Meat plays an important role in at least one of our daily meals. It is a good source of protein, which is vital for a healthy diet. It also has a very high mineral content including body essentials like magnesium, zinc and iron. In fact, most of us surely do not forget to include it on our shopping list.

Let’s find out how to purchase good meat and the most healthful cuts we can find at the market. We need to be extra careful and wise when shopping for meat and poultry since this can really boost the nutrition of our meals. Here are some reliable guidelines on purchasing meat.

Quality

The lean must be free of bruises, blood clots, bloody tissue and blood discoloration. Avoid dark or discolored cut surfaces and naturally exposed lean surfaces, and fat. This condition may be due to dehydration, aging, or microbial oxidation.

Be cautious of “enhanced” poultry, which has been injected with saltwater to look plump. There are no means to wash off the salt as it has been mechanically imposed into the flesh. Salt-injected poultry may still be mistaken as natural so it’s important to always check the labels.

Color and Smell

Color can vary depending on their cut or which animal it’s coming from. Fresh meat should have a rich, vibrant, eye-catching color. Consistency in color is usually a gauge of quality since discolored spots can be a sign of poor handling.

Also, check for a foul smell. Odor changes when bacteria break down the meat. The putridity of the smell will escalate with the level of spoilage.

However, changes in color and odors associated with vacuum-packaged meat in excellent condition shall be acceptable.

Handling

The meat must be preserved in excellent condition through processing, storage, and transit. Meat and poultry products should feel cold when touched. Don’t buy products that feel warm, as this implies that the product has not been well stored at the proper temperature. Also, select packages that are tightly wrapped and show no signs of tears or punctures. Be sure they do not contain excessive liquid, which can be an indication of temperature abuse or excessive storage. For vacuum-packed products, make sure the seal has not been broken and that the package is not leaking.

Choosing Lean Meats

In general, the leanest cuts have loin or round in their labels. Look for “round” or “loin” in the name of cuts of beef, pork or lamb, i.e., top round, bottom round, top sirloin, tenderloin, etc.
Other meats that are generally lean include buffalo, venison, emu, ostrich and goat. With poultry, the breast meat is leanest.

When in doubt, purchase meat and poultry products before or on the sell-by date. If you have bought it on or within a couple of days of the sell-by date, cook or freeze the meat right away.

To keep meat safe from potentially harmful bacteria, refrigerate or freeze it as soon as you get home. If it takes longer than thirty minutes to get the products refrigerated, keep them cold in a portable cooler. It is essential that we take steps to maintain food safety all the way to the table. Also, planning your shopping list well could also help you ensure that you can immediately handle your meats well.

We are living in a digital world, but that can be a really useful thing! If you are looking to downsize in your home and would like to get rid of some stuff, then selling it online could be a great option. Thanks to websites such as Ebay and Craigslist, people all over the country are selling their old stuff and making a pretty penny to boot! Even so, there are some very important safety measures to take before jumping onto the online selling bandwagon. Follow these tips and you will be a successful seller.

Be Wary of Meeting in Person

While there are times when meeting in person is preferred or even necessary, it can be a scary ordeal. If you are worried about meeting with a buyer in person, first be sure to check out the buyer’s online profile (if they have one) and always meet in a public place in the daytime. You should meet somewhere that is amply populated, or even in the parking lot of a police station. Try to go with a friend, too. This is particularly important for females.

Don’t Take it Personally

Money, that is. Instead of accepting a personal check, always take payment through a secure online system such as PayPal. Cashier’s checks are another safe form of payment that reduces your risk of getting snubbed.

Be Tight-Lipped with Your Personal Info

You wouldn’t just hand a stranger your personal account details and information, so don’t do it online either! It can be easy to let things slide when you’re behind a computer screen, but the threat is still very real and even more prevalent than you may think. Be sure to adhere to the safety measures of the marketplace you’re selling on (Ebay, Craigslist, etc.) and be sparse with your information.

