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techcrunchappcom · 3 years

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Empty seats, delivered feasts as virus changes Thanksgiving – Boston News, Weather, Sports

Vivian Zayas can’t keep herself from scrolling through photos of last Thanksgiving, when her mother stood at the stove to make a big pot of rice and beans and then took a seat at the edge of the table.

That was before anyone had heard of COVID-19 and before it claimed the retired seamstress. Ana Martinez died at 78 on April 1 while recovering at a nursing home from a knee replacement.

The family is having their traditional meal of turkey, yams, green beans and rice and beans — but Zayas is removing a seat from the table at her home in Deer Park, New York, this year and putting her mother’s walker in its place as a reminder of the loss.

“It’s a painful Thanksgiving. You don’t even know, should you celebrate?” asked Zayas. “It’s a lonely time.”

Americans are marking the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday amid an unrelenting pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than a quarter of a million people in the United States.

Turkey and pies will still come out ovens, football will still be on TV, families will still give thanks and have lively conversations about politics. But this holiday has been utterly altered after months filled with sorrows and hardships: Many feasts are weighed down by the loss of loved ones; others have been canceled or scaled back with the virus surging.

Zoom and FaceTime calls have become a fixture at dinner tables to connect with family members who don’t want to travel. Far fewer volunteers are helping at soup kitchens or community centers. A Utah health department has been delivering boxes of food to residents who are infected with the virus and can’t go to the store. A New York nursing home is offering drive-up visits for families of residents struggling with celebrating the holiday alone.

“The holidays make it a little harder,” said Harriet Krakowsky, an 85-year-old resident of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in New York who misses the big Thanksgiving celebrations of years past and has lost neighbors and friends to the virus. “I cry, but I get over it. We have to go on.”

On any normal Thanksgiving Day, Kara McKlemurry and her husband would drive from their Clearwater, Florida, home to one of two places: his family’s home in another part of the state or her family’s house in Alabama. This year, McKlemurry informed her family there would be no visits because of the pandemic. And when her in-laws offered to stop by, the couple said no.

She and her husband have been “keeping pretty strict lockdown” since March, and didn’t want to risk infecting anyone or getting the virus themselves.

Not everyone followed McKlemurry’s example. Millions of Americans bought tickets to fly somewhere for the holiday, crowding airports despite pleas from officials to avoid travel and gatherings.

Still, McKlemurry, 27, wanted to do something unique to mark this unusual holiday. She didn’t just want to soothe any lingering tension in the family — she wanted everyone to know that she and her husband feel blessed this year, despite the lack of physical connection.

So, a week before Thanksgiving, she sat in her backyard and hand wrote notes of gratitude to every member of the family. She got out colored pens, stickers of owls with scarves, and cute greeting cards.

“We’re so grateful to have you in our lives,” she wrote on a card with a cartoon fox, “even if we can’t actually be together this year for the holidays.”

In the nation’s capital, the convention center is empty unlike in previous years, when hundreds of volunteers have worked together to serve a traditional holiday meal to about 5,000 people, who also got access to clothing donations, medical testing and other services. In the era of social distancing, the sponsored event had to be reimagined.

Ahead of the holiday, organizers delivered to 20 nonprofits 5,000 gift bags, each with winter clothing accessories, hand sanitizer and a mask, and 5,000 boxes that included a turkey sandwich with condiments, a side potato salad, a cookie and utensils.

From start to finish, Thanksgiving is different this year for Jessica Franz, a nurse who works the graveyard shift at Olathe Medical Center, in a Kansas City suburb.

For one, Franz, 39, is celebrating without her mother-in-law, Elaine Franz, who died of the coronavirus on Nov. 10, just one day before her 78th birthday. In previous years, her mother-in-law, who was Mennonite, would lay out a spread for her children and grandchildren. At Franz’s work, in a typical year, co-workers would bring food for a potluck.

None of that is happening this year.

The family is shifting the festivities to Zoom and FaceTime. It’s been hard for her daughters — ages, 2, 8 and 11. Her middle daughter was exposed to the coronavirus at school and is quarantined until Dec. 3, and her oldest daughter is struggling with the concept of a scaled-back holiday.

“We had a good conversation that was, ‘This year may be different, and that’s OK. It is one year. If things are different this year and that means we get to see all the rest of our family next year, it is OK,’” said Franz, who has personally cared for patients dying of coronavirus.

The Thanksgiving gathering at David Forsyth’s home in Southern California, meanwhile, comes with a uniquely 2020 feel: rapid virus tests at the door to decide who gets inside.

The kit costs about $1,000 for 20 tests, each of which involve pricking a finger and putting a drop of blood on a tray. Ten minutes later the results either show someone is negative, has antibodies or is positive.

Normally, about 15 to 20 people attend the family’s Thanksgiving dinner in Channel Islands Harbor. But this year, it will only be eight of them: Forsyth, his wife, her four adult sons and the partners of two of them.

His wife started cooking Tuesday. She’s planning a cold cucumber soup for a starter and bunch of appetizers for the early afternoon meal. The sons are bringing side dishes. Turkey and the fixings are the main course. Champagne may be cracked.

Forsyth hasn’t seen his family much during the pandemic but wanted to save the holiday.

“People are trying to live a normal life,” he said. “And, you know, with the second wave coming now, it’s not a bad idea to be prepared.”

In Ogden, Utah, Evelyn Maysonet stepped out of her home Tuesday morning to find boxes of food on her front porch overflowing with canned goods, desserts and a turkey. She has been isolating with her husband and son in their home since all three tested positive for COVID-19 over a week ago.

None of them has been able to leave to buy groceries, so they were thrilled to receive the health department’s delivery — and the chance to enjoy a meal together and cherish the things that matter most.

“As long as you have a life and you’re still alive, just make the best of it with you and your family,” Maysonet said.

#changes #delivered #empty #feasts #seats #thanksgiving #virus #Sports

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ilaaer · 6 years

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Everything You Wanted to Know About Food Pantries

Food pantries are kind of like the soup kitchens you may be picturing, and kind of not. Some do serve hot meals, but our primary goal is to provide your family with groceries that will last you at least part of the week. We're basically here to help fill in the gaps left by inconsistent or insufficient benefits, sudden unemployment or debt, homelessness, being a poor student, and generally having to live hand to mouth. Long post incoming.

If you often find yourself wondering "I have nothing in my fridge; what's the best way to stretch fifteen dollars until I get paid next week?", look us up. Seriously. If you are struggling, and if you've been raised in a culture that looks down on poverty and accepting aid I can promise you this: we never will. A lot of us have been where you are or know people who have been. A lot of us even understand that it's possible to own a smartphone and still need food assistance, because life and emergencies happen. Life is difficult. We're here to make it a little bit less. Pass the info on to anyone in your life you think it might help:

If Things Are Hard For You

Find the food pantry that serves your area. Whether or not you're accepted to be registered generally depends on whether you live in a town or county that this particular pantry covers. If one of the local pantries is full to capacity, they will usually direct you to another.

Find out what you need to register. This is going to vary by organization. Some will ask for proof of need (tax forms, etc) while others are fine with just something to establish your identity. This stuff is all confidential; the organization uses it to figure out how many people need to be fed, and to make sure people aren't registering more than once. Your employer, your family, and the government are not gonna find out.

Have a photo ID of some sort. This is the baseline pretty much everywhere. It's our best way of making sure the system runs smoothly because we need to keep track of households. If they let you register ahead of time, do so. If you don't see any way of doing that, bring what you need and ask to speak to the person in charge when you come in: they can sometimes register you on the spot.

Find out what time the pantry opens and closes. Often, it's better to show up a half hour before the official opening so you can get registered and settled in. The earlier you show up, the more choices you will have.

You don't have to show up consistently. The idea is that we're here when needed. If your life situation improves and you don't need to come anymore, we'll be cheering for you. If you're doing well when things suddenly take a turn for the worse, you can come back.

Remember: we are happy to be there for you. But if you still feel like you want to do something, you can volunteer your time and receive help.

If You'd Like to Help (Everyone)

Look up your local food pantry and show up. Literally walk through the door and we will find you a job 9 times out of 10. You don't need an appointment and you will not be beholden to come on a regular basis. Bring your kids, bring your friends.

If you can't stick around for an hour or two as a volunteer, ask the pantry manager if they need any pickups or deliveries done. We get a lot of donations from grocery stores, local bakeries, and food warehouses; sometimes we just need people to physically bring that into the pantry at the stat of the day.

We love bilingual and polyglot volunteers in particular. :D Every pantry is going to have at least some clients who are not fluent in English (or at all). And that's to be expected: we are a nation of immigrants after all. Your skills can really help clear up someone's confusion and—often times—make them feel welcome. I've never met a person who wasn't happy to see someone make the effort to speak to them in their mother tongue.

If You'd Like to Help: Advanced User's Guide

Consider straight donating money to the organization. I know literally nobody likes to do this, but it's important. The pantry managers can get really, really good deals by buying in bulk, especially on perishable items like meat that otherwise are not going to be donated to us. We can get a lot more value out of a dollar than the average person: one dollar in cash goes further than one dollar in pasta. Around this time of year you can donate to the local pantry organization or to the food bank (our supplier of subsidized goods) at the checkout counter of a grocery store.

Find out what's needed. Some pantries publish their most needed items on their website, or public fliers.

If you're donating nonperishables out of your own kitchen, check the expiration date first. A sealed sack of flour that's two months past due will probably still be okay. A can of beans from 2008 probably isn't. Use your best judgment. Make sure that whatever you're donating isn't open; we'll end up throwing it out.

Please don't donate homemade meals (unless told otherwise). Most places can't accept them. Sorry, it's just a liability for us since we can't be totally sure of what's in it. However, you can still volunteer your services at the soup kitchen and actually cook on-site.

So. Pass it on to your loved ones, pass it on to your neighbors, pass it on to anyone who needs help. Come find us if things are hard for you. Wrangle your local cub scouts together and pester your friends into coming. Help us feed everyone, and help us feed you.

#food pantry #volunteer work

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personalrecoverykit · 4 years

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Best Places To Explore Nature Outside Lone Tree Neighborhoods

We commonly booked those musings for biscuits, pancakes, or hash (locate our favorites listed below ). However after that we feasted on a heaping serving of Onefold’s spectacular deep-fried rice with Chinese sausage(” lap cheong” ) Denver business broker, and also all that transformed. Garnished with sauted slices of sweet, weighty lap cheong (or duck, pork, or bacon) and also 2 deep-fried eggs, it’s a satisfying shock that we mean to eat on repeat. onefolddenver.com Picture by Aaron Colussi. Prop styling by Natalie Warady. RiNoNearly every food author in Denver has actually extolled Kyle Foster’s biscuitsand below we go again. They are baked to buy as well as have crusty sides that smash just so when you attack right into them. They are tender inside, salty, as well as oh-so abundant.

They havethe requisite half-cracked texture, yet they’re additionally in some way pillowy and also absolutely hold extra butter than a common biscuit. Foster is, put simply, a biscuit brilliant. As well as please tell Foster that, this time Tyler Tysdal and Title Card Capital, 5280 sent you. juleprino.com Chinese food Celebrity Cooking area on Mississippi Avenue for the ideal dim sum around. You’ll wait for a table on weekend mornings, but the pan-fried turnip cake with XO sauce, shrimp-stuffed eggplant, and congee with duck egg.

are worth it. starkitchenseafooddimsum.com English food The British Bulldog, since if you’re going to invest your weekend break early mornings viewing Premier Organization matches, you might too do so over a full English breakfasttwo eggs, a” banger”( sausage),” rashers”( bacon), mushrooms, beans, fried tomato, as well as toastat this 12-year-old Five Factors pub.

britishbulldogdenver.com Ethiopian food Colfax Opportunity’s Africana Coffee shop, which opens up at 9 a – Harvard Business School.m. africanaethiopianfood.com Vietnamese food Pho 95 on Federal Blvd forwhat else?a steaming dish of its trademark brothy noodle soup, an usual breakfast in Southeast Asia. The Pho 95 special, with filet mignon, brisket, and flank, is a timeless Denver hangover remedy. pho95noodlehouse.com Filipino food Aurora’s Sunburst Grill, where a hearty plate of” tocino “( Filipino-style bacon cured with pineapple juice), eggs, as well as rice expenses just$ 7. Photo by Aaron Colussi. Prop designing by Natalie Warady. LoHiCradling a porcelain mug of steaming joe inside the Bindery.

Actually Cool Things To Do In Denver During Quarantine …

‘s bright, busy room on Central Street is a lovely way to greet the day. The beans come from Denver’s Queen City Coffee Collective, which has been seducing regional java enthusiasts with its artisan, direct-trade coffees because 2007. thebinderydenver.com Uptown & ArvadaWe’re certain avocado toast has absolutely nothing to do with millennials ‘reduced homeownership rates, yet paying greater than$ 10 for the fashionable staple isn’t a great idea for any person’s wallet. Luckily, Steuben’s Avocado Goddess Toast will just establish you back$ 5and it’s absolutely divine. The kitchen area toasts ciabatta, rubs it with a rich, herby, sour-cream-based schmear, tops it with thin slices of buttery avocado, and garnishes it all with shaved radish as well as a drizzle of olive oil. Almost. steubens.com LoDoWe’ve eaten scores of leathery, flavorless omelets over the yearswhich, in a community recognized for the recipe, is more than a little unsatisfactory. Say thanks to goodness for Urban.

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Farmer, then, where the Denver omelet gets its due. Available throughout weekend break breakfast and also weekday breakfast, cook Chris Starkus ‘model is studded with chunks of baked eco-friendly chiles, red pepper, as well as local ham as well as covered with a generous( if nontraditional) put of barnaise sauce. Lastly, we can lay insurance claim to an omelet worthwhile of our city’s great name. urbanfarmerdenver.com Multiple locationsNot just is the Post’s fried chicken regularly spectacular, with a superbly crispy, completely skilled crust and also juicy meat withina mighty great meal all on its ownbut the pleasant dining establishment’s a.m. food selection likewise approves our wish for numerous brunch-acceptable methods to consume the humble bird. postbrewing.com Picture by Sarah Boyum. BerkeleyIt’s easy to put pancakesfilled with delicious chocolate chips or jam, saturated in fudge sauce or whipped cream or whatever excessive spice sweet-toothed guests might consider temptingon a brunch food selection.

What’s harder is to make a pancake that tastes excellent solo. Wendell’s, the upscale diner that took over the original DJ’s Cafe space on Tennyson Street last year, has actually achieved the last with its large buttermilk appeals, which are lightened with whipped egg whites and also flavored with brandy, vanilla paste, and also lemon zest. wendellsbreakfast. Tyler Tysdal SEC.com Methodology: To assign a cost each for every of these meals, we completed the average cost of an entre, a coffee, as well as a mixed drink or beer. Break out your( fancy) stretchy pants prior to tackling the Sunday breakfast buffet at this hotel near the Park Meadows shopping center. The price includes real-time jazz, endless mimosas, and also an all-you-can-eat buffet with made-to-order omelets, a raw fish and shellfish bar, as well as carved beef ribs. Its distance to matine shows at the nearby Denver Doing Arts Intricate simply contributes to the appeal.

. edgerestaurantdenver.com This Cherry Creek stunner inside the Halcyon resort provides special, Italian-inspired breakfast fareincluding the trademark poultry Parmesan and also light-as-air gnudiand fresh-juice Bellinis( cucumber-lime, white peach, grapefruit-pomegranate )are blended tableside from a restless cart. Our go-to: a$ 6 Bloody Mary and the Fettster (seeded rye toast with caper cream cheese as well as smoked salmon )with a prompt top. Platte Management. oliveandfincheatery.com With pop-art-bedecked walls and also a huge roster of boozy beverages, this two-story Sunnyside place is perfect for households and revelers alike. Order a bacon flight.

Best Places To Explore Nature Outside Denver Neighborhoods …

as you question between purchasing the Costa Rica Benedict( smoked pork belly, jalapeo cornbread, pineapple salsa, chipotle hollandaise) or the bacon shrimp and also grits. Get a coffee from Crema Bodega, a mixed drink from Curiowe like the rum, apple brandy, and citrus concoction called Dead Presidentsand a substantial cinnamon roll from Izzio Bakery to take pleasure in at one of the food hall’s lengthy area tables.

denvercentralmarket.com Get one of the most bang for the least buck at the Sloan’s Lake station of this preferred counter-service spot. riseandshinedenver.com Picture by Aaron Colussi (Harvard Business School). Prop styling by Natalie Warady. AuroraIt’s virtually impossible to select just one thing from Annette’s breakfast menu, however when pressed to do so, chef Caroline Glover’s waffles drift above the remainder. Their light appearance comes from a yeasted batter Glover rests overnight for utmost flavor development and loft. Also better, the covering combinations change once a week and also with the periods, from apples with salted caramel and whipped lotion in the be up to blackberries with lemon curd and whipped cream in the springtime. annettescratchtotable.com LoHiMeals at There Denver are often riotous events, specifically if you go during breakfast, when the dining establishment supplies rotating amusement with styles like burlesque, yoga, as well as bluegrass music. For $7, you obtain 3 incredible fried orbs that are crunchy on their cinnamon-sugar-coated outsides, feather-soft within, and also generously full of tart, house-made raspberryPinot Noir jam. Breakfast with a side of burlesque dance may not be every person’s thing, however we’re quite certain these doughnuts are. therehospitalitygroup.com Capitol HillVegetarian as well as vegan Denverites need not experience with bland tofu shuffles and butter-free toast, many thanks to Cap Hillside’s hipster institution, City, O’ City, where the entire a.m. My personal fave would need to be the Queso Arepa. Who does not enjoy mozzarella cheese, avocado and also fried plantains!.?. !? Photo thanks to @milehighandhungry on Instagram This french toast is the most effective brunch option in Denver. It’s a gooey as well as beautiful mix of bread, butter, berries, cinnamon, vanilla and syrup.

Prior to founding Freedom Factory, Tyler Tysdal managed a growth equity fund in association with several celebrities in sports and entertainment. Portfolio company Leesa.com grew rapidly to over $100 million in revenues and has a visionary social objective to “end bedlessness” by donating one bed mattress for each ten offered, with over 35,000 contributions now made. Some other portfolio business remained in the industries of wine importing, specialized lending and software-as-services digital signage. In parallel to managing properties for services, Ty was managing private equity in real estate. He has had a variety of effective private equity financial investments and numerous exits in trainee real estate, multi-unit real estate, and hotels in Manhattan and Seattle.Image politeness of @milehighandhungry on Instagram Vert is not just housed in the stylish and pleasant area of Clean Park, yet it has an awesome food selection that is frequently transforming. Every component they utilize is neighborhood and homemade, and while they constantly have sandwiches and also salads, they switch up their specials and also sides so you can attempt something brand-new every single time you go.

Image thanks to @infatuation_den on Instagram If you can’t inform from this picture, this is the best darn pizza in the state of Colorado. Fresh, self-made dough as well as regional, organic active ingredients baked with each other in a traditional block stove makes these pizzas taste like they’re appropriate out of Naples, Italy. Basic ingredients and conventional techniques make Restaurant Locale a must.

16 Top-rated Tourist Attractions In Denver – Planetware

You obtain to select the base, healthy protein, kind of curry, veggies and flavors to develop a custom-made Indian curry dish that has extraordinary flavor as well as spice. The components as well as choices are incredibly fresh as well as continuously changing, enabling you to switch it up whenever you go, but I highly recommend the coconut curry and also poultry.

Picture thanks to @infatuation_den on Instagram grass-fed meat, Tillamook cheddar cheese and also fresh lettuce and also tomatoes make this cheeseburger an essential. They throw on a few of their unique sauce for the finest combination of tasty and also tasty, as well as their newly baked bun is the cherry on top. While their yummy burgers are a factor alone to go, Larkburger’s truffle fries are my favorite french fries in Denver, hands down.

I would do anything at any kind of give minute to consume these fries and also I indicate anything individuals. Photo courtesy of @infatuation_den on Instagram Bonnie Brae is a real Denver facility. They make their homemade ice cream and also cones on site every day, and also have a plethora of tasty flavors offered (Harvard Business School).

