Family Update: Back-to-School iPhone Apps, Laptop Recalls, Another Breastfeeding Benefit, Heart Attack Risk at its Roots, Dining Out with Allergies and More

Need an app to get your school year functioning smoothly?
· Back to school? There’s an app for that (Parent Central)

Another to do: Return the recalled laptop before school starts:
· Toshiba Satellite Notebook Computers (Health Canada)

Too add to the lengthy, guilt-inducing lists of breastfeeding benefits:
· Breastfeeding for even a month reduces risk of diabetes (Parent Central)

Talk about a bad hair day:
· Is a heart attack hiding in your hair? (Health Zone)

Dining out with allergies doesn’t have to be a game of Russian roulette:
· Eating out with food allergies (Ottawa Citizen)

A fascinating look at the increased psycho-pharmacological treatment of young kids:
· Child’s Ordeal Shows Risks of Psychosis Drugs for Young (New York Times)

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Back-to-School: Last Chance to Win a Skip Hop Backpack!

If you haven’t yet entered to win one of these adorable Skip Hop knapsacks are perfect, leave us a comment below. We’ll be notifying the winners Monday.

We’re giving away a Frog, Zebra and Penguin. Let us know if you eat breakfast family style or en route, and what your child eats most often.

Thanks for tuning in to our Back-to-School posts. We hope you and your family have a lovely weekend to kick off the new season!

And if you’re looking for helpful tips on starting school check out our CF’s Back-to-School Guide. And find our complete September 2010 issue available in digital edition here!

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Long Weekend Tips: Brush Up On Your BBQ Grilling Safety

Image Courtesy of beketchai via Flickr (CC)

According to Health Canada, there are an estimated 11 million cases of food-related illness in Canada each year—many that could be prevented by proper food prep and handling. Here are some tips on how to make sure your next barbecue bash is something to remember for all the right reasons.

- Never defrost meat at room temperature. Defrost meat in the refrigerator, in a sink filled with cold water, or in the microwave.

- Always refrigerate perishable foods, including luncheon meats and potato and pasta salads, within two hours of purchase or prep. (In hot weather, one hour.) Toss leftovers that have been sitting in the sun or heat for an hour or more.

- Never place cooked food on an unwashed platter that previously held raw meat, chicken or seafood. If you only have one, make sure it is washed with hot, soapy water before reuse.

- Always use a digital food thermometer to ensure meats are cooked to a safe temperature. Don’t try to guess doneness by appearance alone. Fish should be cooked to an internal temperature of 70°C (158°F), burgers, pork and steaks (medium) to 71°C (160°F);  and chicken pieces to 74°C (165°F). For a complete list of recommended cooking temperatures, visit hc-sc.gc.ca.

Once you’ve reviewed your summer BBQ safety, it wouldn’t hurt to look over the basics before firing up for your feast!

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Famous Canadians Share Their Passions Starting Today

Want to get inside the minds of some of your favourite Canadian TV personalities? Check out Passion Profiles, a unique online talk show featuring host Cheryl Hickey and brought to you by Häagen-Dazs.

Each of the four episodes offers a rare and fascinating glimpse of some of your favorite personalities as you’ve never seen them before. Coming up on August 25 learn about the passions, inspirations and dreams of renowned chef and TV personality Mark McEwan, as he sits down for an intimate chat with veteran celeb interviewer Cheryl Hickey. McEwan has been a chef on the Toronto scene since the late ‘70s, making his way quickly up the ladder to become the youngest executive chef in Canada, a position he was given at Sutton Place hotel in 1983. He is now at the head of a culinary empire that includes acclaimed restaurants Bymark, North 44 and One Restaurant at Hazelton Hotel as well as McEwan, a 23,000-square foot fine food emporium. He’s the host of the Food Network hit The Heat, and has also been a judge of The Superstar Chef Challenge.

Visit passionprofiles.ca to get up close and personal with the Mark McEwan!