For a person who has been drinking heavily and often enough, the willpower to say “No” to alcohol is weak. Hard work is definitely needed to kick the habit. At first, you may not even be sure whether you want to cut down. Like the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step.

Fall Behind Your RDI.

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Men : 21 units/week or 4 units/day
Women : 14 units/week or 3 units/day
If you have been drinking more than your recommended alcohol intake, drink less a bottle or less half a pint every time until you are comfortable with your recommended daily intake or less.

Eat Big.

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Eat a really, really full meal before to minimize and delay alcohol entering your mouth and bloodstream.

Keep a record of your drinks.

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EVERY one of them. The point is to increase awareness. I highly recommend either using Evernote or Google Docs as both works with nearly every computer, phone and mobile device. Include the size and type.

Ration.

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Example, drag your bottle of beer to last for 30 minutes or order pints in halves. This slows down the amount of alcohol entering your body, ingesting less compared to slurping unconditionally.

Alcohol Then Water.

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Substitute every second drink with water. If you are in the company of friends and find it hard to do so, get your water from unseen places. Examples: keep a bottle of water in the car, get water from another section of the bar/pub/club, the tap from the washroom (applies to cities with safe to drink tap water). You get the drift. The aim is to dilute the alcohol in your body, keeping yourself as sober as possible. It also helps your stomach stay full, discouraging acts like guzzling, chugging and bottoms up.

Stick To 1 Type.

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Alcohol in and of itself is an irritant to your stomach and your nervous system. Alcohol contains congeners, toxins that are by-products from the process of fermentation that distinguish each of the different alcohol types and are a factor in the occurrence of hangovers. Mixing different types of alcohol is more likely to expose you to different congeners, which can increase the chances of becoming sick. Give your system a fighting chance by having it to cope with only 1 irritant type.

End your nights earlier.

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Make 2am the cutoff time for social events. If you’re home, lights off at 10.30pm. If you’re already approaching your daily recommended intake, start preparing to go to sleep.

Just Throw Up.

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For example, if you’ve had 5 bottles, and one is still unprocessed in your stomach when you throw up, it’s like you only had 4 bottles. Although vomiting does not aid the detox process, it reduces your body’s workload.

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind.

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Take a different route home to avoid being tempted to visit the pub.

Only Duty Free.

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Stop buying alcohol from the local stores. Buy only duty free alcohol to keep at home, restricting purchases to only during travel.

Strictly Social.

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Drink only when around other drinking friends.

Weekend.

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Consume only during weekends and public holidays.

Alternate Your Drinking Days.

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Say NO today if you’ve had some yesterday.

Stay Healthy.

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Fill your nights with physical activities like sports, jogging, gym, swimming, etc. Putting your time and body at work helps rid trigger moments.

Pick up an interest.

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Fill your nights by learning something new like cooking, ballroom dancing, learning a foreign language, playing the guitar. The point here is to keep your mind immersed in positive, engaging activities.

Kudzu helps.

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Go to your local Chinatown practitioner and ask for Kudzu, a traditional herb used to treat alcoholism and hangover in China since thousands of years ago. The root was used to prevent excessive consumption, while the flower detoxifies the liver and alleviate the symptoms afterwards. Even Harvard University has proven Kudzu effective.

Sleeping is important. On average, we spend 1/3 of our lives doing it. And yet some of us do not get enough or suffer from it. Did you know that at least 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders and 60% of adults reported having sleep problems week in week out according to NFS?

What we have to realize is that sleeping enough is actually a choice. A habit that we should be practicing everyday. And to be able to have a good night’s sleep, we have to take into account the different factors outlined below that will determine the quality.

Temperature

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When the body temperature goes down, we tend to feel sleepy. This may be the main reason for afternoon slumps as our body temperature drops less than 0.5°C/1°F. During the night, it continues to fall right to about 4.30am when it is the lowest. This is the reason why it is important to keep room temperature as comfortably low as possible.

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The best temperature for the human body is between 15°C-25°C or about 60°F-80°F. Air conditioning during summer helps to keep the body temperature low, resulting in better quality of sleep.

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During winter, wear socks to sleep as cold feet can be disruptive to sleep. The best way to determine your own comfort level is to put a thermostat in the room and try to find your preferred temperature level by cooling it with an air conditioner or a heater.

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Also, the very popular memory foam pillows and mattresses are exceptionally good in conforming to your body’s curves but the only drawback is that it retains heat. An alternate solution is latex but that of course has it’s own drawbacks. More of it in the furniture section below.

Light

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Light or the lack of it, plays a really important role in our sleep cycle. Long ago, it was instinct to be active (hunting, fishing, planting, harvesting, etc.) during the day and dormant when night falls for we are all diurnal. As the world modernized, we had electrical lighting to help us continue with our activities into the night.

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Be surrounded by warm toned fluorescent lights instead of cool white ones. Warm tones are measured at 2700K while cool white at about 5000K and above. Further darken the room by using dimmable compact florescent bulbs. The key is to encourage melatonin production with as little light as possible, as the night progresses.

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Nowadays, the main culprits that are affecting our sleep cycle are from the bright screens of the television, computer and smartphones. But if you can’t avoid it, try reducing the brightness automatically if not, manually. If you’re on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone or iPad, download this brilliant application that follows your local time, changing the color of the screen accordingly when night falls. Android users, search for ‘Screen Filter’ in Google Play by Haxor Industry.

Quietness

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Each person has a different noise tolerance level. Some stay asleep through a ringing alarm clock, some awake at the mere sound of light footsteps. Do try to keep your house as quiet as possible, like telling family members politely if they routinely do something that wakes you up or keeping your dog in your house when you go to sleep, so as to prevent it from barking in the middle of the night for reasons unrelated to the security of your house.

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There are also other noise factors that might take a huge amount of time and effort to solve like a neighbor’s barking dog, nearby social places (bars, theater, park festival, mosques), transportation noise (train, highway trucks, buses), etc. One of the solution for constant external noise factors that are out of our control, is to install soundproof windows. You may also opt to move but it doesn’t totally eliminate your risk of running into other noise issues.

Timing

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Make it a habit to go to bed at the same time, everytime. Your job may require you to practice unusual sleeping times but it doesn’t matter, as long as you go to bed at the same time and you get the 6-8 hours of required sleep. If you travel through at least 3 time zones, try adjusting your body to your destination’s local time by gradually delaying or sleeping earlier.

Food

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If the plan is lights off by 10.30pm, 7pm would be a good time to eat dinner. If we have meals too early before bedtime, we will get hungry again and it would mess up our sleep mood. If heavy food is consumed too near bedtime, we may also find it hard to fall asleep as our stomachs will be hard at work digesting. It’s a bad habit healthwise, anyway.

Beverage

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Coffee, tea, coke and all other caffeine drinks should be consumed last together with lunch. On average, it takes 8 hours to eliminate half the amount of caffeine consumed.

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Avoid drinking water 90 minutes to bedtime as that is the time it takes for the body to process liquids. Waking up a few times in the middle of the night to pee hampers the quality of your sleep.

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High amounts of alcohol does help you reach a deeper sleep stage much faster but the only drawback is that it may reduce your sleep quality by waking you up much earlier than you should.

Exercise

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Regular exercise that pushes you to 75% of your maximum heart rate for a minimum of 30 minutes during the day helps you fall and stay asleep according to Northwestern University researchers.

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Avoid exercising too near bedtime as it raises your body’s temperature.

Nutrition

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Food that is especially rich in carbohydrates indirectly increases the production of sleep promoting melatonin in the brain. A light snack like an apple, a banana, a few crackers or a warm glass of milk is all it takes.

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Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant. It releases adrenaline, which causes an increase in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and shallow breathing. Even if you stops smoking today, you may still find it lingering in your body after 3 months! Stay healthy, quit smoking.

Bed Partner

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A snoring bed partner is one of the biggest contributors to sleepless nights. One of the ways to deal with it is to have the person sleep sideways on a contour pillow, explained further in the furniture section below. The shape of the pillow helps to keep you comfortably sideways, maintaining smooth airflow through the nasal passages. Better still, use proven anti snore aids like a good quality chin strap or a mouthpiece that help to keep jaws up.

Furniture

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This section has been further divided into individual posts to better explain the pros and cons of each item type that we directly use when we go to sleep.

How To Sleep Better Series :

How To Sleep Better
Types Of Blanket
Types Of Mattress
Types Of Bed
Types of Pillows

Where there is a bed, there is a pillow. In the world today, one will find many kinds of pillow that will fit your needs. Each has its pros and cons, as we will discover from the 13 types below.

Body Pillow

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An oversize pillow designed to cradle and support the entire length of the body during sleep.

Pros
• Does not shift around the bed during sleep unlike regular pillows.
• Can be used to lie against for extra back support or as a prop to sit against.
• Keeps the body in place while providing support to the neck and front of the body as well as the back.
• Very useful for pregnant women as it accommodates bodily changes that come with pregnancy.

Cons

• Washing body pillows too often deforms it.
• Pillow cases of the exact size are hard to find.

Memory Foam

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Memory foam is polyurethane with added chemicals, increasing its viscosity and density. It reacts to body heat and pressure, allowing it mold to your neck and head in seconds while also returning back to its original shape once heat and pressure is removed.

Pros
• Provides the most comfort and support, especially for people with neck, shoulder and back problems.

Cons

• Memory foam is combustible.
• Infants may have trouble turning in memory foam pillows.
• Emissions from memory from may cause respiratory irritation.
• Traps body heat and may be uncomfortable in warmer climate.
• Some memory foam gives off a distinct chemical odor, unpleasant to some.

Contour Pillow

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A type of pillow shaped for back and especially side sleepers. The middle of the pillow curves down to provide proper support for the head. Materials like memory foam, buckwheat and water are used to make contour pillow, so they inherit the pros and cons of the respective material used.

Pros
• Really cradles your neck, providing solid support.
• Helps you achieve and maintain proper posture when sleeping.
• Alleviates snoring as the pillow shape supports the head and neck in such a way that breathing airways are kept open for smooth breathing during sleep.

Cons

• Not designed for stomach sleepers.

Down Pillow

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For softness, nothing is better than down pillows. Filled with the delicate fluff from the bellies of waterfowl, they are especially popular with stomach sleepers, who tend to like their pillows cushiony.

Pros
• Washable.
• Long lasting.
• Lighter than feather.
• Down pillow is able to breathe thus reducing perspiration during sleep.
• Does not have the usual feather quill shaft like ordinary feathers pillows.

Cons

• Expensive.
• Requires shaking and fluffing to maintain.

Feather

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Feather pillows have been around for a long time. Much like down pillows, feather pillows are loved for their softness.

Pros
• Durable.
• Light weight.
• Really flexible.
• Superior softness.

Cons

• Requires shaking and fluffing to maintain.
• May have an odor from chemicals used to sanitize the feathers.
• Feather quills can be uncomfortable when rotating during sleep.
• Some people may be allergic to feather, although it’s most probably dust mites.
• Support may not last as feather pillows tend to sink in further throughout the night.
• Feather pillows might produce some noise when turning during sleep as the hard parts of the feather might brush against the pillow’s protective layer meant to prevent it from poking through.

Buckwheat

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Buckwheat pillows are stuffed with hulls of buckwheat, the husks that protect the kernels. Buckwheat hulls are roasted to remove dust from the growing fields before being placed into the pillowslips.

Pros
• Cheap.
• Natural.
• Renewable.
• Very long lasting.
• Ideal for side sleepers.
• Provide natural air circulation between individual hulls, resulting in ideal temperatures for peaceful sleeping.
• Provides excellent support for the head, neck and back because the hulls contour to the weight and shape of the body during sleep.

Cons

• Heavier than ordinary pillows.
• May contain allergens to which a very small percentage of people are allergic.
• The noise the buckwheat hulls make when turning your head may take some time to get used to.
• Once the buckwheat pillow is in shape, it does not return back to its original form like memory foam pillow does.

Latex

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Latex pillows are made from latex rubber harvested from rubber trees grown on plantations in tropical countries. These pillows have some wonderful properties that make them ideal for people who suffer from allergies, neck and back pain, or both.

Pros
• Biodegradable.
• Flame retardant.
• Really long lasting.
• Resists mold and mild dew.
• 100% natural, organic material.
• Insect resistant so it wards off bed bugs and dust mites.
• It’s free of harmful chemicals and is non-toxic from cradle to grave, even if it’s burned.
• Molds to your head and neck under your weight, providing a firm but cushioned sleeping surface.

Cons

• Costly.

Polyester Pillow

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Polyester is sometimes referred to as the poor man’s cotton. It is made from all sorts of man-made fillings and is the most popular kind of pillow for various reasons.

Pros
• Cheap.
• Washable.
• Extremely tear resistant.

Cons

• Poor ventilation.
• Poor neck support.
• May be vulnerable to dust mite.
• Gel filled pillows may emit odor.

