December 2015: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
“…nothing better under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry…” (Ecclesiastes 8:15)
We have reached the festive time of year where holidays and celebrations can crowd the calendar. It is great fun to cook, bake, eat, and drink with our friends and family, and food is a crucial element of our cultural celebrations. Food is memory, love, and life (literally and figuratively) for us.
Our features writers have rallied around this issue’s theme of “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry” in different ways. There are many wonderful recipes and ideas for eating, cooking, and partying with kids, of course, with different cultures in mind and even considering a healthier approach to holiday treats. In fact, there is advice for staying well both physically and mentally through this season of (over-)indulgence. And for those of us who have considered creating a family recipe book but are not sure where to start, there’s an excellent article to accompany you every step of the way.
Further useful information, musings, and warm advice are available from our lovely columnists. We trust you will find something here to inspire and guide you through this holiday season and into the New Year.
Best wishes from the Mothering Matters Team!
Features
Food As Love: Creating A Family Recipe Book by Rachael Soster Smith
Party Time by Roz Bonomally
Your Guide to Thriving During the Holidays by Katie Schmidt
No Added Sugar? Can Holiday Eating Be Healthy Eating? by Monica Shah
Cooking with the Kids, Indian Style! by Aradhna Sethi
Columns:
Baby Baby | Surviving the Festive Season with Baby on Board
Crafty Kids | Make a Paper Angel
Expat Corner | Leading a Merry Dance: an Expats’ Guide to Christmas
Family Health | Children, Pregnancy, and Peanut Allergy
Fathering | Wow! What a Ride!
In the Kitchen | Gifting Granola
La Leche League | Cooking for and with Children
Out & About | Swiss Herdsmen Traditions: Cheesemaking and Silvesterclauses in Stein, Appenzell
Third Culture Matters | Mixing Foods
Twinville | Sharing is Caring
Don’t forget to check out What’s On for December 2015 and January 2016.
Illustration by Laura Munteanu
December 2015 Issue Contributors
Column and Feature Editors: Mary Bider, Dina El-Halaby, Carol McDonald, Yvette Merzbacher, Andrea Snashall,
Webmaster / Layout Designer: Tanya Deans
Chief Copyeditor: Carol McDonald. Assisted by Andrea Snashall.
Writers: Roz Bonomally, Bethany Brupbacher, Tammy Furey, Dina El Halaby, Dr Jahura Hossain, Karin Mohler, Teresa Mueller, Albina Nogueira, Michelle Seaton Witte, Katie Schmidt, Aradhna Sethi, Monica Shah, Rachael Soster Smith, Brian Wilson
Illustration Coordinator: Laura Munteanu
Illustrators: Roz Bonomally (photos), BVisual (Beth), Lara Friedrich, Susana Gutierrez, Sharanya Mageshwaran, Laura Munteanu, Albina Nogueira, Katie Schmidt (photos), Aradhna Sethi (photos), Andrea Snashall (photos), Rachael Soster Smith (photo), Brian Wilson (photo)
Proofreaders: Andrea Snashall, Carol McDonald
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest Moderators: Andrea Snashall, Kate Prinsloo
Advertising Coordinator: Clare Ferrari
Finance: Iliana Eichholzer, Claire Petersen
Communications: Andrea Snashall
Logo: Suzanne Evans-Ackermann
Web Designer: Maximilian Wulf