7 Reasons Why Kids Should Join Fitness Classes

Kids love physical activities. Given the chance to do whatever they want, they would rather run around and play. It is natural for kids to be energetic and playful. There are kids though who are more socially awkward. They would rather stay home watching TV instead of playing with friends. There are other kids who prefer to read books instead of doing physical activities. But fitness is crucial to a child’s development.

As parents, it is important that you help your child gear towards holistic development. At a young age, kids will start to show their skills and talents. You have to be supportive in whatever it is that they want to achieve. At the same time, you also need to teach them to diversify their activities. If they show no interest in physical activities, you need to help them understand its importance. Physical activity can come in many forms – one of which is through enrollment in structured youth fitness classes. These classes allow for same age interaction, while incorporating energy-demanding movements that are fun for kids to perform.

You don’t have to worry that they are too young to join these classes. Most classes allow you to enroll kids as young as 5 years old. Your kids will find them easy and enjoyable. To back this up – here are 7 great reasons why kids would benefit a lot from joining fitness classes.

1. Being Physically Active Strengthens the Heart

Our hearts are considered as muscles. Just like other muscles in the body, the heart also has to do exercises for optimal performance. By doing physical activities, the heart becomes stronger and more resilient. A healthy heart could easily reduce the risk of heart diseases. In the US, heart ailments are among the main causes of death even at childhood. Exercising also helps remove the excess cholesterol and fat on the child’s blood. It makes the wall of the blood vessels more flexible. For kids who tend to eat anything they want, the absence of physical activities is detrimental.

2. Exercise helps fight childhood obesity

In the US, almost 17% of children between 2 to 19 years old are considered obese. Those who suffer from obesity may develop chronic illnesses as they grow older. Diabetes and heart diseases are among the most common problems. One of the reasons why kids suffer from obesity is because they lack physical activities. When someone is not engaged in physical activities, the body does not burn calories. Worse, those who eat a lot without exercising will keep piling up calories in the body, leading to obesity. Regular exercise plus a balanced diet could be the best formula to fight obesity.

3. The bones become stronger

Kids are at a point in their lives where the bones are still developing. They need to exercise to ensure that bones grow well. When exercised, the muscles tend to be stronger. The same thing is true for bones. Those who don’t engage in physical activities may suffer from weakened bones that could lead to serious conditions like osteoporosis as they grow older.

4. Fitness classes help enhance emotional wellness

Kids also get stressed. You might not notice it because they laugh all the time and they are not exposed to problems as big as adults face. The truth is that they also get stressed when faced with different challenges each day. Exercise helps make them feel more calm and relaxed. The body releases endorphin after exercising which helps them cope up with their emotional problems. Experiencing weight loss and staying fit may also boost the emotional wellness of children.

5. Exercising encourages brain activity

With exercise, the brain works at an optimum capacity. It helps in multiplying the nerve cells and strengthening the interconnections. In short, kids who exercise become smarter. There is greater flow of blood to the brain. There is also improved development of neurons. They also become more focused in school. During mid-afternoon, most kids feel sleepy and tired. Those who do regular exercise remain energetic.

6. It redirects their attention to a more meaningful activity

When kids are not exercising, perhaps they are busy watching their favorite shows or surfing the net. Being addicted to these devices may also affect their sleep. There is nothing wrong in giving them time to play video games or surf the net. The time should be limited though. If they are more engaged in physical activities, they would not have time for less helpful activities.

7. They can learn healthy competitiveness

A big part of almost any fitness class, sport or activity is competition. It has been proven that children who never participate in competitive activities lack the skills needed to deal with competitive situations in a healthy manner. If your child is a sore winner, or a sore loser, this is likely from a lack of exposure to competitive and recreational activities.

Fitness classes teach kids to work alongside their peers, while also implementing competitive aspects. Sports teach a child what it means to lose and then work harder, or teach them how to be humble after a great victory. Fitness classes like karate use healthy competition between classmates to push kids further in their development. Ultimately, this competitive spirit can teach kids how to humble or diligently hopeful. Fitness classes make them a more well rounded human being.

In short, you have to consider enrolling your kids in structured fitness classes. They will definitely enjoy doing physical activities. These benefits are just a bonus.

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The Secret to Raising Smarter Kids

We all want better for our kids. With so many articles and antidotes out there it’s hard to know which one to choose. What if I told you raising smart kids was easier than you could ever imagine? The other night I was reading a book titled How Will You Measure Your Life and I came across an interesting study by Todd Risley and Betty Hart.

Have you ever read something and thought you just uncovered something so important, yet you have a feeling nobody knows about it? That’s how I felt. There I was, 10:30 at night on Labor Day and I stumble across this research that is just blowing my mind. So I followed the rabbit trail and before you know it I’m sleepless. My mind is racing. Will I be able to implement this? It just seemed way too easy. I asked myself, if it’s really this easy, why isn’t everybody doing this?

The Importance of Talking to Your Baby

woman reads to baby on fur rug

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The study discussed the correlation between smart kids and amount of talking the parents did to the baby. That’s right, talking to your baby. The study discussed how more talkative (usually more educated) parents talked upwards of 2,150 words per hour to their babies, where as less talkative parents talked 600 words per hour.

The babies that heard more words in their first thirty months performed better in vocabulary and reading comprehension tests. Can you see why I was so fascinated with this study? Who doesn’t love talking to a baby? When a parent is engaging the baby in a conversation, the synapses of the babies brain are being exercised. The synapse’s are structures that allow signals to get passed from one neuron to another. The more synapses that get created the faster and easier your little baby will think in the future. Even though it might not seem like your little one is engaged and listening, trust that they are.

