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Dressing up and participating in local activities is just part of the fun of Halloween. No matter where you live, there will be at least one party, costume contest, or get-together that you want to be a part of. You’ve been invited; you know what you are going to wear, but what else should you be concerned about? Here are a few things to ponder when it comes to being a guest at a Halloween event.

Bring Something Along to Share

Never come into someone’s home empty-handed. Because so much of this holiday emphasizes treats and goodies, look up a few Halloween dessert recipes. Look for recipes with a healthy twist to make sure you have something to snack on while visiting. Dress up whatever it is you bring in something festive. Add little tombstones to your cupcakes or make your cake look like a witch’s hat. You can trick your host and hostess into trying a treat that is actually healthy.

Eat Before You Go

While it may not sound like much fun, you know that Halloween events in your area are jam-packed with all sorts of tempting treats. It can be tough to watch everyone else indulge when you can’t find one thing on the table that will fit with your current food decision. Make it a little easier by preparing an interesting meal before you go. Make it a real treat so that you don’t feel left out at the event. Create one of your favorite desserts or treats and remind yourself that it is waiting on the counter for you to get home.

The first is that entrée sizes are getting smaller; rarely does one have enough in front of them to over-stuff themselves. Even appetizers and desserts are being downsized. You may have even noticed that wine and beer glasses are a bit smaller than before. While this may be frustrating in the sense that prices have not declined, there is a silver lining to this cloud in that consumption is lessened which is really a good thing. Consider that a typical restaurant burger can have over 1,200 calories and 2,000 mg of sodium, even a 20% reduction brings it down to less than 1,000 calories and 1,600 mg of sodium with just .8 ounces less meat than a regular quarter-pound burger. You may not really miss the meat, but your waistline will be glad to forego the extra calories and fat. If you want to be healthier, go to http://www.411.ca to look for healthy options that you can do.

Unfortunately, the second trend is not as good. In the effort to reduce costs, other practices may be incorporated such as including cheaper, less healthy, lesser quality ingredients. This is not always easy to discern as you cannot tell that your burger has had a cheaper cut of meat ground into it, for example. Ingredients with less flavor may be boosted by salt, added fat, MSG and other additives making the dish even less healthy.

While the solution to prepare more meals at home will not make the restaurant industry very happy, that is the step that many Americans are taking from a financial and health standpoint.

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What factors should you consider when preparing your travel budget? Many persons make the mistake of thinking that the travel budget should involve all travel related expenses alone. Well, if you have a specific amount to set aside to meet all your travel related expenses during the year, you can afford to ignore the increase in your monthly expenses that will take place because of your travel plan.

On the other hand, if you intend to take money from your monthly income for your travel related purposes, you will have to consider the impact of travel on your monthly budget as well. Not doing so may leave you in a difficult position when trying to make ends meet.

It is natural for your cell phone bill to increase when you are traveling. You may be forced to make calls at long distance rates and this will automatically increase this particular expense. Further, you will have to be prepared for the possibility of family members falling ill after they return home. There are numerous instances where an individual remains perfectly fit throughout the trip but breaks down once he or she returns home.

These may not seem like major expenses but can have a harmful impact on your overall monthly budget. The best option is to have a clear idea of the total impact of the travel plan on your monthly budget. The last thing you want is to find out that you are short of cash after you return home. That can put you in a very difficult situation.

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It is important to eat nutritious food. Well, do you know any tips or tricks to improve the nutrition level of your food? Do you know how you can make your food healthier? This can be very useful when you have kids who need extra nutrients to ensure proper health.

Don’t Cook

Uncooked food is the healthiest. Food automatically loses nutrients the moment you cook the food. The food that is boiled in water will lose nutrients to the water which will then get evaporated. Food that is fried will react with the oil and become less healthy. Keep it raw and you will be eating very nutritious food.

The idea of eating raw vegetables for breakfast, lunch or dinner may not seem appetizing. This is where you should try to make as many salads as possible. Even the blandest vegetable mixed with a bit of vinegar and lemon sauce should be enough to create a tasty salad.

