Food for Kids +6 Months

Hello Readers,

I would today like to address a very important topic that almost all the new mothers worry about - Child's Food! Though it seems simple as the doctors tell you to start giving EVERYTHING to the child to eat once he is 6+ months, it is equally confusing to understand as to what EXACTLY COMES UNDER EVERYTHING!

Let me try to make things simple one by one.

FOOD AT WHAT AGE!

This is a very confusing and equally annoying question as to what age should the child be starting up with FOOD! (Anything other than mother's milk or Formula Milk). Everyone has a different take on this one. Medically, it is told that the child should be started up with food (Solids or semi solids) only after the baby completes 6 months and before that the baby should be only on mother's milk.

But I have met a lot of women too who started giving water / honey / tea  or a few semi solid things to the baby before 6 months. So, I guess its all about your personal choice and the way your baby takes it. 

Though, in my case, I chose the former one, going the medically said way i.e. starting solids / semi solids once my baby completed his 6 months and was pretty satisfied with the way he adjusted with the change.

WHAT TO START WITH?

Well, one should be starting with something that is bit lighter and easier to digest for the child. Lets take a look at few examples that I started off with for my son -

* Start Water - Start giving water to your child. Use boiled water preferably filtered one. This will prevent dehydration. 

* Milk and Biscuit - Toned milk mixed with equal amount of water (Use boiled water, preferably filtered) and half biscuit blended in it (Parle G, Sunfeast glucose, Marie Choice etc. are few lighter ones that may be used). This can be given twice a day as it curbs increasing baby hunger and also providing him nutrition.

* Lentil Soup - Yellow moong daal, boiled with a pinch of salt & haldi (turmeric). Add enough water that lets the daal to be of a thinner consistency so that only the boiled daal water can be given. You can add two three drops of desi ghee also. Daal is a good source of protein.

Avoid Chana daal and Urad as they are gaseous in nature.

* Vegetable Soup - Similar to the method above, replace the daal with vegetables such as Carrot, Beans, Bottle Guard (Ghiya / Lauki), Pumpkin, etc. The vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

* Fruits (Shakes / Solid) - Because the child has no teeth but needs to develop his taste buds for every taste too, the best way to give fruits is by preparing shakes. Few shakes are Banana Shake, Cheeku Shake, Mango Shake. Oranges and Pomegranate can be given as they are. Just peel the outer skin of the orange wedge and give one bulb at a time pressing it in the mouth of the baby making it easier for him to eat / swallow. As for Pomegranate, I used to press the bulb in his mouth leaving the seed in my hand. 

NOTE - "Make sure you always have clean hands while feeding food to the baby coz however clean you want it to be, the fact is IT IS A MESSY PROCESS!"  :-) 

* Curd / Lassi - These are good in digestion and also provide nutrition. You can give plain curd or in the form of Raita.

* Cerelac - An instant food of infants that all mothers are aware about. Personally, I do not suggest a very regular use of cerelac or other convenience foods as I believe in giving freshly prepared food to my baby. But it can be kept as a handy food for times when the mothers are extremely busy or just don't have much time for cooking up from scratch.

I gave the above mentioned stuff for almost two three months till my baby turned 8 - 9 months and simultaneously I kept increasing the quantity of biscuit in milk, thickness in moong daal soup, mashed veggies in vegetable soup, mashed fruits like banana, papaya, cheeku, melon, mango etc. 

[Apple was never that my boy liked eating Raw or Boiled - discarded in every way. Share your success story about Apples with me, if you have]

MOVING TO SOLIDS!

Generally, the baby stomachs get accustomed well to the changes in their food in two three months. Once, you feel that your baby is growing up well and is ready for a new taste, start few solids. 

Some of them that I started with were Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Vegetables, Boiled Rice, Mashed Daal in soup, Roti in milk with few drops of ghee and sugar, Bread, Khichdi, Kheer, Daliya etc. 

Paneer can also be given to kids but in less quantity as it is quite heavy for their liver to digest. 

Do keep experimenting with new flavors, keeping the spices as low as possible, using salt and haldi, heeng, badi elaichi or even zeera (Cumin) at times. These are what I used. 

CONCLUDING...

The information provided above is depending on my personal experience as a mother and what I tried for my baby. These were somethings that I thought are harmless to be shared with new mothers and would only help them out in clearing out their doubts to a certain extent. Rest, we all are best decision makers for our children and have an expert eye about their likes and dislikes. The above provided list is not exhaustive, it can be taken as a BEGINNERS GUIDE for those stepping in this arena. 

I hope this information is helpful for you. Do not forget to leave your valuable comments on this post to help me understand your requirements and expectations for improving on my future posts. 

Thanks.

Happy Cooking....

HOW TO CREATE A TABLE IN MS WORD

Hello dear readers,

Welcome back!

This post of mine is a tutorial for CREATING TABLE IN MS WORD PROGRAM. 

For beginners, I am doing this tutorial from the BASIC Blank word document (That's exactly what the blog is all about too, Clearing Basics). :)

Now, lets check out these simple steps for the same:

Step 1: Open the word document that needs the table to be inserted.

