Second Opinion Health and Wellness

March/April 2017

FREE

www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 1

Help the Pollinator Populations, Plant a Prairie!

Dr. Emily Smith

Establish your own backyard prairie with native flowers and grasses then enjoy the benefits of having your own personal prairie and wildlife habitat! Purchase high quality native prairie seed through our annual bulk fundraiser sale!

Dr. Angela Prissel

Chiropractor, Pediatric Specialist (DICCP)

Chiropractor, FICPA

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Contents APRIL 22

EARTH DAY HOW WILL YOU GIVE BACK?

Think Green

Pets Paws for Earth Day Too! 5 Join the Forest Street Community Garden 8

Feeling Good

Folate in Chronically Ill People 9 Healthy Options for Girls 10

Live Your Best Life

Do Not Be Afraid of Food 21 Emotional Freedom Technique 22 Spring Is Good for Mindfulness 23 POUND Your Way Fit 26 Delicious Organic Facials 27 MOTR: Health, Confidence, and Encouragement 28

Good Eats

Tart Cherries and Orange Veggies 29 You Can't Beat Beets! 30

School's Out, Now What?

Parents Guide to Summer Camp Trinity Equestrian Camp 14 Language Immersion Camps for Kids 15 Dreading the Summer 16 Summer Camp Listings 17-19 Arwen Rasmussen, 715.831.0325 editor@asecondopinionmag.com www.secondopinionmagazine.com Graphic Design: Brigit Olson

All articles are the sole property of the writers. Opinions expressed in Second Opinion are those of the writers or advertisers themselves, not the publication or its editors.

Second Opinion is not liable for use of any artwork provided by advertisers. Please direct concerns to the advertisers. Š2006-2017

Cover photo:

From the book Little Kids and Their Big Dogs by photographer Andy Seliverstoff...

From hugely popular photographer Andy Seliverstoff of St. Petersburg, Russia, comes this utterly charming collection of just what the titles says -- little kids and the big dogs they love.

Through the prism of Seliverstoff's magic lens, impossibly big dogs (Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Leonbergers, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, to name a few) and some rare ones (like Komondorok and Bracchi Italiani) telegraph the special relationships they have with the children in their lives.

"In the end, I hope the photos convey this important message: Love for dogs and children makes people kinder," Seliverstoff says. www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 3

balancedliving MINT CONDITION

Three unique benefits of mint: • HELPS YOU RUN LONGER •

SIX 1

Adding a little peppermint oil to your water daily can help you run longer. One study showed adding a drop to about 2 cups of water helped men run on a treadmill about 15 minutes longer.

GREEN

FOR EARTH DAY MINIMIZE CAR IDLING. Americans idle away

of gas per year

Fact: Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than is needed for startup.

2

• BOOSTS YOUR MEMORY •

Sipping peppermint tea can keep your to-do lists at the top of your mind. One study shows that people who drank peppermint tea before a memory test scored better than those who drank water or chamomile tea.

Nutrition is the medicine that allows people to heal without medicine.

WAYS TO GO

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• SOOTHES YOUR TUMMY •

It's possible to ease tummy pains brought on by irritible bowel syndrome by taking peppermint oil supplements. The mint's cooling properties can calm nerves in the belly that trigger pain.

tips and ideas for a healthy and balanced life

SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER. Save an average of

$90 electricty per year.

Fact: Shutting down your computer saves wear & tear on your computer as well as energy.

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TURN DOWN THE THERMOSTAT. Save up to three percent

on your heating bill.

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CARPOOL. Save ten percent of your monthly carbon emissions Fact: Carpooling versus driving 25 miles to work reduces your carbon emissions each month by ten percent.

PETS | GREEN PRODUCTS | EARTH DAY

Pets Paws for Earth Day Too! As we celebrate Earth Day this April 22 we honor Mother Earth and look for ways to ensure that she remains healthy for generations to come. We have all been told one of the best ways to do this is to reduce our personal carbon footprint, but did you know that your pet also has a carbon footprint? According to the HealthyPawsPetInsurace. com’s random facts about pets “a medium-sized dog has the same eco-impact as a Toyota Land Cruiser driven 6,000 miles a year, while a cat is equivalent to a Volkswagen Golf, based on the amount of land needed to grow food for each.” Rather surprising is it not? Here are five ways to green up our world with our pets.

Get out and walk with your pet. As we all know, getting

out and enjoying the great outdoors is one of the hallmarks of Earth Day. Taking our pets out for a walk is a great way to do this. While you’re out on your walk, consider recycling those plastic grocery store bags to not only pick up your pet's waste, but the environmental litter you encounter as well. It only takes a brief moment of time to pick up the waste products other humans leave behind. You’ll not only have a cleaner view on your next walk, but you’ll feel better knowing you helped keep litter from entering the waterways and possibly causing harm to wildlife as well. Don’t have a pet of your own to walk? Consider volunteering at your county’s shelter, or Bob’s House for Dogs, and take a walk with one of the shelter pets that’s longing to share the great outdoors too.

Choose pet- and eco-friendly products.

As you go through your house on the spring cleaning spree, consider using pet and eco-friendly cleaning products such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon. As you purchase your cleaning products, read the labels closely and choose products that are all natural and avoid those with long chemical names that no one can really pronounce. These products are becoming easier to find and more affordable than ever before as consumers' demand increases. Using these products to clean your home along with rags made from t-shirts greatly decreases the waste produced by using paper towel products. And, as you clean your closets and sort through the items you no longer need, consider donating your gently used towels, rugs, sheets, blankets, leashes, and even collars to the local shelters as they are often in need of these products. Looking to replace a donated item with something new?

Consider purchasing replacement products made from renewable sources such as bamboo, hemp, or other renewable sources such as vegetable-based chew bones rather than plastic ones.

Recycle, reuse, reduce.

There are many ways our pets can help us recycle, reuse, and reduce waste. As I mentioned earlier,

think green

by Dr. Margaret Meier Jones, DVM CVSMT using the plastic grocery store bag as a pooper scooper on our walks is an easy choice, but what if we use cloth bags when we purchase our groceries? Consider using biodegradable pet bags, such as BioBags, to pick up the waste on the walk, or ask your non-pet-owning neighbors to save their plastic grocery bags for you to use. What about my cat, you say? Consider the Kitty Scratch Pole made here in the United States from 100 percent recycled cardboard materials for your kitty’s scratching post. It even comes with refillable disks to provide hours of scratching fun. Scooping the cat litter pan daily as recommended?

Place the empty cat litter container next to your cat litter pan with a liner in it to make the scooping convenient and reduce the amount of plastic you typically use. Not a fan of the scoopable litter? Consider litter made from renewable sources such as wheat, pine, or recycled paper. My personal favorite is Yesterday’s News litter, which is made from recycled paper.

Try to eliminate purchasing anything in a plastic bottle, but if you have one, it can make a great dog toy. I know my puppy absolutely loves chewing them up after I’ve removed the top and the label, and the recycling center certainly doesn’t care about the teeth marks he leaves behind in them. And, always remember, if the plastic bottles come held together with the plastic rings, take a brief moment to cut each ring (including the handle) with a scissors to prevent harming wildlife should they come into contact with them. Changing the water in your pet’s water bowl?

Consider using the “dirty” water to water your plants and/or your compost pile. Finally, one of the easiest, yet most often over-looked ways to reduce waste is to feed your dog and cat a good quality food such as Taste of the Wild. It may be a bit more cost initially, but the savings in both quantity of food consumed and waste produced will pad your wallet in the long run.

Compost. Composting is a great way to reduce the overall waste

we each produce. There are many ways you can incorporate your pet’s waste products into a composting program and produce amazing fertilizer. You can check out websites such as findacomposter.com for local composting sites that accept pet waste. If making compost on your own, be sure to maintain the proper temperature to produce a final product that is safe to use.

Spay, neuter, adopt.

Helping reduce the overpopulation of pets by spaying, neutering, and adopting your next pet from the shelter can perhaps have the greatest impact for Mother Earth on this Earth Day. It’s a sobering fact to realize that approximately 8 million, yes I said million, pets are euthanized each year as a result of the pet overpopulation in this country alone. Each step we take to reduce this tragic number helps us all breathe a bit easier, and helps Mother Nature smile as we all work together to take care of her childrenwww.secondopinionmagazine.com that are already here. |5

LOCAL PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT PUPPY NOAP

Blum Naturals Towelettes Our Combination/ Oily Towelettes are infused with natural and organic botanicals that gently remove eye & face make-up. These soft towelettes will leave your skin feeling naturally clean and pure.

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Puracy Natural Dish Soap

Regular bathing can keep your pup's fur soft and shiny, but traditional soap cleansers contain harsh chemicals that can irritate your dog's skin, cause allergic reactions, and drain off can contaminate our water beds. Use this "non-soap" blend of essential and natural saponifying oils to nourish, cleanse, and condition your dog's coat whilst a single synthetic agent and your conscious will be as clean as fido.

Located in Eleva, Jivana Ayurveda and Yoga is an ecofriendly, vegan, customized skin care and wellness company based upon the ancient principles of Ayurveda.

To keep Jivana products authentic and true to Ayurvedic philosophy, I follow preparatory techniques as described in the Vedas (ancient texts) to carefully and lovingly hand create all of my products.

