Akron Today Magazine

Akron Lifestyle and Entertainment

Staff Writer

Cheap Foods For A Healthy Diet

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Obesity is common, serious and costly.  According to them, more than one-third (36.5%) of US adults have obesity, and while childhood obesity is declining it is still high and affects close to 13 million children in the United States.

What does that mean for your family?

According to them, low-income families are more in danger of having a child suffering from obesity, and also among adults, especially Blacks and Hispanics.

Obesity means a health issue problem that costs the United States government close to $150 million dollars a year.  If that is not something very troubling to consider, consider the health of your children and your spouse or partner and the health risks associated with obesity:

  1. Heart Disease
  2. Stroke
  3. Type 2 Diabetes
  4. Certain types of Cancer

All those diseases are preventable diseases that can be combatted by exercising and having a diet that is reasonable.  There seems to be a misconception between a healthy diet and the high cost of acquiring it.  Contrary to many of these misconceptions, there are many healthy foods you can find at your grocery store that do not cost a lot of money, for example:

  1. Lentils – A 1 lb. of Lentils at the local grocery cost can cost you around $1.50. Half a cup of cooked lentils can give you around 9 grams of protein, iron, and potassium with 115 calories.  You can cook the lentils in soups or side dishes with other vegetables that can give you many nutrients your body needs.
  2. Beans – A 1 lb. of beans at your local grocery store can cost you as little as $1.39. Beans are full of fiber, potassium, and magnesium.  They are a great source of healthy carbohydrates that can fight off hunger and keeps you feeling full longer. Beans and lentils are two cheap alternatives to meat and the recipes you can do with beans and lentils range from salads to soups and everything in between. Hint: soaking beans and lentils overnight can make it easy and quick for you to cook the next day.
  3. Oats – Who said cereals are the only breakfast in the United States?  Replacing cereal with oatmeal is not only cheaper but healthier too.  The sugars that are included in every serving of cereal will show in a bigger belly in your child.  Oatmeal will keep your child feeling full longer, and your wallet will show the difference.
  4. Sweet Potatoes –  sweet potatoes are full of vitamin A and vitamin C. A 3lb. bag of sweet potatoes at your grocery store can cost you around $2.94.  If you cook the potatoes in the oven with a teaspoon of oil and a dash of salt, you will have a dish that is filling, cheap and is good for you.
  5. Regular Potatoes – Regular potatoes are full of fiber but also full of vitamin C and Potassium.  The bad rep they get as a fatty, unhealthy food is because we think we need to eat them fried, full of butter and cheese, or accompanied by a big hamburger. This cheap food will certainly keep your child full and happy after they eat it for dinner.

Having a healthy diet does not have to be expensive. You do have to adjust your thinking and your stomach to these new foods and to prepare them in a way that seem appetizing to you and your family.  But, the benefits associated with these foods are too many for you to ignore, and the cost associated with them is too little for you not to try.

Recipes with these items are abundant, and the steps to follow to get a great result are all over the internet.

Happy eating and Good health!

Getting Your Home Ready To Sell

If you are thinking about selling your home and are wondering when it’s the best time to do so, it depends on where you live in the country.  There are specific times of the year to put your home in the market if you want to have good results.

An article by Zillow puts the month of May as the best time to put your home in the market.  But, other articles, put April as the best time for the Northeast part of the country to list the home. Regardless of what research tells you, you will list your home when you are ready and are comfortable dealing with everything that comes from putting a home for sale.

If you are thinking about selling a home and are wondering about the best home improvements or steps to take to get the best price, here is a list:

  1. Staging – Believe it or not, this is an industry that has many companies making a great living out of staging homes to sell.  A realtor can also give you great advice about your home if you want to go that route, and they can give you some advice about what you need to do to make it a better sell.
  2. Home improvements that you can do yourself are the best way to get the best return on your investment.  Painting the rooms of your house yourself can save a few hundred dollars that can be recouped when the sale is closed. Decluttering the home can be a great selling point that you and your family can do by yourselves.
  3. Fixing up your kitchen or the bathroom of the home can be expensive, but remember you do not have to replace everything to make it look nice. Painting the walls of the bathroom or kitchen can make your rooms look new, without going to the extra expense. If you can replace old appliances, and a new faucet in the bathroom, go ahead, those are expenses that you can recoup at the end of the sale.
  4. Curb Appeal – Dead plants, overgrown bushes, and branches falling are some of the curb appeals prospective homeowners do not want to see.  A nice spring garden can be a very welcoming sight for many people.  Clean up all dead leaves and branches from the year before to make sure the flower beds are nice and clean.
  5. Basement Waterproofing – even if you have a beautiful kitchen, painted bathroom with new faucets and a spotless yard when prospective homeowners go to check the basement and find water, the deal can be off right then and there.  Basement waterproofing is not very attractive for many homeowners, and the expense can be too much for them. But, if you are considering putting the home for sale, waterproofing the basement of your home can be the difference between selling the home or not.  Water running through the basement will send potential buyers running for the door.

