10 Dos and Don'ts of Restaurant Etiquette

If your steak has ever been spoiled by a side of rudeness, we've got news for you—it might your fault. When it comes to restaurant table manners, veteran servers say the customer isn't always right.

Here are 10 ways to be the best customer you can be:

Tip 15 percent or more. Waitresses depend on tips for about 90 percent of their income, as they can earn as little as $2.15 an hour. They must also share their tips with bus staff, bartenders, hostesses and food runners. "We may keep only 80 to 70 cents of every dollar we get, sometimes less," says Steve Dublanica, author of Waiter Rant.

Tip at buffets. If you've ever left a buffet without tipping, consider yourself warned—standard tipping rules absolutely apply. Your server still brings drinks, gives great service and has to clear three times as many plates.

Treat your waitress with respect. Just because she's serving you food doesn't mean she's a servant. "When you go to a restaurant, you want what you want when you want it—and to some degree that's what you should get at a restaurant," Steve says. "But when people start thinking that we're not human ... it hurts."

Put down the cell phone. If you absolutely have to make a call, wait until after you've heard the specials and everyone has placed their order. Otherwise, you'll hold up your dinner—and everyone else's.

Don't place blame where it doesn't belong. Your waitress doesn't mix every drink and sear every steak. If you don't like something, it isn't her fault. "If your steak is undercooked, I'll be happy to get you another one," says Tara, a waitress at Carmichael's in Chicago. "Just let me know, and I'll get it out as soon as I can."

Urge your kids to be on their best behavior. There's nothing more frustrating than going out to dinner and having the night ruined by the screaming kids at the next table. Teach your children to be respectful and courteous at every meal—especially in public. Your waitress—and fellow dinners—will thank you.

Don't ask to change tables. Seating on a busy night is like a house of cards—one wrong move and the whole thing comes tumbling down. "Two people take less time to eat than four people. Six people take more time to eat than four people. So we plan according to those times," Steve says. "If you change one table, everything gets thrown off."

Ask for the check. On a calm night, it's actually impolite for the waiter to drop the check on the table. "If you're having a wonderful evening, the last thing I want to do is go, 'Bang, here's the check,'" Steve says. Speak up when you're ready to go.

Don't overstay your welcome. The only time it's acceptable for a waiter to hand you the check is during a busy night. "If I've got to get you out of there, I will drop the check on your table," Steve says. "Getting another table means the waiter makes more money, the restaurant makes more money, everyone there makes more money because it's a business and we've got to move things along."

Let the waiter know when you're ready to pay. Waiters aren't psychic, so let a little money or a credit card peek out of the bill when you're ready to settle. "You don't want us hovering over your table," Steve says. 

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Restaurant-Etiquette#ixzz2AS0KHnIW

The Wellness Benefits of Brie Cheese

However if you are thinking about well being and on a diet, this is perhaps one of the foods to avoid, as it contains fats, and will increase cholestrerol levels. You may also have a lactose intolerance so Azure Brie may be your best bet as the red blood vessels in the dairy products are a dangerous bacteria related to penicillin, Penecillium roqueforti. This is actually excellent for the intestinal tract as it fights parasites in the gut.

Brie is an excellent source of calcium mineral, excellent for better bone and teeth, but is high in salt, with 178.6 mg per ounce; the suggested everyday consumption of salt is 1,500 mgs and most People in america have dual this quantity in their everyday diet plans. Sodium can increase hypertension, so you should be cautious about the quantity you eat. Goat's dairy Brie contains less salt and more calcium mineral and vitamin D stages than that created of cow's dairy, as well as having less fat and cholestrerol levels. All goats' dairy cheese are better than those created of cow's dairy.

One ounces of a frothy perfect Brie contains 94.9 calorie consumption and 7.9 gr of fat, with 5.9 gr aminoacids per ounces. It contains natural vitamins B 12, which is excellent for anxiety and red system tissues as well as defending against muscle weak point, bladder control problems, dementia and swift changes in moods. It also contains B2 (riboflavin) which has antioxidants as does selenium also included in this dairy products. Anti-oxidants help secure tissues from damage by toxins which can make better tissues cancer. However these antioxidants are present in meals such as spinach, brussel seedlings, clothes and fruit.