Ensure Signage Upon Receipt

@photo

In order to be certain that the buyer has received your packaged item, be sure to have them sign upon receipt. Whether you ship the item with FedEx, UPS, DHL, or another delivery system, make sure that a signature is required from the recipient (you may have to pay an extra fee for this, but it’s worth it!)

Cover Your Bases

You don’t want to take any chances of getting scammed, so be sure to take the appropriate precautions. It may take a bit of extra work now, but it will be worth it in the end. Take photos of the items on your shopping list that you are selling and shipping, so that the buyer can’t replace your quality item with a broken one and claim that your item was destroyed in transit.

Get Insured

You might not have heard of shipping insurance, but it can be a great safety net when selling online. Shipping insurance may even be offered for free by your delivery company. This option helps to protect you from any false claims or buyer’s schemes.

The weather is getting warmer, and you know what that means! A new spring wardrobe is in your future. Even if you don’t want to shell out big bucks to elevate your closet to the next level, you can take a cue from our fashion guidelines. These tips and tricks will help you bring your style A-game this spring!

Opt for Off-the-Shoulders

Show a little skin this spring, but still leave something to the imagination. For this season, it is going to be all about off-the-shoulder looks for dresses and shirts. Many designers are taking things a step up and using shoulder cut-outs to flash some flesh. We’re even seeing this in full-length jumpsuits, rompers, and sweaters.

Stick with a Classic

@photo

The crisp white button-down shirt will never go out of style. Plus, the springtime is a great time to resurrect this wardrobe staple from your closet. After all, all body types, heights, and skin tones look absolutely smashing in a classy white blouse. Channel a cool vibe with button-downs that feature slits, ruching, or cut-outs. They go with everything: trousers, jeans, shorts, skirts…

Live in Lingerie

This spring trend may be for the more daring fashionistas, but we have been seeing it all over the designer runways. Models were decked out in lingerie that is meant to be worn all day (and into the night.) Before you get scared, these looks are styled in a way that is still put-together, not sleazy. For example, we saw shirts layered with slips on top, as well as lace and satin detailing on dresses and skirts. More plunging necklines and delicate embroidery help to bring a little bit of the bedroom outside, so don;t forget to add them to your shopping list!

Art Deco You Can Wear

If you aren’t familiar with the Art Deco movement, just take a hint from the latest runway fashions. Designers are opting for brighter colors that bring new life to garments. We are seeing things like the colorblock trend, but featuring different hues and fabrics. Mix and match to find a blend that you enjoy (such as leather and lace, or satin and cotton.) Another Art Deco element is literally eye-popping details, such as 3D decals, patterns, and appliques.

Pretty Pleating

Don’t worry, the pleating trend is not going to make you look like a schoolgirl! It will, however, up your fashion game and help you elongate your legs. Whether on a skirt or dress, pleats can add more fullness to a garment, as well as pull the eye to your best physical features (waist, hips, legs.) Pleating combined with a fun pattern or design helps to add a spring to your step and closet! Explore with varying lengths and fabrics to mix it up from time to time.

Different vegetables in your grocery list have different shelf-lives, different tell-tale signs of being ripe and nutritious and different tips to select the best of the lot. While of course color, size and smell are great markers as a common thumb rule, here are some specific clues for the most common vegetables.

Onions, shallots and garlic

Onion and shallots should be heavy and firm or hard. Preferably opt for those with dark skins and those that are not sprouting.
For garlics too avoid the ones with green sprouts. Choose firm, plump heads.

Potatoes

Always pick firm potatoes that are free of bruises and cracks. Ideally, the skin should be wrinkle free. Steer clear of the ones with sprouts or a greenish tinge, as a green tinge is a sign of poisonous solanine and sprouting is a sign of staleness. Dirt on potatoes could be a sign of freshness, so don’t shy away from them. Preferably potatoes should be your choice of vegetable during autumn and winter.

