Month: July 2018

2018-07-19T10:13:00

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2018-07-19T08:01:00

(BPT) – Twitter (@OscarMayer) or Instagram (@OscarMayer)

In celebration of National Hot Dog Month, Oscar Mayer is on a mission to get a better hot dog in every hand and recently introduced Super Hotdogger (video), the newest member of the iconic WienerFleet. Super Hotdogger is the world’s first-ever JetPack-powered, high-flying hot dog hero who stops at nothing to deliver better Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs to the hands of hot dog lovers.

Inspired by Super Hotdogger, Food Network Star and Sandwich King Jeff Mauro is giving hot dog lovers even more ways to enjoy a better dog by creating three delectable recipes. Scroll below for the recipes.

Last summer, Oscar Mayer furthered its commitment to better hot dogs by removing added nitrates and nitrites except for those naturally occurring in celery juice, by-products and artificial preservatives from its hot dogs. Now, with the help of Super Hotdogger, it’s literally elevating its mission to get a better hot dog in every hand.

2018-07-19T08:01:00

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2018-07-19T07:01:01

(BPT) – With our busy lifestyles today, finding time to shop for groceries, cook, then meet as a family to enjoy a meal together can be a major challenge.

A Harris poll shows only 30 percent of American families share dinner each night. Yet the benefits of maintaining that family time are so substantial that it’s well worth your while to make it happen.

Research shows, for example, that kids and teens who share meals with their families three or more times per week are significantly less likely to be overweight, more likely to eat healthy foods and less likely to have eating disorders. Further, such togetherness is linked with higher grades, better self-esteem and positive behaviors such as sharing, fairness and respect among children who participate.

In that spirit, we asked actress, host, food lover and mom of two Courtney Lopez for some helpful tips on how she gets her family together for mealtime. Lopez has recently teamed up with Eggland’s Best, a proud supporter of the American Heart Association’s Healthy For Good(TM) movement, to challenge families across America to pledge to stay at the table for an additional “dozen” minutes.

1. Unplug and unwind. Make your table a phone-free zone, encouraging everyone to talk about their day. This will help your family grow closer together and become more and more involved in each other’s lives. You might be surprised what you will learn!

2. Try new dishes. Comfort food can be a great thing, but so can the sense of adventure that comes from trying new dishes. Eggland’s Best eggs can be incorporated into an endless spectrum of family-friendly recipes like this Southwestern Quinoa and Egg Breakfast Bowl. EB eggs are the only eggs good enough for my family meals, with superior nutrition like 25 percent less saturated fat and 6 times more vitamin D than ordinary eggs.

3. Make it a team effort. Your family will feel more involved if they share the work. My little guys love helping out by cracking eggs, stirring, sprinkling spices or setting the table. Allowing little ones to help out can also get them excited about the meal, even if they tend to be picky eaters. And as the old saying goes, many hands make light work.

4. Plan ahead. It can be tough to have nutritious meals ready to go with a busy schedule, but spending just a few hours of your weekend buying, prepping or even cooking the components of your weekday meals will go a long way. You’ll thank yourself when you’re hungry and tired at the end of a long day; having everything nearly ready to serve reduces the chances you’ll opt for fast food or other less-healthy food options.

5. Focus on the positive. No one wants to share a table with fellow diners who are grouchy and unpleasant to each other — although sometimes that can be unavoidable with kids. To keep it positive during this relatively short time each day, avoid judgments, lectures, sarcasm and snarky comments. Ask each person about the highs and lows of his or her day, setting aside this space and time to celebrate victories and help each other through life’s challenges.

Sharing great food together can be an excellent way to create positive memories and boost family bonding. Learn more and sign up for the Eggland’s Best Family Meals Pledge at EBfamilymealspledge.com.

2018-07-19T08:01:00

(BPT) – In a time when consumers have more information and entertainment options than ever before, one resource continues to deliver high-quality, well-researched news and engaging entertainment programming that bridges the divide between national events and local activities.

