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Sunday, June 5, 2016

Quick Ways to Protect your Child from Heatstroke


The vacations are on and summers are at its peak. Most of the kids love to play around in the open. Playing in the sun can lead to heatstroke if precautions are not taken.
It is seen that children overheat more easily than adults do. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that children generate 20 to 25 percent more heat for their weight during exercise than adults do. Sunstroke, also known as heatstroke - is a medical emergency. If you suspect heatstroke, take your child to the nearest hospital or clinic immediately.

What are the Warning Signs

Before your child overheats to the extent of sunstroke, before that he will show the signs of heat exhaustion. He may sweat heavily, while his skin feels cold and clammy. He may feel tired, weak, dizzy or nauseated. The may also complain of muscle cramps or might have a rapid heartbeat. If his temperature is 103.1 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, your child is suffering from heat exhaustion.

What are the Symptoms

If your child does not cool down, his condition might progress to heatstroke, which can damage organs and can also prove fatal. Symptoms can include a fever of 104 degrees F or higher, dizziness, lack of sweat, severe headache, confusion, flushed skin, muscle weakness or cramps, nausea, vomiting, loose motions, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat and seizures. It is not essential that all symptoms are present.

What to Do

If you suspect your child has heatstroke, begin cooling him. Take him into an air-conditioned room or in front of a fan. If possible, remove his extra clothing and get him into a cool bath, or wet him with a garden hose, but do not let the child drink. In this altered state, the child could inhale fluid into his lungs.

How to prevent Heatstroke

Heat exhaustion or heatstroke can surely be prevented by taking sensible precautions when it's very hot. 



1.) Stay out of the heat

  • Keep your child out of the sun between 11am and 3pm.
  • Check for heatwave warnings, so you're aware when there's a potential danger.
  • If the child has to go out in the heat, make him walk in the shade or carry an UV protected umbrella, apply sunscreen and make him wear a hat and light scarf.
  • Avoid extreme physical exertion.
  • Make your child wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes.

If you're travelling to a hot country for a holiday, be particularly careful for at least the first few days, until you and the child get used to the temperature.


2.) Keep Cool

  • Give your child plenty of cold drinks, and avoid hot drinks.
  • Feed cold foods, particularly salads and fruits, smoothies, milkshakes, juices with a high water content.
  • Give a cool shower or bath at least twice a day.
  • Sprinkle water over the skin or clothing, or keep a damp cloth on the back of the neck.
If the child is not urinating frequently or the urine is dark, it's a sign that the kid is becoming dehydrated and need to drink more fluids.


3.) Keep the Environment Cool

  • Keep windows and curtains that are exposed to the sun closed during the day, but open them in evening when the temperature has dropped.
  • If possible, move into a cooler room, especially for sleeping.
  • Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipments and gadgets, as they generate heat.
  • Keep indoor plants and water filled decorative bowls in the house, as these cools down the air.
  • Use light-coloured, reflective external paints on your house it may also be useful to keep the house cool.


4.) Look out for others

  • Keep an eye on isolated, elderly, ill or very young children and make sure they are able to keep cool.
  • Ensure that babies, children or elderly are are not left alone in stationary cars.
  • Be alert and call a doctor or social services if someone is unwell or further help is needed.

Home Remedies for Heatstroke:

1.) Coconut Water and Buttermilk
Coconut water rehydrates your body by naturally balancing the electrolytes in your body. Similarly, buttermilk is a good source of probiotics and helps in replenishing your body with essential vitamins and minerals that may be lost due to excessive sweating.

2.) Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe vera is high in vitamins and minerals. Besides this, it is known as an adaptogen it boosts the body’s natural ability to adapt to the external changes and stimulates the defensive mechanisms of the body. Adaptogens are known to stabilize the various systems of the body. Herbalists also suggest one to use aloe vera gel to cure prickly heat.

3.) Onion Pulp
This is one of the best remedies for treating a heat stroke. Lot of Ayurvedic practitioners suggest that this should be the first thing that you must reach out for. Applying onion pulp or onion juice behind the ears, on the chest and on the soles of feet can help bring down the body temperature. Raw onions in chutneys or salads can also cool your system.

4.) Sandalwood Paste
Mix some sandalwood powder and apply it on the forehead, soles and chest. Its cooling properties will bring down the body temperature. Alternatively, massage some sandalwood oil on the forehead.

