Teens Offer Parenting Tips that Encourage Teen Driver Safety

(Family Features) All too often, news headlines tell of another teen killed in a car crash. It is estimated that 35 percent of teen casualties are due to vehicular driving accidents, making it the leading cause of death among teenagers in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Through their participation in a high school program called Project Ignition, thousands of young people have stood up to this statistic and worked tirelessly to change the driving behaviors of their peers and broader communities.
If you have a teen driver in your family who you want to help become safer on the road, here are some tips from students in Project Ignition:
Open the lines of communication

• Talk with your teen about distracted driving. Make sure you both understand what things are dangerous distractions.
• Listen to your teen. Ask about what it's like being in the car with other teens, and what distractions there are to handle.

Offer support

• Encourage your teen to use his or her voice. Role-play with your teen so that he can become comfortable saying things like, "We both want to live, so let me answer your phone or text while you drive."
• Help your teen get involved with programs at school like Project Ignition, so that she can be a positive example and make an impact.

Set rules

• Set family ground rules for texting and calling while driving. Your teen needs to know you have high expectations, and what the consequences will be if the rules aren't followed. 
• Know where your teen is going, who he will be with, and what time he is expected home.

Be a positive example

• Model the behavior you want your teen to exhibit. If the phone rings while you're driving, don't answer it. Encourage your teen to answer your phone or text, allowing you to drive more safely.
• Speak up about distracted driving to your friends and peers in front of your teen driver. Help set an example, spread the word and save lives.

Project Ignition, a service-learning program coordinated by the National Youth Leadership Council and funded by State Farm, makes grants available to public high schools in the U.S. and Canada. The program provides young people the opportunity and tools necessary to take the lead in addressing teen driver safety issues in their communities by linking public service to academic curriculum.
How it Works

• Twenty-five schools will be chosen to receive $2,000 grants to support the implementation of teen driver safety awareness and engagement campaigns. 
• Ten of these 25 schools will be given $5,000 to sponsor their participation in a significant national conference or event. They will also be given the opportunity to receive an additional $2,500 to go deeper with their campaigns during the 2012-2013 school year.

Additional information and the grant application can be found at www.sfprojectignition.com. Applications are due November 15, 2011.

Photo courtesy of the National Youth Leadership Council
Photo caption:  Are you able to give your teenager the car keys with confidence?
SOURCE:
National Youth Leadership Council

What Every Car Owner Should Know

(Family Features) Many car owners can expertly maneuver through rush hour traffic, but far fewer can expertly navigate their way under the hood. Automotive issues can leave many of us wondering "What's that sound?" and "Do I really need this repair?" or even worse, ignoring a problem altogether.

Championship Tips

Drew Torrey and Matt Saunders are the national champions of the 62nd annual Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition. Their automotive know-how helped them beat 10,000 other high school automotive technology students from across the country to earn the championship title and tens of thousands of dollars in automotive scholarships and tools. These highly qualified students offer the following advice to help car owners properly maintain their vehicles while protecting themselves, their passengers and their wallets.
Do a little light reading. Read your owner's manual and service booklet carefully. The auto manufacturer created this information specifically for your car, and it can answer a lot of questions, including which maintenance services you can do at home and which ones require a trained service technician. Heeding this advice can save you time and money in the long run.
Pump it up (or deflate it). Make sure your car's tires are inflated to the proper pressure (measured in pounds per square inch or PSI). Improperly inflated tires wear out more quickly and can increase the possibility of a dangerous blowout. To find the recommended inflation pressure for your tires, check the tire information decal that is likely located on the driver's doorjamb, or in your owner's manual. Do not, however, rely on the PSI figure molded into the sidewall of the tire. You'll need just one small tool-an air pressure gauge-to check your tire pressure.
Pay attention. Do not ignore your "check engine" light just because you don't know what it means. It can actually alert you to a variety of different problems, from a loose gas cap to a faulty oxygen (02) sensor. If the check engine light comes on, first tighten the gas cap to see if that solves your problem. If that doesn't work, visit your auto technician for further diagnosis, as the problems at-hand could cause increased exhaust emissions and decrease your fuel economy by up to 40 percent (according to the U.S. Department of Energy), potentially costing you more money in the long run than a professional repair would.
Put on the brakes. If your car's brakes squeak while you're driving but stop making noise when you apply pressure to the brake pedal, your brakes may be in need of professional service. Your auto technician will be able to make a definitive diagnosis, but it's possible you could need new front disc brake pads and additional brake system work.
Fill 'er up. If your car's automatic transmission seems to be shifting erratically you could be low on transmission fluid. You can check the level and add fluid using the procedures described in your owner's manual. If it's time to change the fluid, visit your local automotive shop. In either case, pay attention to this condition-ignoring a small problem with your transmission now could mean you'll have to shell out the money for a whole new one later on.
For more information on the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition, visit www.autoskills.com.
SOURCE:
AAA

Smart Nutrition Tips

Advice from Sports Dietitian Leslie Bonci

(Family Features) A healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean nibbling on bland fare. With strategic substitutions and smart snacking tips, you can still enjoy some favorite foods without compromising your nutritional goals.

