| How to Choose Kitchen Gadgets That Encourage Weight Loss Posted: 30 May 2017 05:00 PM PDT New year, new you? Maybe you are just looking to lose a few extra pounds for your health. Diet and exercise can help you lose weight in a healthy way. But how you prepare your foods can have a big impact on your ability to lose weight. Measuring out servings and the ability to quickly prepare foods can help you reach your weight loss goal. But you may not be sure of what types of gadgets to get. You can choose kitchen gadgets that encourage weight loss by selecting ones that make preparation and serving easier. EditSelecting Food Preparation Gadgets - Invest in an immersion blender. Liquids such as soups and smoothies are a great way to lose weight. They can fill you up with healthy fruits and vegetables. One of the best tools for making soups, smoothies, and creamy low-calorie dressings is a hand-held immersion blender. Not only can it make preparation easier, but can also help you get a meal together quickly if you are famished.[1] Look for the following elements when choosing your immersion blender:[2]
- Easy buttons to push and hold
- Easy cleanup
- Ergonomic rubber grip
- Blending container
- Warranty
- Wield a vegetable peeler. No matter if you're avoiding carbs or just want a small serving of cheese, a veggie peeler can be one of the biggest weapons in losing weight. Your peeler should have sharp blades and the ability to handle the shape of any food without clogging or losing its edge.[3]
- Get a peeler with an ergonomic rubber handle. You can get a traditional swivel peeler or a Y-shaped version.
- Use the peeler to make zucchini or eggplant "noodles" or even to curl cheese and chocolate for thin 10-calorie servings.[4]
- Grab a zester or grater. Many people who are trying to lose weight worry that healthier foods may lack flavor. However, using a cheese grater or zester can help add a dash of flavor without adding too many calories.[5]
- Get a grater or zester with extra-fine grade grating. Combine with your measuring spoons for 1 tablespoon of lime, lemon, cheese, or another food to boost the flavor of your meals.[6]
- Buy a set of good quality measuring spoons. You may think measuring spoons are only for adding liquids or spices to recipes. But measuring spoons are also useful for sprinkling a small serving of foods such as nuts, sugar, or other toppings in prepared dishes. They can help you control portion sizes to lose weight.[7]
- Look for measuring spoons that allow you to "dip and sweep." You should be able to use a flat blade to sweep across the rim for the most accurate measurement. Avoid spoons with bumps or dips in the handle, which can hinder your ability to get an accurate amount.[8]
- Scoop and cook accurately with measuring cups. Like measuring spoons, you can use measuring cups to aid your weight loss. You may like to eyeball amounts when cooking or baking. However, the best way to ensure you're not getting too many calories is using nested, heavy-gauge stainless steel measuring cups. Beyond cooking, you can also use them as a way to measure out exact servings of food.[9]
- Make individual servings with a muffin pan. Forget the muffins. Use your muffin tin to make individual sized servings. Get a 12-cup non-stick muffin pan, which lets you know how big each serving is. Muffin tins are also a great way to prepare meals ahead of time in case you're in a pinch.[10] Foods you can cook in a muffin tin include:[11]
- Hash brown cups
- Broccoli frittatas
- Poached eggs
- Cranberry oatmeal bites
- Spanakopita
- Mini lasagna
- Frozen yogurt fruit cups
- Consider a veggie steamer. Eating vegetables is a great way to promote weight loss. But many preparation methods, such as boiling, can leech vital nutrients out of veggies. Getting a vegetable steamer can promote your weight loss by providing vibrant veggies that are still nutrient packed.[12]
- Invest in an electronic steamer if you like. You can also purchase a simple and inexpensive basket or metal steamer to set in pots and pans.[13]
- Use measuring cups to add broth or stock as your steaming liquid.[14]
EditGetting Gadgets to Aid Serving - Use smaller dishes. Portion control is a key part of losing weight. Using bigger dishes can make you overindulge. Instead, eat your meals from smaller plates and bowls. A full, small plate tricks your brain into thinking you are getting a larger portion than if you have the same sized serving on a bigger plate.[15] Invest in white plates, which can also trick you into eating less. Some dish sizes that can help you lose weight include:[16]
- 8-inch salad plates
- 8-12 ounce soup/ salad bowls
- Tall, thin drinking glasses
- Small serving bowls and spoons
- 8-10 ounce mugs for hot beverages
- Purchase serving spoons in specific portion sizes. If you're not using measuring cups to serve a specific portion size, you can also get serving utensils in pre-measured sizes. This can make serving the correct amount of food for weight loss easier.[17]
- Keep in mind that in addition to serving spoons, you can also get gadgets such as ladles in specific sizes. A ½ cup ladle can help you easily figure out how many calories you're getting in a serving without going overboard on portion size. For example, 2 ladles of split pea soup, which is 1 cup, has 180 calories in it.