Personally I only like the real France Brie and prefer a excellent Camembert or any goats' dairy products, but if I buy Brie it has to be perfect and ready to drop off the blade, so if you do love this and buy an under-ripe one, don't keep it in the refrigerator, but store in a awesome place for a week so that it ripens and is perfect to consume!

Brie created from cow's dairy is not particularly great for well being, but who could avoid a piece of it occasionally? It's one of those meals that, to money the term used to promote lotion desserts in the UK, are "naughty but nice."

The Advantages of Crab Meat

 

Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

If you are looking for healthy foods to add to your diet, you may want to consider crab. Crab is nutrient-dense, it is versatile, and you can use it in salads, appetizers or as a main course. Thoroughly cook your crab or any seafood before you eat it, and avoid crab meat if you suspect that you may be allergic.

Low-Calorie

Each serving of crab meat contains only 71 calories, so it can be part of a calorie-controlled diet to lose weight or prevent weight gain. Each serving of crab meat provides 15 g protein, which is a filling nutrient that may help you lose weight. Protein slows down the emptying of food from your stomach and makes you feel full for longer after a meal. To limit your intake of calories from eating crab meat, avoid high-calorie dishes such as crab dip made with full-fat cream cheese.

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Source of Omega-Three Fats

A 3-oz. serving of cooked crab meat has 86 mg eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and 57 mg docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. EPA and DHA are long-chain omega-three fatty acids which may lower your risk for heart disease when you get at least 250 mg per day, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to crab meat, dietary sources of EPA and DHA include other shellfish, such as oysters, shrimp and mussels, and fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, herring and sardines.

Rich in Essential Nutrients

Selenium is a heart-healthy mineral which promotes the antioxidant activity of vitamins C and E, and each 3-oz. serving of crab meat contains 37 mg selenium, or percent of the daily value. This same amount of crab meat provides 3.2 mg zinc, or 21 percent of the daily value for this mineral for a strong immune system. Some of the vitamins in crab meat include Vitamin B-12, vitamin E, folate and niacin, or vitamin B-3.

Other Advantages

Crab meat provides less than 1 g total fat, and it is nearly free from saturated fat, which raises levels of cholesterol in your blood. Eat it only in moderation if you are watching your cholesterol intake, since a 3-oz. serving provides 82 mg, or 27 percent of the daily value. Some seafood, such as tilefish, mackerel, swordfish and shark, are likely to be high in mercury, which is an environmental contaminant. Pregnant women should avoid those sources of omega-3 fats, and crab meat is a safer choice for pregnant women because of its lower mercury content.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/509863-the-advantages-of-crab-meat/#ixzz29hBdmXV8

10 Tips for a Healthy Diet

1 Drink More Water.

If water were a food, it would be a superfood. It helps digestion, promotes clear skin, acts as an appetite suppressant, and even prevents heart disease, among many other benefits. Some research has even shown that drinking water can speed up metabolism and help you lose weight. Although the whole drink-eight-glasses-a-day advice is now thought to be a myth, it doesn’t hurt, and it’s better than drinking energy drinks or flavored waters that may contain lots of sweeteners. Stick to filtered tap, and cut it with naturally sweetened fruit juice if you get bored, or try low-calorie, unsweetened elixirs like this Green Herb Infusion. At work, keep a large pitcher of water at your desk, so you don’t have to keep getting up to refill your glass.

2 Create a Salad Bar in Your Fridge.

Buy some produce on a Sunday and spend a half hour washing, chopping, and storing it in containers in your fridge (Mason jars look cool). Make enough salad dressing for the whole week. Then, before work, all you have to do is add greens and assemble for lunch. It’s OK to dress the salad in the morning if you refrigerate it when you get to work.

3 Remember, Color Equals Nutrition.

It’s a good rule of thumb that the more colorful the food, the more healthy it is. For instance, squash, carrots, spinach, and kiwi are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. White and beige foods like cheese, french fries, white rice, white flour, and white sugar should be eaten in moderation, because they’re either high in saturated or trans fats, or overly processed and lacking in nutritional value. Similarly, when you eat vegetables, leave the skins on if they’re more colorful than the interior (for example, zucchini and cucumber), because that’s where a lot of the vitamins are.

