5 Money Lessons You Need To Teach Your Children

The task of teaching financial literacy falls largely on the parents. Here are a few money lessons you can teach your children.



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Black folks are often at a disadvantage when it comes to financial education — which is no surprise. For us, we have a few centuries of disadvantage when it comes to passing accumulating generational wealth and gaining the knowledge and tools that come with building a financial empire.

Thankfully, times have changed and we have more access than ever (thank you, Internet) to having those currency conversations that are necessary to teaching the next generation about wealth building and being financially savvy.


Because this is rarely taught in schools, the task of teaching financial literacy falls largely on parents. In fact, according to the Council for Economic Education, only a third of U.S. states require high school students to take a personal finance class in order to graduate. And one in five 15-year-olds in the U.S. lacked basic financial literacy in 2017, according to the Program for International Student Assessment, a global exam that measures knowledge in areas such as math, science and reading.
Despite the lack of resources in our schools, being a parent in 2019 has changed tremendously over the years, so this task is no longer a burden. Here are a few money lessons you can teach your children that your parents may not have taught you.

Comparison is the thief of joy.
Kids nowadays need to know, that just because you see your friends post about it on Instagram, doesn’t mean that you need it. In the era of “stunting for the ‘gram” they have to learn how to not compare themselves to the perceived lives or financial status of those around them. Financial success is typically the end result of years of self-control, and a big part of that discipline involves living within or below your means. The people with real wealth are not posting it on the ‘gram. It’s easy to access some of the trappings of wealth in our society, but it’s difficult to actually afford them. Buying new cars, big houses and designer handbags might impress others, but these goods often mask high debt and a precarious relationship with credit.
Don’t confuse easy access to credit with real wealth.
Just because you have access, doesn’t mean it’s worth more than what it truly is — credit. And what is credit? Money given that is needed to pay back. Although it doesn’t seem nearly as sexy, real wealth is usually the product of responsible spending, maximizing the value of every dollar, and trading glamour for modesty and security.
All debt is not bad debt.
If you’re like me, all throughout my 20s I heard the nagging voice of my mother, who always told me to never get a credit card to protect my credit. Fast forward to being a late 20-something with no credit, and not realizing the importance of building this up at an early age to ensure a decent credit score. It’s important to realize that all debt is not bad debt. Sometimes you need to take on debt (such as a credit card), pay it off on time, and not exceed more than 30% of your monthly limit.

Save, save, save.
Saving is a long-term game. While it may seem like your bills are endless, and you’re strapped for cash, you can always make an effort to put aside just a little bit of cash, no matter how small. Kids need to know how the importance of maintaining a savings habit early pays off. If every dollar that comes into your life has to go out, there’s little hope for getting ahead. Work to keep your overhead lower than your income, pocket the difference and don’t treat every bump in income as a path towards a more expensive lifestyle.
Set specific goals.
Financial goals can sometimes be too broad — buy a house, save for retirement and keep paying our bills. Or if you’re a kid — save for concert tickets, sneakers or a trip with friends. However, in order to succeed financially, goals need to be more specific. For example, it’s fine to shoot for buying a home. But what kind of house suits your needs and lifestyle? What type of down payment would leave you with a comfortable mortgage? The answers to these questions translate into better-defined goals that, in turn, can motivate us and help us to make better financial decisions. Or even better, setting deadline driven goals can help to help keep you on track, such as, reducing credit card debt down to 20% within 3 months.
To set your financial goals and make a plan, take the Currency Conversations Pledge today. Commit to yourself!


https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/money-career/money-lessons-teach-children/

6 Fall Foods That Can Help You Lose Weight

By Brianna SteinhilberMedically Reviewed by Kelly Kennedy, RD

Last Updated: September 23, 2015

When you hear "fall foods," what comes to mind? Pumpkin pie? Gravy? Stews, pot roast, and turkey? Whatever you associate with fall fare, chances are that "healthy" doesn't top the list. But maybe it should! The right foods can help you shed pounds, and autumn's produce is no exception. Here are the best foods to eat right now: They'll help keep you slim while still allowing you to indulge in all of the delicious dishes the season has to offer.

Move over, butternut — there's another healthy squash in season. Spaghetti squash is a dieter's dream: With the shape and texture of pasta, but a fraction of the carbs and calories, it's a great way to satisfy pasta cravings without any guilt. If you're a Bolognese lover, this recipe for Spaghetti Squash With Chunky Tomato Sauce will hit the spot. Or try this Sweet Spaghetti Squash recipe for a bowl of savory, fall goodness for less than 100 calories!

The popular fall fruit is a good source of fiber and is low in calories, making for a yummy snack that keeps you full without adding too much to your daily calorie count. While apples make a smart, portable snack as is, they also work well in a variety of recipes. Bring apples to the dinner menu with a tangy twist on coleslaw, which is great as a side dish or as a topping on your favorite burger or sandwich. For a savory, fall-inspired carb, whip up some Apple Raisin Risotto — a more nutritious take on the classic dish.