 

Saving Tips For The American Family

Many companies try to entice the consumer into buying their particular brands over those of the competition regardless of the value or the quality of their products.  A pretty product that is packaged well and looks pretty may perform worse than the simple packaged one.  As a consumer, you may fall for the marketing and buy the pretty package over the better one, but hopefully, you will make the mistake only once.

Many Americans are struggling with mortgage payments, car payments, insurance payments etc, to worry about other things like comparing prices, weight or performance of the products they are buying, but being savvy about the products they are using should save a buck or two, and in the long run, make us better consumers.

What are some of the items we use daily that can save us some money?

Gas and Electricity: Comparing prices for gas and electricity can save hundreds of dollars every year for the average American family.  There are many companies one can choose for gas and electricity, and even if entering into a contract with a particular company, it will save you money.  Be choosy when signing a contract, and make sure the penalty for canceling it early is not too much.

Car Insurance: If you want to save in car insurance, you need to shop around.  If you have a good history of no accidents or other claims within your company and you do not get any discounts with them, you need to shop around with other companies.

Dishwashing Soaps: According to a Consumer Report test, all dishwashing soaps perform equally well and according to them you should really buy what’s on sale because all dishwashing soaps perform equally well.

I can personally tell you that I do not agree with their results.  I can tell you for example that for me Palmolive, does not perform better or equally well than Dawn.  And some generic brands that you find on the shelves at the grocery stores, pharmacies or Wal-Marts require almost double the amount that you would need for Dawn.

Very recently, I tried a brand called “simply done” a registered trademark of Topco Associates LLC.  By simply looking at the bottle, it reminds you of the generic brands you see at the store.  I expected the same results as well.  The truth is that you do not see a difference between “simply done” and Dawn.  Is there a difference?  There may be a difference between the dishwashing soaps, but the price does not warrant buying the most expensive brand.

Restaurants: Despite having issues with money, Americans are spending over $3,000 eating out according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The convenience of having food readily available without having to cook it is very enticing, but the convenience of having no dirty dishes or cooking chores come with a steep price. Eating out should not be abandoned by families but should be treated as a treat instead of a necessity.

Saving is very smart, try to practice the habit.

Flooring For Every Room In Your House

Many people make New  Year resolutions to begin the year with a bang.  Many of us do not stick to them, and some of us make resolutions that are bound to fail from day one. If you made a resolution this year to spruce your home and declutter, that’s a resolution that makes sense and that you might be able to accomplish.  If you are replacing the flooring of a room in your house and don’t know where to begin, read ahead.

Depending on the room in your home, flooring can be an easy decision to make but also it can present itself with questions about what it’s best for your family.   

Kitchen and bathrooms: These wet areas require flooring that is sturdy, and won’t be damaged by water spills.  Some flooring can become slippery when wet and can be very dangerous for your family.  The best flooring for these type of rooms are:

  1. Vinyl
  2. Laminate
  3. Tile

Keep in mind that there is some specific laminate flooring you can use in these rooms.  Normal laminate flooring can become very slippery and warps rather easily with small amounts of water on it.  You need to find the laminate flooring that can withstand water or other types of liquid spills without damaging it.

Living Room, Dining Room, and First Floor Rooms: These high traffic area rooms need a more sturdy, high-quality flooring that will not only be durable for your home but can make your home look beautiful as well. These are some of the types of flooring that are most commonly used for these rooms in your home:

  1. Hardwood
  2. Bamboo
  3. Laminate
  4. Vinyl
  5. Carpet

For many environmentally conscious homeowners, hardwood does not seem like a very likable option.  Many of these homeowners have chosen to opt for the more environmentally friendly bamboo flooring. If you are thinking about vinyl flooring for some of these rooms – especially for dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the main entrance of the home- vinyl has come a long way from the one sheet vinyl flooring our parents and grandparents grew up with.  The look of vinyl is not what it used to be, so choosing it over other types of flooring is not outdated.

