Health and Delecious Food

Fun, Healthy, Delicious Food – Can You Really Have it All?

Is there really such a thing as food that is fun, healthy, and delicious? So many people think grub that’s good for you automatically takes all the fun out of eating. After all, healthy food can’t possibly taste good, can it? Of course it can!

I have been busy gathering some ideas for fun, healthy, delicious foods to share with you. If you have kids, these are recipes I think they’ll like too. And here’s another bonus – they are all easy to make:

• Have you seen those “Flatout Mini” soft wraps? I love these! They are small-size wraps that are low in calories, convenient, and very versatile. Try this easy recipe – all you need are the wraps, cooking spray, Mrs. Dash, and Parmesan cheese. Cut each wrap into 16 wedges and place on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with a little Mrs. Dash and a bit of Parmesan. Bake at 350-degrees for about ten minutes or until lightly brown and crisp.

• Fruit kabobs – This is a fun alternative to a plain old bowl of fruit. Just pick a few of your favorites – maybe apples, pineapple, bananas - and cut them into chunks. Slide the fruit onto a skewer. Next, roll the skewer in a plate of nonfat yogurt… then roll again in a plate of shredded coconut. Voila! A fun, healthy, delicious snack!

• Sandwich kabobs - Cut whole-grain bread, low-fat cheese, and your favorite deli meat into cubes. Slide them onto skewers along with some veggies like grape tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and olives. Dip into fat-free or low-fat Italian dressing.

• For a quick mini-pizza, top an English muffin (go for the whole grain ones) with spaghetti sauce and a little shredded low-fat mozzarella. Broil until the cheese melts.

• Pop a frozen waffle or pancake into the toaster and top it with warm applesauce and cinnamon. Too easy, huh?

• Freeze some grapes, bananas, cherries, or maybe peaches and blend with yogurt for a fruit smoothie.

• Yogurt pops – fill paper cups with your favorite non-fat or low-fat yogurt and put a popsicle stick in each cup. Freeze and enjoy!

• Creamy Coolwich (from Nabisco World) - put 2 tablespoons of sugar free Cool Whip in between graham cracker squares. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for three hours or until firm. Yum!

• Blueberry Cracker Bites (from Kraft Foods) – spread 1 teaspoon light cream cheese on a reduced-fat Ritz cracker and top with 5 frozen blueberries. Too fun!

So, you see – healthy foods can be fun and delicious.

Now, I am a firm believer that the key to a successful, healthy lifestyle is to choose fun good-for-you foods and exercises when you can. It’s a tough enough fight out there whether you’re trying to lose or maintain weight. But enjoying the journey is half the battle.
by: Sahar Aker

Is Your Mattress Making You Sick?

Imagine sleeping for eight hours per night, all the while breathing in dangerous and toxic chemicals that have been proven to be toxic and carcinogenic to human beings. Does this sound far fetched and crazy?

Yes, it does. But it is also true.

A new law was just put into effect, on July 1, 2007, that requires all mattresses sold in the United States to be flame proof. This was spearheaded by the ISPA (International Sleep Products Association) with a stated purpose of making mattresses more safe from fires.

At least, that is their stated position. But on closer inspection, it appears as if there is a sinister motive. Sadly, it appears as if this is merely a farce, and the real reason is to limit competition, by effectively pitting smaller mattress companies out of business, because they cannot comply with this new law.

Mattress sales are big business. Over 37 Million new mattresses are sold each year, and smaller, specialty mattress manufactures and imports have been taking away a large share of the Big three sales (Serta, Sealy, Simmons).With this new law, many smaller companies will be forced out of business.

The challenge with making mattresses flame proof is that large quantities of harsh chemicals are needed, such as Boric Acid, which is the active ingredient in Roach Killer. Now, you may be thinking that this is somehow different than the roach killer you can get at the local hardware store, but its not. I checked, and it's the exact same chemical. And there is up to two pounds of boric acid (as finely sprinkled dust) in the average mattress.

As you can imagine, this has caused a consumer backlash, as many people are experiencing symptoms such as severe allergic reactions. The most common ones include rashes, itchy skin, runny nose, difficulty breathing, and light headedness. The long term effects of many of these chemicals have not been determined, and could prove to be deadly by causing various forms of cancer.

There is one caveat, however. People who are adamantly opposed to sleeping next to these chemicals have a way out. The law allows anyone to claim an exemption, as long as they have a prescription from a doctor. And there is only one mattress manufacturer that will still make these types of chemical free beds. That company is Strobel Technologies.

Many mattress manufacturers have been in compliance with this law for the last 2 years, so if you purchased a mattress in that time frame, you could have been affected. Of course, you will never know because there is no labeling requirement. The ISPA made sure of that, as they don't people to know what they are sleeping with.

The solution is either live with it (and risk your health), or purchase a chemical free mattress by getting a prescription from your doctor.

Dr. Masood Kureshi is a chiropractic specialist, and has spoken against the use of flame retardant chemicals in mattresses for many years. He has prescribed chemical free mattresses for hundreds of his patients.

