Monday, April 21

SNACK TIME a healthier take on classic comfort foods

What do comfort foods mean to you?  Think of a few favorites and they are probably high in fat and calories.  Comfort foods are designed to calm, soothe and console by stimulating receptors in our brain. Genetic variation causes some people to be more sensitive to the taste of fat than others and might explain why some people desire that second slice of pie while others do not.
 
Changing a traditionally high fat recipe to a healthier option includes substituting all or some of the high fat ingredients to reduce calories without sacrificing flavor. Adjusting the recipe might also include adding foods that increase the overall nutritional value.
 
Below are a few classic ways to lower the calorie content while boosting nutritional value:
 
Pizza - much of the calories are concentrated in the meat (pepperoni, sausage, etc ) and the cheese.  Substitute turkey sausage for the pork sausage and reduce the total amount of cheese used or substitute with reduced-fat cheese. Remember fat-free cheese does not melt well.
 
Macaroni and cheese - a traditional favorite. Fat calories can be reduced by substituting full fat cheese for reduced-fat. Adding bite-sized colorful vegetables, like broccoli, carrots or onions contributes to nutritional value.
 
Fried chicken drumsticks - Reduce the fat content by rolling in oats instead of dipping in batter and frying. Baking instead of frying lowers the fat content even more.
 
Mini-quiche - replace all of half of the cheese with reduced fat or part-skim milk cheese. Adding vegetables like broccoli, onions, mushrooms increases the phytochemical content.  Replacing bacon bits with turkey bacon, also reduces calorie content without sacrificing flavor.
               
Meatloaf: Swapping lean turkey or ground bison for some or all of the beef can reduce the overall fat content. Meat from bison and lean turkey are also lower in saturated fat.
 
Pancakes and waffles - substituting whole grain for white flour increases fiber content. Adding ground flaxseed will also boost fiber. Berries provides a splash of color plus a phytochemical and fiber boost. The increased fiber can slow the rate of digestion, making you feel fuller and satisfied sooner. That is good news if too many calories are an issue.
 
Image credit: www.abcnews.go.com
Submitted by Leslie Kay-Getzinger, MS RD

Wednesday, April 16

FAIRMONT FIVE spring day trips

Spring has sprung and it's time to get out and about.  Leave the spring cleaning for another day and strike out to these great So Cal destinations:

Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Coast--One of my favorite places in the OC for savoring the natural beauty of our California coastline.  Enjoy a long walk on the beach, hike along the coastal nature trails or check out the restored historic district complete with colorful beach cottages, gift shop and museum.  Don't miss lunch or dinner at the Beachcomber for delicious, no-fuss fare and a view that can't be beat!

Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach--In keeping with the aquatic theme, visit Long Beach's homage to the Pacific ocean.  Kids will love the playful otters, the shark lagoon and the hands-on animal experiences available every day of the week.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch--You don't have to be a plant lover to LOVE this excursion to one of the most colorful places in Southern California this spring. Stroll among 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers and be sure to bring your camera!

The Great Park in Irvine--Float 400-feet above the landscape in the Great Park's Balloon ride, open Thursday-Sunday. While you're there, ride the carousel and check out Kids Rock--a play area of misting shade structures, climbing rocks and “underground tunnels."

Catalina Island--Head off-shore for an adventure in Catalina Island.  In addition to the exciting ferry ride, you can enjoy hiking, kayaking, helicopter tours, parasailing, zip-line fun and more in this close-to-home island paradise.

Image credit Crystal Cove Alliance
Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

Monday, April 14

ARTS + CRAFTS yarn surprise eggs

We love spring crafts! The bright, beautiful colors and the flowers, bunnies, and eggs make everything cheerful. Spring break is the perfect time to have some craft time with your kids. Simply Modern Mom has a tutorial for creating yarn eggs with a surprise inside. This craft would be fun for kids of all ages. If you have toddler-age kids just leave out the small surprise so there is no choking hazard. Enjoy!

Image credit: Simply Modern Mom
Contributed by Darcy, www.fairmontschools.com

Wednesday, April 9

SHORT STORY crazy art day

Preschoolers get creative at Crazy Art Day on the Anaheim Hills Campus as part of the Week of the Young Child 2014 festivities.

Monday, April 7

SHORT STORY fairmont kicks off week of the young child

Fairmont's early childhood program is celebrating Week of the Young Child this week with special visitors, activities and events designed to showcase Fairmont's youngest learners. The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.  Anaheim firefighters visited the Anaheim Hills campus on Monday to kick off their week-long celebration.

Submitted by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools

Friday, April 4

FRIDAY FOLDER pennies for a famous pooch

Highlights for the week of March 31, 2014:


This week, students at the Historic Anaheim Campus donated a check for $2,200 to the Anaheim Police Department's K-9 Fund for the recovery of the now-famous police dog "Bruno". Bruno was recently shot and critically injured in the line of duty for which he has needed two life-saving surgeries. In addition to collecting thousands of pennies during the Penny War drive, students wrote and illustrated get well cards for Bruno. Way to go students for pulling together and showing your support for your local community and one brave K-9 officer!  Check out KTLA's broadcast of the flag salute. 

Weekly Newsletters

Wednesday, April 2

SCHOOL NEWS cheer team celebrates awesome season

Fairmont Private Schools’ North Tustin Cheer Team has wrapped up a very successful competition season, including several top regional wins and a top-10 finish nationally.  At the final competition of the season, Best of the West in Long Beach, CA, the team took 2nd place in their division.

The North Tustin competition team consists of 13 members ranging from grades 4-8.  The team practices several times a week and is coached by Joanna Yujuico and Fawn Weaver.   The school began competing in 2009, and has since participated in numerous state and regional competitions as well as UCA’s Nationals in Orlando, Florida in 2010 and 2013.

“I’m very proud of how hard our team has worked to advance in their technique, showmanship, and level of difficulty.  The girls learned so much this year and had a wonderful time in the process.  I can’t wait for next year!” said Coach Joanna Yujuico.

Way to go, girls!  We're looking forward to another great season next year.

2013-2014 North Tustin Campus Cheer team results:
  • Tustin Tiller Days- 2nd place
  • UCA Southern California Regionals- 1st place
  • USA regionals- 3rd place
  • CA State Championships-1st place
  • USA Nationals- 8th place team,  1st place Junior High Novice Stunt group division
  • UCA West Coast Championships-1st place
  • Best of the West- 2nd place
Contributed by Danyelle, Fairmont Private Schools