What’s in a name?

Same great gameplay, same fun character, now with a new name.

Our second most popular game adopted a new name this week to distinguish itself from all the other games out there named “bubble trouble.”  Meet Bubble Rubble, our physical activity health game that lets you control a cute monster named Chicken Dawg as he makes his way through swarms of activity bubbles.  Some bubbles contain aerobic activities, others contain strength and sedentary activities.  Help Chicken Dawg collect his aerobic activity minutes for the day by crashing into the correct bubbles.

Why Bubble Rubble?

See Chicken Dawg smile with sharp toothed glee when he hits an aerobic exercise bubble like dancing or football.  His exclamation for hitting an inactive bubble like watching TV and napping is equally as entertaining (”Dude!”), but be prepared to be stunned for a moment and release a rock.  Once the rocks pile up at the bottom of your screen, bubbles are harder to find.  One could almost say you’re making a pile of…RUBBLE!  Yep, that’s how the new name came to be.  And the more rubble you have at the bottom of your screen, the harder the game is to beat.

Make Chicken Dawg a happy monster by playing Bubble Rubble today!

The most wonderful time of the year.

One of our team members got a cold over the weekend. Then my husband woke up hacking.  Yep, it’s that time of year…cold and flu season!  A Playnormous fan at the Online Nursing Programs blog emailed us just in the nick of time.  Apparently there are 100 ways you can help yourself during cold and flu season.  Here are some of the highlights.

The basics.

• Wash your hands: One of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of germs is to wash your hands. Use antibacterial wipes when you’re on the go.  If you use a public restroom, turn off faucets and open doors with tissues.
• Don’t touch your face: You pick up lots of germs just by being in public or even your own house, so avoid putting your dirty hands and fingers on your face.
• Get fresh air: You may be tempted to stay indoors, but a closed area is a perfect spot for spreading germs.  Ventilate rooms by opening the windows. Take a break and walk outside to get some fresh air too.
• Get vaccinated: People with certain health conditions, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone around lots of people (teachers, health care providers, flight attendants) should get vaccinated for the flu.
• Don’t share: Don’t share food, drinks, or utensils.  Stay away from double dip potentials at parties and restaurants. And don’t share cosmetics like mascara, lip gloss, and eyeshadow.
• Don’t compromise your sleep schedule: Adults need 7-8 hours per night while teens need approximately 9 hours per night.  Make sleep a priority!

The nutritional.

• Believe in bad breath: Both onions and garlic can boost your immune system and kill bacteria so don’t feel bad if your breath is a little ripe after dinner. It might help keep coughing and sneezing folks far away too.
• Drink up: Water keeps you hydrated, energized and contributes to a healthy immune system.  Sipping on green tea will give you antioxidants.
• Vitamin C please: Check out the citrus isle for vitamin C packed fruits like oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, lemons, and limes.
• Blast germs with blueberries: Get helpful antioxidants and Vitamin C with blueberries. They make a great snack, are a perfect cereal topper and mix well into a fruit smoothie.
• Mushrooms are a must: This simple food is actually packed with immune-bolstering properties.
• Get squashed: Squash and pumpkins have lots of Vitamin A and C to boost that immune system.
• Find the phytochemicals: Dark green, red and yellow fruits and vegetables are full of phytochemicals which boost your immune system.  Spinach is a perfect example of a dark green veggie built to boost your immunity.
• Yes to yogurt: Eating low-fat yogurt once a day may help reduce your chances of getting a cold by 25%.
• Savor the salmon: Salmon is a good source of Vitamin A and can reduce your risk of getting infections.
• Grab the ginger: Add ginger to recipes or your favorite tea to boost your immune system.

The active.

• Get at least 30 minutes a day: A solid, half-hour workout will help your immune system stay strong.
• Aerobic exercise: Aerobic exercise increases the flow of oxygen and makes you sweat, helping your body fight viruses.
• Follow the neck rule: If all of your symptoms are above your neck, you probably have a head cold and can still work out.
• Don’t work out when you have a fever: If you have a fever, your body needs rest, not a work out.
• Watch for germs at the gym: Wash your hands after using equipment and bring your own towel and mats to reduce the spread of germs. If weather permits, think about walking or running outside instead of working out in a potentially germ-infested gym.
• Yoga: Yoga can help you prevent a cold or flu by reducing stress, increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain, and work out specific parts of the body that are tied to your immune system.
• Stretch: Reduce stress by stretching out at your desk and before and after every exercise.

The unusual.

• Visit a sauna: One German study found that people who went to saunas twice a week got half as many colds as those who never went to one. It’s surmised that breathing in air that’s hotter than 80 degrees will kill cold and flu viruses.
• Stay positive: Some researchers believe that the placebo effect may influence a person’s health, so try to convince yourself that you’re healthy and prepared.
• Don’t carry a cloth bag: During cold and flu season, carry a leather or vinyl bag that’s easier to wipe down after trips to the store.
• Don’t use a hanky: Prevent the spread of germs by throwing away tissues immediately after you use them.
• Don’t keep the temperature too warm: Lower your thermostat just a tiny bit to keep virus germs from spreading.
• Use disposable cups: Use plastic cups at parties and write your name on your own glass to avoid sharing.
• Take a break from the library: Take your own laptop outside to reduce the germ-infested library.

For more of the 100 amazing tips for keeping healthy during cold and flu season, visit our friends at the Online Nursing Programs blog.

Obesity up, PE down?

Ironically enough, as the childhood obesity epidemic continues to rise, so does the number of schools that put gym and P.E. on the back burner.  A joint study by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) found that the percentage of students who attend daily PE dropped from 42% in 1991 to 28% in 2003. The same experts found that fewer than 8% of U.S. middle schools provide daily physical education for the entire school year.

In response to this, the NFL Network is kicking off its second year of Keep Gym in School. Keep Gym in School is the NFL Network’s comprehensive national program to boost fitness and Physical Education in America’s middle schools. This year, the NFL Network hopes to expand its reach by working with 150 middle schools across the country. But there’s more…

Save your middle school physical education program.

NFL Network is inviting the public to nominate their local middle schools for one of ten $1,000 Keep Gym in School grants. Individuals may nominate one middle school between now and February 1, 2010 for a Keep Gym in School grant. NFL Network will select 20 schools from the initial national nomination process to formally apply for the grants. Applications from those top 20 schools must be postmarked no later than March 12, 2010.  The grant application will only be provided to those schools invited to apply.

Make a difference by nominating your school for a Keep Gym in School grant. Visit the following links for other great physical fitness ideas:

• PE Lesson Plans by the National Association for Sports and Physical Education
• Great play ideas for kids at NFLRush
• Learn about the difference between physical activity and sedentary activity with our game Bubble Trouble

Researching food for thought.

During a quest for an interview for my healthGAMERS blog, I discovered the wonderful research that Cornell University is doing at their Food and Brand Lab.  They are a group of scientists that research nothing but those questions you’ve always wondered about the way we eat and why.  Why do we unknowingly overeat?  What do restaurants do to get us to eat more?  Are our fears about food safety valid?  Are the marketing statements on food packages misleading?  Needless to say, there is a plethora of interesting information on this site. What a great job!

Studies of interest on why we overeat.

Portion size is often overlooked by those wishing to maintain a healthy diet.  It’s not just what you eat but how much.  Unfortunately for the consumer, there are many external triggers that will influence how much we eat.  Here are just a few that the Cornell Food and Brand Lab have discovered:

• Our mood affects our eating habits - People who watch sad movies eat about 28% more popcorn than people who watch happy movies.
• How food is served affects our eating habits - People who eat from large bowls consume about 56% more food that people who eat from small bowls.
• Environmental distractions affect our eating habits - People who watch TV or read while eating tend to eat for longer periods of time.
• What’s available affects our eating habits - People who buy food in bulk increase their consumption rates especially when products are convenient to consume.
• What the label says affects our eating habits - People who eat foods labeled “low fat” eat 28% more than foods labeled “regular.”

Stay tuned to Monster’s Blog for more amazing research from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab!

Healthy kitchens win big.

In the past I’ve blogged about ways to get your child to eat healthier,  how to make your kids’ lunchbox healthier, and even how to make a classic like PB&J healthier.  But how to actually get PAID for making healthier choices for your child?  This is a first!

Our friends at Barefoot Books are running a kitchen competition that puts the fun back into healthy cooking.  To celebrate the launch of their healthy cooking deck of recipe cards, Kids’ Kitchen: 40 fun and healthy recipes to make and share,  Barefoot wants you to enter a picture or a short video of how you share healthy living.  Submit your entry to the Kids Kitchen Contest and you’ll be entered to win a $500 Whole Foods Gift Card to help you purchase all of those healthy ingredients.  You can win other great Barefoot Books prizes too.  The contest ends October 15th so be sure to enter soon!

What people are saying about Kids’ Kitchen.

Kids’ Kitchen allows parents and their children to step into the kitchen for some child-friendly fun with food. The forty recipes in this colorful deck are based around the five main food groups, and offer a healthy and exciting way to learn about cooking.  Enjoy learning how to cook amazing recipes with your child like Apple Volcanoes, Hummus Dippers, Picnic Kebobs, Mean Green Guacamole, and more!  Reviewers call it a “Fun, safe, delicious approach to the kitchen” and “Fabulous for picky eaters!”  Click here to enter to win the Kids’ Kitchen Contest.

About Barefoot Books.

Barefoot Books is an independent publisher, with offices in Cambridge, USA and Bath, England. They specialize in carefully crafted books, gifts and digital content that help children on their journey to becoming happy, engaged members of the global community. Since 1992, Barefoot Books has published more than 400 titles that use timeless stories and captivating illustrations to tap into the wisdom of many cultures, while never forgetting that childhood is a time for fun.

Enjoy fun and healthy books and CDs like My Daddy is a Pretzel, Herb The Vegetarian Dragon and Picnic Playground featuring recipes by child nutritionists.  For more information on the company visit www.barefootbooks.com.