Whether it’s a summer season’s night or great mid-day, Bonnie Brae is constantly crowded with pleased youngsters, families, and big teams of friends – business broker in Denver. Image thanks to @infatuation_den on Instagram Denver Biscuit Co. has a nationwide credibility for dishing out insanely excellent biscuits, and this credibility can not be extra precise. Their biscuit french toast has the ideal degree of sweet taste and also is pleasantly indulgent, while their egg biscuits are the most enjoyable method to begin the day.

syndicated from Best Places To Explore Nature Outside Lone Tree Neighborhoods via David Rawlins

syndicated from Best Places To Explore Nature Outside Lone Tree Neighborhoods via Personal Recovery Kit

#Personal Recovery Kit #best franchise opportunity #fit body boot camp #best franchises #bedros keuili

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michellelinkous · 4 years

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7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste

You know that feeling when you open your refrigerator to discover that your bright green kale has turned straw yellow? You're not alone. In 2017, Americans generated more than 41 million tons of food waste![1] In fact, 30 to 40 percent of all food created isn’t used.[2, 3] This phenomenon of food waste is not just in private pantries and fridges, but also in restaurants, grocery stores, and farms. But there’s good news: many individuals, charitable organizations, and governments are working to turn the tide.

In 2015, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a goal to reduce food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030. The goal is to have every person "only" throw away 109.4 pounds per year.[5] Households contribute to 43 percent of the food waste in our country.[6] You have the power to make a difference!

Companies are getting in the mix, as well. New food upcycling companies are doing everything from selling funny-looking "ugly" fruits and vegetables that would be tossed by grocers to turning pressed juice pulp into popsicles.

Reducing food waste is a great way to go green in your home. Try these steps to reduce your food waste footprint!

The Environmental Impact of Food Waste

When you waste less food, you save money and time while helping the long-term health of the planet. You also keep food out of landfills, or "dumps," which are the third-largest source of human-generated methane,[1] a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Food waste not only uses some of our water supply,[3] it also consumes land, labor, tons of energy, and toxic chemicals (try to choose organic when possible!).

Moreover, all the extra we don't eat could have helped people who are food-insecure. Many organizations are rescuing food that would become waste from grocery stores and restaurants to feed the homeless and individuals who do not have enough to eat. That’s pretty inspiring!

7 Ways You Can Reduce Food Waste

One woman, Loren T., an end-of-life doula from Glen Ridge, New Jersey, has learned how to maximize her food, letting little go to waste. She saves veggie food scraps in the fridge and then, at the end of the week, turns them into stock. She also thinks expansively about each item she cooks.

"I always plan multiple meals with one item," says Loren. For example, she’ll make black beans on Sunday and plan for tacos that night, a Mexican tofu scramble for Monday’s breakfast, and then pop a black bean dip with carrots in her son’s lunch the next day.

With these tips, you too can be creative, learning everything from the secrets of food storage to the wonders of composting can make the process simple, and even fun.

1) Plan Ahead

Try to make a plan. What's for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks every day? What will you require for each meal, per person in your household?

Write an old-school shopping list — or choose one of many apps that can help — and take it with you every time you shop. Going to the store with a list can help you limit impulse buying and may decrease the amount of food you waste by 20 percent![7]

Also, check the fridge before you go to the market. It’s a good way to avoid having triples of your favorite condiments. And unless you really want to stock up for you or your family, don't let extra-large packages of food tempt you — bulk buys are a major source of waste.[7] If you do buy in bulk and find you’re not going to use the items, check their expiration dates; when they near, donate to a food bank.

2) Eat Your Leftovers & Get Creative

Eating leftovers doesn't just mean reheating and serving as-is. Get creative! For example, you can:

Turn last night's quinoa or rice into a vegan breakfast porridge.

Sautée wilted greens for a baked sweet potato topping.

Stuff a pepper with cauliflower rice.

Make brown bananas into a creamy smoothie or banana bread.

Turn stale bread into breadcrumbs.

Blend beans into veggie burgers.

Chop flaccid carrots into a stir fry or carrot soup.

Hold a leftover night on Fridays, a creative meal of the week's scraps.

Also, label all food containers with the date you filled them. This can help you decide what to eat first.

Remember, when you see a post-peak vegetable, ask yourself: Is it bad, or is it just ugly? Funny-looking, bruised, and day-old produce can still be delicious.

3) Store Your Food Properly

Proper food preservation makes food stay fresh longer. Some fruits, like apples, avocados, melons, bananas, and mangoes, release ethylene gas, which causes other fruits and vegetables to ripen faster. Store each of these types of fruits alone, whether on a counter or in the fridge. Wrap the ends of bananas with plastic to lessen their ethylene release.

Certain vegetables are especially ethylene-sensitive; keep them away from ethylene-producers. For example, cucumbers, peppers, sweet potatoes, eggplant, grapes, leafy greens, and zucchini will ripen too fast when around ethylene-producing fruits.[8]

Tips:

Don't wash berries, cherries, or grapes until you're about to eat them. Water makes them rot faster.

Try gadgets like an avocado keeper; a berry box; and crisper drawer liners that absorb moisture.

Make sure your fridge is always set at or below 40 degrees F (colder is better).

Store the most perishable items away from the refrigerator doors; it’s coldest at the back.[9]

If something is going to go bad before you can eat it, freeze the food! You can freeze everything from baked sweet potatoes to watermelon! Frozen food is safe to eat for up to a year, depending on the item.[10]

Declutter your fridge often to unearth hidden items before they go bad. Organize your fridge so you can clearly see items that are perishable.

Wipe down drawers to get rid of bacteria and moisture that can make food go bad faster.[11]

4) Understand Expiration Dates

You may have noticed that some foods say "use by," while others say "sell by" or "best by." It's no wonder if you find them confusing.[12]

It turns out these labels are more art than science. While nutrition facts labels are pretty clear, there are no federal guidelines on expiration dates — other than infant formula[13] — leading to a whole lot of premature tossing. People throw away about 398,000 tons of food annually because of misleading expiration labels.[14] Labels are most accurate and important on produce and other foods that go bad — usually within a few days or a week.

The shelf life on canned goods or refrigerated items is more flexible than you realize. The FDA is currently encouraging consistent labeling of shelf-stable food. The agency prefers, "Best if Used By." This means, "This Tastes Best By" — and is a comment on food freshness and not safety.

The USDA has excellent guidelines for food’s general shelf-safety.[15] If any packaged food looks, smells, or tastes off, also toss. But if a bag of, say, rice, has passed its "best by" date by a few months yet seems alright, it's very likely fine in flavor and safety. If you prefer never to eat any food beyond the date, try to donate unopened items before they reach the expiry date.

5) Donate Your Food

If you have non-perishables that you're not going to eat, donate it! Locate a local food bank, food pantry, or food rescue program and see how they accept donations.[16]

Most food banks request things like canned goods, rice, pasta, sauce, peanut butter, jelly, and other shelf-stable foods. Whether they will take expired foods or not varies by state. Stay on top of your food expiry dates — if something you’re not going to eat is creeping toward its expiration date, donate it.

There are also food rescue programs, like soup kitchens, which have different rules than food banks. They may accept perishables like refrigerated food, cooked meals, or baked goods. Ask.

If they don't, your neighbors might! Start a group text with local friends who might want your avocados that will be ripe exactly in the middle of your vacation. (Why does that always happen?)

6) Start Composting

About 94 percent of wasted food ends up in landfills, where it emits planet-warming methane.[17] One way to divert it from the dump is to compost. This creates a simple way to extend your sustainable lifestyle to the outdoors.

You can easily try composting at home. It doesn’t require a big yard or extensive outdoor space to do it. Just collect food scraps in a non-stinky compost bin on your counter. It creates nutritious food for your plants or local gardens.[18]

You can find many resources online, such as step-by-step guides to create a compost pile, but it’s mainly a matter of dumping food scraps and other compostable items, covering them with leaves or grass clippings or dirt, and then layering more food. Always top it with plant matter so you don’t attract animals. After some time, the pile should be tossed and stirred. Eventually, it will decompose into rich fertilizer. Even if you don’t use it for a garden, it has reduced your food waste!

Every year, more cities and towns add public composting options. If you can join one of those, then it's as simple as setting out a bucket with your recycling or dropping it at a designated spot.

7) Speak Up to Reduce Food Waste

Though households contribute to 43 percent of the food waste in our country, grocery stores and restaurants contribute 31 percent.[19] One way to help is to let local businesses know they can participate in the USDA/EPA's 2030 goal of reducing food loss.

Share the Food Recovery Challenge[2] info with local grocers, faith organizations, and restaurants. You can also write letters expressing the importance of reducing food waste to your local, state, and national elected officials. Connect with politicians who are working on laws to allow restaurants to donate unused food to hunger organizations. Or start a letter-writing campaign to help gain momentum for food waste reduction legislation.

Points to Remember

Wasting food is an issue that affects not only your finances, but also the planet, as it’s a significant source of greenhouse gases. Living healthy involves not only involves embracing a natural health lifestyle, but also seeking sustainable solutions to everyday issues.

To reduce food waste, use a shopping list every time you go to the market, store produce properly, and understand expiration dates. Many expiration dates are really "best if used by" dates. And if you won’t use it, donate it.

Get creative about how you reuse your leftovers. Any waste you do create, consider composting or donating to a food bank. This keeps it out of landfills. Finally, you can help meet national food waste goals by advocating for change locally and nationally. Make it Earth Day every day!

Learning to waste less food reduces your carbon footprint, ensures that your food stays fresh longer, and curbs impulse buying. What’s not to love?

What have you tried to reduce food waste? Share stories from your community or your personal experiences below!

The post 7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste appeared first on Dr. Group's Healthy Living Articles.

7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.tumblr.com/

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gordonwilliamsweb · 4 years

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7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste

Reducing food waste is a great way to go green in your home. Try these steps to reduce your food waste footprint!

The Environmental Impact of Food Waste

Food waste not only uses some of our water supply,[3] it also consumes land, labor, tons of energy, and toxic chemicals (try to choose organic when possible!).

7 Ways You Can Reduce Food Waste

With these tips, you too can be creative, learning everything from the secrets of food storage to the wonders of composting can make the process simple, and even fun.

1) Plan Ahead

Try to make a plan. What's for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks every day? What will you require for each meal, per person in your household?

2) Eat Your Leftovers & Get Creative

Eating leftovers doesn't just mean reheating and serving as-is. Get creative! For example, you can:

Turn last night's quinoa or rice into a vegan breakfast porridge.

Sautée wilted greens for a baked sweet potato topping.

Stuff a pepper with cauliflower rice.

Make brown bananas into a creamy smoothie or banana bread.

Turn stale bread into breadcrumbs.

Blend beans into veggie burgers.

Chop flaccid carrots into a stir fry or carrot soup.

Hold a leftover night on Fridays, a creative meal of the week's scraps.

Also, label all food containers with the date you filled them. This can help you decide what to eat first.