Keep it wet

Sprouts are very good for health. Ordinary pulses will become a lot healthier if you allow them to germinate. The best part is that you do not have to do anything to facilitate the germination process. Just provide a moist environment for the sprouts to grow and you will automatically enjoy healthier food that has been kept overnight.

You have the option of cooking these sprouts or adding them to the salads. Whichever way you choose, make sure that the nutrients are not lost because of the cooking or the preparatory process. Stick to these tips and you will find that your family is fitter, healthier and eats better.

After you have all your ingredients, cook your food the same way you would if it were not vegetarian, only with the substitutes. However, you will want to read the instructions on the package; for most vegetarian foods, you will not have to cook it as long as you would with meat.

There are more vegetarian options than you would think.  In fact, many people are starting use blenders to make green smoothies.  One web site that does reviews on blenders and has recipes is BlenderCritic.com.  Vegetarian convenience foods are a great way to start. Once you have gotten use to all the different types of vegetarian foods, you can start to experiment and make your own dishes. Try adding more rice, beans, and grains and use ingredients with protein. Also, don’t focus on the “meat” part of the meal. Focus more on vegetables, rice, pasta, and breads. Vegetarian meals can get expensive. There are many different ways to cook vegetarian meals. Many meals do not even require meat, so you won’t need a substitute.

1. Canned Food: There is bound to be canned food that you bought but do not want to eat. The shelf life on most canned food is long enough that you can donate things that have been sitting in your pantry for a while. Make sure to check the dates on everything before you clear out your pantry.
2. That Old Junker: If you have a car in your possession that you are not using, why not donate it to a worthy cause such as Kars for Kids?
3. Books: Books from children that have left home, textbooks a college child no longer needs, and your collection of read-and-forgotten paperbacks can all benefit a charity that can resell them and donate the proceeds to families in need.
4. Clothing: If it doesn’t fit, donate it. Clothing your children have outgrown can benefit a family that has no clothing to sustain them. Go through your whole home and purge clothing, towels, blankets, pillow cases, and other items that you no longer need.
5. Your time: Everyone has a little time to donate. Give a weekend of your time to charity.

These are just five: How many ways to donate can you come up with on your own?

Like India, Thailand too is a favored destination for vegetarians. Exotic Thai food is the flavor of many people across continents. And the best thing about it is, that some of these are purely vegetarian. Thai people sure do know how to cook a great looking, and great tasting vegetarian dish.

Chiang Mai in Thailand is the place that’s famous for Thai vegetarian cuisine. Restaurants with no roof are common here. You can sit in the open-air as your relish a vegetarian dish. Open air restaurants have yellow boards to identify them.
You wouldn’t believe this, but Vancouver is a vegetarian destination. That’s because Vancouver has a lot of vegetarians. Quite interestingly, and inexplicably. Vancouver likes to consume its food naturally. Its environment is suitable for fresh food harvesting. This culture of natural food has made Vancouver realize the importance of vegetarianism.

Vancouver is a place that offers fusion food. Traditional non-veg food carriers like burgers or pizzas are stuffed with vegetarian food.

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Nutritional standards are continually changing. To know if you are eating right, you should use the USDA’s updated dietary guidelines. A woman that is 5’5” tall and weighs 140 pounds should take in approximately 2350 calories per day assuming she is moderately active. These calories should come from vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains, low fat dairy and few oils. Having a hard time coming up with healthy eats that offer tons of flavor? Try the following:

Breakfast

One whole grain English muffin with a tablespoon of peanut butter and sliced fresh strawberries, a side of lowfat yogurt topped with blueberries

-or-

An egg white breakfast burrito with peppers, tomatoes, lowfat cheese and pinto beans wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla

Lunch

Tossed salad made with romaine, cooked chicken breast, shredded carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes and purple cabbage topped with chopped unsalted almonds and a drizzle of olive oil flavored with balsamic vinegar—as a side, have whole grain pita bread triangles dipped in hummus

-or-

A turkey sandwich on flaxseed bread with pureed cranberries and spinach leaves, paired with julienned steamed vegetables and a glass of low fat milk

Sweet Snack

A bowl of mixed berries topped with a tablespoon of lowfat whipped topping

-or-

A frozen banana drizzled in chocolate sauce

Dinner

Broiled fish paired with steamed California vegetables, cottage cheese and cantaloupe, along with a whole grain dinner roll

-or-

Boneless, skinless grilled chicken breast topped with mango chutney, a side of long grain brown rice and a variety of raw vegetables (use a sour cream based dip as a low fat alternative to ranch dressing)

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Vegetables pair well with so many meals. There is a lot of controversy over the health benefits of fresh versus frozen versus canned vegetables. While each has its own positives and negatives, the general consensus is that you can obtain the same nutrient content as long as you vary the types of veggies that you eat.