The average person talks approximately 150 words per minute. If you want to speak 2,150 words per hour to your baby, you will need to speak to them for roughly 14 minutes consistently.

Compound Effect

smiling man and woman hold smiling child between them

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In the book “How Will You Measure Your Life” the author talks about the compound affect. The parents that spoke 3.7 times more to their baby won’t have a mere 3.7 times more connections. Each brain cell can be connected by as many as ten thousand synapses, making the compound effect “exponential.” Think of this like that of a busy city. If there is one main road for it’s citizens traffic doesn’t travel fast. Increase the number of roads and traffic flows more freely. If you want your baby to think quicker, make quicker associations, and have greater recall, build more roads (synapses).

How to Talk

woman holds child in garden

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Not just any talk will do. Telling your kids what to do has little affect. Telling your infant “time for a bath” or “finish your food” does not cut it. Instead you must engage them in fully adult, sophisticated language. Ask them questions such as “what do you want to eat today” or “what do you want to do today?” Talk to them as if you were talking to another adult. Ask them thought provoking questions even if you feel like they don’t understand you, their brain is working. Make sure that you are encouraging them as well. The children of professionals heard twice as many encouraging words and twice as many unique words. In short, encourage and use big words.

Future Factors

a woman hugs her son

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As I was thinking about this article, I couldn’t help but wonder about the future. Were cell phones ever around when this study was done? This made me think of the adult that is bouncing their kid on their knee while looking at their cell phone. How many words is technology stealing from our babies? Will kids in the future be less smart?

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17 Math Activities for Preschoolers

As a parent, you will want the best for your children. Once they hit preschool age, you and your partner might start wondering what you can do to put your child ahead. It is easy to overthink all the ways that we, as parents, can teach our kids in fun and exciting ways. Here are 17 fun and easy counting and math activities you can do with your children to help them learn simple numbers and other basic mathematical concepts.

17 Activities to Try with Your Preschooler:

Look for patterns…EVERYWHERE:

Patterns are a great way to work on math with your preschooler. There are patterns all around you and your home – tiles in the kitchen or bathroom, patterns in the fence, or in a piece of home decor. You can even point out the patterns on their clothes! Take a “field trip” with your preschooler and point out all the patterns around your house or their bedroom. If your child loves music, there are plenty of patterns to recognize in children’s songs. Help your child to identify and copy simple clapping and rhythm patterns in their favorite songs. These are both incredible ways to point out to your preschooler how repetition is a natural part of life and beauty.

Investigate Shapes:

While investigating shapes, children can discover the ways that different shapes fit together to build the items that we use or see everyday – cars, tall buildings, and eventually puzzles. Work together using yarn to create various shapes – circles, squares, triangles – as a budget friendly way to teach shapes. You can even use learning about shapes as a means to create some artwork together.

Encourage Estimation:

Help your preschooler learn about making guesses based on what they can see! Fill jars with buttons, candies, beads, or any other small items that you can find and ask your kids to guess how many of each of the items is in each jar. After they guess, they can count how many of the items are in the jar. Over time, children’s guesses will get closer to the actual amount of items in each jar, but this is a great way to get them started with educated guessing! Plus the fun colors and shapes are sure to keep them engaged!

Introduce Sorting:

Anything around us can be sorted; pens, pencils, socks, shoes, cups, mugs, glasses, silverware, you name it – it can be sorted! You could get them to help you out around the house by helping to sort the recycling. Even little kids can help sort papers from plastic and glass. This is great way to teach children how to organize items down to small and more manageable amounts.

preschooler cooking

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Let them “cook”:

Encourage your preschooler to help you in the kitchen! Your child can help with measuring and counting our ingredients (two eggs, three scoops, etc.). You can also supervise the usage of knobs and buttons on the stove. This is also a great opportunity to have them help pack their daily lunches or snacks as they can help portion out the foods they eat each day. For example,  “I eat 5 carrots and 3 grapes at snacktime!” Think about having your preschoolers count out their Cheerios, Halloween candy, or even Easter candy! The options for counting food have no bounds! They can even help out with feeding pets if you have any!

Play a “look out” game:

While out on a walk or riding in the car, ask your child to count how many fun things they see! Those fun things could be any item that your child chooses to count – stores, fire trucks, dogs, or anything else that the child might recognize. With this activity, they can practice counting and talking about all of the fun things that have counted.

Track your child’s measurements:

Get out the ruler or yardstick to mark your child’s height on the wall. Talk about how big they are in comparison to their siblings or favorite animals – this helps them to think about themselves and the world around them. This is a great chance to introduce your child to units of measurement and help them compare and contrast the marks on the wall to see how much they’ve grown from year to year.

Use the phone:

Learning how to use the telephone has more than just a mathematical benefit, it’s also good for emergencies! Next time you’re making a call, write the number down and have your child help you dial it into your phone. This helps them to see the numbers being used, but also gives them a chance to practicing reading them from left to right. Your child gets bonus points if they can memorize the number!

Plant a Garden:

Preschoolers love helping outside when they can. Have your child assist with counting out the seeds and then making sure they put the set amounts in the right rows or pots. Once the plants start growing, they can count out the leaves and petals as well! This is also a great place to introduce science concepts about plants and plant growth.

preschooler gardening

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Color by Number Sheets:

Most young children love to color! As their number recognition skills continue to improve, they can learn to match the colors with the numbers, but early on they may need help identifying what number goes with what colors.