Water Pillow

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Water pillows are essentially pillows filled with water but not entirely. The top part is usually made out of polyester while the bottom part is cushioned by water.

Pros
• The temperature is cooler.
• Doesn’t move easily because it is heavier than a regular pillow.
• The water level is adjustable, allowing it to add or remove height and firmness.
• The pillow will automatically contour to the head and neck without resulting in any pressure points.

Cons

• Not made for stomach sleepers.

Microbead

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The product is filled with round polystyrene beads called “microbeads”, a small version of what is usually found in bean bags. The outer fabric of the pillow is usually made of soft and elastic materials.

Pros
• Good air flow.
• Conforms to the shape of the head and neck.

Cons

• Durability.
• Too firm for some.
• Chemical odor may be unbearable to some.
• A tear during washing may clog up your plumbing system.
• Risk of inhaling microbeads in the event the pillow tears.

Synthetic Fiber

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Synthetic Fibers are made from synthesized polymers or small molecules. The compounds that are used to make these fibers come from raw materials such as petrochemicals.

Pros
• Cheap.
• Durable.
• Resilient.
• Waterproof.
• Allergy free.
• Easy to wash.
• Flame resistant.

Cons

• Highly static.
• Non absorbent.
• Doesn’t contour well to the head and neck.

Cotton

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Cotton pillows are 100% pure, natural and absorbent.

Pros
• Allergy free.
• Firmer and flatter than down pillows.

Cons

• Flattens over time.
• Feels hard once compressed.
• Doesn’t contour well to the head and neck.
• Retains moisture, hence encouraging dust mites and mold if not cleaned regularly.

Wool

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Pure, natural, breathable.

Pros
• Allergy free.
• Stays cool during summer and warm during winter.
• Healthy airflow to prevent moisture from sleep perspiration.
• Natural insulator as it keeps your body at a constant temperature.

Cons

• Flattens over time.
• Feels hard once compressed.
• Doesn’t contour to body curvature well.

As a conclusion, the best kind of pillow is the latex contour pillow. It encourages you to sleep on your sides, which is always the best out of the 3 common sleeping positions. The contour shape is good for your head, neck, upper back and because it is latex, it naturally repels bed bugs, dust mites, mold, mild dew and regulates your temperature throughout the night through the pillows holes. Find the correct firmness that suits you and you’re all set for waking up late every morning!

How To Sleep Better Series :

How To Sleep Better
Types Of Blanket
Types Of Mattress
Types Of Bed
Types of Pillows

A bed frame is the most essential supporting structure of a mattress, usually made out of wood, metal or leather. The purpose of a bed frame is to hold the mattress in place and keep the bed standing.

Below are the 8 kinds of mattress support that you will find in households all over the world today.

Floor

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Two things to keep in mind, though. It’s colder right on the floor than it is a couple of feet higher up. And especially if it’s a foam mattress, it helps very much to have air space between the mattress and the floor. You are always producing a little moisture from your body and if the mattress sits right on a cold floor, there’s not enough ventilation to carry that moisture away from the mattress.

The Japanese have been sleeping on the floor for a long time coming, but their futons are usually stored away for the day, giving air time for the floor facing side. Usually, a mat is layered between the futon and the floor to avoid direct contact.

Maintaining and cleaning dust from the underside areas of the floor near the bed is inefficient if the mattress used is heavy and not stored away often.

Divan / Box Spring Bed

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A sturdy wooden frame covered in cloth that contains springs. Usually the box spring is placed on top of a wooden or metal bed frame which sits on the floor and acts as a brace.

Pros
• Complete size range from Crib to Grand King.
• Provides solid support due to their firm bases.
• One of the cheapest bed type compared to others.
• Most commonly available type of bed in furniture stores.
• Usually comes with large drawers that provide extra storage space.

Cons

• In terms of style, the divan bed is bare, squarish in shape and is hidden by the mattress on top.

Platform Bed Frame

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A platform bed is a bed the base of which consists of a raised, level, usually rectangular horizontal solid frame, often with a section consisting of rows of flexible wooden slats, usually made of hardwood.

Pros
• Brilliant for your back as it relies on solid wooden panels for support.
• Wooden platform beds are usually priced more or less the same as divan / box spring beds.
• Mattress placed on platform beds lie with far more stability than a divan / box spring bed.

Cons

• Very near to the ground, hence the inability to have storage space beneath.
• Problematic for those who have trouble lowering themselves. (ie: bending knees)

Sleigh Bed

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A sleigh bed is a style of bed with curved or scrolled foot and headboards, thus resembling a sled or sleigh. Today’s sleigh beds are made from a variety of materials including wood, iron, steel and aluminum, and often possess less exaggerated curves of the foot and headboards.

Pros
• Sleigh beds are absolutely beautiful, luxurious and fits well with antique, modern, country, vintage and French style bedrooms.

Cons

• The footboard limits the comfort of tall people.
• They are expensive be it shopping online, at a bargain store or in a big box department store.
• Sleigh beds are naturally heavy as they are entirely made of high quality wood like oak, ash, cherry, pine, maple, etc.

Trundle Bed

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A pair of beds where the one below is on rollers so that it may be rolled back into the bed for storage.

Pros
• With the mattress removed, you can use the space for general storage.
• Saves space as it allows the extra separate bed to be available only when necessary.

Cons

• Mattresses used for the lower bed are thinner and may not provide as much comfort.

Bunk Beds

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A bunk bed is a type of bed in which one bed frame is stacked on top of another.

Pros
• A lot more space in the room.
• The upper bunk is more private, feels more spacious and secure.
• The bottom bunk has easier access to things right next to the bed.
• The clip on reading light from either bunk will not be a problem to the one who sleeps.
• Another mattress can be stored under the bottom bunk, making it a trundle bed as well.

Cons

• Changing sheets is harder.
• So is making up the bed in the morning.
• Children are at risk to roll off the top if the safety rails are not high enough.
• The top bunk does not have the kind of immediate easy access that the bottom bunk has.
• The bottom bunk hears the creaks clearer when the person in the top bunk turn around during sleep.

Loft Bed

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A loft bed is a bunk bed that has only the top bunk, creating an open space underneath that can be occupied by a chest, drawers, or even a work area.

Pros
• Better privacy when working at the desk.
• More space in the room since the desk is under the bed.

Cons

• Hard to resell.
• As you age, you will grow out of it.
• Risk slipping and falling when climbing ladder.
• Climbing up and down the ladder might become tiresome after a while.
• There is a tendency to accidentally bump your head if not careful enough.

Adjustable Bed

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An adjustable bed is a bed which has a multi hinged lying surface which can be profiled to a number of different positions. Common adjustment includes inclining the upper body and raising the lower body independently of each other. They are used very often in hospitals and homecare.

Pros
• Raising the head provides relief from respiratory issues, acid reflux, and more.
• Relieves pressure on the body when adjusting the head and foot to increase comfort.
• Beds with massage motors improve circulation and relief a wide range of illness, aches and pains.

Cons

• Very heavy.
• Very expensive.
• Mattress choice is limited.

Storage Bed

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Types of bed that provide organized storage options built right into the frame of the bed.

Pros
• Space is used efficiently.
• Neater than empty spaces found between conventional beds and the floor because objects do not slide around, dirt is less and so is clutter.

Cons

• Cost higher than ordinary bed frames.
• Storage beds are harder to move around, especially when moving locations.
• Hardware like knobs, hinges and drawer rollers may eventually fall off or become lose.

Water Bed

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Water beds are basically beds filled with water. They were thought to be invented thousands of years ago by Persians who used goat skins filled with water.

Pros
• Extremely durable.
• The spine is totally relaxed on this bed.
• Very comfortable as the water adjusts itself precisely to your body.
• Impossible for dirt and dead skin particles to penetrate the water bed.
• The water in bed can be heated up to provide comfort during cold winters.

Cons

• If it ruptures, it can create quite a mess.
• Waterbed made out of rubber may smell funny to some.
• Sex isn’t that great because there is too much motion.
• Getting used to warming the bed may incur hefty electricity charges.
• Apartment floors and older landed houses may not have floor strong enough to handle the weight.

Sofa Bed

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Sofa beds are have adjustable bed frames where you can convert it easily between being a sofa to sit on and a bed to sleep on.

Pros
• Highly functional furniture as it utilizes what little floor space you may have, especially if it’s an apartment.

Cons

• They are heavy.
• Mattresses are not as comfortable as regular ones.
• Not entirely 180 degrees as the edge of the bed frame usually tip a bit.

Cot Bed

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A type of bed made for very young children that has removable sides and end panel. It is designed to restrict the child to the bed area. As the child approaches 3 years old, the sides and end of the cot bed are removed, converting it into a junior bed usable up to about 5 years old.

Pros
• It saves 3 generations worth of furniture in terms of money.
• It makes the transition to a full bed smoother for the child.
• The ability to convert prolongs the useful life span of the bed.

Cons

• Space is an issue as the cot bed may not fit into your bedroom.

How To Sleep Better Series :

How To Sleep Better
Types Of Blanket
Types Of Mattress
Types Of Bed
Types of Pillows

A lot of us do not take the time to carefully research and choose the right mattresses, especially considering how much time we spend using it. 1/3 of our lives are spent sleeping and mattresses has a lot to do with the quality of sleep, in turn influencing how we feel during the day.

So give some thought and attention to the types of mattress you buy to ensure it fits your budget and needs. Below are the 8 type of mattresses that comes in different sizes, firmness and material used.

Open Coil / Bonnell Coil

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This is the most common type of mattress in the world, supported by hundreds of connected fixed wire coils. They were adapted from a design used in buggy seats in the 19th century. This hourglass-shaped wire coil is joined to adjacent coils by small wire spirals called helicals (corkscrew-shaped wires that run over the tops and bottoms of the coils).

Pros
• Cheap.

Cons

• The noise may appear annoying to some.
• Because the springs are linked, movement is felt easily from any area.
• Fatigue quicker than more technically advanced coil constructions.

Continuous Coil

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The continuous coil is exactly what it says; each row of coils is made of a single wire attached to the next row by helicals (corkscrew-shaped wires that run over the tops and bottoms of the coils). This type of coil is often made into a lattice of coils rather than rows, allowing more coils per mattress than other constructions.

Pros
• Weight is deflected to more springs, resulting in less stress on each coil.
• Softer with smaller coils than open coil, making the mattress more responsive.

Cons

• As springs move together in a single unit, motion is transmitted easily between two people sharing a mattress.

Pocket Spring / Marshall Coil

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The most expensive type of spring mattress because each individual coil is sewn into its own fabric pocket. Each pocket coil absorbs the weight placed on it without distributing the load to other coils.

Pros
• Reacts individually to pressure, without affecting the springs around it.
• Less motion transmitted, making it the better choice for couples.
• Side sleepers benefit from different amounts of pressure on different parts of the spine.

Cons

• Pricey.
• Coils experiencing the most contact with pressure will wear off faster than coils with less pressure.

Offset Coils

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The offset design is hourglass shaped, a lot like most open coils. However, the circles at the top and bottom of each coil are flattened to create a hinging action within the mattress core.

Pros
• Conforms to your body.
• More durable than open coils.
• Less noisy compared to open coils.
• Coils are also connected to each other via helicals (corkscrew-shaped wires that run over the tops and bottoms of the coils) to prevent them from moving sideways when compressed.

Cons

• One of the most expensive type of coil mattresses.

Memory Foam

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Memory foam beds are made of viscoelastic, a polyurethane based foam that molds itself to the shape of the sleeper’s body. Memory foam pillows are pretty popular particularly in North America.

Pros
• Durability.
• Conforms to the entire body’s shape.
• Totally relief joint pains as a result of zero pressure points.
• Partners sleeping together are hardly disturbed when the other rotates.

Cons

• Expensive.
• Elasticity may decrease during colder weather.
• New mattresses have an odor that may be off putting to some.
• May hinder smooth movement when the bed conforms to the current shape.
• Body heat is retained as a result, making it uncomfortable in warmer climates.

Latex Foam

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Latex foam in mattresses is generally a blend of the sap of the rubber tree and synthetic latex. It is produced using either the Talalay or the Dunlop process. Each provides a different feel. Dunlop is generally a firmer foam, Talalay is softer. While the Dunlop process produces a foam that is more dense, the Talalay process produces a lighter foam that has more air in it. If you were to weigh each as latex cores, the Dunlop foam would be heavier because it has more latex in it. Talalay is more expensive as its production is more resource intensive.

Pros
• Durable.
• Biodegradable.
• Springier than memory foam.
• Provides excellent joint support.
• Naturally resistant to mold and dust mites.
• Eco friendly as latex is a renewable resource.
• Does not retain much body heat compared to memory foam so they are actually better in warmer weather.

