Most people instinctively know that the standard American diet is unhealthy. They realize that fast food, processed food, and a few fruits and vegetables is not the correct diet to be eating. Unfortunately, they have bought into the myth that a healthy diet is expensive and time consuming to maintain.They continue eating the processed food because they are afraid that a whole food diet will be difficult and time consuming. Fortunately, that does not have to be the case. Here are some ways that you can integrate a vegetarian whole foods diet into a busy lifestyle.It is an inescapable fact that a vegetarian whole foods diet does require more work than processed food. It takes more time to cook vegetable soup from scratch than it does to heat up a can of soup. While obviously the nutritional benefits make this time well spent, many people have difficulty finding that time. One option is to plan ahead so that you can cook on days when you have time. Plan simple meals such as sandwiches or salads for busy days, then set aside some time to cook on days that you are less busy. This will allow you to maintain a varied diet and free you from feeling like you have to cook every single day.One way to drastically cut the amount of time that is required to prepare whole foods is to do all of the prep work at once. When you get home from the grocery store try to wash and bag all of the fruits and vegetables at once. You can even chop or dice some of the fruits and vegetables and store them that way. This reduces the amount of time that will be required when you do want to cook. After all, it is much easier to think about making a salad when the lettuce and tomatoes are already washed and chopped and the dressing is made. After that all you need to do is put it all together and add a few toppings. Doing this prep work ahead of time makes it easier to put together meals when you are ready to cook.Along the same lines, it is often less time consuming to cook ahead when you do it in batches. There are a wide variety of foods that lend themselves to being cooked ahead of time. One easy food to cook in bulk is beans. When you are starting with dry beans it is just as easy to cook one cup as to cook ten cups. If you cook large amounts of beans you can store them in containers or bags and freeze them in small amounts. That way when you need them all you need to do is pull out a container of beans that is already cooked. Rice can also be cooked this way. Cooking five cups of brown rice is not any more difficult than cooking one cup, but the other four cups can be saved for later use.One last solution for busy people is to cook so that they have leftovers. If you make a salad one day, take the rest of it to work for lunch the next day. If you make vegetable soup or a rice dish, make enough to have some to eat the next day. This will allow you to stretch your time in the kitchen so that you can get more than one meal out of each cooking session.
Check Out Available Government Grants For Essential Home Repairs
Did you know homeowners with low incomes who need repairs to their homes might be eligible Rural Home Repair grants and/loans from USDA Rural Development? Any rural areas and communities that have a population of 20,000 or less are eligible. Types of repairs that can be done range from improving the safety or sanitary conditions of a home to correcting any safety or health hazards as well. However, grants are used for the removal and repair of safety or health hazards only.The Purpose Of Loans And GrantsGrants are available only when the repairs or improvements will take away any safety or health hazards that have been previously identified. However, if the goal is modernizing or improving a home in addition to health/safety hazards being removed, then loan funds may be available. Also, the repairs made to a home with grant or loan funds do not have to meet the development standards of the agency, nor do all known hazards have to be removed as long there’s no further major safety/health concerns when the scheduled repairs have been done.The work covered by authorized grants and loans includes, but isn’t totally comprised of, the following:Sanitary Disposal Systems: repair or installation, including fixtures or plumbing, that are in line with the requirements of the area health department.
Needed InsulationIt is required, before filing the USDA Rural Development application, that the applicant is the owner and has been living in the home. A permanent foundation defined as either:A foundation that is a complete below grade, or
The home sits on piers, blocks, or a similar foundation that has anchored tie-downs and skirting.Maximum Amount of Grant or LoanRural Development rural home repair loans have a maximum limit of $20,000, either initial or subsequent, to any person.Limitations On The Use Of Grant/Loan FundsGrant funds or a home repair loan from Rural Development cannot be used for:Help for the construction of a new home.Limitations On How Grant Funds Are UsedAdditionally, the grant funds from Rural Development rural home repair cannot be used for any changes made for convenience or cosmetic purposes unless those changes have a direct connection to the hazards that are being removed. The definition of convenience and cosmetic changes might include, but will not be limited to:Any PaintingRequirements For EligibilityApplicants for Rural Development rural home repair are expected to meet these requirements:Must be a United States citizen.
Application is for only a Rural Development rural home repair grant.
Must be a minimum age of 62 years.You can get additional information at any of the USDA Rural Development Offices, located in all the states, for Rural Home Repair Grant and Loan Programs.