5.) Aam Panna
Aam Panna refreshing drink that doubles up as a health tonic. It is made with raw mangoes and spices that cool your body. This drink should be consumed at least two to three times in a day.““Aam panna is enriched with cooling spices like cumin, fennel, pepper and kala namak which provides both energy and electrolytes,”says Dr. Simran.

Click here for some more ravishing summer beverages to prevent heatstroke.

What's In My Lunch Box Mamma? - 10 Gluten Free Tiffin Options

Feeling like a normal person after a food allergy is diagnosed can sometimes be a challenge. And if you are a parent of a child with Celiac disease or gluten allergy you are most likely to be completely overwhelmed with what is safe for your child to eat. Take a deep breath – as God has provided a huge variety of foods that can be eaten by your child safely. These 10 kid-friendly gluten-free breakfast/tiffin recipes supply protein, complex carbs, fiber and good fats - foods that provide sustainable energy for growing kids on gluten-free diets.

Recipe 1 - Oatmeal Smoothie

Recipe 1 - Oatmeal Smoothie
Ingredients:Milk – 2 Cup
Plain Oats – 75 gm Oats
Papaya – 50 gm
Stevia – 2 Tablet
Cardamom powder
Almond 1-2
Method :
  • Pour milk into a vessel.
  • Add oats into it .
  • Chop the papaya and put into the milk.
  • Add cardamom powder and stevia tablet.
  • Mix the above ingredient uniformly into a smooth texture .
  • Put the mixture in refrigerator for 15 – 20 Minutes.
  • Serve with grated almond over it.

Recipe 2 - Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Recipe 2 - Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
Ingredients :Quinoa – 1 Cup
Eggs - 2
Chopped Avocado - 1
Olive Oil - 1 tsp
Salt and Black Pepper - To taste
Lemon Juice - 1/2 Lemon
Method : 
  • Boil quinoa in water for 15-20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the eggs and cook, covered, 2 to 4 minutes for slightly runny yolks.
  • Season with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
  • Serve the quinoa topped with the fried eggs and avocado.
  • Drizzle with the lemon juice.

Recipe 3 - Oats Pancakes

Recipe 3 - Oats Pancakes
Ingredients:1 cup Oats (Quaker’s/ Saffola) ground to fine flour in a dry grinder (1 Cup Oat Oatmeal can also be used with 1 tbsp of Oat Bran mixed with it)
1 small onion grated or chopped very fine
1/2 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
1 green chillies chopped fine
Coriander leaves chopped
Salt 1-1.5 tsp (as per taste)
Ajwain or Jeera (cumin seeds)1/4 tsp 
Olive oil for grilling or Any Refined Vegetable Oil
Method:
  • Mix all the ingredients with warm water to form a thick batter of pouring consistency, keep the mixture aside for 20-30 minutes.
  • Heat a nonstick pan.
  • Put 1/4 tsp of oil and pour 1/2 cup batter.
  • Spread around into a round formation with the help of a flat spatula.
  • Flip over after some time and cook till it becomes golden brown on both sides.
  • Serve hot with mint chutney.
  • You can also add other allowed vegetables.

Recipe 4 - Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie

Recipe 4 - Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie
Ingredients:
½ cup gluten-free rolled oats
1 cup soy milk or dairy milk
1 banana frozen
¾ cup fresh or frozen organic blueberries
1 tsp honey (optional)
4–5 ice cubes (if using fresh blueberries)
Almonds for garnishing
Method :
  • Place the oats in a blender and blend for 1–2 minutes until they are ground into a fine powder.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients, blend, garnish with chopped almonds and enjoy!

Recipe 5 - Breakfast Spanish Tortillas

Recipe 5 - Breakfast Spanish Tortillas
Ingredients:2 small onions, finely diced
3 tbsp olive oil
10 large eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper
3 large baking potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
Method: 
  • In a skillet over medium heat, slowly cook onions in olive oil until lightly brown and caramelized, about 5–6 minutes.
  • In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, salt, and pepper.
  • Layer half of the potatoes and fried onions in a greased 4-quart slow cooker.
  • Pour half the eggs over the layers.
  • Repeat layers ending with the last of the whisked eggs.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours or on high for 3½–4 hours

