In high school, Brenda was in love with a young man named Bart. He even proposed to her and they were excited to start planning their lives together. But the youthful enthusiasm hit a snag when Brenda learned she was pregnant.

As much as Bart wanted to keep the baby, Brenda’s parents had other plans. Brenda finished out the remainder of her pregnancy at a home for unwed mothers. Brenda’s parents didn’t let Bart know her location.

In the end, the couple had a baby boy and Brenda convinced Bart to sign the adoption papers, despite his protest. “We both wanted the baby, but Bart was the one who really wanted to make a life out of it. We were just so young.”

After they gave the baby up for adoption, the stress and complications of the situation took their toll and Bart and Brenda fought a lot. They decided to break up and go their separate ways.

Both married other people, had children and divorced. Bart tried for several years to contact Brenda but didn’t have any luck. Finally in 2003 he registered with Classmates.com, a Web site with 50 million members where friends from school, work and the military can connect and stay in touch with one another. “I couldn’t believe I finally found my Brenda!” said Bart.

“I was so shocked, I just screamed ‘Oh my God!’ out loud,” says Brenda when she received his e-mail. They exchanged updates on where life had taken them and began to talk on the phone every day. In January 2004 Brenda visited Bart for ten days. Hoping to find their son, they drafted a letter to be mailed through a mediator, but fate stepped in first.

While Bart was at work, Brenda had lunch with an old friend and stopped at a car dealership where she began talking to a saleswoman. Brenda shared that she was in town looking for her son. After a string of questions, she found out that the woman’s cousin had the same birthday and matched other details of the son she gave up for adoption.

After exchanging photos and with the blessing of his adoptive parents, they spoke on the phone for the first time with their son, Andy. Shortly after, they arranged a meeting and were able to see the man that their son had become. “It was just incredible,” Brenda says.

Bart proposed to Brenda and today the couple is happily married and have another child together, a daughter. Andy was even able to be there when his sister was born, on Brenda’s birthday. Bart and Brenda asked Andy to choose a name for his sister, Madisyn. After many years, and many bumps in the road, their family is complete.

Internet services for keeping up, and even reconnect with friends, romantic partners or “might-have-been” boyfriends/girlfriends are becoming an increasingly popular.

“We receive a lot of e-mails from members who tell us real-life stories of how they’ve rekindled an old flame or found new love with an old friend through Classmates.com,” says Steven McArthur, President of Classmates Online Inc. “Reconnecting with someone you’ve known is special because your shared experiences are timeless, so it’s never too late for a second chance at friendship, romance or even love.”

Like Bart and Brenda, you can go online to www.classmates.com and register for free to keep up with friends from throughout your life. You may even rediscover friendships that can positively enrich your life today. And because your personal contact information is never revealed unless you decide to share it, it’s a safe and easy way to get and stay in touch with people you care about at your own pace.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

The secret to your success may lie in some new advice from Office Depot, which recognizes that each person has an individual work style and getting organized means putting that style to work for you. Playing to your strengths can help you get organized once and for all.

“Once you’ve identified your work style, then you can put into practice a few clear-cut systems to achieve your goals. Best of all, the impact is immediate. As the condition of your office space improves, you will also be more in control,” says expert organizer and Office Depot advisor Monica Ricci.

Identify Your Work Style:

The Go-Getter – You’re the quintessential multi-tasker with a million projects in the air, but you don’t pay close attention to all the little details. You need help streamlining the administrative aspects of your job so important details and documents don’t fall through the cracks.

For starters, stop taking notes on loose pieces of paper, and start using a three-ring notebook to keep all important meeting notes and phone messages together. Use an affordable, leather-bound notebook that you can pick up at any Office Depot, such as the Three-Ring Binder from Foray – it looks good and the ability to move pages around and add to it helps to keep you organized. Also, invest in back-up media to ensure you don’t accidentally dispose of important data. You can be particularly at risk if you travel a lot or work from a home office that lacks robust technology. At a minimum, back-up material on a flash drive, like the Ativa 8GB Flash Drive, which can hold the equivalent of 320,000 sheets of paper.