Cons

• Really expensive.
• New mattress odor may be off putting to some.
• Not appropriate for people allergic to latex.

Air Mattress

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Basically, an air mattress is an inflatable mattress. The kind found in bedrooms are much more expensive than the ones found in pool for obvious reasons. Modern air mattresses allows each side to be adjusted independently to allow for different level of firmness.

Pros
• Highly adjustable.
• Dual chambers in modern models.
• Parts replaceable individually, prolonging lifespan.

Cons

• Expensive.
• Not comfortable for everyone.
• Mold may appear over time if not taken care of properly.
• Sides are too soft to sit on.

Futon

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A futon is a flat mattress with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton, wool, or synthetic batting that makes up a Japanese bed. It’s actually a term generally referring to the traditional style of Japanese bedding consisting of padded mattresses and quilts pliable enough to be folded and stored away during the day.

Pros
• Stable.
• You will never fall out of bed.
• Floors are cooler in the summer.
• No bouncy squeaky bedspring noises.
• Your bed is wherever you want it to be.
• You can stretch out as much as you need.
• Saves space as you only use it when needed.
• You can visit friends without inconveniencing them.
• Easy to move as there is no bed frame, box springs, etc.

Cons

• Not so convenient for sex.
• It could collect dust and dirt from the floor.
• Getting out of the ground might seem like a hassle especially for older people.
• Durability as even higher quality futons can be broken when overused or moved incorrectly.

How To Sleep Better Series :

How To Sleep Better
Types Of Blanket
Types Of Mattress
Types Of Bed
Types of Pillows

Basically, blankets are used to provide warmth, especially while sleeping. There are many types of blanket as outlined below but each is different in terms of thickness, construction and fill material.

Did you know that the word ‘blanket’ came from Thomas Blanket, the man who pioneered a heavily napped woolen weave called Blanket Fabric?

Thread count, which you’ll see a lot when buying blankets of sorts, means the number of thread woven together lengthwise and widthwise in a square inch. For example, to produce a thread count of 300, 150 lengthwise threads are woven together with 150 widthwise threads. The idea is that the finer threads you can weave together, the softer and finer the fabric.

Quilts

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Quilts are warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines of stitching. What makes it different from others is the way pieces of cloth are stitched together.

Normally, quilts consist of three layers. The top piece is the layer that is decorated and most elaborate. The middle piece is a layer of batting that provides warmth. The third piece is the backing. These three layers are held together with lines of stitching that may be worked in a grid, in straight rows or elaborate patterns. Most quilts are home made from different colors of cloth. Mothers and grandmothers will make them mostly from old dresses, shirts, and material purchased from sears for just that use.

Duvets

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A duvet is a bag filled with down, feathers, wool or other natural stuffing to create a warm bed covering that takes the place of quilts and bedspreads. Duvet is the French word for down, as in down from birds. Duvets are rather like comforters, except that they have replaceable, washable covers – much like large pillowcases.

Comforters

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A type of blanket intended to keep the user warm, especially during sleep, although they can also be used as mattress pads. Comforters are generally large and rectangular in shape, filled with natural or synthetic insulative material and encased in a shell/covering.

Afghan Blanket

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An afghan blanket is usually knitted or crocheted in geometric shapes. Such blankets were first made in Afghanistan and commonly used yarn to make the blanket with geometric designs and many holes in lacy patterns.

Blanket Sleeper

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A type of warm sleeping overall worn, especially by young children, during winter. Normally, the blanket sleeper consists of a loose-fitting, one-piece garment of blanket-like material, enclosing the entire body except for the head and hands. Like bag-like coverings, the blanket sleeper is designed to be sufficiently warm as to make regular blankets or other bed covers unnecessary, even in colder weather.

Electric Blanket

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A blanket with an integrated electrical heating device usually placed above the top bed sheet. Electric blankets usually have a control unit which adjusts the amount of heat the blanket produces. Blankets for larger sized beds often have separate controls for each side of the bed.

Don’t use an electric blanket if you sleep with a pet. Clawing and chewing can damage the wires and cause an accident.

Hoover Blanket

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A hoover blanket is basically newspaper used as a blanket. The reason term Hoover was used was because during his time, President Hoover was blamed for the Depression and also for not doing anything about it. People living on the streets covered themselves with newspapers for warmth as they had no job and no money.

How To Sleep Better Series :

How To Sleep Better
Types Of Blanket
Types Of Mattress
Types Of Bed
Types of Pillows

A woman with makeup on portrays herself as a person who takes care of herself and her looks. Makeup is basically made to accentuate your best features and conceal ones that make you feel insecure. So when you appear prettier, you draw attention and develop your self confidence. When you are confident, you become productive, assertive and contribute more in terms of actions and opinions, yes?

The first step you have to take is to recognize and understand all the various makeup tools you have at your disposal.

Below each type of makeup item are links to products that are highly recommended by people who have used them before. Do click on the product title or image to find out more. You may eventually find it cheaper to buy online, even with shipping costs counted in!

Face Primer

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A face primer is one of the best ways to insure your makeup stays on longer. They are relatively new products so few drugstore brands make primers. They pamper the skin and create a protective barrier. Primers are excellent for people with combination to oily skin. Just apply after moisturizing your face and let it sink into the skin for a few minutes before carrying on with your regular foundation routine.

Most face primers come in 1oz tubes and lasts you quite long as the amount you need is usually smaller than a nickel. Get these two highly recommended face primers below at a discounted rate!

Highly Recommended Face Primers

Korres Face Primer



It’s silicone-free, 99% natural and antioxidant-rich. Trust me, after applying it on your face, you’ll use less products because it GLIDES. All you need is just a little more than a pea size for your entire face!

Too Faced Cosmetics Primed and Poreless



This one of a kind makeup primer was scientifically formulated to wear under bronzers and foundation powders, or alone, to achieve the look of flawless skin without makeup. Vitamins A and C, mulberry extract and a powerful dose of retinol virtually banish pores while tired skin is left hydrated, firmer, and detoxified.

Eye Primer

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Eye primer will help any makeup you put on your eye last longer. It will prevent creasing and fading. It also brings out the color of your eyeshadow so that they’re more vibrant.

Below are 2 highly recommended quality eye primers that have garnered lots of positive feedback from users.

Highly Recommended Eye Primers

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Tube



Works best for oily eyelids. With Urban Decay’s eye primer, your eyeshadow is sure to stay perfect for at least 6 hours. You only need a tiny dot of the stuff to cover both eyelids.

Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer



When you apply your eye makeup, the color will seem to have acquired a deeper intensity than usual, plus the loose minerals won’t go flying around all over the place as much.

Lipstick / Lip Cream

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Lipstick is a cosmetic product containing pigments, oils, waxes, and emollients that applies color, texture, and protection to the lips.

The best selling Lip Cream from NYX Cosmetics is none other than the Soft Matte Lip Cream Collection which you can get for a discounted price below.

Highly Recommended Lip Cream

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream



The application of NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream on your lip will feel flawlessly smooth, it lasts long and you will find that pairing them with a lip liner maximizes their amazing formulation. They also pair well with a lip gloss layered on top as well. They feel light on the lips and give a richly pigmented almost staining effect that is also creamy at the same time.

Lip Gloss

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Lip gloss is a product used primarily to give lips a glossy luster and sometimes subtle color. It is distributed as a liquid or a soft solid. It can be completely clear, translucent, or various shades of opacity, including frosted, glittered, glassy, and metallic finishes.

Highly Recommended Lip Gloss

NYX Round Long Lasting Lip Gloss (36 colors) + FREE cosmetic bag



Grow your lip gloss collection with these! The colors are semi sheer, so they work great over a base color from lip liners or lipsticks. They mix well and will match anyone’s complexion.

Lip Liner

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Lip liner adds depth to the colour of your lipstick. It’s like applying two shades of nail polish to your nails. You’ll get a deeper colour but if you only apply one colour it looks washed out. It provides a base for your lips. So when your lipstick wears off you’ll still have a stain of colour on your lips. As you get older it stops darker colours especially reds from bleeding into the skin around your mouth.

Highly Recommended Lip Liner

Benefit Cosmetics Automatic Lipliner Duo Pencil



The formula of the liner is made to be waterproof and easy to wear.

Lip Plumper

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Lip plumper is a cosmetics product used to make lips appear fuller. In appearance, it ranges from translucent to opaque and tinted. These products typically work by irritating the thin, delicate skin of the lips with ingredients like menthol or camphor. This makes the lips swell slightly, which may also diminish the appearance of fine lines in that area. Other perceived benefits include stimulating collagen production and moisturizing. A lip plumper’s effects is temporary, so it must be reapplied throughout the day to maintain the results.

Highly Recommended Lip Plumper

Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish from Bare Escentuals



They keep shine where it’s supposed to be and a finished matte look everywhere else. Considering value for money, the tube is quite large and elegant looking. The gloss doesn’t look cheap and tacky on and weird as it sounds, the product is almost cool and refreshing to put on. Almost like drinking very chilled water pleasantly.

Lip Balm

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The primary purpose of lip balm is to provide an occlusive layer on the lip surface to seal moisture in lips and protect them from external exposure. Dry air, cold temperatures, and wind all have a drying effect on skin by drawing moisture away from the body. Lips are particularly vulnerable because the skin is so thin, and thus they are often the first to present signs of dryness.

There are many kinds of lip balm available at local stores all over the world and these 2 below are good examples of the popular, quality, and reasonably priced kind.

Highly Recommended Lip Balm

Mentholatum Natural Ice Medicated Lip Protectant SPF 15 (12 pack)



The Natural Ice lip balm was produced in a tube in the early 1990s and was and is one of the best lip products of all time. It lasts really long, cheap and works very well.

Dr. Dans CortiBalm Lip Balm for Chapped Lips (3 Pack)



If you often experience dry chapped lips then Dr. Dans CortiBalm will certainly work well for you. It works against cold, sore lips as well.

Lip Primer

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Lip primer is a cosmetic product designed to be worn underneath lipstick, lip liner, and/or lip gloss. It is a type of makeup that acts like foundation for the lips, similar to the foundation one might apply to the face. It is typically clear, matte, and meant to be unnoticeable on the lips, but it serves the purpose of smoothing the appearance of the lips, as well as making lipstick or other lip cosmetics last longer.

Highly Recommended Lip Primer

Mary Kay TimeWise® Age-Fighting Lip Primer



Mary Kay’s TimeWise Age Fighting lip primer not only help your lipstick last longer as it also help keep your lips moisturized.

Bare Escentuals BareVitamins Lip Rev-er Upper



The Rev-er Upper goes on easy and fast. You put your color over it and it stays much longer than most others.

Lip Booster

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Hydrates the lips, helps restore collagen and maximizes lip gloss to instantly treat & restore lip vitality.

Highly Recommended Lip Booster

Pixi Lip Booster



Maximizes lip gloss to instantly treat and restore lip vitality. Provides maximum hydration and helps restore collagen, adding volume to improve lip contour. Improves lip fullness 40%, lip moisture 60% and decrease lines 30%.

Lip Stain

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Either water or gel based and may contain alcohol to help the product stay on the lips. The idea behind lip stains is to temporarily saturate the lips with a dye, rather than covering them with a colored wax. Usually designed to be waterproof, the product may come with an applicator brush or be applied with a finger. Think sucking on a red lollipop, or popsicle. It leaves a just bitten type look.

Highly Recommended Lip Stain

Morpho Cosmetics Zinnia



One of the best as it’s made from all natural ingredients, easy to put on, goes on evenly and doesn’t bleed or smear at the edges of your lips.

Vincent Longo Lip & Cheek Gel Stain



This gel stain by Vincent Longo is by far one of the best. It doesn’t bleed nor feather. There is also a slight taste/smell of vanilla, which women (some say men too ) find very pleasant.

Concealer

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Used to cover any imperfections of the skin. Concealer is often used for any extra coverage needed to cover blemishes or any other marks. Concealer is often thicker and more solid than foundation, and provides longer lasting, and more detailed coverage. Some formulations are meant only for the eye or only for the face.

Highly Recommended Concealer

Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing



This stuff goes on smoothly, covers like you would not believe and really lasts for hours. All day in any outdoor activity it will maintain its effect.

Coastal Scents Professional Camouflage Concealer Palette



Coastal Scents Professional Camouflage is an array of natural shades that can be mixed and matched, is creamy and very blend-able, and it will totally cover your undereye circles!

Foundation

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Foundation is what you put everywhere on your face, to even out skin tone. Usually a liquid, cream, or powder, as well as most recently, a light and fluffy mousse, which provides excellent coverage as well.

Highly Recommended Foundation

Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation



You will LOVE this foundation if you have light/medium to medium skin in a warm tone, your skin is pretty good, though not necessarily perfect, and you don’t mind the turmeric smell for the first five minutes after applying the foundation.

