DINING OUT DO'S AND DON'T'S

Here's how to avoid dietary derailments when you're looking at menu item descriptions --

For calorie and fat concerns, avoid: battered, buttery, scalloped, crispy, creamed/creamy, rich, cheese sauce, hollandaise, bearnaise, tempura, gravy, au gratin, Alfredo, breaded, croquettes, a la King, Newburg, (deep) fried, bisque, smothered, aioli, carbonara, and en croute.

For sodium concerns, avoid: smoked, broth, creole sauce, tomato base, fish sauce, barbecued, soy sauce, marinated, Parmesan, hoisin sauce, pickled, teriyaki, cocktail sauce, mustard sauce, and chili paste.

Look for: broiled, grilled, steamed, poached, baked, roasted, braised items that are flavored only with herbs and spices with no added sauces or butter.  To fill up before a meal, order a non-cream-based soup or a salad with dressing on the side, used sparingly.  Order meals where vegetables and fruit are a major component and ask for extra lettuce, tomato, and other vegetables.  For a healthier dessert, try fresh fruit, sherbet, sorbet, or angel food cake with fruit topping.  Bon appetit!
Source: IDEA Fitness



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BUSINESS EMAIL NETIQUETTE - Part 1

Guest Author: Beverly Zibrak, President of the Word Doc, Brookline, MA

Suffice it to say, email as a communication tool has replaced snail mail.  Think about it: When was the last time you received a handwritten or typed thank you note or invitation?  Emails are fast.  So answer an email quickly.

Just as there are guidelines for traditional communication, there are guidelines for business emails.

THE BASICS
1.   Always use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.
2.   Do not use CAPITAL LETTERS, except at the beginning of a sentence.
3.   Avoid sentence fragments.  Write in complete sentences.
4.   Even though it is faster, avoid abbreviations such as LOL, IMHO, etc.  Save them for personal emails.  Also avoid using emoticons.
5.   Do not write in long sentences.  Keep it short.
6.   Use active, not passive, voice.
7.   Use gender neutral nouns and pronouns.

THE CONTENT
8.   Be concise and get to the point.
9.   Anticipate: Answer all questions in the email you are writing or responding to and pre-empt further questions.
10.  If you often write the same type of business email, use templates for efficiency.
11.  Adopt a structure and layout that reflects your company, including the signature lines.
12.  Pay attention to formatting.  Your email conveys your corporate image.
13.  Make the Subject line relevant in order to get the reader's attention.

Next month: Business Email Netiquette Part 2 . . .

Beverly Zibrak is President of the Word Doc, a writing and editing services firm dedicated to helping small business with all their communication needs, including web content development, press releases and marketing communications, and blog posts.  You can reach Beverly at www.worddocusa.com or 617.584.9847.

WATCH OUT FOR TICKS! - Part 2

Continued from 8/1/12 post . . .

Here are some tips for protecting yourself from the increasing number of ticks and the diseases that they carry:

~ be careful about sitting on logs or leaning against trees; ticks often hide there
~ wear light-colored long sleeved shirts, socks, and pants so ticks are easier to spot
~ tuck pants in to socks or high-topped shoes/boots
~ when back indoors, check your whole body (and your pets) for ticks immediately and over the next few days and bathe thoroughly
~ wash and dry your outdoors clothes in very hot temperatures to kill any lingering ticks
~ use insect repellent (look for EPA certification on the container) and if you're spending time in heavily tick-infested locations, consider wearing clothing treated with insect repellent -- Insect Shield is one brand
Source: UC Berkeley Wellness Letter



THANK YOU FOR PATRONIZING AND REFERRING PEOPLE TO MY INDEPENDENT PRACTICE.  LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS DONATE TO CAUSES IN OUR COMMUNITY AT MORE THAN TWICE THE RATE OF CHAINS!

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ELECTRONICS FROM POWER SURGES - Part 2

Continued from 7/16/12  - Don't want a fried flat screen?  Follow these tips . . .

Buy surge protectors - but be sure to read the fine print.  Some power strips and multi-plug outlets, especially the less expensive ones, provide no protection against power surges.