The Planner – You have all the answers when it comes to possible contingencies and are on top of big and small details. You are probably the most organized of all the work styles, but there still are some areas you’d like to improve.

For instance, you probably rarely make time to store or dispose of inactive files and you keep information longer than necessary, “just in case.” Change this by designating half an hour each week for filing – put it on your calendar and plan for it, like you do everything else. Make use of color-coded files, and remember to simplify the process by using general words as tab headers. Consider using the new secure folders from Office Depot that keep documents contained and prevents papers from falling out. If a file is out of date or unnecessary, eliminate it, but be mindful of confidentiality. Ricci recommends using a shredder like an Ativa diamond-cut shredder because it shreds documents, CDs and credit cards into tiny, unusable pieces.

The Procrastinator – If delayed decision making is your style, you are probably driving colleagues and family members crazy. You probably don’t get around to going through the piles and your office may look like a warehouse of outdated reports and articles. You will need to make the biggest commitment to change, starting by inventing new systems to keep you organized.

Start with your calendar and make sure to use one like the Mead Monthly/Weekly Appointment Book that allows you to keep track of monthly and weekly schedules in one place, giving you a big-picture and detailed view of your work so you stick to your project schedule. Also consider cleaning the clutter. You can begin by investing in Fashion Designer Totes from Office Depot for storing infrequently used documents. They come with a unique re-writable surface that is great for labeling what is in the box and organizing the contents.

The Perfectionist – You are most comfortable doing everything yourself, and even though your work product is superb, this approach has its consequences. Because you take on so much, you can sometimes fall behind schedule and may have trouble delegating to others.

One time-saving strategy is to find the experts and delegate to them. For instance, stop wasting time on photocopying and binding all your presentations in-house. Send these tasks to Office Depot’s Design Print & Ship Depot. They can turn your projects around both quickly and cost effectively.

Ensure that all projects are on-schedule and the team is aware of deadlines by plotting out projects and responsibilities on a wall calendar like the Mead Undated Erasable Wall Calendar. Keep this in your office or a common room where you have staff meetings and encourage the team to update their projects and report on progress on the board, keeping everyone involved and engaged in plans.

For more advice, please visit your local Office Depot store or www.officedepot.com/getorganized.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

It doesn’t just seem like free time is shrinking – it actually is. In the last 25 years, children’s structured sports time has doubled, and children ages 3 to 12 have lost 12 hours per week of free time. Additionally, from 1973 to 2000, the average U.S. worker added 199 hours to his or her annual work schedule.

The good news is that with the right tools and a good organizational strategy, you really can fit more fun and function into your day.

Recent research conducted by MeadWestvaco uncovered common family scheduling problems, including the challenge of communicating between family members, tracking information, juggling appointments and events for multiple parties, and organizing and storing documents.

“The most common complaint is finding an easy way to get the family organized and communicating scheduling changes among family members,” explains Cindy Van Tyle, of MeadWestvaco. “In our quest to find a simple solution to offer busy families, color coding rose to the top as an effective and easy way to manage the details.”

Assigning each family member a color for all aspects of organization is a quick and intuitive way to keep track of everything from schedules to paperwork. The beauty of color coding is how easy it is to put into practice. Even preschoolers can start taking part in family organization.

Once family members know “their” color the practical options are endless. Here are a few tips for families to begin organizing their busy lives:

* Take the color-coding concept and implement it wherever possible, purchase folders, toothbrushes, laundry baskets, towels, etc. in each person’s color.

* Keep a family calendar such as the Day Runner family matters Monthly Wall Calendar to help avoid timing conflicts. The calendar’s color-coded, columnar format let’s you track five schedules at once, making it easy to see conflicts as well as opportunities. Post the calendar in a central spot and update it regularly.

* Try not to over schedule yourself or your kids. If you need to, schedule downtime at least once a week and make it known that nothing else can be scheduled in this time slot. Carry a portable appointment book with you to check your availability before agreeing to any further commitments.

* Identify your most common time wasters and look for ways to organize around them. If you’re looking for the car keys each morning, make a key hook and use it. If you are always forgetting your lunch in the refrigerator, leave yourself a reminder on the door handle or your car mirror. Fun, eye-catching accessories like Day Runner’s color-coded, erasable door reminders help ensure cell phones and gym shoes aren’t left behind.