Frozen Vegetables

Frozen veggies are great because they keep well in the freezer, they are easy to steam and they seem to retain as many, and sometimes more, vitamins than fresh vegetables. They are often flash frozen shortly after being picked, so there is little chance of degradation and nutrient loss.

Fresh Vegetables

Fresh vegetables are nice because they are often crisp and palate pleasing. The down side is that fresh produce does not keep very long. Unless you use it within 3-10 days it will often wilt, spoil or turn to mush.

Canned Vegetables

That leads us to canned veggies. When vegetable are canned, they will last for a very long time, often years. Canned vegetables are easy to add to soups and casseroles and they can even be eaten directly out of the can. This is great if the power is out as you will always have a source of energy within reach that you don’t have to cook or refrigerate.

Whichever form you buy your vegetables in, simply make sure you always have a variety on hand. Produce should fill approximately 2/3 of your plate for each meal; this ensures you are getting your RDA of vitamins and minerals.

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Planning meals for special occasions is pretty simple if you have done it in the past. There are certain items that people simply expect to be on the table. Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving without the turkey, corn, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and finally, the gravy. Easter would not be Easter if the table wasn’t adorned with ham, candied yams, pastel hard boiled eggs, some sort of fruit fluff salad (you know the stuff–cool whip mixed with various fruits), and baked potatoes. But, what if you want to rebel and mix it all up? Ham on Thanksgiving, prime rib on Easter? Can your family handle it?

If you want to try something new for the holidays, go for it, but do so in moderation. If you know your family particularly looks forward to certain dishes, make sure they end up on the table. The best way to get your family to move beyond their favorite holiday comfort foods is to add in new dishes along with the old standbys. Try twice baked baby potatoes with your Easter ham this year. They are a snap to make and they taste terrific. Instead of sweet potato casserole, bake some sweet potato fries. No one really loves that fruit fluff, everyone just eats it because they grew up with it. Skip it this year and make fruit kabobs with a raspberry-honey yogurt dip.

Keep the family favorites, but present them in a new way. This keeps the cook from getting bored and the guests from getting upset. Also consider serving buffet style this year. That makes it easy for everyone to serve themselves, get seconds (or thirds) and it keeps the occasion a bit more relaxed. And really, who couldn’t use more relaxation in their lives?

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It is hard to make sure that you children are getting a truly nutritional diet. While there are some kids that would prefer fruit over candy and vegetable over chips, there is also the other group who simply say “I don’t like that.” The good news is that you can add fruits and veggies to your meals without the kids ever having a clue!

• Next time you prepare an Italian dish with a marinara sauce, pour the can of sauce into the blender prior to putting in a sauce pot. Throw in steamed chopped broccoli, butternut squash and other vegetables that you find you kids don’t like to eat. Blend, blend, blend. Continue cooking the meals as you normally would and the kids won’t even notice your “secret” ingredients.
• Chocolate cake is a terrific way to add fruits and vegetables to a diet. Instead of adding oil, butter, water and milk, simply use shredded zucchini, apples and carrots along with the juice that runs into the bowl as you shred. If the mixture still seems a bit thick, pour in a bit of applesauce. Bake and then drizzle with a bit of melted milk chocolate. Your kids will rave!
• Mashed potatoes are another food that you can add special touches to. Steam some cauliflower and mash it in to the taters. The flavor and consistency will not even have a noticeable change. You can do the same with carrots and sweet potatoes for a colorful addition to your meal.
• Make smoothies as a special treat. Use frozen bananas as you “ice cream” base. Add frozen orange juice concentrate along with fresh or frozen berries of any kind and drink up!