Surge protectors come at different levels.  It's actually better to get a lower number of volts, with the most protective level being the 300 volt range.  For example, if your building is hit with power surge of 1000 volts, a 2000 volt protector won't help you, but the 300 volt one will.

Be sure to check on the label that the device has been tested by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a not-for-profit organization that promotes safety standards.  The label should also state if a power strip has surge protection and the voltage rating level.
Source: Underwriters Laboratories


COULD YOU USE HEALTH EDUCATION CONTENT FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER, BLOG, WEBSITE, OR HAND-OUTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS, OR EVENT?  I CAN SAVE YOU THE TIME AND EFFORT -- BY PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED MATERIALS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FOR YOU TO REPRODUCE AND PERSONALIZE WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.  PLEASE CALL ME FOR MORE DETAILS AT 617-738-8222.

WATCH OUT FOR TICKS! - Part 1

The number of ticks carrying Lyme and other diseases is increasing in Massachusetts.  And the unusually warm weather this year is producing expanding insect populations.  So, if you venture off the pavement, be sure to take precautions.

If diagnosed and treated promptly, Lyme disease can often be cured with antibiotics.  Untreated, it can lead to chronic arthritis and neurological problems.  Getting Lyme disease once does not mean that you can't get it again.

The symptoms of Lyme disease vary; they can include:

- a rash that looks like a bull's-eye (however, the rash may not look like this and can still indicate Lyme disease)
- flu-like symptoms such as joint pain, sore muscles, headache, chills, and fever
- shortness of breath and other heart and lung abnormalities
- no symptoms in the initial phase

You should get immediate medical attention for any tick bite, as well as for a rash or other symptoms, which can occur up to a month after tick exposure.  If possible, bring the dead tick with you to the medical facility for lab testing.
Source: UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

Next month - how to protect yourself from ticks . . .


COULD YOU USE HEALTH EDUCATION CONTENT FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER, BLOG, WEBSITE, OR HAND-OUTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS, OR EVENT?  I CAN SAVE YOU THE TIME AND EFFORT -- BY PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED MATERIALS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FOR YOU TO REPRODUCE AND PERSONALIZE WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.  PLEASE CALL ME FOR MORE DETAILS AT 617-738-8222.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ELECTRONICS FROM POWER SURGES - Part 1

It's that stormy time of year again.  Interestingly, while the most damaging power surges are caused by lightning, they can also result from something as simple as an appliance - like a furnace or vacuum cleaner - turning on or off.

That said, if a storm is forecast, it's a good idea to unplug sensitive electronics.  Merely turning them off won't help, as they maintain a connection to the power grid where the surges travel if they are plugged in.  While nothing can save electronics from a direct hit by lightning to a building, lightning strikes from up to two miles away can cause surges.

Sensitive electronics include computers, televisions, and stereos.  To prevent damage while you're on vacation, make a habit of unplugging these devices before traveling.

Power surges aren't going to do much damage to simple electronics such as lamps.  By purchasing surge protectors for areas such as your office, it's easy to unplug just the most sensitive equipment, making it less of a chore.
Source: Underwriters Laboratories

Next month - more power problem protection tips . . .


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SUMMER FOOD SAFETY - Part 2

(Continued from 6/4/12 post)

Because food poisoning is no picnic!

- Separate cooked food from raw.  Never reuse a marinade that held raw meat, and wash utensils used on raw meat before using them on other food.

- Cook meat to 160 degrees F.  (Use a meat thermometer.) Don't put cooked meat on a plate that held raw meat.

- Don't let foods that can spoil stay in the danger zone, between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F,  for more than 2 hours or 1 hour if the outdoor temperature is above 90 degrees F.
Source: Consumer Reports



THANK YOU FOR PATRONIZING AND REFERRING PEOPLE TO MY INDEPENDENT PRACTICE.  WHEN YOU SPEND AT A LOCALLY OWNED OFFICE, MORE THAN 50% STAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY.  AT A CHAIN, MORE THAN 80% GOES TO DISTANT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS!