Students Of Success

When you receive a sales letter with typos or grammar mistakes in it, do you take it seriously? Probably not. As soon as I see a few eighth-grade English blunders in any marketing effort, I quickly decide the author’s product or service is not deserving of my time.

E-mail is so quick and easy to write and send, that we don’t give it the same attention as we would a printed letter. It’s VERY important to make sure any communication you send to clients, customers, and prospects represents you only in the best light.

Now, if good grammar isn’t your strength, no worries! I write and edit for a living, so this stuff is my bag. My point is that you should *check and double-check* all communications you send out, or you risk blowing your credibility.

Here are the five most common (and embarrassing) grammar mistakes I see in sales letters every day. And they’re all for words that sound alike, as you’ll see.

1. IT’S and ITS.

   it’s — contraction for “it is.”
   “It’s really beautiful outside today.”

   its — possessive, something belongs to “it.”
   “Our company credits its new CEO for this year’s successes.”

   TIP: One of my grade school teachers taught me to remember that an “it” can’t own anything, so it doesn’t deserve an apostrophe as the possessive.

2. AFFECT and EFFECT.

   affect — to influence (always a VERB)
   “Your tardiness has affected the whole team!”

   effect — to bring about or execute (VERB), result (NOUN)
   “We’d like to effect this policy immediately.” (verb)
   “Those legwarmers definitely lend your outfit an ’80s effect.” (noun)

   TIP: I relate the “a” in “affect” to the “a” in “action.”

3. WHO’S and WHOSE.

   who’s — contraction for “who is”
   “Jeff’s the guy who’s giving us a ride.”

   whose — the possessive of “who.” Something belongs to someone.
   ” Whose notes are these?”

   TIP: Again, you’re only using the apostrophe with the *contraction* (like in “it’s”).

4. YOU’RE and YOUR.

   you’re — contraction for “you are”
   ‘You’re really asking for a raise?’

   your — the possessive of “you.” Something belongs to someone.
   “Mrs. Henley, your dog is digging in our yard again.”

   TIP: And yet again, you’re only using the apostrophe with the *contraction* (like in “it’s”).

5. THERE, THEIR and THEY’RE.

   there — use this spelling when you’re talking about a place (literal or figurative).
   ” Sit over there.” “Stop right there.” “I absolutely agree with you there.”

   their — the possessive of “they.” Something belongs to them.
   “She thinks the Joneses are so cool because of their new BMW.”

   they’re — contraction for “they are”
   “They’re ready to quit their corporate jobs and go retire in Maine.”

   TIP: And, once more folks, you’re only using the apostrophe with the *contraction.* (See the pattern here?)

Okay, Got All That? : )

Now, if you can’t memorize all these right away, don’t worry! The idea is to realize what you DON’T know well, and have the sense to look it up when you’re not sure.

In fact, why not print this e-mail and keep it handy?

(c) 2002 Alexandria K. Brown

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://EzineQueenTutorial.com/

We’ve all seen the news stories. They fill a good portion of the evening news and the daily papers - both online and in print.

Have you ever wondered…

What if the victims in many of these stories had properly prepared themselves for the eventuality of being attacked, because…

1. They recognized the existence of danger in the world…

2. They knew that, based on the shear numbers of incidents that…

…danger could, and probably might, touch them, and…

3. They took steps to insure that they would be a survivor instead of a victim who’s story would be laid bare to the world, courtesy of the press…

What if even one story ended like this…

“…she remembers learning how to get out of this type of attack and [automatically] reaches up to grab and pull his arm away from her neck. What she finds though, is that she cannot even begin to budge it in the least.

“Taking the short stick-like key ring that she habitually carries in her hand when there might be a need, she begins delivering a barrage of stabbing and grinding attacks to her assailant’s body. As she feels his grip loosen, she expands her counter-attack to include stamping heel kicks to his instep, smashing headbutt strikes to his face behind her head, and maybe even a well-placed elbow or two to his ribcage.

“She finds herself free as her assailant is sent reeling from the painful blows. She stands there in her defensive position, watching to see what his next move will be, her eyes burning with rage and indignation. Her very presence communicates to her would-be attacker that, “what he is feeling right now is the nicest thing that he will feel if he tries to touch her again!”

Can you see how the assailant’s own perception would be suddenly different, because…

Seeing what was supposed to be his victim standing before him, obviously prepared to do more than he has already experienced, the assailant’s intentions change. What began as a defensive, anger-response to his own pain and a desire for retaliation, has now, with the realization that his victim is no-such-thing, he decides that his own safety is more important than what he wanted from “this” particular target.

He decides to let her go. And, besides…

…he will be able to find another, easier, victim…

…soon enough.

***************************************

This story illustrates a common occurrence - more common, in fact, than most of us ever begin to realize. It describes, in one form, what happens to would-be assailants every day, who choose the wrong target and are left with the realization that not everyone will play the role of the “victim.”

Unfortunately, stories like this are usually never reported on by either the police or news people.

Why? Because they never even know about them. Because the intended victim handled things on their own and escaped safely, returning home to friends and family.

This article then, is a tribute to all those who have decided that, should something ever happen, they choose the outcome of this story to be theirs.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if even half of citizens were capable and prepared to defend themselves against danger? I for one can think of two types of people who would have to find new work…

…criminal attackers, and…

…reporters!

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and director of Warrior Concepts International in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. He is the author of the “Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery” eCourse, which is available free of charge to subscribers of his self defense newsletter. You can subscribe to the newsletter at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter-subscribe-self-defense.html He is also the creator of the EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training Program, author of the book, “The Karate-Myth” as-well-as the powerful, “Danger Prevention Tactics” video. Additional information is available by visiting http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com.

Grab that rookie….or not….

When drafting for your fantasy football league, the thought always comes up….whether or not to draft that high-ranking rookie. You know the one. The one that has all the potential to be a breakout star.

I’ll give you some food for thought if you’re considering picking one of these “can’t miss kids” up for your team. Hesitate.

Normally the highest draft picks, no matter how good they may have been in college, and no matter how good they may be in the pros, get drafted by the worst teams. That right there is enough for me to balk at selecting them. If it’s a running back you covet, think about whether that team has the offensive lne to open holes for him. Think about the quarterback- is he good enough to spread the field and prevent teams from “stacking the box” against the run?

Another thing to think about is “hitting the wall”. If given the chance to step right in and start, the production of rookie players drops dramatically as the long season wears on them. Again, not a good scenario, especially when you consider that the end of the year is where you’ll need production the most.

If you’re playing in a keeper league, then rookies are a good idea for your future, especially if you know that the team that drafted that player is adament about building a quality team around them. Otherwise, I’d personally let the next guy draft him.

Draft strategy scenarios

Everybody has their favorite draft day strategy when it comes to picking the next fantasy football league champ. I’ll review a couple here, and go over a few pros and cons.

First up is the RB first strategy. This strategy hordes a quality RB with your first pick, and second if your draft allows. The idea here is that RB’s suffer a much more dramatic loss of production as you go down the list. Not so for, say, Quarterbacks. Their production is tied more closely to each other, meaning a QB drafting in the first round of your draft, theoretically, will not do much greater than a QB drafted in the third round. Obviously, there are arguments to be made. Peyton Manning is a good example (season of ‘04) of this.

The best athlete strategy states that you draft the best player available, regardless of position. This can seem like a real good strategy, but watch out when you try to fill position holes later in the draft. You stand a good chance of a very unbalanced team.

The starting team strategy dwells in the wisdom that you pay close attention to your starting lineup- fielding and drafting the best players at every position. While this is definately a good way to go, watch out for your bench. Remember, you will need them during the season, so having the cupboard empty is not good. In other words, if you hav ethe chance to grab a very good WR, and your strategy says it’s Tight End time, by all means grab the WR for your bench.

Some other notes: Tight End is another feast of famine position. There usually are four or five good tight ends, and not much else. Also keep in mind the type of offense a team runs. Some never hit the TE, and don’t see them as much more than a blocking force.
Rob Moore operates HIWAY-play.com, a site featuring fantasy sports reviews, and where many great folks play online games free

Here is a nice easy meal you can make while you are at work!