BareMinerals Foundation SPF15



This is one of very few foundations that will not make your face break out or cause dryness. The shaker holes with a sliding cover inside is made for travel as it avoids a mess when opening it after bouncing around in a bag or purse.

Face powder

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Used to set the foundation, giving a matte finish, and also to conceal small flaws or blemishes.

Highly Recommended Face Powder

Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder



What’s so great about Clinique’s Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder is it is made to look natural on your skin, it will not make your face itch, and you will not encounter any breakouts at all. If your face is oily and a bit sensitive like many others, you’ll be happy with this product.

Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil



It is important to use this product properly. Get a good brush, and before applying, tap the extra powder off and buff it on. If you apply too much of it and don’t buff it, it can look weird. Mineral veil is meant as a topper coat over the foundation powder. The mineral veil topper powder will really make your skin look natural even in tone.

BB Cream

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BB cream stands for blemish balm, and it’s really good for your skin. It covers redness, scars, pimples, etc, and depending on the BB cream, provides moisturizing, whitening, anti-aging, and SPF. When they say whitening, they don’t mean bleaching your skin, more like just lightening your skin.

It started in Germany as a cream for people who had undergone surgery, healing their skin. Then, Korean celebrities found it and they made it into BB cream that is like makeup. In fact, BB cream is one of the must have makeup tools in every kit! Nothing except BB cream gives the skin coverage, like a foundation, and heals it at the same time.

Highly Recommended BB Cream

Lioele Triple Solution BB Cream (SPF30/PA++)



Lioele’s is one of the very best. It’s light, non greasy and has SPF 30 to help diminish discoloration.

HANSKIN Premium Super Magic BB Cream (SPF30/PA++)



HANSKINS Premium Super Magic BB Cream adapts to your skin tone and the result is a flawless finish that looks natural, smooth, and not caked-on like most foundations. This works better with larger pores than mineral-based foundations.

Rouge, blush or blusher, cheek coloring

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A cosmetic typically used by women to redden the cheeks so as to provide a more youthful appearance and to emphasize the cheekbones.

Highly Recommended Blush

NARS Orgasm Blush



The blushes come in a range of flattering shades for every skin type. They are extremely pigmented, which is why you only need the tiniest amount, it’s long lasting and worth your every penny.

Contour powder/creams

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Used to define the face. It can be used to give the illusion of a slimmer face or to modify a person’s face shape as desired. Usually a few shades darker than one’s own skin tone and matte in finish is used to create the illusion of depth. A darker toned foundation/concealer can be used instead to create a more natural look.

Highly Recommended Contour Powder

It Cosmetics My Sculpted Face Palette



Actually, this kit has everything that you need for contouring and highlighting. A general tip would be to apply darker colors on bigger bones (Eg:cheek bones, eyebrow bones) and lighter colors on the nose and chin.

Highlight

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Used to draw attention to the high points of the face as well as to add glow to the face. It comes in liquid, cream, and powder form. Often contains shimmer, but sometimes does not. A lighter toned foundation/concealer can be used instead to create a more natural look.

Highly Recommended Highlight

Boots No7 Highlights Illuminating Lotion



It is very light and adds just the right amount of pep to your skin to kick it up just that much. You can mix it with your foundation, or apply it with your fingers on your brow bone, under your eyes, high up on those cheek bones, around your nostrils, and a touch on your cupids bow.

Benefit Cosmetics High Beam



High Beam illuminates your face and will make your skin look beautiful. You can wear it day or night and it’s neither glittery or shimmery. It just glows.

Bronzer

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Its a powder that you apply to your cheekbones forehead nose and chin to make you look tan without the risks of tanning under the sun, if you feel that you are too fair skinned. The bronzer is not like a tanning lotion because it does not leave a permanent residue on your face and can be easily washed off along with other makeup.

Highly Recommended Bronzer

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder



You’ll love this bronzer because it is not orangy, very natural looking and with buildable coverage and tone. The smell is awesome and good for your skin as it contains real cocoa.

Mascara

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Used to darken, lengthen, and thicken the eyelashes. It is available in natural colors such as brown and black, but also comes in bolder colors such as blue, pink, or purple. There are many different formulas, including waterproof for those prone to allergies or sudden tears. There are now also many mascaras with certain components to help lashes to grow longer and thicker. There are specific minerals and proteins that are combined with the mascara that can benefit, as well as beautify.

Highly Recommended Mascara

Maybelline Lash Stylist Washable Mascara



As you get older, mascara with brushes just don’t do the trick anymore. That’s why Maybelline’s Lash Stylist mascara comes with a comb on the wand to deliver more product better. This product has already been discontinued but you can still buy from the picture link above this paragraph.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara



The color is intense making your lashes long and dark. The brush is unique. It never clumps and you can get to those tiny lashes on the corner of your eyes. Best part is that it lasts all day. Never flakes and will never give you raccoon eyes.

Eyelash Curler

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An eyelash curler is a hand-operated mechanical device for curling eyelashes.

Highly Recommended Eyelash Curler

Paula Dorf Curl Up



If you have tried different major brands (Eg:Maybelline, Shu Uemura) of curlers before, you’ll know that the Paula Dorf curler is so much better once you’ve tried it.

Japonesque Power Curl



Stop using drugstore brands and step up to the plate. With or without mascara, Power Curl makes your lashes stay curled all day. Did you know that the silicone refills are FREE for life? All you have to do is ask.

Eyelash Adhesive/Glue

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Used to adhere false lashes to the eyes. Can come in either clear or colored formulas.

Highly Recommended Eyelash Glue

Lashes & Cosmetics Stays-On-Glue



This is the only glue that allows your extension lashes to stay on for extended periods of time (longer than a few days/week). It’s best to let it sit for a couple of minutes before use. No worries about lashes coming off while you are asleep or from eyelash plucking or picking.

The glue is odorless and non-irritating. A little goes a long way so, although the tube isn’t large, you don’t need a lot of glue to apply to your false lashes considering the length of time the lashes stay on.

False/Fake/Extension Eyelashes

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Enhancements designed to add length, thickness and fullness to natural eyelashes.

Highly Recommended False Lashes

Professional False Eyelashes (10 Pairs)



They are that perfect length that makes your eyes stand out but aren’t so long that it’s incredibly obvious that you’re wearing falsies. They also are really comfortable to wear and last for a long time.

Ardell Fashion Lashes Pair – 101 Demi (Pack of 4)



There not too long, but longer than your natural lashes of course. They go on easy, and peal off easy too.

Eyebrow pencil

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An eyebrow pencil is a coloured pencil you can use to give your eyebrows a tint.

Highly Recommended Eyebrow Pencil

It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil



Not only will it define your brows, give them great shape, look completely natural and stay on until you remove it, you may even see them grow back!

Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil



It looks subtle but nice and natural. The color doesn’t go on too dark. The pencil fills in areas of the eyebrow that are bare or thin perfectly.

Eyebrow Wax

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Used to even out eyebrows to your liking.

Highly Recommended Eyebrow Wax

NYX Eye Brow Shaper Wax



NYX’s Eye Brow Shaper Wax is the best for making your eye brows look finished. The wax doesn’t have a greasy, sticky feeling like other brow waxes and it’s easy to maneuver because it’s in pencil form.

Eyebrow Gels

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Eyebrow gel is used to set the eyebrows so that they stay in place all day. Some come colored.

Highly Recommended Eyebrow Gel

Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel



If your brows are pale, with fine hair, or possibly you’re starting to have some unruly gray hairs, you will love this product. It is rather expensive, but will last a long time, because not much product is necessary to complete the job.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Brow Color Finishing Gel



It will makes your eyebrows look just as good as when you just get them waxed. It doesn’t feel like there’s anything on your eyebrow, which is also a plus. This product is definitely highly recommended, especially to people with dark eyebrows who don’t always pluck them as much as they should.

Eyebrow Powder

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Just like eyebrow pencils, it is used with a brush to color and define the brows.

Highly Recommended Eyebrow Powder

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo



It’s so natural looking, and comes in so many shades, you are sure to find one perfect for your own eyebrows.

Ardell Brow Defining Powder



You only need a little bit of this to give you full, dark coverage and it stays on until you wash it out.

Nail Polish

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A lacquer applied to fingernails and toenails to decorate and protect the nail plate.

Highly Recommended Nail Polish

Shany Nail Art Set (24 Famous Colors)



They are fast drying, polishes do not chip and they are bright and true to clour.

Setting Spray

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Setting spray is used to keep applied makeup intact for long periods of time.

Highly Recommended Setting Spray

Urban Decay All Nighter



The spray is a very light mist. You’d be worried it may leave your face sticky or dry but it doesn’t. Also, despite any hot and humid weather, everything will look just as it had been when you applied it in the morning.

Setting powder

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Setting powder is used over a foundation to “set” and help the foundation stay on for longer periods of time. Setting powder does not provide as much coverage as it has more of a loose powder effect.

Highly Recommended Setting Powder

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder



Laura Mercier’s has a super-fine texture and never looks cakey. It does a fantastic job at combating shine and keeping your make up looking fresh. It does not clog pores at all and it really does extend the life of your makeup throughout the day. The best part of this product is the translucent shade as it doesn’t give your face a whiter look. It’s virtually invisible.

Did you know that the United States has the largest fast food industry in the world? The fast food restaurant chains are so popular because it is easy, filling, convenient and cheap. Almost all kinds of fast food allows you to enjoy your meal without knives, forks and plates.

In each state of the USA, there are specific fast food chains well loved among locals, unknown to many. Anyway, below are 58 of the little known fast food chains in America sorted by state in descending order.

Content

Alabama (2)
California (11)
Chicago (3)
Colorado (1)
Connecticut (1)
Florida (2)
Georgia (3)
Iowa (1)
Kansas (3)
Maryland (1)
Masachussetts (1)
Michigan (1)
Missouri (4)
Nebraska (1)
New Mexico (1)
New York (3)
North Carolina (2)
Ohio (3)
Oklahoma (1)
Tennessee (1)
Texas (3)
Utah (3)
Virginia (1)
Washington (2)
Wisconsin (3)

Alabama

Milo’s Hamburgers

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Milo’s Hamburgers is a regional fast-food restaurant chain based in Alabama, United States. As of 2007, Milo’s has 16 restaurants, 14 in the Birmingham metro area, one in Southside, and one in Tuscaloosa.

If you live in Alabama, Birmingham, you are probably well acquainted with Milo’s tea. No other sweet tea can ever try to compare to the gold standard that is Milo’s.

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The burgers are just different. And the best way to eat them is with cheese, pickles, onions and Milo’s sauce. The cheese is melted on the meat, not just placed. The sauce is unlike any sauce you have ever had. It’s essentially a brown gravy, with a hint of mushroom.

Milo’s french fries are cut wavy and have another secret ingredient dusted over them. The stuff is good and the salty orange powdery stuff is addictive!

Sneaky Pete’s

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Sneaky Pete’s is a Birmingham, Alabama-based chain of hot-dog restaurants founded by Pete Graphos in 1966 and sold to the present-owner Bernard D’Amico in 1986.

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Sneaky Pete’s hot dogs are a beef-pork blend with a very thin casing. The signature hot dog has mustard, onions, kraut, and the restaurant’s signature hot dog sauce. Other options include chili, cheese sauce, beef sauce, and bacon. The restaurants also serve hamburgers, french fries, onion rings, nachos, and a full breakfast menu. Sneaky Pete’s Hot Dog Sauce is bottled for retail sale and is available at several local grocery stores.

California

Baker’s Drive-Thru

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A chain of fast food restaurants located in the metropolitan area and region of Southern California, better known as Inland Empire.

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The Mexican/Hamburger menu is fantastic. The beef tacos are insanely good and greasy. The french fries are a lighter version of Jack In The Box and Burger King. The burger secret sauce is similar to the spread an In-N-Out. The bread they use for the burgers is a tasty whole wheat. Vegetarians will especially love the Boca Burger as it tastes just as good as a regular hamburger. If you love the real thing, the Mama and Papa meals are awesome too.

Fosters Freeze

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Fosters Freeze (full name Foster’s Old Fashion Freeze) is a chain of fast-food restaurants in California founded by George Foster in 1946 on La Brea Avenue in Inglewood, California, a location that still remains, and claims to have been the first fast-food chain in the state.

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They have old fashioned cones, and banana splits, and sundaes, and smoothies, and root beer floats, milkshakes, and parfaits but fans usually go to Fosters Freese for the twisters! Delicious mixture of candy and cookies mixed into soft serve ice cream.

Golden Spoon

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Golden Spoon is a frozen yogurt retail chain headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California with stores located in the western United States, mainly in California, Nevada and Arizona, and international locations in Tokyo, Japan and Metro Manila, Philippines.

