Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2023-09-11T08:01:00

(BPT) – There are so many things to enjoy in the fall — from the colorful leaves and pleasant chill in the air, to warm drinks and delicious treats. Many people enjoy annual fall traditions, like visiting an apple orchard or carving pumpkins. One more thing to consider doing this fall is getting vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia. Getting vaccinated can help prevent pneumococcal pneumonia from getting in the way of enjoying all your favorite fall traditions.

Here are some things you need to know about pneumococcal pneumonia so you can be prepared this fall.

What is pneumococcal pneumonia?

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt your life for weeks and can even put you in the hospital or be life-threatening.

Who is at risk?

If you’re 65 or older, or 19 or older with certain underlying medical conditions, like asthma, diabetes or chronic heart disease, you’re at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia, and vaccination can help protect you.

What else should I know about pneumococcal pneumonia?

Pneumococcal pneumonia can strike at any time of year and vaccination is available all year round.

While you’re getting vaccinated against the flu this season, don’t forget to ask your doctor or pharmacist about pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination. Even if you’ve already had a previous pneumonia vaccine, your healthcare provider may recommend another vaccination for additional protection.

Help protect yourself before the busy flu season. You deserve to enjoy your favorite fall traditions, so don’t let pneumococcal pneumonia stand in your way.

You can also learn more at knowpneumonia.com.

Brought to you by Pfizer.

2023-09-07T08:01:01

(BPT) – With fall back in full swing, everyone’s schedules are busier than ever. Between school, work, after-school activities, errands and more, it’s all too easy for quality time like family meals to take a back seat.

This autumn, make a point to commit to making family meals a regular part of your schedule! Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner wants to help families continue to build strong bonds this fall and beyond, with five tips that will help you prioritize quality family time and your nutrition.

1. Create a meal plan

Each week, sit down with your family and create a meal plan. This will help keep you organized and streamline grocery shopping even during the most hectic weeks, while also ensuring everyone is excited to share a meal together. More importantly, planning a meal schedule as a family encourages communication and strengthens familial bonds.

2. Involve the whole family in cooking and prep

Involving the whole family in cooking and preparing meals provides a valuable opportunity to gain culinary skills and learn about nutrition. It also presents a time to bond with one another and create lasting memories together as a family. Meal times become even more special knowing that everyone had a part in putting the meal together.

3. Establish a mealtime

Keeping mealtimes around the same time every day helps to establish a routine. By doing so, mealtimes will act as an anchor for your family in their daily schedule. No matter how busy you get, your mealtimes will create a sense of stability and togetherness. Also, regular mealtimes can encourage everyone to improve their time management skills and curb unhealthy snack choices.

4. Introduce table talk

Introducing table talk will give your family something to look forward to at mealtimes since it allows everyone to talk about the ups and downs of their day. Table talk is incredibly important for children as they mature because it gives them a daily safe space to talk with their parents about the wins and challenges they face in and out of school.

5. Cook with more nutritious ingredients

Blatner also recommends making recipes with nutritious ingredients to keep your family feeling their best during meals, like this tasty Pad Thai from Eggland’s Best that uses Eggland’s Best eggs. Eggland’s Best eggs contain 25% less saturated fat compared to ordinary eggs, which helps support a balanced diet. They’re also an excellent source of Vitamin B5, which helps maintain a healthy digestive system and assists the body in using other vitamins, especially Vitamin B2, which helps manage stress.

Pad Thai

Prep time: 45 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 large Eggland’s Best Eggs
• 2 tablespoons tamarind paste or substitute
• 3/4 cup water (boiling)
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 tablespoons peanut oil or vegetable oil
• 8 ounces dried rice stick noodles, about 1/8 inch wide (the width of linguine)
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 12 ounces medium shrimp, peeled and deveined if desired
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press or minced (1 tablespoons)
• 1 medium shallot, minced
• 2 tablespoons dried shrimp, chopped fine (optional)
• 2 tablespoons Thai salted preserved radish (optional)
• 6 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted peanuts
• 3 cups bean sprouts
• 5 medium scallions, green parts only, sliced thin on sharp bias
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
• Lime wedges

Preparations

1. Soak tamarind paste in 3/4 cup boiling water for about 10 minutes, then push it through mesh strainer to remove seeds and fibers and extract as much pulp as possible. Stir fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cayenne and 2 tablespoons oil into tamarind liquid and set aside.

