World's Healthiest Foods

Romaine lettuce

Comment: This week we will be enjoying Romain lettuce. Our kids love salad, and this week we will make salads with all kinds of additives like cheese and other vegetables and cereals.

Not all lettuce is created equal, but if you start your meal with a salad made of romaine lettuce you will be sure to add not only a variety of textures and flavors to your meal but an enormous amount of nutritional value. Most of the domestic U.S. harvest of romaine lettuce and other salad greens comes from California and is available throughout the year.

Lettuce is synonymous with salads as they are predominantly made from crispy green lettuce leaves. Most varieties of lettuce exude small amounts of a white, milky liquid when their leaves are broken. This "milk" gives lettuce its slightly bitter flavor and its scientific name, Lactuca sativa derived from the Latin word for milk.

• Health Benefits
• Description
• History
• How to Select and Store
• How to Enjoy
• Safety
• Nutritional Profile
• References

Health Benefits

Want to maximize the health benefits of your salads? Start with romaine lettuce for a salad guaranteed to be packed with nutrients. The vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber found in romaine lettuce are especially good for the prevention or alleviation of many common health complaints.

Due to its extremely low calorie content and high water volume, romaine lettuce —while often overlooked in the nutrition world—is actually a very nutritious food. Based on its nutrient richness, our food ranking system qualified it as an excellent source of vitamin A (notably through its concentration of the pro-vitamin A carotenoid, beta-carotene), vitamin K, folate, vitamin C, manganese, and chromium. Romaine lettuce also emerged from our ranking system as a very good source of dietary fiber and 6 vitamins and minerals.

Salad Days Keep Your Heart Young

Romaine's vitamin C and beta-carotene content make it a heart-healthy green. Vitamin C and beta-carotene work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. When cholesterol becomes oxidized, it becomes sticky and starts to build up in the artery walls forming plaques. If these plaques become too large, they can block off blood flow or break, causing a clot that triggers a heart attack or stroke. The fiber in Romaine lettuce adds another plus in its column of heart-healthy effects. In the colon, fiber binds to bile salts and removes them from the body. This forces the body to make more bile, which is helpful because it must break down cholesterol to do so. This is just one way in which fiber is able to lower high cholesterol levels.

Equally beneficial to heart health is Romaine's folic acid content. This B vitamin is needed by the body to convert a damaging chemical called homocysteine into other, benign substances. If not converted, homocysteine can directly damage blood vessels, thus greatly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. In addition, romaine lettuce is a very good source of potassium, which has been shown in numerous studies to be useful in lowering high blood pressure, another risk factor for heart disease. With its folic acid, vitamin C, beta-carotene, potassium, and fiber content, romaine lettuce can significantly contribute to a heart-healthy diet.

Description

The words lettuce and salad are practically interchangeable since most salads are made predominantly with the green crispy leaves of lettuce. Most varieties of lettuce exude small amounts of a white, milky liquid when their leaves are broken. This "milk" gives lettuce its slightly bitter flavor and its scientific name, Lactuca sativa since Lactuca is derived from the Latin word for milk.

Lettuce can be classified into various categories with the most common being:

• Romaine: Also known as Cos, this variety of head forming lettuce has deep green, long leaves with a crisp texture and deep taste.
• Crisphead: With green leaves on the outside and whitish ones on the inside, this variety of head lettuce has a crisp texture and a watery, mild taste. The best known variety of crisphead lettuce is iceberg.
• Butterhead: These types of lettuce feature tender large leaves that form a loosely arranged head that is easily separated from the stem, a sweet flavor and a soft texture. The best known varieties of Butterhead lettuce include Boston and Bibb.
• Leaf: Featuring broad, curly leaf varieties that are green and/or red, the leaf lettuces offer a delicate taste and a mildly crispy texture. Best known varieties of leaf lettuce include green leaf and red leaf.

While vegetables such as arugula, watercress and mizuna are not technically lettuce, these greens are often used interchangeably with lettuces in salads.

History

Native to the eastern Mediterranean region and western Asia, lettuce has a long and distinguished history. With depictions appearing in ancient Egyptian tombs, the cultivation of lettuce is thought to date back to at least 4500 BC. The ancient Greeks and Romans held lettuce in high regard both as a food and for its therapeutic medicinal properties.

In China, where lettuce has been growing since the 5th century, lettuce represents good luck. It is served on birthdays, New Year's Day and other special occasions. Christopher Columbus introduced varieties of lettuce to North America during his second voyage in 1493. Lettuce was first planted in California, the lettuce capital of the United States, by the Spanish missionaries in the 17th century. Its popularity across the US did not become widespread until centuries later with the development of refrigeration and railway transportation.

How to Select and Store

Regardless of the type, all lettuces should feature crisp looking, unwilted leaves that are free of dark or slimy spots. In addition, the leaves' edges should be free of brown or yellow discoloration. Lettuces such as Romaine and Boston should have compact heads and stem ends that are not too brown.

Since different types of lettuce have different qualities, different methods should be used when storing. Romaine and leaf lettuce should be washed and dried before storing in the refrigerator to remove their excess moisture, while Boston lettuce need not be washed before storing. A salad spinner can be very helpful in the drying of lettuce (and other salad ingredients as well). These lettuces should be either stored in a plastic bag or wrapped in a damp cloth and stored in the refrigerator crisper.

To store arugula, watercress and other types of salad greens that are sold with their roots attached, wrap the roots in a damp paper towel and place the entire greens in a plastic bag.

Romaine lettuce will keep for five to seven days, Boston and leaf lettuce for two to three days, while fragile greens such as arugula and watercress ideally should be prepared the day of purchase. All types of lettuce should be stored away from ethylene-producing fruits, such as apples, bananas and pears, since they will cause the lettuce leaves to brown.

How to Enjoy

For some of our favorite recipes, click Recipes.

Tips for Preparing Lettuce:

To clean lettuce, first remove the outer leaves and with one slice cut off the tips of the lettuce since they tend to be bitter. Chop the remaining lettuce to the desired size and discard the bottom root portion. Rinse and pat dry or use a salad spinner if you have one available to remove the excess water.

Wash greens such as arugula and watercress like you would spinach. Trim their roots and separate the leaves, placing them in a large bowl of tepid water and swishing them around with your hands. This will allow any sand to become dislodged. Remove the leaves from the water, empty the bowl, refill with clean water and repeat this process until no dirt remains in the water (usually two or three times will do the trick). Make sure your leaves are spun or patted dry before adding dressing so as not to dilute flavor.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

Give sandwiches extra crunch (and nutrients) by garnishing with lettuce leaves.

