A Gumbo for The Woods

So, you're planning a trip to the woods and want to do something really special. It may take bringing in some supplies, including a huge pot, but a gumbo may be just what you are looking for.

While at home slice and dice enough red peppers, green peppers, and onions to fill a quart bag of each. If you want, fry off enough brats or other sausages to fill a gallon bag. Make sure that you have a can opener, about 64 ounces total of canned diced and stewed tomatoes, about 32 ounces of tomato paste, and a can of pepper, as well as any other spices you like. You'll also want to package a cup of table or sea salt. Also, make sure that you have a ten-gallon pot and large stirring spoon (at least three feet long, wooden preferred). You'll also want a five-pound bag of rice, two pound of butter or margarine, and your option of two gallons of water (you can use river water if you so desire).

On the way to the campsite, you'll want to grab a variety of seafoods, such as clam and shrimp. Alternately, you can throw in whatever you catch at camp, but keep in mind that you're going to need a lot of meat of meat (at least five pounds, but closer to ten pounds). That's a lot of crawdads.

Build a fire and place the pot in the middle. You can use a cooking rack if you want, but keep in mind that you will be putting a lot of weight on it. Melt the butter and then mix in the vegetables. You want to slightly caramelize the vegetables, and then add in the meat, seasonings, and 1 2/3 gallons of water (you're going to need 200 ounces of water, and a gallon is 128 ounces). You want to boil the water, but it's going to take a long time. Once it's boiling, throw in the rice and mix it in thoroughly. Let it cook another five minutes and then remove the pot from the fire.

After about twenty minutes, check it. The rice should be nice and fluffy, and you can serve it. Better yet, if you should have enough for a small army to last the weekend (or at least three meals), and as long as you cooked it properly it shouldn't spoil. If you want to reheat, mix in a bottle of water (about twenty ounces) and mix thoroughly, but that shouldn't be needed. It's a good healthy meal, gives you all of your energy needs, and tastes pretty good as well. All in all, a great recipe for the great outdoors. 

Tips on Finding a New Ingredient to Play With

If you really want to get better at cooking, pick an ingredient that you have never really messed with before and buy a couple of pounds of it. It just may inspire you to try some new stuff.

Of course, before you invest in a new ingredient, due your research, especially if you have a food allergy. Some ingredients trigger allergies even though they may not even look like what you may be allergic to.

A good general rule is to start with basic ingredients and move up to more exotic ingredients from there. This makes sure that you won't feel out of your depth any time soon.

A good recipe site can help spur your imagination once you have the ingredient in question. Try to pick a few different recipes that feature different ways of preparing the same ingredient.

Try to pick an ingredient that looks like fun. The more fun you have with the ingredient the more you will learn.

Tips on How to Survive Paintball

Paintball is a great way to get some exercise as well as let off some steam. However, it requires being treated just as seriously as any other physical activity to get the best exercise out of it and to make sure that you don't go home in an ambulance.

Make sure that all of your equipment checks out before you even hit the field. Improperly maintained equipment can result in explosive guns, and that's never a good thing when your gun is based off using air pressure.

Your gear should include at least elbow and knee pads, chest protection, and goggles. No only will this limit the number of balls that explode on your body and therefore sting, but it will also protect your body from fall damage.

Stretching is a good idea as well. It ensures that your body is limber and that protects you from injury as well.

Keep hydrated. You will sweat a lot during the game, and you may suffer from dehydration if you don't drink occasionally. However, keep it non-alcoholic until you are away from the field to prevent any accidents due to impaired decision making.

Tips On The Best Drinks Post-Exercise

There will always be a little debate over the best drinks to follow up exercise with. The obvious advice is to know what your body needs and make sure that whatever your body wants is given to it.

A smoothie is actually a pretty good drink for most people. It gives a good general boost, and the fruit.vegetable base makes sure that you get any number of vitamins as well as protein and electrolytes.

Some people just require some electrolytes to bring them back online after exercise. Although some may think it's blood sugar that may be a problem, try something heavy with electrolytes first.

A drink with added protein in it is a good idea when you have sore muscles. This is not because it will help the soreness, but because it helps to rebuild muscles that were damaged and are causing the soreness.

A beer may not be a bad idea. It may sound ludicrous, but a beer is a great mix of vitamins and minerals,and actually hydrates better than water. Just remember to limit your intake to 500 mL (or just over 16 ounces) for men, and 250mL (or 8.5 ounces) for women for best health results. 