Ingredients 1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
with roasted garlic 1/2 cup beef broth 4 large red potatoes, cut
in 1 inch chunks 1 1/2 cups bagged baby carrots

MEATBALLS 1 lb lean ground beef 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup seasoned dried bread crumbs 1 large egg 2 tablespoons
chopped fresh parsley 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper

Garnish: chopped parsley

Directions 1. Stip soup and broth in a 3 qt. or larger
slow-cooker until blended. Stir in potatoes and carrots. 2. Mix
Meatball ingrdients in a bowl with your hands or a wooden spoon
until blended. Form into 1 1/2 in. balls. Place on top of
vegetable mixture. 3. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours until
Meatballs are cooked thru and vegetables are tender. 4. Transfer
Meatballs and vegetables to a platter with a slotted spoon.
Whisk sauce until smooth, and pour over Meatballs and
vegetables. Sprinkle servings with parsley. Nutritional info 661
cal, 33 g protein, 62 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 30 g fat (12 g
saturated fat), 148 mg cholesterol, 1,438 mg sodium

4 servings 661 calories Time to prepare: 14 minutes Total: 7 to
9 hours on low in slow cooker Difficulty: Easy slow cooker recipe

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ABC wants no more to do with the Miss America Pageant. So, they’ve
dropped the broadcast.

The reason? Declining ratings.

What a changed world it is that this announcement is not startling news.
This is the first time in half-a-century that the pageant does not have a
television commitment! Once upon a time, the idea of becoming Miss America
was every school girl’s dream. And a sneaked glimpse of Miss America in
her bathing suit was every teen-aged boy’s fantasy. Er…not to mention a
lot of older fella’s as well. So the decline of the pageant into television
mediocrity is a recent phenomenon. In the decade of the 90’s the pageant’s
ratings were decent. Certainly not the equal of what they were in the glory
years of the 50s and 60s when the pageant was a broadcast that viewers
of all ages did not want to miss. But more than acceptable in a divided
television world of endless cable channels.

Perhaps the pageant has survived as long as it has on reputation, and the
viewing habits of an audience that has been aging each year. The shocking
Vanessa Williams scandal of 1984 did not destroy the pageant. Neither did
Bert Park’s replacement as master of ceremonies a couple of years earlier.
Could any man ever equal his rendition of “There She Is Miss America?”

Park’s signature song in the event.

Vanessa Williams, notwithstanding, what has apparently done in Miss
America is SEX. The easy accessibility of tawdry entertainment not only
on broadcast television, but via cable, vcr tapes, cds, and downloadable
product from the internet. The once risque Miss America pageant has been
rendered into irrelevancy. Adult beauty pageants are no longer particulary
cool or hip, and as they remain on the broadcast channels are now an easy
target for ever zealous right-wingers who dislike women parading around
half-naked on television. Zealots who knew they were overmatched during
the pageant’s popular heyday.

The Miss America Pageant is out-of-touch with the America of the 2000’s.
Just as the variety show format is long-dead, these type of pageants have
been on struggling for years. They are like something that belonged to
an old aunt. Too precious to throw away. But not really worth the trouble
to bring down from the attic for a new appraisal.

Network television today is reality show mad. Actresses willingly appear
on the repugnant “Fear Factor” to perform repugnant feats. Would Miss
American do that!

Probably not.

Reality television is full of racy reparte between nubile singles. The focus
of the shows are frequently about what couple will pair off. Certainly not
on camera. — But that is about as far from Miss America as you can get.

The emphasis in reality television is for spontaneity. Even if some events
are staged, the contestants reactions to them are not. People cry. People
fight. People plot against one another. People reveal their innermost emotions.
In comparison, the Miss America beauty “contest” seems from another
century.

And speaking of Vanessa Williams. Her “artful” photographs did not
prevent her from becoming a successful recording artist. But her reputation
remained tarnished for years. Unlike Vanessa, scandal has actually helped
reality star Paris Hilton of internet sex-tape fame. { was that whole deal
a publicity stunt? } Paris and her equally bubble-brained co-star, Nichole
Richie, give the viewer everything that the haughty Miss America pageant
cannot.

That is, strikingly beautiful young babes just being themselves, and not
afraid to be seen as less than perfect { or anywhere near… } in front of the
entire nation. Racy photographs and sex tapes on the internet are just part
of the new landscape. Such intimacies in the public domain might discourage
certain potential viewers from tuning in. But they won’t stop the show,
so to speak. This is a wholesale change in culture. Just as slap-stick comedy
passed into television history with Lucille Ball. Quaint beauty pageants
just don’t connect with the modern audience, as they once did.

Does anybody care any more about elegant, well-spoken young women
in bathing suits? Have we lost regard for their commendable aspirations
to become the next generation of doctors, lawyers, school teachers,
industrialists, and other contributing members of society?

The rating numbers do not lie.

Miss America may not be dead. But she’s certainly on life support.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vance Cureton is the Managing Editor of ReadingPost.Com.
A topical website featuring politics, news, and social
commentary from a liberal point-of-view.

The kitchen is the one room where members of a family can be found eating, working, talking on the phone or just hanging out with friends. The kitchen has always been the nerve center of the family, and never has the kitchen remodeling more important than it is today.

As the centerpiece of the home, there are some interesting alternatives for kitchen that go further than the normal. This kitchen guide contains an assortment of kitchen remodeling home options on hand to homeowners as well as recommendation.

Develop safe work practice and stick to them. If you become puzzled, aggravated or in too much of a rush, odds are greater that mistakes that will be made. Read and follow the exact safety rules of every tool and material you will be using. Unplug tools when changing blades.

Wear heavy soled boots on any construction site; rubber soles when working on the roof; gloves while handling lumber; and protective eyewear whenever power tools are in operation. Wear ear protection when using power tools as some operate at levels that can damage hearing. Tie long hair back so as not to catch it by chance in power tools.

Select the suitable tool for the kitchen remodeling job, and keep all tools sharp and in good working state. If an object is too heavy or, get help in moving it; bend from the knees when picking up big and heavy objects. Hard hats are suggested when working under or around overhead construction.

After the demolition phase, there is usually some preliminary work to be done before you can do your kitchen remodeling. If wide structural, electrical, plumbing, drywall or paneling work is included in your plans, it should take place at this time.

About The Author:

Roger King is a successful author and publisher of www.1st-home-decor.com Kitchen remodeling and ideas to showcase your homes.

Shop Online For Terrific Deals On Popular Footwear!

Smart consumers have discovered that purchasing discount shoes online has several major advantages. With more and more so-called “brick and mortar” stores competing online these days for business, the consumer comes out the clear winner!

It is now possible to view a major shoe manufacturer’s entire product line right from the comfort of your own home. Many of these online shoe stores offer special unadvertised shoe sales and discount shoe coupons. You can even read helpful reviews on brands you are considering for purchase.

Some Major Advantages To Buying Shoes Online:

· Save Time And Money

There is no need to waste hours of valuable time and precious fuel traveling from one store to the other. Online shoe stores are easily accessible twenty-four hours a day right from your home computer. With the click of a mouse, you can find lots of great bargains at several well-known Internet footwear stores. There’s a real good chance you’ll find the brand and style you’re looking for quickly. All the major online stores offer free shipping, free return shipping, and never charge sales tax!

· Huge Selection

Many online stores carry a huge selection of footwear for Men, Women, and Children. They are committed to providing their customers with a wide selection of styles, colors, sizes, and brands. If you’re looking for specialty shoes, you’ve come to the right place! For example, you’ll find shoe sizes ranging from AAAAA to EEEEEE. Many of these sites also offer a large selection of shoe accessories, luggage, and other leather products.

· Unbeatable Price Protection Guarantee

Let’s suppose you find a shoe for a lower price on another web site or in a shoe store. Many online shoe stores will now refund you 110 - 115% of the difference between the lower price and their price. They will give you up to 10 days to take advantage of this policy. What a great deal!

· Free 365-Day Return Policy

More and more online shoe stores are offering an incredible 365-day return policy. If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you have an entire year to return it! Return shipping is absolutely free. You are even provided you with a pre-paid UPS or USPS domestic label to return your purchase.
Summary

Purchasing footwear online can truly be a pleasurable experience. The online shoe shops have bent over backwards to make the whole process quick, easy, and convenient.

It is highly recommended that you give it a try!

Donald Yacono is the Owner and Webmaster at http://www.1st-in-shoes.com
An online shoe store featuring approximately 300 brands of discount footwear for the whole family, shoe reviews, 24/7-shoe fashion news feed, and helpful foot care articles.

ATTENTION WEBMASTERS and EZINE PUBLISHERS – Permission is granted to publish this unaltered article on your site or in your EZINE but only if the bio paragraph is included. You must provide a link from your web site pointing back to our site at http://www.1st-in-shoes.com Thank you.

For first time homeowners or for those who have never really taken a serious look at their Homeowners insurance, determining what Homeowners insurance coverage you need can be a trying time. One of the most important tips to keep in mind when determining what type and how much Homeowners insurance you need is to make this determination before you get started talking with an insurance agent.

It is extremely easy to get sucked into buying extra insurance that you will never use by a sly talking agent on the phone. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take an insurance agent’s advice at all, but just be certain of a ballpark figure for the type of coverage and the amount of coverage you need and want before you get started.

One of the first questions an insurance agent will ask is the value of the home being purchased. This simply means the basic exterior and interior value of the home as it is when you purchase it, without belongings. Remember that an insurance agent should ask specific questions regarding the exterior of the house, such as whether it is brick, vinyl siding, wood or a mixture, as well as questions regarding a porch, deck or sunroom.

Insurance agents should also be asking specific questions regarding the basic appliances on the interior of the house, and will want to know how old the plumbing and electric system are, the air conditioning and heating unit, the appliances and will even ask questions about whether you have expensive countertops or flooring, such as granite or marble.

Keep in mind that while you purchased the home for a certain price, say $100,000, the Homeowners insurance company may want to allot payments for the structure of the house to be anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 over the current appraisal and market value of the house, to deal with inflation. It is up to you to decide if you want to agree to these terms, but remember that the price of repairing these items in the home will increase over the years, and you don’t want to be left with not enough money from the insurance company to cover full replacement of your home at any given time.

If you have purchased a home that will soon be remodeled or reconstructed, you may want to go ahead and add a considerable amount to this portion of the insurance coverage, that way if anything happens in the process of remodeling or as soon as the home is remodeled the total cost of remodeling will be covered without a problem. Of course you can always wait until the remodeling is completed to call and get a new price quote, but it is best to have the insurance set in place prior to the completion of the remodeling.

The second major factor that should be considered in determining the amount of Homeowners coverage needed is the interior value of the goods in the home. This is a difficult task for some people who have not kept good receipts of purchases and that makes it easy for insurance agents to suggest more coverage than needed in the interior goods department.

Before calling for price quotes, it is best to sit down and try to briefly itemize the major purchases in your home, including furniture, large appliances, and electronics. Many basic interior coverage plans do not cover certain electronics such as computer systems or laptops, so be sure to ask about laptop or computer coverage if this is an item you have in your home. As well, some insurance policies will cover jewelry but others will require a separate “special” interior Homeowners policy, although adding this on would only cost approximately $30-$80 a year for most jewelry owners.

The final determination for how much coverage needed should be location. It is extremely important to consider whether you will need hurricane insurance, flood insurance, wind and hail damage insurance, or even tornado insurance.

Bear in mind that even if you live in a hurricane zone, you may also be required to purchase separate flood or wind insurance, in case your home floods or the windows blow out from the storm. The same goes for tornado or earthquake insurance, as you may be required to have separate amenities added to the policy to cover wind damage or even flooding.

Credit: Ian W Anderson of homeownersinsurance.cc, the homeowners insurance information site. For more homeowners insurance information and articles like this one visit: Homeowners Insurance

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.

There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea selection, development and commercialisation. Whilst there is no sure fire route to commercial success, these processes improve the probability that good ideas will be generated and selected and that investment in developing and commercialising those ideas will not be wasted.

Great Ideas and Radical or Disruptive Innovation

We’re all looking for great ideas right?

There are a few Creativity and Innovation principles that are relevant before we discuss practical application:

a) Franklin (2003) states that successful innovations tend to be moderately new to the market, based on tried and tested technology, save money, meet customers’ needs and support existing practices. By contrast, the products that fail tend to be based on cutting-edge or untested technology, follow a “me-too” approach, or are created with no clearly defined solution in mind.

b) There is a perception that radical innovations break from the past and are resultant from disruptive leaps. While some radical innovations follow this pattern, the vast majority of radical innovations result from cumulative incremental changes. That is, continuous tinkering, toying, experimentation and improvement results in greater “originality” vastly more often than “waiting for the big idea.” The Internet is a good example: though often perceived as a radical leap, it is actually the result of many years of incremental improvements traceable back to the solid-state transistor and beyond.

c) Ideas can be measured in many ways, but one of the most useful measures is to benchmark for feasibility along the S-curve. That is, what are the practical impediments? For example, a time machine is less likely to reach commercialisation as a whole host of technological impediments stand in the way, whereas an idea for a new flavour for soda does not have that degree of obstacle.

Taking the above into account, we will discuss some ideas that have had significant commercial success by applying (inadvertently) the above principles:

a) EasyJet or South West airlines. The no frills airline model has found success – and can be defined as a radical shift – by simply operating at vastly lower prices – prices that previously would have been considered to be “outside the box.” This business model obeys Franklins rule, is an incremental change and has low impediments.

b) GlassedDirect.co.uk – a recent success story that follows the above principles to provide, would you believe it, cut price specs. This is similar, by the way, to Dell, as the business model has been successful combining the Internet and Mail Order.

c) IPod – follows Franklins rule, is an incremental change and didn’t have too many practical impediments.

So what is the lesson? To generate ideas that have a chance of commercial success, think outside the box but stick to the three rules above.

These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com.

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com

More and more studies are proving that food has a large impact on our overall health and may even determine which diseases and ailments we will get later in life. The more we are aware of the importance of our food choices the earlier we can teach and protect our children. Of course there is always a balance to strike between what’s good for our body and what’s good for our taste buds and lifestyle. Here is a description of the most important nutrients for your child’s development and which foods meet their needs.

Iron

Babies are born with their own source of iron, but this will be depleted after six months. Iron is absorbed best if it is from meat, however the vegetarian baby can increase iron absorption by eating foods rich in vitamin C (citrus fruits, berries, spinach, tomatoes) with meals. Giving milk separately from meals also promotes absorption. Vegetarian iron rich foods include pureed apricots, molasses, fortified cereals, refined lentils, beans and green vegetables.

Calcium

Breast milk or formula provides all your baby’s calcium needs initially. Calcium helps teeth and bones and promotes overall strength. Good sources later include: cow’s milk, fortified soy milk and orange juice, cheeses, molasses, dark green vegetables, beans, lentils and tofu.

Protein

Babies require more protein than adults because of their rapid growth. A one year old child needs about 15 grams or two cups of protein per day, such as milk, cheese, beans, tofu, fish, poultry and lean meats. Combination foods such as grains (bread, pasta, rice) with beans, lentils, avocados, cheeses or tofu will provide the balance needed for vegetarian babies.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is usually found in animal products, such as meat and chicken. Other non-meat sources include dairy products and eggs, as well as fortified foods such as soy milk and cereals.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is made from the action of the sunlight on the skin. Most children in warm climates receive adequate Vitamin D (20-30 minutes a day, 2 to 3 times per week). Dietary sources of vitamin D include dairy products, eggs and fortified foods. Breast milk or formula will provide vitamin D in the beginning stages. Some pediatricians recommend vitamin D supplements.

Fiber

Most of your baby’s fiber needs will be met with fruits and vegetables and cereal. Be careful as a diet too high in fiber and whole grains can fill up a child before their nutritional needs have been met and interfere with absorption of minerals such as zinc, iron and calcium. Too much fiber may also cause diarrhea or an upset stomach to your baby.

Zinc

Zinc is important for healthy immune systems and growth. Offer your child plenty of food rich in zinc such as wheat germ, lean meats, milk, lentils, beans, peas, corn and soybeans. Zinc, like iron may be a problem for vegetarian babies because of poor absorption.

Fat

Infants receive 40 – 50% of their calories from fat, through breast milk or formula. After the first 12 months, your baby will receive fat from whole cow’s milk. After age two, the Pediatric Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program recommends reducing fat calories to 30% or less of total diet. This is the time to switch from whole milk and dairy products to low fat versions. Healthy fat sources include walnuts, canola oil, avocado, milk, cheese and yogurt.

Antioxidants

These are important early on as they prevent damage to developing DNA. The average American family eats only 50% of what is recommended. Vegetables and fruits are the best source of antioxidants including: sweet potatoes, carrots, kiwi, broccoli, avocados, and blueberries.

Water

Babies get water from formula and breast milk early on. However once solids are introduced they may need more liquids to aid swallowing. Water is needed for hydration as children become more active.

The nutrients listed above are good for all ages. While they contribute to your child’s development they also keep adults healthy and free from diseases. You are the expert when it comes to your family and child. If you have a concern, trust your instinct and find someone to help you with health and nutrition questions and problems – pediatricians, nutritionists, dieticians, and lactation consultants are the perfect resources. Typically steady growth is best proof that your child is getting the right amount of food.

Lisa Barnes is the founder of Petit Appetit, a culinary service devoted to the palates and health of infants and toddlers. She teaches in-home private cooking classes to parents, nannies, mothers’ groups, and parenting resources throughout Northern California and is the author of The Petit Appetit Cookbook (published by Penguin Books, March 2005).

Her mission is for children to eat more healthfully, and parents to feel empowered to provide tasty and healthy food for their family. Good food should be about nutrition and taste, and bringing the family together.

For more information on Petit Appetit or The Petit Appetit Cookbook go to http://www.petitappetit.com