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What makes this place great is the 8 or 10 flavors of the day served up soft and whirly like good soft serve should be. They offer lots of different sizes so it’s easy on your budget, even the “mini” for when you just need enough to know you’ve had dessert but don’t need too much that it’s all melty before you finish the last scoop.

Happi House

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Happi House is a quick service teriyaki restaurant concept established on February 29, 1976, in San Jose’s Japantown neighborhood.

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Semi-authentic Japanese food. The menu consists of everything drenched in teriyaki sauce. This place is inexpensive and is delicious. All the meals come with a chicken salad and tempura vegetables. If there isn’t enough teriyaki sauce on the meat for you, just add more!

Hot Dog on a Stick

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HDOS Enterprises, commonly known as Hot Dog on a Stick, is a fast food company originating in Santa Monica, California that started serving lemonade and hot dog on a stick to people on the beach.

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The batter is cooked up nice and crisp on the outside and the inside is cornbread heaven. Some prefer the pepper jack cheese on a stick while others prefer the veggie dog on a stick. MOST like both. The fresh lemonade is perfectly tangy-sweet.

Jimboy’s Tacos

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Jimboy’s Tacos is a Sacramento based Mexican style fast food chain, started in 1954 by a couple named Jim and Margaret Knudsen.

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Famous for their quesadillas which come oozing with gooey delicious cheese, wrapped up in a tortilla, cooked to perfection. Known for Taco Sundays where you will get the cheapest and best tacos in the state of California! Go for the original taco and get a few of them because you won’t imagine how quickly they disappear!

Combo plates come with so much food for a few dollars that you could eat once and probably stay pretty full for the rest of the day. Complete with tortillas, rice, salad, and beans you can order things with it like their tacos or enchiladas, or their combo burrito if you are really hungry! And they serve these with their signature mark of two tortilla chips sitting upright in the beans, as if they are your welcoming committee to a plate full of goodness!

Juan Pollo

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Juan Pollo’s rice does not use a red sauce, rather, it seems to use a chicken broth/stock and it was very tasty. The rice is mixed with green onion and bits of shredded chicken.

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The chicken is moist and flavorful, with a bit of a lemony taste. The potato salad is really, really good. Almost like mashed potatoes with all the usual stuff that goes into potato salads. Sauces at the little salsa bar is consistent and has good flavor.

Original Tommy’s

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Original Tommy’s World Famous Hamburgers is a hamburger restaurant chain in Southern California known for its chili burgers.

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If you live in Southern California and never had a Tommy burger, then you better put it on your short list. Tommy’s chili is very old school. It is a So Cal classic topped with a thick wedge of tomato, chili, and onions. No Thousand Island dressing, no lettuce, no happy meal toy. Imagine the intensity and simplicity of texture and flavors – chili, bun, burger, onion, tomato.

Pioneer Chicken

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Pioneer Chicken, or Pioneer Take Out as it is officially named, is an American fried chicken restaurant which was founded in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles in 1961 by H.R. Kaufman. There are 3 locations remaining in Los Angeles.

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The food is awesome, very crunchy, flavor-filled crust with soft tasty chicken. It is down-home chicken, with a little more flavor, more crust, and more grease. The chicken strips are thick and tasty. They are less greasy and only feature white meat but lots of tasty crust. The chicken strips, like the other 3 pioneers left, are thicker and shorter than the ones from the 80′s but very good.

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You’ll love love the fries, the corn on the cob is fresh, sweet, juicy and flavor-filled. Oh, and the mash potatoes, cole slaw and mac salad which most people eat less of are grade A. So are the gizzards and desserts. The fries are like McDonalds but thicker, lighter in color and less salty.

Submarina

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Submarina is an American chain of fast-food restaurants specializing in submarine sandwiches, founded by Ron Vickers and Les Warfield in 1977. Today there are over 50 franchised Submarina locations with the headquarters in San Marcos, California.

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The sandwiches come in three sizes: 6 inches, 9 inches, and 12 inches and they slice the meat right there in front of you as soon as you order your sandwich. The sandwiches cost more compared to Subway, but you get twice the sandwich so you are a winner either way and the sandwiches are tastier.

The Hat

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The Hat is a Southern California fast-food restaurant specializing in pastrami sandwiches. This iconic eatery, once local only to the San Gabriel Valley, has been offering its “World Famous Pastrami” to Southern California residents since 1951.

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The Pastrami Dip is probably the best pastrami for the price. Freshly made and full of flavor. The portion of pastrami is always very generous. The Gravy Cheese Fries is very good. The gravy is freshly made and poured over fries. It’s very flavorful and won’t be as salty as you’d expect. You might want to share as the portion is really huge!

Chicago

Brown’s Chicken & Pasta

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Brown’s Chicken & Pasta, also known simply as Brown’s Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants specializing in fried chicken. It is based in the Chicago metropolitan area.

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What makes it so special is simply quality and taste (more specifically is the buttermilk batter used). They do much more than just fried chicken, from pasta to tons of different Chicago style sandwiches (beefs, sausages, dogs, etc.) and loads of sides to choose from.

If you haven’t yet, try the Chicken Parmesan with Mosticolli together with a bowl of flavorful spicy chicken. You’ll love it!

Harold’s Chicken Shack

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Harold’s Chicken Shack is a chain of fried chicken restaurants located primarily in Chicago, particularly on its South Side.

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The place to go if you are looking for authentic, vintage fired chicken. Wings are always fried to perfection, and the staff is happy to comply with your request for any combination or all three sauces (bbq, hot sauce and ketchup), otherwise known as everything. The fries are always crispy and delicious, and though they have not yet incorporated a whole grain option for the requisite 2 slices of bread (Wonder white only), everything is nicely separated so you don’t run the risk of the soggy factor where you get fries stuck to bread. The presentation and quality of the fried chicken is well worth the wait.

Portillo’s Restaurants

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Portillo’s is a chain of restaurants that specialize in serving Chicago-style food located primarily throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, and also has two locations in southern California.

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Everyone in the Chicagoland area swears by their favorite Italian beef place. The same sentiment goes for pizza and hot dogs. Onion rings are really good too. So are the chopped salads that consists of bacon, chicken, pasta, onions, cheese. Really scrumptious and could easily feed two. Plus you get a bonus lemon poppy seed muffin.

Colorado

Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard

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Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard is a Golden, Colorado-based fast-food restaurant specializing in premium burgers and fresh frozen custard. Not only is their food amazing, and their custard is to die for, their staff is really nice. They will tell you “sorry for your wait,” even if you placed your order just 30 seconds prior.

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The Burgers are solid. Fries are thick and golden. If you haven’t yet, do try the chicken teriyaki sandwich. Imagine sweet teriyaki sauce with a slice of pineapple nestled between two perfectly toasted buns next to a juicy chicken fillet. That’s the good stuff.

Connecticut

Duchess

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Duchess is a fast-food restaurant chain in southwestern Connecticut founded by Harold and Jack Berkowitz in Bridgeport in 1956.

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Known for their hamburgers made of Angus (a type of cow). They are so good you won’t need anything else, no fries or soda. So for $5 you get a great meal and get full and satisfied. Duchess comes across to the general public as a real mom and pop hamburger joint where they feel safe to eating without fear of having a chemically made burger from a lab.

Florida

Cheeburger Cheeburger

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Cheeburger Cheeburger is a 1950s style burger restaurant chain that started on Sanibel Island, Florida, United States, in 1986.

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What’s cool about Cheeburger Cheeburger is that you can build the burgers yourself. Pick the size, cheese of choice and the dozens of free toppings! Not only that, you can build your own shakes! There are over 75 flavors to choose from with 378,000 possible combinations.

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If you finish the entire “Pounder” (20 ounces of beef) burger you get your picture taken with a stuffed fabric “Pounder” and get it hung on the Wall of Fame.

Larry’s Giant Subs

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Larry’s Giant Subs is a fast-food submarine sandwich chain that started in Jacksonville, Florida since 1982.

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The subs are made fresh, tastes very good and there are many choices. You can even call ahead to avoid a rush.

Georgia

Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits

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Mrs. Winner’s Chicken and Biscuits is a fast food restaurant in the U.S. Southeast which specializes in fried chicken.

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One of the best chicken biscuits you can find in the Southeast. They here are consistently flaky and buttery, and the chicken is big and flavorful and crispy. And, perhaps best of all, available all day long, seven days a week. Need a buttery biscuit at 9pm? You can have it here. In fact, you can have two, as they’re two for $4, which is quite the savings over the regular price of one for $3.

Nu-Way Weiners

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Nu-Way Weiners, Inc. is a company that operates a chain of fast food restaurants that started in Macon, Georgia, USA, known for hot dogs(wieners) that are unique for their red color.

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Nu-Way has been a staple in downtown Macon for since 1916. They serve one of the best southern style dog. The menu may look cryptic to some but the fellas behind the counter are pretty cordial and patient. For example, “All the Way” means chili, mustard and onions. You’d have to try both an “All the Way” dog and a slaw dog. Both perfect in their own way. The chili is also very delicious. One thing cool is that everything is made to order on a flat grill in front of you.

The Varsity

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The Varsity is a restaurant chain, iconic in the modern culture of Atlanta, Georgia. The main branch of the chain is the largest drive-in fast food restaurant in the world.

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The Varsity is an Atlanta landmark with high-calorie, low-nutritional value food that tastes great, costs little, and gets served with a smile. If you like chili dogs remember to add cheese. The onion rings, fresh-cut fries and chocolate or orange creamsicle milkshakes are all delicious. The fried pies are, naturally, Southernly amazing as well.

Iowa

Happy Joe’s

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Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor is an American pizza parlor chain based in Bettendorf, Iowa founded in 1972 by “Happy Joe” Whitty, a former Shakey’s Pizza manager. Its 61 restaurants are located in the Midwestern United States (in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin).

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The place to go for awesome taco pizza, root beer floats, and ice cream.

Kansas

Freddy’s Frozen Custard

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Freddy’s Frozen Custard is a Wichita, Kansas-based restaurant chain, specializing in steakburgers, family recipe chili, Chicago-style hot dogs and frozen custard.

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This place is a nice break from ordinary fast food joints. Chicken strips are good. Steakburgers are smashed flat before grilling, giving it a crispier surface.

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Fries are cut smaller, making it crispier too.

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The custard is really creamy and smooth as silk. The creamy texture coating your tongue before it melts completely is just YUM! Both chocolate or vanilla flavors are excellent.

Nu Way Cafe

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Nu Way is a fast-food restaurant based in Wichita, Kansas. Opening July 4, 1930, the restaurant soon became famous for its loose-meat sandwiches and root beer.

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Crumbly is the very loosely-assembled patty that makes a Nu-Way burger, good. The mustard and pickle with the crumbly meat will sort of remind you of White Castle sliders but not a patty. And the root beer and root beer floats are really delicious. So are the onion rings. Great comfort food.

Spangles

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Spangles is a family-owned fast food chain based in Wichita, Kansas.

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It serves 1/3-pound burgers, flatbread pita wraps, french fries, onion rings, Lactose free milkshakes and other soft-serve ice cream desserts, cinnamon rolls made in Yoder, Kansas and are named after the town, and breakfast sandwiches.

Maryland

Cluck-U Chicken

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Cluck-U Chicken (also known as “Cluck University”) is a fast food restaurant which specializes in serving chicken. Most of their locations are in the states of Maryland and New Jersey, but there are locations in Pennsylvania as well as one location in Ohio and one international location in Lebanon.

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The caviar, the truffle of spicy chicken wings. The buttery sauce base is responsible for you feeling the spice sauce in a smooth, silky, lasting flavor. There are a total of 23 different sauce varieties, the most infamous one being the Thermonuclear Death.

Massachusetts

Honey Dew Donuts

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Honey Dew Donuts is a New England doughnut chain. Most of the locations seem to be in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. They are a great option to Dunkin’ as the donuts are more dense and flavorful. The waitstaff is super friendly and has been the same for years.



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The most irresistible item on the donut menu has got to be The Zachary Donut, the softest honey-dipped donut you can. While the donut is still glistening in the honey-dipping nectar, take said donut and put it into a tub of cocoa powder. Immediately serve. Cocoa powder type stuff is damp and adheres to every single crevice of the donut. Real delicious stuff!

Michigan

Halo Burger

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Halo Burger, sometimes known by its full name Bill Thomas’ Halo Burger, is a fast-food restaurant chain based in Flint, Michigan, USA.

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One of the very few burger joints where you can get heaps of green olives on your burger. Burger meat comes with no salt on it. Just pure unadulterated goodness. If you get a good cook who really knows what they are doing, that burger will be delivered to you with slight crisp edges. Mind blasting stuff!

If you’re a big eater, go for the “Beefy Double Combo” that comes with 4 not too thin, fresh hamburger patties sandwiched between three buns with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, ketchup and mustard. Delicious! Also, Halo Burger’s special beverage called the Boston Cooler (vanilla ice cream and vernors) is one of it’s kind!