When it comes to salads, the only limitation is your imagination. Be creative: use a variety of different lettuce types and add your favorite foods. Whether they're vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, whole grains, whole wheat croutons, soy products, meats or cheeses, most every food goes well with lettuce.

For an interactive meal that is both unusual and fun, arrange nuts, diced vegetables, chicken and/or baked tofu and romaine lettuce leaves on a large plate. Everyone then has the chance to make their own lettuce pockets by placing their favorite fillings in a lettuce leaf and making a breadless sandwich wrap.

The Garden School Tattler

What a delicious day yesterday. It was calm all day and that says a lot on an "occasion" day. OK, girls, the cameras were clicking, but Miss Judy doesn't have any of the pictures to post!!!

The school looked great, the program was wonderful and the kids were marvelous and sang with umph and joy. I think they really enjoyed this group of songs. I know I heard them reciting the names of the states at play, and that means a lot. Next on the agenda, so I've heard, is the Sound of Music songs. Love to try that puppet show again!! Maybe this summer. It's so nice to know that our teachers can create, practice and produce a show from scratch.

Miss Kelly's book fair was a real hit. We had parents in that room all day. I think we made a nice dent, and it looks like we will get some nice benefits for the kids. I bought this crazy book about a rabbit who sails the sea for Wilbur, and some Captain Underpants for Jack to read himself. I got some books about the ocean for my other grandchildren who live in Jacksonville. Then I discovered the cookbooks as we were putting the books away...

What I liked best about the book fair is how much the children wanted to look. These are their books - books for them, and they wanted to see and touch and smell, because new books really smell good. Curiosity about books is something that is taught, and our children have learned this well.

What's next? We will be working in class next week to finish out the school year. We have about a month before summer comes, and we will be coasting toward summer during that time. We will be exploring more of the world in geography. I had a discussion with my husband last night about the absence of literary criticism in the world today. Well one thing led to another, and we talked about how many new history books were best sellers every month, and I mentioned how much our kids love geography. He said geography was not history, and I said, that geography was a first step to history because you have to have a world view about places to understand what happened there. So we will be talking more about each area of the world and the countries within each area simply because the children won't get this again until junior high.

Yesterday while I was cleaning up, I came across our little flags, and I told the kids that they needed to find the country on the map that matched the name on the flag, and they did. That means they are not only able to listen to directions, they are able to read names like Tajikistan. Now remember, according to the powers that move and shake early childhood, these children are not supposed to know their letters yet! Edith and I would refer to this as "slam the window of opportunity on the child" theory of non-education.

Lots of parents ask us about donations of many sorts. We are always willing to take donations of the following: children's underwear, shorts, jeans, t-shirts and long sleeve t-shirts sizes 3-10.

Craft articles that you no longer use.

Toys and games without batteries.

Books - no old encyclopedias, please.

Science objects like animal skulls, dried pods and interesting plants.

Indoor plants if still living. Pond and vegetable plants.

Candy, and other packaged food if still in the original container.

Art supplies in any condition.

Kitchen supplies like foil, baggies, etc.

And anything else that you see we regularly use.

And parents are always welcome.

The Garden School Tattler

We've been out of classrooms because of the book fair this week, but we've been working on some think games with the big kids. Yesterday we put the children to work. We worked on our garden moving mulch. They had a grand time. And when the job was done, they each got a reward and we had an orange juice party. The best carriers were Nikolai, Adyson and Aidan. We were thrilled with the work done by Brady and Emma. They were outstanding.

Some of Miss Kelly's girls helped her set up the books. It looks wonderful. It will be hard not to buy a lot of books. There is a beach theme this year.

Then in the afternoon, we listened to a lot of stories and talked about them. Then we played a new game - word it. The children each received a big sheet of paper with letters, and they were to color letter blocks to make words. Most of the kids made about eight words. These are children who should not even know their letters by local "day care" standards.

We played a game of letter and sound recognition on Monday and both Phoebe and Emma age 3 knew many of the letters and the sounds and were eager to participate.

Today we are going to work on handwriting and story making. You can't do this kind of thing if the kids aren't "there." Miss Kelly is a gem who has really taught these children a lot. I am truly grateful to her. These children will move onto first grade in a lot of different schools and be at the top of their classes.

This last month of school is review, games, parties on the spur, and rewards, rewards, rewards. Throw Alfie Kohn over the fence a stick. That's PA Dutch for the sky is the limit!

The Garden School Tattler

This is going to be a busy week at school. The book fair books will be arriving Tuesday for set up and I'm thinking the older children might be able to help. It's always fun to see what's new in the book store especially if the book store is in your classroom.

Spring Sing is this week. It's Friday at 3:00. Miss Amy has been working with the children. The kids seem to really like the songs she's chosen to sing with them. Even the youngest children seem to take enormous pleasure in rattling off the names of all the states. This has always been my job, and this year it's a pleasure to give the project to another teacher.

Every so often a really excellent teacher falls into your lap. It's nearly always by accident and it's always a surprise. Amy came to us in a pinch, and in the last several weeks, her talent and her love and her enthusiasm has put her into that category of excellent teacher. Her ideas are refreshing. Through Amy's connections, the Master Gardeners have taken over our summer planting and the kids are delighted with their own gardens.

Amy is one of those people for whom work is a pleasure and the result is a delight. Her possibilities are endless and the children are thrilled with her schemes.

Because of excellent staffing this year, Summer will be endless. We are not taking a week this summer. We are starting mid May and doing summer from Mid May right to Mid August. We spent most of Friday morning talking about the possibilities of field trips. The schedule is astounding.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, teachers will be teaching regular school through games and writing projects, but we will also be teaching crafts and fine arts. We've tried to do this summer after summer, but this year, we've attached a summer theme to field trips and the projects will be a week long. Some of the projects will be cooking for real, sewing stitches that hold, scrapbooking for keeps, photography from the eye of the artist, jewelry making that lasts, baseball, embroidery for design, painting like the masters, sculpting with clays and paper mache.
Anyway, all of it is hot in the works and when we get our bus schedule, we will be sending home a calendar of when, where, why, how and what and rules.

Our summer plan is to offer children a real summer vacation.

Decisions Decisions

A friend of mine sent this about making decisions about life:

Should I get a dog?