Dominoes:

Aside from playing a tabletop game, dominoes can be used to teach simple math concepts! Children can count the dots on each domino, children can sort matching tiles and create stacks, and they can create shapes and towers with matching dominoes. Dominoes are a cheap game that can easily be found at most stores.

Tell the Time:

Reading a non-digital wall clock is something that even little kids can do! Clocks are everywhere, so this is something that can be worked on at almost any time! Practice reading the numbers and telling time to the quarter and half hour as they are able. Once they have reading a clock down, you can compare and contrast a digital clock and wall clock together for another great conversation about time and numbers. Don’t forget to mention that there are sixty seconds in one minute and sixty minutes in one hour!

Read a Number Book:

There are many amazing books for preschoolers! Some of the most popular include: City by Numbers by Stephen T. Johnson, Chicka Chicka 123 by Bill Martin & Michael Sampson, or How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague. Number books are a great way to practice numbers and counting, but books like these also introduce your child to other educational concepts. Not to mention a little bit of reading practice! Check with your child’s teachers or even the local children’s librarian if you need more ideas, they are a wealth of knowledge about great counting books for kids!

Mark the Calendar:

Introducing your child to a standard calendar is a great way to introduce the concept of days and passing time. Have them highlight special days on the calendar (birthdays, holidays, other celebrations) and create countdowns to those special days. Working with calendars often helps children to understand days of the week and how the sequence of days happens each week. You can also have them help in creating a calendar – learning about leap years, but also how many days are in each month.

child making calendar

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Pay for Purchases:

Whether at a real store or while “playing store” at home, teaching children about counting money is never a bad idea. This is also an opportunity for them to practice reading numbers on price tags and counting their own money! Kids can even help search for matching items to coupons inside the store while shopping! It’s never too early to squeeze in a few lessons about money management as early as possible. Tip: Don’t take the little ones into a busy store to practice counting their money, go on a slower day to avoid a line and many waiting customers.

Play Card Games:

Who knew that teaching math concepts to your preschooler could start with a standard deck of 52 cards? Games like Memory (teaching kids to look for similar cards and pairs), War (teaching your child about numbers that are bigger and smaller), or Go Fish! (helps your child to identify and talk about numbers) are fun to play, but also have some educational value. You can also play games with various flash card decks or other game decks (like Old Maid). Here is a great value pack of cards with lots of fun designs!

Popular Phone Apps:

Let’s face it, kids know how to use some apps better than many adults! Capitalize on that and let your child practice their math skills on your phones and tablets. Some popular math apps include: Preschool Math Games for Kids, Todo Math , and Math Master Kids. These are all interactive apps that are entertaining for kids, but also give them a chance to practice math functions and number identification. Who knows? Maybe they’ll find math exciting when they’re bored! Use that screen time to their (and your) advantage.

For preschoolers, learning about and exploring numbers should be all about fun and play. Work with them to discover how numbers can fit into their everyday lives. As they see those numbers in action, they’ll get more and more comfortable with the math concepts around them. Have fun exploring those numbers (and concepts) together!

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90+ Science Trivia Questions to Boost Your Knowledge

The beauty of science is that it’s ever-changing, so nobody will ever get tired of science trivia questions. Throughout history, a lot of things that were considered “facts” got hit in the head thanks to new scientific research and discoveries, so there’s no shortage of questions and answers like the ones below. Maybe we will update this list with even more stuff in the future, so stay tuned.

Science Trivia Questions and Answers

To make it easier for you to navigate through these science trivia questions and answers, we’ll try to place them in the appropriate category. From there, you’ll be able to read through them better and jot down only the ones that interest you for a possible game night contest. With that said, here’s what we’ve managed to find:

Easy Science Trivia Questions

Let’s start by showing off the questions and answers that even some children might have some knowledge about and then work our way up to more advanced stuff as we go.

Solar System Trivia Questions

  1. Q: Would you weigh more or less on Mars?

A: Less. A person who weighs 200 pounds on Earth would weigh just 76 pounds on Mars.

2. Q: Who was the first person to walk on the Moon?

A: Neil Armstrong. He landed on July 20, 1969, with Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.

3. Q: What causes a solar eclipse?

A: The moon moves between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth.

4. Q: What causes the moon to shine?

A: The moon’s surface reflects light from the Sun.

5. Q: What was the first planet discovered with the aid of a telescope?

A: Uranus.

6. Q: Between which two planets does the asteroid belt lie?

A: Mars and Jupiter.

7. Q: What is the only planet in our solar system less dense than water?

A: Saturn.

8. Q: What is the nearest planet to the sun?

A: Mercury.

9. Q: What is the largest planet in the solar system?

A: Jupiter.

10. Q: What is the hottest planet in the solar system?

A: Venus

11. Q: The most recognized model of how the universe began is known as the?

A: The Big Bang.

12. Q: What color is the sunset on Mars?

A: Blue.

Biology Trivia Questions

Now let’s get into another interesting question category, namely biology. We’re going to try and cover as many as we can from this domain, especially because kids start learning about these things from the first few grades in school.

13. Q: What do white blood cells do?

A: White blood cells protect you against illness and disease. “Immunity Cells” are another name for these components.

14. Q: What is the rarest blood type?

A: AB4 negative.