Bullying Art in the Office

Mengenali budaya bullying di kantor

Pernahkah anda mengalami rasa enggan yang teramat sangat saat hendak berangkat ke kantor karena anda sudah membayangkan akan mengalami 1 hari yang menyeramkan di kantor. Pernahkah anda merasa mual saat menunggu bos datang dan jantung anda serasa hendak copot saat ajudan bos datang ke kantor dan membawa tas kerja bos anda. Pernahkah anda merasa gembira luar biasa saat mengetahui bahwa bos anda harus menghadiri suatu meeting di luar dan tidak dapat datang ke kantor satu hari penuh.

Jika anda menjawab “ya” untuk semua pertanyaan di atas berarti anda sedang menjadi korban bullying yang dilakukan oleh bos anda.

Atau anda merasa bahwa semua orang mendadak menundukkan kepala dan tidak berbicara dengan jujur saat bicara dengan anda. Di suatu saat, anda merasa bahwa bawahan anda sedang membicarakan keburukan anda di belakang. Atau anda selalu memberikan instruksi dengan suara keras sehingga bawahan tidak mampu untuk memberikan pendapat berbeda.

Jika anda menjawab “ya” untuk semua pertanyaan tadi, mungkin anda sedang menjadi pelaku bullying di kantor.

Bullying yang saat ini sedang ramai dibicarakan karena perilaku beberapa siswa sekolah favorit di Jakarta sebenarnya juga rawan terjadi di kantor. Di beberapa kantor yang mempunyai budaya yang kaku, praktek tekanan terhadap karyawan jamak terjadi.

Praktek menekan yang dilakukan oleh atasan biasanya akan diimbangi oleh budaya gossip di antara bawahan. Praktek gossip ini dilakukan untuk menetralisir suasana hati yang buruk saat menghadapi tekanan atasan. Untuk menambah runyam suasana, yang umum terjadi adalah adanya mata mata yang disusupkan oleh atasan yang merasa bahwa dirinya sedang dibicarakan oleh anak buahnya.

Tiga budaya yang tidak produktif dan saling berkaitan ini (bullying – gossip – espionage) pada akhirnya akan menghancurkan kerjasama tim dan membuat suasana kantor menjadi tidak nyaman untuk bekerja. Produktifitas yang tercapai adalah produktifitas semu yang nampak di peningkatan dan pencapaian target , namun menghabiskan komponen lainnya yaitu turn over pegawai.
Seorang pegawai tidak akan bertahan lama di suasana seperti ini, dan hanya orang orang yang dekat pada atasan saja yang akan survive. Jika atasan pelaku bullying adalah pemilik perusahaan, maka bawahan yang survive akan menjadi orang kepercayaan. Sedangkan jika atasan pelaku bullying hanyalah seorang pegawai yang dapat dimutasi, maka orang yang menjadi mata mata atasan biasanya akan tersingkir dari pergaulan saat terjadi mutasi atasan.

Apakah kantor anda mempunyai suasana yang tidak menguntungkan seperti ini? Jika ya, berarti anda telah terjebak dalam suasana kantor yang tidak menguntungkan. Ada baiknya anda segera menentukan akan berada di posisi mana untuk menjamin karir anda di perusahaan ini.

Atau anda memilih untuk melanjutkan karir di tempat lain?

Six Reasons to Make a Career Change

Should a Career Change Be in Your Future?
The average person can expect to change careers three to five times in his or her lifetime. One reason for all these career changes is that people often don't make informed choices. While making an informed decision regarding your career is a good way to help insure that the career you choose is right for you, it doesn't guarantee it. Even if you follow all the prescribed steps and choose a career that is right for you, it may not remain your best choice forever. Here are some reasons to consider leaving your current career for a new one.
You Should Consider a Career Change If ...
Your Life Has Changed:
When you chose your career your life may have been different than it is today. For example you may have been single then and now you have a family.

The crazy schedule or the frequent travel that is typical of your career may not suit your new lifestyle. You should look for an occupation that is more "family friendly."
The Job Outlook in Your Field Has Worsened: Things looked promising for your field when you entered it. Due to changes in technology, the economy, or the industry you work in, job opportunities are no longer plentiful. You should look for an occupation that has a better outlook.
You Are Experiencing Job Burnout:
Once upon a time you loved going to work everyday. You no longer feel that way. You can't stand doing your job anymore and changing employers hasn't helped. It could be time to find a career that will inspire you.
Your Job is Too Stressful:
Some occupations are inherently stressful. After a while the stress can become too much to handle. To preserve your mental and physical health, you may have to find a career that is less stressful.
You Find Your Work Boring:
When you did your initial research, the occupation you ultimately chose had a lot of advancement opportunities. Now that you've been working in that field, you've climbed as far up the ladder as you can go, and you miss the challenges you once faced. A career change can provide you with the challenge you crave.
You Want to Earn More Money:
You may be surprised to learn that money isn't at the top of the list when it comes to job satisfaction. Therefore, don't be surprised if a career that will bring you higher earnings isn't one you will find particularly satisfying. That said, if other reasons are leading you to consider a career change, higher earnings should be something you consider when you choose a new career.
Dawn Rosenberg McKay.