2. Cover rice sticks with hot tap water in large bowl. Soak until softened, pliable and limp but not fully tender, about 20 minutes. Drain noodles and set aside. Beat eggs and 1/8 teaspoon salt in small bowl and set aside.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch skillet over high heat until it just begins to smoke, about 2 minutes. Add shrimp and sprinkle with remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cook, tossing occasionally, until shrimp are opaque and browned about the edges, about 3 minutes. Transfer shrimp to plate and set aside.

4. Off heat, add remaining tablespoon of oil to skillet and swirl to coat. Add garlic and shallot, set skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until light golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add eggs to skillet and stir vigorously with wooden spoon until scrambled and barely moist, about 20 seconds. Add noodles, dried shrimp and salted radish (if using) to eggs. Toss with 2 wooden spoons to combine. Pour fish sauce mixture over noodles, increase heat to high and cook, tossing constantly, until noodles are evenly coated. Scatter 1/4 cup peanuts, bean sprouts, all but 1/4 cup scallions and cooked shrimp over noodles. Continue to cook, tossing constantly, until noodles are tender, about 2 1/2 minutes. If not yet tender, add 2 tablespoons water to skillet and continue to cook until tender.

5. Transfer noodles to serving platter, sprinkle with remaining scallions, 2 tablespoons peanuts and cilantro. Serve immediately, passing lime wedges separately.

Don’t let the fall season keep you from eating well and spending time together as a family. Using these five tips, you can make sure your family is fed and stays connected during a busy fall season.

Upgrade family mealtime

In honor of National Family Meals Month, Eggland’s Best has teamed up with America’s Test Kitchen and GoNoodle to inspire and “eggucate” the next generation of empowered cooks, engaged eaters and curious experimenters. From now until Oct. 3, fans can enter the “Eggstraordinary Family Kitchen” sweepstakes daily for a chance to win the Grand Prize of $5,000 to upgrade the family kitchen, a $250 gift card for groceries, swag and cooking equipment from Eggland’s Best, America’s Test Kitchen and GoNoodle and a three-month supply of Eggland’s Best eggs! Visit EBFamilySweeps.com to enter.

2023-09-07T07:01:01

(BPT) – Navy Federal Credit Union and Feeding America^® launched No Plate Left Behind to raise awareness about food insecurity in the military community and help servicemembers, veterans, and their families put food on their tables. Here’s how you can get involved and help make a difference.

2023-09-06T16:13:00

(BPT) – We’ve all been there. The workday is finally finished, the math homework is solved and dinner and the dishes are done, when suddenly it hits you: You don’t have a gift for tomorrow’s party, or cookies for the school fundraiser. And the clock won’t quit ticking.

At Walmart, we know (and live) the busy lifestyles and last-minute curveballs of our customers, and we’re continuously innovating and expanding our omni shopping experience to help customers save time and money and live better. Over the past decade, we’ve evolved our Online Pickup and Delivery services to meet customers’ changing needs and deliver a frictionless shopping experience.

Today, we proudly offer Online Pickup and Delivery in more than 4,000 stores nationwide, helping more customers than ever benefit from our fast, easy and convenient services. And, we’re excited to share new and recently expanded Online Pickup and Delivery options.

Let’s talk about it:

Live Shopper feature makes substitutions a breeze

Our newest feature is called Live Shopper. It enables real-time text communication with the personal shopper, allowing customers to discuss substitutions or add items last minute. The whole thing feels less like a grocery order and more like texting a friend to grab you something while they’re at the store, helping to further personalize our online shopping service.

