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Getting a toddler to eat something that is good for them, or
that you think they should eat, should not become a battle of
wills, but it often does. Sometimes with children, the
presentation is everything, and they forget what is underneath
the fanciful decorations or shapes. Fish is one of the few foods
that doesn’t lend itself well to disguises that are cute. But
you can make it an undercover favorite with a little creative
cooking that the kids and even Mom and Dad will enjoy. First,
you will need to ask yourself how important it is that your
child has fish. If you really want them to eat it, you may have
to be willing to give way on other issues such as how it is
prepared. There are a variety of frozen food companies that
present fish in stick, and even fish shapes. But these are
wrapped in crumbs, and sometimes partly deep friend before you
cook them in the oven. This might not be ideal, but if they will
eat it, and get the taste of fish, it may open the door to
other, and better choices. The other options are mostly those
that appeal to taste. An excellent way of serving fish is in a
sauce. A fillet of haddock can be baked quite nicely with just
mushroom or another creamed soup poured over it. If you cut off
a child size portion, you can even decorate it with some curls
of celery for hair, and sliced pickles for eyes before serving.
Use your imagination here. A lot of children love cheese. Bake
your fish until it’s half done and then cover it in shredded
cheddar cheese. Not only do they absolutely get the taste they
like, but the extra protein that cheese offers them.

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How do you make sure that you have selected the best sleeping
bag for your camping trip?

What is better:

GOOSE DOWN or the SYNTHETIC sleeping bag?

The last thing you want to happen when you’re 20 miles into the
woods is to find your sleeping bag is not warm enough.

You will be facing a very long and unrestful night which can
ruin your spirits and sap your strength for the next day.

There are several pros and cons to most of the options available
in sleeping bags.

A Goose down is very warm. It is lightweight to carry and can be
easily compressed for travel and quickly regain form when shaken
out. It is by far a better choice for backpackers who intend to
carry the bag with them for extended trips because of the
lighter weight and smaller packing. However, goose down is also
more expensive and losses its insulating properties when wet - a
consideration if sleeping outdoors or travelling in inclement
weather.

Synthetic filled bags are cheaper than goose down and retain
their warmth even in wet conditions. They dry faster than down
and are a good choice if travelling by boat or sleeping outdoors
on the ground. However, synthetic bags are heavier and larger
which can be a downside if you are hiking long distances with
the bag.

For the average family camper synthetic bags are the least
expensive and least affected by wet conditions. If travelling by
car to a campground the size and weight of a synthetic bag
should not be a problem.

RECTANGLE, TAPERED or MUMMY BAG?

As with the insulating materials, the shape of bag you choose
will depend on your specific needs with pros and cons for each
type.

Rectangle bags are most similar to bed sleeping and most
familiar to the average user. They permit room for movement and
you can easily zip two bags together for shared sleeping.
However, rectangle bags are the biggest and not the best option
for carrying on extended hikes.

Tapered bags are somewhat narrower towards the feet area of the
sleeping bag. This shape provides less freedom of movement but
more warmth because of the restricted space.

Mummy bags are the smallest and lightest to carry. They are very
snug to the body (as the name suggests) with a hood that can be
fitted around the head to conserve the greatest amount of body
heat. While the average user may find the mummy bag
uncomfortable to sleep in because of the restriction they are
the best choice for cold weather camping and long hikes because
of their warmth and small size.

WHICH TEMPERATURE RATING?

Sleeping bags will list the coldest temperature they are
suitable for sleeping in. Depending on if you are camping in the
summer or colder months you will need to choose a bag
accordingly. Also take into consideration if you are normally
cold or hot when sleeping and make the adjustments.

In most cases it is recommended to choose a warmer bag since you
can always open it for venting if it is too warm. The
temperature rating is based on using a sleeping pad under the
sleeping bag which conserves body heat from the ground.

ADDITIONS:

If you frequently camp out you may want to consider a liner for
your bag which will increase its warmth and can be washed
separately, saving your sleeping bag from extra wear and tear.

You can also purchase sleeping bag covers. Some of these can
substitute for a warm weather sleeping bag and can extend an all
season bag into a cold weather bag by increasing the warmth.
They can also provide extra protection from wet conditions and
are a good choice for protecting goose down sleeping bags.

How comfortable you are when you sleep will drastically affect
your enjoyment of a camping or hiking trip. Saving five or ten
dollars at the expense of a good nights sleep will not seem like
a good idea when you are tired and cold out in the woods, so
choose wisely.

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