Start > Programs > MS Word

You will get a page like this, if opening a blank document. 

Step 2: Click on the INSERT tab (Red Arrow) and then TABLE (Green Arrow).

Insert > Table

Step 3: Clicking on Table, will open a box like shown in picture. 

Step 4: Choose the number of columns and rows (Horizontal & Vertical) that you want and they will automatically come on the word sheet. For selecting the columns, simply roll the pointer over the boxes shown and they will turn orange. 

Step 5: Now, you are ready to type and work with the Table in your document.

For further information and tutorials on MS Word Basics, kindly follow my other  basic tutorial posts in Other MS Word Tutorials.  


I hope this post helped you in some way. Keep visiting for more tutorials like this. Kindly do not forget to post your valuable comments to help us improve...


Ciao...

Career in Hospitality after +2

Hello readers,

This is the time for Board examinations and soon, there will be a wave of entrance examinations for the +2 students. My blog today is about a career option in Hospitality Industry. We all do keep saying and believing that tourism industry is the one which is continuously growing and has a huge potential for career but when it comes to actually selecting it as a career, it takes a backseat in comparison to the Medical, Engineering or IT sector. The students opting for graduation in this are thought to be the weaker ones who could not get through any other so called "reputed" course. 

I am sure many of you would be dreaming of making a career in this sector by getting influenced by some or the other uncle, friend, brother or sister associated with it. One could hardly find a student opting for hospitality as his first and last choice. This is a reality and a sad reality. It happened with me too 11 years back when I chose it as my career in spite of being selected for BHMS. Many of my batch mates were not really happy with their selection and kept trying for some or the other course in the MAINSTREAM as we say, and left the course in between (say after few months or even a year) to move to some REAL EDUCATION. This trend is surely to fill you with confusion, anybody will be, making you think twice about your choice too. But before you jump on to some negative conclusion, do realize that EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT LIVES AND DIFFERENT GOALS. One doesn't have to follow others blindly. You and only you are the in-charge and shaper of your future!

Also, our society still takes it as a course where kids do get spoiled and it is a BAD INDUSTRY! And my answer to all such people out there is a BIG NO! No industry is BAD, its all about your choice whether you can fit in it or not. It is human nature to label things as GOOD if they are fulfilling your wishes and you are fitting in and all the rest that are we are not suitable for are BAD coz we don't want to blame or accept our faults or misfits! Also, if a child has to get spoiled, he will pick up bad habits anywhere; School, Friends, any college, any course or even at home! Its the parents' responsibility to build their child's character and give him the sense of good and bad making him/her a better person. No course in the world spoils a child. One has to stop blaming unnecessarily.

I remember how difficult for me was to continue this course after every second person coming home GUIDING my parents to make me do some GOOD Course and be some school teacher or something that SUITS GIRLS! I am glad, my parents din't lend them an ear and whatever achievements I have today, is all because of them... I completed my Graduation in Hotel Management with holding ranks throughout the years and with very good marks, Getting a job with the Taj Hotels as a Hotel Operations Management Trainee and then moving on to do Masters Degree in the same with an All India First Rank! 

So, for all you youngsters who feel charged bout being a part of this beautiful and fastest growing industry, read on..

The Course

Moving on to the Course and its career advantages, this is one of the fastest growing and popularity gaining course now a days. We see so many Hotel Management colleges (Private and Public) promising the brightest career and placement with handsome and so attractive salaries. The course is basically about Hotel Industry, giving you professional education on the core subjects - Food Production, Food & Beverage Services, Housekeeping and Front Office along with the basic management and administration aspects of the same. Ones who aspire to be great Chefs, Managers or Entrepreneurs can surely make the most of it. 

Other than just the education, this course helps one become a more confident, disciplined and well mannered person in life. It enhances the overall personality of a person by completely transforming him / her from the boy / girl to a Lady or Gentleman! 

If a student does not wants to or qualifies for the Graduation Program, they can also opt for a diploma or short term certificate course in the same specializing in the field of their interest and be a part of the industry. 

Career Benefits

After completing three or four years of graduation in Hotel Management (HM), the student is awarded a degree of Bachelors in HM! The placements happen through campus interviews which start right before you complete the final year of graduation. Here, the placements are not just limited to only Hotels, but various other sectors also do come to conduct interviews such as Aviation Liners, Private Banks, Restaurant Chains, Fast Food Outlets, Cruise Liners etc. 

This course also open avenues for students who want to go and work abroad and gain international experience. The salaries are no doubt handsome and also the experience is amazing, this industry requires lot of Hard Work, Patience and Passion! and is not for the meek.

How To Get In

As I had mentioned earlier that there is no shortage of Hotel Management colleges, Public or Private, it depends on the personal choice and suitability. The content of the course and duration may vary among the private and govt. institutes. You can check out the link for a list of private hotel management institutes as well as govt. recognized ones.

http://www.htcampus.com/subcategory/hotel-management-colleges-in-india/

http://www.nchm.nic.in/pages/show/49

Eligibility

The course is open for students of all the streams i.e. Science, Arts, Commerce and other vocational who have completed +2 with English as a subject. More information can be seen through the following link:

http://www.nchm.nic.in/scatadmissions/index/3

I hope the blog gave you somewhat clear picture of the industry and helped you in clearing your confusion and queries about the same. Kindly do leave a comment on what else information on the topic you would want to know and I would be happy to help.

