Kids Food Basket, Blessings in a Backpack donation wish list - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

For most of us, the holidays conjure up thoughts of feasting, family and plenty. But some (too many) U.S. children just wonder what and if they'll eat each day. School lunch is their reliable last meal of the day. Thanks to a complex web of family and economic problems, these children lack secure food sources at home. Some don't even have a home. That's why Kids Food Basket is here to help.Kids Food Basket, Blessings in a Backpack donation wish list - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

DIY guys black and bone skeleton Halloween or Dia de los Muertos costume - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

"Black and bone" Halloween costumes are in 2014's top hottest costume trends, says Party City. And they ought to know. They're a first-stop for Halloween shopping. What's a black and bone costume? It's skeleton, Goth, Jack Skellington, Mardi Gras, Victorian steampunk, Nosferatu and Dia de los Muertos rolled into one. And you don't need to spend a lot to get the hot look. Here's a DIY black and bone costume tutorial for guys.  DIY guys black and bone skeleton Halloween or Dia de los Muertos costume - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Free Printable Personal Organizers, Planners and Calendars

Do your prefer good old paper and pencil planners to smartphone calendars? Maybe you bought an expensive personal organizer, like a Franklin Planner. Good for organizing, if you actually use it. And pretty expensive when you have to buy refill pages every year.Free Printable Personal Organizers, Planners and Calendars - Bubblews

 

Glues and Adhesives, Gorilla Glue, Loctite, Super Glue Product Reviews - Bubblews

Glues come and glues go. Super Glue, hot glue, model glue, epoxy, Goop, Loctite and dozens more brands each claim to be the most durable. And each attracts a certain loyal following. Here's is my glue review of Loctite, Gorilla Glue and Super Glue. Glues and Adhesives, Gorilla Glue, Loctite, Super Glue Product Reviews - Bubblews

Oscar Mayer Premium Selects Nitrate and Nitrite Free Hot Dogs Better Than Hebrew National

I don't like serving hot dogs to my family--too much junk, too little food value. Alas, said family loves homemade Coney Island.

I was happy to find that Oscar Mayer makes Select Premium uncured hot dogs with no nitrates, nitrites. fillers or preservatives. Cheap too--only about $.75 more per package than junk hot dogs. The all beef Oscar Mayer Select Premium with no nitrates or nitrites were $3 per pound.

This is great news for a family of six who wants to each healthy. It's nothing for me to cook three packages of hot dogs at a time. We are always feeding extra people. Up till now, if I wanted a healthy hot dog to grill, the only option was Al Fresco preservative free chicken sausage at $4-$5 per pound.

Everyone loves Oscar Mayer Selects Premium. One son confused them with some organic free-range hot dogs I used to buy from co-op (much higher priced). They're as good as higher-priced Hebrew National. And those, I found, while being kosher, aren't necessarily nitrate free.

Here's the list of ingredients in Oscar Mayer Select Premium: chicken, turkey, pork, water, corn sugar, salt, celery juice, vinegar, lemon juice, cherry powder and sodium phosphates (less than 2%). So the corn sugar isn't great. They're not lowfat, low sugar or low sodium. So not good for special health diets, just a more natural alternative. And I've read that celery juice is a nitrate--but it's a natural source--better than chemicals.

For more on Oscar Mayer Selects Premium, click here. For more food product reviews, healthy eating, recipes and cooking hints, visit me at www.greatfood4u.blogspot.com.

Fat Burning Fruits, Buy These Better Fruit Food Swaps to Lose Weight

I've lost 100 pounds by counting calories and swapping fatty foods for better ones. Any dieter knows you have to boost vegetables and fruit to lose weight. But it's not that simple. Some fruits are better than others. Some are fat burners and some should be avoided altogether. Shop for these fruit food swaps and try these fruit superfood recipes to trim pounds.  Serve at your 4th of July picnic! Fat Burning Fruits, Better Fruit Food Swaps to Lose Weight

Quick, Cheap Kid-friendly Leftovers Use-Up, One-Pot Meals

I admit, I'm a cookbook addict. I enjoy perusing them for recipes and cooking styles. I've noticed many cookbooks are limited. And most recipes are needlessly complicated. Busy families need meals that don't require multiple steps or that dirty a sink full of pans. So I've written recipes for nutritious meals that can be made while helping a child with spelling words or nursing a baby. Ingredients are cheap and adaptable to what's on hand and use up leftovers plus have enough for another meal. If you line baking dishes with heavy foil, you can freeze food, remove pre-wrapped in foil and store. Read onSuper Easy, Inexpensive, Kid-friendly Leftover Use-Up, One-Pot Meals