Asparagus

Pick smooth, dark green spears with closed stiff tips. Asparagus doesn’t have a long shelf life, so consume soon after you purchase. Asparagus is best in the spring and early summer.

Bell Peppers

Bell peppers are extremely nutritious vegetables, and ones that should be on your grocery list often. Opt for smooth, heavy bell peppers that are not bruised or soft near the stems. Rattle the bell peppers and if you hear the seeds inside, put the bell pepper back. Rattling seeds represents that the bell pepper is old and stale.

Broccoli

Bright green, tightly budded heads in Broccoli is a sign of freshness. The buds being open is not a good sign and neither is a yellowish tinge. A purple cast however is great news! Broccoli is best enjoyed in summer.

Mushrooms

Pick mushrooms that look fresh, smooth and free from cuts and marks. Picking mushrooms is a little tricky as you should be able to differentiate between dried and dry surface, the latter being a good choice. An open membrane under the cap means richer stronger flavor.

Carrots

Always pick firm carrots that have a rich orange color and a smooth texture. Check at the root, to make sure that the carrot is not soft of flabby and avoid the thick ones. The shape of a carrot lets on a lot, so always pick medium sized carrots that taper off at the ends.

Eggplants

Shop for smaller eggplants that is smooth and shiny and rich in color. Eggplants that are heavy for their size are richer in flavor. Turn the eggplant around to ensure there are no cuts and bruises. And lastly, if the stalk isn’t green put the eggplant back on the shelf.

Cucumbers

Select firm cucumbers that are unblemished and dark green. In fact, slightly squeeze the cucumbers and make sure they don’t yield to the pressure. The skin of the cucumber should be thin and tight and not waxy and heavy. Any signs of shriveling at the opposite end of the stem indicates it is stale and starting to dry out.

Zucchini

The smaller, darker zucchinis are the ones to opt for. Make sure the zucchini is not too thick either. A tender zucchini will have small hair on its skin, and these are sure to taste great.

Steak, mashed potato, carbonara, pizza – these are just among the staple foods that we eat on a regular basis. We always make sure that ingredients of the aforementioned foods are always included on our shopping lists. However, there may be times that you actually feel fed up eating those usual foods, you sometimes look for recipes online that will satiate your craving. You’ve bumped into several weird foods that originated from different countries.

Although you see how people love eating them, you’re still not sure whether they taste good, right? But you know, it would be nice to try something outside your comfort zone. Are you brave enough to try strange, but heavenly delicious, foods from different parts of the world? We are listing down some strange foods that you must try before your last day on Earth arrives.

Century Egg

A Chinese delicacy also known as pidan, a century egg can be a duck, chicken or quail eggs, preserved for several months using clay, ash, quicklime, salt and rice hulls, not with horse urine – which is a common myth that’s why a lot of people do not eat it. Because of the ingredients used, the egg’s white part turns brown, while the yolk turns dark green to grey. There’s a pungent odor, but it actually tastes creamier compared to a regular egg.
Fried Spider – popular in Cambodia, fried spiders are sold on streets! Deep fried in garlic oil until golden brown – it’s crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Now, that doesn’t sound appetizing and worthy to add on your “to do list” or “shopping list”, is it? But actually, it’s flavorful and rich in protein. Now that sounds more interesting!

Rocky Mountain Oysters

Rocky Mountain Oysters, also known as Prairie Oyster in Canada, it is not really an oyster. Made of bull testicle (whoops!), it is being served fried, stuffed or sautéed with herbs and spices.

Balut

@photo

Here’s a popular strange food that you must have probably heard. Balut, a boiled egg that has a developing duck embryo inside, is a popular street food in the Philippines.

Sannakji

If you have seen the circulating video of a Korean eating live octopus, he’s actually having a Sannakji. It has a mild taste, but the idea of struggling to eat a live octopus trying to get off your chopsticks is definitely worth trying!