Once you see that your children will eat the veggies in this form, you will begin to recognize other foods that you can add pureed produce to without your family balking at the thought.

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Finding a restaurant while on vacation is never difficult. The difficult part is finding a restaurant where the food is worth the money that you are paying, particularly if the cash stash is getting low. Most vacation hot spots offer guides to dining and entertainment. Next time you’re on vacation, skip these suggestions and simply ask the locals where they go. Swing in to a grocery store and ask the cashier where she takes her family on a night out.

The best restaurant meals come from eateries where the food is purchased locally and fresh. Think of it this way; if you were in Maine on your next vacation, would you visit a seafood chain restaurant to eat lobster, or would you hunt down the diner that purchases fresh catches as they come in?

Consider the area of the country you are visiting and narrow down your restaurant choices by what is available locally. So, what foods are some of our fifty states famous for?

• If you are visiting Wisconsin, any type of cheese-based meal is going to be a good bet.
• Traveling through Iowa? Beef is the way to go.
• Don’t forget the peach pie on your next trip to Georgia.
• Nebraska produces some of the biggest ears of corn you can get.
• Apples are Washington’s favorite fruit.
• Check out the chicken in Tennessee.
• If you’re in Vermont, hit the pancake house because the syrup doesn’t get much sweeter.

Remember that vacationing is all about the experience. Why eat something that you can have every day back home when there is new and appetizing fare to be had? Try something new to add to your vaca-adventure. You always remember more about an experience when your senses are engaged. What better way to do that, than with great food.

Finding good food on vacation can be done without spending a ton of money. Ask around to find the best places to go—local favorites minus the tourist prices!

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For many people, grocery shopping is a tedious task. You have to take into consideration which foods everyone likes or dislikes, how much time you’ll have to cook meals, and of course, the cost of ingredients. Wow, rather makes you want to order take-out just thinking about it… Make your meal planning—and, in turn, your grocery shopping—easier with a few of these tips:

• Write out a list of meals that everyone in the house likes. Try to come up with at least forty. Time-consuming? Yes, but it will make future meal planning much easier!
• Once you have your list made, look for common ingredients that are used in the meals. This is your list of pantry foods—in other words, foods that you will want to keep on hand. Stock up on any dried and canned goods on your list that you can expect to use up in the next six months. Frozen goods can often be stored at least three months (sometimes longer).
• To save money, make bulk purchases if you know your family will consume the items before they go bad. Most wholesale clubs have a membership fee, but this can quickly pay for itself, particularly if you have a large family. If your family is smaller, consider sharing the membership cost with a friend or neighbor.
• When you have stocked up on pantry items, your weekly grocery shopping dwindles down to a quick trip for produce and dairy products, leaving you plenty of time to cook meals or even relax for a little while!
• Be sure to keep a notepad in the kitchen. When an item runs low, it should be noted on the list so you can pick it up during your weekly “quick trip” to the grocer.
• Another way to spend less time in the grocery store is to grow some of your own fruits and veggies. This is  a fun activity that gets the whole family involved!

Diane decided to leave their traditional dinner menu alone and just add a vegetarian dish using canned beans. She adjusted one dish – Grandma’s scalloped corn made with canned cream corn, onion, saltines and milk – and made a small dish for Katie without the bacon topping. Diane’s husband Paul and sons Matt and Mike, devoted carnivores, could have all the bacon.

Katie added stuffed pablano peppers made with canned black beans, corn, tomato sauce, and rice topped with cheese to their special meal. The men of the family liked the peppers so much; they requested them for dinner later in the week.

The next day, Diane changed family favorite four-cheese lasagna by simply omitting the meat. Canned tomatoes, consistently in high quality, made the sauce as good as ever and no one complained about the change.

Katie made heuevos rancheros for Sunday brunch – even making her own low fat refried beans using canned pinto beans and canned diced tomatoes for the base of her homemade salsa. And when Katie made a pinto bean casserole using canned pinto beans, whole corn, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, even her Dad admitted there might be something to this vegetarian cuisine.

Their 26-foot RV has a small gas oven and very small gas refrigerator with a freezer big enough for four ice cube trays. Louise does have a pullout style pantry, containing a variety of canned vegetables.