- Weigh your food with a kitchen scale. Some things you make may require weighing your food. Getting a kitchen scale can help you get portion sizes right and cut calories. It can also help you learn to eyeball portion sizes in restaurants.[18] A digital kitchen scale is your best choice for getting the most accurate food weights.[19]
- Recognize that a digital scale can help you avoid calorie creep. The difference between a 6 ounce and 7½ ounce potato is 30 calories. If you add this and other small amounts up over the course of the day, it could cut 500 or more calories.
EditLosing Weight in a Healthy Way - Consult your doctor. Maintaining a healthy weight is important to your overall wellbeing. Before you make dietary changes or start any fitness programs, talk to your doctor to ensure these are safe for you. Some dietary changes or activities may not be appropriate for you.[20]
- Let your doctor know you would like to lose weight with dietary changes and exercise. Ask your doctor what foods are best and activities are safe for you.
- Meet with a registered dietician. Eating healthy foods and watching your diet is the most effective way to help you lose weight. This is especially true if you use your kitchen gadget together with sensible food choices. Meeting a registered dietitian can inform you about diet and nutrition to help you lose weight. A dietitian can also help you make sensible food choices to ensure you get sufficient vitamins and nutrients for your health.[21]
- Tell the dietician what your goals are. This may include losing weight, making healthy food choices, and preparing nutritious meals.
- Ask your doctor or medical professional to recommend a registered dietitian. You can also find dietitians in your local area.[22]
- Have a sensible diet. Eating healthy foods as a part of a sensible diet is one part in losing weight. Figuring out what nutrients you need and what foods contain them can help you make sensible choices for cooking and at restaurants. Choose foods from the five food groups at each meal and make sure to vary your choices at every meal to optimize nutrient count and your weight loss potential. Make your choices from the five food groups and get the recommended amount of servings per day:[23]
- Eat 1-1.5 cups of fruit every day. Raspberries, oranges, blueberries, apples or cherries are good choices.[24]
- Eat 2.5-3 cups of vegetables every day. Mix things up with broccoli, spinach, sweet potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes.[25]
- Eat 5-8 ounces of grains every day. At least half of your daily grains should be whole. This includes foods such as brown rice, quinoa, or whole wheat pasta and bread.[26]
- Eat 5-6.5 ounces of protein every day.[27] Opt for lean meats such as pork or chicken, eggs, cooked beans, or nuts.[28]
- Have 2-3 cups of dairy every day.[29] Foods such as yogurt, cheese, milk, and even ice cream are can help you get your daily dairy.[30]
- Plan your meals. Composing a weekly meal plan can help you make sensible food choices and lose weight. It can also help ensure you get enough nutrients to promote your overall health and wellbeing. loss.[31] For example, make sure healthy breakfast to get each day off to a good start. Pack your lunch as often as possible or choose salads and other light dishes not if you go out. Make sure your evening meal is light and packed with nutrients.
- Avoid processed, high fat, and calorie-laden dishes for planned meals and whenever you eat out. This can also help keep you on track.[32]
- Steer clear calorie bombs such as buffets, breadbaskets, fried foods, or dishes in heavy sauces such as spaghetti carbonara.[33]
- Make sure your plan includes plenty of salads, steamed vegetables and lean meats. Have whole fruits for dessert or a snack.