Although these 5 strange foods sound icky, they are actually flavorful, you won’t be wasting your time, effort and money just to try them. Once in a while, why don’t you experiment on the food you eat, not only by spending several hours planning your shopping list, but also by checking out nearby restaurants, or visiting different countries just to try their renowned delicacies? Make the most out of your life – be adventurous!

Do you hate the way your store cupboard seems to be full of the wrong sort of food? Are your shelves brimming with high-sugar, processed foods you don’t even remember buying? Maybe you need to follow a few simple rules, so you can shop more mindfully, and bring home the foods that will help you and your family eat a more wholesome, healthy diet.

Mindful living is about living fully in each moment, free from distractions. Too often, we drift through the grocery store on auto-pilot, filling our baskets with whatever impulse purchase the shop is promoting that day.

How to focus on the right things

• Make a shopping list and do your best to stick to it. Your list should be linked to planned menus, with healthy fruits, raw vegetables and unsalted nuts for snacks. No food should be completely forbidden, but think about what you are doing whenever you put something unhealthy into your basket.
• Before you enter the grocery store, take a few seconds sitting in your car in the parking lot. Close your eyes for a moment and take some deep breaths. Remind yourself that you and your family deserve wholesome, healthy food.
• You might decide to avoid aisles containing foods which are not on your shopping list.
• Whenever you are about to put food which is high in sugar, salt or highly processed into your basket, ask yourself whether your health-conscious mother/ sister/friend would buy this type of food.
• Try never to go shopping for food when hungry. If you cannot avoid this, eat an apple or similar healthy snack just before you enter the store. A recent study by scientists at Cornell University, found that shoppers who were offered healthy snacks at the start of their shopping trip were more likely to buy healthy foods than those who were given unhealthy snacks.
• Try to avoid shopping for food when stressed or angry. Your mood can significantly affect your ability to resist impulse-buys.

Tricks of the trade

@photo

It helps to have an awareness of some of the psychological tricks shops use to tempt you, the unwary shopper to leave with all kinds of items which were not on your shopping list.

• Is the store layout one that encourages customers to pass through areas selling less essential, more expensive produce first?
• Beware of special promotions and buy-one-get-one-free offers. Will your family really benefit from that second pack of cookies or larger pack of potato chips?
• Be aware that items on which the store has the highest profit-margin are more likely to be displayed attractively at eye-level.

Now there’s no excuse for having the wrong sort of food in your grocery cupboard ever again. Happy shopping!

You are preparing your shopping list – apples, bananas, mangoes and grapes – you’re listing down fruits your family loves to eat. However, there may be moments wherein you find these staple fruits dull, you’d probably want to try something new, but you are unsure what exactly should be added on your shopping list. You think you can try some exotic yet delicious and nutritious fruits? We have listed down several options that you can have!

Ackee

Jamaica’s National Fruit, Ackee is definitely something you have to try. It’s provides 2.5 grams of fiber for every 3.5 ounce of serving, and contains 15.2 grams of fat, which actually has no saturated fat. Because of that, it’s best for people who are trying to keep their cholesterol level normal, and those who are constipated. However, you have to be very careful before you eat an Ackee – it can be poisonous and can cause vomiting and hypoglycemia (decrease of blood glucose), which can lead to comatose or death. You have to make sure that it’s fully ripe, wherein it opens naturally. Only the white, brain-looking part can be consumed.

Rambutan

Name derived from a Malay word which means “hairy’ – you’d probably realized why. Rambutan originated from Asia but is now cultivated in different parts of the world. It’s sweet and can be eaten raw, but you can also cook it with sugar and add shredded ice and milk to make it a refreshing desert.

African Horned Cucumber

Also known as “blowfish fruit” and “kiwano melon,” the African Horned Cucumber is something that you must add on your shopping list. It will literally burst inside your mouth when eaten. It tastes like zucchini and cucumber, and when ripe, it’s more of like a banana. It’s rich in fiber and Vitamin C! If you do not like to eat it alone, you can simply toss it on a salad to provide added flavor and texture.