Missouri

Andy’s Frozen Custard

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As of 2010, Andy’s has more than 15 locations that spans four states; Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Andy’s was founded by John and Carol Kuntz in 1986 in Osage Beach, Missouri.

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Andy’s is well-known for their pumpkin pie concretes and apple pie concretes in the fall, where slices of pie are blended into the frozen custard.

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Two their top sellers are the Ozark Turtle, a sundae with hot fudge, caramel and roasted pecans, and

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the James Brownie Funky Jackhammer, with peanut butter and brownie chunks blended into the vanilla custard with a hot fudge center.

Griff’s Hamburgers

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Griff’s Burger Bar is a regional fast food chain founded in the early 1960s by Griff’s of America, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri, United States.

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As fast food goes, Griff’s burgers are quite good and they have a fairly large and diverse menu. Burgers are messy, but surprisingly easy to eat. Portions are good, and the meat is cooked well. A variety of premium toppings are available for a little extra, such as jalapenos, mushrooms, or bacon. Burgers do not come with ketchup by default, so be sure to ask for it if you want it.

The hotdogs are actually pretty good as well. The Chili Cheese dog looks and tastes like what Hotdog Chili should where actual meat chili is used and the portions are generous. Oh, and it’s topped with real shredded cheese, not cheese sauce.

The prices are really very good and easily competitive with the likes of McDonalds and Wendy’s. Though they dont say it on the menu, they do give free drink refills if you ask for it at the counter.

LaMar’s Donuts

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LaMar’s Donuts is a chain of doughnut shops founded in Kansas City, Missouri, and headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. LaMar’s has 28 stores in seven states namely Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee.

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LaMar’s are only open until 1 pm and 1 hour before it closes, you get buy one free one donuts. You get 1 free donut for every 6th hole in your punch card. Monday is double punch day. You’ll like the big fat glazed donuts as it melts in your mouth.

Winstead’s

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Winstead’s is a hamburger chain based in Kansas City, Missouri, opened in 1940 and currently has 10 locations in Kansas and Missouri.

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The beef, a top cut, is ground daily on-site and smashed flat while cooking, resulting in a dark brown patty with crispy edges. Topped with a sauce that’s a blend of ketchup and mustard, and a huge slab of raw onion, it’s heaven on a toasted bun. And they come served on real plates not paper or styrofoam. Throw in fries, then wash it all down with a cherry limeade that comes with a maraschino cherry and a little scoop of lime sherbet. If there’s still room, order the Skyscraper soda. This chocolate creamy masterpiece serves four.

Nebraska

Runza

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Runza is the name of a regional fast food restaurant chain specializing in ethnic cuisine once served by the Volga German immigrants to the United States. It is simply a cultural and regional phenomenon. The Runza itself is an old world food coming from places like Russia, Hungary & Germany. That’s what makes it’s appeal so remarkable. It’s something that is seemingly out of place in today’s dining scene yet it thrives in the heart of the Midwest.

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Years back, there was just one kind of Runza. The traditional. Browned ground beef, onions, cabbage, salt & pepper encased in a bun the size of your hand. Down the line Cheese Runzas & Italian Runzas made their way onto the menu, but for the original is where it’s at. It is the perfect meal.

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As for sides, you can’t go wrong with the fries. Always perfectly crisped & salted they are fantastic. But I prefer the onion rings. Big, crispy & fried to perfection, these bad boys go perfect with a side of French Onion dip.

New Mexico

Blake’s Lotaburger

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A New Mexico fast food chain based in Albuquerque that consists of over 76 stores as of 2009. Blake’s Lotaburger also owns the majority of the property that its stores are built on, with the stores being built by the company construction division. Blake’s owns and operates its own sheet metal shop, refrigeration shop, cabinet shop, vehicle shop, maintenance fleet, and commissary.

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Blake’s signature menu item is the huge and tasty Lotaburger, which is especially popular with cheese and lots of green chile added.

New York

Gray’s Papaya

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Gray’s Papaya is a hot dog restaurant with two locations on the West Side of Manhattan, open 24 hours a day year-round. The “papaya” in the name refers to the papaya fruit drink sold at the establishment.

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Meals are as simple as it gets, for as good a price as you can ask for. The Recession Special gets you 2 hot dogs and a soda for less than $5! You can’t ask for much more from this NY landmark, and it is definitely worth getting as a quick, cheap, and tasty meal.

Mighty Taco

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Mighty Taco is a Mexican-style fast-food restaurant chain in the Buffalo, New York area. Mighty Taco isn’t really Mexican and Mexican is no substitute for Mighty Taco. Sure the components are the same, but that’s where it ends.

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If you’re not a local and you find yourself in Buffalo, hungry and want a cheap meal, go to Mighty, get a taco and an empanada, and you must get the ever yummy loganberry.

Ted’s Hot Dogs

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Founded in 1927 by Greek immigrant Theodore Spiro Liaros, Ted’s Hot Dogs is a Western New York tradition based primarily upon their charcoal broiled hot dogs, as well as their homemade secret hot sauce, old-fashioned milk shakes, and handmade onion rings.

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The dogs here are really, truly flame grilled. It’s hot as hell near those grills and you can see the sparks fly. It gives the dogs a char-burned, crunchy crispy outside and they have a real snap to them more than any other dogs you’ve had, particularly in this area.

North Carolina

Biscuitville

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A privately held regional fast-food restaurant chain consisting of 58 locations in the states of North Carolina and Virginia. The restaurants specialize in breakfast food and Southern cuisine.

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Biscuitville is actually an entire town dedicated to biscuits crammed into a small building with a drive-thru. The biscuits are delicious. When you get a meal, you can get your sandwich with fries, hash browns, or grits, always nice and crisp.

Cook Out

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Cook Out is a fast food privately owned restaurant chain in North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia. Founded in Greensboro, the chain has since expanded throughout the state and now has drive-thru restaurants in over fifty cities. Most locations consist of a double drive-thru and outdoor seating.

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Specialty items include grilled hamburgers and hotdogs (cook-out style), chicken sandwiches, and North Carolina barbecue. Even the milkshakes are yummy.

Ohio

Gold Star Chili

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Gold Star Chili is a restaurant chain based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that sells Cincinnati chili.

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You’ll like the cheese coneys, the chili cheese fries, the 4 ways with onions, the chili cheese dip, and their burritos as well. All delicious!

Mr. Hero

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Mr. Hero is a restaurant chain selling submarine sandwiches in Northeastern Ohio that began in 1965 when its founder Robert Coulson purchased a Cleveland restaurant and has been expanding ever since.

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At 860.8 calories and 61.7 grams of fat, Mr. Hero’s most famous sandwich, the RomanBurger, is a garden base setup consisting of lettuce, tomato, and onion with Mr. Hero’s original oil and spices added to it. The Roman is then layered with two beef patties, Swiss-American cheese, Grilled Italian lunch meats, and mayo.

Steak Escape

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Steak Escape is a restaurant based in Columbus, Ohio. Locations are typically found in food courts in shopping malls as well as airports, all serving a variety of menu items including Cheesesteaks.

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This place makes a killer buffalo chicken wrap. Fried chicken, cheddar, and straight up Frank’s hot sauce make a great combination. Also, be daring and ask for extra hot sauce. Their fries are always very good too. They have that fresh cut, skin on style that is good, drenched in ketchup. They never seem to skimp on the portions either. Normally, you’ll see cups overflowing with greasy delicious fried potatoes.

Oklahoma

Braum’s

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Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Stores is a family-owned and operated chain of fast-food restaurants and grocery stores based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with a large concentration on dairy products.

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In order to maintain the freshness of its products, the company does not open stores outside of a 300-mile (483 km) radius of the home farm in Tuttle. As such, the chain has locations in Oklahoma and those parts of Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri within the 300-mile radius. As of 2007, there were approximately 280 stores in operation.

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Braum’s owns its own feed mill, dairy herd, dairy processing plant, bakery, stores and delivery trucks. It also owns eight farms and ranches with a total area of 40,000 acres (160 km2), as well as its flagship family dairy farm in Tuttle, Oklahoma. Braum’s describes itself as the only major ice cream maker to still milk its own cows. They also produce the packaging used for their dairy products.

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Their dessert are wonderful, you wouldn’t expect such great desserts from a fast food place with a little market inside of it. Mix A Mix is a popular item in the menu offering thick, creamy chocolate or vanilla frozen yogurt with any topping that you want mixed in. The hot fudge sundaes are excellent too, being very rich and warm to taste.

Tennessee

Pal’s

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Pal’s Sudden Service, normally called Pal’s for short, is a regional fast food restaurant chain located in northeast Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, with stores concentrated in the Tri-Cities, Tennessee metro region.

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Pal’s at 327 Revere St is the original Pal’s restaurant in downtown Kingsport. It sticks to its roots, as it has no drive-thru, and the tables are located outside under a pavilion. You’ll love this place! People who grew up with Pal’s frequently yearn for a Big Pal with cheese, a large frenchie-fry, and a sweet tea that sticks to your mind.

They are also not lying when they say sudden service as you’ll get your order in about a minute.

Texas

Golden Chick

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It may not be the cheapest fried chicken in the world, but you will still appreciate the quality of it. And although the prices have risen in the past years, the food is still as good as it ever was.

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The chicken is magical. Crispy and flavorful batter. Super moist and juicy. You will never feel it’s too greasy, or too dry. The real secret however, is you ask for the packets of spice. It is one of the best spice mix, with a bit of heat and a lot of flavor, you will find. Put a little more on so it stings a bit and you’ll love the pain. Definitely one of the best chicken strips in Texas.

Grandy’s

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Grandy’s Country Cookin’ is a homestyle cooking and comfort food restaurant chain based in Addison, Texas.

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It’s like eating at an old farm-town family owned restaurant, but fast. You’ll be blown away by the things you can get here like country fried steak, pot roast, catfish, giblets, chicken, cobblet and cinnamon rolls. The portions are really huge. An average human will start feeling full halfway through the chicken fried steak that comes with mashed potatoes and biscuits.

Texadelphia

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Texadelphia is a chain of more than thirty restaurants specializing in unique cheesesteaks first established on Guadalupe Street near The University of Texas in Austin, Texas in 1985.

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Texadelphia has excellent tasting angus certified beef, and stuffed with so much of it, you can actually share it with another person. The flavor is perfect, and the bread has texture that pairs well to the beef, not cold and dry like other chains. The bread here is really soft and toasty, and will not break on you. It soaks up some of the beef juices so each bite is so damn flavorful.

Utah

Arctic Circle Restaurants

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A chain of burger and shake restaurants based in Midvale, Utah. There were 73 restaurants as of February 2011, with about a third owned by the main company and two-thirds by franchisees, in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

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Arctic Circle is famous for inventing the regional condiment called fry sauce which is superbly good with fries.

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The thing about Arctic Circle burgers, is they have this mysterious white sauce which actually makes them taste pretty good despite the fact that you’re eating a fried burger.

Cafe Rio

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Cafe Rio is a fast casual restaurant chain started in 1997 by Steve and Tricia Stanley in St. George, Utah with branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Maryland, Virginia, and Idaho, serving a variety of Mexican-style food.

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Great Mexican food is served with decent vegan options. Popular items in the menu include veggie salad with Cafe Rio’s own homemade vinaigrette, coconut shrimp tacos with tomatillo dressing and the all time favorite barbacoa pork burrito/salad.

Crown Burgers

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Crown Burgers is a small hamburger fast food restaurant chain based in Salt Lake City, Utah started in 1978 by brothers Nick and Manuel Katsanevas.

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The burgers are cooked just right. When you eat fast food burgers, you won’t want rare but you also won’t want burnt crisp and Crown Burger knows how to do it just right. They have all kinds of variations from the Crown Burger with pastrami, bacon, avocado, etc. The fries are the perfect size. Not too thick, not too thin. The onion rings are lovely as well though a little greasier.

If you visit Utah, this is a must try.

Virginia

Roy Rogers Restaurants

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Roy Rogers Restaurants is a Northeastern US chain of fast food restaurants founded by the Marriott Corporation in 1968 in Falls Church, Virginia. As of 2010, Roy Rogers has 47 locations.

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In Roy Rogers, you cannot go wrong with iconic products like the Gold Rush Chicken Sandwich and the Double R Burger. The burger is a real treat. Although the beef is ordinary, the addition of cheese and real shaved ham steak (not deli ham) makes it stand above many other fast food burgers.

Washington

Burgerville

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Burgerville is a privately held American restaurant chain in Oregon and southwest Washington, owned by The Holland Inc. All Burgerville locations are within an 80-mile (129km) radius, mostly in the Portland metropolitan area.