Tips on Grabbing A Proper Movie Snack

If you're planning on watching a movie, keep an eye what you eat. Anything that gives you gas should be avoided, especially if you are going to be in public or have company over.

Avoid big meals before the movie. The temptation to sleep will be too great, and that's the last thing you want to do. Especially with prank-loving friends.

At the movie theater, try to keep down to two snacks and a drink. Any more than that is just gluttony and will hurt your wallet.

Never eat an actual meal while watching a movie; there is just too much movement and then you need to deal with the dirty dishes all over the place. A snack big enough for a meal, such as nachos, can actually work out well.

In order to keep people sitting down, avoid snacks that require a number of trips such as cheese/meat and crackers or any kind of snack bar. This is why nachos and popcorn are great snacks: They require few refills, and fill people up.

Being Skeptical

For the person that truly loves food this is a great time to be alive. There has never before been as much information available on food, or access to different types of food, or even ways to figure out how to cook those different kinds of food. However, there's also a lot of bad information out there as well. As the natural food movements gain ground, you need to keep an eye out for a lot of that misinformation. And it can get pretty wild.

Look at table salt. A lot of groups are against anything manufactured; they reason that the more something is manufactured the less nutritious it is, as well as the worse the taste is. The reality is that while there may be some potential issues with pesticides, even though they are washed off as well as possible, the food is more likely to be devoid of impurities, such as soil and insects, as well as healthier in general. That it is missing taste is a good point until you realize that the extra taste was pillbugs and earwigs. Table salt's manufacture is actually a good thing, as the iodine that is added staves off goiter; although it does make the salt a little saltier, the additive actually helps the person's health.

Conversely, there is raw milk. Again, the problem is that natural foods are somehow better for you, and should be sought out at all costs. Although the point in this case is understandable as pasteurization kills the bacteria in the milk, and that bacteria actually helps in digestion, there is the problem that raw milk has to be virtually right out of the cow; because of the lack of pasteurization and preservatives raw milk can go bad really, really quick; it can only last about two or three days before it becomes a danger. Because of this states have had to deal with the flak when they either prohibit raw milk completely or limit the distance it can travel; naturally, the natural food people are up in arms at the prohibition despite the health risks raw milk presents.

All this means is that you need to watch out for any number of pieces of misinformation. Like anything else, do your research, and be worried if you see nothing but good things about the food in question. At the same time, if you see a lot of bad news about a particular item, do some research to figure out what is happening. Too many times a food is given a great PR boost and it's a great food but not as good as other foods, or it may be attacked just to create interest in much more natural products; either way, it's creating more misinformation than actual information. Always be a little skeptical when something is too good or to bad to be true; a little paranoia is always a good policy when it comes to something you'll be putting into your body. 

Tips on Mixing Drinks and Movies

There will always be a debate over the perfect drink to accompany a movie. The challenge will be to find something you like while keeping it enjoyable. Soda is actually not a bad idea as it will keep you awake during the movie.

Wine can also work rather well, especially if it's an arthouse flick. Shoot for a good merlot as it usually makes for a great wine to just relax with.

If you need to go alcoholic but don't want wine, go for beer. Hard liquor should be avoided, as you want to pay attention to the movie. This is one of the times you want a good pilsner or IPA, as they aren't too heavy and the taste should merge well with any snack you choose.

Coffee should be avoided as you want something that will last the entire movie; hot coffee will chill too quick and iced coffee will be diluted, ruining the taste. Tea is an excellent choice.

Energy drinks should also be avoided. They'll either put you to sleep or put you on edge, and neither is a good idea while watching a movie. 

The Difference Between Salts

Sea, kosher, and iodized: This three little words cause a lot of confusion when it comes to new cooks deciding on which salt to stock for their kitchens. When it comes down to it, there are some basic differences that you should consider when stocking your kitchen, and those differences are not as hard to figure out as much as you think.

Iodized salt is the one that we are all familiar with. It has a slight metallic taste compared to the others because iodine has been added to it. Goiter used to be a common disease which causes the thyroid gland to be inflamed as well as large bulges called goiters to show up on the body. Iodine is used to fight it, and while it is normally found in a variety of vegetables, it can be missing if the soil itself is iodine-deficient. In order to combat it, some companies decided to add iodine to table salt as it was something everyone used. Since then it has become the default salt.

However, in recent years kosher salt has become popular due to the lack of additives. That lack of additives gives it a lighter taste than regular table salt, giving it a slighter better taste as a seasoning. Its coarseness also makes it outstanding for brines and coatings, as it sticks to food far more readily than table salt. as well as for general cooking. However, that same coarseness impairs its ability to dissolve into water, making it a poor choice when it comes to baking; although it's great as a coating it sucks as an actual ingredient.

Sea salt is a far more natural product than regular table salt. While table salt comes from a variety of sources, up to and including actual salt mines, sea salt is from the evaporation of seawater. This gives it a different taste than regular salt, as well as a slightly different color (in some cases, a wider variety of color as different impurities give it different colors). However, it can be used almost interchangeably with table salt; although it is a little coarser, that disappears in in water and it dissolves as readily as regular table salt.

Of course, there are some considerations that need to be taken into account when the different types of salt are used. The biggest is that alternative sources of iodine need to be determined; seafood is one great source, but green and lima beans, strawberries, prunes, kelp, and even potatoes are other great sources. It also needs to be noted that you will be using different amounts of the other two salts. Kosher salt's coarseness means that you will be using twice as much as regular salt. Sea salt will require a little experimentation, but the general rule is that you will slightly less than table salt, on the order of one tablespoon per cup less than the recipe requires.

Although the health benefits are debatable, the difference in taste is not. You'll want to experiment until you find the mix you like. But when you find that right mix, you'll be loving life; it's just a matter of figuring out which salt works best for you.

Tips on Great Movie Snacks

Everyone snacks when they watch movies. Luckily there are a wide variety of options available. Just find one that you like, or even a small range of options, and you'll find you'll enjoy the movie better.

Popcorn is the default for a lot of good reasons: It smells great, is a great diet food, and can adapted easily to the taste of the person eating it. Try to stick with air popper if possible.

Nachos are another great option. You can either do a full production number or just melt some cheese over chips. Jalapenos are always optional.

Sadly, fruit will never really be an option. You want something that feels a little naughty, and fruit and vegetables are rarely the best option. Nonetheless, you may want to try it anyway, perhaps with a yogurt dip to make it feel like you're sneaking around.

Candy should always be seen as a last resort. However, if you do crave something sweet grab a bar of dark chocolate, possibly with a coconut center, and enjoy life a little. 

Tips on Exercising as a Couple

With most couples being double-income, it can be hard to find things to do together. Exercise can be one of those things especially if you can find the right classes. Just remember to not get too competitive, and a good exercise regimen can actually build a relationship.

Being on the same team depends on the maturity of the relationship. It helps build a younger relationship if the couple is on the same team. Not only does it help build trust but it also builds common memories, both of which make the relationship stronger.

An older relationship, however, requires a little more competition to work. The couple needs to find a way to compete against each other or they are likely to fight a lot, and eventually tear each other apart. They should find a way to let off some steam, and competing against each other provides a great pressure valve as well as providing some healthy exercise.

Of course, couples should mix that up a little. A younger relationship needs to appreciate what the other can do, and competition fosters that respect. On the hand, the older relationship needs to show others just how scary they can be when together as well as remembering how fun it is to play together, and being on the same team helps that.

Of course, your mileage may vary. Keep in mind that couples that compete need to maintain respect for the other while couples that compete together need to remember that they need to spend some time apart. A relationship requires a certain balance; find what works for you and keep in mind that the balance will probably keep shifting. It won't be easy, but nothing worth it ever is.

Tips on Exercising As A Couple

Some couples have a weird way of celebrating Valentine's Day: They go exercising together. This is not suggested for competitive couples: The need to win may be put a crimp in the romance if this is done too often. However, this is a great way to get in a little extra time together.

A morning marathon can actually be a good thing. Besides allowing you both to work on your endurance, you can also get in some added conversation, or not depending on the couple.

If you don't mind a little competition, you can take it to the range. A paintball war is a great way to deal with any minor issues in the relationship, let off some steam, and have some fun.

You can also participate in a local event, such as a mud run or an obstacle course. This is one time when it is not only okay to get a little dirty, but it's encouraged.

To really make the day special, make sure that you go somewhere right after you are done exercising. A good strawberry smoothie may be in order....

