ABIGAIL VAN BUREN: Overwhelmed new mothers and fathers struggle to eat healthful food stuff

DEAR ABBY: I have a close buddy who lately had a baby with critical health troubles. Sad to say, we are living on reverse sides of the nation, and I just cannot afford to pay for to fly out there. I want to assist, but quick of phone calls and texts to let her know I’m contemplating of her, I’m out of concepts.

She’s stated several situations that with all the operate of staying a new parent furthermore the excess function concerned with a child with specific needs, she often does not have time to put together healthy meals and reverts to junk food items that she can seize effortlessly. Ordinarily, I’d convey in excess of a number of foods to aid out, but which is not possible to do when she’s so much absent.

Restaurant reward cards would be an option, but regretably she and her spouse do not have the time to go to one. I’m hoping you could have other tips on how I can help out from afar. — PUZZLED ABOUT Aiding

Expensive PUZZLED: Go on-line and study food shipping and delivery services in the town or city where your good friend lives. Some firms provide geared up meals on a weekly foundation. Other corporations ship boxes of wonderful fruits each thirty day period. But ahead of undertaking something, Inquire your confused mate what she and her spouse assume may possibly be beneficial relatively than consider to next-guess.

Pricey ABBY: I’d like to know if there is a pleasant way of inquiring my niece and her boyfriend, who are in their mid- to late-20s, not to bring their phones to the dinner desk? I have used times planning for and cooking holiday break foods. The evening was considerably less than satisfying for me for the reason that they were only partly there, and spent most of their time texting and presumably on Fb.

It’s awkward to question an grownup to apply superior manners. Any phrases of wisdom will be significantly appreciated. — Very well-MANNERED Lady IN THE WEST

Pricey Woman: Demonstrate to your niece that you spend a whole lot of time, dollars and effort and hard work on presenting these meals, and that you ended up hurt and offended at their obvious lack of appreciation. It is the reality. Do not preoccupy yourself with trying to be good or you will weaken the information. Some people solve this issue by insisting their visitors location their cellphones in a basket ahead of evening meal and reclaim them as they depart. (Just a considered!)

Pricey ABBY: My good friend from church casually pointed out that he and his spouse lately assisted them selves to several buckets of sand from a national park. I’m beside myself striving to realize how they can justify pillaging a pure source so they can fake they are at the seashore. It’s further than egocentric and just simple incorrect. What can I say to convince them to return it? Can you enable me navigate this dialogue when nonetheless protecting the friendship? — Stunned IN HAWAII

Pricey Shocked: Commence by pointing out to your good friends that there are significant penalties for executing what he and his wife did. I ran your letter by my previous personal assistant, Winni, who lives in Hawaii. She knowledgeable me that, according to the Division of Land and Purely natural Methods, thieving sand from the shorelines is not only towards the regulation, but also punishable with fines of upwards of $100,000.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren. Make contact with Pricey Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.