Late-Night Express Delivery

We’re keeping our engines running a little later so those last-minute needs don’t keep you up at night. Walmart is now offering Express Delivery until 10 p.m. on orders placed by 9:30 p.m. so those birthday gifts, cookies or any other last-minute items are delivered to your doorstep, just in time.

Same Day On-Demand Delivery: Get what you need, choose when you want it

At the heart of the innovation in our Pickup and Delivery business is the customer. Each thing we do aims to put the power in their hands — providing a way to get what you need, right when you need it.

Our On-Demand delivery slots allow Same Day delivery, so customers can choose a time that suits their schedule best. Or they can select Express Delivery — perfect for those who need something in a hurry — for delivery as fast as 90 minutes.

Walmart+ and InHome: A chauffeur for your groceries

Walmart+ members have the option to add InHome to their membership. This service allows customers to have groceries delivered straight to their fridges, while other items are placed on the countertop. InHome even offers pickup for customer returns, taking the item straight back to the store for you. It’s sort of the pinnacle of convenience.

Want to choose your delivery style?

To get started, all customers need to do is open the Walmart app or website. They can choose between pickup or delivery and select their preferred time slot for either option. With more than 200,000 items available in-store, customers can easily browse and choose everything from fashion and furniture to food and beyond.

At Walmart, we’re more than just a store — we understand our customers’ daily challenges and the want for simplicity and speed. And while we can’t help with the kids homework, Walmart is here for the many other curveballs life can throw your way.

2023-09-06T14:19:00

(BPT) – By Irana Wasti, Chief Product Officer at BILL

From the news to social media to your favorite podcast — artificial intelligence (AI) is capturing headlines. You’ve probably heard about generative AI tools that can write articles, create plans and manipulate images, and as a business owner, you might be curious how this could save you time and benefit your bottom line.

You’re not alone. As technology advances, AI’s potential to revolutionize business grows more significant every day. I’ve served SMBs my whole career, and now in my current role at BILL, I spend time speaking to our SMB customers. I’m consistently hearing the same message: SMBs want to understand how automation and AI can help them get more control of their business and be more efficient.

For these businesses, the key is to find the right technology partner that can help you integrate AI tools in a way that works for you and your business.

Here are some tips for how you can find the right technology and tools to help your business make the most of AI.

How AI can help your business thrive

First, let’s take a look at what we mean when we talk about AI. An AI tool is a software application that relies on artificial intelligence and machine learning to complete a specific task. These tools are used in all kinds of industries and sectors, including health care, education, finance, marketing and business. Like all technology, AI is changing and evolving, and you may have read about, or tried, the latest in AI technology — Generative AI.

AI tools can be really helpful for small businesses — you just need to find the right tool or solution for the jobs you need done. Here are some of the capabilities that AI can deliver for your business:

1. AI can automate your repetitive tasks: Administrative tasks like recording sales data, reconciling accounts, reporting spends and expenses, creating invoices, and issuing payments can take hours. It’s also susceptible to human error. One incorrect calculation or wrong number could have a big financial impact for your business. The good news is, you can save time by using AI tools to automate these tasks.

2. AI can improve customer engagement: We know that SMBs are focused on serving your customers. Which is why tools to help you listen to, and understand, your customers’ needs, questions and concerns are so valuable. AI-powered chat on your website or social media platform can interact with customers in real time, and enable you to respond promptly.

3. AI can help you promote your business: Great marketing can be a catalyst for growth, but it also takes time and money. AI can help speed up the creation of content for you that amplifies your brand and business, speaks to your customer base, and reaches new customers. For example, it can help write blogs, social media, product descriptions and more.

4. AI can analyze your customer data: When it comes to making strategic business decisions, data is one of the most important assets you have. AI-powered tools can analyze large amounts of data quickly and efficiently, and deliver actionable information so you can capitalize on key trends. This can help you make informed decisions about all aspects of your business from products, to pricing, operations and more.

