I just sent the second issue, “Is Summer for Learning or Chilling?”, and would love to hear your thoughts.

(Click the image to visit the full newsletter and/or subscribe yourself!)

I began an online course for entrepreneurs during the first week of June, and wanted to stop hurtling forward with Cognitive Catering until I had learned ALL THE THINGS!

Well, I haven’t learned ALL the things about becoming a successful entrepreneur, but I’ve learned quite a few. I’m now ready and raring to blog & newsletter in an effective, useful way.

If you missed the first Think Better Letter, check it out here and subscribe yourself! I’m sending the second issue soon.

My continued thanks for your support as Cognitive Catering takes shape and grows.

Thoughtfully,

Definitely worth sharing with your kids and maybe even hanging on the fridge.

Have a great weekend!

Diet orange juice – Must be magic!

… Not so much. Read the ingredients, and it’s actually just orange juice combined with water and thickeners.

Juice is sugary, so it’s a good idea to water it down (especially for juice-addicted kids). But you can do this yourself and save a bunch of money.

Remember: Always read the ingredients and nutrition label when a package’s claim seems too good to be true.

Thanks for reading, and have a thoughtful day!

Americans already drink a ton of sweet beverages, from morning until afternoon, so why not try to market another one for night? A quick look at Koma: Unwind’s nutrition label shows that it contains nearly as many grams of sugar as Coke.

The makers of Koma: Unwind say:

The relaxation or “anti-energy” drink category is new to the beverage industry. This type of drink is dedicated to helping consumers achieve a level of relaxation without the use of pills or alcohol.

And then they offer recipes for mixing alcoholic cocktails with their beverage!

I’ve got nothing against the occasional sweetened or alcohol-containing beverage, but this product is silly. Pouring a bunch of sugar down your gullet at bedtime is not a great idea. The Koma people are trying to create a market for something that no one really needs and which, moreover, is expensive and somewhat harmful.

Why not try the original, healthy, and inexpensive relaxation beverages instead: some warm milk or chamomile tea?

Thanks for reading, and have a thoughtful day!

It was interesting that, just from the banner on the front of the box, the 4-year old (who can’t read) nearly correctly inferred that there was a toy contained within. Rather, there’s a code to download an exclusive song from the featured tv show, “Victorious.” Also, kids can cut up the box to produce a strip of photo booth-style shots of the stars of the show, and paste your picture in amongst them.

Reinforcing imaginary relationships with Disney celebrities and stimulating children’s desires to watch their show, all before 9am? Now that’s marketing strategy.

Thanks for reading, and have a thoughtful day.

What part of the lotion market does Curel target here?

We can tell from the medical staff and phrases “dermatological science” and “advanced ceramide therapy” that they want this product to look all science-y and high-tech.

It could actually be true that this lotion has been formulated better in accordance with dermatological science than other, more ordinary lotions on the market.

But, from where most of us non-scientists are standing, it’s just unclear whether Curel is providing good scientific justification for this potential purchase, or whether they’re blowing a bunch of scientific hot air.

Thanks for reading Brain Food Bites, and have a thoughtful day.

I’m pleased to announce the creation of Cognitive Catering’s blog, tentatively named “Brain Food Bites.”

Here, I’ll be sharing quick, everyday examples of good (and bad!) critical thinking, as well as links about critical thinking, media literacy, and philosophy.

Also, don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Thoughtfully yours,

Pamela J. Stubbart

Cognitive Catering, LLC

Owner