Should I have children?



This is about as bad a mess as trying to retrain a five year old who has been allowed to rule the house. There is just no point to begin. The only good thing about this is that it's not at your house or my house.

Quinoa

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Comment: We were given a present of Quinoa from Addies parents and we tried it last week. It was absolutely delicious and the children loved it.

Quinoa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Subfamily: Chenopodioideae Genus: Chenopodium Species: C. quinoa
Binomial name
Chenopodium quinoa Willd.

Quinoa (IPA pronunciation (RP): [kiːnʍɑː]) is a species of goosefoot (Chenopodium) grown as a crop primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal as it is not a grass. Its leaves are also eaten as a leaf vegetable, much like amaranth, but the commercial availability of quinoa greens is currently limited.

Contents [show] 1 Overview 2 History and culture 3 Nutritional value 4 Saponin content 5 Preparation 6 Name 7 References and external links

[edit] Overview

Quinoa originated in the Andean region of South America, where it has been an important food for 6,000 years. Its name is the Spanish spelling of the Quechua name. Quinoa is generally undemanding and altitude-hardy, so it can be easily cultivated in the Andes up to about 4,000 meters. Even so, it grows best in well-drained soils and requires a relatively long growing season. In eastern North America, it is susceptible to a leaf miner that may reduce crop success; this leaf miner also affects the common weed Chenopodium album, but C. album is much more resistant.

Similar Chenopodium species, such as Pitseed Goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri) and Fat Hen (Chenopodium album) were grown and domesticated in North America as part of the Eastern Agricultural Complex before maize agriculture became popular. Fat Hen, which has a widespread distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, produces edible seeds and greens much like quinoa, but in lower quantities. Caution should be exercised in collecting this weed, however, because when growing in heavily fertilized agricultural fields it can accumulate dangerously high concentrations of nitrates.

Chenopodiums were also used in Europe as greens.

[edit] History and culture

Top Quinoa Producers - 2005 (thousand metric ton)
Peru	27.0
Bolivia	23.5
Ecuador	0.7
World Total	58.4
Source: UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO)Actual figures from FAO

The Incas, who held the crop to be sacred, referred to quinoa as "chisaya mama" or "mother of all grains", and it was the Inca emperor who would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using 'golden implements'. During the European conquest of South America quinoa was scorned by the Spanish colonists as "food for Indians", and even actively suppressed, due to its status within indigenous non-Christian ceremonies. On another religious note, quinoa is considered by some (but not all) Jews to be kosher for Passover^[1].

[edit] Nutritional value

Quinoa was of great nutritional importance in pre-Columbian Andean civilizations, being secondary only to the potato, and followed in third place by maize. In contemporary times this crop has come to be highly appreciated for its nutritional value, and the United Nations has classified it as a super crop for its very high protein content (12%–18%). Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete foodstuff. This means it takes less quinoa protein to meet one's needs than wheat protein. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten free and considered easy to digest. Because of all these characteristics, quinoa is being considered as a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long-duration manned spaceflights.^[2]

[edit] Saponin content

In its natural state quinoa has a coating of bitter-tasting saponins, making it essentially unpalatable. Most quinoa sold commercially in North America has been processed to remove this coating. Some have speculated that this bitter coating may have caused the Europeans who first encountered quinoa to reject it as a food source, even as they adopted other indigenous products of the Americas like maize and potatoes. However, this bitterness has beneficial effects in terms of cultivation, as it is a crop that is relatively untouched by birds and thus requires minimal protection. There have been attempts made to lower the saponin content of quinoa through selective breeding in order to produce sweeter and more palatable varieties of the crop. However, when these varieties were introduced by agronomists to native growers in the high plateau, they were rejected after just one season. The growers returned to their traditional high saponin varieties, the reason being that despite the newer varieties giving 'magnificent' yields, birds had consumed the entire crop.

The saponin content in quinoa can be mildly toxic, as can be the oxalic acid content found in the leaves of all of the chenopodium family. However, the risks associated with quinoa are minimal provided that it is properly prepared and leaves are not eaten to excess.

[edit] Preparation

A spoonful of milled, organic quinoa

Quinoa is an easy food to prepare, has a pleasantly light, fluffy texture when cooked, and its mild, slightly nutty flavor makes it an excellent alternative to white rice or couscous.

The first step in preparing quinoa is to remove the saponins, a process that requires soaking the grain in water for a few hours, then changing the water and resoaking again, or rinsing it in ample running water either in a fine strainer or in cheesecloth. Boxed quinoa typically has been pre-rinsed for convenience.

A common cooking method is to treat quinoa much like rice, bringing two cups of water to a boil with one cup of grain, covering at a low simmer and cooking for 14–18 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed. The cooked germ looks like a tiny curl and should have a slight bite to it (like al dente pasta). Alternatively, one can use a rice cooker to prepare quinoa.

Vegetables and seasonings can also be added to make a wide range of dishes. It is also well-suited to vegetable pilafs, complementing bitter greens like kale.

Quinoa can serve as a high-protein breakfast food mixed with honey, almonds, or berries; it is also sold as a dry product, much like corn flakes.

As a snack food, Quinoa can be toasted in a dry pan over medium heat until it is browned and mixed with granola, fruit (fresh or dried), coconut, or just eaten by itself.

Quinoa flour can be used in wheat-based and gluten-free baking. For the latter, it can be combined with sorghum flour, tapioca, and potato starch to create a nutritious gluten-free baking mix. A suggested mix is three parts quinoa flour, three parts sorghum flour, two parts potato starch, and one part tapioca starch.

Lastly, quinoa may be germinated in its raw form to boost its nutritional value. Germination activates its natural enzymes and multiplies its vitamin and mineral content. In fact, quinoa has a notably short germination period: only 2-4 hours resting in a glass of clean water is enough to make it sprout and release gases, as opposed to, eg., 12 hours overnight with wheat. This process, besides its nutritional enhancements, softens the grains, making them very suitable to be added to salads and other cold foods.