- Get regular physical activity. Regular low-impact, moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise can help you lose weight, especially when combined with a sensible diet. Talk to your doctor beginning any physical activity or exercise program.
- Do activities that you enjoy. This can make it easier to get exercise. Go walking, swimming, hiking, jogging, rowing, biking, or use an elliptical machine for your activity. Fun activities such as scuba diving, kayaking, or even jumping on a small trampoline are also types of exercise.[34]
- Do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity all or most days of the week. Split sessions into three 10 minute blocks if you are not able to move for 30 consecutive minutes.[35]
- Consider trying full body strength training exercises. Increased muscle mass boosts your metabolism, can help you lose weight.[36]
- Try lower impact strength training such as yoga or Pilates if you are not able to lift weights.
- Consult with your physician or registered dietician about an optimal meal plan for you.
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| How to Celebrate Your Family Heritage Posted: 30 May 2017 09:00 AM PDT Family heritage means the background that you come from. For example, you may be of a German, Chinese, or Kenyan heritage. It is likely that your heritage does not consist of just one culture because ancestry is often mixed. To celebrate your family heritage, learn about your heritage, get involved, and make items that have something to do with your heritage. EditLearning About Your Family Heritage - Review your family tree. If your family already has a family tree, take time to review it. Ask your family about the people that you don't know on the tree. If you don't have a family tree, ask your family if they would like to work on one with you. Or, work on a family tree in your own time by gathering information and photos. If you aren't positive about your ancestry, there are ways that you can trace it. You can join a genealogy project, trace your history on websites like ancestry.com, or even get a DNA test to learn your exact ancestry.[1]
- To make a family tree, you can draw a tree and extend a branch for each family member. Put their name and photo (if you have it) on that branch.
- Research the culture represented in your family tree. Once you have learned what cultures are represented in your family tree, learn more about them. You may begin your research with a fair amount of prior knowledge, or you might know very little about what culture(s) you come from. A good place to start your research would be the internet. Look up information about the history, religion, dress, etiquette, and holidays. You can also go to the library to check out books and documentaries about whatever culture you're looking for.[2]
- Keep a notebook with you so that you can take notes.
- Talk to relatives. Talk to your family about ancestors that they remember. Ask them to share memories about your family members. If you have family that emigrated to the country you're living in now, ask for them to share memories and details of their home country.[3]
- Ask family about where they grew up, what kind of foods they made or make, holidays they celebrate, and what traditions they practice(d).
- Look at old photos. Bring out photos that you have of family members. Ask your family to bring out old photos as well. Share them and talk about them. Ask about the people in the photos that you don't recognize. If the photos aren't organized, put them in a photo album to be reviewed in the future.[4]
- You can also scan the photos to create a digital album.
- Go to the cemetery. This may seem like a morbid thing to do, but it is actually quite informative. Visit your passed on family members' gravestones. If you know where your ancestors' gravestones are located, visit them with family. Take photos of them, transcribe them, and document them for future generations.[5]
- You can also visit the cemeteries with people that are interested in genealogy.
EditLearning Your Family's Culture and History - Take a field trip. If your family has history near where you live, ask them to take you to spots where the grew up and hung out. Seek out locations that reflect your cultural heritage if your family does not have personal heritage near where you live. For example, go to museums and restaurants that reflect your culture. If possible, plan a visit to your ancestral hometown—at least one of them.[6]
- It can cost a fair amount of money to visit your ancestral hometown, especially if it is far away. Plan months or even a year in advance to make the trip.
- Share your findings on social media. Social media, if used correctly, is a great tool to share things that matter with you and connect with the world. It is also a good tool for celebrating your family heritage. Reach out to family members on social media that you may not talk to often. Upload photos of your family on social media accounts with your contacts and family members. You can also create photo albums on social media about your family heritage.[7]
- If the family members that you are sharing photos of are alive, make sure you have their permission before posting photos of them.