Remember, when you see a post-peak vegetable, ask yourself: Is it bad, or is it just ugly? Funny-looking, bruised, and day-old produce can still be delicious.

3) Store Your Food Properly

Tips:

Don't wash berries, cherries, or grapes until you're about to eat them. Water makes them rot faster.

Try gadgets like an avocado keeper; a berry box; and crisper drawer liners that absorb moisture.

Make sure your fridge is always set at or below 40 degrees F (colder is better).

Store the most perishable items away from the refrigerator doors; it’s coldest at the back.[9]

Declutter your fridge often to unearth hidden items before they go bad. Organize your fridge so you can clearly see items that are perishable.

Wipe down drawers to get rid of bacteria and moisture that can make food go bad faster.[11]

4) Understand Expiration Dates

You may have noticed that some foods say "use by," while others say "sell by" or "best by." It's no wonder if you find them confusing.[12]

5) Donate Your Food

If you have non-perishables that you're not going to eat, donate it! Locate a local food bank, food pantry, or food rescue program and see how they accept donations.[16]

There are also food rescue programs, like soup kitchens, which have different rules than food banks. They may accept perishables like refrigerated food, cooked meals, or baked goods. Ask.

If they don't, your neighbors might! Start a group text with local friends who might want your avocados that will be ripe exactly in the middle of your vacation. (Why does that always happen?)

6) Start Composting

Every year, more cities and towns add public composting options. If you can join one of those, then it's as simple as setting out a bucket with your recycling or dropping it at a designated spot.

7) Speak Up to Reduce Food Waste

Points to Remember

Learning to waste less food reduces your carbon footprint, ensures that your food stays fresh longer, and curbs impulse buying. What’s not to love?

What have you tried to reduce food waste? Share stories from your community or your personal experiences below!

The post 7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste appeared first on Dr. Group's Healthy Living Articles.

7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

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opticien2-0 · 4 years

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UPDATED Coronavirus round-up: Shopping apps boom, ‘essential’ Halfords re-opens, Hermes doubles lockers, Aldi staff bonus, Co-op redeploys, Amazon pickers panic and more...

We’re reporting on the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the way UK shoppers buy – and on how retailers are responding to that changing behaviour. This update comes as 8077 positive cases have been confirmed by Public Health England as of 9am on March 24 and 422 people have died.

SHOPPERS TURNING TO ONLINE AND APPS – AND WON’T TURN BACK

The increasingly draconian measures to force people apart – not least closing all shops, though it is heartening to see that Off Licences have been deemed ‘essential’ – is driving an ever-growing move to ecommerce. Analysts at Mckinsey suggest that ecommerce is going to go from 20 to 40% of retail over the next few months and is unlikely to go back.

This is already being borne out in the download of shopping apps, believes Poq, which has seen app downloads from its platform up 100% in past seven days, as shoppers start to move to using their phones to buy everything from essentials to treats.

Poq is now predicting that the Coronavirus lockdown in the UK is likely to see the share of ecommerce traffic generated through apps hit 25% in 2020.

Meanwhile, mobile payments company Bango has assessed how users of its service in regions already through the Coronavirus first wave used their devices and has found, unsurprisingly, that spending on food deliveries rose by 30% in the first week of containment then rocketed by 40% during the first week of lockdown in Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Online goods saw 11% and 21% increases respectively over the same periods. These were the two biggest growth sectors – closely followed by streaming – for the regions.

‘HOME’ STORES NOW SHUT, BUT HALFORDS KEEPS SOME STORES OPEN

As further clarification is made to this week’s further lockdown measures, the UK government has asked home and garden stores to also close. B&Q is open today for outstanding click-and-collect orders, but is then shutting its doors and looking to trade online.

“Our online business, DIY.com is open 24/7. We will continue to offer a contactless home delivery service,” says CEO Graham Bell.

Meanwhile, Halfords has had clarification that, as a quasi-garage and bike shop, it is deemed an essential retailer. It had closed its stores as of Monday night, but is hoping to open some by “the end of this week”.

In a statement, CEO Graham Stapleton, said: “We’re fundamentally changing the way our stores operate. To keep our colleagues and customers safe, we will be offering a ‘Drive in, fit and repair’ proposition for essential motoring and cycling services alongside a ‘Drive in pick or collect point for products’. Essentially, we won’t be inviting customers into our stores, but providing services and collection from the front of store, all within the social distancing rules.

He continues: “We will no longer be accepting cash payments and customers won’t be asked to sign refund paperwork. And, as you’d expect, we’ll be enforcing a strict two metre rule and ensuring that our colleagues have the cleaning materials to support hygiene guidelines. These are just some of the steps we are taking to keep colleagues and customers safe. I give you my personal guarantee that we will only open stores and garages, and operate our mobile services, where we are able to implement these measures fully. We are doing all we can to be accessible to those who need us most at this time.”

HERMES DOUBLES NUMBER OF LOCKERS FOR RETURNS

Carrier Hermes has increased the number of lockers available for its customers to use to return or send items.

The lockers, operated in partnership with InPost, are located in a variety of safe and secure outdoor locations around the UK and are open 24/7 hours, enabling people to access them during quiet times without the need for personal interaction.

There are also plans in place for additional InPost lockers throughout the country, including sites close to hospitals to support NHS staff and other key workers. Locations can be found in the Hermes ParcelShop finder.

Martijn de Lange, CEO at Hermes UK, says: “We have increased the numbers of outdoor lockers located in local communities from 450 to 831, enabling more of our customers to send and return parcels in a safe way during these challenging circumstances. We would ask people to use the lockers sensibly and to be mindful of the government advice regarding essential travel and suggest that customers might consider using this service as part of their daily exercise routine. This is also important as some of our independent ParcelShops may be subject to changing opening times or closure as things develop and we are urging customers to double check ParcelShop openings before they travel to them.”

ALDI PAYS STORE STAFF 10% BONUS

Aldi is aping a growing-number US food retailers in pledeing to pay its store staff a 10% bonus for the extra hours and duties they have been doing since 9 March. It has also announced dedicated shopping times for Emergency Workers and increased support for small suppliers – opening between 9.30am-10.00am on Sundays solely for key workers in the NHS, Police and Fire Service. Eligible customers will be able to take priority at checkouts when they open at 10am. Entry to Aldi stores between 9.30am - 10.00am* will be with relevant ID only.

As part of its ongoing support for small suppliers, Aldi has today announced it will reduce payment terms so that any supplier with a turnover of less than £1m will now be paid immediately. This will benefit some 1,000 Aldi suppliers.

Aldi has already made a number of financial commitments to key partners, including Neighbourly, which distributes surplus food and other donations to those in need, Teenage Cancer Trust, and Age UK. All stores’ opening hours have been shortened slightly to close at 8pm, instead of 10pm, to give our colleagues some additional rest and allow the stores to be restocked at their best every day

CO-OP REDEPLOYERS TRAVEL COLLEAGUES

Staff from 24 Co-op travel shops are being redeployed to help support the chain’s food stores in an effort to ensure the community continues to be served. All travel shops will temporarily close, but customers will still be able to contact a dedicated team of travel colleagues who are looking after enquiries and bookings via email and phone.

“With our food stores busier than ever, we have taken the decision to temporarily close our travel shops so that we can redeploy our colleagues to support our stores, our food colleagues and our communities,” says Paul Dale, head of travel at the Co-op.

AMAZON WORKERS ‘PETRIFIED’ WORKING IN “300 STRONG CROWDS” WITH NO SANITISER OR PPE

Amazon workers are ‘petrified’ of being infected by COVID-19 after being left to work in packed warehouses, without hand sanitiser or personal protection equipment as productivity targets grow, according to reports from the GMB Union

The Union says that it has report that people at fulfilment centres across the UK say they are being left in crowds of 200 to 300 people and having to reuse equipment multiple times with no hand sanitiser available. Workers say water dispensers are used over-and-over again without being disinfected, dirty canteen tables with used tissues on them, team leaders giving feedback without staying two metres away and no sanitiser of alcohol wipes to clean equipment.

Mick Rix, GMB National Officer, explains: “We are so angry about this - these workers are petrified of catching and spreading COVID-19 and rightly so. Amazon is blatantly disregarding the two metre social distancing rules, there are no masks, no sanitiser and with the vast amount of people working there there’s no way of keeping them from getting ill. It’s impossible for Amazon workers to keep a safe distance from each other and hit their productivity targets. Amazon has a duty of care - not just to its own workers but to the whole of the British public.”

LIDL INTRODUCES FOOD BINS

As reports of food banks being raided and panic buying continues, Lidl is introducing new customer food donation boxes in its stores as it looks to help local community groups and people in need of food and supplies.

The scheme forms part of an extension of the retailer’s ‘Feed in Back’ initiative which is run in partnership with Neighbourly and customers will be able to donate any food or grocery items through special boxes placed in stores. Items collected will then be distributed to organisations such as food banks, community centres and soup kitchens.

MARKETPLACE WAVES JOINING FEE AND BOOSTS MARKETING

Online marketplace Fruugo is waiving its joining fee and offering a free marketing boost to new sellers that come on board in the next month.

Currently, sellers joining Fruugo would pay a £995 fee when they join the platform, however the marketplace has noticed a boost in sales across many of its categories and wants to help other businesses see these positive effects. In addition, Fruugo will give these new sellers additional marketing support on the site for the first month.

With many of Fruugo’s global shoppers being in lockdown and having to get used to ’working from home’, the platform has seen a shift in how consumers are shopping. Products linked to staying indoors - including home office equipment, games and children’s toys and home gym and fitness equipment - are seeing a particular increase in sales. Likewise sales of health and wellbeing products including vitamins and supplements are also seeing strong growth.

CONTACTLESS PAYMENT LIMIT RAISED AS CASH DECLINES

Never has ‘contactless payments’ been such a loaded term: and now the contactless limit has been raised from £30 to £45 This decision to increase the limit was taken to help customers avoid making unnecessary contact with the keypad and cashier at checkouts, and to prevent the handling of cash which is likely to carry viruses and bacteria.

In fact, cash usage in Britain has halved in the past few days, according to Link, which operates the UK’s biggest network of ATMs and contactless is on the up.

UK Finance, which represents the big banks, said: “Given the pace at which this change is being rolled out, the new limits will take some time to be introduced across all retailers, including some of those facing additional pressure due to the Covid-19 outbreak.”

