What to do if your Friend is Depressed

What does it mean to be depressed? All of us get sad. Sometimes the sad feelings can last for a week or more. If someone is sad all the time for more than two weeks, he or she may be depressed.

What are some other signs that your friend may be depressed? Your friend may not like to do the things that he or she normally does for fun, isn’t doing well in school anymore, feels sick a lot, is being mean, is getting involved with kids that get into trouble, or getting in trouble when normally he or she is a good kid.

What should you do? Tell your friend that you care about him. Also, try to get him to tell a trusted adult. You can even offer to go with your friend to talk to an adult. If your friend won’t get help on his own, it is important that you talk to an adult that you trust, especially if he is talking to you about hurting or killing himself.

Who can you tell? There are many adults at home, in school, and in your community who can help. You can tell your parents, a teacher or counselor at school, or another adult like a neighbor, aunt or uncle. You can also call the Health Department at (630) 627-1700 if you feel like there are no other adults you can talk to.
 

 
Wash Fruits and Vegetables and Eat Healthy


What can you do to reduce your intake of pesticides? Knowing which foods contain the largest amounts of pesticides is the first step.


 

The 12 foods that contain the most pesticides are:	The 12 cleanest crops are:
1. Strawberries 2. Bell Peppers (green and red) 3. Spinach (tied for second) 4. Cherries 5. Peaches 6. Cantaloupe (Mexican) 7. Celery 8. Apples 9. Apricots 10. Green Beans 11. Grapes (Chilean) 12. Cucumbers	1. Avocados 2. Corn3. Onions 4. Sweet Potatoes 5. Cauliflower 6. Brussels Sprouts 7. Grapes 8. Bananas 9. Plums 10. Green Onions 11. Watermelon 12. Broccoli

Remember to prepare fruits and vegetables safely:

• Wash your hands

• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water

Information derived from “Sustainable Cuisine, Eat Sustainable, Eat Safe.”
The Environmental Working Group, Washington, D.C. www.ewg.org.


Peachy’s Puzzle Corner

Unscramble the words to find Peachy Keen’s
message below.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __!
2 14 11 7 12

(SHAW ROYU NASHD)


__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __!
4 3 8 6 13 10

(EKEP LODC ODOFS DCOL)


__ __ __ __ ASOP __ __ __ __ __ TERAW
1 5 9


Water Word Search

Hint: words may be horizontal,
vertical, diagonal,or backward.

 

z	c	d	j	p	c	k	h	s	x
r	g	j	w	m	q	l	o	i	g
w	a	t	e	r	b	u	p	n	r
l	h	t	x	s	a	q	c	k	w
r	a	d	i	a	t	o	r	e	m
p	v	b	I	h	h	p	b	j	l
i	c	e	k	o	r	a	r	l	d
p	f	a	s	j	o	f	k	e	p
e	r	l	q	b	o	d	h	a	c
s	z	m	e	d	m	y	n	k	s
d	r	i	p	t	i	u	g	s	v

(Puzzle courtesy of EPA Publications)


M O L D
In the news recently, much has been said about mold in schools and the related health issues.

• Molds are living organisms considered biological contaminants. They travel in the air we breathe indoors and can produce toxins (poisons). These poisons can wear down our immune systems. Two factors necessary to promote mold growth are moisture and nutrients.

• Mold can literally grow on anything including glass, plasterboard, fabric, and especially in damp, dark places such as basements, bathrooms or kitchens.

• Molds were around even before man’s existence. Man and nature co-existed for centuries in a natural environment. However, as we began to notice the depletion of our resources, we faced one energy crisis after another. We no longer live in a natural environment. Our buildings are constructed airtight and equipped with central air systems. We breathe the recycled air from these buildings at least 90 percent of the day. (Americans spend that amount or more of their day indoors.)

• The “toxins” that invade our air space can be harmful and eventually cause a wide variety of health problems including allergies, flu-like symptoms, asthma and other respiratory diseases, and in more severe cases, brain or nervous system disorders.

• Mold can be invisible or look like a stain, smudge or discoloration. The spot may give off a musty smell or odor. At other times, mold can be easily seen.
Go to: www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/intro.html  to see a mold contaminated ceiling and read more. Also: www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/i-e-r.html

If you have any questions and would like to talk to an expert on mold call the DuPage County Health Department, Environmental Health Services at
(630) 682-7979 x7046.alth Services.


Healthy Eating Habits for Kids

In order to help decrease the prevalence of chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, it is important for persons of all ages to develop and follow healthy eating habits. In 1992, the Basic Four-Food Plan that many of us grew up with, was replaced by the USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid. The Pyramid promotes the three main messages about healthful eating: variety, balance, and moderation. The Pyramid is only a guideline and is not to be thought of as a “rigid prescription” when planning your family meals. In fact, planning a good menu is easy when you use the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. There are five main levels found in the pyramid. Each level represents foods that are nutrient rich. All of the levels are of equal importance to our bodies and it’s important to remember that no singular food group can overpower another. The base of the pyramid consists of the bread, rice, cereal and pasta group (6-11 servings). These foods represent excellent sources of B vitamins and iron. The fruit and vegetable groups (at least five servings) represent super sources of vitamins A and C in our diet, in addition to many others! It is suggested that we have two to three servings from the dairy group in order to achieve adequate calcium and protein levels. Two to three servings from the meat group provide good sources of protein, iron and many others.

Everyone over age two needs at least the minimum servings from all food groups. Children’s portions are quite different from adults. Too often we judge what a child should be eating by the quantities we eat. Recently a pyramid for young children was published and can be found at: www.usda.gov/cnpp/KidsPyra

Overall, a child’s diet should provide adequate energy to support optimal growth and development. Emphasis should be placed on intake of fruits, veggies, whole-grain products, low-fat dairy products, legumes, lean meat, fish, and poultry.

Teaching a child how to eat a balanced diet now will help them for the rest of their lives. For more information please contact the Nutrition Unit at (630) 682-7979, ext. 7652.


I Can Problem Solve

In order to succeed, children need three things:

1. Thinking skills

2. Social skills

3. A sense of competency

To request a six-lesson family self-study of ICPS
(I Can Problem Solve), please call Betty at (630) 682-7979, ext. 7607, or visit www.dupagehealth.org.
 

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