Today we are announcing the winners of our Friends Competition. We enjoyed reading all your letters, which had some very interesting information on your friends! The winner of our fantastic prize is Maria Demicoli, while Maria Victoria Vella wins a book as second prize. Apparently Maria and Maria Victoria are best friends and we are sure that they will enjoy their new prizes.

What is in our food? Why is some food healthy and some food is not? In our article, Know your food we are bringing you the various nutrients found in some fruit, namely apples, bananas and oranges. These fruits are rich in many vitamins especially Vitamin C which is particularly essential during this period of the year, when outdoor temperature begins to get colder. Furthermore, these provide for healthy bones, teeth, gums and blood vessels.

Look out for our new competition next week!

See you next Thursday

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Friends Competition

I have many friends but I like Jessica best. Jessica is 10 years old. Her surname is Dalli. We go to dance lessons together and we chat together on the computer. Jessica is a very good friend.

Brittney

Friends, Friends

We are friends. We go everywhere together because we are friends. We fight, cry, laugh and play together because we are friends and we will remain friends forever.

Anthea Carbone

My friend’s name is Laura. We go to the same school and have been friends for three years. Laura is my best friend, neighbour and schoolmate. She is blonde, lovely and cute and sometimes comes to our house after school and we do the homework together. We do a lot of crafts together. We spend a lot of time together and we have a lot of things in common. Laura loves to wear jeans, all kinds of jeans while I love wearing skirts. We sometimes go to Valletta together. Laura loves coming with me to visit my grandparents who love her very much. Laura is very helpful, honest and a sweet friend.

Samyra Schembri

In my class I have many friends. Some of my best friends are Aislynn, Rebecca, Kimberly, Bernice, Kylie, Anthea and Brittney. During break we always play together. Sometimes we have a little fight but it is over very soon. Once every month we go to each other’s house. On Saturday we always go to the library together. Usually we all go together to school. Since I live near Bernice we always go to the playing field and play with our friends. When someone is sick we go to visit her at home.

We like each other very much and I wish that we stay friends forever.

Diane Parnis

My name is Krista Suda and I am seven years old and in Grade 3. My best friends are Rachelle and Klara and I have known them from Kindergarten. We are in the same class and in the holidays we sometimes meet with our parents, brothers and sisters and have lots of fun even though we live far away. I hope we stay best friends forever!

Krista Suda

“No man is an island.” This is what people say and I think it is true. Everyone needs friends with whom she/he can joke, play, study and share sad and happy moments. Friends are important in our life especially when they are our own age. True friends can understand us right away and sometimes they can say whether we are happy or sad even before we tell them. This is because they are going through the same experiences we are going through. However, we are all different with a different family, different character and coming from a different background. In spite of these differences, friends are able to accept and love each other and look forward to be in each other’s presence. This is important for our future life. Furthermore, when close friends are in need of help we are able to forget ourselves and go out of our way to help her/him because “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.

Maria Victoria Vella

My best friend is Maria Victoria Vella. She is nine years old and she lives in Luqa. She attends George Shinas Primary School and we are in the same class, 5A. During break Maria Victoria and I always play together.

Maria has a blonde complexion, her eyes are brown and her hair is long and light brown. Maria has a nice figure; she is neither fat nor thin. Her favourite colour is blue and her favourite cartoon is Winnie the Pooh. Maria’s hobbies are playing the piano and reading story books. She has a nice character and she is always willing to help. In summer we meet together near the seaside. There we have lots of fun, swimming and building sand castles.

Maria Victoria has been my friend since we were three years old and I hope that she will stay my friend forever.

Maria Demicoli

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Know your food

What is in your food? And why is some food healthy and some food is not? Food brings nutrients to our body. Nutrients are eaten every day without even realising. But the only way to get these nutrients, is by eating healthy food. Fruits are one of the most nutrient dense foods available. Fruits are a goldmine of vitamins, minerals and fibres. Since fruit contains a lot of water it is easier for the body to process.

Apples

Apples are good for you. We all know the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. There may be more truth in that than we thought. Apples are a great source of vitamins. Apples are most nutritious when eaten out of hand, but they are also good cooked in your favourite recipes. Apples provide more fibre than most cereals and breads. Apples contain essential vitamins: A, B, C, niacin, phosphorous, magnesium, iron and potassium.

Apple Facts

• Apples are available all year-round.

• Fresh apples float because 25 per cent of their volume is air.

• About 50% of apples grown in the United States are sold fresh and 50% are processed into apple juice, apple sauce or dehydrated apple products.

• There are more than 1,400 different types of apples.

Bananas

Bananas are rich in carbohydrates and are of great nutritional significance. Bananas are also high in some minerals, notably phosphorus, needed for bone development, calcium and potassium. They are particularly rich in vitamin C and contain significant amounts of several other vitamins such as vitamin A. Bananas do not contain fat and contrary to popular belief, bananas are not fattening.

Banana facts

• Banana is mentioned for the first time in history in a Buddhist text 600 years BC.

• The existence of an organised banana plantation can be found in China back in the year 200 AD.

• The word “banana” is derived from the Arabic word “finger”.

• Bananas are believed to have entered Africa from Malaysia, rather than from India, by way of Madagascar during the first millennium AD. The crop then moved eastwards across the Pacific. By the end of the 16th century, bananas had spread widely throughout the tropics.

• Bananas help nerves function properly.

• Each banana plant bears only one stem of fruit.

• India is the largest world producer of bananas, followed by Brazil.

• The banana market is controlled by five large corporations.

Oranges

Oranges are highly valued for their vitamin C content. It is a primary source of vitamin C for most people. Vitamin C is needed to form collagen, a tissue that helps to hold cells together. It's essential for healthy bones, teeth, gums and blood vessels. It helps the body absorb iron and calcium, aids in wound healing, and contributes to brain function. This wonderful fruit has more to offer nutritionally than just this one nutrient, containing sufficient amounts of folacin, calcium, potassium, thiamin, niacin and magnesium.

Orange facts

• The orange is technically a hesperidum, a type of berry.

• Most of the consumption of oranges is in the form of juice.

• In Queen Victoria's day, oranges were given as Christmas gifts in England.

• Brazil produces more oranges than any other country.

• Oranges were introduced in Hawaii in 1792.

• Orange juice can be used over other fresh fruit like apples to prevent browning.

www.cgiar.org/impact/research/banana.html

www.ake.ekenberg.googlespages.com/fun&trivia

www.fowlerfarms.com/apple_facts.htm

www.foodreference.com/html/artoranges.html

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Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday wishes to

PETER BEZZINA who turns five on 13 November. Lots of love and best wishes from mamà Christine, papà Joseph, brothers John and Andrew, nanna Jo, nannu Emy, relatives and friends.

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Your message

Kurt Oliva will be celebrating his Confirmation next Sunday, 11 November at the Balluta Church in Sliema. Best wishes come from mum and dad, sister Katya, granddad, grandma, uncles, aunties, his friends at Stella Maris School in Balzan but especially from his godfather Kevin Oliva.