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Liquid Assets: Water Testing for Household Well Owners A Snap Testing one’s drinking water can be intimidating to a household well owner, but it can be easy if you know a few basic steps, says the National Ground Water Association (NGWA). If you are concerned about your well water, these three steps can help get owners the appropriate tests for contaminants that might present a health risk — or create taste, odor, or appearance problems: 1. Determine what you should test for in your water. 2. Obtain a reliable water test. 3. Get an interpretation of your test results so you can take any appropriate action. An excellent place to start learning more about these three steps is the NGWA website, www.WellOwner.org . What to test NGWA recommends that well owners test annually for bacteria, nitrate, and anything of local concern: for instance, naturally occurring hazards, such as arsenic, or man-made, such as chemical or heavy metals from industrial or waste sites. Most county health...

Frustrated Seniors Are Often Served Meals They Dislike Or Can’t Tolerate ( ZD360 ) – Anyone who has aging parents knows how frustrating it can be to get them to eat — never mind eat well.Experts say that the reason for this "fickleness," is lack of control over their food choices as they begin to lose their independence. In addition, as we age, our stomachs often become more sensitive to different types of food, such as onions, peppers, tomato sauce, dairy, and hot spices.For these reasons, many seniors end up feeling hungry or deprived because they are stuck eating meals without choosing foods they crave.Most seniors would much prefer to pick their own meals rather than having them dictated to or chosen for them. They want the flexibility to pick their entree of choice with the starch and vegetables they prefer, instead of being forced to eat items they dislike. Also, for good reason, they want the flexibility to eliminate items from their meals that they cannot tolerate o...

Summer Snack Hacks: Three Creative Tips for Simple Summer Snacking ( NewsUSA ) – School’s out for the summer, which means family fun time and hungry kids home all day. From camp lunches to days by the pool — and all of those lazy days in between — kids have one thing on their minds: snacks. To assemble the perfect snack and keep kids satisfied and smiling throughout the warmer months, follow this simple guide. * Involve Kids in the Kitchen: All those years of cooking for the kids will soon come to an end when you enlist them as mini-master sous chefs. Whether your kids are two or 10, they’ll love learning and creating their own concoctions. Fruit skewers made from fresh fruit and toothpicks or straws make for the perfect teaching opportunity. Have your kids rinse strawberries, grapes and any other desired fruit, and slide them onto a colorful straw. For a frozen treat to beat the summer heat, pop them in the freezer for a few minutes before watching your kids enjoy their own creati...

Football Frenzy: Quick Tips to Spice Up Football Season ( NewsUSA ) – It’s the time of year to unpack the crockpots, pull out your team colors, and break out that Sunday football attire because football season is back!As autumn approaches and school is back in session, many families start to gear up for those weekends of tailgating. If you’re looking for some creative ways to wow your tailgate attendees or throw an awesome football party, follow these tips that are sure to be a hit. * Celebrate National Tailgating Day: The first Saturday of September is recognized as National Tailgating Day. From team colors to face paint and a spread of the best finger foods, watching your favorite team dominate and showing team spirit has never been easier. Consider adding a lean protein to any dish to keep those tailgaters energized all day. By using a crock pot for turkey chili or buffalo chicken dip, transporting food is mess- and hassle-free.* Sunday Football Snacks: NFL football season is aroun...

Volunteer Fire Departments Work to Reach Next Generation ( NewsUSA ) – Volunteers make up more than two-thirds of the nation’s fire service and protect their communities from a wide range of emergencies. Yet many fire departments are having difficulty meeting the staffing needs that an all-hazards department requires.Call volumes have skyrocketed in recent years, tripling over the last three decades. At the same time, many fire service veterans are reaching retirement age, while there are fewer new recruits coming into the ranks.Department leaders are looking to recruit the next generation to fill the gap and step up to serve their community in a unique and rewarding way.A survey conducted by the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the national nonprofit association representing the volunteer fire and emergency services, found that 44 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 34 have an interest in volunteering as an emergency responder. A barrier to people taking action on thi...

Rooting for Potatoes: The Spud Makes A Comeback ( NewsUSA ) – Forget low-carb diets and Atkins; those sweet, succulent spuds are once again finding their place among meat and vegetables at the dinner table.To celebrate its return to center stage, Kita Roberta of Girl Carnivore is recognizing the health benefits of a plant-based diet, while still including your favorite proteins.To that end, Girl Carnivore has created a recipe that is packed with carrots, beets, kale and Idaho potatoes. Add the sweetness of maple aioli and you’ve got yourself a good-for-you meal. Roasted Roots and Chicken Power Bowl with Maple Aioli * 4 Russet Idaho potatoes, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes* 3 carrots* 1 turnip, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, and then cut into wedges* 1 red onion, cut into wedges* 1 cup butternut squash, peeled and chopped* 2 beets, rinsed, peeled, cut in half and then cut into wedges* 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided* Salt and pepper* 3 sprigs fresh thyme, removed from stem* 3 cups Swiss c...

New Collar Jobs Redefining Labor Day ( NewsUSA ) – An estimated 34 million Americans provide unpaid care to adults age 50 or older every year, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, and that number is rapidly growing. More than half of those caregivers feel they have to make compromises at work to care for their aging parents, according to a new survey from Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network.With the rise in our aging population, more and more adult children are assuming the role of caregiver while also maintaining a full- or part-time job. This pressure to balance work and caregiving responsibilities has left 61 percent of working caregivers feeling as if they must choose between being a good employee and being a good daughter or son. To make matters worse, only 29 percent of these caregivers are satisfied with their employer’s family leave policy.As this issue grows to impact a larger percentage of the workforce, it will be es...