* Encourage kids to get involved in the organization process. Teach them to check the calendar, file their papers and alert you if conflicts arise. Color coding makes it easy for everyone to participate and starts good organizational habits early.

* Communicate change. Devise the best way for your family to communicate schedule alterations. Whether it is a centrally-located erasable message board or a sticky note system, make sure everyone knows how to spread the word throughout the family.

For more information about the Day Runner family matters product line and other helpful tips on organization, log on to www.dayrunner.com/familymatters. The Day Runner family matters products are available at Office Depot stores nationwide.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

It’s New Year’s, the season for hosting holiday parties filled with family, friends, food and fun. So whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner party for family or a gathering for clients and colleagues, ensure it’s a fun, safe event by encouraging your guests to designate a driver before toasting the New Year. To help promote responsible revelry among adults, here are some simple tips to keep in mind.

1. When serving alcohol beverages, serve food.

Offer a variety of good foods with your alcohol beverages.

2. Offer non-alcohol beverages.

Have something for everyone: soft drinks, coffee and other non-alcohol beverages, such as O’Doul’s, 180 or Monster. Make guests feel welcome, regardless of what they drink.

3. Serve each guest one drink at a time.

Spacing drinks throughout a party can help your guests stay within their personal limits. Never force drinks on anyone. If serving wine, do not keep refreshing unfinished glasses as this makes it difficult for guests to keep track of how much they’re drinking.

4. Serve “measured” drinks.

Beer and flavored malt beverages contain 4.2 to 6 percent alcohol by volume and come in standard-size packages, so it’s easy to keep track of how much you are drinking. Hard liquor drinks can have dramatically different amounts of alcohol, as well as calories and carbohydrates. Many factors contribute to these wide variances: brands of liquor used, alcohol by volume in brands chosen, drink recipe, mixers and bartender’s pouring preferences. If you choose to serve hard liquor, use a shot glass or jigger to avoid making drinks too strong. If serving wine, remember not to use oversized glasses.

5. Consider how different types of alcohol are consumed.

The amount of time during which an alcohol beverage is consumed greatly impacts how alcohol is absorbed into the body. Beer is widely recognized as a beverage of moderation and versatility. It is consumed throughout a meal, a sporting event, at a bar or party with friends, or simply while relaxing at home. Even though a 12-ounce beer may contain the same amount of alcohol as a 1 1/2-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor, a beer is enjoyed leisurely, while a shot is usually consumed in one swallow.

6. Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends.

Serve desserts and other foods, coffee and soft drinks. But remember: none of these eliminate alcohol from the body — only the passage of time will do that.

7. Help your friends get home safely.

As a real friend, encourage your guests to designate a driver when they arrive. And don’t ever hesitate to call a cab or ask someone to spend the night if they may have had too much to drink.

The good news is that designating a driver has become second nature to most adults. According to a recent survey conducted by Nielsen Media Research, 154 million American adults have been or have used a designated driver — that’s roughly half the U.S. population. In fact, thanks to increased awareness of the importance of designated drivers and stronger law enforcement, drunk-driving fatalities nationwide continue to decline. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports a 36 percent decrease in drunk-driving fatalities since 1982, including a 30 percent decrease in Christmas drunk-driving fatalities.

Adults can thank their designated drivers by visiting www.whosyourbud.com and sending an electronic “thank you” card to show their appreciation for their “Bud.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Ginny Bean, publisher of Ginny’s catalog and Ginnys.com, shares these ideas for making sure everyone has a great time — including you.

1. Plan ahead.
“Planning is daydreaming with a purpose,” says Bean. “It’s emotionally enjoyable, and the end result is a party made special by attention to detail.”

She suggests taking inventory of cookware and serving pieces well in advance to ensure they’re up to the task ahead. Among today’s options is a growing array of cookware designed to go seamlessly and beautifully from oven or stovetop to even the most formal table, saving time and clean-up.