5. AI can help you deliver a better customer journey: The way customers experience your product or service is key to customer retention and brand loyalty. As AI tools develop, they are becoming better adapted and trained. This means they can learn from customer behavior and deliver a more personalized customer journey. This is good for your customers, and good for your business.

Things to consider

Before making any investment or change in technology, it’s important to consider a few factors related to the AI capabilities that you integrate, as well as your own business needs. These factors can help determine what kind of AI is — and isn’t — right for you.

1. Optimizing what you already have: Integrating AI doesn’t necessarily mean making a new investment in a different software or tool. There are lots of situations where you can optimize your existing tools with embedded AI. For example, if you’re using a financial operations platform like BILL, there’s a good chance that you are already using AI capabilities within the platform that you weren’t aware of. BILL has integrated AI into different parts of our solutions, some examples include auto-reading invoices, auto-matching customers and suppliers, detecting and managing risks, and accelerating payments for our customers.

2. Security: Keeping your data, and the data of your customers, safe is at the top of every business owner’s priorities. The potential for hacking and data breaches is one of the risks associated with some AI tools, particularly free or low-cost options that don’t keep your information secure. It’s important to partner with a trusted company or organization that is committed to keeping your business information safe and is transparent about the risk landscape.

3. Supporting your team with this transition: AI can change an employee’s responsibilities and team dynamics. For example, they may have questions about whether their position will no longer be needed, or how this can help their workload. Take the time to talk with your team early in the process about changes, including opportunities to use the efficiencies gained for their benefit.

4. Don’t rush!: Before investing in any technology, take the time to assess whether it is right for you and your business. Talk to fellow business owners and ask for recommendations. Take advantage of free trials and experiments before you integrate. And if you’re wondering whether a product is right for you, reach out to a company and ask them for a demo. Third-party review sites might also be a helpful gauge of the pros and cons of a product.

Partnering for AI success

One of the most important considerations is which company you choose to partner with to deliver these AI capabilities for your business. You want to work with technology partners that can work with you to help customize AI tools to your needs and facilitate integration.

While the technology is still developing and will continue to evolve, there are great technology partners that can help your business harness AI. I always encourage SMBs to partner with innovation-forward companies that build AI technology with the unique needs and interests of SMBs front of mind.

At BILL, we’re 100% focused on helping SMBs to get more control, visibility and efficiency in their business. We do this by taking sophisticated and complex AI, and making it simple, accessible and impactful for SMBs. Our advanced software eliminates human error caused by manual data entry and lets you accomplish more tasks in less time. Customers report saving, on average, 50% of time on bill pay thanks to our artificial intelligence simplifying the payments process.

One of our customers, Repurpose, a plant-based materials company, has seen firsthand the benefits of harnessing AI for their business. “Our AP manager is very impressed by the AI technology that BILL employs,” says Senior Controller Sarah Sanders. “The pre-populated invoice information makes the bill recording very painless.”

By cutting time spent on bill creation and reducing costly human errors, SMBs like Repurpose are able to maximize productivity.

Incorporating AI into your workflows successfully can be a gamechanger for your business. BILL can help you save time and focus on your business, thanks to our AI-powered business payment technology that is powerful, secure, and easy to integrate and use.

To learn more, visit bill.com/product/ai to read how BILL is putting AI to work to help businesses thrive.

2023-09-06T08:01:00

(BPT) – Medicare fraud is a serious problem. Each year, Medicare loses an estimated $60 billion due to fraud, errors and abuse. Every day, these issues affect individuals and families across the country.

The good news? Some simple tips can help you protect yourself and your loved ones.

Common scams

Be aware of common scams, especially during Medicare Open Enrollment in the fall. Examples include:

• Getting bills for services or medical supplies you never received.
• Being prescribed tests and services that are not necessary.
• Receiving medical supplies or equipment you never ordered and do not need.

Warning signs

Watch out for these red flags:

• Unsolicited calls or visits. Someone contacts you out of the blue, claiming to be from Medicare, and offers you free services.
• Requests for personal information. The person demands your Medicare number, Social Security number or other personal information.
• High-pressure marketing. Someone threatens that you will lose your benefits or suffer other consequences if you don’t pay them or agree to services.
• Suspicious websites, mail or email. Communications that look official but have inconsistencies, errors like obvious spelling mistakes or other odd elements.

Protect yourself

Take steps to reduce your risk of becoming a victim:

• Only share your Medicare and Social Security numbers with those you trust.
• Carry your Medicare card only when you need it.
• Keep a record of all your medical visits and procedures.
• Review your Medicare statements for mistakes and charges you don’t recognize.
• Trust your instincts; report any and all suspected fraud.

Need help?

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a federal program that provides free, unbiased information and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries, their family members and caregivers on how to protect themselves and Medicare from fraud. Local SMPs also provide one-on-one case assistance to those who think they may have been a victim of Medicare fraud, which ensures that suspected fraud is reported quickly and efficiently. Funded by the Administration for Community Living, local SMP programs have offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

If you have questions about how to protect yourself, need to report fraud, or need help determining whether you’ve been a victim of fraud, SMP can help.

Find a local SMP at www.smpresource.org or call 877-808-2468.

2023-09-06T12:01:00

(BPT) – If you enjoy candles, you probably love the way their flames illuminate a darkened room, set a certain mood or bring a sense of fun, romance or wonder to your life. Candles are a vital element in many festivals, religious events, birthdays and other major celebrations. Scented candles at a spa or near a bubble bath can also help you to relax and unwind.

As daylight shortens during the autumn months, this is the perfect time to “Candle with Confidence.” Here are tips to help everyone use candles safely:

1. Follow basic candle safety practices. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and make sure candles are not lit on or near anything that might catch fire. Always keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.

2. Prevent candle smoking. Before lighting your candle, trim the wick to 1/4 inch before every use, and be sure to place candles away from drafts, vents or air currents. If a candle continually flickers or smokes, it is not burning properly and should be extinguished. Allow the candle to cool, trim the wick, make sure the area is draft free, then re-light.

3. Beware of “make-your-own” candleholders. Not all glass is the same, so it’s best to avoid burning candles in glass containers that are not specifically designed for candles. Glass candleholders are specifically manufactured to withstand the temperature changes that occur when burning a candle. Everyday glassware is not designed for burning candles.

4. Make votive cleaning easier. Add a few drops of water to the glass of votive holders before inserting the candle to make them easier to clean. Caution: Don’t add more than a few drops of water, and don’t add water unless you intend to burn the candle immediately afterward. Over time, a candle wick could absorb the water and won’t burn properly. Also, never use water to extinguish a candle.

5. Prevent candle fading. Avoid placing candles where they will be directly exposed to sunlight or harsh ‎indoor lighting, as candles may fade if they are left in bright light for an extended period of ‎time.‎

6. Store candles carefully. Keep your candles in a cool, dark and dry place. Tapers or dinner candles should be ‎stored flat to preventing warping.‎

7. Keep candles clean. You can remove dust and fingerprints from a candle by gently rubbing the surface with a piece ‎of nylon or a soft cloth that is dry or slightly dampened with water.‎

8. Care for your candleholders. Remove wax drippings from candleholders by running hot water over them. Alternatively, some ‎home care experts prefer removing wax by first placing the candleholder in the freezer for ‎an hour or so. This allows the wax to shrink and easily pop out when the candleholder is ‎removed from the freezer.‎

By following these tips from the National Candle Association, you’ll be able to light your candle, burn it safely and be confident you are getting the most out of each burn and every candle.‎ Find more expert tips and information at Candles.org.

2023-09-05T23:01:01

(BPT) – When it comes to language development in young children, there is no substitute for genuine human interaction. Whether it occurs within the nurturing confines of home or at preschool, talking and engaging with children in conversation from infancy through school age plays a vital role in their linguistic growth and is an integral part in the curriculum at Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care.