Louise learned to cook while living in married student housing at the University of Minnesota. She was dubbed the “Casserole Queen” forty years ago and has never abdicated.

Instead, she has expanded her cooking repertoire to include Cuban, Mexican and Italian dishes, and canned vegetables are part of almost every dish she prepares. For their RV park’s Christmas potluck dinner, Louise made Arroz Morro, a Cuban dish using canned black beans and tomato sauce with rice, cumin, garlic, broth oregano, and apple cider vinegar. Their Mid-Western friends were very impressed.

John has just been diagnosed with Diabetes II and has been advised to include a variety of beans in his diet because beans are digested slowly and help stabilize blood glucose levels. Canned beans, chilis, tomatoes, and corn are the basis of many of their new favorite recipes. John still doesn’t know that several of his favorite bean dishes are really vegetarian – and he doesn’t miss meat at all.

Louise uses canned vegetables because they don’t require special storage conditions, the quality is consistent, and they are available throughout the year. Her adventurous spirit needn’t wait for any growing season!

Many find purchasing food in bulk results in lower prices on food. Also, purchasing larger quantities eliminates repeated trips to the supermarket. There are some strategies for buying food in bulk so that families can save money, be afforded the best types of foods, and also get the most amount of product. Large families tend to need this option, and therefore find that any way to make the process easier is beneficial. For instance, purchasing two gallons of milk rather than one can be the difference of $2.00 dollar savings, as well as the saving for eliminating gas and time from another outing.

Another way to help families maintain proper food supplies is by freezing foods so they are available for use later on. If a family finds that they are freezing a lot of food such as sauces, vegetables, or meats, they may find that a separate freezer may fit their needs. This will help to ensure that the items that need freezing that have been purchased in bulk will have an extension of time for use later on when the family is ready. This can be a great benefit for many as they find sales or deals and choose to stock up.

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Eat your vegetables! Like it or not, Mom was right. The United States Department of Agriculture now recommends adults eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day for optimum health.

You may assume fresh vegetables are most nutritious, but unless you pick your own, it can take over two weeks for vegetables to get from the field to the supermarket. And during that time, many nutrients can be lost. As a matter of fact, up to 50% of the least stable nutrients can be lost during transit.

Canned vegetables are a great option for most families. Vegetables are canned immediately from the field so few nutrients are lost. Vegetables don’t become woody and tasteless, either. Most important, quick canning preserves the vitamins and nutrients like phytochemicals that protect you from heart disease and cancer.

Canned vegetables are easy to use, can be combined with other ingredients in tasty casseroles for quick dinners and can please even the pickiest eater. Because canning makes the contents stable, you can purchase canned vegetables when they are on sale and store them for long periods.

In case nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day sounds a bit daunting to you, a serving is only half a cup. That means two and half to three cups of vegetables and one and half to two cups of fruits a day.

You know when you purchase canned vegetables that you are getting a healthy, tasty, and consistent product. Canning makes vegetables available and affordable year around.

This is not to say that some people would not fit into the classification of facultative carnivores but in reality, the human race is more aptly considered to be omnivore. Interestingly, this is the case more due to the choices that people have made rather than the manner in which our physical makeup would dictate. There are numerous indications that the human body is more intended as an herbivore which would make us solely a plant-eater.

First of all, a human’s mouth is more designed for plant eating. We do not have the larger mouth, teeth type and spacing nor jaw type that true carnivores have. Humans have carbohydrate digesting enzymes in our saliva which carnivores do not. Our facial muscles structure is different, our jaw action is different, and how much we chew is different.

Secondly, our intestinal track is far different than that of a carnivore. Carnivores have a short track so that meat which is prone to rotting can be eliminated quickly. Humans have an intestinal track that is far longer. Even the stomach is different. Carnivores have a large, single-chambered stomach that facilitates eating a larger meal but less often; humans in comparison have a smaller stomach requiring daily consumption.

Add this to these facts that our stomach acidity, kidneys and liver are all that of an herbivore, not a carnivore, and one can readily see that our physical makeup is much more that of an herbivore. These facts are why some are opting for vegan or vegetarian diets even without the humanitarian reasons.