Carpet for the bedrooms of the home has been the main choice for many homeowners though out the years, but if you have children with allergies or other respiratory problems, laminate or bamboo flooring can be a very nice second option for you.

There are many pros and cons you have to consider with every choice of flooring there is. Price, durability, ease of installation, look.  But, remember, buy what you love for your home.

Your Kid Gets Caught Shoplifting. What Do You Do?

As a loss prevention and law enforcement professional with over 40 years of experience, I have a few thoughts on this subject. Before reacting one way or another, you need to ask yourself what you want to achieve. Do you want your child to learn and grow from a life lesson or are you more interested in going on the attack to try to get them or you out of trouble?

I have seen parents react in many different ways. Normally, being aggressive towards the Retailer and/or the Police is not the best route to take. Threatening or being aggressive or argumentative will probably be met with criminal and civil actions against both you and your child. Because the message you send to everyone is that you are more concerned about yourself than the welfare and growth of your child.

I would not start by assuming that your little darling didn’t do it. Ask to see the evidence. Be reasonable and listen.

Let’s assume that your child was actually shoplifting. If your child shoplifted and your approach is to tell your child it will be alright, then you are essentially saying to your child that they can do what they want legal or illegal and there are no consequences. You are also diminishing your character to your child, the Retailer and the Authorities.

Very early in my career I saw a young teenage girl brought in to the Police station in custody for shoplifting. The girl was placed in a juvenile holding cell. I was stationed outside the cell with the key to keep an eye on her as she was crying hysterically.  About forty-five minutes later her parents arrived. They were well dressed and calm. It became very clear to me that they were very concerned and loved their daughter very much.

I listened as they expressed dismay at their daughter’s actions. In talking to the Police Lieutenant they said that they were shocked by her behavior and did not understand because this is not how she was raised. The Lieutenant listened patiently and told them that children make mistakes and that he had seen this on many occasions.  The parents did not talk about themselves but about what was best for their daughter. The Lieutenant started working with the parents as a unified team for what was best for her.

The father approached me and asked me to unlock the cell door. The Lieutenant nodded approval and I unlocked the door. The daughter, who did not even know that her parents were there yet, was relieved and tried to exit the cell. Mom and Dad blocked her way and said something I will never forget. “Sweetheart, you have gotten yourself in serious trouble and we do not think we can get you out of this”. With that Dad closed and locked the cell door. He handed me the key. He turned to the Lieutenant and said “we will be back in a few hours after we get some lunch”. They then left.

I stayed outside the cell for those few hours and listened to pretty much non-stop crying until they returned and took her home. I have nothing but the utmost respect for them and the Lieutenant. I suspect that the young lady learned a valuable life lesson that stuck with her. It certainly was one for me as a 17 year old Police Explorer Scout. It became very clear to me at that point how much my parents loved me and that they were concerned for my growth because I had experienced several lessons like that from my Mother and Father. I am now sixty years old and still see the wisdom they had by teaching me those lessons. I am also thankful they used tough love because it has helped to make me who I am today.

So when it happens to your child what will you do?

By the way, the charges against the young lady were dropped. The parents and police felt she had learned her lesson better than any court could do.

This article is written by Bill Bregar,  Bill helps retail stores prevent shoplifting and all kinds of businesses do pre-employment background checks to make sure they hire the best people they can and avoid employee theft issues in the future.  Bill is author of “Protect Your Store: The Shoplifting Prevention Guide for Small to Medium Retailers” which is available on Amazon.com and is a must read for retail store managers and owners.  Have a question for Bill?  Call him at 1-866-914-2567.

Basement Waterproofing Your Akron Home

The basement of our homes has become another extension of livable space for our families for many years now.  It has become a very functional entertaining space for children and adults alike.  It is no longer relegated to store unwanted furniture and boxes full of toys that are no longer needed, but instead, it has become a very enjoyable space for the entire family.

If you want to finish the basement of your home, waterproofing it before you start can be a very wise decision on your part.  Water seepage or leaking pipes can become a big problem if you leave them unattended and can eventually jeopardize the structure of your home.

For many families, waterproofing the basement of their home is a very expensive home maintenance upkeep to make, but can be devastating if you ignore the problems that can arise if you have an older home and ignore obvious water sign problems.

What are some of the easy signs that you can spot that can mean you need to waterproof your basement?

Water seepage can occur through the walls, the seams and up through the floor.  Digging around the foundation may not fix your problem if the water is seeping up the floor, the build up you are seen may be groundwater and digging outside the foundation won’t solve your problems. If this happening, you need to call a professional to come evaluate the problem and offer a solution for you.

  • Smelly musty odor
  • Water pooling on the floor – The humidity in the basement of your home may give it the musty odor you are experiencing and it may be caused by water seeping through the walls.
  • Mold or mildew –Condensation and the dust or other debris mixed can be the beginning of mildew in the basement.
  • Dampness –The dampness in the basement is a clear sign water is seeping into your home
  • Paint bubbling, walls bowing in, and cracked walls are all concerning signs that you have water problems in the basement and should be addressed quickly.

Choosing a basement waterproofing company to work in your home is too important to leave it to chance.  Research the companies in Northeast Ohio with a long history in the community and that time and again offer great workmanship along with great customer service.

 

Winter Health Foods and Drinks You Must Have

The cold weather has taken its time lately, but it seems that is finally here to stay. Flu epidemics affect the United States every year, and every year local health agencies encourage people to not only wash their hands regularly but to eat a healthy balanced diet to help us deal with these epidemics.  There are many healthy foods and drinks that can help us stay healthy and fight the dreaded flu, and some of these foods and drinks are even enjoyable for many of us.

These are the top 5 healthy foods to incorporate into your diet:

Teas

With the cold weather comes the craving of warm beverages that can make your day a bit more pleasant and enjoyable.  But before you go out and get yourself a warm drink at your local coffee shop, think of the calorie intake and inches you will acquire after you have finished the drink.  A Mocha Frappuccino at your local Starbucks contains 500 calories, 140 mg of caffeine and 79 g of sugar in one 20 0z drink. Not something you should do regularly, and especially not a drink you want to jump-start your day.

But, there have been many studies that look into the health benefits of tea, and while some of those studies are speculative, there is strong evidence to suggest that tea does have the ability to reduced the risk of coronary heart disease in people.

Black, green, white and Oolong teas are at the top of the list for the super healthy drinks for us. These teas contain disease-fighting antioxidants that can help you reduce the risk of heart diseases. A black tea-Earl Grey – contains only 30-60 mg of caffeine, green teas — 25-50 mg, and herbal teas-0 mg. If you drink teas without sugar, the calorie intake is minimal.

Dark Chocolate

Another enjoyable food or treat for us is dark chocolate. We are not talking about the white and milky chocolate variety, but the dark chocolate. That is the one that is found to have some of the same antioxidants found in tea, red wine, fruits, and vegetables. The health benefits are better blood flow in older adults and could help you reduce high blood pressure levels as well.

Avocados

Avocados are another healthy food that is great to eat and brings you many health benefits.  Yes, they are fatty and have about 3.1 g of saturated fat and 230 calories, but the health benefits associated with this fruit are too many to ignore, and the fats they contain are healthy fats that help you lower your “bad” cholesterol.

Cold Water Fish

Fish is one of those foods that you know from an early age is good for you.  You may not like fish, but the health benefits associated with cold water fish can range from reducing the risk of blood clots and heart attacks to lowering your cholesterol. The best cold water fish you can have are salmon, trout, herring, tuna, sardines, and mackerel. They contained an abundance of omega-3 acids that can help you fight many diseases. So, even if you don’t particularly like fish, you should try to incorporate them slowly into your diet.

Beans

There are many varieties and dishes you can have with beans.  And like fish, there are many people that do not like beans or don’t know how to cook them.  Beans are an excellent source of fiber, can help you with your digestion, lower your cholesterol levels, plus helps you reduce the risk of heart attacks. Incorporating these foods slowly into your diet can help you live a long and full life.

Do You Have What It Takes To Volunteer This Year?

For a high schooler thinking about going to college, the process of applying to colleges, visiting those colleges, getting the last SAT or ACT test under their belt, and writing those essays to send to prospective colleges can be daunting, especially if this is the first time for them and their parents. 

To attend some colleges and/or universities, the SAT or ACT scores matter.  School grades do matter as well.  The scores they get reflect whether they are capable students, able to meet deadlines and able to work with other peers.  The extracurricular activities show the college admissions office who they are and what they are interested in pursuing.  That’s why it is so important to choose extracurricular activities that really speak to them.

If you are thinking about signing your freshmen son or daughter in every extracurricular activity you can think of, think again.  An undergraduate admissions officer at Yale University, warns parents that your son and daughter should do the extracurricular activities they enjoy, NOT what they think looks good on paper.