[edit] Name

This crop is known as "quinoa" in English and is pronounced with the stress on either the first syllable (/'kiːn.wɑː/) or the second (/kɪ.'nəʊ.ə/). In Spanish, the spelling and pronunciation vary by region. The accent may be on the first syllable and is usually spelled quinua (/'ki.nwa/), with quínoa (/'ki.no.a/) being a variant, or on the second syllable quinoa (/ki.'no.a/). The name ultimately comes from the Quechua kinua or kinoa. There are multiple other native names in South America:

• Quechua: ayara, kiuna, kuchikinwa, achita, kinua, kinoa, chisaya mama
• Aymara: supha, jopa, jupha, juira, ära, qallapi, vocali
• Chibchan: suba, pasca
• Mapudungun: dawe, sawe

Something for Sunday

St. Anselm 1033 - 1109

Indifferent toward religion as a young man, Anselm became one of the Church's greatest theologians and leaders. He received the title "Father of Scholasticism" for his attempt to analyze and illumine the truths of faith through the aid of reason.

At 15, Anselm wanted to enter a monastery, but was refused acceptance because of his father's opposition. Twelve years later, after careless disinterest in religion and years of worldly living, he finally fulfilled his desire to be a monk. He entered the monastery of Bec in Normandy, three years later was elected prior and 15 years later was unanimously chosen abbot.

Considered an original and independent thinker, Anselm was admired for his patience, gentleness and teaching skill. Under his leadership, the abbey of Bec became a monastic school, influential in philosophical and theological studies.

During these years, at the community's request, Anselm began publishing his theological works, comparable to those of St. Augustine. His best-known work is the book Cur Deus Homo ("Why God Became Man").

At 60, against his will, Anselm was appointed archbishop of Canterbury in 1093. His appointment was opposed at first by England's King William Rufus and later accepted. Rufus persistently refused to cooperate with efforts to reform the Church.

Anselm finally went into voluntary exile until Rufus died in 1100. He was then recalled to England by Rufus's brother and successor, Henry I. Disagreeing fearlessly with Henry over the king's insistence on investing England's bishops, Anselm spent another three years in exile in Rome.

His care and concern extended to the very poorest people; he opposed the slave trade. Anselm obtained from the national council at Westminster the passage of a resolution prohibiting the sale of human beings.

Quote

"No one will have any other desire in heaven than what God wills; and the desire of one will be the desire of all; and the desire of all and of each one will also be the desire of God" (St. Anselm, Opera Omnia, Letter 112).

Onions

Comment: Most children learn to eat onions eventually when they discover that cooked onions are actually sweet. It's worth the fight.

What would a kitchen be without the distinctively pungent smell and taste of onions filling out the flavors of almost every type of cuisine imaginable? Fortunately, yellow storage onions are available throughout the year but sweet varieties have a much more limited growing season and are available only a few months out of the year.

The word onion comes from the Latin word unio for "single," or "one," because the onion plant produces a single bulb, unlike its cousin, the garlic, that produces many small bulbs. The name also describes the union (also from unio) of the many separate, concentrically arranged layers of the onion.

• Health Benefits
• Description
• History
• How to Select and Store
• How to Enjoy
• Safety
• Nutritional Profile
• References

Health Benefits

Onions, like garlic, are members of the Allium family, and both are rich in powerful sulfur-containing compounds that are responsible for their pungent odors and for many of their health-promoting effects. Onions contain allyl propyl disulphide, while garlic is rich in allicin, diallyl disulphide, diallyl trisulfide and others. In addition, onions are very rich in chromium, a trace mineral that helps cells respond to insulin, plus vitamin C, and numerous flavonoids, most notably, quercitin.

Blood Sugar-Lowering Effects

The higher the intake of onion, the lower the level of glucose found during oral or intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that allyl propyl disulfide is responsible for this effect and lowers blood sugar levels by increasing the amount of free insulin available. Allyl propyl disulfide does this by competing with insulin, which is also a disulphide, to occupy the sites in the liver where insulin is inactivated. This results is an increase in the amount of insulin available to usher glucose into cells causing a lowering of blood sugar.

In addition, onions are a very good source of chromium, the mineral component in glucose tolerance factor, a molecule that helps cells respond appropriately to insulin. Clinical studies of diabetics have shown that chromium can decrease fasting blood glucose levels, improve glucose tolerance, lower insulin levels, and decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while increasing good HDL-cholesterol levels. Marginal chromium deficiency is common in the United States, not surprising since chromium levels are depleted by the consumption refined sugars and white flour products as well as the lack of exercise. One cup of raw onion contains over 20% of the Daily Value for this important trace mineral.

Cardiovascular Benefits

The regular consumption of onions has, like garlic, been shown to lower high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, both of which help prevent atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. These beneficial effects are likely due to onions' sulfur compounds, its chromium and its vitamin B6, which helps prevent heart disease by lowering high homocysteine levels, another significant risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Onions have been singled out as one of the small number of vegetables and fruits that contributed to the significant reduction in heart disease risk seen in a meta-analysis of seven prospective studies. Of the more than 100,000 individuals who participated in these studies, those who diets most frequently included onions, tea, apples and broccoli-the richest sources of flavonoids-gained a 20% reduction in their risk of heart disease.

Support Gastrointestinal Health

The regular consumption of onions, as little as two or more times per week, is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing colon cancer. Onions contain a number of flavonoids, the most studied of which, quercitin, has been shown to halt the growth of tumors in animals and to protect colon cells from the damaging effects of certain cancer-causing substances. Cooking meats with onions may help reduce the amount of carcinogens produced when meat is cooked using high heat methods.

Quercitin, an antioxidant in onions, and curcumin, a phytonutrient found in the curry spice turmeric, reduce both the size and number of precancerous lesions in the human intestinal tract, suggests research published in Clinical Gasteroenterology and Hepatology.

Five patients with an inherited form of precancerous polyps in the lower bowel known as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) were treated with regular doses of curcumin and quercetin over an average of six months. The average number of polyps dropped 60.4%, and the average size of the polyps that did develop dropped by 50.9%.

FAP runs in families and is characterized by the development of hundreds of polyps (colorectal adenomas) and, eventually, colon cancer. Recently, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen) have been used to treat some patients with this condition, but these drugs often produce significant side effects, including gastrointestinal ulcerations and bleeding, according to lead researcher Francis M. Giardiello, M.D., at the Division of Gastroenterology, Johns Hopkins University.

Previous observational studies in populations that consume large amounts of curry, as well as animal research, have strongly suggested that curcumin, one of the main ingredients in Asian curries, might be effective in preventing and/or treating cancer in the lower intestine. Similarly, quercetin, an anti-oxidant flavonoid found in a variety of foods including onions, green tea and red wine, has been shown to inhibit growth of colon cancer cell lines in humans and abnormal colorectal cells in animals.

