Food Expiration Dates and Shelf Life

           A couple of days ago, a package of goodies from a relative in New Zealand arrived at our doorstep. It was sent August of last year and was expected to get here in the Philippines after a couple of months. Transit of cargoes were very late and went on very slow due to port congestion. That must be the reason why the package arrived at a later date than expected.

           Our excitement about the package was quickly replaced by disappointment. Most of the goods- cookies, candies, chocolates, canned foods were past their expiration dates and shelf life. Off to the trash bin they went. Someone from our household was hesitant to throw them away. That brings me to the point of telling everyone (and post about it, too) about food and other perishables' expiration dates. Should we really dispose products past their expiration date?  Is it safe to eat or use them for some time after?
           First off, check the date. Be aware that different countries use different date formats. In the U.S.A. ,02/10/15 means February 10, 2015. Whereas the same date in Europe or UK would mean 2 October, 2015. Some food has two dates indicated on their labels. They can either be the date when they were manufactured and the expiration date.

          Shelf life (as defined by The Free Dictionary) is the length of  time a product may be stored without becoming unsuitable for use or consumption. Different types of food use different terminologies to indicate their shelf life.
                                                       

           

Money Saving Challenge

            When I started going to school, my mother taught me to budget my daily allowance and told me it would be nice if I would be able to save even a few coins from it. She gave me a coin

bank where to put these coins. When the school year ends in summer, my coin bank was heavy and full. We would empty the coin bank, then mom would ask me what would I like to do with the money I saved. Either we deposit them to my bank account or buy something which I like. If  I chose to use it to buy something, still she would suggest not to spend all the money and set aside a few sums to leave inside my coin bank. Remembering this, I am grateful to my mom for teaching me how to spend wisely and the importance of saving. Up to this day that I am already working and a mother, too, I still have a coin bank. 

Last Minute Christmas Decor Ideas

            Christmas is indeed a joyous season awaited by Christians. As early as September, Christmas songs can be overheard on radios and music bars. Homes are decorated for the season as soon as Halloween is over. As for most homes in the Philippines, decorating for the holidays starts after the second day of November (after All Soul's Day). If there is this Christmas rush in shopping for gifts, there is also a rush in dressing up the homes for the holiday. If you do not have much time to decorate or just want to keep it simple and don't want to splurge on decors, here are some practical, quick and easy ways to spice up your home for the holidays.


Spruce up your window

Found on lushome.com

            Bring out old Christmas balls, ribbons and arrange them haphazardly on a window. That's easy to do and easy to remove and clean up after the holidays.

Budget-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas

           A few more weeks to go and here comes the season of love and gift giving. It's always best to plan ahead and think of thoughtful gifts that won't hurt your pocket. Make a list of  persons you intend to give a gift. Allocate a budget as to how much would you be spending for these gifts. Check out gift items displayed in malls, bazars and even in online shops and take note of those that fit your budget.

          Here are some gift ideas that may express thoughtfulness without ripping your purse. 

1. Jam and Fruit Preserves

           Bottled jams, jellies and fruit preserves abound in gift markets and bazars during this season. Fruit preserves like peaches, mandarin oranges make a good gift, too. They also come in varieties like organic and less sugar. Some stores offer these goodies already wrapped or their bottles decorated  and ready to be given away. Don't forget to check the shelf life though. You do not want it unfit for consumption come Christmas time.   

Caring for your Child's Teeth

      For kids, Halloween is a time for dressing up in scary costumes, amassing lots of sweets enough to last for a month. As for moms, this should be a time too for reinforcing that daily reminder of brushing the teeth. However, are we really on the right track on caring for our kids oral health? How soon should we care for our child's mouth?
   
      Experts recommend that oral care should begin even before the eruption of the first tooth.
Babies' gums and tongue should be wiped with wet wash cloth or a soft gum brush after every feeding. When the babies began teething, soft and short bristled toothbrush suitable for infants with fluoride-free toothpaste may be used. The choice of a fluoride-free toothpaste is of importance for babies and toddlers due to their poor swallow reflex. Most toddlers too at this stage cannot gargle or completely rinse their mouth when brushing.