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The chain’s most significant differentiation is in its use of local ingredients and natural ingredients, such as Tillamook Cheddar in its burgers, and locally grown strawberries in its milkshakes and sundaes. Throughout the year it offers seasonal items such as milkshakes made with hazelnuts, fresh pumpkins, fresh raspberries, fresh strawberries, and blackberries, and side orders such as Walla Walla onion rings, sweet potato fries, tempura-style fried asparagus and Yukon Gold potatoes.

Ivar’s

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Ivar’s is a seafood restaurant chain based in Seattle, Washington, United States, with operations in the Puget Sound region; in Spokane, Washington; and in Santa Clara, California.

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The restaurant has a nice, upscale atmosphere about it and the price and food is absolutely exquisite. Very popular for their happy hours that starts from 3:00 till close even on Saturdays. Example, for $4 you can get yourself 6 large, fresh, tasty oysters that come in shot glasses, or a bowl of Ivar’s famous, creamy, delicious clam chowder!

Wisconsin

Cousins Subs

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A U.S. sub sandwich chain founded in 1972 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cousins Subs is a regional chain with stores throughout the Midwest and on the West Coast. Although the majority of franchises remain in Wisconsin, Cousins restaurants can be found in 6 states, including stores in Arizona, Minnesota and Illinois.

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When it comes to subs, you have a lot of choices these days. For some, the flavor and ingredients seemed to be quite a bit more tasty than other sub franchises. Try the ham subs, you’ll love it!

Erbert & Gerbert’s

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Erbert & Gerbert’s is a restaurant franchise that mainly sells submarine sandwiches. The chain was founded in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1987. The company now has 47 locations throughout Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

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Inside, it’s your basic sandwich joint. Order at the counter and sit down or take away. Lots of choices on the menu, all with rather strange names. (This is explained on the website).

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Sandwiches are prepared differently from their competitors as they cut the bread and take out the soft white dough part and leave them on top of the sandwich when done.

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If they aren’t too busy, the sandwich comes out in a jiffy, just how you ordered it. All the ingredients are fresh and yummy together. You may, however, think it a little strange that they put the bit of bread fluff that they scooped out to make room for the filling right there on top of my sandwich. This actually gives you the choice of leaving it aside or to consume it with your sandwich, depending on whether if you are looking to minimize carbs or fill your stomach.

Kopp’s Frozen Custard

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Kopp’s Frozen Custard is a restaurant chain located in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area that specializes in quality frozen custard and large “jumbo” hamburgers founded by Elsa Kopp in 1950.

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Their flavor of the day custards are high quality and inventive. One couldn’t imagine ordering the chocolate or vanilla when they have really interesting sounding flavors like French Cappucinno, truffle fudge, red velvet cake, spumoni, etc.

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When ordering their delicious jumbo burgers just make sure to get yours with blue cheese and grilled onions.

Clean drinking water is a matter of life and death. Our human body consist of 50-70% water and the quality of water which we consume matters because unclean water is a sure predictor of shortened life expectancy. Although we may have the luxury of access to fairly clean water, there are still chemicals and contaminants in our water supply. The safest is to take matters into our own hands. Understand how each of the 13 types of water filtration and purification method works below and apply it to your home to get the best possible quality of drinking water that you can afford.

According to a recent United Nations report, unclean water is a sure predictor of shortened life expectancy. The importance of clean water cannot be overstated.

Boiling

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Is the most commonly used method to purify water. Water that is to be boiled should always be clear. It is easier with a kettle as it whistles once it is ready to be turned off. Otherwise if using other types of simple container, once boiling, you should continue for about 2 to 3 more minutes before removing the heat.

Pros

• Kills almost every living thing and vaporizes most chemicals.

Cons

• Metals become more concentrated.

Slow Sand Filter

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Also referred to as biosand or biological sand filter. A slow sand filter is comprised of a bed of graded sand which is supported by a layer of gravel. This filter media is confined in a box with openings at both ends allowing water to flow in and out, while operating on a top-down, gravity basis.

Pros

• Solids and water muddiness is naturally filtered.

Cons

• Some bacteria still remains.

Fiber Filter

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These filters contain cellulose, rayon or some other material spun into a mesh with small pores. It is just like pouring water containing sand through a piece of cloth. Unlike slow sand filter, pressure is applied to force water through tightly wrapped fibers. There are many kinds of fiber filters in the market that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes from fine to coarse meshes. Go for fiber filters with micron ratings lower than 1 to efficiently trap particles.

Pros

• Sediment and muddiness is removed.
• Small organic particles that causes bad odors and taste may also be removed.

Cons

• The lower the micron ratings, the more often the filter must be changed.
• Anything that is dissolved in water like chlorine, lead and mercury is not removed.

Ceramic Filter

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Almost exactly like fiber filters which will provide only mechanical filtration. Again, go for pore sizes that are less than 1 micron. 0.5 micron if possible.

Pros

• Reduces asbestos fibers that may come from the degradation or breakdown of human-made products such as insulation, pipes, etc.
• Works against certain bacteria.

Cons

• Chlorine, lead, mercury and other organic compounds stays in the water.

Activated Carbon / Charcoal Filter

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Charcoal is carbon. Activated charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. The use of special manufacturing techniques results in highly porous charcoals that have surface areas of 300-2,000 square meters/gram. These activated charcoals are then used to adsorb substances from liquids. ­Adsorb basically means attaching by chemical reaction. Activated charcoal with a fairly wide surface area has countless potential for bonding chemicals to the surface. Activated charcoal is good at trapping other carbon-based impurities, as well as things like chlorine. Many other chemicals like sodium and nitrate are not attracted to carbon at all so they pass right through. This means that an activated charcoal filter will remove certain impurities while ignoring others. It also means that, once all of the bonding sites are filled, an activated charcoal filter stops working. At that point you must replace the filter.

Granular Activated Charcoal / Carbon Filter

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Although activated charcoal granules are loose, they are an effective and valuable water treatment device. As long as a uniform flow rate is maintained and the filter is changed according to the manufacturer’s specifications, optimal performance is achieved.

Pros
• Reduces chlorine, particles and improves the taste and odor of water.
• Water flow is reasonably maintained and is suitable for use as a whole house filter.
• Typical filter cartridge changes are done annually.
• Zero electricity is used.
• Zero water is wasted.
• Beneficial minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium that are dissolved in the water, stays in the water.

Cons

• Water can flow around the granules without being treated as water flows where there is less resistance.
• Water can carve a channel where it may flow freely with little resistance, avoiding contact with the filtration medium.
• Pockets of contaminants can form around the granules that will result in a collapse, which contaminates the filtered flow of water, as the pressure changes.
• General pitcher filters containing active carbon granules have fairly large effective pore sizes of more than 20 microns.
• May potentially become breeding grounds for trapped bacteria when water flow is at a stop.

Solid Block Activated Carbon / Charcoal Filter

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Unlike granular activated charcoal, the carbon has been specially treated, compressed and bonded to form a uniform matrix. This combination of features provides the potential for greater adsorption of many different chemicals and greater particulate filtration than other types of purification methods. Effective pore sizes are usually below 1 micron. Just like any other filter cartridges, it will eventually become plugged and has to be changed according to manufacturer’s specifications.

Pros

• Certain filters are designed to better reduce specific contaminants like arsenic, lead, mercury, etc.
• Much more effective and complete than granular activated carbon filters as surface area is larger and contact time is longer.
• Pore sizes of 0.5 micron and below is small enough to prevent trapped bacteria from multiplying.
• Totally independent of electricity and water pressure.
• Nutrient from minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium remain in the water.

Cons

• Soluble salt like nitrate and fluoride is not naturally reduced.
• Potentially harmful minerals like cadmium is not naturally reduced.

Reverse Osmosis

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Reverse osmosis is a separation process that uses pressure to force water through a membrane with really tiny microscopic holes that retains contaminants on one side and allows pure liquid to pass to the other side. Purified water is collected from the ‘clean’ side of the membrane, and water containing the concentrated contaminants is flushed down the drain from the ‘contaminated’ side.

Pros

• Salt and inorganic matter is greatly reduced. If a carbon filter is used for post filtering, the quality will almost be as good as distilled water.
• Parasites and viruses are completely removed in properly functioning units.
• More treated water is produced compared to distillation.
• No electricity is used. Money saved.
• A proper reverse osmosis membrane lasts you at least 3 years. Money saved.

Cons

• The speed of water produced may not be enough for other uses other than drinking like cooking, washing, cleaning, etc.
• About 3 drops of water is wasted for every 1 drop of filtered water produced.
• Organic chemicals may still linger in reverse osmosis treated water.
• The membrane’s efficiency becomes unpredictable to factors like contaminant concentration, chemical properties of the contaminants, membrane type and quality, water acidity levels, temperature and water pressure.
• In situations where high water pressure is not present to force water through the membrane, it will not work.
• The pre and post filters that come with most reverse osmosis systems require changing periodically according to manufacturer’s recommendation.
• The storage tank requires regular cleaning to ensure the high quality of water stored.
• Damaged membranes are hard to notice, thus it is not easy to tell if the system is still functioning properly.

Distillation

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Distilled water is pure water that is obtained in a process that captures the pure steam from boiling water, which turns to liquid form again through condensation. A vapor trap, carbon filter, or other device should be used along with a distiller to ensure a more complete removal of contaminants.

Pros

• Very pure water is captured.
• Removes salt, minerals, metals, chloride and others that carbon fails to discard.
• Bacteria, viruses and protozoa is killed or left behind when water evaporates.
• Regardless of the quality of the entering water, the end result will always be high quality treated water.
• Unlike filters, there is nothing to replace.

Cons

• Long hours are required to attain a substantial amount of water. For example, it may take half an hour or longer to get 1 cup’s worth (250ml / 8.5oz) of distilled water.
• A lot of electricity is used. For example, it may cost around 0.35 cents worth of electricity to produce 1 gallon / 4 liters of water, which adds up to about $21 per month for 2 gallons per day.
• Water cannot be distilled in the absence of electricity, making it completely unattainable should an emergency arise.

Chlorine Bleach

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Chlorination is the process of adding the element chlorine to water as a method of water purification to make it fit for human consumption as drinking water. Water which has been treated with chlorine is effective in preventing the spread of waterborne disease.

Pros

• Cheap.
• Commonly available in supermarket, pharmacies and convenient stores.
• Effective against bacteria and viruses.

Cons

• Initial chemical contamination in the water is not affected.
• Increases cholesterol formations.
• Carcinogenic in large amounts.
• May cause heart diseases because in the blood, chlorine reacts with calcium which causes it to become toxic and non soluble. Then it becomes plaque (breeding ground for bacteria) that eventually builds up in the body.

Iodine

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The most common chemical purification method used by campers. With the proper iodine concentration and a 30-minute contact time in moderately turbid water that is maintained at 20C / 70F or higher, all harmful bacteria and most viruses will be destroyed.

Pros

• Effectively kills viruses, bacteria and protozoa.
• Lightweight and convenient.

Cons

• Does not effect the cryptosporidium protozoa that can cause gastrointestinal illness with diarrhea.
• The colder the water, the more the time is needed for proper disinfection.
• Does not change the clarity of water but changes the taste.
• Iodine is only practical for short term use.

Ozone / O3

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O3 is an unstable molecule which readily gives up one atom of oxygen providing a powerful oxidizing agent which is toxic to most waterborne organisms. Ozone is made by passing oxygen through ultraviolet light or a ‘cold’ electrical discharge. To use ozone as a disinfectant, it must be created on-site and added to the water by bubble contact.

Pros

• Inactivates harmful protozoa that form cysts.
• Effective against most bacteria, virus and microorganism.
• Produces less dangerous byproducts than chlorine.

Cons

• Produces trace amounts of a type of carcinogen called bromate.
• No disinfectant residual is left in the water.

Ultraviolet / UV

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Water passes through a clear chamber where it is exposed to Ultraviolet light. UV light effectively destroys bacteria and viruses. However, how well the UV system works depends on the energy dose that the organism absorbs. If the energy dose is not high enough, the organism’s genetic material may only be damaged rather than disrupted.

Pros

• Very effective at inactivating cysts.
• Zero toxic byproducts.
• No added smell and taste to treated water.
• In fact, taste will improve as organic contaminants are destroyed.
• Requires very little contact time.
• Many types of bacteria, virus and microorganism are wiped off.
• Beneficial minerals are not affected.

Cons

• UV light’s disinfection effectiveness decreases as the water gets muddier, a result of the absorption, scattering, and shadowing caused by the suspended solids.
• Just like ozone, no residual disinfectant is left in the water, prompting a need to add a residual disinfectant.
• Anything that is not ‘alive’, like lead, asbestos and chlorine, are not affected by ultraviolet light.
• Will not operate without the presence of electricity.

Solar Water Distiller

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A clear plastic barrier like a plastic bag, ground cloth, or a plastic grocery sack is placed over the water source. The sun passes through the barrier and heats the source which then vaporizes, rises and then condenses on the underside of the plastic barrier. The moisture collected is drinking water.

