A Telemarketing Trick

Caller ID is the best way to identify telemarketing calls. Look for an 800 number, “Private” or “Unknown.” But some collection agencies and others who want to hide their identities are using “spoofing” services that put a fake corporate name on your screen. Be sure to call the company back yourself before you give out info.

Be proactive about protecting your reputation…

 Safeguard your personal information, particularly on social networking sites. Open a secondary email account or use a different persona for social sites, chatrooms, web forums, etc.  Use privacy settings to set the right level of control, especially for Facebook and MySpace. Don’t give access to “Everyone.” That makes it visible to search engines, too.  Set up a Google Profile. Go to www.google.com/profiles to build a personal page that helps people get the right information when they search your name. You can do the same thing on Yahoo at profiles.yahoo.com.  Monitor your online presence by signing up for Google or Yahoo Alerts. They’ll let you know if someone searches for certain phrases, such as your name or company name.  If you find something embarrassing, talk to the source. Even better, create positive content (write a blog or an article) that will appear on search results.

Make Your Comfort Meal Healthy

You’re craving a bowl of your mom’s macaroni and cheese, but you’re also trying to eat healthier. And what’s healthy about a bowl of pasta and cheese? The truth is, with some creative switches, many of your favorite comfort dishes can stay on your healthy menu. Pasta The simple carbs in pasta have many people avoiding this starchy dish. But there are some things you can do to get it back on your friendly food list. First, switch to whole grain pasta. Next, use half as much pasta as usual. Swap in vegetables for the other half. If your mom’s recipe calls for 4 cups of noodles, make 2 cups of whole grain pasta. Then mix in 2 cups of cooked cauliflower. Meats If roast beef is your comfort food of choice, or you can’t face another day without a pork chop, there are ways to work these foods into your healthy diet. First, look at your cut of meat. Choose “loin” or “round” cuts for beef, and “loin” or “leg” cuts for pork. For poultry, take off the skin before you cook it. Like pasta, substitute veggies or beans for half of your usual portion. Soups and Sauces You may think you have to say goodbye to your favorite soups and sauces. But that may not be so. Instead, get creative and make your old favorites even more flavorful. First, work in more vegetables. They add nutrients and fiber—and very few calories. Spinach or green peppers can make anything from marinara to minestrone soup a healthier choice. For those days when creamy sauce is a must, you still have options. Try using pureed white beans (not cream) to thicken your sauce. And if cheese is what you’re looking for, try low-fat versions. Stronger-flavored cheeses (like sharp cheddar or aged parmesan) will give you the same amount of flavor with less cheese. Servings A final tip for healthy comfort food is to eat only enough to take care of your craving. A small bowl of mom’s macaroni and cheese would taste great with a plate full of fresh leafy greens, don’t you think? Eating healthy isn’t about never enjoying your food again. It’s about making smart choices and finding new ways to play with flavor. You may even find that healthy comfort food tastes better than the old recipes.

8 Simple Tips For Saving Fuel

Gasoline prices at the pump can take a toll on your pocketbook. Here are eight ways you can save the next time you “filler-up.” 1. Fill your gas tank in the morning or late evening when it is cool outside. It will help reduce fuel evaporation. 2. Service your vehicle regularly. A poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by up to 50%. 3. Avoid excessive idling. Turn off the engine if you’re idling more than two minutes. Idling increases gas consumption by one gallon per hour. 5. Shop for the best price. When your fuel gauge is half-full start looking. Buying gas at wholesale clubs can save you up to 12 cents a gallon. 6. Park in the shade. You’re less likely to use your air conditioner if your car is cooler. When driving on the highway, keep your windows up to reduce air drag, which can reduce your gas mileage by10%. 7. Make sure your tires are inflated adequately. Under inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by 5%. 8. Avoid “fast starts.” They not only increase fuel consumption, but increase tire wear.

How To Get A Leaner Stomach

If you’re like most of us out there you’d like to lose a little around the middle. The easiest way to get rid of stomach fat is to reduce your carbohydrates. These are foods many of us love to consume: crackers, chips, white bread, cakes, cookies, candy, pizza. But if you’re really serious about losing your belly, there are some easy ways to do it, and it doesn’t require medical intervention. First, start by eating lean meat (chicken, turkey, and seafood). Eliminate breads, pasta, rice, baked goods, candy and alcohol for two weeks, so you can train your body to live without the cravings. Limit fruits for the first two weeks, but you can eat lots of veggies. At week three you can add a small serving of rice, pasta or bread two times a day. Continue to eliminate refined sugars from your diet. Next issue we’ll discuss where you go from here.