Tag Archives: Children’s Health

Intelligent Luxury | My visit to Greenheart Organic Farms

It’s hard to trust anyone with the title organic.  Organic is now big business, and everyone is getting into the game.

Organic and clean foods are also a source of medicine for the body.  Genuinely sick people rely on the right nutrients from organic foods as part of their healing process.  Big businesses are messing around with people’s lives by claiming to be organic when they are not, and consumers are buying without research and with too much trust.  Some of the biggest cons in the market include agave syrup which is just high corn fructose in a nice bottle and pink himalayan salt which adds no value to your plate just your monthly expenses.

It’s pretty confusing for consumers as the bad food list expands to include burnt toasts, or anything that contains refined sugar (that covers a wide list of products found in supermarkets) and barbecue meats that contribute to cancers.  There is also so much research out there that it can be exhausting to sieve through food trends.

I watched a fabulous show on Netflix titled Cooked with Michael Pollan, an important food writer.  In one of the episodes, one of the world’s leading experts said, eat anything you want.  Eat apple pie with ice-cream and expand on that list.  There is nothing wrong with eating all of it but on one condition, he said, that you make it all from scratch.  Such an easy philosophy and yet how many of us struggle on a daily basis to prepare the three meals a day without succumbing to the ease of using tin or jar food, or readily prepared meals.  I know it is not easy.  The trend of the world hasn’t left us mums enough time to cook. The typical family in the US spends less than 30 minutes preparing food and in Europe and India they are starting to follow the same trend.  Big industries want to prepare everything for you – it’s big money.

We need to fight big industries and starting going back to basics.  We don’t have a microwave at home.  Just get a saucepan to heat up your food.  It takes 5 minutes to heat up vs 30 seconds when you zap all nutrients away.

Greenheart Organic Farms

You can imagine my delight when I got an invitation from Elena Kinane, owner of Greenheart Organic Farms to visit her farm in the UAE.  It’s the real mccoy.  I was blown away by what I saw.  I wasn’t sure if I was standing in the UAE or a field in England.

Compost

One of the most important aspects of organic foods is the quality of the ground that it is grown in.  Sand is not nutritious.  Therefore, to make it so, quality compost is key, AKA ‘black gold’.  This compost has to be added for the crops to grow.  It takes 6-months to produce compost, and there are no shortcuts.

Elena keeps 800 goats and chickens on her farm  – the most healthy looking goats I have ever seen with shiny coats from all the organic produce they are fed on.  The cockerel had the most splendid display of colours like a painting from the 1800s having only eaten organic all his life too.  Their manure and leftover crops are prepared for composting and none of the animals are killed for food.  Most importantly, compost should not have any smell, and surprisingly there are farms around the world who do not know how to compost making their produce susceptible to E. coli.

The fields are manually prepared so no heavy machinery is used to plough the fields, and the compost is scattered in straight lines, and volcanic minerals are added to further enrich the soil.

No chemicals

Elena does not use any chemicals on her fields, and uses old farming methods to swot away white flies, and she organises her fields using certain crops to protect other crops.  For example, the smell of kale protects the tomatoes from certain insects.

Abundance

Her fields are overflowing with kale, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, heirloom tomatoes, kohlrabi, swiss chard, basil, purple pak choy, rocket, lettuce, fennel, coriander and the list goes on.  Her pain staking efforts of manually shading each broccoli and cauliflower from the desert sun takes time.  Her specially designed papermache cooling systems for the greenhouses cost money and profits from her sale are reinvested into her farm.  There is so much hardwork and effort that goes behind the scenes for the production of an heirloom tomato.

Elena is really a champion at pioneering organic in the UAE.  It is no easy feat and she does it from a place of pure passion and love for her job.  A mother of two, a farmer, and a supplier leaving her little time for anything else.  Four Seasons Hotel and Freedom Pizza are some of her customers, and she has won multiple awards, as well as winning the respect of international chefs, Giorgio L’Ocattelli and Tom Aikens, who have both spent time on her farm.

I trust Elena.  I trust her brand Greenheart Organic Farms.  In this day and age, Greenheart Organic Farms is intelligent luxury.  Whilst, big business wants us to buy the designer clothes, handbags and plastic toys for our children, the luxuries in life will be clean food.

I truly believe in organic for the family especially my children.  It’s hardwork but I persevere.  Most of my monthly allowance goes into food. There are 84 meals in a month so it is expensive for a family of 6 and time consuming but for me it is worth it in this day and age to have health above everything else.  Every month, I learn that I don’t need to buy pesto in a jar or tomatoes in a can.  Just buy fresh and use a blender.

Social media has many downsides but there are also important benefits, and one of them is the exposure healthy food bloggers get from social media changing the way nations eat and in the last 2 – 3 years they have created a new landscape for healthy eating – I applaud them.  As consumers, we are also responsible for setting the tone for future generations to lead big industries and not let them lead us.

You can purchase Greenheart Organic Farm products from their website www.greenheartuae.com or visit their farmshop

Greenheart Organic Farm Store, The Light Building, Ground Floor, Shop 8, Arjan, Al Barsha 2, Dubai.

T : +9714 361 7010
M : +9714 (0)56 6407060
E : admin@greenheartuae.com

The Milkman has arrived in the UAE | Ordering Koita Milk Online to lighten your grocery load | Use your Seashellsonthepalm discount code to get 15% off

Offer: Seashellsonthepalm readers can receive a discount of 15% on a one-time purchase of AED500 or less and deliveries within the UAE are free.  Offer is valid for 30 days. Quote: SEA15p

Seashellsonthepalm has had a long working relationship with Koita because as a family we believe that Koita is trying to do something good.  It is an organically grown Dubai business although the key component to their successful enterprise, the cows,  live in Italy, a country with decades if not hundreds of years of experience in dairy farming.  I have always felt it important to educate families about certain choices, and to get the right information out there.

Online Delivery – new launch

Milk is one of the heaviest and bulkiest items on my grocery shopping list. With a family of 6, I will buy on average between 4 – 6 1L packs a week.  The milk is usually used for cereal, teas, cappuccinos, mash potato, pancakes etc.  Koita now delivers a wide range of milk making it easier for the weekly grocery shopping in terms of volume and weight.  The new online service will deliver cases of 12x 1L or 24x 200 ml from Lactose Free (non-organic), Skim Milk (organic) to Full Fat Milk(organic), as well as providing non-dairy solutions like Non-GMO Soy Milk (non-ogranic).  For more information about their free delivery service check out the link.  Koita Delivers.

Organic – what does it mean?

Organic milk means no added hormones, antibiotics, pesticides or preservatives. This means a lot to me as a mum to know my children are not being exposed to unnecessary toxins in their developing bodies.  I know it is always not possible to control what my children eat but I have an 80/20 approach to it all, and if I can remove certain chemicals from their daily intake I will certainly try.  Koita cows live in northern Italy and are fed on grass grown in volcanic soil.  The Koita Organic Milk range includes full fat, low fat, skim milk and for the occasional treat chocolate milk.  We usually buy the low fat or skim milk which are family favourites.  The organic chocolate milk we might keep in the fridge for the occasional ‘treat day’  – it makes a quick hot chocolate on a chilly Dubai day or you can freeze them in lolly containers to turn them into organic chocolate ice-creams on a warm summer’s day.

Lactose Free  – New launch

Due to popular demand because of a high number of lactose intolerant people from the Middle East, Koita has now created the first lactose free milk in the market that is free from added hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and preservatives, which is still produced in Italy.  The milk is created by adding a natural enzyme lactase to the milk to break down the lactose milk sugar into more easily digestible sugars, enabling people who are lactose-intolerant the ability take milk into their diet.  The Lactose Free milk is not organic but remains free of unnecessary chemicals and toxins, but cannot be declared organic only due to the feed of the cows.

Non-Dairy Soy Milk – New launch

Soy lattes and cappacinnos have always been popular, and for those who prefer not to have dairy in their diet can use the Koita Soy Milk which is an ideal substitute.  The milk is not organic but the soy has been created from non-GMO soy.  Non-GMO means non-genetically modified organisms that have been created in a laboratory using genetic modifications/engineering techniques.  Scientists, and many other groups including consumer groups have cited many health and environmental risks to consume foods containing GMOs.