No artificial ingredients, fillers, or preservatives of any kind are ever added.

lovejivana.com 6 | www.secondopinionmagazine.com

Sulfate-free, grease-cutting, skinnourishing cleanser made from plants, minerals, water, and a hint of green tea and lime. The biodegradable ingredients were chosen and developed into a premium solution by Puracy, a trusted source for natural and organic, plant-based, child and pet safe, hypoallergenic, and effective household essentials. The blend of renewable ingredients is safe to use around your family and free from harsh chemicals and fumes.

Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent Using plant-based enzymes and natural cleansers, this high efficiency formula requires just Âź ounce per load, which reduces waste by more than 80 percent. Developed by doctors for those with sensitive skin, tests have proven our proprietary blend of plant-based enzymes and natural minerals can clean as well as the synthetic brands, all while being a gentle and renewable solution. Quickly dislodge stains, eliminate odors, remove residues, and leave your laundry naturally soft and fresh.

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GREEN PRODUCTS WE LOVE! Max Green Alchemy Shampoo

Meow Meow Tweet Lavender Deodorant Cream

This wonderful shampoo is designed for you - using a superior blend of botanical extracts, vitamins, and essential oils to give you beautiful strong, lustrous hair and healthy scalp while avoiding harsh detergents found in mainstream and even so-called "natural" shampoos. Our proprietary herbal infusion assists with the treatment of, and Max helps protect against, dry Green and itchy scalps.

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Our completely natural underarm cream is safe, effective, and will leave you smelling fresh all day.

Baking soda, arrowroot, and clay combine to help keep you dry and control odor.

Organic plant oils and shea butter moisturize and soothe sensitive underarm skin, while aromatic essential oils combat bacteria responsible for underarm odor.

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The perfect complement to Scalp Rescue Shampoo - Scalp Rescue Conditioner is formulated for improving dry, itchy, sensitive, scaly, flaky, or dehydrated scalps by strengthening the hair and nourishing the scalp. It has a fresh non-medicated aroma from healing essential oils of tea tree, lemon tea tree, lavender, rosemary and geranium.

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Sunrider SunBright® Superclean Laundry

maxgreenalchemy.com Fat and The Moon All Cream What makes this cream so great? It's the perfect blend of hydrating and toning elements like aloe vera and rosewater, with moisturizers and skin protectors like organic sunflower oil and shea butter, and has a whipped consistency. This cream is truly an "all" cream. Use it for your face and body and find a little goes a long way.

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Sunrider Kandesn® Spa Bath Salts

Concentrated, so just half a capful does a regular load of laundry.

This gentle yet effective formula is safe for virtually all washable fabrics and colors. This two-headed trial size bottle is great for easy measuring.

Designed to keep the body’s five major systems in balance by cleansing.

Soaking in Kandesn® Bath Salt, soothes the senses through aromatherapy and relaxes stressed, sore muscles, while helping the skin achieve a balanced, refreshed state.

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www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 7

Celebrate Earth Day by Investing in Your Community and Your Health Join the Forest Street Community Garden!

by Kerri Kiernan, Master Herbalist

T

his Earth Day, consider giving back to the planet, to your community, and to yourself by joining a local community garden. The Forest Street Community Garden is celebrating its eighth season and is now open to new and returning gardeners; it is located in downtown Eau Claire, just a couple blocks north of Phoenix Park.

The Chippewa Valley is blessed with several existing community gardens offering rental plots for the public. What differentiates the Forest St. Garden from other gardens is that it also offers a Shared Garden that is run jointly by members who share in the work and harvest. The Shared Garden also serves as a learning community for members to gain experience in basic gardening skills, leadership, teaching, coordinating, and community outreach.

the Earth. Social events such as potlucks and gatherings are often held at the Forest St. Garden Pavilion, where members and plot renters spend time together connecting over beautiful meals made from the very veggies they grew together in the garden.

Besides decreasing carbon emissions, gardening helps to increase physical activity and vegetable consumption and also helps to foster a sense of wonder and gratitude for the bounty of nature. The shared struggle of growing one’s own food serves as a relatable conversation topic between people who may otherwise never cross paths nor have much in common.

Any gardener can share their own story of patience, diligence, failure, and success, but it’s the commonality of spending so much time in the dirt, paying very close attention to the rhythms of the weather, and savoring the fruits of one’s labor that bring people together through gardening.

Join the Forest St. Community Garden and learn how to grow food together. Prices increase after June 15. Please visit the Forest St. Community Garden website for more information.

Members of the Shared Garden participate in weekly sessions to maintain the nearly half-acre plot as a collaborative effort.

Seeds and transplants are started in early spring, and members work together to plan and prepare the garden as the last frost ceases. During the garden season, the work and the produce is shared amongst the contributing members. Extra produce is harvested and donated to the Community Table, which supplements meal services benefiting Eau Claire residents who may not have access to healthy meals due to lack of finances, education, or due to other life situations.

To Join the Co-op/Shared garden or to rent a plot at the Forest St. Community Garden, please visit: eauclairecommunitygardens. com or email: eauclairecommunitygarden@gmail.com

Besides benefiting the community, Shared Gardeners experience a deep sense of connection to their community, to each other, and to

Contact Kerri: River Prairie Apothecary on FB: www.facebook.com/ riverprairieapothecary/www.riverprairieapothecary.com/contact.htm.

8 | www.secondopinionmagazine.com

Kerri Kiernan is a local Master Herbalist who works with plants from her garden as well as wild weeds from the Chippewa Valley to help people thrive with handmade remedies and personalized herbal consults. Kerri is the owner and operator of a small herbal business, River Prairie Apothecary, located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and is also the founder CommuniTEA, the Herbalism Outreach & Internship Project located downtown Eau Claire at the Forest St. Garden.

NUTRITION | HEALTH

feeling good

Folate in Chronically Ill People

by Heidi Toy, NTP

In my practice, I meet with some clients with who are chronically unresponsive to medical treatments who have been very sick for a very long time. Some medical professionals around the area see me as clients and they also refer their patients to me. One of the primary items I see in chronically ill people that doctors often miss is the person’s need for the proper form of Vitamin B9 or folate. Let's explore why this nutrient is so important and how we can avoid missing it.

First, the term folic acid refers to the synthetic form used in some supplements and in food fortification. Folic acid is in an oxidized form and must be converted by the body to the reduced form called folate. When we take a synthetic form of folic acid either as a stand-alone or in a multivitamin, we are not doing ourselves any favors. Be very cautious of buying drug store vitamins or anything fortified with folic acid rather than folate, simply because the body doesn’t know what to do with this synthetic form, and you could be blocking your cell’s receptor sites for the natural form 5-MTHF. In the body, folate is converted to dihydrofolate then into tetrahydrofolate then into methylene tetrahydrofolate and finally into the 5-methyltetrahydrofolate or 5-MTHF. Or very simply, Folate: 5- MTHF. It may seem a little technical, but having a practitioner who understands this conversion and if the person can properly make the conversion is crucial. The inability to make the conversion in some folks is because they have what is called a mutation on their genetic personality or more technically known as a single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP, which is pronounced “snip.”

In the very simplest genetics explanation, we know that every living person has their own genetic code and that they got this DNA from their parents. One half of our DNA came from our mom and one half came from our dad. Along the DNA strand are alleles, which means “one member of a pair.” Alleles will be either negative (-) or positive (+), and if we received two positive alleles (+/+) one from each of our parents on the SNP known as C677T, then we have the most severe mutation and a decreased ability to convert folate to 5-MTHF.

About 40 percent of the population, myself included, has a mutation on this SNP (C677T). And while a person could have zero symptoms at all, they could also have increased homocysteine, pro inflammatory immune reaction resulting in hundreds of disorders including heart disease, progressive neurological disorders, or cancer. Moreover, folate is essential for vitamin B12 metabolism as well as in the functioning of the central nervous system and the immune system. It also means that the body has impaired ability to detox.

We have had these mutations on our SNPs since the beginning of man; however, we live in a very toxic world and our bodies’ ability to rid themselves of the toxins we encounter daily is crucial for health and wellbeing. Consider the facts of toxins in our immediate world for one minute.

Nearly 80,000 new synthetic chemicals have been released into the environment. Over 350 different pesticides are used on the food we eat. Roughly 300 known harmful substances can be found in most blood samples. Newborn babies typically contain 50 to 70 dangerous toxins at birth. The average home contains 3 to 10 gallons of hazardous materials. In the United States alone, over 4 billion pounds of pesticides are used every year. There are at least 5,000 chemical ingredients in cosmetics. Prescription medications are now showing up in our water supply. And to add insult to injury, certain medications referred to as “drug muggers” actually steal vitamin B9/folate from the body.

These staggering toxicity exposure statistics coupled with the fact that over one third of the world’s population lacks the ability to adequately convert folate to 5-MTHF has set us up for what I refer to as the perfect storm. No wonder we are chronically ill as are our children.

Finding out if you have a SNP mutation is easy. It also arms you with the knowledge of what you need to do to get, and stay, healthy in our ever-increasing world of toxicity. I offer a free fifteen-minute discovery consult call to new clients where you can find out the right course of action for you to take charge of your health today.

Heidi Toy is a functional medicine nutritional therapist, and the owner of Educated Nutrition, located in Altoona, Wisconsin.

Her focus is helping people heal holistically, with an emphasis on digestion, weight loss, depression, female hormone issues, and fatigue. www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 9

Healthy Options for Young Girls

By Judy Soborowicz

It can be stressful and difficult to know what to do when your daughter misses yet another day of school due to her monthly menstrual cycle. No parent wants to see their child feel discomfort, pain, and moodiness—or have to miss their life due to a menstrual cycle.

steady blood sugar levels by taking the time to eat a protein for breakfast and at each meal. Studies show eating breakfast within a half hour of waking is one of the most powerful actions you can take to minimize swings in blood sugar throughout the day. Keeping steady blood sugar reduces mood swings and sugar cravings.

The first few cycles—from menarche (initial cycle), up to two years—are “normally abnormal,” in timing and accompanying symptoms. The importance of this time to the future health of the woman is essential to understand. The coordinated cycle of female hormones insure the health of the young woman throughout her lifetime, and is established during these early cycles. Her feedback loop between brain and ovaries initiates; and during the first one to two years the sensitivity of this feedback is naturally established to allow for a baseline of healthy hormonal function. This baseline of hormonal regulation affects the lifetime health of a woman in many ways, including healthy bone density, fertility, and safeguard against depression and certain cancers.

Occasionally supplementation with vitamins and minerals becomes necessary. You can start with basic essentials. Very often providing her body with the basic trace minerals and nutrients that are essential to efficently perform this physiological change solves most issues. For example, magnesium is a cofactor in over 65 percent of the biochemical reactions in the body. It is also one of the most common worldwide mineral deficiencies. Because of this, magnesium alone can make a world of difference for a young girl. Begin with a high quality magnesium supplement. Calcium and zinc can also be helpful, B vitamins, particularily B6, assist as a co-factor for hormonal health, and help relieve bloating. Fish oils along with antiinflammatory properties of turmeric can also be beneficial.

Every young girl at the start of her menstrual cycle does not necessarily have the experience of severe pain and irregularity.

Nausea, bloating, cramping in lower abdomen, low back, and legs, and mood changes, are not applied to each young girl equally, or each cycle equally. For those who do experience these things, it is important to ask what can be done to allow for a more comfortable transition, while safeguarding the initial “booting up” of hormones for life. A common approach can be to reach for over-the-counter pain pills and/or begin birth control. The complication is that hormones introduced in the pill alter the still immature balance in her early, naturally irregular system, altering the signals between her brain and ovaries. Giving hormones in the form of a patch or pill at the very start of establishing a pattern, may interrupt the sensitivity and fine-tuning of her brain and ovary communication for a lifetime.

An effective and wholistic solution can be found by applying proven methods to assist her body in the process of the transition. Nerves of the lower back influence her reproductive organs, which is one of the reasons the pain may settle in the lower back and legs. Chiropractic adjustments provide relief from pain of menstration by allowing for release of tension in the body and restoring flow and tone of the nerve system.

Additionally, reducing sugar and simple carbohydrates and increasing vegetable consumption all through the month is key. Vegetables provide fiber and trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. She can maintain 10 | www.secondopinionmagazine.com

It is possible to bring out the best in your function, as designed, without excessive and extreme pain and irregularity, and maintain your baseline of hormonal health. There is a cost to taking pain relievers and/or birth control pills. Take the time to uncover which natural and essential solutions work best for your daughter. The time and effort you apply can represent an important safeguard for your daughter’s future hormonal, mental, and physical health.

Eau Claire chiropractor and certified clinical nutritionist Dr. Judy Soborowicz can be reached at Active Health Chiropractic and Nutrition. Dr Judy is delighted to research, integrate, and communicate current discoveries in optimizing health expression and human potential. For more information, call 715-834-6333, stop in at 3521 London Road in Eau Claire, or visit www. activehealthec.com.

Welcome the New Year and Take a Step Toward Active Health! $67 Initial Visit Call 715 834-6333 today.

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www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 11

NATURAL SINUS HELP “My nose is all stuffy so I cannot get a good night’s sleep and I feel awful!” At some point this has probably happened to you. This happens when the mucous membrane lining of the nasal cavity becomes swollen or inflamed due to cold or allergies. The channels can become blocked, making it difficult for the sinuses to drain correctly. This can lead to infection and inflammation of the mucous membrane. Below are some natural alternatives to try when you find yourself in this situation.

Essential oils have been around for many years and continue to be recognized more and more for their medicinal properties.

Oils like eucalyptus, helichrysum, peppermint, melaleuca, and rosemary to name a few, are all oils that may be helpful in opening up those sinus cavities. Knowing the quality of your essential oils is very important when deciding how to use them. Diffusing them into the air or inhaling directly from the bottle are both ways to enjoy these oils. With many oils, in order to apply them topically, they may need to be diluted in a carrier oil so that it will not be too irritating to your skin.

Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol in a convenient vertical spray is another option to help clear out those passages. For thousands of years, silver has played an essential role in safeguarding human health.

With the development of technologically advanced refinements in the production of silver colloids, the particle size is so small that it allows for easy absorption and excretion from the body. I know people who get yearly sinus infections that have used this product and have been able to prevent a sinus infection from happening.

Xlear–you may be thinking I spelled something wrong, but I did not. This is a product that combines purified water, xylitol, and grapefruit seed extract in a nasal spray. Now some of you may use xylitol for your oral health, and you would be right to do so. But xylitol also helps ensure that beyond just cleansing the nasal cavity, it also moisturizes and protects the delicate tissues. Xlear Nasal Spray is gentle enough for infants but effective in adults as well.

Have you ever gone swimming in the ocean while being congested and gotten salt water in your nose? You probably

12 | www.secondopinionmagazine.com

by Debbie Koteras, Owner, Mother Nature’s Food, Inc

noticed that you felt better afterwards. A neti pot is something that you can use in the privacy of your own home to give you the same effect. I recommend trying it the first time when in the shower because most people do not love the thought of putting salt water into their nose, but in the shower it does not seem as odd. By doing this it is obviously helping to flush those irritants out of your nasal passage.

Without getting into homeopathy and how it all works, I have to say that Sinus Relief by NatraBio was actually my first experience with sinus pressure and using a homeopathic blend to relieve that pressure. I have talked to my share of skeptics where homeopathy is concerned, but I have a handful of homeopathic products that I always keep in my home and would not be without because they have worked so well for me.

There are many more options out there, and I guess my hope is that after reading this, you will do your research, and if you find yourself or a loved one having sinus issues, that you will think about a natural alternative to relieve the symptoms and help rid yourselves of the irritant that is causing the problem. Getting to the root cause instead of just covering up the symptoms will ultimately leave a healthier you!

For more information, call 715-834-2341, or stop in at 2434 London Road, Eau Claire.

2434 London Road • Eau Claire 834-2341/800-359-5034 mothernaturesfood.net

school's out Now w hat

Parents guide to summer camp, day activites, classes and events from sun up to sun down!

?

www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 13

TRinity Equestrian Center Offering At-Risk Youth Mentoring In a beautiful, peaceful setting on Highway 37 outside Eau Claire, Trinity Equestrian Center offers a mentorship program for at-risk youth.

As explained on their website, “Trinity's Power of Example Mentoring Program is based on a one-on-one relationship between a mentor and client. It takes place on- and offsite and invests in the three-step concept of connection, relationship, and trust to deliver powerful and positive lifechanging outcomes. Intervention, early prevention, and measurable progress are the focus of this program.”

Currently, the program employees thirty-five mentors and nearly fifty clients, with clients’ aged six to eighteen years old. Each client enjoys between four and twelve hours weekly of fun interaction with a mentor while working on the goals established pening Opening at the initialOassessment.

August

August

11!

20Facebook 2011!

Trinity’s page describes the process: “The focus and ng ni of activities with any given client are determined by the pe Otheme ugust Care Team as mapped out in the initial assessment.

A client's 011! document time, activities, goals pursued, and outcomes 2 mentors after each your appointment.

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their best start!

annual progress reports that are provided to the case worker.

Examples of outcomes include: increased daily living and social skills, increased trust and respect for others, developed more effective coping and communication skills, improved selfconfidence and self-value, and improved health and fitness.”

Also on their Facebook page are several testimonies from parents of clients. Parent Abigail Fetts said, “Trinity’s Youth Mentoring Program has changed my son! He’s had a really hard life for such a young boy and his behavior and school record shows it. Within four weeks of being involved in Trinity’s Mentoring Program, so much has changed. He no longer talks back to me, skips school, or hangs with the kids he is prohibited from being with. He’s really focusing on positive things, getting better grades, and WANTING to do well! He even picks up his clothes! Thank you for what you do and how you help families.”

If you are interested in a child participating in this mentoring program or in becoming one of Trinity’s valued Mentors, go to www.trinityec.com/youth_mentoring_phtml and scroll to the bottom of the page for the link to the client referral form and the link to email Ian Mattson, program director, to schedule a new client assessment or get employment info. You may also call Trinity at 715-835-4530.

Opening Eau Claire's newest child care center t is opening soon! Days Gone By offersAug oneus !

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20Polzin Chippewa Valley. Sandi and John along with Loralie Wallerius welcome you and Claire's newest child care center your children and look forward to servingEau you.

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Giving your children their best start!

Accepting Enrollments for

Theatre Guild

is opening soon! Days Gone By offers one Summer Programming

Your child will experience: of the most experienced and respected child care leadership teams infilled the Days Gone

By By is looking forward to an amazing summer filled with handsDays Gone is looking forward to an amazing summer • Back-to-basics learning through play onwith activities, indoor and outdoor experiences, fieldtrips (2 ½John years +), Chippewa Valley.