Tips on Other Options That Mix Romance and Food

When it comes to designing a romantic meal, there are a number of optons you can consider beyond going out or coming up with a great meal. Just remember that whatever you do you need to do something that is fun for both of you, otherwise the dinner is going to fall flat. This is not the time to be self-sacrificing, but to find some common ground, so that keep that in mind when you are exploring other options.

One-night sushi classes are a great option. It's something that is relatively easy to make with a wide variety of different options, making for a fun evening. Although there may not be much time for conversation, that can be fine for couples who want a relatively quiet evening.

Wine and cheese tasting classes may sound boring, but they can be fun. It gets you out of the house, allows you to rub elbows with people of the same tastes, and you may find some great new ingredients to play with. It can make for a good break from normal.

Beer brewing may sound a little weird for a romantic night, but when you realize the variety of beers available and what can be added to them. Thee is also that labels need to be designed for the beer as well. For couples that like to have fun designing things and planning things out this can actually be a fun night.

Whatever you do, avoid creating a meal together. It sounds fun, but invariably it's a big mess. For a romantic dinner you want to do something outside the ordinary, and cooking a meal just for the two of you does not have that feel. On the other hand, if the two of you spend very little time together and are willing to stick to one person being in charge, preferably the better cook, this could actually work out very well for you.

Secrets of a Great Romantic Dinner

Creating the perfect romantic dinner is actually pretty easy. All you need to do is realized that you need to is keep in mind that there needs to be a certain ritual to it and you're doing fine. Most bachelors over-think it and that's where they tend to get screwed; they want to present this over-complicated meal when all they need to do remember that elegance and simplicity are linked. Just go into with a game plan, and you should be fine.

Remember that you can take advantage of prepared foods as long as you make it look home-made. It means that you need to put at least a modicum of effort into the prep; if you don't want to go all out you don't need to, but you do need to put some effort into it. At the same time, you need to keep in mind that this does need to be a little more stand out than the average meal. With that in mind, there's an easy way to fix a three-course dinner that will impress your date. All you need to do is relax and think ahead a little.

You're going to want to go cold-hot-cold. A warm first course, such as a soup, is more likely to put the person to sleep earlier than you would like. They also tend to heavy in carbs and anything else that the other person is trying to avoid. You also want to end on a cold note as it's an excuse to get warmer, such as through snuggling. This means that a good salad is usually the best way to start, followed by a good meal, and some sort of frozen dessert. Keep in mind that it helps to keep in mind any food allergies or other problems; ignore anything about cheese if she is lactose intolerant or nuts if she has nut allergies. You don't want the date to end in an emergency call or a trip to the emergency room.

[A serving note: You want a little drama here in order to show that you actually were cooking. If she actually sees you cooking, it actually helps to seal the deal: It shows that you do have some kind of cooking skills, and that you aren't trying to poison her. If she offers to help, say "no" the first two times, and let her do the salad, possibly the starch and vegetables, but only if they are to be nuked. If she does the protein, the spell will be broken and that's a disaster for your purposes; after all, you're trying to impress her with your cooking skills.

As far as order goes, finish cooking the main course and then put it aside. Mix the salad and dressing, and serve that. When the salad is eaten, take away the plates and serve the main course; it should still be warm and the it gives the meat a chance to rest. Once the main course is over take away the plates, do something else for about thirty to sixty minutes, and then serve up the dessert. The break between second and third courses actually allows the appetite to come back so that neither of you feels over-stuffed.]

For your purposes, start with a Caesar salad mix. The Romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese is a great base. Instead of the normal salad dressing, mix up a basic oil and vinegar dressing using balsamic vinegar and olive oil as the base, with a lot of pepper and Italian seasoning. Or, for those that need a recipe:

Salad:
2 cups Chopped Romaine
3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 cup Croutons
1/2 cup of any three of the following: diced tomatoes, dried cranberries, chopped sweet peppers, sliced olives, crushed walnuts, sliced almonds, bacon bits, quarter slices of cucumber, sliced or shredded carrots, or bean sprouts

Dressing:
1 cup Olive Oil
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt

Mix the salad and dressing ingredients separately, only combining them right before dinner. Make sure you keep it refrigerated until you serve it. Serve with the first of two glasses of red wine; the other should be poured right after you serve her dinner but before you sit down, but you can get away with pouring the first glass after you have sat down. Make sure that it has been allowed to breath for about thirty minutes before putting the salad together.

