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Why I'm sharing my labour story...(Hint: It's for a good cause)

5/9/2013

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That moment before a woman gives birth is unforgettable, like no other. She stands at a precipice, and someone’s about to push her off. All that has gone before will change, irrevocably. She lifts off, not knowing where, or how, or when, she will land.

With my son, I had what’s called a precipitous labour. Because it was so short, because he burst into the world mere moments after I staggered into a hospital birthing room, I tend to gloss over the pit of terror. In light of some of my friends’ stories of days-long ordeals, complications, surgical slicing and mean red scars, it’s always seemed wrong to complain.
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But indeed, I felt more than a taste of terror that day. Besides the purest joy I felt at the end—the day was punctured by moments of panic, shame, anger, and a dash of despair. Recently, years after Zachary’s swift and frightening birth in a Toronto hospital, I’ve had a chance to learn a little more about what is sometimes called “fast labour”. One of its hallmarks is intense pain. I kind of likened it to being rent asunder. While I was still home, getting out of the shower, mild pain morphed into waves so intense, I dropped my hair dryer and simply lay on the floor writhing.

When a break finally came, I managed to pull on my hideous pair of greige maternity pants, and then Steve and I fled to the hospital. Cue the squealing tires, and panic, nurses rushing, clothes peeled off. That is, until it all screeched to a halt. After a young, inexperienced doc examined me, he dismissed me, “Nope. Long way to go. Cervix hasn’t even softened yet.”

Mutely, embarrassed for me, the nurses melted away. And for a brief while then, I felt the fool. So I had misread the signals? These lightening bolts of pain riding through my body—this was just…just the beginning? “How will I do this?” I asked myself, dumbfounded that an hour into labour I already felt defeated. And in that moment I felt that sense of connection and terrible awe. How many women around the world and through the ages had come to this exact point? Amid my fierce contractions, which had never stopped, a second doctor popped in for another look. He was, I suppose, my knight in shining armour. What of the first doctor’s assessment and that decided lack of cervical softness? “People!” he said, “That is the baby’s head. Let’s move!”

The medical machine sprung back into action: a birthing room, monitors, me trying to manage the right position for the baby lifeforce bursting its way out. As if things couldn’t get any crazier, I noticed doctors turning tense, grabbing equipment. Zach’s heart rate, they informed me, had started plummeting. And next I felt the agonizing stabs of some obstetrical-grade vacuum. With the suction helping Zach along, it was all yelling and pushing from me. And then it was over. He had arrived, my beautiful baby, safe and sound. Typical of babies from fast labours, Zachary was all pink and lovely, while I was almost unrecognizable—bloody, ghastly white, swollen and puffy, like something you’d see in a boxing ring.

At this time of year, Mother’s Day, like every mother, I’m filled with these messy memories of my baby’s birth. I’m also thankful that I laboured in a facility that offered a medical team, second opinions (!!), clean surroundings, and lifesaving meds and monitoring and equipment. Our system is not perfect. And yet compare Canada to a country like Uganda. In the developing world, mothers are hundreds of times more likely to die in childbirth. And at this most exciting but potentially frightening juncture, many women also face terrible indignities. Consider: “In Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, a woman has a lifetime risk of 1 in 39 of dying from pregnancy related complications…One in four women who die during childbirth simply bleed to death. This can often be prevented by a medication that costs less than 99 cents.”

Having become more aware of the global maternal health issue, our family has started participating, every Mother’s Day weekend, in the Toronto leg of the country-wide Save the Mothers annual walk. The walk raises funds for the work of Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese. Canadian and Hamilton-trained, Jean and her family spend most of their year in Uganda, where she focuses on a local development approach, training and supporting local medical staff, and assisting women in labour.

For me, our family’s annual walk together is deeply meaningful. My son, happy and healthy, walks beside me, and we pass our local hospital along the way. The walk, a joyful, social thing, also has an occasional hush. Most profoundly, the walk mimics the distance a woman in the developing world might have to walk to hospital. This forms a powerful backdrop for my first-world Mother’s Day pressures—where to have brunch, what to buy for my own mom, and how to escape that Hallmark-imposed feeling I always sense nipping at the edges of this day?

We’ll be walking again this Saturday. If you want to join in, the walk is in East Toronto and there’s a great party at the end with a local high-school Steel Drum Band and my hubby Steve at the BBQ (link is below). Or if you’d like to sponsor us again this year and help women and babies in Uganda receive adequate obstetrical care, that link is below too.

Thanks for listening and I wish all of you a very Happy Mother’s Day.

Links:

- Facts from Save The Mothers: http://www.savethemothers.org/learn-the-issues/
- To see details about the Toronto event, click here.
- To sponsor me, click here.
- To read my article in the latest issue of Herizons magazine about socially conscious gifts for Mother’s Day, click here.

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Does my kid get the recommended 60 minutes of activity per day? Here's what I found out.

3/27/2013

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Earlier this month the headline screamed at me: “99% of GTA children not getting enough exercise: study.” That’s hard to ignore. When the findings are that across-the-board, even parents with active, athletic kids have to ask themselves, ‘Is my kid getting enough exercise?’

Did you see this study? If you missed it, here’s the gist. Researchers in Toronto recently visited 16 schools and fitted 856 kids in Grades 5 and 6 with gizmos called accelerometers. Then they tracked and recorded kids’ actual activity, not—ahem—self-reported activity. In a city like Toronto, researchers expected “children to perform better than the national average, given that there are more opportunities and resources here,” reported the Toronto Star. What they found was crushing:
- 99% of GTA children don’t get enough exercise (that is, 60 minutes of “moderate to vigorous” activity per day)
- girls fared significantly worse than boys—getting 24 minutes of a day to boys’ average 35 minutes.

I’m the mom of one highly athletic and active Grade 3 boy (he fights to wear shorts in November and seems to vibrate even when sitting still). So I figured we have to be in that other 1%, right? ‘How could my son not be getting 60 minutes of activity per day?’

So I created a chart (you can see it below) and set out to track as accurately as I could how much activity my son is getting. In the absence of an accelerometer, my results are far more subjective, but I tried to be as honest as I could.

What I found was somewhat hopeful—Zach seems to meet the minimum daily activity requirements, if not a bit more. Even better, and this applies more broadly, his regular TDSB school day offers great opportunities to get active: through recess and lunch, and through scheduled gym class and pool time. Throw in some extra-curriculars and free play time, and on paper at least, getting 60 minutes seems totally doable.

But as the recent study showed, it’s not happening. And even parents like me, with highly active kids, have reason to worry. In fact, when I drill down into my chart, I see vulnerabilities at every step. Consider the following:
- Inactivity creep - My son is in Grade 3. Study participants were in Grades 5 and 6. Activity levels decrease over time. Scary.
- Lunch and recess – At our school, free time here adds almost 200 minutes per week. But the onus is largely on our kids to make the most of this time (and since parents aren’t there, it’s hard for us to gauge how this time is actually working). Plus, the older kids get the less cool it becomes to for example, chase your friends around playing tag. My son and his friends’ current favourite ways to enjoy free time include soccer, baseball, and various forms of tag. However, like my son says, some kids are starting to spend recess “just talking”. To him that’s still akin to torture, but I can see how that could change by the time he's the age of study participants.
- Uneven access to extra-curriculars – My son gets another good portion of his activity thanks to the fact that we have the ability to pay. But many extra-curriculars (like hockey) are expensive, putting kids from lower-income homes at a disadvantage. This year it's gotten even trickier due to the local teachers' union (EFTO) work action. Free after-school sports extra-curriculars were suspended this year (although that may be changing as I write). Big-picture, this means kids' organized sports involvement can be affected by economics and politics.
- Pool time threatened – Students at our school have a pool and swimming is part of the student curriculum. Not all TDSB students have this perk and even at our school, we’re always fighting to keep the pool open. The same goes for other community recreation centres. That’s another vulnerability.
- Ad hoc – These are the kinds of activities that give my son the most joy—impromptu street hockey games, Nerf-gun battles, after school tobogganing, tag, and baseball, not to mention the ping pong and soccer games he plays with us or his buddies in our rec room. The older he gets though, the more I see this changing. Weekends are scheduled up, friends are captivated by TV, their DS’s and Wii’s, and homework projects encroach on free time.
- Gender stereotypes - Many of the sports my son is involved in see less co-ed participation each year. Today, when it comes to sports, we still seem to cheer on our boys more—with the frightening result that girls are getting way less exercise.

Bottom line: Our kids do have some opportunities for activity each day but, like a great pile of Jenga blocks, the whole thing is just waiting to be knocked down. Getting our kids 60 minutes of solid activity per day is doable, but without a concerted family, school and community action plan, chances are it’s not going to happen.

My Chart:

SCHOOL ACTIVITY
School swim class: 1 x 30 minutes/wk or 30 minutes weekly
Gym class: 2 x 30 minutes/wk or 60 minutes weekly
Recess: 5 x 24 minutes/wk or 120 minutes weekly
Lunch: 5 x 15 minutes/wk or 75 minutes weekly
TOTAL 285 minutes weekly = 40.7 minutes per day

Extra-curriculars
Swimming lessons:  1 x 40 minutes or 40 minutes weekly
Hockey games: 1 x 20 minutes (40 min. total, real play=20 min.) or 20 minutes weekly
Hockey practice: Alternate weeks 1 x 60 minutes or 30 minutes weekly
Ball Hockey league: 1 x 60 minutes/wk (60 min. total=real play=50 min.) or 50 minutes weekly
TOTAL 140 minutes weekly = 20.0 minutes per day

Ad-hoc
Walk to school:  2 x 3 minutes/day or 30 minutes weekly
Playing outside or indoor sports (street hockey, running around, skating, soccer, ping pong):
    20 minutes/day or 140 minutes weekly
TOTAL: 170 minutes weekly = 24.3 minutes per day

WEEKLY TOTAL = 85 minutes per week

More:
- 99% of GTA children not getting enough exercise: study." The Toronto Star, March 4, 2013
- The actual study if you want to have a look:  How active are children in Toronto? A comparison with accelerometry data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey



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Want your peeps to eat embarrassing amounts of salad? Here's how.

2/28/2013

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Photo: Laurel Fan (cc)
Be honest. Does your family like salad? Too often, green salads are a sad afterthought—what a girl on a first date is supposed to order when she’d really rather have the pork ribs. At home, I've often thoughtlessly thrown them together. But even in good restaurants, I’m surprised at how often “side salad” means I get the same old bagged greens, served past their prime and weighed down with an oily vinaigrette.

It’s a shame. Done right, salads can seize the limelight, not just hang back, ever the grumpy dieter’s consolation prize. But that's not all. They may seem slight and insubstantial, but leafy greens are loaded with nutrition. Lettuces deliver heaps of fibre, vitamins, minerals and powerful antioxidants. And that’s before you add in those lovely, colourful veggies. So I’ve been taking notes. Whenever I encounter a salad that has me craving seconds, I ask why. What makes this one special? Over time I’ve seen some commonalities emerge and figured out what works, at least for me.

My tips are not foolproof. Salad-resistant kids are always tough customers. But overall, I’ve found these steps will get people—even non-salad eaters—to eat way more salad. Whether I'm serving family or dinner guests, the rising salad consumption is so consistent, so noticeable, I have to smile to myself every time it happens. People pound the table (really) and say things like, “That salad is dynamite!” or “Is it OK if I have the rest of that?” or simply “Mmmmm.” If I wasn’t encouraging people to eat such wonderfully healthy stuff, it would be almost…unethical.

Curious? Here are my six easy steps to increased salad consumption. Give these a try. See what happens.

1. Homemade croutons
Nothing makes a salad quite as special as fresh homemade croutons—coincidentally also a great way to use up stale bread. I heat a pan, melt in a blob of real butter, then toss in my cubed bread and wait. I like to mix it up, to make a bold statement with a dark rye, or throw in an unexpected texture with herbed focaccia, crunchy pita strips, or heavenly sourdough. Once croutons are a near-perfect golden brown, I grate a bit of Parmesan Reggiano overtop and gently stir to give these yummy bite-sized pockets a decadent crunch.

2. Ditch the bag
It took me a while to realize I don’t like bagged salad greens all that much. So convenient and nicely packaged, I’ve bought them for years without a second thought. But for me convenience trumps taste and too often, the stuff gets slimy before I can use it. Ultimately, yes, fresh lettuce requires more work. But it also lasts longer in the fridge, costs less, and makes a salad sing. Buttery Boston, delicate read leaf, crisp Romaine, peppery Arugula—rinse, dry, and lavish an assortment of gorgeous greenery into your salad bowl.

3. Fresh ingredients
Soups forgive, but a salad is no place for wilted carrots, or aging spinach. When I place only the freshest ingredients in my salads, I have more appetite for them, and so do my guests.

4. Cheese
I love this part! In most of my salads, I wantonly crumble in bits of creamy cheese, whether a veined, assertive blue, some salty Feta, or a milder goat cheese. Later when I’m tossing my salad, I love the way the cheese distributes, leaving traces of creamy goodness everywhere. For a Caesar, I omit those sorts of cheeses but grate in some fresh Parmesan instead.

5. Homemade dressing
Again, an extra step, I know. But here again, it makes your salad that much more unforgettable. On the good side, making a dressing only takes a minute. The rule of thumb is three parts oil to one part acid. Then, I add in a little salt and pepper, or get fancy with some mustard, fresh herbs, whatever seems right.
  
6. Contrast
My last tip calls for artistry. When making a salad I always step back at some point and ask about contrast. Is there visual contrast?—for example, dark croutons against greens and white cheese? Is there a balance of salty and sweet tastes, and of softness and crunch? For sweetness, I might add berries or cherry tomatoes, and for saltiness, I love olives, or, gasp, flecks of bacon. Then, if there’s not enough crunch, I might add in toasted walnuts, chopped celery, or again, bacon. Sigh.

There you have it, my ground rules for better, dare I say addictive salads. So much fun and so good for you!

More:
“What’s the most nutritious lettuce?”, The Globe and Mail
"The Healthiest Salad Greens," Huffington Post
"Ten Salad Dressings," Chef Michael Smith


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Meatless Monday Idea #1: Black Bean Soup

2/26/2013

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Photo: Connie Jeske Crane
 What’s the best way to convince meat lovers to “Put. The. Drumstick. Down?!” Nothing works better for my guys than earthy, gorgeous black beans.

Nutrition
As a meat replacement black beans really deliver. They’re not only low-cost and delicious, but a nutritional powerhouse, packing in—well you name it—fiber, protein, antioxidants, calcium, folic acid, plus important minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium. They even contain small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.

On the side
With meatless meals, I work a little harder with extras to add a luxurious feel. This soup becomes special with a few tasty additions: sprinkles of fresh cilantro and green onion, a simple guacamole, creamy organic yoghurt, and corn tortilla chips fresh from the oven with a bit of oozy cheese on top.

Canned or dried?
The other issue when cooking beans usually becomes “canned or dried”? In true less-meatarian style, I’d say that’s up to you. In my house, I keep both canned and dried beans on-hand. When I’m stuck for time, canned beans are perfect. However, I also find that dried beans elevate this dish to another level, so try them if you get the chance!

BLACK BEAN SOUP
This is hands-down my favourite way of using black beans.

Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups dried black beans, rinsed & soaked overnight (or 2 cans black beans, rinsed)
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 rib celery, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 small red pepper, chopped
1 cup frozen corn kernels
½ tsp finely chopped and seeded fresh jalapeno (optional)
1 tbsp cumin (or more if you like)
2 tsp chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
5 cups good-quality vegetable broth (chicken broth works well too)
1 cup water

Sides
Chopped cilantro and green onions (optional)
Que Pasa Organic Tortilla Chips
ounce or two of cheddar or similar cheese
1 ripe avocado
1 fresh lime
Plan organic yoghurt
Hot pepper sauce

Instructions
- In a large soup pan, heat olive oil.
- Add onion and garlic and sauté for a minute or so. Add celery and carrot and sauté for another couple of minutes. Add zucchini, red pepper and corn. Continue sautéing for a couple of minutes.
- Next add black beans, jalapeno (if using), cumin, chili powder, and salt and pepper. Sauté until spices are fragrant.
- Add broth and water.
- Cover and simmer for 2 to 2 ½ hours, stirring occasionally. (If soup is becoming too thick, add a little more water.)

When soup is almost done
- Taste soup, confirm beans have softened nicely. Also season as required.
- Smash one ripe avocado and add your desired combination of: salt, fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro and red pepper sauce.
- Place tortilla chips in an ovenproof dish and sprinkle with grated cheddar or similar cheese. Place in 350”F oven until cheese melts.

When soup is done
- Using a handheld immersion blender, pulse the soup to give it some creaminess. (Do this to your desired consistency.)
- Serve soup with yoghurt, guacamole and chips, cilantro, green onions and hot pepper sauce, which all work equally well as soup garnish, or a side...or both.

Less-meatarian note: A bit of leftover meat (beef, chicken, smoked sausage or crumbled bacon) makes a great addition to this soup as well, for those times you may not be going meatless.

More:
"Make or buy? Canned vs. homemade beans," www.thekitchn.com
"The battle of the beans: which are best?," The Today Show
“Black Beans: Nutrition From South of the Border,” The New York Times
My previous blog post on "less-meatarianism"

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Why I'm a strict "less-meatarian"

2/20/2013

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Photo by by Shandy Cruzcampo (cc)
When it comes to being environmentally friendly, I like steps that DON'T involve: a) total deprivation, and/or b) obscene price tags. While solar panels, for instance, would be great for my house, that’s not a simple or affordable proposition—at least not yet.

One great-but-doable step I have taken though is to become a “less-meatarian”. This is a term and lifestyle change I first came across while reading New York Times writer Mark Bittman. Basically it means eating a whole lot less meat. How you do that is up to you.

Does skipping the occasional double-cheeseburger really matter? The UN has estimated that livestock production creates almost 20 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. And according to Bittman, a University of Chicago study has “calculated that if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20 percent it would be as if we all switched from a standard sedan — a Camry, say — to the ultra-efficient Prius.” But eating like this could also save you money, lower your risk of cancer and heart disease, and renew your passion in the kitchen. 

Let’s be honest. We’re not all inclined to forgo meat completely. (I’ll include my family here because we still love a nice steak now and then. And if you think everything tastes better with bacon, uh, I’m going to say you’re so, so right.) Realistically, many observers feel we have a better chance of turning things around via the less rigid principles of less-meatarianism — making real changes, but without banishing Thanksgiving turkeys and weekend eggs Benny forever.

At our house, we’ve been less-meatarian for years. Okay, we blow it a bit during BBQ season, but overall, the changes have stuck. Rather than a sense of deprivation, our tastes have shifted so we now actually crave all those veggies. Over the next few Mondays, in Meatless Monday tradition (which actually began in World War I — who knew?), I'll share some of my favourite veg recipes. 

But I'd love more variety over here too! Have a great meatless recipe to share? Please post it. I may just try your dish and show the results!

More:
The Meatless Monday movement, www.meatlessmonday.com/
Mark Bittman’s article, Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler
My previous post about food waste
My article on Reducing your family’s meat consumption


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    About me

    A passionate, experienced & hard-working freelance writer, I offer a fresh & personal take on everyday life. I specialize in writing on parenting, health & wellness, green living, & feminism. 

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