as I had purchased however the plastic was very clear and almost glass like. Because of this difference we started talking about the recyclable code on the bottom of the containers. Before that conversation all that I knew about the recyclable symbol on the container was that it indicated whether it was recyclable or not.  After the conversation I was made aware that the numbers in the middle of the recyclable symbol signifies something.  Two of the Moms were in disagreement as to what the numbers meant, which is why I decided to do some research myself.   So here is what I dug up about plastics and recyclable materials: Recyclable Plastics that are Safer for you & the Environment *Code #1 -  These containers are made from Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) and are one of the safest single use plastics, but should not be reused as it may leach a probable human carcinogen. Code #2 - A durable plastic made from High-density polyethylene (HDPE). This material is recyclable however not many reusable containers are available. *Code  #4 - A food-safe plastic made from low-density polyethylene(LDPE), used to make food wraps and plastic bags. Code #5 - Made from Polypropylene (PP) these containers are reusable however less recyclable and have not been shown to leach any carcinogens. Use with caution Plastics Code #7 -  These containers are made from Polycarbonate plastics and contain **bisphenol-A a hormone disruptor that may leach.  These should not be exposed to heat or be used if they are visibly worn. Some baby bottles and Nalgene sports bottles may contain bisphenol. *The codes & information source of this article is from The Green Guide (National Geographic) May/June 2005.  **As of October 17th 2008 the Canadian Government has taken measures to ban baby bottles containing Bisphenol-A.  The regulations are being drafted where it will disallow the importation, sale and advertisement of polycarbonate bottles. Information regarding the ban can be  found on the Health Canada website. Plastics that should be avoided *Code # 3 plastics  are made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and are said to release carcinogenic dioxins and can leach phthalates. *Code #6 plastics are made from Polystyrene (PS) can leach styrene and might be a human carcinogen.   The society of Plastics Industry in 1988 introduced a coding system to simplify the sorting and recycling process. These codes were to identify the resin contents of bottles and containers making it easier for recyclers to sort. Apparently not all plastics are labeled (not a requirement) and the code does not necessarily indicate that the product is recyclable or recycled locally. In the Green Guide there is a note on use in which I have summarized below: ·          All plastics can leach chemicals under certain conditions. ·          It is recommended not to use plastic containers in the microwave, dishwasher, radiators, hot food, hot drinks, direct sun or on hot days.) ·          Even if it says "Microwave safe" or "Microwavable" there are no guarantees that it may not leach ·          Discard any plastic containers that are old, stained, scratched or worn   I hope this information is as helpful to you as was for me. After deciphering all of this information, it definitely doesn't make packaging my kids lunch any easier. I've already purchased my stainless steel bottles and now I'm off to find a reasonably  priced small stainless steel Thermos. Does anyone know where I can find one?                                     Article sources: National Geographic - The Green Guide & Health Canada

HEY MOM, YOU WILL GET A KICK OUT OF THIS! The Benefits of Fitness Kickboxing By C. J. Doyle,Personal Safety Expert On a cold winter day thirteen years ago my son Charles, our first child, was born. It was a wonderful day and something to be celebrated for sure. Within a few days my wife Lesa, a martial arts black belt, was ready to get back into shape and get back into classes. Well, as most moms know, it isn’t as easy to throw on your workout gear (in this case it was her karate uniform and black belt) and rush off to a step class like you did before your pregnancy. She was recommended to take it easy at first and participate in some low-level aerobic classes to build back her stamina. So she went off to the gym and for the next month participated in many different classes. The only thing she gained was the knowledge that she was bored. So bored that she went and was certified as a fitness instructor. During her certification she realized that the martial arts has many different ways of working your body, cardio endurance, flexibility, confidence, and your mind that it was time to get back into some type of martial arts class. But instead of jumping back into karate classes she came up with the idea of taking the warm up and fitness part of karate and blending it with music. And she decided to get a few of the moms of some of the karate children and ask if they wanted to be part of a new type of fitness class (called KAROBICS). So the first Karobics (eventually evolved to Kardio Kicks) program started. After the initial trial all the moms wanted to keep it going and other people were asking if they could join. It was even featured on CityTV! In the last thirteen years the Karobics program went through a few changes. We changed the name to Kardio Kicks, there are no uniforms, and we have incorporated heavy bags and other training equipment into the classes. The next nine paragraphs will explain why moms will get a kick out of participating in regular Kardio Kicks classes. Kardio Kicks Combines an Aerobic Workout with a Resistance Training Workout Doing either an aerobics workout, i.e. running, Stairmaster, stationary bike, etc. or an anaerobic workout such as lifting weights, Nautilus, callisthenics, etc. will not give you the best or quickest overall fitness results. You need to do both. If you are a runner, for example, you can choose to do a little bit less running if you add some strength training several times per week. You will also find that you will feel stronger on your runs. Conversely, if you like to focus on lifting, your muscles will be more pronounced and you will get more definition if you add some cardio. Personally, I find these types of workouts too "one-dimensional". Why not get your cardio and resistance workouts in the same session? Kardio Kicks is a Total-Body Exercise You must exercise your entire body not just specific body parts. "If spot reduction worked, people who chew gum would have skinny faces", says Lesa. People with love handles and some excess fat over the ab muscles attempt to do more crunches to reduce their mid section. This may actually increase the size of the waist if done without a cardio component in an overall exercise program. Everyone has ab muscles. Some are more developed than others, but in order to achieve the coveted washboard effect, the excess fat covering them up, which varies from individual to individual, must be reduced so that the abs can be seen. Women generally complain the most about their hips and thighs. The conventional wisdom is for them to do squats and lunges. That will certainly tone up the muscles in that area. However, the fat still covers the now developed muscle underneath and low and behold the legs and buttocks also get bigger! You must work the entire body and do both a cardio and resistance workout. Kardio Kicks gives you an Efficient Use of Time There are 168 available hours in a week. All you need is three hours for this workout which is approximately 1.8% of your time. Counting travel time to the martial arts school will bump that number up to maybe 4% with 96% of your time to pay attention to everything else in your life. This "inconvenience" of incorporating fitness into your lifestyle will have immediate as well as long lasting benefits. You will feel better now with a long term objective of increasing your longevity. The quality of your longevity is also important. The Kardio Kicks program contains the five components of physical fitness: cardio respiratory fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition and flexibility. You don't have to workout at the same pace and intensity level as a fighter, but this routine provides the very same valuable fitness benefits.  Kardio Kicks Provides Valuable Self-Defense Skills Since you will be working out anyway, learning valuable self-defense skills at the same time is an added benefit. You will, however, not learn the practical application of the techniques that you practice in the air until you apply them to a target or bag. Learning to gauge distance and effectively landing your punch or kick flush on a target takes practice on a target. You just can't pretend to punch and kick, you need feedback. Most aerobic kickboxing formats set up the participants with a false sense of confidence. They are in for a rude awakening if they think they can actually use these techniques for self-defense unless they are ingrained and there is a total understanding of their application. Each Kardio Kicks class has over 20 minutes of proper bag work! Boosts Confidence and Self-Esteem Exercise, in general, helps make you feel better physically. Learning Kardio Kicks helps make you feel better mentally. When you really sense you have genuinely become proficient, it transfers over into your social life and even to your profession. You carry yourself differently and confidence in your overall abilities is enhanced. Most people, for example, are scared to death to give a speech. Continued online Click Here