Healthy cornucopia

It's really amazing how a little gift and a little adjustment in attitude can bring out a grin from an otherwise bored disposition.

Not that my father's birthday today was boring. I had wondered whether to give a card and a gift or just a card - I had been trying to think up what to give him that he didn't already have.

My wife had advised that a gift is a gift and the receiver would still appreciate it - even if he already had more than one of a similar item.

To cut to the chase, my dear over-seventy year-old father loved his new steel wine opener with the corkscrew and plastic ring around the stainless steel rim. We all had a great time...

And then it was time to leave. I handed out bubble gum packs to everyone to clean out the palate.

To my surprise, my sister said she doesn't buy chewing gum for her kids, even though they accepted my gift readily.

So, I had to tell her the benefits of chewing gum, including teeth whitening, plaque removal, breath freshener, savings on toothpick purchases, aids digestion as saliva is swallowed periodically as a recycled fluid, exercising the facial and jaw muscles, and teeth strengthening - quite different from the general negative impression of a gum chewer resembling a goat chewing the cord in most places in my country today. 

One more thing: she immediately asked for some for herself. And their smiles broadened as they drove off when I drummed a little ditty on the cover of the large gum container and yelled out, "Chew gum!"

How's your attitude to health? These nine Jodi Helmer diet tips state that you should include in your diet whole grains, eat at home to control the ingredients used in the recipe, vary your diet to prevent the temptation of going AWOL - or on the lam - on a boring diet, avoiding alcohol and other calorie-uppers like sugary or caffeinated drinks, and  exercise to avoid getting fat.

Donna Freeman lists twelve cheap healthful foods that can actually keep you and your foor budget slimmer - grains, fruits, vegetables, and  proteins that can be found at supermarkets, "....drugstores, grocery outlets, big-box stores and dollar stores.....", ethnic and other specialty food stores.

Do you want soft and callous-free feet? Then throw out the pumice stone and the foot file, and make room for the very effective ped egg foot softener.

Let me stop right here for now - more tips in my next post....