4 Keep a Food Journal.

This serves as a powerful reality check for what you’re truly eating, not what you’d like to think you’re eating. In addition to detailing your diet, you can also write down what is going on in your life in case you fall off the healthy wagon. External stresses often cause us to seek comfort in food: “Divorce paperwork filed: Caramel latte and devil’s food cupcake, 4 p.m.” It’s easier to change behaviors if you first know what causes them.

5 Investigate Funky Grains.

Put aside highly refined white pasta and white rice for a while in favor of nutritious brown rice, barley, kamut, spelt, millet, quinoa, farro, and buckwheat (which isn’t technically a grain, but don’t worry about that). You can cook and eat them just the way you would rice or pasta, or top them with fresh fruit as an oatmeal substitute. Cook a big pot over the weekend, keep it in the fridge, and throw a handful into your salad each day. Or try one of these CHOW recipes for Quinoa Salad or Farro Risotto with Asparagus and Fava Beans.

6 Ask, “Would I Eat an Apple?”

Sometimes it’s hard to tell when you’ve crossed the line from nourishing yourself to overeating. That’s because it takes up to 15 minutes for your brain to receive signals from your digestive system that you’re full. Eating slowly can help (some people recommend using chopsticks), because that gives your brain time to catch up. Also, if you’re unsure, try asking yourself, “Would I eat an apple right now if one was offered to me?” If the answer is no, you’re eating just to eat, not because you’re still hungry.

7 When in Doubt, Sauté with Garlic.

You always hear about how you’re supposed to eat lots of vegetables, seasonal if possible. But often they sit around in your fridge and go bad because you don’t know what to do with them. In a pinch, just chop them up and sauté them with olive oil, garlic, and salt. This works for everything from bok choy to kale to Jerusalem artichokes. If it’s something hard, like broccoli stalks or butternut squash, simply cut the vegetable up really small.

8 Eat Breakfast in Bed.

Many of us put meals at the bottom of our priority list, leaving us scarfing down a meal of frozen lasagne while multitasking on the computer, at best. Instead, try treating one of your daily meals, or a few meals a week, as a ritual whose purpose is to nourish both your body and your spirit. Think ahead a little, and schedule your day so you have the time to prepare and enjoy the ingredients you bought ahead of time. Appreciate the aromas as you prepare the food, as well as the beauty of fresh ingredients versus a frost-covered block that comes out of plastic.

9 Bag Half to Go.

When eating out, bag half your meal to go before you even start. Most restaurant portions are too big, so either ask the server to split your order and put half in a to-go box at the beginning, or request a box and do it yourself. Then you won’t be tempted to dig into the second half while it’s sitting in front of you. And you’ll have leftovers for lunch the next day.

10 If It Has a Label, Don’t Eat It.
 

Spend less time reading the fine print for calories and grams of fat by eating stuff that has no label. Whole fruits, vegetables, and bulk grains don’t have labels. Foods that haven’t been chopped up, chemically altered, and screwed around with in factories have no labels. Even that healthy energy bar you’re buying that costs $3 and the label says is made of dates and nuts—how about just buying some dates and nuts and saving yourself $2?

8 Advantages of Fish Fatty Acids

Fish fatty acids have many far reaching health benefits and should be included as a part of your balanced diet. These essential fatty acids, primarily omega-3s, must be consumed through diet, as your body does not produce them on its own.
Sources of omega-3s can be ingested either through fatty fish or supplements. Though natural fish consumption is thought to be the best because of the additional nutrients it provides your body, either method of consumption will produce positive results on your long-term health. Fatty fishes include salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines and anchovies, and they should be eaten at least twice a week to bring the following benefits to your body:
Advantage #1: Reduces Cancer Risk
Regular consumption of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of several types of cancer by up to 50%, including breast, ovary, prostate, esophagus, colon and oral cancers.
Advantage #2: Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Research has shown that by eating fatty fishes twice a week, you can reduce your risk of stroke and heart disease. Eating these fish helps to reduce blood clots, improve blood vessel elasticity, lower blood pressure, boost good cholesterol and lower blood fats, all of which contribute to your improved cardiovascular health.
Advantage #3: Decreases Dementia Risk
Studies have proven that elderly people who eat seafood or fish at least once weekly, have a much lower risk of developing both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Advantage #4: Helps Manage Diabetes
Regular eating of fatty fish has been shown to help manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Advantage #5: Helps Relieve Inflammatory Conditions
Eating fatty fish on a regular basis has been proven to assist in relieving some of the symptoms of inflammatory conditions like autoimmune diseases, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Advantage #6: Improves Brain and Eye Health
A diet rich in omega-3s, the vital nutrient supplied in fatty fish, has been shown to contribute to the health of both brain tissue and the retina.
Advantage #7: Decreases Depression Rates
The omega-3s in fatty fish have been linked to producing lower incidences of depression in those people that regularly consume fish.
Advantage #8: Decreases Asthma Risk
Studies have shown that children who eat fatty fish are much less likely to develop asthma throughout their lives.
With so many health benefits, there is no reason to not increase your consumption of fatty fish. Try different fish and recipes, and experiment with baking, steaming, poaching and grilling the fish to really get started on the road to healthier eating and living.

