Wildfire smoke chokes northern Manitoba air, while hot, humid weather plagues the south
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an air quality warning for much of northern Manitoba including Thompson, The Pas and Flin Flon on Saturday morning.
With relatively light winds, smoke is expected to concentrate especially over the area near active wildfires, causing poor air quality and reduced visibility throughout the day.
Everyone's health is at risk, regardless of age or health status, during heavy smoke conditions, the federal agency said. But pregnant people, children, seniors and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to be impacted.
Environment Canada is advising people to reschedule or cancel outdoor sports and activities. People who work outdoors should avoid extraneous activities and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms.
Those may include eye eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More serious.but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough, Environment Canada said.
According to the province's latest fire bulletin, issued Friday, the Manitoba Wildfire Service was responding to 121 active wildfires across the province, which has seen a total of 337 wildfires to date, well above the average for this time of year of 260.
Heat warning
Meanwhile, pockets of southern Manitoba, including the cities of Winnipeg, Brandon and Portage la Prairie, are under a heat warning.
Humid and hot conditions are expected to remain throughout Saturday with temperatures reaching the low 30's C and humidex values nearing 38, Environment Canada said.
Conditions are expected to improve with a cold front moving overnight Saturday, but in the meantime the weather agency is advising people to watch for signs of early heat exhaustion including headache, dizziness and intense fatigue.
Extreme heat can affect everyone's health, but the risks are greater for older adults and other vulnerable people, Environment Canada said.
To reduce the health effects of heat, stay out of direct sunlight, drink plenty of water and stay in a cool space, closing blinds and open windows if it is cooler outside than inside or turning on air conditioning.
The weather agency also advises people to ensure children and pets are never left alone in closed vehicles.
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Smoothies become vehicles for fermented ingredients, while familiar textures hide nutrient-dense additions. Kids dealing with both attention challenges and anxiety need carefully balanced approaches that provide focus-supporting nutrients without triggering overstimulation. Timing becomes even more critical when managing multiple brain factors. What supports attention might increase anxiety if given at the wrong time or in the wrong combination. With schools serving meals between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM according to federal regulations, children with complex needs often require additional nutritional support outside these windows to maintain optimal brain function throughout the day. Seasonal and Developmental Adjustments Your child's nutritional needs change with growth spurts, seasonal light exposure, and developmental phases. What works perfectly in summer might need adjustment during the shorter days of winter or during periods of rapid physical growth. Ever notice how your kid can survive on air and attitude some days, then eat you out of house and home the next? During rapid growth periods, children's nutritional needs can increase dramatically and unpredictably. Understanding how to scale portions and adjust macronutrient ratios prevents the behavioral instability that often accompanies growth spurts. Suddenly increased appetite isn't defiance – it's biology demanding more fuel for development. Changes in daylight exposure throughout the year affect children's natural sleep-wake cycles and hormone production. Adjusting meal timing and composition seasonally helps maintain optimal energy and mood stability year-round. Winter requires different nutritional support than summer, and recognizing these patterns prevents seasonal behavioral challenges. Building Food Relationship Resilience Beyond getting proper nutrition, this approach helps children develop a healthy, sustainable relationship with food that serves them into adulthood. The goal is raising kids who understand their bodies' signals and can make good choices independently. Many children lose touch with their natural hunger and satiety signals due to external meal scheduling and food rules. Reconnecting kids with these internal cues while maintaining nutritional goals creates lifelong healthy eating patterns. This requires patience and trust in your child's innate wisdom about their body's needs. Balancing the structure needed for optimal nutrition with enough flexibility to handle real-world situations helps children develop confidence around food choices rather than anxiety or rigidity. Structure provides security while flexibility builds resilience. Building a healthy relationship with food parallels the principles found in intuitive eating approaches that honor both nutritional needs and psychological well-being. For families ready to take this approach to the next level, Organic Authority's carefully curated selection of children's supplements and gut health products can provide additional support for the more complex nutritional needs we've discussed. Their commitment to transparency and quality ensures you're getting products that align with this science-based approach to children's nutrition. Final Thoughts Look, I'm not trying to turn you into a nutrition scientist or make every meal feel like a chemistry experiment. Some days, getting any food into your kid without a battle is a win. This is about having a few tricks up your sleeve for when you're ready to try something new. Start small. Pick ONE thing that makes you think 'oh, that might explain why…' and start there. Maybe it's just shifting breakfast 30 minutes later. That's it. See what happens. Build from there when you're ready. Your kid is not your neighbor's kid, your sister's kid, or that perfectly behaved child at the grocery store. They're uniquely theirs, which means what works for them will be uniquely theirs too. Stop comparing and start observing. Here's the truth: you already know your kid better than any expert ever will. You see the patterns, you know their quirks, you can read their moods from across the room. This information is just here to support what you're already noticing, not replace your parental superpowers. And on the days when everything falls apart and you're serving cereal for dinner? Your kid will be fine. Tomorrow is a fresh start, and you're doing better than you think you are. The post Meal Plan for Kids That Actually Works With Their Brain (Not Against It) appeared first on Organic Authority. Solve the daily Crossword