2. Make the most of your space.
The size of the meal may expand during the holidays, but cooking and serving space doesn’t. Rachel Ray has an ingenious line of high-capacity, oval-shaped pots and pans that are perfect for preparing crowd-sized meals on a single burner. Ginny’s double coffeemaker is another great holiday space-saver, brewing two 12-cup pots of coffee at once, so guests can choose between decaf or regular. On the buffet table, tiered servers hold appetizers and desserts vertically, rather than horizontally, saving valuable space and creating an attractive display.

3. Embrace the buffet.
The larger the group, the less practical sit-down meals become. Buffets are perfect for large-scale entertaining, and a large-capacity buffet warmer is a party essential. The most versatile of these now come with individual serving compartments and a base that doubles as a warming plate. Consider creating multiple food stations in different rooms.

4. Decorate for the season.
Guests love to come into a home decked out for a special ocassion. Decorating transforms stagnant rooms into fresh new spaces, providing as much of an emotional lift for host as guest. The trick is to avoid turning decorating into a huge, stress-filled production. It doesn’t take a lot of decorations to create a festive mood. A strategically placed floral arrangement and seasonal candles can do the trick. Candles are perhaps the best bang-for-your-buck in all of decorating. There’s even an added bonus beyond the warming glow and seasonal scents: candlelight makes your guests look 10 years younger.

Ginny’s holiday catalog includes 140 pages full of practical ideas for the home, kitchen and beyond, including appliances, house wares, furniture, bedding, accessories, personal care items, electronics, and a wide selection of gifts for men, women and children. There are also seasonal recipes and helpful tips on everything from setting a festive table to keeping children amused on car trips. To request a copy of Ginny’s catalog, log on to Ginnys.com or call (800) 487-9024.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

New York City, NY (PRWEB) November 9, 2007 - “Edges,” a story of a young girl’s sexual awakening in 1963 Palestine/Israel, has gone into a third printing. This novel was edited and published by the late Grace Paley for her own imprint at Glad Day Books. Author Leora Skolkin-Smith has written a special Afterword in commemoration to Grace Paley included in this new edition.

“Edges” is a dark and penetrating look at pre-1967 Israel and Palestine through the eyes of a 14-year-old Liana Bialik. After her American father’s suicide, Liana’s Jerusalem-born mother decides to take Liana and her sister back to her homeland, where her family had lived for four generations. Once they get to Israel Liana, who feels overwhelmed and suffocated by her mother, begins to detach herself from her. She embarks on a mission of self-discovery to learn why her mother does not speak about her father and why he took his own life. Edges is well-written, powerful in both imagery and subject matter…”
–Jewish Book World, Spring 2006
Vol. 24, Number 1

“Where, and how and to whom do we really belong? Skolkin’s brilliant debut novel is a hypnotic meditation on the ever-changing boundaries of love and need. A coming of age story of the bond between a young American and her powerful mother, etched in a wartime Mideast as shifting and dangerous and mysterious as the Israeli desert.”
–Caroline Leavitt, Columnist, Reviewer, Boston Globe, People Magazine, Author of Girls In Trouble

“With Edges, Leora Skolkin-Smith earns her place among the most gifted of contemporary American authors. The novel is a reminder that works of fiction can offer the depth, color, texture, passion of a fine painting and a great symphony. This is more than a coming-of-age story; it is a powerful and beautifully wrought account of passion and hope…for a girl and for a country.”
–Victoria Zackheim, Author, “The Boneweaver” Editor, Anthology “The Other Woman”, “For Keeps”

“In Edges Leora Smith skillfully tells the story of a girl of fourteen in the wake of her father’s suicide, brought abruptly by her distraught mother from a comfortable suburban Westchester to the harsh terrain of a young State of Israel. The girl is caught in the maelstrom of political claims between Israel and a West Bank, still part of the Kingdom of Jordan. The turmoil both of the girl and her mother is graphically detailed as they struggle to define themselves in the light of a haunted past and present. The poetry of the girl’s sexual awakening ripples through many pages, softening the fierce realities of the conflict between Arab and Jew. The pages evoke as well the memories of a shared land, and the mother’s childhood growing up in an old Jerusalem before physical barriers separated the city, the religious, cultural, divide between Arab and Jew easier to bridge. The author’s vivid sense of landscape, her gift for identifying with both mother and daughter, Arab and Jew, gives the novel a unique sense of balance and brings the reader, regardless of political conviction into sympathy with this portrait of a vanished Jerusalem.”
–Mark Mirsky, Author, Editor, Fiction