In this study, a decrease in polyp number was observed in four of five patients at three months and four of four patients at six months.

Each patient received curcumin (480 mg) and quercetin (20 mg) orally 3 times a day for 6 months. Although the amount of quercetin was similar to what many people consume daily, the curcumin consumed was more than would be provided in a typical diet because turmeric only contains on average 3-5 % curcumin by weight. While simply consuming curry and onions may not have as dramatic an effect as was produced in this study, this research clearly demonstrates that liberal use of onions and turmeric and onions can play a protective role against the development of colorectal cancer.

Onion and Garlic Protective against Many Cancers

Making onion and garlic a staple in your healthy way of eating may greatly lower your risk of several common cancers, suggests a large data set of case-control studies from Southern European populations (Galeone C, Pelucchi C et al, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition).

Study participants consuming the most onions showed an 84% reduced risk for cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, 88% reduced risk for esophageal cancer, 56% reduced risk for colorectal cancer, 83% reduced risk for laryngeal cancer, 25% reduced risk for breast cancer, 73% reduced risk for ovarian cancer, 71% reduced risk for prostate cancer, and 38% reduced risk for renal cell cancer, compared to those eating the least onions.

Similarly, those eating the most garlic had a 39% reduced risk for cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, 57% reduced risk for esophageal cancer, 26% reduced risk for colorectal cancer, 44% reduced risk for laryngeal cancer, 10% reduced risk for breast cancer, 22% reduced risk for ovarian cancer, 19% reduced risk for prostate cancer, and 31% reduced risk for renal cell cancer, compared to those eating the least garlic.

Boost Bone Health

Milk isn't the only food that boosts bone health. Onions also help maintain healthy bones, suggests a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

A compound newly identified in onions with the long complex name of gamma-L-glutamyl-trans-S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide, GPCS, for short, inhibits the activity of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone). The more GPCS given in this animal study, the more the bone resorptive (breakdown) action of osteoclasts was inhibited.

Onions may be especially beneficial for women, who are at increased risk for osteoporosis as they go through menopause. Fosamax (Alendronate), the drug typically prescribed to prevent excessive bone loss, works in a similar manner, by destroying osteoclasts, so they do not break down bone. Potential negative side effects of Fosamax include irritation of the upper gastrointestinal mucosa, acid regurgitation, esophageal ulcers and erosions. Potential negative side effects of eating onions: onion breath.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Bacterial Activity

Several anti-inflammatory agents in onions render them helpful in reducing the severity of symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions such as the pain and swelling of osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis, the allergic inflammatory response of asthma, and the respiratory congestion associated with the common cold. Both onions and garlic contain compounds that inhibit lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase (the enzymes that generate inflammatory prostaglandins and thromboxanes), thus markedly reducing inflammation. Onions' anti-inflammatory effects are due not only to their vitamin C and quercitin, but to other active components called isothiocyanates. These compounds work synergistically to spell relief from inflammation. In addition, quercitin and other flavonoids found in onions work with vitamin C to help kill harmful bacteria, making onions an especially good addition to soups and stews during cold and flu season.

Description

Onions may bring a tear to your eye, and a pungency to your breath, but they will most certainly bring delight to your tastebuds. The onion, known scientifically as Allium cepa, is, on the surface, a humble brown, white or red, paper-thin skinned bulb; yet, despite its plain looks, has an intense flavor and is a beloved part of the cuisine of almost every region of the world. The word onion comes from the Latin word unio for "single," or "one," because the onion plant produces a single bulb, unlike its cousin, the garlic, that produces many small bulbs. The name also describes the onion bulb when cut down the middle; it is a union (also from unio) of many separate, concentrically arranged layers.

Onions range in size, color and taste depending upon their variety. There are generally two types of large, globe-shaped onions, classified as spring/summer or storage onions. The former class includes those that are grown in warm weather climates and have characteristic mild or sweet tastes. Included in this group are the Maui Sweet Onion (in season April through June), Vidalia (in season May through June) and Walla Walla (in season July and August). Storage onions are grown in colder weather climates and, after harvesting, are dried out for a period of several months, attaining dry, crisp skins. They generally have a more pungent flavor and are usually named by their color: white, yellow or red. Spanish onions fall into this classification. In addition to these large onions, there are also smaller varieties such as the green onion, or scallion, and the pearl onion.

History

Onions are native to Asia and the Middle East and have been cultivated for over five thousand years. Onions were highly regarded by the Egyptians. Not only did they use them as currency to pay the workers who built the pyramids, but they also placed them in the tombs of kings, such as Tutankhamen, so that they could carry these gifts bestowed with spiritual significance with them to the afterlife.

Onions have been revered throughout time not only for their culinary use, but also for their therapeutic properties. As early as the 6th century, onions were used as a medicine in India. While they were popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans, they were oftentimes dressed with extra seasonings since many people did not find them spicy enough. Yet, it was their pungency that made onions popular among poor people throughout the world who could freely use this inexpensive vegetable to spark up their meals. Onions were an indispensable vegetable in the cuisines of many European countries during the Middle Ages and later even served as a classic healthy breakfast food. Christopher Columbus brought onions to the West Indies; their cultivation spread from there throughout the Western Hemisphere. Today China, India, the United States, Russian, and Spain are among the leading producers of onions.

Weird Stuff

Just because it's fun, here are some things kids love to know. If parents know them too, that's a fun exchange. See if some of these things make your kids laugh. And try them on the man-woman in your life; see if they say huh?

Weird Things You Would Never Know!! (But do now!)

A shrimp's heart is in its head.

The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.

Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.

Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.

If the government has no knowledge of aliens, then why does Title 14,Section 1211 of the Code of Federal Regulations, implemented on July 16 1969, make it illegal for U.S. citizens to have any contact with extraterrestrials or their vehicles?

In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.

A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

23% of all photocopier faults world-wide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their butts.

Most lipstick contains fish scales.

Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different.

If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die.

If you keep your eyes open by force, they can pop out.

In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand.

It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.

A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.

Horses can't vomit.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined.

On average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.

On average people fear spiders more than they do death.

Ninety percent of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.

Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.

Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.

Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.

It's possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

It's physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.

The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.

A snail can sleep for three years.

No word in the English language rhymes with "MONTH."

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

The electric chair was invented by a dentist.

All polar bears are left handed.

In ancient Egypt, priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

"Go," is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

If Barbie were life-size, her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand seven feet, two inches tall.