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“If thou tastest a crust of bread, thou tastest all the stars and all the heavens.” ~Robert Browning, English poet

“Acorns were good until bread was found.” ~Francis Bacon

These are only two of the thousands of quotes regarding bread. The word bread is found 361 times in the King James Version of the Bible. People all over the world are in love with bread. However, bread is not the same all over the world. There are plenty of variations to our daily bread. Some of the favorites around the world are finding their way into artisan bread bakeries and now the American consumer is getting to enjoy new and exciting breads.

Focaccia is one example that is now quite popular. It is Italian bread that is believed to have originated in ancient Rome. This olive oil bread is most often seasoned with rosemary and sea salt but many variations are also made.

Soda Bread became popular first in Ireland and is often referred to as Irish Soda Bread for this reason. The bread consists of only the following ingredients – flour, baking soda, buttermilk and salt. It uses the baking soda for leavening instead of yeast.

Naan is an Indian tandoor-baked bread that is mostly found in northern India but also in Central Asia and the Middle East. It is usually made with yeast, but there is a baking powder variation that is sometimes made. This bread is often eaten by stuffing it with a variety of ingredients and spices.

Mexico has its tortilla, England its Yorkshire pudding, Brazil has Pão de Queijo (cheese buns), and the Mediterranean its pita. There are flat breads, puffed breads, stuffed breads, steamed breads, fried breads, biscuits, sweet and savory breads. It would be impossible to count all the varieties but it might be fun to try to have as many different kinds as possible!

Raleigh, North Carolina is one of those fabulous southern cities loved by natives and locals alike, with a selection of restaurants and eateries that would keep the most distinguished foodie happy. Whether you’ve spent the day scouring the sights of Raleigh as a visitor, or looking at Raleigh apartments for a more permanent stay, take the rest of the evening to enjoy the fabulous local food.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started, but you’ll most likely find a food gem or two of your own.

• Piedmont. Housed in what was once a warehouse, Piedmont is dedicated to local produce, seafood, and meat, respecting the land and encouraging the sustainability of local food producers. This dedication and use of diverse local food is evident in the contemporary and pleasingly rustic American cuisine, singled out by Food & Wine magazine.
• Second Empire. Recipient of the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award, Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern is as renowned for its fine dining as it is for its location in the gorgeous historic Dodd-Hinsdale House. You can enjoy a seasonal three course meal or lighter fare in the Tavern.
• The Pit Authentic BBQ. Sometimes all you want to do is pig out, and there’s nowhere better than The Pit. Fabulous authentic North Carolina barbecue is rounded out by hearty pumpkin skillet cornbread, fried catfish, and carrot cake with molasses cream cheese icing and bourbon ice cream.

Some are interested in old cookbooks and love to scrounge through garage sales, estate sales, and so forth looking for the oldest cookbook they can find. A couple old books that were available in early America were The Compleat Housewife in 1742, The Frugal Housewife in 1772 by Susannah Carter, and The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy in 1805 by Hannah Glasse.  All books were very scarce at one time and cookbooks were often owned only by the wealthy.

Other collectors strive to get regional cookbooks they can obtain on travels throughout the country. This can be a delightful way to come back home and prepare the various cuisines experienced on one’s trip thus reliving the memories.

Foreign travelers may do the same and find cookbooks in the countries they visit. The interesting part of doing this is that although some cookbooks may be found in their native language, often they are of the language of the country being visited. Although the recipes could only be recreated by first translating it, just having the book is a wonderful memento of the trip.

Others like to collect a variety, including unique ethnic cookbooks and specific themed ones. There is no wrong way to collect, just make sure you start with a really large bookcase because it will fill up really fast!

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People make the choice to become a vegan (pronounced VEE-gun) for any number of reasons. For some it is the natural choice with regards to living a green lifestyle. For others it is health reasons. For others it is out of reverence for living creatures.

There are varying levels of being a vegan. For some it is just a dietary decision while others extend the exclusion of animal products into clothing, cosmetics, household goods and all other products they use.