For more information or to make your first online delivery go to Koita.com 

And don’t forget! Offer: Seashellsonthepalm readers can receive a discount of 15% on a one-time purchase of AED500 or less and deliveries within the UAE are free.  Offer is valid for 30 days. Quote: SEA15p

Motherhood | Omaira Farooq Al Olama | Emirati Mum of three shares her story about raising her three daughters whilst running a successful company.

Omaira Farooq Al Olama, is an Emirati mum of 3, and the daughter of a former UAE Ambassador based in the US where she had spent her formative years growing up.  She returned back to Dubai after finishing university in the US as Dubai’s first female criminology graduate.  Omaira is passionate about her home country, and is determined to help her fellow nationals achieve and strive for their best.  She is the Founder of Advanced Learning Formulas, a company to help young Emiratis connect better with the multitude of businesses and cultures in the UAE.  She works with them, coaching and equipping them in this ever-changing business landscape of today.  She is also extremely hands-on as a mother taking care of her three young daughters, her twin girls aged 7 and a younger daughter aged 6. This photoshoot is probably representative of Omaira’s character; she is a colourful, vibrant and an interesting woman who has overcome personal challenges to recallibrate her life again to create a wonderful childhood for her three daughters.  She is positive, inspiring mother and business woman, who has an incredibly infectious laugh.

How did you create your incredible business, Advanced Learning Formulas (ALF)?

It was in 2010 while I was still working for the government, when I noticed some of my younger Emiratis were just not understanding the trainers, and couldn’t develop a connection to them. It wasn’t that these trainers were bad, in fact, they were great. However, the younger nationals couldn’t relate. It was then that I decided to create a company of the “people” is the best way to describe it, where I would develop, train and coach them. I would be their backbone, someone they could relate to, open up to and in most cases someone that will tell them when they are wrong or what they need to do to further develop themselves to succeed.

Can you share some of the challenges in your business that you have faced and how you have overcome them?

In the beginning when I first launched, I was met with mixed reviews. The large companies were so used to the normal training companies that they didn’t know what to expect. I would explain to them that I don’t do generic training, there are many companies who are more than equipped to handle that. However, if you want to get through to your national, get through to them clearly in terms of work ethics, mindset, creativity, business morale, ethical conducts etc, then I was that person. Our success stories lies within many of the Banking and Government sectors. We have brought down the rate of attrition and we have many quotes from the heads of HR, however one of the newest success stories we can write about, is the number of Emiratis who are going back to school to get an education to quote Mr. Samir Al Maskaris (Head of Emiritization and Business Partner at ENBD) “Our new coaching initiative that is run by ALF Administration, has seen not only Emiratis in our workforce loyally committing to us, but have encouraged themselves to go back to school and get their education. This comes by the passion and dedication of ALF towards the nationals and their continued support in terms of helping them develop themselves in their career.”

There are so many women and mothers wanting to start their own business, what would you tell them?

Follow your dreams, but pick something you are passionate about, that makes you happy, that you can relate to. Don’t waste your time doing something you think might make you successful because you have seen others do it. Do something that interests you.

You have been a motivational role model for Emiratis, mothers, and other young women who are wanting to make a difference in this community, who has been your personal role model?

Amira Haya, her dedication to children and to education is something that is so amazing and so nurturing. She has that aura in her that calms everyone around her and allows people to focus on what is really important.

You are also the mother of twin daughters who are 7-years old and your youngest daughter is 6 how do you ensure a work life balance for your children?

The best part of owning your own company is that you can choose your own work hours. A 9-5 job had the best salaries and lots of adult interaction, however, for me being able to choose the days I want to spend home with the kids, or even just to do something for myself, this gives me more flexibility

What do you hope to instill in your children when they grow up?

To work hard, but have ethics. If they make a mistake I want them to tell me, I teach this to my students all the time. Its ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them.