Durian

@photo

The “king of al fruit” requires enough courage to be eaten because of its pungent, strong smell. It has spiky husk with custard-like insides. To those who are not fond of eating it, it can be a challenge, but once you have tried it, it’s definitely worth the risk! Moreover, it’s rich in thiamin, riboflavin, Vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin A and B6, and some other important minerals such as zinc, calcium, magnesium and many more!

These 4 exotic fruits are undoubtedly worth trying. Do not think about the weird look or unappetizing smell because these can definitely bring you to heaven once you have tried eating them! Add them on your shopping list now!

Shop till you drop, goes the saying. And we recommend you take it literally. If shopping is your favorite pastime and being laden with shopping bags is your idea of fun, then you are in luck. While science has already established that retail therapy has emotional benefits what very few will tell you is that shopping can help you lose weight too. Shopping is a great calorie burner!

Don’t believe us, here is the math – Research shows that on an average women burn around 50,000 calories shopping every year (around to 160 calories per hour shopping). And there is more, one shopping spree amounts to 7000+ steps on an average, i.e. around 6 kms of walking (brisk walking if you hurry from one store to another) per trip and 250 kms a year!

While it is not a substitute for your daily dose of exercise, there are a few ways you can optimize your shopping trips. Seemingly simple things like where to park your car or whether or not to maintain a shopping list make a whole lot of difference.

Don’t forget a shopping list

There is evidence, for instance the research published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, that people who shop with a list weigh less and lose more weight. 76% of the people make decisions in store, making impulse (read unhealthy or unnecessary) purchases more likely. Making and following the shopping list is the easiest way to stick to your diet/ healthy eating, lessen mindless browsing and search for items you need.

Avoid the Big Weekly shopping routine

A weekly shopping day is a bad idea for so many reasons. One; a new study points out that we binge when we buy in bulk. Buying in larger quantities makes us eat more, and the knowledge that our shelves will be deprived of new stock for a week makes us splurge on items we don’t need. So shop more often, eat right. Point two; remember the math we spoke about at the starting of this article? The more you shop, the more calories you burn. So by simply breaking down your weekly shopping routine in to frequent shopping trips you will get much more exercise. Prioritize your shopping list, put down a date as per immediacy and each time bring home only that which is immediate. Make separate trips to the mall for your dress and shoes.

Don’t follow the order

Now this is something you have to consciously train yourself to do. Whether in the supermarket or at the mall, don’t make purchases in the order they are placed – give yourself an excuse to walk more, pick items haphazardly as long as they are on your shopping list. Walk back and forth through the aisles, or through the corridor in a mall thus adding up more steps to your shopping work out.

Fight for the furthest parking lot

Or better yet, walk to the mall. Not only does this force you to walk more, but on your way back you will be carrying your shopping bags further along, hence more calories burnt. Also, since you will be conscious of the weight of the shopping bags you have to lug back with you, you will refrain from making bulk purchases. (P.S: that is of course if you don’t push your shopping cart all the way to your car!)

Carry a snack

Bring along a snack you like so you won’t be tempted to gratify yourself at the food court or snack while you shop at the supermarket. Carrying your snack along is insurance that you will eat healthy and look away from the sugary, fat filled comfort foods.

Having a grocery list is certainly a great way to save some money with your weekly expenses, especially if you strictly follow everything you have listed. However, apart from sticking to your budget, coupons are also proven helpful in order for you to lessen your expenses. In fact, most professional coupon users say that they can even save as much as 80% on their budget if you just know how to match all the deals that you can get from your trusted shopping center and online coupon providers. Instead of throwing away of those flyers and just shrugging off those deals that you have seen on websites and social media platforms, why don’t you take advantage of these and start slashing a huge percentage from your budget through couponing?