Recipe 6 - Gluten Free Breakfast Granola

Recipe 6 - Gluten Free Breakfast Granola
Ingredients:
2½ cups gluten-free rolled oats
¼ cup ground flaxseeds
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
½ cup pumpkin seeds
½ cup walnuts, chopped
½ cup sliced almonds
1 cup gluten-free dried cranberries
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup coconut oil
¼ cup honey
½ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Method:
  • Mix all ingredients together and place in a greased 4-quart slow cooker.
  • Cover slow cooker and vent with a wooden spoon handle or a chopstick.
  • Cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 8 hours, stirring every hour or so.
  • When granola is toasty and done, pour it onto a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.
  • Spread the granola out evenly over the entire sheet of parchment paper.
  • Allow granola to cool and dry for several hours.
  • Once cooled, break granola up and place in an airtight container or a tightly sealed glass jar and store in pantry for up to 1 month.
  • For longer storage keep granola in freezer for up to 6 months.

Recipe 7 - Breakfast Banana Pops

Recipe 7 - Breakfast Banana Pops
Ingredients:
(2 bananas makes 4 pops)bananas (Or try this idea with strawberries, pineapple, etc.)
Yogurt/Hung Curd
Granola (Gluten Free available in the market)
Add-on ideas: coconut shreds, cinnamon sugar, raisins, etc.
Popsicle sticks or silverware to insert in the bananas

Method:
  • Pour granola into a very shallow dish or plate.
  • Peel bananas, cut in half, and insert popsicle sticks.
  • Dip into yogurt (or coat with a knife), then roll into granola and add-ons.
  • Place on a parchment or wax-lined tray and freeze.
  • Keep uneaten pops in the freezer.

Recipe 8 - Egg in a Pepper

Recipe 8 - Egg in a Pepper
Ingredients:
1 Red bell pepper (yellow or green would probably work just as well)
4-5 large eggs
Salt
Pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (other cheese would probably work too)
1 Tbsp Olive oil
Method:
  • In a large, nonstick skillet, heat 1 Tbsp olive oil over medium/high heat.
  • Cut peppers into ½” rings and remove the seeds and centers.
  • Crack one egg into the center of each bell pepper slice.
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper over each egg.
  • Top with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese.

Recip 9 - Besan Pancakes

Recip 9 - Besan Pancakes
Ingredients:
2-cup besan
1 onion finely chopped
1/4 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
1 or 2 green chilly finely chopped
½ tsp ajwain
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp chat masala
1 tsp coriander Powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp coriander leaves
1 or 1- ½ cup water
Olive oil for grilling or Any Refined Vegetable Oil

Method:
  • Mix all the ingredients with warm water to form a thick batter of pouring consistency, keep the mixture aside for 20-30 minutes.
  • Heat a nonstick pan. Put 1/4 tsp of oil and pour 1/2 cup batter.
  • Spread around into a round formation with the help of a flat spatula.
  • Flip over after some time and cook till it becomes golden brown on both sides.
  • Serve hot with mint chutney or ketchup.

Recipe 10 - Ragi Halwa

Recipe 10 - Ragi Halwa
Ingredients:
Ragi Flour : 1.5 cups
Jaggery or Coconut Sugar or Sugar (powdered) : 1.5 cups
Coconut Oil or Ghee : 1/2 cup
Cashews : 1/2 cup
Cardamoms (powdered – seeds only) : 4
Water : 3 cups
Coconut Oil or Ghee (to sauté the cashews) : 1 tbsp
Tip: Jaggery and coconut sugar go well with coconut oil; sugar goes well with ghee.
Method:
  • Sauté the cashews in 1 tbsp. coconut oil or ghee. Keep aside.
  • Mix ragi flour and water into a paste.
  • Heat the mixture in a thick-bottomed vessel on medium heat, stirring constantly.
  • After 3 minutes, mix in the powdered sugar and cardamom powder.
  • Start adding the coconut oil (or ghee), 2 tablespoons at a time.
  • Keep mixing until all the oil (or ghee) is used.
  • Lower the heat and keep stirring for another 3–4 minutes.
  • The mixture will start coming together – from a pasty consistency to a ball.
  • Add the sautéed cashews.Cook for another 2–3 minutes, mixing constantly.
  • As the mixture cooks, the oil will start to separate from the ragi ball.
  • Drain the excess oil and transfer the halwa to a glass bowl. Serve warm.

Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in Your child's meals to give them 
enough nutrients. Read here on making a colorful rainbow for them.