HOW TO FIND YOUR DREAM JOB

HOW TO WASH AND STORE FRESH GREENS

One question I get asked a lot is how to keep leafy greens fresh in the refrigerator for a whole week.

After years of eating a TON of greens (I sometimes buy about 8 bunches at a time), I have learned a few tricks for keeping leafy greens fresh for as long as possible.

As soon as I come home after buying greens, I place them into plastic tubs lined with thin reusable napkins. I reuse the 1 pound tubs that baby spinach or mixed greens come in. You can also buy produce tubs at kitchen and home stores.

To regulate moisture in the plastic tub, I add thin cloth napkin and line the bottom.  Then I add the greens and cover them with another thin cloth napkin before putting the lid on. You can also use a paper towel.

I do not pre-wash leafy greens.  I usually cut the ends of the stems off, usually just above or below where the twist tie bundles them together.  When placing them in the refrigerator, I always make sure the stem-side faces the back of the fridge. Delicate greens may freeze if the leafy tips are up against the back of the fridge where it is coldest.

Never store greens in produce bags as they will rapidly wilt, yellow and get slimy.

Storage times: 

Storage times for greens may vary.  If you buy them really fresh, they'll last longer than if you buy them when they are just starting to wilt.

Kale and collards: May keep for up to a week or more.

Dandelion greens and most lettuces: Generally last about 3-5 days if kept relatively dry.  Chard:May last up to 4-5 days.Baby spinach and mixed greens: May last 3-4 days depending on their freshness and moisture level.

When buying leafy greens that come in a plastic tub, avoid any that look wet or saturated, or where yellowing has started.  By the way, you can put plastic tubs of pre-washed baby spinach or baby kale directly into the freezer for even longer storage. You do not need to blanch the greens or even open the tub.

These tips helped us cut down on trips to the grocery store.  Greens never go bad on me, even when I buy 8 or more bunches at a time. My biggest challenge with greens now is fitting them all in the refrigerator after I've gotten them home!

by incrediblesmoothies.com

TWEET YA DIAMOND PLATNUMZ

EXERCISE DURING PREGNANCY CURBS DIABETES RISK

Researchers have found that women who engage in moderate physical activity during pregnancy are less likely to have gestational diabetes, and the exercise also helps to reduce maternal weight gain.

"Exercise is not something to be feared during pregnancy - the moderate levels of exercise used in these studies had significantly positive effects on health and were found to be safe for both mother and baby," said lead author of the study Gema Sanabria-Martinez from Virgen de la Luz Hospital in Spain.

Gestational diabetes is one of the most frequent complications of pregnancy. It is associated with an increased risk of serious disorders such as hypertension, preterm birth, and with induced or caesarean birth.

It can have long term effects on the mother including long term impaired glucose tolerance and Type-2 diabetes.

The children of mothers with gestational diabetes are more likely to become overweight or obese and have a higher risk of developing diabetes themselves.

Gaining more weight than is recommended during pregnancy carries similar risks, and these women are also less likely to lose the excess weight after the baby is born.

In this study, analysis of 13 trials, involving more than 2,800 women, found that exercise reduced the risk of gestational diabetes by more than 30 percent - for women who exercised throughout pregnancy this was even greater (36 percent).

This effect was strongest for women who combined toning, strength, flexibility and aerobic exercise.

Exercise was also helpful in reducing excessive weight gain -- those who exercised were on average a kilogram lighter.

This held true for the weight gain even if the exercise programme was started in the second trimester of pregnancy.

The study was published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

 IANS 

CUTE BABIES

Prince William and Kate Middleton's children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte: "Prince George and Princess Charlotte together at home. #WelcomeToTheFamily." -@kensingtonroyal