Whether you are braving the I-5 slog, venturing to Yellowstone National Park, hiking Mount St. Helens or whale watching off the Alaskan coast, nonprofit broadcasting outlets keep families connected to their community, informed on the news of the day and entertained regardless of age, gender or demographic background.

Community radio stations, public broadcasting and non-commercial outlets bring a content-focused approach to their daily programs that serve to uplift their audience’s region as much if not more so than any other media platform. There are six primary ways these outlets help local communities flourish and thrive:

* Creating a more engaged, informed community. Recent research from the Political Quarterly shows those who have access to public service broadcasting are better informed about government and politics, are more trusting of others, maintain more positive civic attitudes and have greater confidence in democratic institutions. That educated and engaged listener base is more likely to engage on key community issues.

* Stimulating creativity and innovation. Through programming that engages, explains and explores, public broadcasting plays a major role in supporting STEAM subjects. But many stations go beyond that. Spokane Public Radio, for example, recently rehabilitated a former fire station to include a state-of-the-art performing and recording studio for regional artists, thanks in part to grant funding from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.

* Supporting local cultures. Public and non-commercial stations can often focus on elements of local and regional culture that might otherwise go unrecognized by other media outlets. For example, Anchorage-based Koahnic Broadcast Corp., a public radio station, and Nome-based KNOM Radio, a non-commercial outlet, both concentrate their efforts on programming that addresses the needs and interests of Alaska’s Native populations. KBC’s National Training Center also provides training opportunities for Alaska Natives and Native Americans interested in broadcasting careers.

* Filling the reporting gap. As some news sources struggle to maintain profitable business models, public broadcasting continues to offer in-depth coverage of important issues. Because its primary mission is public service and not profit, it can remain independent of corporate influences without sensationalizing news issues to boost ratings. As such, public channels are more highly trusted than commercial channels for the accuracy, reliability and impartiality of their news coverage, according to Political Quarterly. Recent examples of excellent, unbiased reporting include the comprehensive state election coverage regularly offered by the Bozeman-based Friends of Montana PBS.

* Diversity in programming. Relatively unencumbered by commercial pressures, public stations are free to broadcast shows and podcasts its leaders believe have the most information and entertainment value to its listeners. That typically contains a wide range of programming, from hard news, news features and in-depth documentaries to entertainment, sports coverage and educational kids’ shows.

* Ad-free. Since public stations are generally funded through tax money and private contributors, many stations can forgo all advertising revenues. That can be a breath of fresh air in an age when we’re bombarded at every turn by invasive ads, and it allows audiences to focus without interruption on the quality programming being presented.

For decades, the Murdock Trust has been proud to support public broadcasting outlets across the Pacific Northwest through a number of grants, both for their ability to inform and to preserve and celebrate local culture. Visit murdocktrust.org to learn more.

2018-07-19T08:44:00

(BPT) – As people age, they become more likely to develop osteoporosis, a disease that occurs when bones lose density and mass, which can cause them to be brittle, weak and easily broken.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions, answers questions about osteoporosis and shares information about a test that can help diagnose osteoporosis or determine if you might be at risk.

How common is osteoporosis?

An estimated 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone mass (an increased risk for osteoporosis), according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). Studies suggest that approximately half of women and a quarter of men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis. It is responsible for 2 million broken bones and 75,000 deaths every year.

Osteoporotic bone breaks most often occur in the hip, spine or wrist, but other bones can break too. Beyond significant, often permanent pain, these fractures can have many other consequences, including frailty and limited mobility, complications related to the broken bone or the surgery to repair it, and the necessity of long-term care.

How is it diagnosed?

Talking to your doctor will help ensure you get the test that may be needed to correctly diagnosis osteoporosis, which may be a simple bone mineral density (BMD) test like a DEXA scan. BMD tests can identify osteoporosis before a broken bone occurs and measure your response to treatment.

Should I get tested?

The NOF recommends BMD tests for women age 65 or older and men age 70 or older. Osteoporosis is more common in women than men, and more common after menopause, so women should begin talking to their doctor about osteoporosis before menopause. Anyone with several risk factors — controllable and uncontrollable — should also discuss it at a younger age than the general guidelines.

Consider asking your doctor if you should complete a bone density test to determine how healthy your bones are. If you’re a UnitedHealthcare member, you might get a call offering an osteoporosis screening that wouldn’t require a prescription from your doctor.

What do the test results mean?

Your doctor will discuss your test with you, and help you interpret the results. Results are reported using T-scores, which show how much less dense your bones are than those of a healthy 30-year-old. A T-score of -1.0 or above is normal bone density, and a T-score of -2.5 or below is a diagnosis of osteoporosis, according to the World Health Organization. Although not everyone who has low bone mass will develop osteoporosis, those with low bone mass are at higher risk.

How often should you be tested?

BMD testing frequency depends on factors including age, past bone density results and whether you are taking an osteoporosis treatment. Discuss your needs with your health care provider.

Does Medicare cover these tests?

Medicare plans cover the full cost of bone mass measurement testing once every 24 months for people who meet certain criteria, but the test may be covered more often if deemed medically necessary.

What else should I know?

There is no one single way to ensure healthy bones, but there are many great habits that can put you on the right path. Incorporate enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet; avoid smoking and drinking; maintain a regular exercise routine (you might want to give yoga a try!); and take steps to minimize your risk of falls.

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or have had fractures, talk with your doctor about medication options, which can vary based on gender, age, bone health and other factors.

2018-07-18T09:55:00

(BPT) – When the warm weather months are in full swing, you don’t want to spend tons of time in the kitchen refueling after your run or making dinner on a busy weeknight.

Keep staples like almond milk at the ready, and you’ll be prepared for anything that comes your way — from smoothies and overnight oats to hummus and pudding. It’s the perfect sidekick, providing the fuel you need to own your everyday, every day. We’ve included some delicious almond milk dishes below that will power you through your jam-packed summer days:

Almond Chia Pudding

Busy morning tomorrow? This chia pudding is the perfect recipe for night-before breakfast prep. In a mason jar, mix almond milk and chia seeds with a dash of vanilla extract and maple syrup and refrigerate overnight. By morning, you’ll have a rich, spoonable breakfast pudding that’s chock full of protein and creamy goodness and ready to go when you are.

Golden Milk Latte

This trendy beverage spiced with ginger and turmeric is having a big moment as a wellness-boosting elixir. For a summer twist, prepare ahead and then refrigerate so you can enjoy it iced. You’ll fall for this delicious and refreshing new way to unwind and cool off after a tough workout or jam-packed day.

Mason Jar Blueberry Parfait

It takes only moments to throw together this pre-workout blueberry parfait at night for a ready source of protein and fiber in the morning. After layering with wholesome breakfast ingredients — rolled oats, chia seeds, sliced almonds and blueberries — just top with almond milk and refrigerate.

“Life Is Easy Being Green” Smoothie

Keeping staples for healthy smoothies on hand is a smart way to pull together a quick meal at any time of day. Just toss some fresh spinach leaves, frozen fruit and other goodies in the blender, add almond milk and whirl together to make an easy, refreshing green smoothie.

Almond Lover’s Hummus

If you’re need of a savory snack, whip up a batch of this easy, light hummus! This version packs in almond butter and almond milk to create a creamy snack that tastes great with pita chips, crunchy cucumbers and more.

Creamy Dairy-Free Pesto Pasta

There’s no greater comfort food than pasta tossed in a creamy sauce. This version makes it even better — it’s easy, light and dairy-free, making it the ultimate choice for warm summer weekday nights. Just start with your noodle of choice, then use almond milk and basil for the creamy pesto sauce. For the ultimate chilled-out summer supper, enjoy this dish on your deck or patio, served with a quick green salad and your favorite cold drink.

For more ideas and inspiration to help you stay nourished and fueled for your on-the-go lifestyle, visit www.almonds.com.