FEBRUARY 2017
This Is Me...
… is a Shine group for anyone between the ages of 11 and 18 who has Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus.
Try Something Different
Something Different for 2017… How are your 2017 resolutions going? This year I decided I would stop nibbling at biscuits whilst working, so far I have resisted temptation! I also plan to go swimming on a regular basis starting soon, one evening every week. Here are some ideas for other fun and rewarding things to try…
Eat well, feel well
1.
As a teenager, your body is going through many physical changes. Eating a healthy, balanced diet will help you get the energy and nutrients you need, so that your body can grow and develop properly. Here are some tips to help you:
2.
Get your ‘mins and vits’! Minerals and vitamins are vital. Especially important are: • iron – for energy. Feeling tired? You may be low on iron. (Teenage girls are especially at risk because they lose iron during their period.) Good sources are red meat, fortified bread and breakfast cereals, cashew nuts and dried apricots.
3.
1. Ice skating or archery – you can do these whether you are a wheelchair user or not. Contact your nearest rink or club, or www.iceskating.org.uk and www. british-wheelchair-archery.org.uk
4.
• vitamin D – for healthy teeth and bones. We get most from the sun (remember your sunscreen). Good food sources are oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks and fortified low fat spreads and breakfast cereals.
2. Visit a museum or art gallery – many are free! 3. Volunteer – check out vinspired. com for ideas and opportunities.
5.
4. Start ‘upcycling’ – turn an old pair of jeans into a bag or make a phone case from a sock! It’s amazing what you can transform! Look at Teen Upcycled on Pinterest for inspiration. 5. Hold a board game night with drinks, pizza and popcorn. It makes a change from the Xbox or PlayStation!
6.
• calcium – for strong bones and teeth. Good sources: milk, low fat cheese, leafy green vegetables and almonds. Almonds are high in vitamin E – great for your skin too!
6. Try fundraising and hold a Shine Quiz night with friends and family. 7. You could also learn how to play a musical instrument – it can be brain-boosting, relaxing, aid coordination, memory, creativity, listening and even your maths skills! (Perhaps one day you’ll hold a performance in aid of Shine!) Our This Is Me network is growing! We now include every member aged 11-17 with SB/H – so welcome all you TIM newbies!
7.
Continued on page 2
Eat well, feel well cont… Enjoy breakfast! – Fad diets or skipping meals won’t help you lose weight and you can miss vital nutrients. Having breakfast is good for your health and you’ll be less likely to nibble snacks through the day. For some great ideas see www.shakeupyourwakeup.com/breakfast-recipes Get your 5 A DAY – fruit and vegetables are full of goodness. Aim to eat at least five portions of different fruit and veg a day - see the Eatwell Guide. (P.S. Potatoes and other starchy foods don’t count!) Enjoy healthier snacks – cut down on fat, sugar and salt, such as in sweets, chocolate bars, cakes, biscuits, sugary fizzy drinks and crisps, which are also high in weight-gaining calories. Try more fruit (fresh, tinned or frozen), unsalted nuts, rice cakes, oatcakes or homemade popcorn. Stay hydrated – drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Low-fat milk is good too, but limit fruit juice and/or smoothies to a small glass a day as they are sugary. Overcoming eating disorders – if eating makes you feel anxious, guilty or upset, don’t struggle on alone – talk about it with someone you trust.
See the NHS Choices Eatwell Guide – health eating for teens bit.ly/1SOpRbI for more. Image courtesy of www.know-your-food.co.uk
In the Spotlight Hello!
My name is Ella. I am 15 years old and live near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. I’ve had hydrocephalus since I was 2 and was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumour as well. I got my first shunt the night before I turned 2 and have had 2 other shunts since then. My first only lasted for 2 months and my second has lasted since I was 7. I am in Year 10 at school and have started my GCSE years. My friends know about my hydrocephalus and are understanding even if they don’t properly know what it means! I am doing P.E. as a GCSE and really enjoy it, though my parents won’t let me play contact rugby! I really enjoy running and go to a club in Melton 3 times a week. I’ve been going since I was 8. I especially love running the cross countries every winter, although it is usually cold and rainy! I also love shopping! Overall, I have had around 25 MRI scans. They last from about 1½ hours - the longest lasted 3½ hours! I have been doing my MRI scans without sedation since I was 7, and now I need an MRI once a year. I have a non-identical twin sister called Lucy who I get on well with most of the time! We both like a lot of the same things and hobbies and have the same friends. This photo is of the two of us on our 15th birthday. (I’m standing on the right.)