“Edges is an elegantly written, quite moving novel that has a lot to say about love, identity, history and the meaning of nationality. The book is worth reading alone for its superb language, but it is gripping and unforgettable as well in its story telling and evocation of place and emotions. It is a wonderful novel by an author with a quite accomplished voice and style, one well deserving a wide and receptive audience.
–Oscar Hijuelos, author of the Pulitzer-prize winning novel, “The Mambo King Sings Songs Of Love”

“Edges is an elegant and moving novel. Leora Skolkin-Smith has that rare gift of the writer who can convey the sensibility — the essence of a place and its people — with precision and clarity. A provocative debut.”
–Katharine Weber, book critic, author of Triangle

“Edges” is a novel told with restraint and poetic precision…memorable (for the) the sense of place that Ms. Skolkin-Smith has achieved — the sunny and scary Jerusalem and countryside — and the hope, love, hate and fatalism of the groups, Palestinian and Israeli, living amongst and apart from each other…”
– Robert Whitcomb, “The Providence Journal”

“A feverish, sensual, remarkable book.”
–Meredith Sue Willis

About the Book:
The novel “Edges” is set in a pre-1967 Israel, during the Cold War. Characters are drawn from Israel’s long-forgotten past, members of the 1940’s Haganah and Jewish underground who find themselves displaced amidst the chaotic and complex tensions of an Israel just beginning to modernize and expand.
“Edges” was nominated for the 2006 PEN/Faulkner Award and The PEN/Ernest Hemingway Award by Grace Paley.

Featured on Connie Martinson’s TALKBOOKS

Burgess Productions’ new series titled, “ODYSSEY: Driving Around the World” premieres Nov 13th on OLN Canada. Experience the true journey of life on the global road with a team of 7 young professionals who dropped everything for the adventure of a lifetime… Tuesday at 9:00pm EST. Episode 1, “The Launch”, kicks off the 13-part character-based adventure series.

Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) November 9, 2007 — Burgess Productions’ new series titled, “ODYSSEY: Driving Around the World” premieres Nov 13th on OLN Canada. Experience the true journey of life on the global road with a team of 7 young professionals who dropped everything for the adventure of a lifetime… Tuesday at 9:00pm EST. Episode 1, “The Launch”, kicks off the 13-part character-based adventure series.

Equipped with 3 specialized Land Rovers, 7 adventure-hungry team members depart from California on year-long, 41,000-mile expedition through tropical jungles, scorching deserts, and snow covered peaks. Watch tensions run high in Panama when the team is stuck on the side of the road. Spend New Years Eve in Guayaquil, Ecuador where they explode effigies with the locals, and see what happens when the team runs out of gas in the Atacama Desert (Chile). They are the first foreigners to cross Myanmar (Burma) in over 50 years. But driving the world is not always smooth sailing. They get detained in India, deported from China and sent back into Pakistan. In Episode 11 they meet personally with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, where he wishes the team good luck on their journey. Venturing to the far corners of the globe, through 26 different countries, the team members find their minds and spirits pushed to the limits.

“When we got to East India, we were under armed guard due to the separatist activity there. At one point, we had 23 guards with machine guns and three armoured vehicles with top-mounted guns with us.” - Adam Burgess Producer/Director

See images, journals and route details about their adventure on the homepage.

Produced & Directed by Adam Burgess
Guest Appearances include travel writer Rolf Potts, actor Michael J. Fox, and director of The Titanic James Cameron.
Narrated by UK’s “GAZ” of Chiltern FM radio

Watch Odyssey: Driving Around the World on , OLN Canada, The Extreme Sports Channel UK (Sky 419 Virgin 527), National Geographic Adventure Channel, Drive TV Russia and soon on LifeOne UK(Sky 197)

(ARA) - Are the days of the Hollywood blockbuster numbered? According to a nationwide Spout survey, yes.

The recent survey, fresh on the heels of this summer’s blockbuster roll-out, shows that 65 percent of Americans are looking to see more independent films like Little Miss Sunshine this year, with only 21 percent saying that they are satisfied with the list of sequels and remakes slated to appear in cineplex’s across the country. And it appears the blockbuster critics may be taking a hit this year too, with 86 percent of movie goers relying on friends, family or alternative review sites for their movie recommendations.

In contrast to a clear choice for more independent films, the survey illustrates little consensus on what will be the best and worst sequel out this summer. While Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End scored as the probable best sequel with 26 percent, consumers were mostly divided on the second and third place winners. And while Evan Almighty and Rush Hour 3 ranked highest as the probable worst sequels, 19 and 16 percent respectively, consumers cast their thumbs down votes for some current blockbusters including Spider Man 3, Shrek the Third and Oceans Thirteen.

“With people apparently dissatisfied with the current Hollywood choices, it is clearly time for them to drive the industry. And distribution like Four Eyed Monsters on YouTube is just the beginning of this,“ says Rick DeVos, CEO and co-founder of Spout. “To complement this consumer driven industry, sites like Spout.com are adding a human connection to the film experience by creating a trusted online community that helps audiences find their films and helps filmmakers connect with their audiences.”

So where do film lovers go from here? Indie buzz and online distribution of independent films like YouTube’s recent first ever feature of a full length film, Four Eyed Monsters, is making it easier for the average consumer to access independent movies. And the ability to get this content at home is just what the consumer wants with 68 percent of those surveyed saying they prefer to take in a film on the couch and not at the cineplex.

Through film festivals, filmmaker podcasts, and active online dialogue, Spout has remained committed to growing the online film community that consumers are craving. Using real people — experts or mavens — is helping people sort through the thousands of films they could choose whether independent and emerging like Four Eyed Monsters or those blockbusters familiar to everyone.

So put in that microwave popcorn and settle in to your couch because films and reviews are coming at you in a whole new way.

For more details visit www.spout.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Haunted Gingerbread

1 1/2 cups shortening 375 ml

1 1/2 cups sugar 375 ml

3 eggs 3

1 1/2 cups fancy molasses 375 ml

1/4 cup golden syrup 60 ml

8 cups all purpose flour 2000 ml

1 1/2 tbsp ground ginger 22 ml

2 tsp each pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon 10 ml

1 1/2 tsp each baking soda and salt 7 ml

1 box of 100 Nestle Peanut Free Fav*rites snack-size chocolate bars

Method

1. Beat shortening and sugar until light. Add eggs, one at a time, with molasses and syrup.

2. Stir dry ingredients together and add in heaping spoonfuls to molasses mixture; stir until well combined. Divide dough into 4 balls. Wrap individually and refrigerate for at least 2 1/2 hours or up to 1 week.

3. Cut out and carefully label each pattern piece. Roll balls of chilled dough individually between wax paper to 1/4 inch thickness. Trace and cut out each pattern piece for the house; save cookie scraps to roll again as needed. *Remember to cut out windows and doors before baking*.

4. Transfer gingerbread to parchment paper-lined cookie sheets leaving at least 1 inch between shapes. Place in freezer for 25 minutes.

5. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until gingerbread is firm.

Haunted Icing

3 egg whites 3

1 tsp cream of tartar 5 ml

3 1/2 - 4 cups icing sugar 875-1000 ml Optional: food colouring

Method

1. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar for 4 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Slowing add icing sugar, 1/2 cup at a time beating until thick (may require less sugar). Add food colouring if desired.

2. Transfer icing to large zip-lock bag. Close and set aside.

Assembly and decorating

1. Use the haunted house photo as your assembly guide, and use a foil-covered cutting board as the base.

2. Snip corner from icing bag, and pipe icing generously along edges of gingerbread to glue pieces together. Start with the walls, using cans or jars to support the structure as the icing hardens.

3. Complete structure by gluing on the roof and chimney with piped icing. Allow to harden for at least 15 minutes.

4. Use the 100-count box of Nestlé Peanut Free Fav*rites to decorate your haunted house, gluing the chocolate in place with icing.