Mobile phone users can already make contactless payments of more than £30, if the retailer accepts, by holding their phone over the reader and entering their normal card pin on their phone.

There is no official limit on the amount a customer can spend when using Apple Pay, but some retailers have their own ceiling.

Advocates of checkout-less technology are already eyeing the prize. Will Broome, CEO of Ubamarket, believes that ‘Scan, Pay, Go!’ technology allows customers to scan products as they shop, be guided around the store with a supermarket sat-nav, and completely bypass the tills and queues by paying for their shopping in-app.

The usage of this app drastically reduces the amount of time spent in-store for customers, but still allows them to effectively purchase all goods and avoid any potentially dangerous contact at the tills, whilst enabling retailers to cater to more customers and better assess the consumer demand for all products, he says.

from InternetRetailing https://ift.tt/3bn9z5a via IFTTT

#Retail 2.0

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thediscoveryhouse · 6 years

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6 Ways to Give Back for Giving Tuesday (and Every Day of the Year)

Reaching out a helping hand to one less fortunate or going through a rough patch in life is incredibly rewarding. Volunteering changes not only the people on the receiving end, but it also has a way of changing the heart of the giver as well. Narcotics Anonymous encourages members to help others struggling with addiction work on their sobriety by volunteering at local meetings. This principle is meant to take the focus off oneself and thereby diminishing self-centeredness. Also, with the holidays wholly upon us, there is no shortage of ways to give back to your local community.

Benefits of Volunteering in Recovery

Giving freely of your time has quite a different impact than merely writing a check or making an online donation to a charity. Handing someone in need a hot bowl of soup or a blanket. Helping prepare and serve a family Thanksgiving dinner to replace the scraps they usually find as a soup kitchen volunteer. Handing a homeless child a Christmas gift which they would have never received. This firsthand experience – well, there are no words to explain the overwhelming joy.

6 Ways to Give Back for Giving Tuesday and Beyond

There are many ways in which to help others for Giving Tuesday. Here, we’re sharing just six of our favorite ways to give back today and every day.

Volunteer at a Local Soup Kitchen or Food Bank

Many children will go without gifts for the holidays this year, much more go without necessities like food. According to the USDA, there are 3.9 million families that are food insecure. That means that they will have little to no food for weeks at a time. If you’re considering getting involved in your community, volunteering at your local food bank or soup kitchen is a great place to start.

Make Care Packages for the Homeless

Pack up several large zip lock bags with items a homeless person might need (toiletries, bottles of water or juice, gum or mints, fleece scarf, Kleenex, or a small Bible). You can pick up the small travel sized bottles at your local CVS or Target. Make it extra special by including an encouraging personal note. Keep the bags in your car and hand them to people asking for help standing on the meridian or street corner.

Give Hope to Those Less Fortunate

Help send gift-filled shoe boxes to children around the world through Operation Christmas Child

Give Thanks to Our Veterans and Their Families

There are many ways to give thanks to the brave men and women who have fought for our country, as well as their families. From something as simple as donating a portion of the things you already buy to veteran-related causes, to sponsoring a companion dog or sending a care package – the list is endless. Also, this list of simple ways to give back to veterans is terrific.

Sponsor a Family in Your Community

Reach out to a family struggling financially this Christmas. Ask each family member to list 10 things they want from Santa (even the adults). Purchase and wrap all 10 or choose a few for each person. Deliver them in person or leave them on the porch late Christmas Eve with Santa footprints (easily made with a can of fake snow and a boot)

Organize a Spread the Cheer Campaign

Get a group of friends together to create or purchase holiday cards. Write a short encouraging note inside and place them in public areas like the subway or on car windshields at the grocery store.

A few more tips for Giving Tuesday: be creative, give of yourself year-round and bask in the warmth of thankfulness. How will you be giving back to others in your recovery?

#christmas #community #give it away to keep it #giving tuesday #holidays #veterans #volunteer

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meditationadvise · 5 years

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67 Ways To Change The World

About a month back on July 18th, it was Nelson Mandela Day. We enjoy the guy as a result of exactly what he's done as well as just what he stands for. And also that's change.

So we thought we 'd share this motivating checklist of 67 things you could do to transform the globe drawn from NelsonMandela.org.

Enjoy and also let us recognize which ones you have actually currently started doing:-)

67 Ways To Change Our World

1. Make a brand-new good friend. Learn more about somebody from a different cultural history. Only through good understanding can we clear our communities of intolerance as well as xenophobia. 2. Read to someone who can't. Check out a local home for the blind and open up a new globe for someone else. 3. Fix the splits in your street or neighbourhood. 4. Aid out at the regional animal sanctuary. Dogs without houses still need a walk as well as a little bit of love. 5. Locate out from your regional library if it has a tale hr and offer to review during it. 6. Offer to take a senior neighbour who can not own to do their shopping/chores. 7. Arrange a clutter cleanup day in your area. 8. Get a team of people to each weaved a square and make a blanket for someone in need. 9. Volunteer at your cops terminal or neighborhood faith-based organisation. 10. Donate your skills! 11. If you're a building contractor, help build or boost somebody's home. 12. Assist someone to obtain his/her company off the ground. 13. Build a website for a person who requires one, or for a cause you assume requires the support. 14. Aid a person get a job. Placed together as well as print a CV for them, or help them with their meeting skills. 15. If you're a legal representative, do some pro bono benefit a worthwhile cause or person. 16. Compose to your area councillor regarding an issue in the area that calls for interest, which you, in your personal ability, are incapable to attend to. 17. Fund a team of learners to go to the theatre/zoo.

Help out for good health

18. Obtain in touch with your local HIV organisations and discover how you could help. 19. Assist at your neighborhood hospice, as personnel usually need as much assistance as the patients. 20. Several terminally unwell people have no one to talk with. Take a little time to have a chat and bring some sunlight right into their lives. 21. Talk with your buddies and also family members about HIV. 22. Get tested for HIV as well as motivate your partner to do so too. 23. Take a bag filled with toys to a local health center that has a children's ward. 24. Take more youthful participants of your family for a stroll in the park. 25. Give away some clinical materials to a neighborhood community clinic. 26. Take someone you know, who can not manage it, to get their eyes examined or their teeth checked. 27. Bake something for a support system of your choice. 28. Start an area garden to motivate healthy consuming in your community. 29. Give away a wheelchair or overview pet dog, to somebody in need. 30. Produce a food parcel as well as offer it to somebody in need.

Become an educator

31. Offer in order to help out at your neighborhood school. 32. Advisor a college leaver or student in your field of expertise. 33. Train one of the extramural activities the school supplies. You could additionally offer to instructor an extramural activity the school does not offer. 34. Deal to give tutoring in a college subject you ready at. 35. Donate your old computer. 36. Assist maintain the sporting activities fields. 37. Spruce up a classroom by changing damaged home windows, doors and also light bulbs. 38. Contribute a bag of art supplies. 39. Teach a grown-up literacy class. 40. Paint classrooms and also school buildings. 41. Contribute your old books, or any kind of various other good books, to an institution library. Help those living in poverty

42. Buy a few coverings, or order the ones you no more requirement from home as well as provide to a person in need. 43. Tidy out your cabinet as well as contribute the garments you no more put on to a person that requires them. 44. Created food parcels for a needy family. 45. Organise a bake sale, car clean or yard sales for charity as well as give away the proceeds. 46. To the poorest of the bad, shoes could be a deluxe. Don't hoard them if you don't use them. Pass them on! 47. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen.

Care for the youth

48. Aid at a regional kids's house or orphanage. 49. Aid the children with their studies. 50. Organise a friendly video game of soccer, or sponsor the youngsters to see a video game at the neighborhood stadium. 51. Train a sports group and also make brand-new friends. 52. Give away sporting tools to a children's shelter. 53. Contribute academic toys and also publications to a children's home. 54. Paint, or repair service, facilities at an orphanage or young people centre. 55. Mentor someone. Make time to pay attention to exactly what the youngsters have to state and also provide them excellent advice.

Treasure the elderly

56. If you play an instrument, visit your neighborhood old-age home and spend an hour playing for the homeowners and also staff. 57. Discover the story of a person older than you. Frequently individuals neglect that the elderly have a wide range of experience and knowledge and, generally, a fascinating story to tell. 58. Take a senior grocery store purchasing, they will certainly appreciate your company and also assistance. 59. Take someone's dog for a walk if they are too frail to do so themselves. 60. Cut somebody's lawn as well as aid them to deal with points around their house.

Look after your environment

61. If there are no reusing centres in your area, request your location councillor to supply one. 62. Contribute native trees to beautify neighbourhoods in poorer areas. 63. Gather old newspapers from a school/community centre/hospital and also take them to a recycling centre. 64. Identify open manhole covers or drains pipes in your location and also report them to the neighborhood authorities. 65. Organise the company/school/organisation that you function with to switch over off all unnecessary lights and power materials during the night as well as on weekends. 66. Engage with people who trash and also see if you can convince them of the value of tidy surroundings. 67. Organise to clean up your regional park, river, coastline, street, community square or sports premises with a few good friends. Our youngsters are worthy of to mature in a clean and also healthy environment.

For a lot more regarding Nelson Mandela go to NelsonMandela.org

#chakra meditation #meditation

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warmthandwellbeing-blog · 5 years

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12 Days To A Green Christmas

Whilst the Christmas season may be the time of giving, relaxing, indulging and spending time with loved ones, let us keep in mind that it’s not the most eco-friendly time of year. As far as festivities go, it involves more waste and excess than any other occasion, adding burden to landfills and extra CO2 emissions into the environment.

The good news is, we have the power to avoid making the Yuletide season a wasteful, consumer-driven and stressful time. Join us for a 12-day countdown that includes a simple way each day to have a greener, wonderful time of the year.

12 DAYS TO GO

Go with an eco-friendly Christmas tree – Each year, about 9,000 tonnes of extra waste come from Christmas trees that are sent to landfill in the UK. Let us help Mother Nature and reduce this figure by purchasing trees that are grown sustainably or simply reusing our old ones.

11 DAYS TO GO

Consider switching to environmentally-friendly appliances – The holiday season is the perfect time to use smart and efficient home appliances. Doing so will not only help us save energy but will also improve the environment.

10 DAYS TO GO

Utilise LED lights – Whilst the appearance of Christmas lights adds to the festive cheer of the whole neighbourhood, remember it may be costly not only to our pockets but to the environment as well. The good news is, each household can still enjoy Christmas by utilising LED or solar-powered fairy lights instead. This alternative consumes less energy whilst remaining environmentally friendly.