Five factors to consider when signing up for an extracurricular activity at their school or in their community:

  1. Do an extracurricular activity they enjoy
  2. Do NOT choose an activity because everyone else is doing it
  3. Do an activity that they can be good at or have a talent to do
  4. Do NOT try to outguessed the college admissions office  to see what activities they are looking for
  5. Sign for an activity that will teach them about the person they are, or at least try to find out what it is they are good at

If your son or daughter enjoys volunteering, this Christmas season is a great time to start.  Volunteering at your church, at a homeless shelter, or volunteering for the Red Cross is a great first step.

Volunteering at their local animal shelter can bring them many enjoyable surprises.  Working with animals can teach them responsibility, and hopefully a work ethic they may not get anywhere else.

How can you get started?  Depending on what kind of activities you prefer, the school bulletin board or announcements board at your school can be a great start. Check your local Girl or Boy Scouts of America, your local community theatre, animal shelter, Red Cross or YMCA.

Some local libraries can use the help of young volunteers for after-school reading programs to help small kids, check with them and find out if they are in need of more volunteers. 

How about volunteering in retirement homes? There are many senior citizens that enjoy having a young person help them with their electronics or just enjoy a conversation. Talk about the latest book you read or what you did at school.  Conversation is sometimes all they need to have a good day.

Need any more ideas?  Why don’t you check this link to find out whether you want to do some volunteering this year? I hope you think about it and decide you do have the time and willingness to do something.

Is Your Car Well Protected by Insurance?

Everyone in Ohio is required by law to have insurance coverage, but not everyone has, or if they have insurance they may not have enough.

If you have a pretty decent insurance company, you and your car are protected if you are ever in an automobile accident, regardless whose fault it is.

But do you know what you have? And do you know if you have sufficient coverage? Have you checked the insurance coverage policy lately?  Most people that have insurance coverage rarely look into it if they don’t have to. We shop around for the company to insure us and after that, rarely bother to check if that insurance company is still offering the best deal.

What are insurance companies offering us? It depends of course on your car coverage.  Do you have a brand new car or a car that is a few years old?

Car Insurance companies can give you many discounts depending on what car you drive, the age of drivers and whether you have children with good grades. Some of the discounts may even surprise you. Here is a list:

  1. Number of cars you are insuring with them
  2. Whether you belong to a partnership organization-There are many that you probably already belong to and can get you a discount when insuring your car
  3. Good student — a 3.0 student can give you a discount that if not substantial, it helps with the total ticket
  4. Driving Experience-It matters whether you have been driving for a year or a decade, so make sure you include that information
  5. Anti-Theft devices and Anti-lock brakes can give you a discount when insuring your car, plus they keep you and your car safe.

If you already have an insurance company, why not check to see if it still relevant? Have anything change in the last six months?  Checking offers and quotes from different companies is good for your wallet. There are many companies that do not include medical payments in your policy or even roadside assistant even when you think those are automatic items in your policy.

A few minutes of your time and doing a bit of due diligence can save you money and headaches down the road.

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park

Nelson Ledges is a state park located in Garrettsville, OH in Portage County. A state park with 167 acres to explore, this place is surely one of the more picturesque and exciting parks to visit. Nelson Ledges is not a big park, and although you can explore different trails depending on your physical fitness, the park is beautiful because of the caves, the waterfalls, and the uniqueness of the place.

These are the four different trails you can take that will take you to different parts of the park. 

• White Trail – 1 Mile – Easy

• Yellow Trail – 3/4 Mile – Moderate

• Blue Trail – 3/4 Mile – Moderate

• Red Trail – 1/2 Mile – Difficult

The terrain in many areas of the park requires you to be careful and to wear appropriate shoes if you want to truly explore the park. Playing around is not advisable, and if you want to take your small children to explore, make sure they are always supervised by an adult.

September in the park is a combination of the end of summer and the beginning of fall. The color of the changing foliage is beautiful, and although this time of year is a bit dry for the falls to show its beauty, it is still a worthwhile trip for you to make.

Parking is plentiful and there is a bathroom you can use before you start your hike. The bathroom is a state park bathroom and far from nice.  If you have children with you, they may not want to use it at all. 

The state park is free, but if you want to have access to the quarry, there is a small fee to pay.  The entrance to the quarry is through a campground, and that’s where you pay your entrance fee.

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park
Address: 12440 OH-282,
Garrettsville, OH 44231
Phone: (440) 564-2279

Have fun and explore this beautiful state park during this time of year.