Nestlé Canada encourages parents to read the labels when buying ingredients to ensure they are made in a peanut-free facility. For more information on Nestlé’s peanut-free offerings, visit www.nestle-peanutfree.ca.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

Five Tips for a More Healthful and Energized Life

(ARA) - Summer is officially over. The kids have traded in the swimsuits and beach toys for No. 2 pencils, spiral notebooks and new fall clothes. It’s back to school, back to Monday Night Football, and back to hectic schedules and routines.

How will you find the energy to resume exhausting morning car-pooling, after-school practices and weekend games? By pledging to commit to a healthier lifestyle. One of the greatest benefits of adopting better nutrition is increased energy. So say “buh-bye” once and for all to fast food and unhealthy snacks that zap energy, and “hello” to healthier living with these easy tips.

Pledge to Eat Smarter and Be More Active Today

Why wait? The “Just One More for Healthy Living Pledge” is a simple way for everyone in the household to increase nutrition and boost energy for a healthier lifestyle. Pledge now to add just one more daily serving of fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes; just one more weekly serving of lean protein such as tuna; and just one more physical activity a day. To sign up for the pledge and a free pledge starter kit (while supplies last) visit www.eatjustonemore.com

Stock Your Pantry

It’s so tempting to pick up a cheesy pizza or zip through your favorite fast food haunt for dinner after a busy day at the office. But one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve your family’s nutrition is simply by stocking up on canned fruits and vegetables, such as Del Monte corn and tomatoes, and lean proteins such as StarKist tuna.

Assorted pastas (preferably whole wheat) as well as other essential ingredients such as spices and broths are perfect to have on-hand for basic cooking to more gourmet meal preparation. By planning ahead and stocking up on a few healthy staples, you’ll be prepared for quick and healthy meal options even during the most hectic weeks.

Bring Back Breakfast

According to recent studies, today’s busy working families, particularly children, are increasingly hurrying off to work and school without eating breakfast. Skipping any meal, particularly breakfast, causes blood sugar to dip and deprives the brain of the fuel it needs to perform, which can lead to decreased attention in the classroom and workplace. Establishing a basic eating schedule including three nutritious meals and one or two wholesome snacks a day is crucial; this helps to ward off hunger and prevents power outages!

More Matters

Research suggests that only 20 percent to 30 percent of Americans actually eat the recommended servings of fruits and veggies a day, which the Food and Drug Administration now advises is nine to 13 servings for optimal health. Eating more fruits and vegetables daily will not only make you feel fuller and more energized, but the vitamins, minerals and fiber found in them can help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Adding a diverse range of colorful fruits and vegetables might seem like a daunting challenge, at first. “A couple of easy additions to some of your favorites can really do the trick,” says Ellie Krieger, a registered dietician and host of the Food Network’s Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger. “For example, try adding some chopped fruit and nuts to your favorite cereal or oatmeal, or vegetables and tomatoes to an omelet. Toss some corn or peas into your favorite pasta or soup for lunch, or store convenient individually sized servings of canned or packaged fruit, such as Del Monte Fruit Naturals, in your desk drawer or office refrigerator for a nutritious afternoon snack. The key is making sure you always have fruit and vegetables easily at hand - fresh, canned or frozen.”

Don’t forget: you are what you drink! One of the most vital, yet often overlooked nutrients is water. Even the slightest amount of dehydration can cause fatigue.

Add Action

It is no surprise that most Americans spend a significant amount of time each day driving to and from work, sitting in front of a computer, and then plopping on the sofa to watch hours of television each evening. Experts say everybody should get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days, which can even be accomplished in 10 minute intervals if you can’t always find a free half-hour.

The most important thing is to set realistic, attainable goals and build activity into your daily routine. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work or park further away at the grocery store. Walking is one of the most efficient and effective forms of exercising, and can also help to relieve stress, lift your mood, and help you sleep better at night.

“By learning how to eat well and stay fit, you can feel great and have more energy for you and your family,” Krieger says.

For more easy tips or delicious recipe suggestions, visit www.eatjustonemore.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent