Sandra

Sunday Evening we met Sandra and her mom, Anette, at the Downtown Marriott for a wonderful dinner.Sandra came home with us and is staying with us this school year.
I already put her to work ;-) Brianna and Sandra are helping me paint watermelons for Sonshine Preschool: Sandra had NO IDEA what she was getting herself into...Sandra is from Solrod Strand, Denmark, which is near Copenhagen.

So far, I have learned the Flag of Denmark is the oldest flag still in use, Hans Christian Andersen was Danish (Sandra brought us a beautiful Danish Fairy Tale book) and Anthon Berg Almond Delights are better than the American comparison, peanut or almond M&Ms. I also just learned chocolate is good for you!

CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR YOUR BODY
Cocoa has been used as a refreshment of the heart and nerves with good reason. The cocoa bean actually contains some stimulating and euphoric substances which lift both your mood and your energy level. Thus chocolate used to be called “the vegetable kingdom’s pill of happiness.”
Moreover, the cocoa bean contains a substance which is similar to a natural substance the brain releases when we are in love. Thus the story about the cocoa bean being a love potion may be true.
Finally, research results indicate that chocolate, thanks to its high content of antioxidants, actually protects blood vessels and heart against emboli – as does red wine. This applies to all chocolate with high cocoa content. The mere smell of a cup of cocoa or a piece of good chocolate is divine – but it also stimulates your immune defences, scientists maintain.
FIVE GOOD THINGS ABOUT CHOCOLATE
1. The high fat content of dark chocolate comes from cocoa butter, which converts into healthy fatty acid which helps to lower cholesterol.
2. Chocolate gives you a lot of useful nutrients: iodine, iron, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and zinc as well as vitamins A,B and E.
3. Chocolate contains large amounts of active anti-oxidant such as polyphenols ans bio-flavanoids, which are believed to help reduce the risk of developing cancer.
4. Chocolate contains substances that stimulate metabolism, euphoria and well-being.
5. The comfortably low melting point of chocolate makes it near perfect for all-natural body paint experiments. (so glad I know this now! ;-) Brianna is SOOOOOO EXCITED to have a big sister! :-)