15. Q: What part of the plant conducts photosynthesis?

A: The leaf.

16. Q: What is the largest known animal that walks on land?

A: The elephant.

17. Q: What is the largest known animal overall?

A: The blue whale.

18. Q: What kind of blood type is known as the universal donor?

A: O1 negative.

19. Q: What is the largest organ in the human body?

A: The skin.

20. Q: What tissues connect the muscles to the bones?

A: The tendons.

21. Q: Animals that eat both plants and meat are called what?

A: Omnivores.

22. Q: What is the largest bone in the human body?

A: The femur, also known as the thigh bone.

23. Q: Diabetes develops as the result of a problem with which specific organ in the body?

A: The pancreas.

24. Q: True or false – lightning is hotter than the sun.

A: True.

Physics Trivia Questions

25. Q: What is the smallest unit of matter?

A: An atom.

26. Q: How many states of matter are there?

A: Four: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

27. Q: What word can you use to describe when a solid turns into a liquid?

A: Melting.

28. Q: What is a geiger counter used to measure?

A: Radiation levels.

29. Q: A magnifying glass is what type of lens?

A: Convex.

30. Q: Electric resistance is typically measured in what units?

A: Ohms.

31. Q: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” is an example of one of these.

A: Newton’s Laws.

32. Q: What is the center of an atom called?

A: The nucleus.

33. Q: Who split the atom?

A: Ernest Rutherford.

34. Q: When a gas changes into a liquid, it is called what?

A: Condensation.

35. Q: The wire inside an electric bulb is known as what?

A: Filament.

36. Q: Who first proposed the concept of contact lenses?

A: Leonardo da Vinci.

Chemistry Trivia Questions

37. Q: What is the chemical symbol for lead?

A: Pb.

38. Q: What element is a diamond composed of?

A: Carbon.

39. Q: How many elements are listed in the periodic table?

A: 118.

40. Q: What two elements is water made of?

A: Hydrogen and oxygen.

41. Q: What is the sun mostly made up of?

A: Hydrogen.

42. Q: What inorganic molecule is produced by lightning?

A: Ozone.

43. Q: Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of what two elements?

A: Copper and tin.

44. Q: What reaction releases energy into its surroundings?

A: Exothermic reaction.

45. Q: This type of material does not allow electricity to flow through them easily, unlike conductors which are used for their ability to rapidly allow electricity to pass through. What is this material called?

A: Insulators.

46. Q: What word do scientists use to describe a unit of measure that is also the name of an animal?

A: A mole.

47. Q: In 1953, the United States of America conducted its first and only nuclear artillery test. Where was the test held?

A: Nevada.

48. Q: Most of a penny is made from what type of metal?

A: Zinc.

Hard Science Trivia Questions

Now we’ve finally completed the relatively simple science trivia questions and answers. Let’s move onto the next section, with much harder questions that will keep many teens and adults second-guessing.

Geology, Geography, and Solar System Trivia Questions

49. Q: How long does it take for light from the Sun to reach the Earth?

A: 8 minutes and 20 seconds. Some scientists have speculated that faster travel might be possible, but so far there’s no experiment to prove this.

50. Q: What is the only rock that floats?

A: Pumice. It’s actually created from lava, and it forms from the froth at the top of the laval flow that then cools very rapidly.

51. Q: Where can you find the oldest living tree on Earth, which has an age of approximately 4,843 years?

A: Also known as Methuselah, this bristlecone pine has been around since before the first building blocks were laid on the foundation of Ancient Rome, and it can be currently visited in California.

52. Q: Where is the largest known meteorite crater on Earth?

A: The Vredefort Ring in South Africa, with a 299 km diameter.

53. Q: What name is given to the planets located outside solar system?

A: Extrasolar planets.

54. Q: What is the basic cause of Aurora?

A: Charged particles from solar wind.

55. Q: What is the age of the Sun?

A: 5 Billion years.

56. Q: Is Obsidian an igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic rock?

A: Igneous.

57. Q: What is the cause of Tsunami?

A: Tsunami is caused by the displacement of water due to earthquake or landslide under sea.

58. Q: Is the stratosphere above or below the troposphere?

A: It extends 50km above the troposphere.

59. Q: Name the longest living structure on earth?

A: The greater barrier reef, Australia.

60. Q: What is the highest recorded surface wind speed on earth?

A: 372 Km per hour.

Biology, Anatomy, and Anthropology Trivia Questions

61. Q: What is the temperature of human body during digestion?

A: The body likes to keep its core temperature steady at about 100° F., which is when the best digestion occurs.

62. Q: Which is most dangerous among bees, snakes, house flies, or sharks when attributed to human deaths?

A: House flies.

63. Q: What is the end cause of every single human death?

A: Cerebral hypoxia – the lack of oxygen in the brain. When people die, their brains essentially starve, and that may be the cause of near-death-experiences and hallucinations.

64. Q: What is the scientific name for the job or role that a certain organism plays within its habitat.

A: Niche. Not to be confused with the same concept within businesses, musical genres, and so forth.

65. Q: Which animal’s tail is so strong that it can lift the animal’s hind legs off the ground while standing on it.

A: The kangaroo.

66. Q: What is the scientific name for the elephant’s trunk?

A: Proboscis, which also means nose.

67. Q: What animal is the T-Rex’s closest living relative?

A: The chicken. Birds in general are actually quite closely related to the extinct dinosaurs, which is why many researchers have played around with the idea that dinosaurs had feathers.

