ST. MARY’S TWEENS & TEENS
5 Day Full Day Pre-K 3 & 4 Grades K - 8 — by Myrna Beth Haskell
Elementary School
A STREAM School
STEM + Religion + Art
OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
6pm – 7:30pm • Tours Available
District busing within 15 miles
2 St. Mary’s Hill • Lancaster NY 14086
716-683-2112
www.smeschool.com
How Teens Can Beat
Old Man Winter at His Game
(716) 677-0338 • 70 Weiss Avenue • West Seneca
Do you have a 3 year old?
Register Now for the Spring & Fall 2019 Semester.
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www.gymnastics-unlimited.net
W
ith winter at my doorstep, I am reminded of the
expressions “dead of winter” and “cabin fever.”
Many start to get antsy about being cooped up
for too long, especially teens who are used to being active every
minute of the day. Teens want to get out and get moving, but
afternoons spent at the beach or biking through the countryside
are distant memories now that the weather no longer cooperates.
Some people are affected by seasonal differences more
than others. The colder temperatures and fewer hours of sun-
light can affect a teen’s mood or even lead to depression. The
key is to keep energy levels high and creative ideas flowing.
The Basics for a Positive Winter Season
Healthy eating is important to keep a teen’s energy up.
Megan Fendt, RD, CDE, of the Friedman Diabetes Institute at
Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan, suggests, “When the winter
months get dreary, think color. A plate full of bright colored
food can perk your mood just by looking at it. The vitamins and
minerals in fruits and vegetables can help you think more clear-
ly. Getting more brain food can be as easy as grabbing some
baby carrots or a green apple.”
Since teens often eat on the run, you might want to suggest
healthy snack foods: citrus fruits, granola bars, low fat yogurt,
raisins, or nuts. Teens should also make an effort to eat small,
healthy portions throughout the day, which keeps their metabo-
lism going.
Dory said it best to Nemo, “Just keep swimming… just
keep swimming.” In an age where hand-held electronics and
video games are common pastimes, exercise sometimes takes
a backseat. If your teen is not competing in a winter sport, he
should seek activities that provide a workout.
Jason Stella, a certified personal trainer and fitness expert
with Lifetime Fitness Centers, says that the best workouts are
those that put a smile on your face. “When it comes to exercise,
the perception is often a drill sergeant and a miserable experi-
ence. It doesn’t have to be that way. Think about a time that you
played without worrying about judgment. Typically you felt
great when you were participating in the experience, even if it
was difficult and caused you to lose your breath.”
40 WNY Family February 2019