Sandi and Polzin hands-on activities, indoor and outdoor experiences, • Highest integrity nature walks, gardening, cooking, drama, sportsWallerius and so much more! along with Loralie welcome you and fieldtrips, nature walks, gardening, cooking, drama, sports • Faith-based curriculum Our program is runyour by children a DPI-certified teacher who is a you. look forward to serving and soschool muchage more!

If your school age and kids are looking for preparing for serving good ol’ fashion fun with exploration and imagination.

• Intentionally each place to belong, a place to child have fun, and a place where you will experience: If your school age kids are looking for aYour placechild to belong, a place to have • feel Warm environments will secure, Days By secure, is thatDays place!

Call for a fun, and a place where youGone will feel Gone Bytoday is that place!

• Back-to-basics learning through play • State-of-the-art facility tour and enrollment information!!

Call today for a tour and enrollment information!!

• Highest integrity • Swim & gym opportunities • Faith-based curriculum experience: • Your Exercise child program will • Intentionally serving each child •• Back-to-basics learning • Faith-based principles Incredible playground • Warm environments through play to 12 years old•• State-of-the-art facility • Serving 6 weeks Character Education •• Good Swim &ol’gym opportunities • Fieldtrips and activities fashion fun!

Where caring begins!

• Exercise program • Sports and exercise program • Serving 6 weeks to 12 years • Incredible playground Now Accepting Enrollments • Gardening and Nutrition old • Serving 6 weeks to 12 years old

Where caring begins!

Now Accepting Enrollments

715-835-1234

3221 Lorch Ave., Eau Claire (in the Gold’s Gym building)

www.daysgonebyel.com Email: home@daysgonebyel.com

715-835-1234

3225 Lorch Ave., Eau Claire, WI

www.secondopinionmagazine.com (Located inside Gold’s Gym) www.daysgonebyel.com Email: home@daysgonebyel.com

715-835-1234

3225 Lorch Ave., Eau Claire, WI (Located inside Gold’s Gym) www.daysgonebyel.com Email: home@daysgonebyel.com

Summer Classes for Kids 4-18

Annual Shakespeare Workshop 9am- 4pm: July 24-28 and July 31-August 4 The Grand Theatre

Classes: June 12-16, 19-23 This fun workshop is designed for and 26-30 at The Grand Theatre. Creative Dramatics, both actors and students interested Acting, Dance, Music, Tech, in working behind the scenes. For entering freshmen to seniors!

Improv, and Costuming...

Students in the Eau Claire School District will be able to take classes and woprkshops for free. To register, call 832-7529 or go to cvtg.org or stop by the Theatre Guild for the 2017 brochure.

8th Annual

Fairytale Ball Beauty and the Beast

4 & 7pm, July 16 6:00pm-8:30pm 7:30pm, June 22-24 1:30pm, June 25 10am & 1pm, July 17, 18 Friday, May 12 The State Theatre The Grand Theatre The Florian Gardens School's Out, Now What? Guide

UWEC Offers Summer Language Immersion Camps for Kids The Department of Languages at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UWEC), in cooperation with the UWEC Children’s Nature Academy and the Eau Claire Area School District, will offer local elementary school children the opportunity to begin to learn a second language during an immersion day camp this summer called Bilingual Beginnings: Summer Language Camps. Students who will be going into grades K-5 through 4 may choose to study Chinese, French, or Spanish. Online enrollment begins March 1. A non-refundable fee of $10 gets your child signed up, and the $235 fee for the class is covered by the Eau Claire Area School district if your child is a resident of the district.

The two-week summer camps will be taught by university pre-service teachers and will focus on a variety of themes designed to allow students to experience the languages through play, song, creativity, and fun. In these camps, students will experience immersion-based teaching strategies such as the use of modeling, comprehension checks, extensive oral and written input, and a non-threatening learning environment.

The camps take place partly in one of the classrooms at the Children’s Nature Academy housed in the Priory but also take

advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings of the Priory campus so that they are a true immersion experience. When the kids learn about the five senses and nature during one of the camps, for example, we want them to actually use those senses as they see, smell, touch, hear, and taste the new language they are learning.

We think it is important to offer camps that introduce the study of languages and cultures to the area children since they are at the perfect age to begin to learn a second language, and in this way we can create some important outreach to Eau Claire and surrounding communities. Research shows that exposing children to another language improves flexibility in thinking, listening skills, understanding of native language, and helps children gain an appreciation of other cultures.

For more information, visit www.uwec.edu/Children/programs/ summercamp.htm or contact the Children’s Nature Academy: 1190 Priory Road, University of WI-Eau Claire, 715-836-2178, or children@uwec.edu.

Bilingual Beginnings: Historic Randall Park Carnival Sunday, May 21, 2017 11:00 AM-2:00 PM Randall Park, 3rd and Broadway, Eau Claire Prizes · Hot Dogs · Bouncy House · 9 Degrees Dunk Tank · Cotton Candy · Games · Raffles

www.facebook.com/firstucceauclaire

Serious Play. Serious Business.

Summer Camps at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire!

ChildrensMuseumEC.com

School's Out, Now What? Guide

Summer Language Immersion Camps The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, in collaboration with the Children’s Nature Academy, is offering two-week language immersion camps in Chinese, French, and Spanish for students going in to grades K-5 through 4 this coming fall.

Enroll online! uwec.edu/Children/programs/summercamp.htm Online registration begins March 1.

Registration deadline: June 1 - Sessions 1 & 2 • July 1 - Sessions 3 & 4

Contact: Children’s Nature Academy/uwec

715-836-2178 children@uwec.edu www.secondopinionmagazine.com

Dreading the Summer

By Jill Christopherson, Director of Religious Education, First Congregational UCC, Eau Claire

School is out and you may be dreading it. As a former single parent, I know that summer can be a challenge. With time to fill, one selects activities that are affordable, that your child(ren) will enjoy, and for which you can find transportation. It can help if you have people who know you and your children and who are interested in how things are going.

adults, and loving mentors for your children or for you? It may seem daunting, but it is really quite easy. You increase your family capacity anytime you act to increase your relationships. You simply choose activities with a different goal in mind—spend enough time in the activity to connect with others.

I discovered my answer to this dreaded summer dilemma when surrounded by people at First Congregational UCC in Eau Claire. The answer actually was these meaningful relationships with more caring adults. The group included retired adults who offered after school snacks and supervision on that one night I couldn’t be in two places at once, families with children of various ages to be brothers and sisters, and persons who became my mentors. There were ears to hear the complaint of the moment. More importantly, the conversations helped me to find a workable solution. These connections built my capacity to support my children’s activities.

School is out. As you review the lists of excellent opportunities Eau Claire has for your children, dig a bit deeper for excellent opportunities that come with a community of caring adults and then commit to spending time. Churches do this, and some do it very well; theater activities are often intergenerational; and activities with non-profits and service groups move your child’s focus to valuable contributions in our community and world. Take the challenge and read School's Out, Now What? through the lens of building caring relationships for your family. Pick activities that increase your family capacity this summer.

School is out. Perhaps this summer, you look beyond filling your child’s time slots with activity and imagine how you can build your family’s capacity instead. Search Institute in Minnesota has been asking this question on behalf of our children for a number of years.

After decades of research, they say that there is nothing—nothing— that has more impact in the life of a child than positive relationships.

See more about Search Institute at www.search-instute.org/. So, how can you increase the number of trusted relationships, caring

VISIT YOUR MUSEUM School Year Hours: Sun. 1-5 Tues. 1-8 • Wed. - Fri. 1-5 • Sat. 10-5 Summer Hours: Sun. 1-5 Mon. 10-5 • Tues. 1-8 • Wed. - Sat. 10-5

Carson Park • Eau Claire, WI Admission: $7 adults

$4 ages 5-17, under 5 free

• 12,000 sq. feet of fun • Award-winning exhibits • Vintage ice cream parlor

715-834-7871 www.cvmuseum.com

Become a Member

TODAY! Affordable Annual memberships with great benefits.

The vision for Religious Education at First Congregational UCC is to strengthen our families by building community and emphasizing faith practices. Everything the church does is Christian education from mission trips and justice actions to worship, study, and music.

Originally from South Dakota, Jill has been a member of First Congregational UCC in Eau Claire since 1982. Her daughter now lives in the Twin Cities pursuing her own work in Christian Education.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Summer Programs

ALL PROGRAMS, CAMPS, AND EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

TRINITY’S DAY CAMP TEAM IS GEARING UP FOR ANOTHER SUMMER OF FUN-FILLED, CHRIST-CENTERED ACTIVITIES. WE WILL FINISH OUT THE SUMMER PROGRAMS WITH VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL -A MUST FOR EVERYONE!

Day Camps

• TRINITY SPORTS CAMP: JUNE 12-14 • LET THE SPIRIT MOVE YOU: JUNE 19-22 • GREAT PRETENDERS: JUNE 19-22 • CAMP COOKING & BOOKING: JUNE 26–29 • MASTER CHEFS: JUNE 26-29 • CAMP COME AND PLAY: JUNE 26-28, JULY 10-12, OR AUG. 21-23 • CAMP DISCOVERY: JULY 10-13

Vacation Bible School

JULY 24-28 • 8:45AM-12PM

Registe BeginningrAOnline pril 3rd: tr

inity-ec.org

CLASS SIZES FOR ALL DAY CAMPS ARE LIMITED. WAITING LISTS WILL BE CREATED. REGISTER EARLY TO ENSURE A SPOT.

Connect with nature every day.

www.beavercreekreserve.org

God has something great in store for you!

1314 East Lexington Blvd. Eau Claire • 715-832-6601 www.secondopinionmagazine.com

School's Out, Now What? Guide

. . . . . summer camp listings . . . . .

EAU CLAIRE MUSIC SCHOOL

eauclairemusicschool.com Free for current students of the ECMS and their families

Adventurers Youth Choir Camp Week of July 11 1st - 4th graders: 9am to 12pm 5th - 8th graders: 1pm to 4pm $59 (additional siblings, $19);

Students will improve their singing abilities and their appreciation for music in its many forms as they work together.

Ukulele Camps

Week of June 12: Ages 8 - 12; 3 to 4 pm Monday through Friday, Ages 13 - adult; 4:30 to 5:30 pm: Monday through Thursday $34 (additional siblings, $10); Showcase for friends and family on Friday at 3:30 pm $44 (additional siblings, $10)

Chippewa Valley Ukulele Orchestra: Summer Session June 12, 19, and 26 from 6 to 7:30 pm Performance: Sunday, June 8; $29;

To wrap up our first season of the orchestra, we’ll have a special summer session to prepare for our performance as part of the Family Day at Phoenix Park.

Beyond Basics Ukulele Series: All Ages

Camp CSI: Calling All Crime Solvers!

For students who are comfortable playing chords in the keys of C, G, and F. Extend your technique: This series will introduce moveable chord shapes that will allow you to play in more keys and add new sounds to your musical vocabulary.

Use science & street smarts during this week packed with investigation and evidence. From fingerprinting to interrogation, learn techniques real crime-solvers use to crack the case!

Mondays July 10, 17, and 24 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm; $24

Campfire Songs with Victoria: All Ages Wednesdays June 14, 21, 28; 6:30 to 7:30 pm; $24, additional friends or family members $10

Learn to make music with your friends and family around the warmth of a campfire. You’ll learn chords and lyrics and work on singing while playing in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Music Makers: Water Music Series 1st session: June 14, 21, and 28 2nd session: Aug. 9, 16, and 23 For children 1 to 5 and their families Wednesdays at 9:30 am; $24 per family Join Mari Carlson for a musical exploration of water!

Chippewa Valley Generations Choir

Thurs., June 8 to June 29 (4 weeks) Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9-11 am Ages 6 and up (adults included) and all abilities; $20 per person or participate as a whole family for $30; Performance: July 8 at the Downtown Family Fun Fest

Lift your voices with singers young and old -- friends and families -- and join director Cathy Reitz for a summertime performance at the downtown Family Fun Fest.

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF EAU CLAIRE

childrensmuseumec.com After School Space Camp: Explore the Night Sky! Group Guitar for Beginners

July 11, 18, 25, & Aug. 1; Tues. 6:30-7:30 pm; For students age 13 and up (adults included); $64; Limit of 6 students For absolute beginners: Students will learn proper technique, chords, and scales as they play songs together as an ensemble.

April 6, 13, 20, 27: 5:00-6:30p Grades 2-5; $55 Mem / $75 Non

June 19-22 (Mon-Thurs): 12:00-3:00pm; Grades 3-5: $60 Mem / $80 Non

Camp Detective: Kid Clue Collectors!

June 26-29 (Mon-Thurs): 1:00-2:30pm; Grades K-2: $50 Mem / $70 Non

Grab your magnifying glass and get ready to follow the clues wherever they lead as we learn about evidence, investigation and techniques real crimesolvers use!

Camp Paleontology: Diggin’ Up Dinosaurs!

July 10-13 (Mon-Thurs): 9:30-11:00am; Grades 4K-1: $50 Mem / $70 Non

Uncover clues of the past as you embark on a prehistoric dino dig, learn about extinct animals, and even cast your own fossils.

Camp Loco-Motion: Explore Movement!

July 17-20 (Mon-Thurs): 9:00a-12:00pm; Grades 3-5: $70 Mem / $90 Non

Banish summer boredom and jump right into an actionpacked week of dance, yoga, fitness, and creative movement. Don’t forget your water bottle!

Camp Create: Aspiring Artists!

July 24-27 (Mon-Thurs): 1:00-4:00pm; Grades 2-4: $70 Mem / $90 Non

Learn about famous artists and their media as you paint, draw, sculpt, and create a series of masterpieces to display in the end-of-week young artist gallery.

Littlest Space Camp: Sun, Moon & Stars!

July 31-Aug 3 (Mon-Thurs): 9:30-11:00am; Pre-K: $60 Mem / $80 Non Journey into outer space! From rocket ships to shows under the stars, take on the role of a little astronaut and embark on a mission that’s literally out of this world!

Plant to Plate Camp: Let It Grow!

August 7-10 (Mon-Thurs): 1:00-4:00pm; Grades 2-4: $60 Mem / $80 Non

Discover where our food comes from, plant your own produce, and harvest healthy fresh ingredients. Includes a walking field trip to the Eau Claire Farmer’s Market.

From astronaut ice cream to rocket ships to planetarium shows under the stars, join our space academy and discover the wonders of the galaxy.

Princess Camp: A Royal Affair!

Epic FailSafe Camp: Making, Inventing & Robotics

Decorate your own wand and tiara, sit down for an elegant tea party, help build a castle, and learn what it takes to be a real princess! Dress-up encouraged.

June 12-15 (Mon-Thurs): 1:00-4:00pm; Grades 3-5; $70 / $90 Non

Friday, July 14: 9:00a-12:00pm; Pre-K: $25 Mem / $35 Non

Throttle full STEAM ahead as you puzzle, tinker, build, engineer, and maybe even invent the next greatest thing this town has ever seen.

School's Out, Now What? Guide

www.secondopinionmagazine.com

. . . . . summer camp listings . . . . .

Superhero Camp: A Mighty Mission!

Friday, July 21: 9:00am-12:00pm, Pre-K: $25 Mem / $35 Non

Discover your powers, design your own superhero costume, try the super obstacle course, learn to spot a villain, and practice the superhero pledge! Dress-up encouraged.

Camp “Kidtrepreneur”: Invent a Product!

TBD (one day): 9:00-5:00pm; Grades 4-5: $50 Mem / $60 Non

Spark your entrepreneurial spirit in this hands-on business camp! Meet local entrepreneurs, tour new downtown businesses, and pitch your product or idea to a panel of entrepreneurs.

BEAVER CREEK RESERVE

beavercreekreserve.org B is for Birding

June 13, 8am – 11 am; Ages 7-9 yrs

Designed to help young nature lovers discover the marvels of the bird world, this camp will introduce beginning ornithologists to bird identification, proper use of binoculars, and simple field guides.

Tadpole Toddler Camp

Monday, June 19 - Friday, June 23 9:45 - 11:45 am; Ages 2-4yrs Single Day: Friends: $10, Nonmembers: $15 Full Week: Friends: $45, Nonmembers: $60

Get ready for a morning of music, movement, meaningful messes, munching and lots of exploration of our natural world! Parents and children will work together as they join in group activities and stations designed to encourage exploration, experimentation and FUN!

R Is for Reptiles

June 27, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.; 5-6 years; Friends $20; Nonmembers $30

We will learn about some Wisconsin reptiles, meet some of the reptiles that live here at the nature center & will take to the trails to see if we can find any of the reptiles that call the Reserve home.

Girls Outdoors Series: Air and Fire July 13, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Girls 10 to 12 years old Members $20; Nonmembers $30

Participants will learn to safely handle and shoot air rifles from a long time hunter safety instructor. We will also explore the art of safely starting and maintaining a campfire.

Shooting Sports Camp

July 14, 9:30 - 12 p.m.; Ages 9 -12 Friends $25; Nonmembers $30

Pellet rifles, sling shots, and compound bows & tomahawk throwing! This camp is all about having some fun and learning how to safely and effectively explore the world of shooting sports!

Girls Outdoors Series: Fishing

Tuesday July 18, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Girls Ages 10 to 12 years old Members $45; Nonmembers $55

Designed to give girls a chance to try their hand at different outdoor activities. Participants will first practice casting and then will take their new found talents and try to catch fish at a nearby pond. Fishing poles, bait, and transportation included.

Girls Outdoors Series: Geocaching Daily Topics

Tentative Daily Schedule: 9:45 – 11:45am Pricing is per child per day. Each child must attend with an adult. Group Welcome.

Songs, stories, introduce theme of the day; Mon: Meaningful Messes & Trees (Lily Pad Lab) Tues: Fabulous Fish (Beaver Creek Reserve) Wed: Meaningful Messes & the Weather (Lily Pad Lab) Thurs: Beautiful Bugs (Beaver Creek Reserve) Fri: Meaningful Messes & Monarchs (Lily Pad Lab)

www.secondopinionmagazine.com

Tuesday July 25, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Girls Ages 10 to 12 years old Members $20; Nonmembers $30 Participants will learn how to use a GPS (global positioning system) unit to find their way to hidden caches around the Reserve.

Wonders of Butterflies Camp

Monday-Wednesday, July 31 - August 2, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Ages 8-11 Friends $40; Nonmembers $50

Campers will learn about Wisconsin butterflies, their importance to the environment, and basic butterfly biology. Each participant will help raise a caterpillar for the Reserve's Butterfly House.

Budding Butterflies

Tuesday August 8, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Ages 5 -7 Friends $20; Nonmembers $30

Join us as we will learn about the magic of the butterfly life cycle, go butterfly catching, try to be kissed by a butterfly, and learn a few of our local species of butterflies.

