(NAPSI)—Finding time to cook a healthy dinner for the whole family to enjoy can be a challenge.

With a little planning and advance prep, however, making a family dinner can be a cinch. Here are six ways to get ahead of the curve:

• Create a weekly menu.
• Keep it simple with easy-to-prepare meals that can be made quickly or in advance.
• Write up your grocery list and do the shopping all at once rather than making numerous trips to the grocery store throughout the week.
• As you’re unloading the groceries, wash and dry the fruit and veggies and store in resealable bags.
• Prep dinner early in the morning before the day gets hectic.
• Keep your pantry well stocked with items such as canned tuna, canned tomatoes, and Lindsay olives, capers and peppers, so you can throw together a quick and tasty pasta or a dinner salad.

Then try these no-fuss, easy-to-make dinner ideas: Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Sometimes, what you don’t know can hurt you. Consider this: Smallpox vaccines were used as far back as the Revolutionary War. This serious disease, which has killed more people than all the wars combined, has been wiped from the Earth by vaccines. It’s a shame that recently the safety of vaccines has been questioned. It’s time people focused on the facts.

Vaccines have long been one of the safest medical treatments. No credible study has proven otherwise. Just like other medicines, vaccines are approved by the FDA. By and large, the rewards of prevention are worth the small risk of any vaccine’s side effects.

Another fact is that vaccines for mature Americans can save lives. When seniors get pneumonia shots, they could lengthen their life expectancy by FOUR years. Flu shots will also protect seniors from a debilitating illness with life-threatening consequences. Vaccinations are generally affordable and they are SAFE. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—As homeowners consider ways to “live green”, many may be surprised to learn the powerful effect home heating has on achieving optimal energy and cost efficiency.

Fortunately, home builders know HVAC is a key to living green—a full 87 percent of builders and remodelers consider energy-efficient systems vital to green building, according to a recent National Association of Home Builders report.

So how do you choose a home heating solution that’s both Earth and financially friendly? Here are a few hints that can help.

Selecting the optimal climate control system is critical with home heating using more energy and costing more money than any other system in your home—typically making up nearly half your utility bill. There are several types of heating systems that range from blowing hot air through ductwork to piping hot water through your floor. Forced-air systems, the most common, heat quickly and evenly, but many are not energy efficient and some users complain that moving air is noisy and blows allergens around the house. In addition, they require ductwork, which many older homes don’t have. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Seniors enrolling in Medicare often are surprised to discover that most Medicare health and prescription drug plans are measured by a five-star rating system. Much like a reviewer guide to restaurants or hotels, Medicare plans are ranked from a low of one star to a high of five stars. The overall ratings provide an easy and intuitive way to help people evaluate and compare both the quality of the product being offered and the overall experience of real-life consumers.

Developed by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Star Rating system is based on member surveys as well as information provided by doctors, health care providers, and Medicare’s regular monitoring activities. The standards are evaluated on an annual basis and are built to drive continuous improvement in the health care system and better health outcomes for Medicare enrollees. Continue reading →

Home And Family

(NAPSI)—The holiday season is a joyous time of year for millions of Americans across the country. Within the next month, online orders will be made, packages will arrive on doorsteps, and families will leave town to visit relatives or take a holiday vacation. While these may seem innocuous, criminals may see the holiday season as a time to capitalize on gift-giving and holiday vacations.

Daniel Barry, University of Phoenix Las Vegas Campus chair for security & criminal justice programs and a retired Las Vegas Metro police captain, says Americans need to be on higher guard this time of year when criminals can be more active. There are simple ways families can protect themselves and their loved ones, he says. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—A delicious holiday season can be healthy, too. One key: Find small, simple ways to incorporate more nutritious foods, without losing the flavors you love. Blueberries can help.

“Blueberries are a small, tasty package with big health benefits,” advised registered dietitian and spokesperson for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council Patricia Bannan. “They’re sweet, tart and delicious but, at only 80 calories per cup, they make a nutritious addition to a holiday dish or an easy, on-the-go snack. Just rinse and go. Blueberries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, which can give the immune system a boost.”

Blueberries are low in sodium with virtually no fat. They’re a good source of dietary fiber (3.6 grams per serving), which aids digestion, keep you feeling fuller longer, and help you resist some of those tempting seasonal treats. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—America’s military service members make great sacrifices for our country—and for their own families—but are their kids getting what they need from our K−12 education system?

A new national survey of service members, spouses and veterans looks at educational options for military families, their satisfaction and how their choices can play a role in whether a family accepts an assignment or even factor into decisions to leave military service altogether. There are roughly 750,000 school-aged children in active-duty-member households today.

Data show military families are very interested in alternatives to district schools. According to a new EdChoice and Braun Research survey, we know 80 percent of them attend public schools today, despite the fact that more than 60 percent would prefer different schooling environments for their children, such as private school, charter school, virtual school or home school. Continue reading →

Tips For Living Well

(NAPSI)—It can be confusing and scary when someone first finds out that he or she has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a leading cause of death in the United States—but there are ways to keep living life to the fullest.

The Problem

Recently diagnosed patients and their families can be taken by surprise—they might not know what COPD is, what it means for their future or how the diagnosis will affect their ability to stay active. COPD is among the most common, underdiagnosed, debilitating, deadly and costly diseases to manage, and for those who have recently been diagnosed, it can be difficult to figure out how to manage this life change. What’s more, over 15 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute estimates that another 12 million are undiagnosed or developing COPD. Continue reading →

Older People Improve Life For Others And Themselves

(NAPSI)—Many older Americans have discovered that sharing their accumulated wisdom with others who need help can be a big win all around.

Here’s a look at two ways you can stretch your mind and show your heart:

Experience Corps

AARP Foundation Experience Corps unites teachers, schools and older adults to improve children’s academic and social outcomes. This benefits the children, the schools and the volunteers.

The program has been proven to help children who aren’t reading at grade level become better readers by the end of third grade. Last school year, 76 percent of students who were below grade level at the beginning of the year raised their reading and literacy performance by one or more proficiency levels with the help of Experience Corps volunteers. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Each year, Medicare Open Enrollment begins on October 15 and ends on December 7. It’s an important opportunity for eligible individuals to select a Medicare plan that best meets their current and potential health needs, and also offers crucial protection for unexpected costs.

Although it’s been 10 years since the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression hit the U.S., most middle-income boomers say they still don’t feel their finances have fully recovered. According to a recent study from the Bankers Life Center for a Secure Retirement, today, only 57 percent of middle-income boomers feel confident meeting their daily financial obligations, down from 65 percent before the crisis. Along with their smaller savings accounts, concerns about rising health care costs as they age could be feeding boomers’ lack of confidence in their financial futures.

Today, boomers expect to carry more debt into retirement; only 34 percent expect to retire debt-free. One of the main drivers of debt for this demographic is the nationwide increase in health care costs. Boomers—an estimated 74.9 million Americans aged 53 to 71 in 2017—will likely live to around age 85, on average, according to the Social Security Administration, and unexpected health issues associated with age can drain savings and increase the risk of added debt. Continue reading →