A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

Americans on average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.

Almost everyone who reads this email will try to lick their elbow. (Sorry I didn't go there!)

The Garden School Tattler

It's been a while since I've posted a tattler. My computer has been strange, and the hook up really slow.

I hope you guys have noticed the garden plots outdoors near the parking lot. Each child will partner with another to create a little garden for both the spring and the summer. The Master Gardeners of Evansville have discovered us, thanks to Miss Amy, and they are going to watch our garden grow. More as we do it. If you have donations of dirt, garden forks, they would be appreciated. If you could donate some empty clear 2 liter soda containers, it would be most appreciated.

Have you been helping your children with the list of states? It's kind of fun to do. Yesterday we had a little contest, and the kids did really well, but they all need work from Utah on. Miss Amy is quite a musician. It's tough to keep 'em singing at the end of the school year.

Miss Katy Moorman has been volunteering with us as a science teacher. We are really glad to get her. She's an aces teacher and so enthusiastic! Her grandson, Gage, was one of our students. Now Gage goes to school with Jack.

Last Friday we played a game of hunt and find, and we were very very surprised the children did so well. Congrats to Hadley who got 40/40.

We've been trying out new foods again. We had finger peas on Monday along with steak. Kids should eat steak, and they did and they liked it. We are using brown rice, and the kids seem to like that too. Yesterday we had summer sausage and egg pie or quiche. They liked that too.

Today we will eat ham, cheese potatoes and asparagus along with homemade bread, pineapple and oranges.

And the beat goes on...

Time

9 Ways to Get More Out of Your Day

Time to Ignore the Hourglass
-- By Life Coach Mary Guarino, Ph.D.

About The Author

Dr. Mary Guarino Dr. Mary Guarino is a life coach that specializes in helping people evaluate and improve their lives, particularly women, in the areas of life transitions and interpersonal relationships. She holds a Ph.D. in Lifespan Developmental Psychology and a coaching certificate from the Institute for Life Coaching.

Comment: This is a good article whether you are pregnant or caring for a very young child. Too often we have too much to do, we are exhausted, and the things that give us pleasure have to be put on the back burner. Another important part of living well is having friends and family who listen to you. Making sure when you voice your opinions, those opinions and ideas are not disregarded by the people who say they love you most.

Do you always feel pressed for time? You’re running from work, to the store, to the doctor, and back again. The routine, even in your pregnancy, is not getting any easier. If so, you are certainly not alone. Last October, millions of Americans participated in the first annual “Take Back Your Time Day,” a project of the Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy at Cornell University. The idea arose as a way to make the public aware of the “epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling and time famine” in our society.

Lack of time can be detrimental to our physical, emotional and spiritual health, 3 things that become extra-important when carrying a child. When we are pressed for time, we tend to exercise less, eat foods for their convenience rather than their nutritional value, have less time to interact with our families and friends, and spend little, if any time, on self-development and spiritual growth.

Here are some simple ways you can begin to take back some of your time:

• Set aside a certain amount of time each day just to do what you want to do. How about 1 hour each day? If that’s not “possible,” start with smaller increments of time, say 15 minutes, and work your way up. Want to spend time in the garden? Go for it. Need a nap? What’s stopping you?
• Doing part of something is better than doing nothing. Even if you can’t complete a task or a project, it is better to take a small “chunk” out of it rather than letting the whole thing slide until later. Get things done on days that your body isn’t fighting you with fatigue, back ache, or morning sickness.
• Learn to say “No.” This isn’t always easy, but it can make a world of difference. Even if you don’t want to say “No” completely, try to set limits around how much you will do and when. Taking care of yourself, hands down, is the most important thing for these 9 months. Worry about helping other people second.
• Bundle your tasks. Save up non-urgent errands so that you can do those that are logistically close to one another.
• Delegate. How much is your time worth? It may be worth the cost of hiring someone to do things like mow your lawn, clean your house, AND you will be purchasing the precious commodity of time. It’s more than okay to ask for help.
• Do the yucky stuff first. Take care of the tasks that you dislike so that you don’t waste precious mental time ruminating about not having done them!
• Are the things you feel you “have” to do really necessary? It can be easy to get caught up in the details to the detriment of the big picture.
• Take an honest look at the activities and people in your life that are “energy drainers.” Do they need to be part of your life? What would happen if you eliminated or reduced your time spent on/with them? Surround yourself with supportive individuals and positive pursuits throughout your pregnancy.
• And, most importantly, set aside time each week to do something special. Make sure that, no matter how busy you are, you take time to play. Spending time with friends, outdoors, at the movies, whatever makes you happy, is essential in helping you be the most focused and effective you can be with your time. Related External Link-----

  
  

New Restaurants

Comment: I got this fabulous story from Susie E. She finds the neatest stuff. I'm wondering how difficult it would be to eat fish in front of fish? Would this be a terrible distraction for kids?

The  World's First All-glass Undersea Restaurant Opens


The  Maldives 15 April marks  the day that the first ever all-glass
undersea restaurant in the  world opens its doors for business at the
Hilton Maldives Resort  & Spa. Ithaa* will sit five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear acrylic offering diners 270 degrees of panoramic underwater views.

"We have used aquarium technology to put diners face to face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives," says Carsten Schieck, General manager of Hilton Maldives Resort and Spa. "Our guests always comment on being blown away byt the color, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views without ever getting their feet wet."

Created by MJ Murphy Ltd, a design consultancy based in New Zealand, Ithaa's distinctive feature is the use of curved transparent acrylic walls and roof are similar to those used in aquarium attractions. "The fact that the entire restaurant except for the floor is made of clear acrylic makes this unique in the world. We are currently planting a coral garden on the reef to add tot he spectacular views of the rays, sharks and many colorful fish that live around the area," say's Schieck.

Maine

Central Maine Morning Sentinel

I am confused about an issue related to the school funding problems referred to in Amy Calder's March 29 article.

If we are truly struggling to adequately fund public education, kindergarten through grade 12, and I know we are, why are the Department of Education and others submitting bills to the state Legislature that appear to be advocating free public preschool education for all, regardless of a family's ability to pay, or if whether a child is "at risk" in some way.

We are not just talking teachers. Consider a whole new tier of program development, assessment, teacher certification, transportation, etc. How can we afford to do this if we can't afford teachers for our school-aged children? Who will pick up the tab? In my mind that's just the tip of the iceberg, but it has me perplexed to say the least.