LILY PAD LAB lilypadlab.com

Summer Science Fair

Great for all ages! $15/child Initial Meeting: June 12; 6-7pm

Keep your kids learning and exploring this summer with a Science Fair Project. Our Summer Science Fair is a great way to keep your kids excited about learning but does not require the commitment of a summer-long class. Summer Science Fair participants and their trusted adult will meet with Lily Pad Lab staff at the beginning of the summer (June 12) and will be given a detailed outline of steps to take to complete the Science Fair Project.

Tiny Scientists – Garden Lab

Every other week starting June 15 – August 24 (6 classes) Thursdays 9-10am or 6-7pm; Ages 2-8 yrs $60, Drop in $15 (call ahead)

With the help of Master Gardeners we will be caring for our very own Lily Pad Lab plot in the Southside Community Garden. We’ll work together each class to plant, care for, and harvest lots of vegetables.

Lil’ Sprouts Preschool Cooking at Forage Wednesday, June 14, June 28, July 19, August 2, and August 16 All classes 10-11am; Ages 2-10 years 5 sessions - $65; $15 - per class

You and your little one can participate together in classes bursting with hands-on activities, healthy concept learning through games, and of course, empowering your little one to create their own special healthy snacks.

Family Spanish with Music

4 weeks, July 11 – August 1 Tuesdays 9:00-9:45am; 2-10yrs $40, Drop in $10 (call ahead)

Join us to learn Spanish through music, stories, crafts, and games. Guest instructor Anita Wahl will share her talent for teaching Spanish through her fun, unique Spanish songs and chants.

School's Out, Now What? Guide

. . . . . summer camp listings . . . . .

Family Hikes

Tuesday, June 13: 10am - 11:30am Lowes Creek County Park Wednesday, July 26: 10am - 11:30am Big Falls County Park Friday, August 18: 10 - 11:30am Putnam Park

Get outside with your little ones and enjoy the outdoors by joining us for three beautiful summer hikes. Before and after the hike we will gather for tot-friendly outdoor ed activities. Great for families with little ones of all ages.

School-Age Healthy Hands Core Cooking Camp

Mon, August 7 – Thurs, August 10 Ages 5-10 10am-12:30pm; Ages 8-13 3:30-6pm; $120, includes 60 pg workbook w/recipes & activities.

Students will learn kitchen safety, proper food storage, and then make healthy snacks, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. We will also have a great time moving our bodies and completing take-home projects.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH trinity-ec.org

Trinity Sports Camp

June 12–14: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; Children who were three by 9.1.16 through those who have completed grade four

This camp will offer skills and instruction in various physical activities. Leaders will focus on teamwork, fair play, and Christian values.

Let the Spirit Move You

June 19–22 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; Children who have completed Kindergarten through grade four Children will work together to choreograph dances and make props to enhance their dances. Kids will share a dance in worship on Sunday, June 25.

Great Pretenders

June 19–22 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.; Children who were three by 9.1.16 through those who have completed grade four

Children will learn Bible stories, read great literature, build cooperative play skills, and use various art mediums to create items that will assist children with retelling stories.

Camp Cooking & Booking June 26–29 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; Ages 3 - Grade 1

Kids will experience adventures in cooking, crafting, and playing while leaders share related stories from the Bible and children’s literature.

Master Chefs

June 26–29 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; Grades 2-5

Kids will experience real-life skills of shopping, cooking, basic kitchen knowledge, and healthy eating habits while serving others. They will learn to connect God’s Word to their lives and share it with others.

Camp Come and Play

Camp Discovery

July 10–13 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; Ages 3 - Grade 5

Children will be challenged to discover the wonder and beauty of God's creation by investigating science and nature through daily field trips. Destinations for 2017 will be finalized in early May and will stay within Eau Claire or surrounding communities.

If you would like to be a part of next year's guide, contact us at 715-831-0325 or a2ndopinion@gmail.com

June 26–28, July 10–12, OR August 21–23 9:15 a.m.–11:15 a.m.; May register for more than one session Birthdates between 9/1/13 & 8/31/14 Children will have an opportunity to play with other children of their age. They will hear Bible stories, participate in related activities, and take time out to share a treat.

VARIOUS PROGRAMMING OPTIONS INCLUDING COLLABORATIONS WITH THE EAU CLAIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

“NATURE NUTS” & “BILINGUAL BEGINNINGS” 1190 Priory Road Hours: M-F 7-5:30 715-836-2178 5 years - 12 years

More information available at: uwec.edu/children/programs/summercamp.htm

School's Out, Now What? Guide

www.secondopinionmagazine.com

Join us for Summer Camp!

Learn how to play a musical instrument!

From toddlers to seniors, our music lessons are tailored to your skill level. We offer private lessons for a wide variety of musical instruments including:

Piano Lessons • Voice Lessons Guitar Lessons • Brass Lessons Banjo and Ukulele Lessons Woodwind Lessons Drum and Percussion Lessons

•Adventurers Youth Choir Camp •Ukulele Camps •Chippewa Valley Ukulele Orchestra: Summer Session •Beyond Basics Ukulele Series: All Ages •Campfire Songs with Victoria •Group Guitar for Beginners •Music Makers: Water Music Series

PASSPORT to

PERU Discovering God’s Good Gifts

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AT BETHESDA All children ages 4 through those entering 5th grade are invited! We will be discovering how much God loves the world by exploring the culture of Peru through games, songs, group activities, and Biblelearning adventures.

COME JOIN THE ADVENTURE! June 19-23, 9:00-12:00 pm each day Bethesda Lutheran Church • 123 W. Hamilton Ave. Eau Claire, WI • 715-835-5073 • www.C3ec.org Call 715-514-0475 for more info or to schedule an introductory lesson today.

Register at: vbspro.events/p/events/bethesda

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI

Session Dates and Information for Ages 6-12 Monday through Thursday | 9:00am - 1:00pm Cost/Child/Session $295.00 June 19-22, 2017 • July 17-21, 2017 • August 21-24, 2017

Learn, Ride, Grow Activities

During Camp, children will be immersed in riding as well tons of fun and engaging horsemanship activities and learning like: Riding | Horse Sense: Rules and Reasons | Horse Anatomy Saddling & Tack Parts | What is Horsemanship? | Breeds/Colors/Markings Horse Nutrition & Daily Care | Horsin’ Around Saddle Games Please Note: These camps have very limited enrollment to ensure a fun and safe environment for our riders. Reservations are on a first come, first serve basis. Go to our website and be sure to sign-up early! www.trinity-ec.com S5300 State Road 37 Eau Claire, WI Just 3 miles south of Eau Claire on Hwy 37 www.secondopinionmagazine.com

Our overnight youth camps promise a summer experience full of lifelong memories!

Cooperation.

Leadership.

Fun. 2017 Camp Sessions

Junior 1/Junior High 1 Camp (ages 8-14) • $90 June 12-15

Senior Camp (ages 14-18) • $100 June 19-23

Junior Camps (ages 8-12) • $90 Aug 6-9 • Aug. 9-12 Aug. 13-16 • Aug. 20-23

Acorn Day Camp (ages 7+) • $15 Aug. 17

Junior High 2 Camp (ages 12-14) • $95 July 30-Aug 3

715-835-4530

Family Camp (all ages) Prices vary July 28-29

800.272.5531 • camp@wisconsinfarmersunion.com Register at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com School's Out, Now What? Guide

MIND | BODY | SPIRIT

live your best life

Do Not Be Afraid of Food!

by Corbin Burkard, Head Trainer, Burn Boot Camp—Eau Claire Believe it or not, most people I meet with are terrified to eat!

As a personal trainer, I think most would think the majority of people you encounter would be overeating. This could not be further from the truth. Many people I meet with struggle to consume 1,400 calories/day (let alone clean calories)!

One suggestion I make is to track your food using an app.

See how many calories you are putting into your body and how those calories add up with your macros (carbs, fats, and proteins).

Still, people are afraid of food. It is disappointing that society has taught us not eating is healthy. I have had six-year-old kids tell me that their tummy feels too big and they shouldn’t eat today. How sad is that? Our brains were ingrained from a long time ago with the message that not eating will cause us to be skinny. I am here to tell you that balanced nutrition and consuming at LEAST 1,400 calories/day will help you to be healthier, and lose body fat. Let me tell you how.

When we look at fat loss, we need to think of simple math.

How do you burn the most calories in a day? If your answer was exercise, you are actually incorrect! Exercise is an incredibly important component of this equation, and there are numerous benefits to exercise, but the answer I was looking for is: metabolism! This burns anywhere from 75 to 90 percent of your calories throughout the day. There are many factors that contribute to how much your metabolism burns, such as age, height, and gender—things you have no control over. Other factors include frequent eating, consuming enough calories, exercise, drinking water, etc.

The omitting of fats is often misguided; they should also be eaten regularly (don’t buy “Fat Free,” buy “Sugar Free”).

Healthy fats (unsaturated fats) help with many things from skin health to helping you feel satiated. Finally, your proteins should be over 100 grams/day, especially if you are exercising as they help you burn fat and build lean muscle mass.

At the end of the day, we need to eat to survive, and if you are not eating enough good food, you are essentially starving yourself. So throw something green on your plate, eat breakfast, and start eating consistently!

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www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 21

Emotional Freedom Technique

By Lynn Buske: dedicated mother, sustainability enthusiast, avid writer, and body/mind/spirit wellness educator through BaredFeet – a long-term project, now turning non-profit, through which she offers yoga classes, dance, and movement education, arts as wellness, and information on pure eating, mental health, and spiritual wholeness.