Healthy Makeover Brownies

From Good Housekeeping

triple-tested at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute

The rich texture and chocolatey goodness of these bake sale favorites speak of decadence, but compare each square's 95 calories, 3 grams of fat, and zero cholesterol to a regular brownie's doubly high calories, nearly quadrupled fat, and 60 milligrams of cholesterol, and you'll feel virtuous (and satisfied). Our cheats? Swapping nonfat cocoa for chocolate, and cholesterol-free spread for not-so-heart-healthy butter.

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Nutritional Information
(per serving)

Calories95 Total Fat3g Saturated Fat1g Cholesterol0Sodium75mgTotal Carbohydrate17gDietary Fiber1gSugars--Protein2gCalcium--

Kate Mathis

Yields: 16 brownies
Total Time: 35 min

Prep Time: 15 min

Oven Temp: 350

Ingredients
U.S. Metric Conversion chart

• 1 teaspoon(s) instant coffee powder or granules
• 2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
• 1/2cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 1/2cup(s) unsweetened cocoa
• 1/4teaspoon(s) baking powder
• 1/4teaspoon(s) salt
• 1 cup(s) sugar
• 1/4cup(s)  trans-fat free vegetable oil spread (60% to 70% oil)
• 3 large egg whites

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Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 8" by 8" metal baking pan. In cup, dissolve coffee in vanilla extract.
2. On waxed paper, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
3. In medium bowl, whisk sugar, vegetable oil spread, egg whites, and coffee mixture until well mixed; then blend in flour mixture. Spread in prepared pan.
4. Bake 22 to 24 minutes or until toothpick inserted in brownies 2 inches from edge comes out almost clean. Cool in pan on wire rack, about 2 hours.
5. When cool, cut brownies into 4 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 4 squares. If brownies are difficult to cut, dip knife in hot water; wipe dry, and cut. Repeat dipping and drying as necessary.

Baby Tiramisu

From EatingWell.com

If you’re a fan of the classic Italian dessert tiramisu, try this quick, lower-calorie variation the next time you need a dessert in a hurry. Both types of ladyfingers — spongy and crunchy — work well.

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Nutritional Information
(per serving)

Calories	107
Total Fat	2g
Saturated Fat	1g
Cholesterol	3mg
Sodium	125mg
Total Carbohydrate	18g
Dietary Fiber	--
Sugars	--
Protein	3g
Calcium	--

Ken Burris

Serves: 6 Edit

Yields: 6 servings
Total Time: 45 min

Prep Time: 15 min

Ingredients

U.S.

Metric

Conversion chart

• 1/2 cup(s) nonfat ricotta cheese (4 ounces)
• 2 tablespoon(s) confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
• 1/8teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
• 12 ladyfingers (about 1 3/4 ounces)
• 4 tablespoon(s) brewed espresso or strong coffee, divided
• 2 tablespoon(s) bittersweet chocolate chips, melted (see Tip)

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Directions

1. Combine ricotta, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
2. Place 6 ladyfingers in a 9-by-5-inch (or similar size) loaf pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons espresso (or coffee). Spread the ricotta mixture over the ladyfingers. Place another layer of ladyfingers over the ricotta and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons espresso (or coffee). Drizzle with melted chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.
   
   Carb Servings: 1 carbohydrate (other), 1/2 fat. Carbohydrate Servings: 1.

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Tips & Techniques

To melt chocolate: Microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on Medium in 20-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. Or place in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir until melted.