How Do You Prepare Your Vehicle For Spring and Summer – Automotive Advice For Women
Another season change and climate change is upon us. Each individual has to adjust to the temperature and time changes. But, just like humans, our vehicles also need some adjusting and preparation for these changes as well.The best time to prepare your vehicle for the Hot Summer Months is in the Spring.
You can do it yourself or take it to your Automotive Expert to be done. The best deal and service should be offered.It seems as though many women do not know where to go or who to turn to for their automotive needs. This is true for those women who do not have a man around to help and advice them of their vehicle necessities. Most women do not catch a problem with their vehicle until it is too late. A good automotive technician or automotive shop needs to understand their automotive needs. An expert automotive technician should know how to help, listen, and be very willing to learn the needs and automotive problems that women experience. Automotive technicians need to be intoned and strive to educate women about their vehicles and lead them in the right direction. This needs to be done with trust building and by being reliable in the service and advice that is provided by the automotive expert. The sooner that the vehicle problem is found the more economical it will be to repair the problem. More problems will arise if you wait to long to get the problem taken care of. The first advice that need to be mentioned is to: Always keep up to date with Maintenance and Inspection. Your Personal Mechanic should be able to perform an inspection on your vehicle at little to no cost at all, depending on the mechanic. Service may be required after inspection and that is where the charges will start.This is the Maintenance and Inspection that is needed in Spring for the Hot Summer Months:Check your antifreeze and coolant level
- A common cause for automobile breakdowns is due to a Coolant System Failure. If you plan on servicing your coolant yourself there are some things that you need to check first.
- Check the label on the coolant bottle. It has to be the correct type of coolant for your type of vehicle.
- Use 50/50 percent of antifreeze and water.If you have to add coolant there may be a leak. Have your vehicle inspected for coolant leaks. An over heated engine is one of the Worst Problems for your vehicle. It would save you more money to have it inspected rather then risk it over heating. Your Personal Mechanic should be able to check this out for you at little to no cost. Service may be required after inspection.Your AC System needs to be inspectedIt is important to get your air conditioner checked for leaks and recharged to ensure optimal performance during the Hot Summer Months. Your Personal Mechanic should be able to check this out for you at little to no cost. Service may be required after inspection.Check your Battery functionsIf your battery is more then 3 years old it should be inspected. Your personal mechanic should test its capacity and the output of your alternator.It is also very important to make sure that the battery terminal ends are free of corrosion. You can clean the terminal ends yourself by simply cleaning with baking soda and water.Check your Tire Pressure and tread depthIt is important to make sure that the tires are inflated to the correct pressure. You can find the pressure amounted listed on the sidewall of your tire.The tread depths of your tires need to be checked with every season change. You can check the tread by: Inserting a penny between the treads. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s hair then, you need to change the tire. The tread is not in good condition.If you live in an area where there is a lot of rain then you check the tread a little different. You use the same “hair rule” but, you use a nickel instead of a penny.It is very important to check All Rubber Hoses and BeltsIt is so important to make sure that your hoses and belts are not damaged. Inspect for heavy cracks and missing chunks within the hoses.Your coolant hose needs to be inspected because; it wears from the inside out.If you are not aware of all the hoses and belts to check then, take it to your personal mechanic for inspection. Inspection should cost you little to nothing depending on the mechanic. Service may be required after inspection.Brake Systems will need to be checkedHave your car’s brake system checked if you haven’t had it inspected in the previous 6 months. Brakes wear down quickly. It is so important to keep your brakes maintained and serviced before any problem arises. The sooner you find a brake problem the cheaper the problem can be fixed. Brake Inspection should cost you little to nothing depending on the mechanic. Service may be required after inspection.Pay attention to the warning signs of brake problems. The biggest warning sign will be a warning light.Make sure that your vehicles Engine Oil and Filter is changed and up to date.Engine Oil should be changed every 3,000 miles to keep the engine healthy and to prolong its life. Automotive Technicians also check for oil leaks.Many people are not aware of the importance of following the manufacturer’s recommendation for the weight, grade, and type of oil to use. These are oil weights: 0/30W, 5/30W, 20/50W. Using an incorrect type or weight may invalidate your manufacturer’s warranty and be harmful to your vehicle.It is important to use High Quality Engine Oil and a High Quality Oil Filter. This will extend the life of your engine and properly keep contaminants out of the engine.It is a good idea to always replace the drain plug gasket along with the oil and oil filter.Preparing your Vehicle for the Winter MonthsThis needs to be done in the fall. Do your studying in the fall as well to see what you need to do then.