You slip and fall on the ice . . . and break your arm. Walking on the ice is never the same again. Each winter you approach the outdoors with apprehension and a sincere dislike for icy weather. You previously never noticed how much there was and how slippery it was. Perhaps even seasonal depression touches you each winter. And your arm? Well you are cautious with it, it never seemed to return to the way it was, even though x-rays showed that it healed, and that leaves you frustrated and in pain. This is an example of how one traumatic negative experience impacts your emotions and belief system, which impacts your future everyday life in unpleasant ways.

Enter Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Combining tapping on acupressure points, meditation, and cognitive awareness, EFT is an approach to healing that gently considers the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual impacts of negative experiences. The basis of it:

1) Positive healthy energy in the body flows freely. Every

cell of our body functions optimally when blood, oxygen, and neurons move fluidly.

2) Negative emotions are emotions we try to protect

ourselves from: pain, anger, grief, resentment, etc. “The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system,” explains founder Gary Craig. When traumatic things happen, from an argument to a loss of a child, the flow of our body’s energy is disrupted. Those disruptions remain— the imbalance and lack of flow causing the symptoms we have. At this point new, negative beliefs have been formed that impact our view of the world.

3)

EFT gently brings your conscious awareness to the blockage—tapping proper flow into the negative memories and symptoms. When all positivity has been restored, the issue dissolves.

This is similar to meditation. The practice of meditation tells us that being present, aware, and unreactive to a negative experience or memory can release it. However, EFT has been found to be more potent and successful than meditation, and the reason for this lies in how 22 | www.secondopinionmagazine.com

it connects the energy pathways of our body to our brain’s conscious thought. All energy flow is information: “I lift my arm,” “I see ice,” “I am falling,” and “Ouch.” In a traumatic event our information system is overloaded with all of our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual responses—past and present. We cannot process the entire event, nor do we want to. EFT brings awareness to those channels where we have the time, security, and distance to process them. That distance and gentleness makes it more accessible and easier for the non-Buddhist monk to open up to.

EFT was developed by Gary Craig in response to more complicated meridian tapping research. He first started working with clients on it in 1995. The majority of his first successes came from working with war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. In 2000, he released a manual for anyone to access, learn, and use. This release has generated endless success in many different applications.

People have used it on: broken limbs, cancer, Alzheimer’s, depression, autoimmune disease, anxiety, headaches, anger, grief, belief patterns, as well as “surrogate” tapping on children, animals, loved ones, and even cars that won’t start.

It is 100 percent safe. Applying EFT to extremely painful, complicated diseases and memories should be done with an experienced practitioner (to prevent “re-living” the experience, to provide support, and to assist in unraveling all the layers), but when done on simple daily negative experiences, it can be preventative and bring about a general state of positivity and flow.

Stay tuned for an upcoming article teaching you how to use EFT for yourself and your family, and where you can find local practitioners.

For more information, email baredfeet@gmail.com, call 715-514-4648, or visit www. baredfeet.wordpress.com.

Spring Is a Good Time for Mindfulness

by Ann Brand

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is present-moment awareness. Jon KabatZinn, the researcher responsible for bringing mindfulness practice into Western medicine, defines mindfulness as “the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” Mindfulness practice is now part of many disciplines including health care, education, mental health, and business.

Mindfulness practice is a mental training. Using the power of our brain’s plasticity, we can shape our brains in positive ways. The more frequently we practice, the stronger the attention muscles in our brain become. The more we practice paying attention in this particular way, both through formal practice and mindfulness in everyday life, the better able we are to be present.

What are the benefits of mindfulness?

Mindfulness practice has many benefits. Because of advances in neuroscience, scientists are able to see how mindfulness practices work to change our brain and lead to benefits in physical health, stress reduction, attention, learning and memory, positive emotions, empathy, emotion regulation, and interpersonal relationships. Mindfulness practice can help us manage our stress and bring calm, clarity, and peace into our daily lives.

Why is the changing of seasons a good time to focus on mindfulness?

Any time of year is a wonderful time to cultivate our capacity to be mindful. That said, spring offers us the waking up of

nature from the quiet sleep of winter. Nature is always in the present moment, and we can use the warm air on our skin, the singing of the birds, and the budding of the trees as anchors to the present moment. This supports us in the practice of being present and showing up to our life as it unfolds instead of the story in our head we are telling about our life.

Nature can be a helpful support to our mindfulness practice in the spring. Here are five things we can use to help us rest in the present moment: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Feel the warm spring sun on your skin.

Savor the taste of spring harvest from the garden.

Breathe in the smells of spring—snow melting, damp earth, spring flowers.

Listen to the sounds of spring-migrating birds, water flowing, kids playing outside.

Open up our awareness as we walk outside, noticing when we get caught up in our thoughts and bringing our attention back to the sensations in our body as we walk.

Mindfulness practice helps us see that no matter how many times we are distracted from the present moment, we can begin again, just like nature starts over each spring in Wisconsin.

Ann Brand, PhD, is a mindfulness meditation teacher and lecturer at UW–Stout in the School of Education. She teaches mindfulness classes in Eau Claire at The Center and can be reached at annbrand365@gmail.com. www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 23

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POUND Your Way Fit Pure Fitness 4 You is owned and managed by Brenda Jane Crass, wife and mother of two. “Owning a fitness studio is an amazing opportunity for me to share my love of health and fitness with others and to be a role model,” she says.

Why did she decide to start this business? “I wanted to have classes in the area that all fitness levels would be able to do,” she explains. “I love helping people, seeing their progress, and knowing I’m making a difference.” All classes at Pure Fitness 4 You are for all fitness levels as the instructors will always show modifications, regular, and advanced moves, but Crass adds, “If you ever come to class and have questions about moves, just ask as there are always ways to make the moves work for each individual ability level.”

Crass seeks to make Pure Fitness 4 You stand out in the community.

“Pure Fitness 4 You offers uniqueto-the-area classes and really goes all out with the personal touch of letting our members know we are here! Once you’ve stepped into the doors at Pure Fitness 4 You, you become family!” Crass notes.

One example of that uniqueness is the POUND class, which is a group fitness class that is inspired by drumming.

It lets you be a part of the music as you are getting a headto-toe workout. Crass assures, “It’s low impact but high intensity, so you’ll burn calories having a blast!” It’s new to the Chippewa Valley and is taking a lot of places, like New York City, by storm. So far there has been a lot of interest in POUND, and Crass says her regulars are addicted to it.

She cautions not to worry about an inability to keep to the rhythm, explaining that the instructor keeps you on track and you soon fall in love with being a part of the music and being able to “pound out the day.”

Her enthusiasm for this class couldn’t be any greater.

“POUND lets you be a rock star!”

Exemplifying the welcoming spirit of Pure Fitness 4 You, Crass exclaims, “If you are looking for an amazing atmosphere to work out in, Pure Fitness 4 You is it! We make you a part of a family, and everyone will have your back each step of the way.”

For more information, see www.purefitness4you.com, call 715-456-1182, or visit them at 1423 South Hastings Way, in Eau Claire.

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Did you know you can get a facial here in Eau Claire in which all the ingredients are organic? In fact Sakura Skin Spa offers two organic facial product lines. The skin spa was founded in 2013 with the goal of providing “highly educated and passionate skin professionals to help clients achieve their desired skin results safely and effectively.”

Sarah Green, owner, spa director, and licensed aesthetician, explains why she chose to use organic products. “Organic products were always something I wanted to bring in from the beginning. My brother-in-law, Dr. Aaron Arfstrom of Apex Chiropractic, has been a huge influence on my knowledge of how important it is to use products that are good for us and don’t cause more harm.”

Green describes the two main benefits of using organic products: 1) “Many clients who are very sensitive can have reactions to skin care products that have a lot of chemical additives. Organic products give them an option for quality skin care.” 2) “It’s also great for women who are pregnant or nursing and want to use only pure products. They don't have to sacrifice their skin when going organic or natural.”

Sakura Skin Spa offers two organic product lines: Naturopathica and FarmHouse Fresh Naturals.

Naturopathica

Many of this company’s products are certified by Ecocert, which is one of the oldest independent organic certification groups. The review process to receive the Ecocert seal of approval includes scrutiny of sourcing, manufacturing, and packaging. Ecocert looks for products derived from renewable resources that are produced in environmentally friendly ways. Their seal also requires at least 50 percent use of natural ingredients.

Naturopathica seeks to source from local farmers, promotes recycling with all product containers, and is a majority woman-owned company. They test all products for allergy and skin sensitivity, do not use animal testing, and their products are made in the United States. For a full list of what they do not use in their products, go to www.naturopathica.com/about_us/our_philosophy.

FarmHouse Fresh Naturals

This company has its own farm in Texas and uses some products from other local farms to provide from 90 to 99.6 percent naturally derived ingredients. They are paraben, phthalate, and sulfate free, as well as “cruelty free,” meaning no animal testing is used for their products. In fact, the company works to rescue all kinds of animals—dogs, bunnies, horses, turtles, and donkeys—at their ranch. Almost all (99 percent) of their products are vegan and gluten free.

FarmHouse Fresh has a broad selection of what they call “Farm to Spa Treatments,” seeking to provide the freshest product possible with reduced irritations, less redness, and “lessened signs of aging.”