Mary-Lou Ogden

Waterville

Comment: This is a letter from a concerned reader, and it makes sense the way things are today. Now let's take another step. The key word here is "school aged." If we are going to think out of the box, then we have to be out of the box to accomplish something new.

Let's consider the child first. What does it mean to say a child is school aged? In today's common usage, school aged means a child who is traditionally five - eighteen. In today's new world, perhaps we need to change that. In today's world of internal individuality and external sameness, perhaps we need to finally realize that all children are not alike. They might all be dressed alike, and have the same haircuts, but internally, we realize that they are fundamentally very different.

Difference is seen especially in beginning education. Some children should start regular classes at three or four, and some not until they are six or seven, because each child makes the choice to listen and to understand when he is ready to let go of his baby years.

And who cares how old someone is at a particular landmark? Should all people who graduate from college be 21? Should all military recruits be 18? Should people wait until age 25 to marry?

Equipping a school corporation with preschool simply means it will take on another group of children. It doesn't mean a whole new curriculum. Some four year olds are perfectly capable of doing regular kindergarten work, and that's the point. The windows of education are open only for a short time. If the window closes because child has been held back to satisfy a birthdate cut off or a parent not willing to let go, the child is going to lose out.

At the same time, by insisting that a child who is naturally behind be pushed through the system, the child also suffers.

By opening schools to SOME four year olds, we are offering to those who are ready, a piece of the cake that otherwise might not happen until it's too late. Children love to learn. They are hungry for knowledge and experience and that doesn't just happen at some magic cut off date.

Connecticut

The Day

Getting Early Childhood Education Right

Comment: It's like saying, "Every family needs to live in a three bedroom house, sit down at the table for such and such a meal at such and such a time, and everyone should take vitamins. " There are so many professionals who want to trump up education to preschools, and the only thing they can think to do is procure money. I've said it before: shouldn't the plan be in place first?

There is no plan because when you speak of really educating very young children, most people don't have a clue about what that means. Because very young children don't read, the idea is that they can't really learn. Yet at the same time, professionals concede that the human being learns more during the preschool years than he will ever learn.

If that was different; if the human being learned more in the college years, and we made him dig ditches during those years, it would be a good insight into what's wrong with today's early childhood plan.

Article:

She offered a five-year plan for greater investment in PreK-16 education, a new kind of family-school-government partnership, and a clearly articulated statement of accountability for child outcomes and educational program performance.

This is not about tinkering around the edges. Funding for the preschool years and for the critical K-12 and higher education years that follow would be dramatically increased.

On March 2, the co-chairmmen of the General Assembly's Education Committee pressed representatives of the administration on questions of timing and pacing, management and accountability.

Although everyone is using different words, the governor's message and the message of legislative leadership has been virtually the same: Let's get it done, but let's get it right.

Last summer, the state's Early Childhood Education Cabinet published a set of goals and proposed action steps to “get it right” for our youngest children. The report is short. Its title is catchy. And nearly 1,000 citizens have talked about it over the fall. In their view, the direction is right and we should get on with it.

In just six short words, the cabinet conveyed its goals for young children: Ready by 5, Fine by 9.

All children should be ready for the grand adventure of schooling as they enter kindergarten. All children should be achieving school success by the end of third grade, as measured by their reading scores.

The early childhood focus and the kindergarten-through-college focus are both built on a set of clear values and principles.

To have ready children, the cabinet reasoned, we need “ready families” because families are children's protectors, caregivers, and first teachers. To have ready families, we need “ready communities” because children and families live, work and thrive (or not) in 169 Connecticut communities and thousands of neighborhoods.

To have children who achieve as students, we need “ready schools” that welcome, challenge and support both children and their families.

But families, schools, communities and local providers cannot do this alone, either. To achieve Connecticut's two goals for early childhood — ready by five and fine by nine — we also need a “ready state.”

Connecticut already invests more than a half-billion dollars in programs for children to age five. Some argue that this is not enough. Indeed, the Governor's budget proposes that we spend an additional $83 million over the next two years to help achieve our early childhood goals, and more after that. Beyond that, education aid to cities and towns would increase, over five years, by 59 percent.

How can we know that we are getting our money's worth? How can we make these existing and new resources work better, smarter and harder for all of us? How can we make sure that our agencies and programs work together so every child, every family, and every dollar gets our personal attention? This the proper work of a “ready state.”

Last December, the Early Childhood Research and Policy Council — established by executive order and led by the business, philanthropic and education sectors — proposed up an Early Childhood Investment Plan. It makes a strong case for matching program expansion with investments in quality, accountability, management and data.

In short, they said, “Let's get it done, but get it right.”

Last year about 41,500 babies were born in Connecticut. Unless things change dramatically, nearly half of them will come to the kindergarten door in 2011 without the full set of skills that they need for early schooling. If nothing changes, by 2015, one third of them will not have the academic skills to succeed in the 4th grade and beyond. And the pipeline to later school failure, teen pregnancy and crime will continue to be filled. Equally important, our employers — small and large — will not have access to the kind of smart, well-educated work force that they need to remain competitive in today's “flat” world.

Some argue that we can build preschools or prisons; it's our choice. While there are no silver bullets in this world or this work, the statement of making a “policy choice” is not far off the mark. Connecticut's pipeline to educational, personal, societal and economic challenge (and, for too many, failure) begins here.

However the details of these investment proposals are finally shaped, we must be guided by one simple principle.

Let's get it done, but get it right.

Janice M. Gruendel, Ph.D., is Gov. Rell's senior advisor on Early Childhood Education and co-chairperson of the Early Childhood Education Cabinet. She lives in Branford.

Germany

Catholics Attack German Plans to Boost Child Care

Reuters

Apr 08, 2007

(Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The Epoc Times, Dublin Leinster Ireland

Comment: I found this to be an interesting article simply because it's so different from our own concerns. We are much more like Japan than Europe.

BERLIN—Several senior German Catholics attacked government plans to raise the capacity of nurseries on Sunday, with one bishop saying the policy reminded him of communist East Germany and that it served "antiquated feminism".

The plans to boost the birth rate and raise child care to levels seen in other European states have stirred controversy in Germany, where conservative attitudes towards women's role in the family persist, especially in the Catholic South.

The strongest attack came from Augsburg Bishop Walter Mixa, who targeted Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen's plans to triple the number of childcare places by 2013.