Ella Thomas
Wheelchair Challenges Hi! My name is Dominic and I am a 14 year old wheelchair user with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. One of my biggest challenges is the lack of independence due to inaccessibility. To overcome this Angela from Shine introduced me to Jonathan who is also a wheelchair user, so we could share ideas. One weekend I met up with Jonathan and after chatting to him I found that most wheelchair users seem to encounter the same problems in everyday life. The problems include people who park in a disabled bay when they aren’t actually disabled, or people who use disabled toilets but aren’t disabled and then leave them in a mess. The most frustrating thing is when people park on a drop kerb, or there isn’t a dropped kerb at all or it’s at the other end of the road. However meeting Jonathan has boosted my confidence and I am now able to be a lot more independent.
Super Smoky Bacon and Tomato Spaghetti Serves 4
You will need: 400g spaghetti 1 tbsp olive oil 120g smoked streaky bacon (or mix peppers and courgettes if you are vegetarian) 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 2 tsp paprika 2 x 400g cans of chopped tomatoes 1. Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Follow the instructions on the packet to cook the spaghetti. 2. Whilst the spaghetti is cooking, heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Cook the bacon until just starting to crisp (or vegetables start to soften). 3. Add the onion and cook for 3 – 4 minutes. Add the garlic and paprika and cook for another minute. 4. Pour in the chopped tomatoes, bring to the boil and let the mixture bubble for about 5 minutes until thickened. Stir occasionally so it does not stick. 5. Drain the pasta into a bowl and pour over the sauce. Serve with parmesan cheese.
Ask an adult if you need any help.
A Good Helping! Check out more inspiring recipe ideas in ‘A Good Helping’ cookbook in aid of Shine. Phone 01733 555988 or email firstcontact@shinecharity.org.uk for a copy. Half Price for TIM members - £6 (inc p&p)
Strive for the Shark Tank Challenge!
Shape-up and Shine Word Search! Can you find the feel-good words in the puzzle below? (They can go up, down, backwards, forwards or diagonally.) U X F O E H F M T F S Z Y N O
A X A N R V S P R J U W G I B
N K S Z P G F U B N N D S E X
P F E T S Z I X H C S G Z T U
EXERCISE FRUIT MINERALS
Fancy a challenge this year? Why not have a go at braving a shark tank! (If you have hydrocephalus, check first with your neuro team that it’s ok to go diving, or challenge your teacher / boss / relative and encourage friends to sponsor them instead!) If you’re ready for a new challenge this year, Shine’s new Challenge Events Fundraiser, Georgia, would love to hear from you on 01733 421333, georgia.kelly@shinecharity.org or Facebook.
Find more fundraising events on our web: www.shinecharity.org.uk/fundraiseforshine
C Q H K B T U E J P H Z I O S
S E L B A T E G E V I S E R N
Z E T I J H D E O Z N X V P S
E Q Q Y H V P L G W E E C D C
F S D Y I M I N E R A L S D W
P D J S I N I T C Z K L Q Q F
PROTEIN SUNSHINE SWIMMING
O D V X I M S I A O G R Z G Q
K R S W M N S V Q M W C J U N
Z E H I P E N E R O I A L G F
D H W F V H R E T A W N D D J
TENNIS VEGETABLES
VAT number 135 6056 23
Kindly printed by
VITAMINS WATER
This Is Me is your newsletter! We love to hear from you and thank you for sending your ideas for This Is Me! Keep them coming! Email angela.bailey@shinecharity.org.uk or share your ideas via your Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/Shine.ThisIsME New to TIM Facebook? Click the green ‘Join group’ button. You must be 13+ and it may take a little while as we have to check our database records in order to connect you.
SHINE – Spina bifida • Hydrocephalus • Information • Networking • Equality – Shine, 42 Park Road, Peterborough, PE1 2UQ www.shinecharity.org.uk • firstcontact@shinecharity.org.uk • 01733 555988 Registered Charity No. 249338
X S G S A V A E T Z C E S G V