5 Strategies for Controlling Food Portions

At the end of a long day, it can be difficult to come home and avoid snacking too much or overeating at dinner. Especially when your stomach is growling, it becomes less and less clear what is a healthy portion. Consider a few tips that may help you to adjust your meals and snacks to the right amount for you and your health. 

1. Consult Your Doctor

Before making any major adjustments to your diet, it is wise to consult a medical professional. Altering your diet substantially all of a sudden could lead to other health issues, such as nutritional deficiencies. Further, your doctor may have alternate strategies for how you can control your weight or portion sizes, such as a gastric band. 

2. Meal Prep

A great way to eat healthy, filling meals in the right amounts is to make your meals ahead of time and to package them up separately. For instance, you could cook a large pot of soup on your day off of work and then split it up into the appropriate number of sealed containers. Not only will this save you time and money throughout the week, but it will also make it easier to stick to the original portion you decided upon. 

3. Purchase Individually Packaged Snacks

You may also find it helpful to look for snacks that are already divided into individual portions. Snack items are particularly hard to eat in moderation as many people snack while they are focusing on something else, making it difficult to keep track of how much you have eaten. Consider buying individual portions of things like nuts and dried fruit, for instance. These are easy to pack in your bag for work and provide all of the nutrition information you may use to monitor your food intake. If you find that this strategy is too expensive, you could consider buying snacks in bulk and then portioning them out into reusable containers at home.

4. Grab a Plate or Bowl

Similarly, avoid eating directly out of larger containers of food. This includes both meal and snack items. For example, consider filling up your plate of food while in the kitchen rather than serving things up family style. Additionally, consider pouring out a serving of chips or crackers rather than eating them out of the bag. Both of these strategies make it easier to keep track of how much you are eating and reduce the temptation to finish off the container.

5. Make Mealtime Matter

A final tip to consider when trying to control portion sizes is to change the way you approach mealtimes. Trying to finish a meal as quickly as possible may lead to eating so fast that you don't really feel full once you are finished. Engaging in conversations with friends and family while you eat is a great way to change your focus to relationships and to slow down your eating.

Overeating is such an easy habit to fall into, especially if you are stressed, tired, bored or attending social gatherings. Even so, with a few changes to your weekly routine, you may be able to control your portion sizes without leaving your stomach growling.

What is TRICARE Authorized Urgent Cares?

If you are a military person, a retired or an active-duty member, a member of the Reserve, a family member, or a veteran, you are entitled to subsidize or free dental and medical care. A program developed helps the military members access better healthcare and have full treatment for any type of recovery.

This program is relatively new, but the origin of the idea dates far back. Back in the days, before the Civil War happened, the healthcare for the military members was sort of primitive. There was no centralized system, and the care was more or less limited.

After the Civil War finished, there were noticeable improvements in the overall system. WWI saw development and progress in the health system, starting with the structure and ending with the organization.

Healthcare has now formed in the most delicate and most sophisticated shape we’ve known after a long period. There are several medical healthcare programs, but the largest one is the “TRICARE For Life.” Continue your reading on the following website: https://www.military.com/benefits/tricare/your-tricare-benefits-explained.html.

TRICARE Authorized Urgent Cares

You might have read something about this program, but you are not quite sure what it is—nothing to worry about because everything you need, you will find in this guide. So, let’s begin.

TRICARE is a program of the US Department of Defense. This health care program has been formed onto the existing one known as the CHAMPUS, or Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services.

These types of plans are there to help the members mentioned-above to get better healthcare. The program is managed and operated by the DHA, Defense Health Agency. The TRICARE Urgent Care is an authorized provider that offers health care for every type of plan.  

With This Urgent Care plan, you will be able to visit a clinic instead of going to a doctor even without a referral. If you or a family member has an illness, injury, allergies, etc., they would have the chance to be treated with this type of service. What types of TRICARE are there?

For life concept

This type of program is almost sell-explanatory. Back in the day, the plan didn’t cover medical care for people over 65. Instead, they would need to rely on Medicare. But now the TRICARE for Life program offers care for life!

You won’t be asked to enroll earlier in advance, so no rush there. The only thing you would need to do is to be part of Medicare Part B. You should know that TRICARE authorized urgent care will offer care for non-life threatening conditions like flu, allergies, ear infections, minor sprains and strains… etc.

Prime concept

Prime is the first of the three program types designed for members of the military. It offers a great variety of benefits, and it has proven to be quite successful over the years. If you are familiar with the concept of HMO, this program has a large number of similarities.

If you are a member who is actively on duty, you will be automatically enrolled. You would most likely receive your care in a local, base hospital. For other healthcare, specialist care, your primary care provider in the base hospital need to refer you to the appropriate specialist.

However, there is another concept called the POS, which means Point of Service. This POS concept option, you will be entitled to additional options that will offer you extra healthcare services.

Extra & Standard concept

The last of the three is this one, but it is not the least one for sure. If you think that the prime isn’t as flexible as you would want it to be, then the extra and standard would fit you perfectly. Although it is a little bit costlier than the previous one, it offers many more advantages.

Just like in the prime one, you wouldn’t need to enroll in advance. Only shows your ID Card, and you will be entitled to the appropriate medical care. Learn more here.

How to fill a prescription? 

There are a couple of different ways to finish the filling of the prescriptions using TRICARE. The first one is to order your medications through mail or any other online type. The second way is to use the specially designed medical military pharmacies, which are located at MTF, a military treatment facility.

You can receive your medications for free and get a supply for 90 days straight. The other two types are network and non-network pharmacies. The cost of supplying yourself through one of these networks can differ depending on various factors, so be sure to do a little research before you order anything.

Defective Strollers: Is Yours on the Recall List?

A good stroller can make it infinitely easier to tote your little one around. Sadly, however, when these products are defective, even a short ride can leave infants and toddlers with lasting injuries. 

Each year, defective products have life-changing effects on consumers of all ages. As a parent, finding out whether your baby's stroller has been recalled is always a top priority. 

Things That Can Go Wrong When a Stroller Is Defective

There are countless considerations that parents make when choosing products for their children. This is especially true when shopping for newborns, infants, and toddlers, and when buying items that are used for transportation. 

Strollers are designed to help parents take their kids for long walks, jogs, and even runs. Many options even have lower, side, or front baskets for carting toys, bottles, blankets, and other essential items. When one or more of a stroller's components fail, both babies and anyone pushing a stroller can be harmed. Some of the problems that can occur with a defective stroller include:

• One or more front wheels detach so that the stroller comes to an abrupt stop
• Seat harnesses or seat supports detach or fail
• Unexpected folding and closure of the entire stroller system
• Parking brake failures that lead to rolling

When parents put their babies in strollers, they are rarely expecting things to go awry. Moreover, when the structural integrity of a stroller fails, there are few things that adults can do to mitigate damages.

How Babies Can Be Harmed by Defective Strollers

There's a very broad range of injuries that babies can sustain when their strollers fail. The severity of the damages incurred are largely determined by the speed at which a stroller is moving at the time of failure, the age and weight of the child, and the type of malfunction that occurs. 

When harnesses and other supports do not perform as they should or when front tires pop off, children can fall out and may be run over by their own still-moving strollers. This can be especially problematic when parents are using jogging strollers and traveling at relatively fast speeds.

Among some of the injuries that infants and toddlers have sustained due to defective strollers are:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Disfiguring facial injuries
• Concussions
• Strangulation
• Lacerations

In some instances, defective stroller designs can even lead to infant or toddler death.

What To Do if Your Child Has Been Injured by a Defective Stroller

There are a number of things that parents must do to protect their little ones from stroller injuries. To start, it is always important to read through the owner's manual before assembling and using one of these products. This will detail the correct way to put the entire system together, and the best way to use all available safety harnesses. If a child sustains a stroller injury due to improper use or failure to secure safety harnesses, product manufacturers cannot be held liable for the resulting damages. This same is also true if you take your baby jogging in a stroller that's only built for walking, or if you choose to leave your napping child in a stroller unattended.

However, if your child is injured because their stroller was improperly designed, you have the right to seek compensation. Settlements from defective product lawsuits can be used to cover the costs of essential medical treatment and therapies, even as they provide additional compensation for pain and suffering. 

How To Get Notifications of Stroller Recalls

The best way to remain abreast of product recall information is by completing the product registration card that came with your new stroller. You'll find registration cards attached to any strollers, car seats, infant swings, and other baby products that you buy. Simply fill out your name and contact information, and then mail this card directly to the product manufacturer. Once you do, you'll be put on a mailing list and will receive all recall-related information for the stroller model that you've purchased.

Strollers are designed to make life easier for parents. They should not cause life-altering or life-threatening injuries. By taking the proper precautions when purchasing these and other baby products, you can be alerted of stroller recalls before a defective design results in harm. Strollers are one of the most common defective products that lead to legal  action from injury (source: https://www.boginmunns.com/areas-we-serve/orlando-fl/product-liability-lawyer/).To find out more about filing a defective product lawsuit, you can contact your lawyer. 

Why it Makes Sense to Have a Go at Fixing Things Yourself

If you, like most people, have never tried fixing a broken washing machine or replacing a part on your car, this article for you. It is all about why it is worth having a go at repairing your appliances, phones, cars, and furniture yourself. It’s a chance to learn something new, which you might find that you actually enjoy! Read on to find out why fixing things yourself makes sense.

It is easier than you think

Top of the list is the fact that it is not as hard as it used to be. There is a growing fixer movement that is having an impact and making things a lot easier for those people who are not afraid to have a go. You can find out how to fix virtually anything by searching YouTube. 

Parts are widely available

You can easily track down the parts to repair your broken dishwasher yourself. Almost regardless of where you live you will find an online supplier who will send you what you need. 

Buying the right part is easy 

Provided you can find the serial number or the make and model number, tracking down the right parts is not difficult. Especially if you use suppliers that have a live chat line or another kind of support facility available. All of the best ones offer this additional service.

You will save money

In most cases, repairing things yourself will save you money. You will not have to pay a call-out fee. Something you will usually have to pay even if it turns out your appliance cannot be fixed. You will also save because you will not have to pay the repairer for his or her labor. It makes sense.

A word of caution

Although it is always worth getting a quote, to see what is the best option for you. Particularly, if the repair is a complicated one. When you are looking at the pros and cons of fixing something yourself, be honest with yourself. If you think something looks too difficult in the YT video for your skill level the chances are it is. In that situation, or if you need special tools to fix things you will likely be better off calling in a professional.

You will learn new skills

Whenever you do something new you learn new skills. Being a continuous learner is good for your mental and emotional health. Plus, in many cases, the skills you are learning will help you to get other things done.

It helps the planet

Last, but by no means least, repairing things yourself helps the planet. Every year, millions of tons of appliances and white goods still end up in landfill sites. Much of which will take thousands of years to break down and will cause pollution as it does so. Instead of just getting a new appliance and throwing out the old, try to fix the one you currently have.

There you have it, several reasons to give repairing your stuff a go. So, the next time you crack your phone screen or your dishwasher breaks why not give repairing it yourself a go?

How You Can Increase Your Baby's Iron Level

Though you may have stocked up on immune boosting foods for kids and babies already, you might have specific concerns about a few essential vitamins and minerals, especially when it comes to iron. Although it might not get as much attention as vitamin C, calcium or other nutrients, having adequate iron levels is essential to your baby’s overall health. Iron helps carry oxygen throughout the body and brings oxygen to vital organs, so getting enough iron is fundamental to healthy brain development throughout childhood. Additionally, low iron levels can even lead to anemia. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can help raise your baby’s iron levels to a healthier place.

Ask Your Pediatrician About Incorporating a Supplement

Perhaps the most straightforward way to get to the heart of the issue is by getting a Wellements baby multivitamin and supplementing your baby’s diet with iron. An exception, of course, is if you’re currently feeding your baby formula, which today is often already fortified with iron. Of course, because it’s possible to get too much of a good thing, you’ll want to talk with your family pediatrician about whether supplementation is a good route for your child. Your pediatrician might, in more severe cases, even be able to prescribe your baby iron drops to help get their levels up faster. 

Focus on Making Tweaks to Your Child's Diet as They Age

As your baby starts to get older and eat a more diverse range of foods, your options for tweaking his or her diet to include more iron become broader. With these new diet possibilities, you can focus in on making targeted changes in a number of different areas. Some particularly useful tweaks are:

• Incorporating more vitamin C in your child’s meals, like pairing citrus with iron-rich foods such as beans, since it can help boost iron absorption
• Providing your child with fortified infant cereal for breakfast or snacks, or using it as a cooked ingredient in some of your other prepared dishes.
• Offering a range of foods rich in iron, including spinach, peas and raisins, and finding a way to work them into your meals

Double-Check Whether Your Baby Actually Requires More Iron

Though it may be tempting to jump to the conclusion that your child needs more iron, very young infants may already have adequate stores. It’s typically the case, in fact, that babies under six months of age are likely to have been born with enough iron. After the six-month mark, however, those stores could begin to get depleted, raising the need to incorporate iron-rich foods or supplements.

Even if it doesn’t get as much publicity as some other nutrients, iron is vital to your child’s brain development, and getting enough of it is key to preventing anemia. Though you might already have a well-balanced diet planned out for your child, ensuring your baby’s iron levels are healthy can feel tricky sometimes. By using some of these methods, you can help increase those iron levels to where they need to be for optimal health.