Pros

• Capable of distilling almost any tainted water including seawater.
• Drinkable water can be condensed from anything that has moisture.
• Easy to make and has low impact on the environment. All that is needed is a container to catch water and a large sheet of clear plastic.

Cons

• Source materials that give off toxins like radiator fluids or fuels are not distillable.
• The distilling process is extremely slow and only small amounts can be collected daily.
• Wild salmonella reproduces quickly when stored in the dark, requiring 10 parts per million of hydrogen peroxide to solve the issue.

Time is usually the excuse most of us have when it comes to preparing food at home. Nothing beats home cooked as the healthiest choice for continuous consumption. So in order to keep up with our health with minimal time, below are some of the many common dishes you and I should know how to prepare in less than 10 steps. Some may take an hour some may not even take a minute, but the effort required is minimal.

Cereals

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1. Pour cereals from the box into a cup (recommended serving size), then into the bowl.
2. Pour fresh milk into a cup (recommended serving size), then into the bowl and you’re done!

Time : Less than 1 minute.

One of the easiest to prepare breakfasts enjoyed around the world, especially kids. Provides all the fiber you need to kickstart your day. Of course, the cereal of choice should always be healthier ones, so do check out if the cereal you are taking has a good rating or not in GoodGuide’s Cold Cereal Ratings.

Toasts

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1. Put 2 slices of bread into the toaster and wait for it to pop out.

Time : 1 minute.

The best kind of bread is wholemeal or wholewheat. White is junk. Although the front label of the package might say “12 grains” or “multi grain” to make it sound nice and healthy, but it could just be many enriched grains and not many whole grains. Only get it if wholewheat or wholegrain is the first ingredient.

Spread : butter, peanut butter, cheese, etc.

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1. Scrape out about a teaspoon size worth for spreading on breads the size of your palm.

Time : Less than 1 minute.

Butter like any other dairy spread like cheese has saturated fat which contains vitamins A, E, K as well as a multitude of trace vitamins and minerals that calms blood sugar spikes from carbohydrates. Myristic acid, the type of saturated fat found in butter, plays a key role in immune health. Loss of sufficient saturated fatty acids in the white blood cells hampers their ability to recognize and destroy foreign invaders such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Myristic acid has potent germ-killing ability. We need dietary replenishment of them to keep the immune system vigilant against the development of cancerous cells & infectious invaders.

Natural peanut butter is another spread that we should eat often as it is a good source of protein and heart healthy monounsaturated fat. Do look for the shortest ingredient list when buying a peanut butter type. Always look for no sugar added.

Eggs

Fried

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1. Heat up a non stick pan.
2. Add half a teaspoon of oil.
3. When the oil starts bubbling, crack in the egg. (Tasty Tip: add a little soy sauce instead of salt)
4. Turn off the heat when you’ve achieved the texture you want and serve!

Time : 5 minutes.

Hard Boiled

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1. Put enough water to cover just the tip of the eggs, a teaspoon of vinegar and the eggs into a small pot and wait for it to boil. (Smooth tips : Vinegar helps reduce cracks)
2. Turn off the heat after boiling for 2 minutes.
3. Cool eggs in running tap water for about 10 seconds so that you can start peeling faster. This method saves a lot of time.

Time : 5 minutes.

Soft Boiled

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1. Put enough water to cover just the tip of the eggs and a teaspoon of vinegar into a small pot and wait for it to boil. (Smooth tips : Vinegar helps reduce cracks)
2. Turn off the heat after it boils and immediately put the eggs into the small pot.
3. Remove eggs at exactly 7 minutes later.
4. Cool eggs in running tap water for about 10 seconds so that you can handle the eggs with your hands better. This method saves time.
5. Crack the egg in half, scoop out the contents with a teaspoon and add soy sauce and pepper to taste.

Time : 10 minutes.

Eggs are healthy and can help you lose weight too. They are packed full of protein and the yolk is a fine source of chromium, both of which help to stabilize blood sugar levels, thus preventing in between meal hunger pangs which result in snacking. Eggs are also packed full of other nutrients like lethithin, B12, iron, zinc, vitamins A and D.

Processed meat : sausage, luncheon meat, bacon, etc.

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1. Easily bake, stir fry or grill processed meat with just a hint of olive oil added to it.

Time : Less than 5 minutes.

I would highly discourage you from consuming any kind of processed meat due to the disastrous health effects associated with it.

Salad

Caesar Salad

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1. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 egg yolk, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard and 2 mashed anchovy fillets.
2. Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup of olive oil to emulsify.
3. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
4. Place 1 large head of romaine lettuce chopped into bite sizes in a large bowl.
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and black pepper.
6. Drizzle with desired amount of dressing and toss well.
7. Sprinkle top with 1 cup of croutons.

Time : 20 minutes.

Coleslaw

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1. In a large bowl, combine 1/2 shredded small cabbage and 1 shredded large carrot.
2. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of mayonnaise, 2 tbsp of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of cider vinegar.
3. Pour over cabbage mixture and toss to coat.

Time : 15 minutes.

Sweet Potato Salad

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1. Boil 2 medium potatoes in salted (1 pinch) water until done. Cool to room temperature.
2. Dice and place potatoes in a large bowl.
3. Mix in 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar, 1/2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp mustard, 1/2 tsp garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste in another bowl.
4. Add to potatoes.
5. Add 1 stalk of celery, 1 minced small size onion and mix well.
6. Stir in 1 hard boiled egg and sprinkle a little thyme on top.

Time : 15 minutes.

Salads can be healthy or unhealthy depending on the ingredients. Go light on the dressing and it should be alright.

Baked Beans

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1. Put baked beans in microwave, pot, pan or even over a fire to obtain your desired level of hotness and serve.

Time : Less than 5 minutes.

By right, baked beans from the tin are all precooked. So it’s actually safe to consume them straight away if you cannot find any means to reheat it. Baked beans are nutritious as they provide you with cholesterol lowering soluble fiber, high amounts of muscle building protein, folic acid, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium and vitamin B6.

Grilled vegetables

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1. Preheat grill and coat the selected vegetables lightly with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
2. Grill vegetables until desired tenderness or for up to 5 minutes max to prevent further deterioration of nutritional value.

Time : Less than 5 minutes.

The smokiness and caramelizing of the flames makes vegetables taste so much more palatable. Many vegetables will do well on the grill but the ones that shine are asparagus, eggplant, mushrooms, capsicum, onions, broccoli, etc. Do note that vegetables with high water content like celery, lettuce, spinach and all other leafy greens are not suitable for grilling.

Grilled meat

Steak

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1. Mix steak marinade with steak of your choice.
2. Refrigerate overnight if it’s homemade marinade or per directions if it’s premade bottled marinade.
3. Preheat grill to a high and cook steak to your desired doneness.

Time : 30 minutes.

If you have the cash to splash, do get either a T-bone, filet mignon or porterhouse. Or if it’s for a really special occasion, get kobe beef. Otherwise, a sirloin, flank or skirt steak will do. Marinades. There are only 2 kinds, fresh homemade or premade off the shelf. It is always healthier to make your own marinade although it consumes more time as it involves chopping garlics and herbs. Usually, for 1 inch thick steaks, a general guide is 6 minutes on each side for medium rare. Of course, for a more accurate reading use a meat thermometer. However, poking a hole will make the steak juices drip through. Or you can always use your finger.

Chicken

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1. Mix chicken marinade with boneless chicken breasts.
2. Refrigerate overnight if it’s homemade marinade or per directions if it’s premade bottled marinade.
3. Preheat grill to a high and cook chicken breasts for about 7 minutes per side, or until there is no more pinkish colored meat.

Time : 30 minutes.

Chicken breasts are a little trickier to cook than steak. Parts of the chicken breast may dry out even before it is thoroughly cooked. One way to minimize drying out is to pound the meat to a uniform thickness so that the entire meat cooks more evenly.

Fish

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1. Preheat grill to a high and oil the grates to minimize fish sticking to it.
2. Squeeze lemons over fish and cook for about 5 minutes per side or until fish meat flakes easily and is no longer translucent.

Time : 15 minutes.

Fish is meant to be grilled. Direct heat cooks fish fast, easy and without removing the flavorful and juicy moisture. Oily fish especially, contains vitamin A, D and lots of heart healthy omega 3 fatty oil. There are many other ways you can grill fish like wrapping it in banana leaf or corn husks, and applying a burst of flavorful marinade to it.

Canned Sardine/Tuna

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1. Put canned sardine/tuna in microwave, pot, pan or even over a fire to obtain your desired level of hotness and serve.

Time : Less than 5 minutes.

Canned sarine/tuna is actually cooked and can be eaten straight from the can. It’s got omega-3, protein, low fat and really low carbohydrates. The best are the ones canned in water.

Pizza

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1. Put pizza crust on top of a baking sheet and spread pizza sauce over the base with a spoon.
2. Scatter preferred toppings and bake in oven at 230C/450F for 10 minutes until crisp.

Time : 20 minutes.

Use whole wheat based pizza base if possible as it is much healthier than ordinary pizza base. For the pizza sauce, you can easily get pesto or do it yourself over the weekend. The most common toppings for pizzas are cheese, mushroom and pepperoni. Also, do try to have a ratio of 2 vegetables and 2 fruits to 1 meat so as to make your pizza as healthy as possible. Like for example, only spread 50g worth of meat for every 100g vegetable and 100g fruit topping.

Pasta

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1. Cook 80g of pasta according to package ingredients, usually includes boiling in water for about 10 minutes.
2. While boiling pasta, take the time to ready your 100g of spaghetti sauce.

Time : 15 minutes.

Whole wheat pasta has 7 more grams of fiber and 2 more grams of protein per serving than white pasta. Also, 100% whole grain pasta does not undergo the chlorine dioxide beaching process that removes three-quarters of the vitamins and minerals. Pesto, bolognese, alfredo, etc can be easily made from thousands of recipes on the internet.

Rice

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1. Measure the amount of rice you want to cook and rinse three times with the rice cooking pot.
2. Place the pot into the rice cooker, cover it, and turn it on. The switch will click, like a toaster, when the rice is done.

Time : 20 minutes.

Stick to brown rice as it is whole grain and natural with nothing removed. It contains vitamin B1, B3 and iron, all which is lost in the process of hulling/mulling to make white rice. The standard ratio of water to rice is 2 to 1. For example, pour in 1 cup of water for every half cup of rice into the rice cooker. While waiting for the rice to be ready, a process which usually takes more than 15 minutes, use the time to prepare 2 dishes to go along with it.

Potato

Baked

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1. Wash potatoes thoroughly with a brush with skin intact.
2. Dig holes with your fork on each side of the potato so that steam may escape.
3. Coat lightly with olive oil on a bowl, sprinkle with salt and bake it in a preheated oven of 350F/180C for about 1 hour until the skin crisps while the flesh stays soft.

Time : 90 minutes.

Mashed

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1. Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water.
2. Cover and boil for 30 minutes until very tender.
3. Drain well, add milk, butter, salt and pepper and mash until light and fluffy.

Time : 60 minutes.

It is very important that the skin is included as that is where the most nutrients are. Sprinkle herbs and spices like chive, grated cheese or cinnamon powder when the potatoes are done to add to the taste. Nutrients found in potatoes include vitamin C, B6, folate and niacin. Where possible, go for sweet potatoes as it is much healthier than white potatoes.

Hot chocolate

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1. Heat a cup of milk in the pot over medium low heat until steaming, not boiling.
2. Add 1 spoon of dark chocolate cocoa powder and 2 teaspoons of brown sugar into the pot and whisk until well blended.

Time : 5 minutes

Hot chocolate contains more antioxidants than wine and tea, terrifically reducing the risk of heart diseases as large amounts of antioxidants are released when the beverage is heated up. Flavonoids found in cocoa that makes up hot chocolate has a significant impact on arterial health, mainly high amounts of improvement in blood flow. Dark chocolate, the healthiest kind of chocolate, consists of 70%-99% cocoa and is much bitter than ordinary chocolate.

Ice Cream

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1. Scoop out from the box and enjoy.

Time : Less than 1 minute.

Ice cream from the box is cheaper than in cone form. Although ice cream is unhealthy, it is very much loved over the world and won’t stop many from having a good time consuming it. Yes, ice cream is fattening and contains a lot of sugar so let’s be responsible to our body and consume it moderately.

Fruits : apples, bananas, watermelon, oranges, etc.

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1. With just an ordinary kitchen knife, you can enjoy almost every type of fruit except maybe the durian.

Time : Less than 1 minute.

Fruit is water. For example, watermelons are made up of 92% water which is important for the body and skin. Fiber, a nutrient found a lot in fruits, is needed to keep bowel movements regular and lower cholesterol levels. Different colored fruits contain different nutrients so we should vary our consumption.