Your Life Your Health

TopTen Food Trends for 2009

This will be the year of ethical eating. Consumers are looking for locally grown foods for a healthier lifestyle.

A "Locavore" is a person that seeks this type of locally grown and produced foods. Eating locally is the food trend for 2009. Consumers want to know where their food came from, and how it is packaged.

This year Americans will experiment with exotic foods with bold flavors, like goji berries, yumberries, pomegranates, blood oranges, colored and flavored salts and grains like red rice,and black quinoa, and amaranth.

Experts also tell us that we can look forward to more healthy choices on the grocery store shelves.We will find foods that are convenient, taste delicious, and fill us up,and may also help us lose weight.

Foods that multitask are salads, soups, fruits, whole grains, vegetables,and lean protein.The popular 100 calorie snack packs are great. People want portion controlled packages of food.

Food trend #1: Eco Friendly Foods

Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert, food trends editor for NBC Today Show says you may choose a locally grown product over organic because it will be fresher.

Food Trend #2:

We need to see more farmers markets and co-ops in the community, and locally grown food in the grocery stores. Consumers are also very careful about imported foods these days, and want very high safety standards.

Food Trend #3:

In 2007 we had food scares about pet food, peanut butter, ground beef, and other products. Consumers want safe food for themselves and their pets.Therefore the government must update the food safety sytem so we have confidence in the foods we buy.

Best Coupon Clipping Websites

There are hundreds if not thousands of websites that all offer basically the same thing, coupons and online promotions. These sites have a lo of discounts but cause confusion among shoppers.

The 5 Best Coupon Clipping Web Sites

Coupons.Com

The experts like it because they have timely coupons you would find in the Sunday paper. All you have to do is enter your zip code. There are still some supermarkets that will not accept internet coupons.Be sure to ask your favorite store if they take them.

Coupon Cabin.com

Staffers update these deals 3 times a day, and check the codes to make sure it works. There are sections for "favorite deals" and "most used coupons", that tell shoppers the best ongoing promotions at online retailers.

Coupon Mom.com

This site covers so much, printout coupons, online coupon codes.

There are free samples too. The easy design of this site makes finding the discounts easy. Also, these deals are accurate.there is a virtual coupon organizer to help you find the available coupons. You can also get e-mail alerts on different sales .

RetailMeNot.com

The dedicated community that uses this site will tell you what makes it work . They will tell you if a discount code worked for them, so you can avoid bad deals. They add comments about different codes, or if there are any catches involved. It's actually quite reliable.You will get e-mail alerts too if you want them.

SmartSource.com

Smart Source will merge your local store sales with printout coupons. This will help you maximize savings, the selection is great. When you enter your zip code you will get bargains in your local area.

Others that are useful:

dealitem.com

allfreecoupons.com

mrdealfinder.com

thecouponcupboard.com

grocerypricebooks.com

coolsavings.com

pennypinchergazette.com

couponclippers.com

Finally, I want to let you in on a secret. As long as you purchase the named item on your coupon, Jewel Foodstores will deduct the coupon fro your bill even if it is expired! No more examining coupons to make sure they are still current. I have saved hundreds of dollars this way, spending very little time doing it. Have fun!

How to Read Nutrtional Labels

 A nutrtional facts label will make it easier for the consumer to check his daily intake of nutrients.To understand these labels, you have to take an interest in what your body needs to function properly. Try to follow USDA guidelines for a balanced meal. This will include vegetables and grains, fiber rich foods, protein from lean meat,eggs, fish, beans,and dairy.fat from unsaturated fats, found in nuts, vegetable oil and fish.

1.The serving size is a guide to tell you how many calories and nutrients are in a specific quantity of that food.

2. If you check the bottom part of the Nutrtion Facts Label for fat and carbohydrate intake this will be based on a 2000 calorie a day diet.  Your values could be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.Generally, the more active you are, the more you need to consume.You need to consult with your doctor, nutritionist, or personal trainer to determine your personal diet.

3.There are four types of fats listed on most labels.Fats lubricate our joints and produce hormones. Saturated fats and trans fats are "bad" fats. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are "good fats". Remember to check this out. Very important.

4.Check out the carbohydrates on the label. This is the body's main source of energy and it is stored in the muscles. if you consume too many, they convert to fat. There are two types complex and simple. The majority of you carbohydrates  should come from complex carbohydrates, such as grains vegetables and fruits.

5.You need to locate the protein. Every tissue in our body muscle consists of protein. Protein contains the building blocks of lean muscle tissue.Without protein, burning fat and buliding muscle would be impossible. Sources of animal protein are fish, lean red meat, and eggs. Vegetable protein includes beans, nuts and grains.

6.Find the micronutrients and minerals on the label. They convert food into hormones, tissues, and enery. Because many minerals and vitamins are lost in our food, you should take a multivitamin/mineral formula every day.

7.Water is not listed on the label. It is the fourth basic essential nutrient. A lack of water will interrupt all body functions. Be sure to consult with the doctor before you start any type of diet, and always try to read the labels to be sure what you are buying. 

How to decode the mystery dates on food packages

 If you are like me, and many people are, I am serious about food dates on packaging. Have you ever wondered what these dates mean?You may find these dates on frozen food packages, or meat products. Does it  mean that the food expires that day?

There are a couple of types of dating. Open dating is found on perishable foods like meat, eggs, poultry. Closed dating will be on shelf items such as cans, boxes, and bagged items.

The sell by or pull date tells the store how long to display the item for sale before the product expires.

I am a great one for pouring out milk becaus the sell by date has been reached. The date on the label is for the grocery store. It is not a use by date as a general rule. So usually milk is safe and wholesome 7 to 10 days after the date on the label.

Best if used by ( or before) date is recommended for the best flavor and quality. It is a safety date. It seems that nine times out of ten it is right on.

The use by date is the last date recommended for use of that product. The product may still be fine, it just doesn't meet the company's standard for freshness.

Expiration date is the last date that your product should be eaten.This applies to formula in the strictest sense. Do not buy formula or baby food after the expiration date.

To avoid problems try these tips:

Purchase the product before the date expires.

If perishable, be sure to go home immediately and refrigerate the item.

If a perishable is frozen, it changes the rules about expiration dates because they are now safe indefinitely. If frozen too long the item can change it's quality. Use a zip lock bag and permanent marker to write the freezer date on the product.

If you have questions about how long to kep food after a purchase you may contact:

The University Of Arkansas, Division Of Agriculture, Miller County Extension Service at 400 Laaurel, suite 215, Texarkana or call 870-779-3609

For month coding the numbers 1-9 represent January through September, and letters O for October, N for November and D for December.

For year coding 8=1998, 9=1999, 0=2000,1=2001, 2=2002 etc.

These are some simple tips to help you consume your foods at the optimum time. When you do everything tastes so much better.