There are parents from multicultural backgrounds here who struggle to decide which education system to put their children in (British, IB, American, French etc); you grew up in America so how did you decide on the current system that you have chose for your 3 girls?

While I respect all the education systems that are available here in the UAE, I chose American as it encourages creativity and allows my children to have the rest of the day after school to go to activities and not stress too much about homework or tests at this moment in time. Though I do feel the British system prepares from university, I still feel more comfortable with the American system.

What kind of mother would you describe yourself?  Are you pretty relaxed or would you describe yourself as a #tigermum? 

Depends on the situation. I’m very relaxed for certain things, for example, if my daughters want to dye strands of their hair, or put  makeup on etc. However, I’m very strict when it comes to behavior. I grew up respecting elders and I really want to instill that in my children. It is also important to have a good attitude and positive outlooks towards life. We are all so fortunate to be here and to live the lives that we live, and I never want them to forget that.

What are you very strict about at home with your daughters?

Discipline. I love to let them explore and challenge things so that they get a better understanding, however, I won’t let them cross that line and become rude kids, I’m always conscious of how they act, and sometimes I get a bit strict with them, which I do try to be more relaxed about.

Can you share three things that you have learnt as a mother?

Patience, always have a stash of sweets and hide my make up!

I believe the training that you do for the Emirati community also has a relevance for any mother in the world wanting to go back into the workforce, can you share 5 pieces of advice for mothers wanting to work again after children?

Don’t look at other peoples success or failures as something that defines you, what works for some might not work for others.

Do something that interests you and that you are passionate about

Don’t feel guilty, as long as you know you are spending time with your children, it is ok to go back to work and follow your dreams. They will respect you and look up to you just as much as when you were staying at home with them.

Be kind to others and never feel threatened by other peoples success. The worst thing is watching women not be happy for one another.

And follow the old saying “if at first you don’t succeed, try try again!”

When Siblings Fight | by our Singapore correspondent Davelle Lee

When Siblings Fight

Remember the good old days when you could recline on the sofa after a long day, with a glass of wine in one hand, the TV remote in the other and just relax? These days, you’ve got children on your left and right whining for your attention, fighting for control over which channel to watch, ultimately ending in someone wailing on the top of their lungs.

If this is a typical scene from your living room, don’t worry because you aren’t alone. While some very lucky siblings do see best friends in one another, rivalry and conflict among them is normal and very common. As parents, our role is to mediate these negative interactions between our children and guide them in handling and resolving conflict.

Why does sibling rivalry occur?

A child begins to construct a meaningful representation of himself at an early age. In order to do so, he draws from references in his social environment to evaluate his own competencies. For example, physical limitations in height and strength become immediately apparent to children in contrast to the adults around them.

With peers and siblings, however, children discover a more equal playing field on which they can pit themselves against each other. This gives rise to social comparison. A narrower age gap between children can predict greater social comparison. Siblings who are roughly the same age are likely to be closely matched in terms of physical and cognitive capabilities, allowing for fairer competition between them. The younger child usually models his behaviour after his older sibling, which can cause friction between them because it infringes upon the older child’s developing sense of personal uniqueness. You can use this to your advantage by rewarding an older child for good behaviour; his little brother is likely to follow suit.

Even with a small age gap, discrepancies in capabilities between siblings can be particularly pronounced in early and middle childhood. For this reason, birth order also contributes to the nature of sibling interactions. The older sibling is usually more aggressive, using his or her larger physique and more advanced reasoning skills to dominate play and conflict. The youngest, knowing that he cannot win in a physical brawl with his big sister, relies on his vulnerability and tends to cry in order to get your attention. And you’re probably already familiar with middle-child syndrome. Children sandwiched in between often feel like they drew the shortest straw- neither the most powerful nor the most precious- and may act out more in defiance as a result.

Sometimes, parents’ differential treatment may exacerbate social comparison between our kids. This often occurs outside of a parent’s conscious awareness. No parent wants to treat any one of their children better than the other, but the different traits inherent to each child can cause a parent to respond in different ways.