For the main course, you're going to want protein, starch, and veggies. The starch is probably the simplest part: Rice is always a good idea, as are roasted potatoes. Any packaged rice mix is fine, especially one that you can nuke. Roasted potatoes are simply diced potatoes, well seasoned, possibly with chopped or sliced onions, all of this cooked until the potatoes are golden brown and the onions caramelized. For vegetables, keep it simple; a stir-fry mix works, as well as asparagus, broccoli with cheese, or any decent vegetable combination. As with the rice, feel free to use something you can throw into the microwave.

The protein is going to be the fun part. Your three best bets are going to be a boneless chicken breast, fish, or a portabello mushroom. The latter can be quickly seared: The fish should be seared as is, possibly with a little lemon and pepper. The mushroom can be seared with some butter and garlic salt, and then served as is. The chicken you can have a little fun with; the simplest way is to cook it thoroughly in oil with a little garlic salt and pepper on top. Put it all together and serve.

Dessert is where you can cheat with no problem. Keep it simple, and keep it cold: Chocolate-dipped strawberries are always a good bet, while ice cream is a close second. You can get away with a warm pie, but only if it's underneath a scoop of ice cream. Pudding, sugar-free or otherwise, also works, as well as mixed fruit. Again, a cold dessert not only keeps her awake after the hot dinner, but also gives you the possibility for snuggling. Keep to this meal plan, and you may even impress your date; there is nothing wrong with that.

Tips on Cooking That Romantic Dinner

When cooking a romantic meal, it helps to consider what each item says about the relationship. This means that you need to make sure that each item doesnt just fit well with the meal as a whole, but says something good about the relationship as well.

Color is going to be important. You're either going to want bright, clear colors or softer, more comfortable colors such as browns, reds, and whites. This is sort of why spaghetti and lasagna are so popular: Between the reds and white of the meal proper and the yellows and browns of the bread, it makes for a comfortable meal just visually.

You're going to want to keep to a three-course dinner, with a cold-hot-cold theme. Too many warm foods will tend to put both of you to sleep, which doesn't make for a romantic evening. This means you should start off with a salad, have a dinner with a protein, vegetable, and starch, and finish with a cold dessert. Ending with a cold desssert encourages snuggling to warm up; you can definitely compromise with hot slice of pie under a scoop of ice cream.

There are going to some tastes you want to encourage and others you want encourage. Obviously bitter tastes are too be avoided, as it may strike the wrong symbolic note. You want to avoid foods that are too sweet, even for dessert, and foods that are too sour may be an issue as well. "Tangy" may actually be the best flavor you can work for, as well as savory.

Spicy should always be debated. If you can hit that right balance, you can actually impress your date. You want just enough heat to make the food fun, but not hot enough that you need a gallon of milk to survive. Keep in mind that you can also get away with little to no seasoning depending on the ingredients. 

Setting the Perfect Valentine's Day Dinner

One of the hardest meals to prepare is a romantic one. There is the feeling that everything is on the line, and so it can create its very own stresses. However, the meal itself is almost easy compared to creating the required atmosphere. The good news is that if you pull it off, you can get away with a lot when it comes to the meal itself; after all, as a bachelor it's generally assumed that cooking is not one of your strong skills, and so you just need to make a strong effort. Setting the stage for the dinner should be your major worry, an that's not really hard to do.

As Guardians of the Galaxy showed, a good mix tape can make a good thing great. If you are like any other bachelor, you should have access to a great sound system. Your dinner needs a good soundtrack, and there are a number of different ways to set up a playlist, ranging from Pandora to iTunes to even Youtube. You need to find about 45-60 minutes of good music and then put it together on a playlist. You want something slow, romantic, and works at a low volume. You should be thinking in terms of Barry White more than rap; country music and old-school R&B are your best friends. Just remember that you want music that sounds good without being schmaltzy; you want to set a mood and hopefully that mood will transfer over. Music is the best way to get it going.

The table is going to need to be set with extreme care. You don't need to worry about all of the extra silverware; a simple set, a napkin, and a water glass is all you need. Straight up: If you're confused by all of the extra silverware, odds are she is as well, and you don't want to embarrass her. Just make sure the fork is on the left and the knife and spoon is on the right and you should do okay. However, you are going to want a tablecloth, the cleaner the better, and placemats. You want them placed on opposite sides of the tables, preferably on the sides closest together and centered. Make sure that you use the best you have, preferably a matching set, as well as two saucers, a salad plate or soup bowl, and a plate for both of you. Use the plate to determine where the silverware should go, and then put it in the kitchen.

Like any production, lighting is paramount. Once you have the settings placed, you're going to want to place candles. Place at least three candles between the places with the tallest one in the center. On the places not used place three to four candles in a straight line along the edge. Place a few candles randomly throughout the dining room. You can use battery-powered candles, but they just don't give off the same light; they are just too white. Just before the other person gets there, make sure that the candles are lit and that lights are turned down; they should be turned down low enough that you can still see but also so that the candles contribute to the general glow.

Make sure that whatever drinks you have chosen are ready to go but not opened. In the kitchen, the dinner should be ready, or almost ready. The salad should be plated in the kitchen, ready to go minus the dressing (unless the dressing is part of the salad). when your date shows up, pull out the chair, let her sit down, and push her under the table. At this point the dinner should begin; pour drinks while keeping the conversation light and then go grab the salad. You'll want to make sure that forks remain on the table when you take the salad plate, or you can replace it. Serve the dinner, and worry more about the conversation than dinner. Accept any compliments but don't dwell on them; the dinner should be about her not the food. Once the dinner plate has been removed, give her the option of the living room for dessert.

Keep in mind that the advantage to serving a cold dessert is that it makes the perfect excuse for cuddling,especially if the weather outside is cold.If you have a present, and that is advised, when dessert is over is the best time to present it. Put the dishes in the sink with the other dishes to give her some time alone with the present, and let them sit until morning; you can enjoy a little time with whoever you ate dinner with before she leaves, assuming she leaves. After all, all of this may have given you a chance for an additional romantic moment. 

Tips on What to Look For in a Romantic Restaurant

When you are looking for a romantic restaurant, the top three factors you need to consider are the price of the meals, how dark the place is, and how far you need to walk to it. Of course, make sure that you have placed reservations virtually as soon as you have decided on a place; nothing can put a damper on the night like not being to get into your restaurant simply because there is nowhere for you to sit.

For a romantic dinner you want to loosen the purse strings. You want to bump up the amount you usually spend, preferably by at least $10-$20, and you want to make sure you tip the server.

Lighting will set the mood, so pay some attention to how much light is in the area. The ideal is light that allows you to see to the edge of the table and not much further. This allows you to concentrate on your date and not worry about the rest of the restaurant. At the same time you don't want it too dark or it makes going to the restroom dangerous.

Walking distance may seem a little strange, but you want a little distance after the meal. A good meal is going to make you want to sleep, and so having to walk a few minutes can help wake you up, especially if it's a little chilly. It also helps to create a little added intimacy on the date. At the same time try to keep within a reasonable distance, such as no more than a 5-10 minute walk.

You also want to consider the ambient sounds of the restaurant. You want to be able to talk to your date while ignoringthe rest of the restaurant. Any background music should be low-key and allow for some light conversation, allowing the two of you to get better acquainted. 

Tips on Surviving Skiing

Skiing is a great way to use up a lot of calories and have fun doing it. Just remember that it is not a cheap sport.

Make sure that you on the slopes for at least a few hours each day. If your muscles aren't sore by the end of the day, you aren't doing it right.

Make sure you know what you are doing. If you are new to the sport, others will know it and there is nothing more humiliating than being found out as a rookie. This is one case where there is no shame in taking lessons, and you may even earn a smidgen of respect.

As a corollary, keep to paths within your skill level. Bravado is fine, but if you can't back it up DON'T. Taking on a risk you can't back up means that you are risking serious injury and death, as well as making rescue personnel do work they shouldn't have had to do. That last bit means that you can be billed and potentially sued for an injury you should not have put yourself in the position to suffer in the first place. This is a situation where cowardice is the better part of valor.

You can let your hair down a little, but keep it up a little. In other words, you're expending more than enough calories to have earned some leniency when it comes to alcohol and food, but don't go too crazy. That should also ensure that you don't take home more from the trip than you bring, and that the local constabulary won't take any souvenir photos of you.

Tips on Enjoying Bowling

Exercise does not need to be limited to just a gym. There are a number of different sports out there that you can try. If sweating is not your style, there are a number of other sports out there. Bowling is one of the more debatable ones.

Bowling is a great sport for raising your heart rate. It's actually good for those looking for something that increase their heart rates but with little danger of crossing a threshold.