Taking advantage of the power of coupons needs ample time. You have to seriously try to match all the sales with the coupons that you have. Spending at least 30 minutes planning your grocery list based on the savings that you will get will provide you better results in the long run. You cannot just store the coupon on your wallet, go directly on the aisle where that product is located and buy it immediately. The most important tip, only use your coupons on sale items. You are not required to use your coupon right away. Wait for a few weeks or months until you hit a good deal! To track the period of validity, you can arrange your coupons based on their expiration. If you are not too busy, you can list down all the coupons that you have on a paper, and place the validity dates on the side. In that way, no coupon will be wasted.

Effective Coupon Tips for your Grocery List

@photo

While still home, check out your refrigerator for food items that you need. Instead of planning your meals ahead of time, why don’t you rely on what can be bought using your coupons first? If you are creative enough, you will certainly come up with satiating meals without the need of spending a lot of money.

Do not settle for a generic brand, these do not really provide coupons. Most brands that offer affordable prices could not provide discounts simply because their sales are not as high as what popular brands get. The best thing to do is to switch to a more popular brand and look for online deals. If you are lucky, you can even get as much as 50% off + a few more bucks off from your coupon. Also, if you are not really that “brand conscious,” you can switch brands from time to time, depending on what gives a better deal.

Check out other grocery stores. Not all coupons require you to purchase items just on Target or Walmart. Usually, these can be used anywhere. Checking out different grocery stores where you can get it for a cheaper price (like a BOGO or a 20% off deal) will help you maximize the usage of the coupon.

Don’t think about getting weird glances from cashiers just because you are using a bunch of coupons. In fact, the supermarket appreciates coupon users because one, the manufacturer in most cases refunds the discount you have received, and second, this will help them sell items quickly, allowing them to restock earlier than scheduled.

We hope we have helped you understand the power of grocery coupons. So the next time you plan your grocery list, search for coupons first and start saving money!

Many women know that their body shape can help them choose the perfect clothing. Yet it is not always easy to dress for your body type. Moreover, the colder winter months can make you just want to wrap yourself in a huge parka and call it a day. Well, before you give up, check out these tips for choosing a winter coat based on your body shape. No need for a confusing shopping list, because there is something here for everyone!

Boyish Figure

If you have a more narrow waist, broad shoulders, and a small chest, then you may think that it is nearly impossible to find something feminine and fashionable. Wrong! For a boyish figure, try out a coat that features a cinched waist. Look for options that are belted so that you can create the illusion of bigger hips. Also, a peplum or double-breasted style will help to fill out your figure a bit more so that it doesn’t look so straight and narrow.

Plus-Size Figure

If you already have the hips and chest that most women long for, then you should look for a coat that offers a more tailored silhouette. Something that can be pulled in at the waist, or a jacket with a flared-out bottom half will be the most flattering on your figure. Don’t be afraid to play with different textures and patterns, either! Fur cuffs, bows, and printed designs will look playful and feminine.

Petite Figure

@photo

Smaller women run the risk of getting completely lost in their winter clothing. Women with smaller frames should seek coats and jackets that fall no lower than to the knee. Establish some shape with a bejeweled or fur collar. And be sure to pay attention to the hem and sleeves; you do not want to look like a toddler wearing mommy’s clothes!

Busty Figure

Women who pack a lot of va-voom should go for jackets that are structured and fall to the upper-to-mid thigh. This will keep you from looking like a blob, and will help to lengthen your legs. Avoid excess attention to your chest by staying away from double-breasted coats, which will only make your chest look bigger.

Bottom-Heavy Figure

Often referred to as a “pear-shaped figure,” this body type does best with a coat or jacket that creates the illusion of an hourglass shape. To achieve this look, go for something that is belted or has a shape that cinches in at the waist and out towards the hips. Something with a broader shoulder could also help to even your figure out.

There you have it! A few simple tips and tricks for finding the perfect coat for you. Now you can venture out in the cold, wind, and snow while looking fabulous.