"The policy, which is modelled on the former East Germany, is socially misguided and driven to a high degree by ideology," Mixa told the Passauer Neue Nachrichten.

In western Germany, where mothers are still encouraged to stay at home, there is provision for only one in 12 toddlers. In the east, where the socialist state set up a comprehensive childcare system, two in five children are covered.

Von der Leyen, mother of seven, won agreement from Germany's 16 federal states and local communities last week on an increase in care provision for children under three but they failed to agree on who will pay for it.

Mixa, who has in the past criticised German family policies for turning women into "birthing machines", also said the plans "served the antiquated feminist demands from the 1970s".

He won support from other Catholics.

Notker Wolf, head of Germany's Benedictine Order, told Welt am Sonntag he had problems with von der Leyen's plans.

"This is more than an offer, this is about changing society. Obviously a woman only counts if she works like a man and does not care for her child like a mother," Wolf said.

Moderates, including Cardinal Karl Lehmann, head of the German Catholic bishops conference, called for a more measured debate. Lehmann told German radio DLF many families were dependent on childcare provision.

The minister is to present a blueprint for the financing of her plans by April 16.

Colorado

Durango's Day-care Dilemma

Working parents panic as provider list shrinks

April 8, 2007

By Thomas Munro and Karla Sluis | Herald Staff Writers

La Plata County’s day-care demand

Martha McClellan has been getting the phone calls seeking child care.

"People calling from out of town trying to move here, they're just shocked," she said.

Alicia Zepeda's been getting them too, 10 to 15 a day.

"One woman was in tears, calling me in tears," she said.

Linda Brockway has been getting three calls a day about her 12 full slots.

"The shortage is really bad," she said. "It's gotten worse over the last two years for sure."

McClellan and other members of the Early Childhood Council in La Plata County have formed a task force to get the word out about what they say is a crisis in child-care resources. As the Southwest Colorado Childcare Resource and Referral coordinator, she keeps a list of the 57 child-care providers in the county, in theory to refer mothers to providers. But in reality, she is generally referring them to waiting lists.

"For infants and toddlers, there's nothing right now," McClellan said. "Waiting lists are a couple of years long.

"Sometimes by the time the name comes up, they've gone to public school."

At Children's House, which provides care to 60 children ages 3-6 at a home on West Third Avenue, Zepeda saw her waiting list grow to 180 people before she replaced it with four lists limited to 20 children for each age group.

"It's still not guaranteed they'll get in," she said. "I've had people on the list for two or three years."

It's not uncommon for local day cares to charge a fee to place a child's name on a wait list. One school charges $50.

McClellan said Durango's lack of slots is not unique but is worse than most parents have experienced.

"I think it's a statewide problem, but it's particularly difficult here," she said.

As a result, many parents coming to Durango arrive with unrealistic expectations.

"They start by saying, 'I'd like a Montessori preschool,'" McClellan said. Then they get a reality check.

McClellan said the deficit in child care, which she estimated at 719 slots in the 0-3 age group, is hard on both parents and children. For children, there are the potential benefits of licensed care at the time when 75 percent of their brain cells are developing, and they are learning to be social creatures. For parents, there is the need to have quality care for their children while they work.

"At least two women have lost their jobs that I know of because of the lack of child care," McClellan said of her experience in eight months as the referral coordinator.

The quickest answer to the shortage would be the addition of more large centers such as Children's House. But city and state licensing and regulations and low profits can make such businesses difficult propositions.

"It's not a money-making business," Zepeda said. "It's hard to staff because you can't pay teachers."

McClellan said local day-care center teachers are paid on average $11 per hour. A few centers also provide benefits. Working parents in La Plata County pay on average $630 per month for full-time day care for infants, and $551 per month for toddlers.

Providers face hurdles

The cost of real estate in Durango makes the purchase of large homes for centers nearly impossible. Increasingly active neighborhood organizations resist the centers, which can mean increased traffic. City fees and parking requirements for businesses are other major hurdles.

There are two major categories of licensed child-care providers: the large centers like Children's House and individual homes serving smaller numbers of children.

Brockway, who provides child care for six kids at a time in her west 23rd Street home, enjoys a better profit margin than Zepeda but faces different challenges.

"In your own house you don't have the flexibility, and it can be isolating," Brockway said.

For this and other reasons, McClellan said many licensed home providers quit after two or three years once their own kids are old enough for school.

Farmington resident Aimee Girard followed this pattern. She ran Teddy Bear Daycare from her former home on Glenisle Avenue in Durango. She started the business in 2001 because she had been laid off and had trouble finding a job. She also wanted to be home when her four children got home from school.

"I think there are a lot of people who decide to do it as a business because they can't afford to pay for outside day care."

Some open, others close

But three years later, she decided to close.

"Part of it was burnout, and a big part of it was a change of life with my marriage and family," Girard said.

"As soon as a couple (providers) open, another couple will close," said McClellan, who also helps shepherd potential providers toward education and licensing.

Individual nannies are not on McClellan's referral list, but she says there is a deep need for the service.

"I get requests all the time from the hotels," she said. "A professional nanny service that's licensed and bonded would be very successful here."

McClellan said a number of child-care ventures have failed in Durango because of three key factors: the lack of business savvy of many providers, slim profit margins and a lack of city and county support.

Zepeda said she had seen little government help.

"I would like to see more of a cooperative basis with the city and the state to somehow help us with the real estate or regulation aspects," she said.

Looking up?

Help may be on the way, as the work of McClellan's task force is beginning to bear fruit. She said a letter she wrote that was published in The Durango Herald drew responses from City Councilor Renee Parsons and now-newly-elected councilors Leigh Meigs and Michael Rendon, all pledging to begin to address the subject after the election. She also met with County Commissioner Joelle Riddle, who said Tuesday the child-care shortage was a painfully familiar issue for her.

"Being a single mother in Durango was really devastating for me," Riddle said.

She said sufficient quality child care is an essential element of the quality of life in La Plata County.

"I want to research all the possibilities," she said.

One part of the solution to Durango's major child-care shortfall will likely be finding more people like Brockway, who said her job is great because she gets "paid to play all day."

"If you really like kids, it's the way to go," she said.

Girard agrees, and says she has even considered reopening her day care in Farmington, where she says parents also struggle to find spots for their children.

"The biggest reward was having the kids in my home," Girard said. "They're still a part of my family. And I liked being able to help support working families and be a part of raising their kids."

karla@durangoherald`.com