The key to bowling's potential as an exercise is tied to weight of the bowling ball: The heavier the ball, the more exercise you get. However, don't feel that you need to increase the size of the ball; even assuming you make all strikes on three sets, you are still going to lift and toss a ball at least 36 times, with a maximum of 66 times (the worse a bowler you are, the more exercise you get).

When you are looking for a ball size, look for one that feels comfortable, and requires a little struggle to lift. A ball that is too heavy will cause sprains and is uncontrollable, while a ball that is too light will likely be uncontrollable.

Keep in mind that you do not want to undo the benefits of exercise. Read: Try to avoid the usual bowling alley food, before, during and after the game, and try to restrict your soda and beer intake. Your conscience will be your guide, and it had better be a jerk.

Tips on Surviving the Mid-Afternoon Famine

One of the problems with being a diabetic is the dreaded mid-afternoon snack. You need something quick, and a nutrition bar or fruit is probably not a good idea. I'd suggest making sure that you have a supply of pico de gallo and corn chips on hand.

There are a wide variety of gluten-free crackers. They may not be carb free, but they do have fewer carbs than regular crackers so you can snack with less guilt.

This is yet another reason to split your lunch and save a third of it for later. Well, "later" is NOW.

Look for the vendor's number on any vending machines in the building. If they are serious about making money, then they are also willing to listen to snack suggestions, even vague ones like "sugar-free". Call them up and see what you can arrange.

Jerky and porkskins also make for great snacks. For a fun option, track down the local carneceria (Mexican mini-mart) for chicarrons (the best are like thick porkskins with some meat attached). 

Harvesting Organic Vegetables and Having Fun With It

Animal hunters are not the only ones who can enjoy the hunt. Some areas offer guided tours of the local scenery with specific interest in what foods are available for cooking and eating. Even tours of the local scenery can yield some great finds if enough care is given to the details of the tour. Most interesting, some hunting guides are willing to take vegetarians along on a hunt in order to show where the best foods are. There are some simple tips you should consider when you are planning such a tip.

Make sure you do some research into the local foods to see what is available. You want to do at least some cursory research into local regulations, as some items may be protected due to endangered status or other legal reasons, in order to make sure you aren't picking something that can get you into trouble.If you are crossing state lines, you may want to look into limitations when it comes to foods that can enter or leave the applicable states. You also want to look into local cookbooks that take advantage of the local fauna as well so that way you have something you can do with your harvest once you return home.

You also want to look into the reputation of the guide or guides that will be taking you on that trip. As part of that background check you will want to check with local cooks and well-known vegetarians; heck, you may want to start with them in order to get a list of great guides. Once you have a list of guides you can pare them down based on availability and cost. You can set any other criteria based on whatever relevant factors you may consider, such as those that farm the specific items you are looking for or if the person has a reputation for vegetarian-friendly tours. You just want a guide you like and who can get you what you are looking for.

A harvesting trip may sound like a weird excuse for a trip, but it can provide an excellent excuse for a vacation. Finding the wild truffle may sound like a mild walk in the woods, but sometimes it can make a great excuse for a day trip or even a week in a great location; nothing let's you experience the local scene like looking for local foods and seeing how they are prepared. Hunting for your own food also adds to the taste, and provides a link to our ancient gathering ancestors, making it a great way to get back to your roots. Plan your trips now; you want to harvest the food when it is ripe enough to be harvested for its best taste. 

Tips on the Dietary Dangers of Social Media Recipes

One of the great things about social media is that you see a lot of recipes that look delicious. However, some of these come with their own fun problems. Make sure that you look the recipe over for anything you may be allergic to with an eye for substitutions.

Diabetics should be wary of "sugar-free" recipes. They may be made with no sugar whatsoever, but that's because some of the ingredients have more than enough. Yes, people have included ingredients such as apple sauce, chocolate chips, and molasses for so-called "sugar-free" recipes.

Eggs are another potential issue as recipes use them as a default binding agent to keep the ingredient in one piece. You may want to check out such options as chickpeas (which when ground to paste does a wonderful job) as well as tahini, or an oil made from sesame seeds.

If you have gluten allergies don't panic when you see recipes that require wheat flour. Just substitute corn or soy flour instead. Suffice to say that you may want to play with them ahead of time to see how they taste or look for your recipes.

When you see meat in a recipe ask your self if the meat brings something needed to the recipe before making a substitute. Sometimes the grease from meat actually makes the recipe work, and it's virtually impossible to replicate using vegetarian ingredients.