Sakura Skin Spa serves up a hearty menu of FarmHouse Fresh organic facials, including Peat Purity Vegetative Calming Facial, Coffee and Cream CoQ10 Complexion Perfection Facial, Wine and Chocolate Me Time Transformative Facial, and the seasonal Perky Pumpkin Radiance Boosting and Firming Facial.

“I would say our FarmHouse Fresh natural facials have really caught our clients' attention!” Green says. “All of their products smell almost too good to be true! It's been really fun adding in their awesome products to the spa. With product names like Pumpkin Dirt Mud Mask and Sundae Best Chocolate Mask, which smell as amazing as they sound, who could resist?”

For more information visit them at 4210 Southtowne Drive, Eau Claire, go to www.sakuraskinspa.com, or call 715-514-3548.

Sources: http://farmhousefreshgoods.com/index.html www.naturopathica.com/; www.sakuraskinspa.com

Sakura Skin Spa offers several choices of organic facials using the Naturopathica products, including the Pure Results Facial, the Vitamin C15 Brightening Facial, the Soothe and Restore Facial, and even a Men’s Rebalancing Facial.

Green says, “Our Naturopathica line is purely organic, and their ingredients smell phenomenal as well! They have been some of our most popular facials since we introduced the line in 2014.” www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 27

Moms on the Run:

Health, Confidence, and Encouragement through Running

By Shelly Peters, in collaboration with Second Opinion Staff

Y

ou may have seen the logo around town on a purple sweatshirt or across the chest of a pink tank top of an Eau Claire Marathon participant: MOTR aka Moms on the Run. It easily could be the name of a sitcom or explanation for the harried driver you see in the lane beside you. And that double meaning explains a lot about the organization of women encouraging their fellow runners to keep a healthy outlook through all the facets of life they are juggling.

The Chippewa Valley chapter of Moms on the Run has officially been up and literally running for over five years with hundreds of women embracing their running journey. MOTR offers year-round programming with three official seasons: Spring/Summer, Fall, and Winter Polar Running. Their signature eighteen-week spring/ summer session starts again this coming April and culminates at the end of August with the group’s own 5k run and celebration.

The eighteen-week spring-summer session offers the most structure and support. MOTR classes include coaching, optional nutritional challenges, and running-specific strength training. They offer interval classes, endurance classes, and trail running groups.

Interval classes include taking beginning runners (the Learn to Run group) from mostly walking to running a 5k at the end of the summer and offers intermediate runners a chance to work on speed, cardiovascular strength, breathing, form, and more. Shelly Peters, one of the two EC Franchise Owners, notes, “Our groups have experienced coaches that help motivate and push each individual to the extent that they want/need. We believe that if you want to be a runner, you can be. We want every woman to feel empowered to take the steps to a healthy lifestyle, and we feel that exercise, accountability, and encouragement play a huge role in that.”

rejuvenated and joyful about the other responsibilities that make up your family’s fabric.

After being involved in MOTR for several summers one participant wrote: “I am continually in awe of the impact of MOTR because it is powerful, it is positive, and it really is changing women’s lives in more than just physical ways. When I think of the ripple effect through a family when a mom is healthy, confident, supported, and fierce in the belief in herself, it’s hard to comprehend the power of her positive influence on those around her. When I show up to class or to a race and stand in this sea of strong women, I can’t help but feel proud to be a part of it."

Peters sums up the MOTR mission: “Our goal is to be women that are healthy, confident, and feel encouraged so that we can in turn encourage others along the journey that often feels like it is an uphill battle. Running connects us to ourselves, our neighbor, our city, and the outdoors at large.”

Check out this website to register for a program or for more information on the local and national group: www.momsonetherun.com.

Join us for Fitness, Fun & Friendship!

MOTR tries to help connect women in a way that helps them have fitness, fun, and friendship all in one. It also forces them, so to speak, to put class on their calendar and not just “hope to fit it in.” Coaches follow up with women to make sure that their needs are being met and they are feeling connected to the group. Peters elaborates, “One thing we take pride in at MOTR is that everyone is welcome and it is an encouraging, positive, nojudgment kind of group. We know that each woman has enough stress and battles in other areas, so we want MOTR to be a safe place where they can come just to be on the journey together.”

Women need to prioritize themselves and a healthy lifestyle. It can fortify you as a parent, being able to care for yourself first so you can then care for others. Tapping into your known strengths, or those you didn’t even know you had, can leave you feeling 28 | www.secondopinionmagazine.com

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www.secondopinionmagazine.com | 29

You Can’t Beat Beets!

As we slog through these winter months, the choices of fresh local vegetables become fewer. But just when you thought all was almost lost, root vegetables come to the rescue, and beets are the star players of the root vegetable team. Whether you kept yours in the garden under special mulch or safely stored in your root cellar, or if you purchase yours at a local winter farmers market or from an organic produce section in your grocery store, you can count on beets to be a great part of a late-winter meal.

Beets have been around for a long time, and I don’t mean the ones you still have from LAST winter! “Beets are an ancient, prehistoric food that grew naturally along coastlines in North Africa, Asia, and Europe. Originally, it was the beet roots that were consumed; the sweet red beet root that most people think of as a ‘beet’ today wasn’t cultivated until the era of ancient Rome.”1 Beets have many health benefits, including that they: • Are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying • Fight cancer • Help lower blood pressure • Boost stamina • Are chocked full of vitamins and fiber2

A Chef’s Take on Beets

Joey Meicher, chef at The Local Lounge in Eau Claire, offers his insight and inspirations regarding beets.

“Beets are an incredible ingredient available almost the entire year. A fall planting, followed by proper storage in the root cellar (or the bottom drawer of your fridge,) results in one of the few ‘fresh’ vegetables that is still available toward the end of winter. Not only are they almost always available, but they are an incredibly versatile ingredient. Beets can be roasted, boiled, pickled, fermented, juiced, canned, sautéed, or even served raw. I love how they are used in so many different ways across a broad spectrum of cuisines.

“The beet + cheese + nuts combination seems to be a staple at almost every restaurant these days (and for good reason), but there are so many other directions to go with this vegetable. Pickled beets are a fantastic accompaniment to Nordic dishes and flavors (salmon, dill, dense rye breads, and cultured dairy products). Borscht is a name that can be applied to any sour Eastern European soup, but most are made with fermented beets. My favorite For a thorough breakdown of nutritional data on beets, go to http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/ 30 | www.secondopinionmagazine.com vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2348/2.

beet dish is a chilled soup in which fermented beets are pureed with a light broth and topped with raw cucumber, salted cabbage, sour cream, cilantro, mint, and dill. It is incredibly complex while still remaining vibrant and refreshing.

“One must not forget about the greens either! If you have ever grown beets, you know that the greens often need to be thinned out before the beetroot is mature.

This is because beet seeds are actually pods that contain about six separate seeds all trying their best to grow into a big, beautiful beet. The easiest way to handle the excess beet greens is to warm a little onion, garlic, and chili in a lot of olive oil, add the washed (but not dried) greens and a splash of vinegar, than let them cook for a few minutes before piling on toast and topping with a fried egg, grated cheese, and maybe a few pickled beets from last year.”

Sources: 1. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/ 01/25/beets-health-benefits.aspx. 2. Ibid.

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CU T YOUR C ARBON FOOTPRINT

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A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (https://food-hub.org/files/resources/Food%20Miles.pdf)

on the environmental effects of agricultural products shipped into the state of California found: In 2005, the import of fruits, nuts, and vegetables into California by airplane released more than 70,000 tons of CO2, which is equivalent to more than 12,000 cars on the road.

Today, the typical American prepared meal contains, on average, ingredients from at least five countries outside the United States.

Neighborhoods near airports and other transport centers tend to be inhabited by low-income people of color, making this an environmental justice issue.

Almost 250,000 tons of global warming gases released were attributable to imports of food products—the equivalent amount of pollution produced by more than 40,000 vehicles on the road or nearly two power plants.

More than 6,000 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides were released into the air—the equivalent of almost 1.5 million vehicles or 263 power plants!

300 tons of sooty particulate matter were released into the air—the equivalent of more than 1.2 million cars or 53 power plants.

Approximately 950 cases of asthma, 16,870 missed schools days, 43 hospital admissions, and 37 premature deaths could be attributed to the worsened air quality from food imports.

Emily Schwartz, MS, RDN, CD – Western Wisconsin Regional Dietitian at Skogen’s Festival Foods.

32 | www.secondopinionmagazine.com

What can you do?

Buy local from Festival Foods!

• Taste the difference–buying local usually means that produce has been picked very recently (usually within the last twenty-four hours) • At Festival, we’ve developed unique relationships with our suppliers allowing us to bring fresh produce items from Wisconsin growers straight to you as part of our Days Fresher program.

• Eating locally allows you to eat seasonally, which often means enjoying produce at peak ripeness.

• Wondering what’s at peak ripeness? Check the “Peak This Week” feature at FestFoods. com where you’ll find out what’s in season and at peak, what’s coming up, what’s out of season, and what to watch.

• Although transportation times are increasingly getting shorter, local produce often takes less time to get from field to fork.

• After harvest, some nutrients in fruits and vegetables may degrade over time.

Antioxidants, like vitamins A, C, and E, and B-vitamins, like vitamin B6 and thiamin, are particularly susceptible.

• Loss of nutrients is inevitable but can be managed or reduced with proper storage.

• Ideal storage conditions (temperature, humidity, lighting, etc.) can vary quite a bit based on the fruit or vegetable.

• Our knowledgeable produce experts at Festival can help provide information on proper storage.