Always Use a Clean Sponge

The kitchen is where we spend so much of our family time together, with meals, homework, etc. Would you believe that the kitchen is the dirtiest room in our home?  This is true according to Phillip Tierno, PhD, director of clinical microbiology and diagnostic immunology at the New York University Langone Medical Center and author of The Secret Life of Germs. “That’s because we deal with dead animal carcasses on our countertops and in the sink.” He goes on to say that the kitchen sponge is “the single dirtiest thing in your kitchen, along with a dishrag.”

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sugar is a mainstay in today’s society. From yogurt to bottled water to cookies, artificial sugar is showing up in more and more food products. It used to be seen only in diet sodas and for sweetening coffee, but now the business of artificial sweeteners is a million dollar industry.

But will they actually help you cut calories and slim down? How much Healthy Choice ice cream can I eat before it’s no longer a healthy choice? I don’t believe they actually help you lose weight. But I do believe they help you not ingest more calories.

Enjoy a Picnic this Summer

Many of us are having Staycations this year, vacations you take at home. Besides looking in your state for national and state parks, interesting towns to visits, or festivals, you can also check your paper or the internet for free summer concerts in the park.

I am currently visiting my relatives in Tennessee, and tomorrow night we’re going to a free concert in the park with music by the Symphony Orchestra. It’s been warm here during the day, but at night should be wonderfully pleasant. Hopefully, the fireflies will be lighting the grasses. Today, however, we’re planning our picnic dinner that we’re bringing. Let’s cover some savvy ways to make a wonderful flavorful picnic for little money.