- Reach out to people that share your culture. If you don't know people outside of your family that share your heritage, try reaching out to them. You may know of some people at school or work that share your heritage. Or, reach out to people in your community by asking if they'd like to share some of their family history and background. You can also become pen pals or reach out to people through the internet, but be careful if you do.
- Be sure that the person is from the cultural background you think they are before reaching out to them.
- Try to learn the language. You may already speak the language from your cultural background, but if you don't, a great way to celebrate your family heritage is to learn the language. There are several ways you can learn the language. If you're in school, there might be opportunities to sign up for language courses. Even if you're not enrolled in school, you can enroll in languages courses at your local community college. For a cheaper approach, utilize free courses on the internet and download language apps, like Duolingo.[8]
- You can ask for help from friends or family members that already speak the language.
- Join a genealogy society. Genealogy societies consist of people that have an interest in researching and learning about their family background. Locate one in your area and become a member. A genealogy society is a great place to learn more about your family history and share it with others.[9]
- If you don't know how to locate a genealogy society, type in genealogy society in "your town" into a search engine and look through the results.
EditMaking Items Involving Your Heritage - Research the cuisine of the culture(s) represented in your family tree. Food is an important part of culture. It is something that can be shared with family and friends, and it can remind you of a place that may be far away. Buy or borrow cookbooks that give recipes and information about your culture's cuisine. Start by trying to make some of the basic recipes from a cookbook. Once you feel comfortable with the basics, attempt to make some traditional dishes. [10]
- Your family may already know how to make some traditional dishes. Ask for help and advice if you need it.
- Put together a scrapbook. Take the photo album a step further by creating a scrapbook about your family heritage. Take time to pick out a scrapbook that appeals to you and decorate the pages with things like glitter or ribbons and choose nice fonts for your writing. Then, add in things like photos, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and any other items that you find relevant.[11]
- You can also pay to have a scrapbook made for you on websites like MyPublisher and MixBook.
- Dress in a traditional outfit from your culture. You may already know something about traditional outfits or costumes from your research. A great way to take your research a step further is to make or buy an outfit or costume from your heritage. You can begin by asking your family if they already have a traditional outfit or costume that they would allow you to borrow. If not, research where a traditional outfit can be bought. You can also attempt to make your own outfit if you're particularly crafty.
- For example, you can dress up in a sari if you're from an Indian background, and a kilt if you're from a Scottish background.[12]
- Craft an item or decoration. Look into crafts or decorations from your heritage. Specifically, look for crafts and/or decorations that you could make. For example, if you're Japanese, look into making origami. You could also make a Chinese Lantern for decoration if you have a Chinese heritage.[13]
- Your decoration could also involve body art. For example, if you come from an Indian background, you could learn about henna. Henna is typically painted on the hands, feet, shins, and insides of arms for special occasions.[14]
- Plan a party. After all of your hard work and research, the ultimate way to celebrate your family heritage is to throw a party. You should begin to plan the part at least a month in advance and send out invitations accordingly. Invite friends and family to share in the music, cuisine, dress, and spirit of your family heritage.
- Talk to friends or other people that share the same cultural heritage. Share stories about your family and heritage with them.
- Watch books and movies about your cultural heritage with your family.[15]
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| How to Tell if You Have Fixed a Gas Leak Posted: 30 May 2017 01:00 AM PDT Gas leaks are serious hazards to human life and personal property. If you try to fix a gas leak yourself, you should be very careful and realize that you may not actually succeed in fixing it. However, if you choose to do the work yourself, there are a wide variety of ways to tell if you have fixed a gas leak. By detecting a leak, making sure appliances function properly, and consulting professionals, you'll be able to verify if you've fixed a gas leak. EditDetecting a Gas Leak - Notice if you smell gas. The smell of gas is one of the best indications that you haven't successfully fixed a gas leak. While you might not always be able to smell a leak, you should pay attention to see if you do notice the smell of leaking gas.
- Gas smells like Sulphur or "rotten eggs."