Here are some easy yet effective ways Kiddie Academy recommends that parents can engage their child in conversation at any age:

Conversational Approach — Talking to infants and young children as if engaging in a conversation can have a profound impact on their language development. By pausing and allowing them time to respond, we encourage their active participation. For instance, noticing signs of fatigue, we might say, “I see you starting to yawn, are you tired? It looks like it might be time for you to take your nap.” This conversational style not only helps children understand the rhythm and patterns of communication but also instills confidence in their ability to express themselves.

Descriptive Language — Taking the time to describe the world around children can greatly enhance their vocabulary and understanding. By pointing out specific details and using descriptive language, we expand their knowledge and help them foster a deeper connection with their environment. For example, we might say, “I notice you have your blue shoes with you today. Let’s put them on before we go outside. Let’s start with your right foot, then we will move to your left foot. These shoes are great for running.” Such interactions promote language comprehension and allow children to associate words with concrete objects and experiences.

The Power of Reading — Regularly reading to children is an effective method for building vocabulary and improving language skills. By exposing young minds to a variety of words, sentence structures and storytelling techniques, we stimulate their imagination and expand their linguistic repertoire. Engaging children in discussions about the story or asking open-ended questions can further enhance their comprehension and critical-thinking abilities. Making reading a cherished activity from an early age sets the stage for a lifelong love of books and learning.

Discouraging Baby Talk — As children progress into preschool age, it is crucial to discourage baby talk and instead encourage the use of their “big kid voice.” By consistently modeling proper language usage and reinforcing your children’s efforts to communicate effectively, we empower them to express themselves clearly and confidently. Praising their attempts to use more advanced language skills helps them understand the value of articulation and encourages further linguistic growth.

Embracing Multilingualism — Exposing children to more than one language from birth to 3 years old can provide numerous cognitive benefits. Contrary to popular belief, young children have an incredible capacity to learn multiple languages simultaneously. By immersing them in a bilingual or multilingual environment, we not only broaden their cultural horizons but also enhance their cognitive flexibility, problem-solving skills and overall linguistic competence.

Remember, every interaction is a chance to enhance a child’s linguistic abilities and lay the foundation for a lifetime of effective communication.

For more information and advice, check out the article, Here’s How to Master Parentese and Leave Baby Talk Behind at msn.com.

2023-09-05T23:01:01

(BPT) – Many people today are focused on wellness, and there are lots of apps to track it. Since wellness encompasses physical, mental and financial health, wouldn’t you want an app that covers it all? Enter Life Enhanced^® — an app designed to help State Farm^® life insurance customers move more and learn about physical, mental and financial health.

The app combines State Farm life insurance with technology designed to guide and motivate you in simple ways. Set goals, learn about all areas of well-being, and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle — all at your fingertips.

From physical and mental health to financial wellness, here are three key elements to achieving your goals.

1. Physical and mental health come first

How many steps did you take today? How much sleep did you get last night? Health trackers are everywhere. You can set goals and track all of this on Life Enhanced. Connect your fitness tracker to the app and make it easy to earn rewards. The app also offers access to wellness and financial information, including tips and education resources to help you build your wellness habits.

2. Invest in life insurance

Creating long-term financial stability is also critical to your well-being. A simple, effective way to ensure your and your family’s financial stability is to purchase life insurance.

If you’re a millennial, life insurance should be on your radar. According to the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA), many millennials are married, own homes, have dependent children and have more than $100,000 in household income. However, despite having people to provide for and assets to protect, more than half of millennials have no life insurance.

Knowing what type of life insurance you need and how much to buy are factors in protecting those you love. Life Enhanced tools can help you learn about and estimate your needs around life insurance prior to speaking with an agent.

3. Plan your estate

Estate planning is another piece in your overall wellness as it can help you feel good about what you leave behind.

You should create a living will — a legal document outlining your health care preferences in case you can’t communicate them — and a last will and testament describing how you want your property and assets distributed after your death.

Other important aspects of estate planning include advanced health care directives and financial power of attorney, so your wants are properly taken care of when you can’t do so.

It can be scary to think about leaving your loved ones, yet there are plenty of professionals and resources to help. With Life Enhanced, you’ll have access to FreeWill, the largest digital estate planning tool in the U.S., and Lantern, which helps you document, store and share your end-of-life wishes with those you love.

Get physically, mentally and financially fit

Wellness in all areas of your life doesn’t happen by accident. By creating and sticking to your goals, purchasing life insurance and planning your estate, you’re on your way.

The best part is that you don’t have to do it alone. With Life Enhanced, everything is there. To learn more about life insurance and Life Enhanced, talk to a State Farm agent and visit StateFarm.com.

2023-09-05T14:01:00

(BPT) – The fall and winter holidays are known as the cooking holidays when friends and family gather to share a meal and celebrate the season. If you’re planning to host this year, you know there’s a long list of tasks that can make the day beautiful and memorable for guests. With so many responsibilities, the last thing you want to add to the day is dealing with a clogged pipe that grinds the festivities to a halt.

Fortunately, clogged pipes can be easy to avoid: The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) wants to save you the time and frustration of an avoidable plumbing emergency by properly disposing of cleaning wipes along with fats, oils and grease (FOG). Isn’t your holiday feast complete without an expensive emergency visit from the plumber?

Don’t let FOG create a clog

Many a tasty holiday recipe also creates FOG as a byproduct. While they help enhance the taste of a dish, they can cause a backup in the pipes if poured down your kitchen sink.

As an experienced cook and host, you likely already know that FOG should never drain down the sink. However, your kitchen helpers — especially the youngest junior chefs — may not know about the havoc FOG can cause in your plumbing.

FOG can create a nasty film inside your pipes that builds up over time, preventing water from flowing cleanly through your pipes. Eventually, this can constrict flow and cause a clog, flooding your kitchen and possibly other parts of your home, too.

Make sure to set a meal prep huddle with enthusiastic holiday helpers before they join you in the kitchen about why FOG should never go down the drain and teach them how to properly dispose of leftover liquids in a FOG can. For younger helpers, you can make this into a fun activity! Before dinner, have them make their own FOG can and decorate it for the holidays. Need an activity sheet with instructions on how to make a fun FOG can? We’ve got you covered.

No “Do Not Flush” wipes in pipes

Whether you are cleaning up the kitchen after a meal or tidying up the bathroom, non-flushable wipes such as hard surface wet wipes and baby wipes can be an enormous holiday timesaver. They’re made of long, durable polymer fibers (plastic) so they can do the hard work of cleaning up spills, leftover food and liquids, and bathroom surfaces. However, this same durability can cause clogs to develop if flushed down your toilet. Always look for the “Do Not Flush” symbol on wipes packaging for proper disposal instructions.

Remember, even if a wipe says it is compostable, biodegradable, all natural, or made from plant-based fibers, it does not necessarily mean it is flushable. More than 90% of wipes sold are non-flushable, which makes it very important to always look for proper disposal instructions.

And even if you don’t see a clog in your household pipes, FOG and non-flushable wipes can cause havoc in our sewers. When cleaning wipes and baby wipes are inappropriately flushed down the toilet and combine with FOG, they can create fatbergs. These giant, cement-like masses can clog entire wastewater systems. According to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), non-flushable wipes that are improperly disposed of cost an estimated $441 million a year in additional operating costs for collection systems and U.S. clean water utilities.

If your guests offer to help you with the post-dinner cleanup, remind them that wipes should always go into the trash and cannot be put down the kitchen sink or toilet. Have a large, visible trash can or bag in the kitchen, especially near cooking areas, so everyone knows exactly where wipes and other trash should land.

Celebrate without worry

Many hands make light work — and by educating yourself and others on how to avoid clogged pipes, you can celebrate the season and encourage new holiday helpers worry-free. To learn more about how you can flush smart during the holidays and year-round, visit FlushSmart.org.