Your week
Your Health
When family schedules go into overload, healthy eating is easily overlooked. And when time is tight, it’s even more important for snacks to pack a nutritional punch. For busy families on the go, try these healthy snacking tips from chef and registered dietitian Michelle Dudash.
• Plan ahead. Carrying family snacks in your purse, car or gym bag while out and about can prevent vending machine and drive-through slip-ups. Apples, raisins, nuts and whole-grain crackers serve as great portable options.
• Find the perfect snack pairings. A blend of nutritious fats, complex carbs and lean proteins can help curb appetites. Consider a cheese stick and pear slices, fruited Greek yogurt or trail mix.
• Refuel your body naturally. The first 30 minutes after any physical activity is the most critical time for parents and kids alike to replenish the body’s energy stores. Reboot with a natural snack like a handful of California Raisins, which also contain antioxidants and fiber.
• Curb those cravings. A healthy bite after school can keep the kids satisfied until dinner. Try carrot sticks and sugar snap peas dipped in hummus, a strawberry banana smoothie or a brown rice cake spread with natural peanut butter topped with banana slices.
• Treat yourself with decadent alternatives. Satisfy your chocolate cravings with nutrient-rich combinations, like strawberries dipped in dark chocolate syrup and rolled in slivered almonds or whole-grain crackers with natural chocolate hazelnut spread.
Find more health and fitness tips in Tuesday’s Today section.
Your Home
Nothing ruins a bowl of cereal more than insect remains floating in your milk.
Pantry pests are some of the most bothersome because they contaminate our food by creeping onto countertops and into cupboards, nibbling their way into everything, even unopened boxes of flour and pasta. Plus, pantry pests aren’t seasonal – they can strike at any time of the year.
According to the National Pest Management Association, there are four common insects that invade pantries and kitchens. By knowing what they like to eat, you can prevent an infestation and protect your food and your family’s health.
• Merchant grain beetles. These narrow, brown beetles prefer cake mixes, cookies, chocolate and cereals. They have flat bodies with six saw-like teeth on each side. Make sure to clean up any spilled grains or dried goods that could attract them.
• Indian meal moths. These moths will feast on most dried goods, but home infestations tend to start with pet food or birdseed. Keep a lookout for these shiny moths – their outer wings have a coppery luster. Storing food in tightly sealed containers helps prevent Indian meal moths.
• Silverfish. These silvery, metallic bugs like feeding on paper items and glue, but they’ll also enjoy things like flour and oats. They’re usually found in moist, humid environments – bathrooms especially. Pest experts recommend getting a dehumidifier if you notice more silverfish at night. Repairing leaky pipes and drains is also a good idea.
• Varied carpet beetles. These beetles started off eating natural fibers like wool. Now, they also feast on flour, cereals, sugar, corn meal, nuts and more. Typically, only larvae are found in dried foods because adults feed on pollen. Sometimes just the larval ‘skins’ remain, but this still indicates an infestation.
Knowing what you’re up against is beneficial, but real infestations should be handled by a pest professional. For more information, visit www.pestworld.org.
Find more home and garden ideas in Sunday’s Today section.
Your Food
Leftover or precooked turkey serves as the base for a flavorful skillet dish. Add portobello mushrooms, whole wheat pasta, and reduced-fat cheese for a quick meal that’s tasty and light on the waistline. See Quick Fix recipe on C5.
Find more recipes and restaurant news in Wednesday’s Food section.
Your Fun
On CD (Tuesday)
The Black Keys, “El Camino”
Amy Winehouse, “Lioness: Hidden Treasures”
The Roots, “Undun”
Korn, “The Path of Totality”
On DVD (Tuesday)
“The Help”
“The Hangover Part II”
“Mr. Popper’s Penguins”
“Cowboys & Aliens”
“Life Above All”
“The Debt”
In Theaters (Friday)
“New Year’s Eve”
“The Sitter”
On TV
“A Charlie Brown Christmas”: The perennial holiday classic reveals the true meaning of Christmas. (Today, 8 p.m., ABC)
“Pearl Harbor: 24 Hours After”: The new two-hour documentary takes an in-depth look at what happened after news of the Japanese attack in Hawaii reached the president. (Wednesday, 8 p.m., History)
“Hot in Cleveland”: “Frasier” co-stars Jane Leeves and John Mahoney are reunited in Cleveland. (Wednesday, 10 p.m., TV Land)
“The Office”: The Dunder-Mifflin holiday party won’t be the same without Michael Scott. Still, Robert California should provide some drunken amusement. (Thursday, 9 p.m., NBC)
“Bag of Bones”: Pierce Brosnan stars in this two-part adaptation of the Stephen King novel. (Sunday and Dec. 12, 9 p.m., A&E)
On Stage
“Sisters of Swing: The Story of the Andrews Sisters”: Wednesday-Saturday and Dec. 14-17, Interplayers
Allegro, Baroque & Beyond: Tuesday and Wednesday, the Patsy Clark Mansion
Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra: Today Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox
SFCC Symphony Orchestra: Today, SFCC Music/Performing Arts Auditorium
Around town
NIC Student Pottery Sale: Tuesday and Wednesday, Boswell Hall
Friends of Turnbull Winter Festival: Saturday, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Hillyard’s North Pole: Thursday through Saturday, Northeast Community Center
Find arts, entertainment news in the Thursday and Friday Today section.