- The smell of gas is made by mercaptan, an additive that is intended to help humans smell it.
- Shut off the master gas switch for your home and consider calling a professional if you smell gas. The gas main switch will be located next to your meter -- usually on the side of your home.[1]
- Use a carbon monoxide or gas detector. Carbon monoxide detectors and gas detectors are normally used to alert people to gas leaks in their homes and businesses. While most detectors are stationary devices meant to detect an accumulation of carbon monoxide or other fumes, you can purchase portable detectors.
- Position your stationary carbon monoxide detector near the repair you've made.
- If you have a portable detector, move it near (within several inches) to the repair.
- If there is a gas buildup near the detector, it will sound an alarm.[2]
- Spray liquid gas detector or soapy water on a pipe or appliance. This works because the detector solution or soapy water will bubble due to the force of the leaking gas. Ultimately, this is a simple and effective way to find out if you've successfully fixed a gas leak.
- Commercially produced gas leak detector is specially formulated to stick to tight connections.
- If you want to create your own solution, try mixing a few drops of dish soap into a cup of water and spraying it onto the gas connection.
- If the solution bubbles, you likely failed to repair the leak.
- Gas detector may be available at your local home improvement store, specialty stores, or online.[3]
EditMaking Sure Your Appliances Function Properly - Check your gas appliances. If you've worked to fix an appliance, the best indication that you have not been successful is if the appliance doesn't work. However, make sure to take a few precautions before turning on an appliance you've just fixed:
- Try to detect gas before turning it on by smelling, using a gas detector spray, or an electronic gas detector before powering your appliances on.
- Make sure the room is ventilated and has had time to air out before working an appliance.
- Call a licensed professional if you've failed to fix a leak.[4]
- Verify that pilot lights on your appliances are burning strong. One of the best indications of an on-going gas leak is a weak pilot light. A weak pilot light may indicate low gas flow. In this event, your fix did not work.
- The pilot light should always be a blue transparent color.
- An orange or red pilot light is an indication of problems.
- If the pilot light turns off repeatedly, it is likely not getting enough gas and there may be a leak.[5]
- Look for soot or scorch marks. If you have not fixed a leak, you may be able to spot soot or scorches on the outside of the appliance. Most of the time, these indications will be near the pilot light or connecting gas line.
- Scorch marks may be brown or black.
- Soot may be very fine and whitish grey.[6]
EditBeing Safe and Consulting a Professional - Ventilate the area. Both before and after you attempt to fix a gas leak, you need to make sure that the area is well-ventilated. If the area is not well-ventilated, you may have a potentially dangerous accumulation of gas.
- Open windows and doors.
- Allow an area to air out before re-entering it or turning on any appliances.[7]
- Discontinue use of appliances and electrical devices. If you have any doubt that you've fixed the gas leak, you should not engage in any activity that could result in a gas explosion. This is important, as any fire or electronic activity could potentially ignite accumulated gas. Refrain from:
- Lighting matches or lighters.
- Operating electrical switches.
- Using telephones.
- Answering your cell phone or using other portable electronic devices.[8]
- Leave the building. The second you suspect there is an ongoing gas leak, you should vacate the building at once. This is important, as gas leaks can quickly turn into gas explosions. In addition, you might also be overcome by the gas and lose consciousness.
- After exiting the building, stay at least 100 feet away.
- If safe, and if you know where it is, locate the gas shut off valve and turn off the gas for the premises.[9]
- Call a professional. After exiting the building, you should call a professional to properly fix the gas leak. A professional will be able to quickly locate the source of the leak, fix it, and prevent harm to property or people.
- Call your gas company if you suspect the leak in your home or business is linked to a larger leak in their system.
- Inform the professional of any steps you've taken to fix the gas leak. If you've turned the main gas switch off, shut off gas to an appliance, added piping, or changed any substantial part of your gas system, they need to know.
- If you have an uncontrolled gas leak in your home or business, call local authorities immediately. For example, call 911 in the United States.[10]
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