One such trait is gender. Girls are more affectionate towards their siblings in general while boys tend to rough it out, right? These beliefs about gender that parents hold can result in a greater tolerance for anger and aggression when it comes from their sons rather than their daughters. Researchers found that more punitive action is taken when a girl hits her sibling or damages property than when a boy does. Children are very sensitive to these discrepancies in leniency so it is important to make sure you are dishing out fair and appropriate punishment to each child’s transgressions.

A fascinating hypothesis proposed by applied economics researcher Dennis Weisman is that sibling rivalry occurs because good behaviour doesn’t happen simultaneously. He uses a game-theoretic model to demonstrate why. Yes, you read that right. Game theory. Here is how it works. According to Weisman, a child’s for good behaviour receives a diminishing rate of return, meaning that with each additional ‘unit’ of good behaviour, the child receives a smaller reward from his parents. The marginal utility of good behaviour increases when his sibling has been behaving badly. So, if the first child is behaving well, the second child receives a smaller reward for the same behaviour. The incentive to behave well decreases and he is more likely to behave badly. Alternatively, he could reduce the total amount of good behaviour in the household by tattling on his sibling! Through these mechanisms, good and bad behaviour on the part of each child are produced in response to their siblings’ behaviour and calibrated over time to arrive at a good-kid, bad-kid equilibrium.

How can parents help to resolve conflict between siblings?

Let’s move away from technical analysis and think about how we can deal with sibling conflict. Understand that siblings are bound to argue. In fact, some sibling rivalry is good for honing your children’s problem solving abilities, negotiation skills, self-control and perspective taking, according to Signe Whitson, author of How to Be Angry: An Assertive Anger Expression Group Guide for Kids and Teens. Having a sister or brother as a sparring partner can provide the perfect training for conflict management later on in life, be it at school or the workplace. Your goal as a parent should not be to prevent conflict entirely, but to teach your children how to handle conflict effectively and peacefully.

Research in developmental psychology has shown that children are motivated to engage in more positive interactions with a sibling when the quality of relationship with that sibling is good. When siblings feel greater affection for one another, they opt for less hostile approaches to disagreements.

To foster warmer relationships among your kids, choose novel activities that they can participate in together. They should be games or tasks that the older kids haven’t been exposed to before, so they don’t have an unnatural advantage over their younger siblings. A 2015 study revealed that when children play video games with their siblings, their affection towards one another increases. Surprisingly, their study also found that sibling conflict is actually reduced when boys play video games that involve combat or physical aggression with their brothers!

Of course, even the closest of siblings will get into fights occasionally. When your kids come running to you to settle an argument, here’s what you should do:

Help each child to verbalise his or her frustrations. You can do what counsellors call reflection of content, which is to paraphrase what your children tell you (e.g. “so what you are saying is that you are angry because your sister won’t share her imaginary cookies with you”). This creates the opportunity for them to not only express their emotions but to reinterpret them and evaluate them on a deeper level. Some times, it takes an adult voice echoing a childish complaint for your child to recognise just how silly it sounds.

Get each child to acknowledge his or her contribution to the conflict without pushing blame to any of the siblings. They will learn that they have to be accountable for their words and actions, no matter who “started it”. At this point, ask each child to offer an apology and a compromise to the other. This means that each child should be willing to give up something in exchange for what he wants. This isn’t a zero-sum game. You can show them that there is often a solution in which all parties can walk away happy, if they choose to open themselves up to their sibling’s point of view. By establishing a norm of give-and-take, you can increase your children’s social understanding and promote perspective taking and empathy, leading to more self-initiated conflict resolution in future.

#The Socialization of Sibling Rivalry | What’s Love Got to Do?

Sybil L. Hart

#Why Can’t I Be More Like My Brother? The Role and Correlates of Sibling Social Comparison Orientation

Alexander C. Jensen • Amanda M. Pond • Laura M. Padilla-Walker

#Associations Between Social Understanding, Sibling Relationship Quality, and Siblings’ Conflict Strategies and Outcomes

Holly E. Recchia and Nina Howe

Super Mario brothers and sisters: Associations between co-playing video games and sibling conflict and affection

Sarah M. Coyne, Alexander C. Jensen, Nathan J. Smith, Daniel H. Erickson