Thanks...

Click Here for more info

Personal Hygiene

The very first and most important requirement for a Hospitality Professional is Personal Hygiene & Grooming. The industry demands Perfection and looking good is essential at all times. But it is all that is needed or do we miss out on some very minor issues?

So, let us try to understand Hygiene in a very simple, logical and easy to follow daily way.

For some theoretical introduction, the term Hygiene basically comes from the name of a Greek Goddess “Hygieia” who is considered as the Goddess of Health. Hygiene basically means cleanliness of one’s own body, surroundings, lifestyle patterns, or any such thing that ensures a safe, sound and healthy atmosphere around. Here, we will talk only about the Personal Hygiene (Body).

Just like any other machine or gadget, the most complex machine in the world i.e. Our Body also demands our care and attention on a daily basis. We often neglect ourselves due to only these basic reasons like being lazy to get up and go in the shower, or being negative about our looks, or just being late! (I am sure you are nodding in agreement).

Good looks come with good hygiene practices and they need to be followed with discipline all the time. Let us now have a look at few general and very basic points of personal hygiene:

Dental Hygiene – NOBODY wants to be killed by a bad breath at least! Brush the teeth properly twice or thrice a day (Preferably after meals also) using a good toothbrush and a paste. Using a mouthwash afterwards won’t harm either. Bad breath is the biggest put off for anybody and however nice and handsome you look, bad breath makes you invisible and only the breath remains! It prevents gum diseases and tooth decay and gives beauty to the smile.

Shaving – Gentlemen, stubble is cool but not professional. So, take the route to shaving your face properly and daily. It gives you a more clean and friendly look.

Bathing Daily – Please guys, DO NOT SKIP BATHING! Yes, even in winters. Bath daily to feel fresh and energetic whole day. Yes it does get difficult for some to drag themselves out of the cozy bedding to under the cold shower but it is for your own good. It does remove all the dead skin cells giving you a fresh and neat look and keeping you away from various diseases. Also, it helps you stay awake and attentive to the daily activities and enhances the work performance. Do use a good bathing soap and shampoo.

Using Deodorants – Use good quality perfumes or Deodorants to keep away body odor. Keeping in mind that the fragrance should be pleasing and light rather than very strong.

Cutting/Trimming Nails – Yes, long, dirty and ill-maintained nails that usually showcase the delicious food items you just had are a big NO!  Keep them clean, well trimmed or cut, and in good shape.

Washing hands – Before and after meals and after using the washroom, do not forget to bid adieu to the food particles, germs and bacteria that are clinging on your hands by washing your hands with soap and water properly. (You have better people to be friends with!)

Changing / Wearing clean clothes – This holds true for the under as well as outer wear. Using your already used under garments gives room for the development of bad odor, bacteria leading to irritation, itching and other serious skin problems and infections. Wear washed and clean under garments daily. Wearing clean clothes leaves a nice impression on others. People wearing clean clothes are considered more trustworthy rather than the filthy ones.

Apart from the above mentioned general points, a big role in maintaining good health and hygiene is also played by the habits of a person. Some people have habit of smoking or chewing tobacco. It causes serious health problems and also the beauty of the face goes away with it. The smoke and tobacco deteriorates the teeth and takes away its whiteness giving it a pale yellow, reddish and black look which I am sure nobody would like to see while smiling. Eat proper and healthy food, drink plenty of water and avoid food ingredients that are likely to cause smell. Cutting down on too much tea and coffee is also good for health.

I don’t think looking good and being healthy is so difficult, it just takes some effort and there you are ready to go, full of confidence, good looks and leaving a perfect impression! 

Stay Healthy...

Hope for the best

Hello readers,

Good Evening & Welcome to the post.

This is my first ever blog. I was absolutely unaware (rather not even interested in being aware) about blogging till few days back. I am a housewife and a mother to a handsome little boy. Like many other mommies, I used to work before my baby and now wanted to get back to work. I searched all through the internet extensively to find a HOME BASED JOB, you know something like Data Entry, Presentations, Admin support and what not. I tried Freelancer, oDesk, Elance, Guru etc. but the search and time I invested in all these was useless, in my opinion. The skills and tasks hardly match. That did created a disappointment in me and this was when I bumped into an article about blogging and after reading it, I got inspired to give a try to blogging about something useful and what I know and share it with many others. 

My background & Teaching Experience being Hospitality and Hotel Management, I will be posting stuff related to the Hospitality Education and its subjects. Adding on, I have expertise in MS Office (read Word, Excel and Power point, so you will also find Simple Basic Tutorials on working with the above mentioned programs in future. 

I hope this blogging thing works and let me share my knowledge and expertise with the rest. 

I am not sure as to how much is it helpful in EARNING, but my blogs will surely be helping you out in LEARNING.