"Eating healthy means enjoying a broad variety of foods and including carbs, protein and fat in your diet," says one of the country's most recognized sports dietitians, Leslie Bonci, who consults for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Milwaukee Brewers and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
With smart food swaps and tricks that add nutrients and flavor, Bonci can help you enjoy eating well without the extra pounds.
Stay hydrated. If you are on the go, drink cold water - it leaves your stomach and gets to the muscles faster, thus doing a better job of hydrating your body. Also, try swapping some of the foods on your menu for ones with liquid: Foods such as cold soups, many fruits, vegetables and applesauce take up more room in the stomach and can help keep you full longer. Consider making satisfying salads with grains like bulgur or brown rice, which also absorb a lot of liquid.
Allow yourself some indulgences. Enjoying foods you love is important to long-term success, and making smart choices doesn't mean sacrificing treats. Just opt for products that provide portion control and good calorie count. A pre-packaged better-for-you options like the ones from Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods is a great choice. All of the Weight Watchers sweet baked treats have 4 to 5 grams of fiber, contributing to your daily fiber requirements; and few people actually get the daily fiber requirement of 20 to 35 grams. Also, the Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods have no trans fat and are good on the go. I enjoy them as part of my morning and afternoon snacks or as an easy, sensible dessert. Learn more at www.weightwatchers.com/sensiblefoods.
Taste the rainbow. Eating a variety of colorful foods increases the nutrient richness of your diet, contributes to your daily fluid requirements and provides carbohydrates for fuel. Here's a quick rundown of the colors you should look for:

• Dark green: Leafy greens such as spinach, kale and romaine are great sources of vitamin K for bone and eye health.
  
• Orange: Peaches, nectarines and cantaloupe contain natural carotenoid pigments for lung and skin health.
  
• Yellow: This is corn time, folks, and corn is a great source of lutein for eye health.
  
• Red: Tomatoes offer vitamin C and lycopene.
  
• Deep red or purple: Plums, cherries and berries all boost heart health.

Get creative with nature's bounty. When you grill, think beyond protein. Grill vegetables and fruit, or add chopped pineapple or mango to salsa to top fish or chicken.
Seek balance. Fuel your body on a regular basis and include foods from each macronutrient group every time you sit down to eat. That means carbohydrate-, protein- and fat-containing foods. Try to divide your plate this way: a bit less than half of your plate for fruit and vegetables, one third for lean protein (beef, pork, poultry, fish, low-fat dairy, eggs or soy foods) and the remainder for grains (pasta, rice or bulgur). Don't omit fat - just use a little to enhance flavor. Olive oil, nuts or a thin spread of nut butter are all good choices. If you really want that ice cream or that glass of wine, have it instead of the grain, not in addition.
Forget bland condiments. If you want to eat better, spice things up. Healthful spices include cinnamon, turmeric, ginger and oregano. You can use spices to add flavor to your dishes or drinks while cutting the amount of calorie-rich ingredients such as oil and sugar. Try mixing spices, citrus and fresh herbs to perk up any vegetarian fare.
Be prepared with portable snacks. It can be hard to eat better when you travel, so keep handy a survival kit that includes non-perishable protein and carbohydrate-containing foods. If you are a busy parent on-the-go or work long hours, throw some of these snacks in your bag to avoid fast-food restaurants and vending machines. A few good options: Foods with protein - jerky, packs of tuna or salmon requiring no can opener, roasted soy nuts, seeds and small cans of bean dip with a pop-top for easy opening. Carbohydrate-containing foods - packs of oatmeal, prepackaged cereal and homemade trail mix.

Put your fork down between bites and chew. Feel the texture, notice the flavors, and savor the food. Preparing foods that require chewing harder will give you more time to eat and allow your brain to register you are full. It takes at least 20 minutes after eating for your stomach to tell your brain that it is full, but most of us finish a meal in 10 minutes. Give your stomach time to catch up to your brain by slowing down your eating. It will take longer to finish a meal, leaving less time for a second helping.


Enjoying a portion-controlled treat is a good way to indulge without overdoing it.

SOURCE:
Weight Watchers