Hunting, or Finding Organic Meat in Its Native Habitat

For those looking for the ultimate in organic meat, hunting will always be the best way to go. You know where the meat was taken from, it's easy to put together the life it lead, and the health of the animal is easy enough to ascertain. Admittedly there is also the visceral thrill of the hunt, but for those looking to avoid the usual health risks of the modern era there is no substitute for animals harvested from the wild. However, before you hit the trail it pays to do the research and make sure that you are harvesting the animal legally.

[For the purposes of his article, "weapons" means any firearm, bow, crossbow, blowpipe, or even fishing rod used specifically for hunting or fishing. I'm loathe about making such a list, but "hunting equipment" is too vague and "harvesting tools" too euphemistic.]

Doing the research breaks down to two separate areas, three if you want to hire someone or take advantage of hunting packages. That first area will be to find the perfect area to hunt. This means an area that has the animals you are looking for, at least a reputation for those animals. You will also wish to ensure that the area has not been affected by any spills or other problems, such as reports of rabies or other diseases; an unhealthy animal will only have unhealthy meat, and some of that can be transmitted to those that eat it. In short, a healthy animal in a healthy environment makes for a healthy you.

You're also going to want to check out local laws and regulations, and make sure that you are in line with them. Although hunting on private lands voids most laws, some areas insist that everyone plays by the same laws; do not take even a local's opinion about it. Run if even the suggestion of bribery comes up; it's just something you want to avoid. If necessary, make sure that you have applied for all applicable tags and licenses. This also applies to any weapons, especially firearms; you want to make sure that your weapons are properly registered with local authorities and that you can transport your weapons with limited problems.

If you are hiring someone or paying for a package, check out the person or package in order to make sure that it's on the up and up. The big balancing factor will be price versus guarantee of a kill; you don't want to spend money, especially a large sum, in order to come up short. Obviously no one can guarantee a hunt 100%,, but you want to make sure that as many factors are taken into account as possible. You also want to make sure that the person stays within the law; some guides are great, but you want the hunt to be as simple as possible, and avoiding legal entanglements are a good way to do that. You also want to see what kind of equipment you need to bring, if necessary, and if they can handle transport of your weapons; if possible, you want to use your own gear. If they do provide firearms, make sure that their is some tie to practice with them prior to the hunt.

Before you go hunting make sure that all of your gear is working condition. Even if you have been told it's good to go check yourself; as usual a little paranoia is a good thing. That completed, if you have done your due diligence then you should have the best trip available. Enjoy the trip, and prepare some of the best meat you will have ever tasted. 

Tips on How to Survive Being A Vegetarian

One of the problems with being a vegetarian is the need for constant grazing in order to get all of your nutrients. The obvious solution is that you will be relying a lot on multi-vitamins, so make sure you have some loyalty plastic for a local pharmacy.

Energy bars will be your savior. The best have a lot of nutrients and proteins, and the carbs will carry you through almost anything.

Protein drinks aren't just for diets. Make sure that the drinks meets your standards (so that you aren't eating animal proteins by mistake), but a protein drink is a great pick-me-up and offers an option for one of your light meals.

Unless you are actually allergic to gluten, do not fear gluten. You would be surprised how great a handful of chips is when you need something quick and non-prep. Combine with hummus topped by a pico de gallo and you have a great balanced mini-meal.

Keep trying out new salad dressings. Vegetables are great, but they can get boring and a variety of dressing can keep things interesting. 

Tips on Training for Triathlons

Triathons can actually be a great way to test your athletic prowess. Just make sure that you are up to the challenge of running, swimming, and bicycling before even lining up.

It may sound silly, but triathlons are not for the modest. Between the need to relieve yourself to the outfits worn, make sure that your modesty does not slow you down.

Do not assume that some sort of innate skill will help you; that's the easiest way to lose or, worse, create a serious injury. Make sure that you are an excellent bicyclist and swimmer or bad things will invariably happen.

The cycling aspect is actually the hardest to train for. Make sure that you are familiar with the bike that will be used on the race, and that you are ready for crowds. After that, the hardest part will be establishing the rhythm, required to win.

Swimming will also present an interesting training problem, as many of these events take advantage of local waters, and every body of waters has its own rhythm of tides and currents. As such, train in natural waters as much as possible; pools just don't have the same feel.