68. Q: What is the name of colored part of human eyes which controls the light passing through the pupil?

A: The iris, not to be confused with the flower of the same name.

69. Q: What is the name of the substance that gives the skin and hair their pigmentation? (Hint: sunbathing affects the amounts of this substance)

A: Melanin.

70. Q: What are the bottom-located chambers of the heart known as?

A: The ventricles.

71. Q: Of which substance are the nails made out of?

A: Keratin.

72. Q: What is the inner most part of the bones known as?

A: The bone marrow.

Physics, Chemistry, and Other Science Trivia Questions

73. Q: True or false – Lower tension on a tennis racket results in more control and less power.

A: False. Most racket manufacturers recommend that you use 50 to 70 pounds of tension when adjusting your racket, but it totally depends on your personal preference as a player.

74. Q: What islands were extensively studied by the now-famous Charles Darwin?

A: The Galapagos Islands.

75. Q: HIV was first discovered in 1981, and it is known to cause a condition called AIDS, which can be fatal if left untreated. What does AIDS stand for and what type of virus is HIV?

A: AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, and HIV is a retrovirus.

76. Q: In purely scientific terms, how long is an eon?

A: An eon lasts for one billion years. Basically, our planet is 4.54 billion eons old, and the first signs of life appeared not long after the Big Bang.

77. Q: If you put an insect and a plant in airtight container, what can you expect to happen?

A: They use and release different types of air, so they should continue to live.

78. Q: The pollutants which move downward with percolating groundwater are called what?

A: Leachates.

79. Q: On what is the principle of working of rockets based?

A: The law of conservation of momentum.

80. Q: What is the shape of a regular human’s DNA?

A: Double helix.

81. Q: What is white gold?

A: White gold is an alloy of gold and white metal such as palladium or silver.

82. Q: What is the fool’s gold?

A: The crystals of iron pyrite.

83. Q: Why is nickel not used for the creation of white gold?

A: It’s not that nickel wouldn’t be great at forming white gold, it’s because it causes skin allergies.

84. Q: Does the sun also rotate?

A: Yes, but only once around 27 days.

85. Q: What is the composition of sun?

A: About 70 percent hydrogen, 28 percent helium, and 2 percent other mass.

86. Q: What is the function of a manometer?

A: Measuring the pressure of closed systems.

87. Q: What is the highest recorded surface wind speed on earth?

A: A whopping 372 Km per hour.

88. Q: What is the pyrogen?

A: The substance in the human body that triggers a fever response.

89. Q: What is the amount of salt in an average human body?

A: 250 grams.

90. Q: What is the percentage of fire-related deaths caused by smoke inhalation rather than burns?

A: 80%.

91. Q: What is the fraction of volume of ice seen outside when immersed in water?

A: 10.5%.

Other Thoughts

If you want even more fun, educational, or entertaining things to do for the whole family, visit our homepage where we constantly bring you updates with new articles regarding fun activities, games, and so forth. Also, feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

5 Shakes Comparable to Shakeology

If you’re a big Shakeology fan but want to save money, you’ve come to the right place for shakes comparable to Shakeology. Keep scrolling down for 5 shakes comparable to Shakeology that will give you maximum nutrients at a minimum cost.

We all know that a well-prepared, balanced meal is the ideal nutritional choice to stay healthy and fit. We also know that our busy lives don’t allow us the time or energy to prepare them. Luckily, there is a convenient option besides trips to the vending machine or fast food. Meal replacement shakes provide much-needed protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and even digestive enzymes. For this reason, people who might never lift a weight are now using protein shakes as their diet supplement of choice.

One of the most popular—and expensive—options is Shakeology, a brand that offers delicious and nutritious protein shakes. However, Shakeology is by no means the only great option out there. Without reservation, there are a good half dozen shakes comparable to Shakeology in terms of taste, calorie count, and nutrients. This article discusses some other great meal replacement shakes on the market. All of these options are comparable to Shakeology.

WHY USE A MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKE TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR DIET?


There are a number of reasons to consider using meal replacement shakes to supplement your diet. Besides weight loss and diet, meal replacement shakes can make up for any areas of nutrient missing from your normal diet. As for muscle growth, while it may be true that weight lifters and body builders love protein shakes, you can also take advantage of the muscle growth properties without being a heavy lifter. Further, meal replacement shakes stimulate your digestive tract and promote healthy digestion. Lastly, all of our five shakes comparable to Shakeology have been demonstrated to promote positive mental heath.

Weight Loss

Meal replacement shakes are an excellent way to curb cravings and support sustainable weight loss. Firstly, look for a good amount of protein, along with healthy fat and minimal added sugars to ramp up your metabolism. Many people also recommend replacing 1-2 meals with a shake. Secondly, try to consume them after exercise if possible. Since most meal replacements are quite low on calories, they can be an excellent way to lose weight without even trying! The right meal replacements are filling, tasty, and energizing. If you are looking to lose weight, extra water is also an ideal pairing with your meal replacement shakes. In fact, studies have shown that drinking one or two glasses of water in the morning before breakfast will drastically increase your daily metabolism.

Convenient Nutrition

Meal replacement shakes are also conveniently packaged and simple to make. They make it so much easier to avoid fast food and vending machines. Furthermore, unlike a homemade recipe, meal replacement shakes have the calorie count on the back of the package, making it that much easier to keep track of your calorie intake throughout the day. Additionally, many shakes contain prebiotics, probiotics, or digestive enzymes, all of which can help you absorb more nutrients out of your food throughout the day. These ingredients are crucial for the purpose of strengthening and supporting your stomach. Moreover, they often contain superfoods from around the world that you certainly won’t find in the average pantry (amaranth, wheat grass, or alfalfa anyone?).

Supports Muscle Growth

Having a high-protein shake before or after a workout helps repair damaged muscle tissue and can help maintain muscle mass in the long-term. Studies also suggest that this practice helps you burn more calories as you go throughout your day. To emphasize this point, muscle always burns more calories than fat. In other words, the more muscle you pack on, the more fat you’re going to shed. The bottom line is, taking protein in conjunction with exercise ensures your hard work pays off. This factor is particularly important when considering shakes comparable to Shakeology.

Digestive Health

As mentioned before, meal replacement shakes often reduce snack cravings. This is great for your digestive system because larger meals are easier to digest than frequent snacks. Frequent snacking is in fact a huge reason for weight gain in millions of people, and it’s a tough habit to crack. Most shakes also contain digestive enzymes, which can further help break down food and can aid the digestive process in the long term.

Promotes Mental Well-Being

One of the most reported benefits of meal replacement shakes is also the most mysterious. Many people who consume them report increased feelings of general well-being. One theory is that an increase in vitamins helps the brain function properly. Furthermore, people consuming protein shakes are just generally more likely to mentally associate the consumption with working out. Consequently, they will work out, which undeniably is a total game changer for improving your mental health. In any case, take excess energy where you can get it!

So many choices for shakes comparable to Shakeology


One of the most popular (and best-marketed) meal replacement shake options is certainly Shakeology. With several celebrity endorsements and a user-friendly website, it’s easy to see why this brand is the top choice for many. Unfortunately, a serving costs about as much as a latte at your favorite coffee shop. There are several comparable (and arguably better) shakes out there. Depending on your goals (weight loss, muscle gain, energy, general well-being), some options may be better suited for your particular diet than others.

The following are the best meal replacement shakes comparable to Shakeology on the market. To sum up, we’ve selected these five shakes as good alternatives based on a number factors. Generally, we took into account cost, nutrients, taste, and availability.

Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal


Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal Replacement Vanilla Powder – Gluten-Free

  • Organic Shake & Meal Replacement;
  • Easy to Digest;
  • Live Probiotics;
  • Made without Dairy or Soy Ingredients.

Garden of Life’s Raw Organic Meal is unique in that it uses sprouted ingredients (such as brown rice and buckwheat) for its protein source. This makes it an excellent alternative for those avoiding both soy and dairy proteins. It also lacks gluten, added sugars, artificial colors, and preservatives. All of its ingredients are left in the raw. To explain, this means that nutrients normally lost to a heating process are still kicking. While the amino acid profile isn’t displayed on the label, it is certainly available on Garden of Life’s website.

The meal also boasts 1.5 billion live probiotics, 44 superfood ingredients, and 21 vitamins and minerals. Finally, the Garden of Life comes in four flavors: original, chocolate, vanilla, and chai.

Compared to Shakeology:

Shakeology and Garden of Life’s Raw Meal each consist of a similar array of healthy ingredients. Also, Garden of Life’s raw approach to meal replacement means that more nutrients make it to the finish line. Garden of Life’s website provides access to its products’ amino acid profiles. This is an important consideration and a refreshing move toward transparency in product advertising.

Pros
Excellent for sensitive stomachs
Few Allergens
Made without heating process
Organic ingredients
Several flavors
Cons
Raw food isn’t for everyone

Nature’s Bounty Optimal Solutions Protein Shake


Nature’s Bounty Optimal Solutions Protein & Vitamin Shake Chocolate

  • Well Rounded Nutrition;
  • With Collagen, Fiber & Probiotics;
  • Hair & Nail Support – Biotin;
  • Healthy Skin – Vitamin C & Flaxseed.

Optimal Solutions Protein Shake is part of Nature’s Bounty line of health products designed for beauty. These aren’t lipsticks or shampoos, but rather vitamin supplements designed to keep skin, hair, and nails healthy. Even better, it contains probiotics and digestive enzymes to ensure that vitamins are properly absorbed by the body. While marketed particularly toward women, this supplement can help anyone who wants luminous hair and glowing skin.

The label is refreshingly transparent—it even displays its amino acid profile. This isn’t required by the FDA, but it’s certainly helpful for the health-conscious shopper. However, a closer examination reveals a few undesirable ingredients, such as xanthan gum and fructose. As with all other supplements, take time to get to know the ingredients and decide for yourself.

The Optimal Solutions Protein Shake comes in Vanilla and Chocolate flavors.

Compared to Shakeology:

The back of the Shakeology label reads more like an advertisement than nutrition information. Shakeology has several proprietary blends that emphasize exotic ingredients without revealing their amounts. Since most nutrients need to be ingested in certain amounts in order to be of benefit, this makes it quite hard to judge the effectiveness of Shakeology. The Optimal Solutions Protein Shake, by contrast, lists amounts for almost all of its ingredients and includes an amino acid profile. This is indeed a nice break from a lot of the types of commercially marketed skaes out there. From their nutrition information, Optimal Solutions and Shakeology appear to offer similar benefits. Optimal Solutions gets a leg up in this list for having a more complete and informative label. Concurrently, as with the other shakes on this list, you’re more in the green for price saving as well.