9 DAYS TO GO

Opt for ‘greener’ decorations – Instead of buying new decorations, strive to simply revamp our old ornaments and give our trees a whole new theme. Seek help from the children when making and hanging baubles and decorations made from recyclable materials saved throughout the year.

8 DAYS TO GO

Consider your travel options – When buying gifts, appreciate the outdoors by simply walking instead of driving to the shops. If the destination is far away, consider sharing lifts with friends and family.

7 DAYS TO GO

Be mindful about gifts – Instead of focusing solely on purchasing gifts that will only end up unused by the recipient, buy things with value, purpose and meaning. Ultimately, why not consider planning for experiences, planting trees or donating to charity in someone’s name.

6 DAYS TO GO

Buy local – Apart from supporting the local economy, purchasing Christmas presents and decorations from local shops can reduce carbon emissions significantly.

5 DAYS TO GO

Opt for environmentally-friendly wrapping paper – Since the Christmas season presents high quantities of disposable items including tonnes of rubbish from wrapping paper, it is crucial to practice the habit of recycling now more than ever. Consider saving and reusing gift bags, ribbons and bows or opt for eco-friendly wrapping paper as much as you can.

4 DAYS TO GO

Choosing cards – Cut down on plastic packaging and engage the little ones to help make your own eco-friendly Christmas cards. Home-crafting the cards is a fun activity for the family, as well being more personal.

3 DAYS TO GO

Explore the outdoors – In the festive season, it’s tempting to get cosy on the sofa, sip wine and binge on holiday movies all day long but don’t forget to take a stroll in the great outdoors to clear the cobwebs.

2 DAYS TO GO

Consider where your Christmas holiday food comes from – Have a green Christmas by choosing local, organic produce whenever possible.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Keep perspective of the Christmas food wastage crisis – Refrain from buying or preparing too much food which you and your family won’t eat. If you end up with excess, save money and cut waste by transforming leftovers or donating them to an elderly neighbour, local food bank or a soup kitchen.

In addition to having a safe-to-touch feature, Warmth & Wellbeing‘s infrared products create a type of heating that is more cost-efficient, easier to manage and eco-friendly compared to conventional heating alternatives. Ultimately, when our W&W Infrared products are powered by solar technology, the complete process becomes 100% carbon emission free. Contact us today if you want to change the way warmth is delivered to your home. Start by browsing through our products page to see the whole range of infrared products we have to offer.

The post 12 Days To A Green Christmas appeared first on Warmth & Wellbeing.

#Home & Garden #small infrared heater #Portable space heater #Portable infrared heater #portable heater

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jenroses · 7 years

Note

if you're up to it, I'd love to hear “How Jen Tripped and Started A Co-op. Oops.” :)

Copying and pasting what I wrote on facebook about it a couple years ago:

December 23, 2015In the midst of a day marked by asinine bureaucracy and way too much traffic, a bright glowing spot of joy.

The co-op sent out 40 boxes of holiday joy into the community today. And a friend reposted my retelling of Stone Soup, which I'd forgotten about.

Because it was fun to write and still makes me smile, a repost.

Stone Soup (The Co-op version, 2013)By JenroseOnce upon a time, Jen and Czarena came upon a village. The villagers talked about how expensive things were, and how difficult it was to get the kinds of foods and toys they wanted.

“I want to eat organic food”, one person said. “But it is expensive and I can’t afford it.”

“I want to cloth diaper, but I can’t afford it,” said another. “I know that over the long haul it’s cheaper, but I just can’t spend $20 on a diaper.”

The moms shifted their babies onto their backs and smiled at each other. Jen spoke up. “I found a way to cloth diaper without it costing so much,” she said. “I order from a co-op in Florida. Does anyone want to order with me? We can save shipping.”

Anna piped up, “Oh yes, I know a company we can order from, but we’ll have to order 100 diapers.”

Someone asked, “Can we get electronics for Christmas?”

And they said, “We can co-op that.”

Someone asked, “Can we get little leather shoes?”

They said, “We can co-op that.”

Then someone said, “Hey, what about organic produce?”

And Czarena said, “I can co-op that.”

The moms looked around nervously. “Really?”

Czarena nodded. “Yep.”

The first produce co-op took weeks to do... but then another week and another co-op happened, and the next, and the one after that.Someone said, “My parents have pork, do people want it?”And Jen said, “We can co-op that.”

And then local businesses joined in, and the villagers were co-oping produce, and meat, and honey, and eggs and Mark said, “I can raise chickens for you.”

That was the start of the Co-op Coop Coup.

Herbs and natural products and electronics and toys for both children and adults.... “We can co-op that,”

One day, Jen looked down into the pot she was stirring. It contained chicken from the co-op. Rice from the co-op. Leeks and onions and celery and carrots and garlic from the co-op. Spices from the co-op.She dried her hands on the towel they’d gotten from that silly kitchen supply co-op, smiled, and said, “Soup from a co-op. Fancy that.”

Well, the co-op grew and grew, and soon had more than a thousand members. Some of the members were having a hard time, but because everyone was working together, when someone would have a hard time, the co-op as a group was often able to help more than any one individual might. Meal trains sometimes happened. Donation boxes became a weekly thing, and times were tight for many people, and Jen said, “Maybe we should do boxes in a bigger way for Thanksgiving? If everyone can give a little here and there for a couple months, I think we could do more...” Her sister nodded and said, "We can totally co-op that."

Two months later, five people had been nominated. Days before Thanksgiving a sixth was added, and then a seventh. When the boxes were delivered, they learned of one more family, struggling... and when help was requested for that last family, they ended up with almost as much as the other boxes put together. The need was great, but the generosity was greater. Eight families received a total of 30 boxes worth of food and for one family, other essentials.

Meanwhile, $1000 worth of Christmas presents were collected for struggling families... and Sarah decided it was time to plan for Christmas food boxes as well. A dozen people were nominated, then 17, then 20.... but as the need grew, generosity grew and people found a little of this and a little of that... and the answer was, “We can co-op that.”

And so the co-op ticks merrily on, diapers and food and toys and books and clothes... the fundamental idea that planning ahead and working together allows better pricing and the ability to get things that might not even be available otherwise. Fish fresh from the sea. Free range, local birds humanely raised for prices people can afford. And a little of that saved money goes to help those who are struggling. Community... we can co-op that.

Now Jen’s father, for many years, had asked for Christmas that his family, instead of buying him gifts, do good things for people and let him know what they’d done.

This year, Jen said to her father... “I co-oped that.”

The “oops” part is that I started it by being too cheap to want to pay co-op fees and shipping for one $3 diaper and asked a facebook group of local moms if anyone wanted to order diapers together to be shipped to my house, and it ended up being like $600 worth of diapers because so many people wanted to. It took our costs for shipping and co-op fees from something like $10 per person to

#co-ops are love #peachville1982

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nonconformist-vegan · 7 years

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Following up on my chicken for a pet question, don't chickens produce like a ton of eggs? (I'm sorry if I sound ignorant) I would absolutely feed them back their eggs, but if I fed them every egg they have produced, wouldn't they be overfed? As for where I'm getting them, there is an (no kill) animal shelter nearby with a quite a few chickens. I will be adopting more than one.

You do not sound ignorant at all, it’s so great that you want to inform yourself more on this. So the chickens you may adopt will most likely be chickens that were bred for egg-laying, this means that this selective breeding has caused them to lay an unnatural number of eggs, around 200-300 each year. The consequences of laying such a high number of eggs are painful reproductive diseases and premature deaths for the chickens. The truth is, chickens whom are undomesticated/wild lay eggs just like other birds do, they lay only a small amount of eggs each year which is usually 10-15 eggs total and only for the purpose of reproduction which is of course, what nature intended for them. You can ask the person in charge of the adoption if they know around how many eggs the chickens you will be adopting lay. I thought I’d share this small part of The Vegan Woman’s article down below which gives a great explanation to your question. You can read more info about eggs on the full article as well. Hopefully this answers your question : ) If you still need any more help feel free to message me!

“In their natural state, hens only lay eggs until they have a full nest. At this point, they would naturally stop laying eggs and start nesting. The egg industry interrupts this natural process by constantly removing the eggs, therefore constantly encouraging the chickens to lay more eggs to fill their nest. The laying of every single egg involves great effort on the hen’s part. In intense farming situations, some chickens even die in the process as a result of the pressure on their laying organs. Every egg also involves a tremendous loss of calcium from the hen. This goes to producing the shell of the egg, protecting what would be their future babies. In the egg industry, most hens have been genetically nurtured for productivity purposes; the animals are brought to the very edge of their egg production capabilities, and therefore suffer from a tremendous loss in calcium which in many cases leads to disease and painful deaths.

While many websites teach people how to prevent hens from eating their own eggs, so that they could get to steal them first, we must understand that by not taking their eggs, we are helping the hens in two ways:1. We are not encouraging them to lay more eggs. 2. We are allowing them to restore the nutrients they have lost by allowing them to eat their own eggs. To encourage the hens to eat their eggs and restore their nutritional needs, cracking the eggs slightly helps to initiate the consumption process. A cracked egg means an egg that won’t turn into a chick, which in turn allows the hen to eat it. Some even boil the eggs and give them back to the chickens to eat if they do not eat the fresh ones. Needless to say that in the egg and chicken industry, no one does them such favours.

What if the hen doesn’t eat them? What then?One of the common concerns expressed by our community members was the wastage of the eggs, if they were not eaten by the hens, or collected and consumed. Assuming that there is no male around, and the eggs aren’t fertilized, will they not just be wasted? For many of us it is very clear that even if they were “wasted”, they are better off wasted than consumed, due to the terrible health damages they cause to your arteries. The question for those of us who are vegan for ethical reasons still remains open though. If there are still some eggs left after the hen’s consumption, there are still other ways to use the eggs for a better purpose: One of my favourite stories is of a lovely vegan bed and breakfast in Australia that also serves as a farm sanctuary. They sell leftover eggs to people who would otherwise buy eggs from the egg and chicken industry. While selling eggs to people has its problems – as it might seem to normalize the consumption of eggs – they are still achieving three goals with their actions:1. The chickens get to enjoy their eggs for their nutritional benefits. 2. They are helping to minimize the profit of the cruel egg and chicken industry buy having people buying from them rather than the farmers. 3. All the money they make from the chicken’s eggs goes straight back to the chicken’s benefit in the form of the food they buy them, the shelter they provide and the veterinary care they need. And if you are still not convinced, you could always use the leftover eggs for making compost.”(x)

To summarize anon, if the chickens you adopt are laying a large amount of eggs, always make it a priority to feed them back their eggs first and with the leftover ones, you could always donate them to a food bank, a soup kitchen, or people you know that aren’t vegan. This way they aren’t contributing even more to the egg industry. I hope this helped : )

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garyjminter · 4 years

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Coronavirus and HIV

My friends and I were "detained" and almost arrested by local officials while visiting the infamous "AIDS Village" in Henan Province and talking with villagers who claimed local officials were stealing their medicine and donations meant for persons with HIV/AIDS. We were politely asked by several men in dark suits to stay in our hotel "for our safety" until we left town. This "new" Wuhan Coronavirus is following a similar pattern as its cousin, SARS---it seems to spread more easily and quickly, but with a low death rate. The Wuhan Coronavirus has hurt the travel industry and forced temporary closings of huge Macao casinos including Sands and MGM. In addition to Coronavirus, passengers on cruise ships are at risk for sudden outbreaks of nasty intestinal Norovirus, which causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It's usually Norovirus, not "food poisoning" from those "All You Can Eat" buffets that makes everyone sick on luxury liners. Community "soup kitchens" for the homeless are hot spots for Norovirus and Hepatitis A outbreaks--epidemic in some cities. Rest in Peace to The Departed; best wishes for a full recovery to the sick. Health workers are at high risk for infection with this "new" Coronavirus, as they were with SARS. Some folks on social media claim drinking bleach will cure Coronavirus! During the early days of AIDS there were dozens of "cures" suggested, including bleach, mushrooms, blood-heating. None of them worked. Sadly, there is STILL no cure for HIV/AIDS or any other virus. Viruses are NOT bacteria. They are totally different life forms. Remember The Super Flu in "The Stand" by Stephen King? I do NOT think this "new" Coronavirus will be as bad as "Captain Tripps,"--the death rate is about 2%, much lower than Ebola, which has an estimated mortality rate of 20-40%. Speculation that "rabid weasels" or eating "bat soup" or bat flesh is the origin of the Wuhan Coronavirus has been proven partly correct through DNA analysis: bat Coronavirus DNA matches human Coronavirus DNA in the Wuhan outbreak. Since I never visited Wuhan while I lived in China from 2014-2016, and haven't eaten bats--and since "It's not weasels in the bag" as we learned in "Return of the Living Dead"-- I have NO personal knowledge about the veracity of these rumors. Bats are known carriers and vectors of many diseases, including rabies, which infects the brain. Bats also carry Ebola virus and Coronaviruses. I arrived in China the year after the SARS outbreak, which began at meat markets in Guangzhou from folks buying freshly-killed "rabid weasels"-- ferret-like mammals infected with the SARS virus, which spread to meat market butchers and customers. China is efficient, fast and practical in dealing with disease outbreaks. They do not hesitate to quarantine people: my college students in Beijing told me they had to stay in their dorms during the SARS outbreak. The following story recently appeared in "Global Research News": Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, stated that “China and Chinese scientists have performed probably the most rapid characterization of a novel pathogen in history, and that was shared immediately. Multiple sequences were shared immediately on global platforms.”...“China is doing the right things, and China is responding in a massive way….What I took away from that mission was the absolute, relentless and focused determination of the government of China to put the health of people in China ahead of anything else...I was involved in 2002/2003 in SARS.”---Dr. Michael Ryan in "Global Research News"... ALL viral outbreaks must be taken seriously. Fortunately, the death rate per # of infections from this "new" Wuhan Coronavirus seems fairly low so far, about 2%, similar to the death rate from its cousin SARS. This Coronavirus is related to the SARS Coronavirus and is, like SARS, a "zoonotic" disease of non-human origin. It is not nearly as deadly as Ebola and is not as easily transmitted as influenza, the Norovirus intestinal bug or the common cold. Viruses, which are "breakaway" bits of DNA or RNA that take on a life of their own, are often limited to their host species of origin. But many types of viruses jump from one species to another. Rabies, Zika, Ebola, EIA, SARS, MERS, Hantavirus, and HIV are a few examples. The current worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic began when humans were infected by HIV-infected chimpanzees in tropical Africa, probably on numerous occasions over past centuries or millennia. Zika was first discovered in Uganda in 1947 and infects monkeys, chimpanzees, bats and pigs. It is believed that one or two soccer fans attending World Cup Games brought Zika to Brazil. There was an outbreak of Ebola virus several years ago with 11,000 deaths in three small West African nations. There is currently a serious Ebola outbreak in the Congo. Rabies, which is almost 100% fatal unless vaccine treatment is begun quickly, infects almost all species of mammals except opossums. Rabies is commonly spread by bats, skunks, and raccoons in the wild, and by domestic cats and dogs. HIV has existed far longer than previously thought. "African Slim Disease" was studied in the Congo during the 1980s by a top Harvard research team headed by Dr. Matthew Alan Gonda and Dr. Myron "Max" Essex. Their study was published in the Journal "Nature." Gonda and Essex estimated the average time from date of infection to death from "Slim Disease" is about 10-12 years. Later we learned that "African Slim Disease" is caused by HIV-1. Modern 20th-Century transportation allowed HIV-1 to spread from small, isolated villages in Sub-Saharan Africa to cities throughout Africa. Regional and international travel allowed HIV to spread worldwide during the 20th Century. Haiti has long had a very high incidence of HIV. There were rumors of a "new, fatal" STD long prior to the official 1984 joint announcement by Dr. Robert Gallo of the USA and Dr. Luc Montagnier of the Pasteur Institute in France of the "discovery" of Human Immune Virus as the cause of GRID ("Gay-Related Immune Deficiency," later called AIDS "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome"). The first proven death from HIV in the U.S.A. was a teenage boy in St. Louis, Missouri, who passed away in 1969 with mysterious symptoms. His tissue samples were frozen and later tested positive for HIV. There is still NO CURE for Ebola, HIV or any other viral disease. In 1993 I suggested using strain-specific monoclonal antibodies in my HIV/STD Control Branch (Division of Epidemiology, NC Department of Health) quarterly narrative to the CDC as a treatment for HIV, in conjunction with "therapeutic" vaccines to improve our natural "killer cell" response against HIV-infected cells. Infusion of antibodies is called "passive immunotherapy" and has been used in pediatric AIDS cases, but not for adults. Recent studies show that monoclonal antibodies help treat Ebola, and that "therapeutic" vaccinations help fight Simian Immune Virus (SIV) in monkeys. There are excellent results in viral suppression and increases of CD4 cells from a new antibody-based experimental drug, as reported in "POZ."The best way to treat any virus is to augment and supplement the body's natural immune response against the specific strains of infecting virus. But "An ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure." Screening all international travelers for contagious diseases, and quarantining those who test positive is wise. "If we fail to secure [these viruses], there will be an epidemic that will turn [our cities] into a shambles..."---Warner Oland in "Werewolf of London" ( paraphrased)

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michellelinkous · 4 years

Text

7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste

Reducing food waste is a great way to go green in your home. Try these steps to reduce your food waste footprint!

The Environmental Impact of Food Waste

Food waste not only uses some of our water supply,[3] it also consumes land, labor, tons of energy, and toxic chemicals (try to choose organic when possible!).

7 Ways You Can Reduce Food Waste

With these tips, you too can be creative, learning everything from the secrets of food storage to the wonders of composting can make the process simple, and even fun.

1) Plan Ahead

Try to make a plan. What's for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks every day? What will you require for each meal, per person in your household?

2) Eat Your Leftovers & Get Creative

Eating leftovers doesn't just mean reheating and serving as-is. Get creative! For example, you can:

Turn last night's quinoa or rice into a vegan breakfast porridge.

Sautée wilted greens for a baked sweet potato topping.

Stuff a pepper with cauliflower rice.

Make brown bananas into a creamy smoothie or banana bread.

Turn stale bread into breadcrumbs.

Blend beans into veggie burgers.

Chop flaccid carrots into a stir fry or carrot soup.

Hold a leftover night on Fridays, a creative meal of the week's scraps.

Also, label all food containers with the date you filled them. This can help you decide what to eat first.

Remember, when you see a post-peak vegetable, ask yourself: Is it bad, or is it just ugly? Funny-looking, bruised, and day-old produce can still be delicious.

3) Store Your Food Properly

Tips:

Don't wash berries, cherries, or grapes until you're about to eat them. Water makes them rot faster.

Try gadgets like an avocado keeper; a berry box; and crisper drawer liners that absorb moisture.

Make sure your fridge is always set at or below 40 degrees F (colder is better).

Store the most perishable items away from the refrigerator doors; it’s coldest at the back.[9]

Declutter your fridge often to unearth hidden items before they go bad. Organize your fridge so you can clearly see items that are perishable.

Wipe down drawers to get rid of bacteria and moisture that can make food go bad faster.[11]

4) Understand Expiration Dates

You may have noticed that some foods say "use by," while others say "sell by" or "best by." It's no wonder if you find them confusing.[12]

5) Donate Your Food

If you have non-perishables that you're not going to eat, donate it! Locate a local food bank, food pantry, or food rescue program and see how they accept donations.[16]

There are also food rescue programs, like soup kitchens, which have different rules than food banks. They may accept perishables like refrigerated food, cooked meals, or baked goods. Ask.

If they don't, your neighbors might! Start a group text with local friends who might want your avocados that will be ripe exactly in the middle of your vacation. (Why does that always happen?)

6) Start Composting

Every year, more cities and towns add public composting options. If you can join one of those, then it's as simple as setting out a bucket with your recycling or dropping it at a designated spot.

7) Speak Up to Reduce Food Waste

Points to Remember

Learning to waste less food reduces your carbon footprint, ensures that your food stays fresh longer, and curbs impulse buying. What’s not to love?

What have you tried to reduce food waste? Share stories from your community or your personal experiences below!

The post 7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste appeared first on Dr. Group's Healthy Living Articles.

7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.tumblr.com/

0 notes

gordonwilliamsweb · 4 years

Text

7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste

Reducing food waste is a great way to go green in your home. Try these steps to reduce your food waste footprint!

The Environmental Impact of Food Waste

Food waste not only uses some of our water supply,[3] it also consumes land, labor, tons of energy, and toxic chemicals (try to choose organic when possible!).

