Food Groups Project

The Engineer recently completed his food groups project for health class. I wrote a bit about it a little while ago when he was at the cutting out pictures of food stage.

He is very pleased with himself! And true to his passions, he glued the pictures on the poster being careful to save the sugary junk foods section for the very last.

I found myself uncertain of where to put the ice cream -- sugary junk foods or fatty junk foods. I explained to the Engineer, ice cream has the distinction of fitting in both categories. Then I lot him choose its destination.

Some close ups:

Poster Project

The Engineer is having a ball looking through the grocery store circulars for pictures of foods. After he has a large assortment we will divide them into food groups and glue them onto an appropriately labeled poster.
To start the lesson I took him down to the basement where I still have the posted his sister made years ago hanging on my office wall. He delighted in naming all the foods she had chosen. Well, he sounded happy, at least, until he saw the box of doughnuts in the Sugary Junk Food section.

Then I heard, "Oh man! Doughnuts are junk food."

Yes, dear, they are. I explained this does not mean you can't ever eat doughnuts. It does mean we should not eat too many.

As I look through the pile of food photos he has cut out, I can see we will be having this discussion again tomorrow. Tomorrow we will separate the food into categories and maybe begin gluing too.

Olbas Oil

Gina asked me about Olbas oil. I learned about it a few months ago from the massage therapist at a local full service salon. The members of my thoughtful extended family all gave me gift certificates to the same salon for my birthday last year. I was able to use them to get a massage a month for four months. I tried some new things, aroma therapy, hot stone, and stretching. I'm thoroughly addicted to the stretching now, but I didn't find the hot stone worth the cost.

Olbas oil is a product of Switzerland containing a mix of six essential oils; peppermint, eucalyptus, cajeput, wintergreen, juniper and clove. I don't think I'd care for some of these on their own, but mixed in this formula they are wonderful. It has a penetrating, rather menthol-like scent, slightly tempered by the more earthy oils in the mix.

The masseuse uses it for facial massages where it yields a much more relaxing effect than an unscented oil.
I like to use it to soothe sore muscles (especially my sore neck and back) and I love the way it eases the discomfort of headaches. I put it on my temples and forehead when I feel the pain coming on.

After a recent amusement park injury, I used it in combination with Icy Hot to relax my sore neck. I won't be riding any roller coasters for a long time, if ever again!

The packaging claims the product provides "instant relief for colds, flu and allergies". I know it helps clear the airway so I can see how it would make breathing easier, but I'm not sure how else it would help with a flu.

The masseuse told me she also flicks a few drops into the air vents in her car. That sounds appealing to me, especially when the air conditioning is on, but I'll abstain as I don't believe Rick would appreciate that too much.