Pros
Especially formulated for beauty
Particularly formulated for beauty
Calcium for women’s health
Cons
Contains dairy and soy
Some questionable ingredients

EAS Protein powder


EAS 100% Whey Protein Powder Cookies & Cream

  • Pure Whey Protein Powder;
  • No Added Sugar;
  • Aid in Muscle Recovery;
  • Naturally and Artificially Flavored.

Myoplex Lite is a lower-calorie version of EAS’s original protein powder. The lite version made the list because it contains more protein and less fat. However, if weight loss isn’t a concern for you, then the original blend is another great option. Unlike other meal replacements, Myoplex lite markets itself as an option for those who have several smaller meals rather than three larger ones, so certainly keep that in mind when planning meals.

Myoplex Lite comes in pre-measured packets, making it easy to throw nutrition into a gym bag. EAS even sells ready-to-drink versions of its original protein powder. One of the most highly rated shakes on the market, the taste is highly acclaimed, with chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors. We’ve tried all of these flavors out and they undoubtedly really good!

An added bonus comes into the mix as well. Myoplex Lite contains no proprietary blends, so the label displays exactly how much of each ingredient is in a serving. It’s also available at many local retailers.

Compared to Shakeology:

Myoplex Lite is marketed more toward gym rats than Shakeology, but as far as macronutrients go, they come out about the same. A notable difference is that Myoplex Lite contains fewer vitamins, and can’t claim to contain superfoods. If you already have a vitamin supplement as a part of your daily routine, then Myoplex Lite is an excellent alternative when it comes to shakes comparable to Shakeology.

Pros
Most convenient packaging
Great flavor
Available at most grocery stores
Highly rated
Cons
Fewer vitamins than other shakes
No superfoods
Small serving size may make it less filling
Only one flavor

Orgain Organic Meal Powder


Orgain Organic Plant Based Meal Replacement Powder

  • Mix with Water for a Smooth, Creamy and Delicious Taste;
  • No Added Sugar;
  • Naturally Smooth and Delicious Meal Replacement ;
  • No Artificial Flavors, Colors or Preservatives.

Orgain Organic Meal Powder, as its name suggests, contains all organic ingredients. As can be seen with Garden of Life, Orgain Organic Meal Powder has no soy or dairy products and uses grains as a protein source. This shake has 8 grams of fiber, more than any other on the list. Furthermore, all of the ingredients are recognizable and pronounceable.

This product is a great option for foodies who care about pesticide overuse. It’s also vegan, an added environmental bonus.

While this shake contains more calories than the others on this list, it may be worth it. Its wholesome ingredients make it an ideal meal replacement. If you are looking for a healthy substitute for fast food more than you are weight loss or muscle gain, this is definitely the shake for you. Orgain Organic Meal Powder comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors.

Compared to Shakeology:

Orgain Organic Meal Powder was manufactured as a challenge for protein shakes that contain cheap fillers, added sugars, and artificial colors. The purity and attention to detail put into this product ought to make any health freak smile. Shakeology simply hasn’t shown the same dedication to ingredients that are responsibly sourced.

Pros
High in fiber
Organice ingredients
Fewer allergens
Cons
Fewer vitamins than other shakes
More calories than the average shake

ViSalus Vi-Shape


Vi Shape Nutritional Shake Mix

  • Sweet Cream Flavour;
  • For Weight Management & Healthy Nutrition;
  • 26 Vitamins and Minerals;
  • Meal Replacement Shake.

Out of all the shakes on this list, the ViSalus Vi-Shape is the most targeted toward weight loss, forming the base of ViSalus’ “Body by Vi Challenge Kit.” When it comes to shakes comparable to Shakeology, this one is particularly easy on the teeth. It contains less than 1 gram of sugar and even more impressive, contains only 1 gram of fat.  It’s also low in carbohydrates (only 7 grams per serving), good news for anyone on a low-carb diet.

Vi-Shape is gluten-free and low in sodium. It boasts 26 vitamins and minerals, albeit in lower amounts than other shakes. And because Vi-Shapes has three protein sources (whey concentrate, whey hydrolysate, and non-genetically modified soy), you can be sure your body is getting everything it needs to repair and maintain your muscles. According to ViSalus’ website, the whey is stripped of fat and carbohydrates, and the soy of isoflavones—leaving only the good stuff. Those looking for an array of products to help with fitness or weight loss will appreciate other products by ViSalus formulated to work well with Vi-Shape. Choose from pre-made kits or mix and match on their website to order just the products you need.

In spite of all of its health benefits, Vi-Shape is also delicious, with a unique cake mix taste and texture that make it an easy diet to stick to. Vi-Shape is one of the most affordable and best rated options on the market. The original Vi-Shape is in vanilla, and ViSalus sells separate strawberry and chocolate add-ins.

Compared to Shakeology:

Shakeology contains 5g more sugar and 70 more calories than Vi-Shape! If weight loss is your main goal, then Vi-Shape is certainly a great option. With the flavor of Shakeology receiving mixed reviews, it’s also a good alternative if you need a healthy meal that still tastes good. If Shakeology is the pop star of the meal replacement world, then Vi-Shape is a grunge band that reviewers undeniably love. However, both brands, just like the bands, are great for their own reasons.

Pros
Unique cake flavor
Very affordable option
Can be ordered as part of a weight loss kit
Fewer calories
Most highly rated on Amazon
By far best option for weight loss
Cons
Soy and milk allergens
Less protein than other shakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shakeology better than other protein shakes?

To understand why it is or isn’t better than other protein shakes, you must first understand what Shakeology is more exactly. Shakeology is practically a crossover between a protein shake and a meal replacement shake. The brand offers a variety of flavors like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry with vegan options available for those who can’t or choose not to consume dairy or animal products. What makes Shakeology so good compared to many other brands is the fact that these shakes don’t come with added sugar, artificial colors, unhealthy oils or preservatives. Otherwise, you can find cheaper alternatives that are just as good – with excellent examples shown right in this article.

Is Shakeology FDA approved?

A lot of people have wondered about this in the past and it seems that many others are now asking the same thing if you bother to dig a little deeper around the web. To answer this shortly, the FDA cannot approve dietary supplements – Shakeology included. In this sense, Shakeology isn’t FDA-approved, but it is not necessarily a bad thing. The FDA isn’t allowed to approve or disapprove of this type of product However, we’re fairly certain that if they could, they would definitely approve Shakeology as well as the other shakes shown in this article.

Is shakeology low glycemic?

When we talk about the dense nutrition of Shakeology, we’re talking about all of the benefits packed into a 140 – 170 calorie shake: the ratio of protein to carbohydrate (~1:1), the combination and amounts of protein and fiber, the antioxidants from vitamins A, C, and E, and the ingredients that support healthy digestion health (fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, digestive enzymes). The whey flavors of Shakeology also contain a specially designed vitamin and mineral blend with bioavailable forms of key nutrients like folate and vitamin B12. Put it all together, and you can see why we say this is the easiest thing you can add to your routine to help you start to clean up your diet.

Final Thoughts on Shakes Comparable to Shakeology

Those are our five shakes comparable to Shakeology that we’ve found to the best options on the market at this point in time. However, you might have some other ideas of good Shakeology shake replacements. If so, we want to hear from you. Please tell us any other good shakes that you’ve found particularly tasty, nutritious, and affordable, and let us know in the comments.

9 Simple and Meaningful Teacher Christmas Presents for This Holiday Season

With the Christmas season fast approaching, many parents out there are starting to think about gifts for all the important people in their lives and their child’s lives. It can be hard to spend the time and energy on a teacher’s Christmas present when you have to wrap your presents for the kiddos under the tree, but today we are here to take some of the difficulty out of the gift buying process. Here are some of our favorite cute and simple ways to thank a teacher this Christmas and put a smile on their faces. 

Baking Supplies

teacher christmas gifts

For this gift, all you need is some necessary cooking supplies, a mitt or small baking tin, and a spatula. Make sure that the teacher in question doesn’t have any significant allergies or dietary restrictions!

Here‘s a link to the cute “thanks for making me one smart cookie” oven mitt to wrap everything up in.

A Christmas Ornament

christmas teacher ornament

What better way to have a teacher think of your child and smile, then by getting them a creative ornament for their tree. Our favorite is one that has the teacher’s name on it and crayons inside. However, Etsy and other sites have many options of unique and creative ornaments that will fit any teacher’s personality. 

Here‘s a link to the ornament we have listed from Etsy. If you like using crayons but would rather make something yourself (or with your kiddo), Crayola has a post for melted Crayon ornaments.

A Teacher’s Bag 

Christmas teacher bag gift

Lugging activities and assignments back and forth to school can make a teacher’s arms and back ache. Give them the gift this Christmas of a teacher’s bag that can help them to cart their supplies to and fro. Add their names on the bag and what grade they teach for an extra special touch. 

Starbucks or a Coffee Gift Card

thanks a latte teacher gift

What teacher doesn’t need a pick me up from caffeine now and then? A great gift is to give them the gift of a gift card to a coffee shop, Starbucks, or Dunkin Donuts and package it by saying, “Thanks a latte for all you do.”

Pens

teacher pen gift

What is one thing that teachers never have enough of? Pens or pencils. I can’t tell you the number of times my kids have gone to school for two weeks, lost all their pencils somehow, and had to ask the teacher to borrow one of theirs. Replace those this Christmas by creating a cute baggie to hold the pencils and pens with this sweet quote attached, “ you hap-PEN to be an INK-credible teacher.” 

A Plant

plant for teacher

Want to spruce up a teacher’s desk or home? Gift them a plant this Christmas. This pot below is our favorite, and it has a witty quote attached, “ Thanks for helping me grow.” 

A Personalized Teacher Sign 

personalized teacher signs

A great personal gift to give to any teacher your child admires is a sign that they can hang in their classroom. This sign can have a quote about shaping young minds or have their name. A personalized sign is a gift that, if you have the extra time to put in the effort, will last for the long run. 

Last-Minute Candy 

teacher candy jar

And if you are scrambling to find a last-minute gift, you can always give the gift of food. Don’t be afraid to give a teacher the gift of candy, chocolate covered pretzels, or Christmas popcorn. Buy a jar and some ribbon and the treat for inside, and the gift is complete.

A Movie or Restaurant Gift Card

movie gift card

Give your child’s teacher the gift of a night out to rest and relax. Get them a gift card to a nicer restaurant in town or the movie theater. You never know the financial spot your child’s teacher is in, and this gift might allow them to indulge in an evening they wouldn’t usually be able to afford. 

 

I hope that this article has helped to spark your brain with some fun and creative ways to thank a teacher near to your child’s heart this Christmas. Let us know how you plan to spoil your child’s teacher in the comments below!