Here are a few things you might not know about being a vegan. First of all, the term “vegan” is relatively new having only begun in the mid 1940’s. The American Vegan Society, founded in 1944, is based on the Buddhist and Jainism concept of ahimsa which is the avoidance of cruelty against living creatures.  Only about 1% of Americans are vegans. Vegetarianism, on the other hand, dates back to the mid 1800’s.

Besides dietary considerations, other products not used by vegans include bone char, beeswax, lanolin, shellac, bone china, leather, wool, fur, rennet, gelatin, carmine, casein, tallow, whey, and silk. Some of these ingredients are found in things you would not expect. For example, white sugar often includes bone char.

Being a vegan is not as complicated as some people think. Like anything in life, it just takes educating oneself. There are plenty of resources available on the subject. You can learn what is excluded, how and where to shop, how to eat in restaurants, what supplements are suggested, and how to make substitutions when baking and cooking.

Many are hesitant to invite vegans to dinner for fear they will serve the wrong things, but fear not. Don’t exclude them. Instead, simply spend some time talking about it with them. They will most likely be more than happy to discuss the menu with you or even guide you to becoming a vegan yourself.

The problem with this is that pre-prepared is not always significantly quicker, is more costly, and often is far less nutritious. One example is the prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwich currently available. Does it really take that long to slather on peanut butter and jelly? The prepared one includes just 6% iron and 2% calcium. The homemade one has 7% calcium, 14% thiamin, 27% niacin, 12% iron, 6% vitamin E, 13% magnesium, 7% zinc, and more depending on the products used. The cost of prepared sandwiches is about $4.00 per box of four small 1.72 ounce sandwiches. You can typically get a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly for under $5.00 and get far more sandwiches.

Another example – consider that pre-cooked chicken strips cost about $3.00 per pound more than raw boneless, skinless chicken strips. It takes about 3 minutes to warm up the pre-cooked and about 10 minutes to cook the raw. Consider that on a pound of chicken saving 7 minutes of time cost you $3.00 – you basically paid someone else $25.71 per hour to make that chicken.

At a time in our economy when most people do not earn that kind of money, why would anyone pay that when you can take that few extra minutes and get a tastier, healthier product besides?

This is not to say that there are not good products out there, but take the time to read the label and think about all factors when making your selections.

If working with food is one of your passions and you are looking for a way to break into the exhilarating food industry, consider getting a culinary arts degree. With a degree in the culinary arts, you can springboard yourself directly into the restaurant industry and choose foodie careers, such as a nutritionist at a relaxing resort or a chef in a top notch restaurant like David Chang. There you can wow people everyday with your amazing cooking skills, as you transform food into works of art! No matter what career path you choose to be a part of with your culinary arts degree, you will be a part of something extraordinary.

The specialized training you’ll receive while obtaining a culinary arts degree will give you the hands-on skills and expertise you need to become an integral part of the food industry. You will learn how to use the latest innovations and how to master precise cooking techniques that can springboard you into an exciting career path!

How do you choose where to go to get your culinary arts degree? You’ll need to search for a school that is accredited and offers what you need and want. There are many culinary arts school choices and even the option for online degrees, too. Get started today on the path to becoming a key player in a successful restaurant scene, and fulfill your dream of cooking as a career.

Ever wonder how to go about this? There are actually a number of ways. One way is to talk to the desk clerk at your hotel. Notice that desk clerk is mentioned instead of the concierge. The concierge may know of the places off the beaten path but it is more likely it will be the well known locations that they will guide you to. Ask the desk clerk where they like to eat and why they like it. You are far more likely to get the kind of place your palate is craving.

Another way is to talk to store keepers as you are shopping. They are likely to be especially helpful if you have just made a nice purchase and engaged in some friendly conversation. Again, ask them where they like to eat.

This approach really works with any local person you can grab onto and engage in pleasant conversation. People love talking about where they live and will often be able to tell you about a place that few tourists are aware of.

Notice the difference between asking where is good and where they eat. If you ask where is good, you may get the first thing that pops into their mind and it may not be somewhere they have ever eaten as they are as much a victim of advertising as a tourist can be. Ask them where they plunk down their hard earned dollar and you are likely to find a real gem!