Sweet and colorful, this starchy veggie makes a perfect substitute for your classic Idaho. While it isn't dramatically lower in calories, it's slightly lower in carbohydrates and — added bonus — higher in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A. Try these Smashed Sweet Potatoes for a healthy twist on classic mash, or go savory with Sweet Potato Casserole for a sweet take on dinner or a delicious breakfast option. For all the french fry lovers out there, be sure to bake up a batch of these Crispy Sweet Potato Fries!

If you're looking to cut back on calories without sacrificing flavor, sprouts are your new best friend. They're a good source of filling fiber, which may help you stave off the after-supper snack craving. Replace your standard side of rice for a helping of Brussels Sprouts With Chestnuts and Sage. The buttery dish is satisfying and delicious, but at just 68 calories per serving, will still save you calories. Or spice things up with this recipe for Brussels Sprouts With Bacon-Horseradish Cream. If the shape or texture turns your family off, give these Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Onions a try — they don't even have to know they're eating sprouts!

Low in calories and rich in some vitamins and other nutrients, it's no mystery why cauliflower is a go-to fall food when it comes to our health. The cruciferous veggie is extremely versatile: It's an outstanding side dish when roasted, like in this Thyme Pork Chops with Roasted Cauliflower recipe, and has the ability to soak up delicious spices and flavors, as it does in this Indian-Spiced Eggplant and Cauliflower Stew recipe. Most notable is its ability to serve as a sub for mashed potatoes, since the flavor is delicious and strikingly similar to that of the traditional potato — and it also cuts back on calories and carbs. Simply blend cooked cauliflower with some sea salt, low-fat sour cream, and olive oil, and you have yourself a delish mash remix!

Just like the apple, pears are full of fiber and low in calories, delivering a sweetly satisfying snack without the weight woes. For some delicious and unexpected appetizer recipes, serve Pear and Dried Apricot Salsa and Pear and Blue Cheese Flatbread — your guests will be begging for the recipes!

https://www.everydayhealth.com/reciperehab/6-delicious-fall-foods-that-help-you-lose-weight.aspx?eh_uid=47603588&slot=0&xid=nl_EHNLdiet_2019-09-23_18126686&utm_source=Newsletters&nl_key=nl_diet_nutrition&utm_content=2019-09-23&utm_campaign=Diet_and_Nutrition

Here’s What Happens to Your Body When you Drink Coke

By

Susan Patterson

-

September 18, 2019

Carbonated drinks like coca-cola, Pepsi, rootbeer, Dr. Pepper are not the only things responsible for the obesity epidemic in America, but they certainly contribute. Along with heavily processed food and lack of exercise, soda is one of the greatest enemies of a healthy lifestyle. However, According to an extensive survey, 48% of Americans report drinking at least one glass of soda per day with the average daily consumption at 2.6 glasses. Why is coke so bad and what happens to your body when you drink a can? Read on to find out. 

Soda is loaded with harmful dyes, chemicals, and a whopping ten teaspoons of added sugar. High fructose corn syrup, which is prominent in carbonated drinks, has been linked to many devastating health conditions, including obesity, insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. When you drink a can of coke (or other sugary soda) each day, you increase your risk of weight gain, cardiovascular problems, anxiety, dental erosion, and dull, stressed-looking skin. 

This unsurprising research, conducted by Niraj Naik of The Renegade Pharmacist and backed by numerous scientific studies explores precisely what happens to your body in the hour after you drink a can of coke…The effects aren’t desirable, to say the least. 

First 10 minutes

10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended daily intake.) You don’t immediately vomit from the overwhelming sweetness because phosphoric acid cuts the flavour, allowing you to keep it down.
20 minutes in
Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat. (There’s plenty of that at this particular moment)
40 minutes in
Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your livers dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness.
45 minutes in
Your body ups your dopamine production stimulating the pleasure centres of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way.
60 minutes in
The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.
After 60 minutes
The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play. (It makes you have to pee) It is now assured that you’ll evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolyte and water.

As the rave inside of you dies down you’ll start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You’ve also now, literally, [peed] away all the water that was in the Coke. But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body could have used for things like having the ability to hydrate your system or build strong bones and teeth.”
According to a study at Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, the majority of Americans understand that sugar-sweetened beverages are bad for them and believe it would be healthy to limit their consumption. So how do you reconcile this fact with the prevalence of excessive soda-drinking? 
The key is an addiction. Even though you may not consider yourself a sugar addict, if you’ve tried to eliminate soda from your diet and have been unsuccessful, you could be hooked on the unhealthy drink. It’s not unexpected, either. One pharmacist from The University of Wales said that coke has the same kind of immediate effect on the brain as the illicit drug, heroin.
Fill your diet with nutrient-rich foods that keep you full and begin drinking lemon water or unsweetened sparkling water with fresh fruit flavoring if you need to satisfy your desire for bubbly carbonation. Start by limiting yourself to one can or bottle of soda each week, and soon you won’t want it at all. You’ll begin to lose weight, feel better, and experience clearer skin. All with one simple change. Remember, your moves toward a healthier life don’t have to be drastic and immediate. Little things can make a huge difference and can add up over time. Ditch that soda today…your body will thank you!
https://www.thealternativedaily.com/heres-what-happens-to-body-when-you-drink-coke/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AD190919

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