Mind + Body: December 2016

A Fight to End Bullying: Follow these tips to help your children avoid being bullied.

A recent report by WalletHub found that Louisiana is the second worst state in the nation (behind Michigan) for bullying. Even worse, Louisiana has the highest percentage of high school students who attempt suicide. According to the National Education Association, more than 160,000 children miss school every day out of fear of being bullied. Bullying can range from name-calling to severe physical violence, and it can happen to anyone.

“There seems to be a higher rate of victimization among males,” says Jeff Leffler, visiting assistant professor and executive director for the Center for Child Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. “It also seems that the younger the child, the more likely they are to be bullied. This becomes very important in kindergarten when many children are starting formal schooling. The experiences of this grade level impact the child’s perspective of school throughout their childhood and into their teen years.”

Some of the warning signs that your child is being bullied include unexplained cuts or bruises; damaged or missing clothing, books, school supplies or other belongings; taking unnecessarily long routes to school; and asking to stay home sick because of frequent complaints of headaches, stomachaches or other ailments. Here are some steps to take if your child is being bullied:

• teach your child to exude confidence and to stand up for his or herself;
• consider enrolling your child in self-defense classes;
• teach your child to avoid the bully as much as possible;
• explain to your child that if the bully doesn’t get a reaction, they will likely get bored and stop the bullying; and
• remind your child to always tell an adult.

 

Say Ahhh: In-home massage just got that much more accessible

Just last month, a new massage on-demand app known as Zeel launched in New Orleans, offering licensed massage therapists available for appointments at your home, hotel or office. Simply download the app; sign up; and schedule a massage. To make things even easier, therapists are available seven days per week, 365 days per year, from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. They can be booked anywhere from an hour to a month in advance.

One of the best aspects of the service is that all therapists are licensed, background checked, experienced, vetted in-person and fully committed to providing the best Zeel experience. And before your first massage, Zeel runs identification checks on customers through partners Experian and Jumio to provide a layer of safety for therapists. Single massages start at $105 for 60 minutes ($152 for 90 minutes). Or, sign up for the annual massage membership, appropriately dubbed “Zeelot,” which includes one massage per month at 15 to 25 percent off, and a free professional-grade massage table and Zeel-branded massage table sheets to keep. The best part: Credits roll over, never expire and can be gifted to others.

 
Maria’s Pick — Nibbles and Nosh: Charcuterie heaven is just a lunch away.

For some delicious eats on the healthy side of options available in New Orleans (we know, it can be hard to eat healthy here!), mosey over to Part & Parcel located in The South Market District. This modern delicatessen features house-cured charcuterie from chef du cuisine Michael Mericle. “I love The Corleone sandwich,” says Maria Muro, publisher of New Orleans Living. “It comes with a pile of charcuterie, rosemary ham, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and basil pesto — all served on a hoagie from John Gendusa Bakery. You really can’t beat it!” Of course, there are also cocktails on the menu (Face Like Bacon Love, anyone? It’s made with face bacon bourbon, maple syrup, lemon and seasonal herbs). We won’t tell anyone if you decide to imbibe. 611 O’Keefe Ave, Ste. C-8, (504) 827-1090, partandparcelnola.com