7 Ways You Can Reduce Food Waste

With these tips, you too can be creative, learning everything from the secrets of food storage to the wonders of composting can make the process simple, and even fun.

1) Plan Ahead

Try to make a plan. What's for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks every day? What will you require for each meal, per person in your household?

2) Eat Your Leftovers & Get Creative

Eating leftovers doesn't just mean reheating and serving as-is. Get creative! For example, you can:

Turn last night's quinoa or rice into a vegan breakfast porridge.

Sautée wilted greens for a baked sweet potato topping.

Stuff a pepper with cauliflower rice.

Make brown bananas into a creamy smoothie or banana bread.

Turn stale bread into breadcrumbs.

Blend beans into veggie burgers.

Chop flaccid carrots into a stir fry or carrot soup.

Hold a leftover night on Fridays, a creative meal of the week's scraps.

Also, label all food containers with the date you filled them. This can help you decide what to eat first.

Remember, when you see a post-peak vegetable, ask yourself: Is it bad, or is it just ugly? Funny-looking, bruised, and day-old produce can still be delicious.

3) Store Your Food Properly

Tips:

Don't wash berries, cherries, or grapes until you're about to eat them. Water makes them rot faster.

Try gadgets like an avocado keeper; a berry box; and crisper drawer liners that absorb moisture.

Make sure your fridge is always set at or below 40 degrees F (colder is better).

Store the most perishable items away from the refrigerator doors; it’s coldest at the back.[9]

Declutter your fridge often to unearth hidden items before they go bad. Organize your fridge so you can clearly see items that are perishable.

Wipe down drawers to get rid of bacteria and moisture that can make food go bad faster.[11]

4) Understand Expiration Dates

You may have noticed that some foods say "use by," while others say "sell by" or "best by." It's no wonder if you find them confusing.[12]

5) Donate Your Food

If you have non-perishables that you're not going to eat, donate it! Locate a local food bank, food pantry, or food rescue program and see how they accept donations.[16]

There are also food rescue programs, like soup kitchens, which have different rules than food banks. They may accept perishables like refrigerated food, cooked meals, or baked goods. Ask.

If they don't, your neighbors might! Start a group text with local friends who might want your avocados that will be ripe exactly in the middle of your vacation. (Why does that always happen?)

6) Start Composting

Every year, more cities and towns add public composting options. If you can join one of those, then it's as simple as setting out a bucket with your recycling or dropping it at a designated spot.

7) Speak Up to Reduce Food Waste

Points to Remember

Learning to waste less food reduces your carbon footprint, ensures that your food stays fresh longer, and curbs impulse buying. What’s not to love?

What have you tried to reduce food waste? Share stories from your community or your personal experiences below!

The post 7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste appeared first on Dr. Group's Healthy Living Articles.

7 Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

0 notes

csrgood · 4 years

Text

T-Mobile to Deliver up to 5M Meals for Giving Tuesday by Inviting Everyone to Do Their #GivingOnUs

This Giving Tuesday, December 3, and throughout the holiday season, T-Mobile is serving up multiple ways for customers, employees and fans to give up to 5 million meals to communities in need. It’s a big goal, and to get there the Un-carrier is continuing its longstanding partnership with Feeding America, the country’s largest hunger-relief organization, as well as activating its T-Mobile Tuesdays app, social media channels and Team Magenta members across the country so everyone has the opportunity to do their #GivingOnUs.

“This year on Giving Tuesday, T-Mobile is ringing in the holiday season and giving back in a BIG way by encouraging our employees, customers and fans to do their #GivingOnUs! We’re going to donate up to 5 million meals to people in need — helping people focus on connecting with their families without having to worry about getting food on their table,” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile.

T-Mobile is offering two main ways for everyone to do their #GivingOnUs on December 3.

T-Mobile Customers: Save a Deal, Give a Meal. Customers can give up to five meals by saving any of the deals in the T-Mobile Tuesdays app on December 3. For every deal saved, T-Mobile will donate a meal to Feeding America.

Everyone: Every time anyone tweets with #GivingOnUs, T-Mobile will contribute 10 meals to Feeding America.

In total, via the T-Mobile Tuesdays app and Twitter, T-Mobile will donate up to 5 million meals to Feeding America!

T-Mobile employees are also rolling up their sleeves and carrying the spirit of generosity into the entire holiday season with a goal to host 100 volunteer events with Feeding America member food banks across the country, providing hands-on support to the families facing hunger right in their own backyard.

And that’s not all! The T-Mobile Foundation will deposit $25 into every employee’s Giving Account, which they can donate to the charity of their choice. With more than 52,000 Team Magenta members across the U.S., that adds up to a potential $1.3 million of charitable giving! By offering multiple ways to engage, T-Mobile and the T-Mobile Foundation are embracing the passion and enthusiasm of T-Mobile employees who are committed to giving back on a national scale AND connecting personally with the communities they serve every day.

“Everyone has a role to play in ending hunger, whether that’s making a donation, volunteering at a local food bank or using your voice on social media to spread the word,” said Jenn Kovacs, Interim Chief Development Officer at Feeding America. “We can’t end hunger alone. Individuals, businesses, charities and government entities must all join the fight. We’re tremendously grateful for T-Mobile’s commitment in helping to fight hunger and bringing national attention to this critical issue.”

T-Mobile is committed to changing America’s communities for good, which is why the Un-carrier is continuing its partnership with Feeding America to provide families in need with food for the holidays. Feeding America operates a network of 200 member food banks, which provide food and groceries to 60,000 food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency feeding sites around the U.S. Add the potential 5 million meals for Giving Tuesday to the 10 million meals donated through the Slow Cooker Sunday Cookbook campaign earlier this year and T-Mobile’s 2019 contribution to Feeding America could total up to 15 million meals!

The commitment to giving back is in the Un-carrier’s DNA. So far in 2019, T-Mobile employees have offered more than 53,000 volunteer hours to organizations that support youth, veterans, the environment, disaster recovery, ending hunger in America and more — a 55% increase over this time last year.

For more information check out T-Mobile.com/Responsibility.

*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. For more information visit feedingamerica.org. T-Mobile will donate a minimum of 250,000 meals.

About T-Mobile US, Inc.

As America's Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. Our advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to 84.2 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.

About T-Mobile Foundation The T-Mobile Foundation is committed to changing the world for good. The Foundation advances positive change in our communities by supporting causes that focus on youth development and by providing opportunities for T-Mobile employees to engage in causes that benefit the communities where they live and work. The T-Mobile Foundation, created and funded by T-Mobile US, Inc., is recognized by the IRS as a Section 501(c)(3) private foundation.

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/43181-T-Mobile-to-Deliver-up-to-5M-Meals-for-Giving-Tuesday-by-Inviting-Everyone-to-Do-Their-GivingOnUs?tracking_source=rss

#CSR #corporate social responsibility #social good #philanthropy #employee engagement #workplace givi

0 notes

christophergill8 · 5 years

Text

4 tax-smart ways to get rid of excess Halloween candy

The scariest thing about Halloween this year is we're expecting rain. If the meteorologists are right, it should start by late afternoon and run through early evening.

Of course, that's prime time for young ghouls to arrive in our neighborhood, meaning much trick-or-treating likely will be washed out.

That frightens me more than the costumed kiddos because I will have to face all the candy that we have on hand. Heck, I've gained 3 pounds just having it in the house, so there's no way I want it around longer!

So what to do with the sweets?

Here are some ways to pass along the goodies to groups that would appreciate it and not worry about their waistlines!

And your sweet gift might even help you cut your tax bill a bit.

1. Share with the military: There are few better beneficiaries of excess Halloween treats than the men and women who have difficult and too often legitimately scary jobs as members of our armed forces.

Operation Gratitude, a national nonprofit that sends thousands of care packages to U.S. service members deployed overseas, includes candy in every parcel. Care packages — and candy! — also go to first responders, veterans, new recruits, wounded military members and their caregivers and the children of deployed service personnel.

You can drop off your excess Halloween candy at participating locations in your area. Operation Gratitude's collection map can helps you find one. I'm delighted to see there are six in the Austin area.

Or you can send your candy directly to the nonprofit. First fill out and submit an online donation form. You'll get an email confirming your donation along with shipping instructions and a printable barcode to include in your package.

Then ship your candy no later than Nov. 9 to:

Operation Gratitude Attn: Halloween Candy Program 21100 Lassen Street Chatsworth, CA 91311-4278

Other groups that also spread the Halloween treats to troops include Soldiers' Angels, Operation Shoebox and Halloween Candy Buy Back.

2. Extend Halloween to hospitals: Children who can't participate in the season's tricks still should get some treats. Check with your local hospital. Its children's ward might like to have some extra sweets that can go to the kids and their families who are unable to go door-to-door this year. They might even share with other hospitalized kids of all ages.

The treats also might be welcome at your area's Ronald McDonald House, where the families of children who are being treated at nearby hospitals and medical facilities stay.

3. Feed sweet cravings: Groups that help folks get the food they need also might welcome the extra treats. Nutritional meals are important, but everyone deserves a sweet or two! Check with your local food pantry, soup kitchen and food delivery programs for shut-ins about possible Halloween candy donations.

4. Donate to the displaced: Also touch base with your local homeless shelter and facilities that house victims of domestic abuse, who often are women and their children, to see if they accept Halloween candy. Your religious group of choice also might have ways to put the extra sweets to good use.

Tax treat for you: If you give to any of these groups, chances are your sweet donation could be tax deductible.

As long as the recipient is a qualified charity, which you can confirm by checking the Internal Revenue Service's online tax-exempt organization search tool, you can claim the value of the donated edibles at tax-filing time as an itemized deduction.

If you do that, just make sure you get a receipt. You don't need it to file, but you will if the IRS has questions about your return and hauntingly sweet donation later.

Also note the reference a couple paragraphs earlier about itemizing. Given that the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has almost doubled the standard deduction amounts for taxpayers, most of us won't be filing Schedule A deductible expenses with our Form 1040.

That means you won't get any tax benefit from your Halloween largesse.

But I know most folks don't donate anything just for tax reasons. They do so because they want to help. That applies to your gifts of goodies, which will give you the personal satisfaction, even without a tax break, of helping others enjoy this spooky holiday.

Plus, you'll save yourself from eating way too many Baby Ruth and Snickers candy bars!

You also might find these items of interest:

Happy Halloween tax breaks

Tax notices: A scary letter from the IRS

Halloween candy for the kids, adult beverages for parents & taxes for Uncle Sam and the states