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New Years Resolutions – Ideas for 2011 Goal Setting

December 9, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

That’s right. It is that time of year again. The year we all sit down and start developing our New Years resolutions. Joy!

Have you decided what you are putting on your resolution list this year? Started your goal setting for 2011? Alright, we know. It isn’t New Years yet, but why not prepare yourself for it?

Your actual resolution will vary on your own personal preferences. Habits you really want to kick to the curb in 2011. Sure, it is hard, real hard, but it can be done.

New Years Resolution Ideas

This year, let’s make it a hundred times easier and think of some great New Years resolution ideas. There are so many options that it could be anything you dream of.

We know how hard it can be, we’ve all been there. We set our goals, put our minds around it, but the moment January 2nd hits, it seems those resolutions have disappeared. Let’s not have that happen this year, and start putting together your New Years resolution ideas now!

Be Realistic

The worst thing you can do is be unrealistic. Do not make a resolution something that is excessively hard to stick to. The harder it is, the harder it is to do. One of the most popular resolutions is to quit smoking. Instead of just saying, alright I am going to quit smoking, develop a plan of action. Determine how you are going to do this.

Set landmarks for your success, so you feel successful.

Week one, cut back your daily smoking intake in half. Simple enough right?

Week two, cut your daily smoking intake in half, again. Now your body is becoming use to less and less amounts of nicotine.

Week three, cut your daily smoking intake in half, AGAIN! You are doing awesome.

Week four, cut your daily smoking intake out.

You have now given your body the opportunity to become use to less smoking, meaning the withdrawals are much less and less stressful on you.

Just because it is a New Years resolution doesn’t mean it will happen over night. Work into your resolution. Be smart and use goal setting. The more goals you have the better. Cutting back is a giant leap from cutting out cold turkey and going back to in the very near future.

Keep It Going

No matter how hard things get, keep going. You’ve already made it this far, why give up now? The harder you push yourself, the more successful you are going to feel when you meet your goal. Everyone loves doing something successfully, so why not make your resolution a success. It is easier then you think if you keep pushing yourself and surrounding yourself with others who are just as supportive. Yes, you will need a support system or it gets harder. If people don’t support you, your likelihood of success is cut in half.

By not giving up, you will also develop a great feeling of self worth. You owe it to yourself to be successful. Know you did it, and you’ll feel great about it.

Take Control of YOUR Life & Resolutions

Don’t let others pick your New Years resolution goals. This is something you should decide for yourself. Don’t pick your New Years resolution for 2011 based on what others are doing. Do something you want to do. When you are doing something you want to do, you are more likely to succeed at it. Resolutions are supposed to be about you, not everyone else. Take control of your life now and keep control of it all year long. Sticking to your resolutions and not worrying about others is key. The more you worry about everyone else, the less you focus on your own. Make this your resolution, no one else’s.

There are so many things that you could think of for your 2011 New Years resolution. Jot them down. Find the ones you feel you’ll be best at, and do it. Set several resolutions to occur throughout the year. They don’t all have to happen at the very beginning of the year. Spread them out. The less you do at once, the less overwhelming it is.

Personal and Family New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Some people choose to make personal New Year’s resolutions either to better themselves or to help family and friends; some personal New Year’s resolutions may include:

  • Making more time for family
  • Keeping in touch with friends more
  • Losing weight
  • Exercising more
  • Eating a more healthy diet
  • Relaxing more
  • Giving up smoking/drinking
  • Helping family more
  • Learning something new
  • Saving more money
  • Reducing loans and debts.

Career and Business New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Some people are focused on making new career and business resolutions for the New Year; career and business New Year’s resolutions may include:

  • Learning how to set up a new business
  • Learning how to promote a business on the web
  • Taking a degree course
  • Be more effective in business communications
  • Being a better manager.

Helping Others Through New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Resolutions for the New Year don’t have to be just about oneself, family and business; New Year’s resolutions may include:

  • Becoming a volunteer for a local organization or charity
  • Becoming a sponsor/mentor for a young person/recovery addict
  • Making regular contributions to a world wide charity
  • Being more environmentally aware
  • Recycling more products
  • Reducing carbon footprints
  • Helping a neighbor in need.

Enjoy your New Years, have fun and be safe! This is your year to shine, so shine bright and make all your 2011 New Years resolutions a huge success!

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Conversation Ideas for First Dates

November 15, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

It never fails. Sweaty palms, your brain freezes and you clam up. Why do first date conversations have to invoke so much anxiety? If you think about it to much you can consider that this is your first chance to make a first impression on someone. It is also going to set the tone for the entire date, which will then determine if there is a second date. That leads to whether or not you could potentially have  meaningful relationship with this person.

Okay, analyzing this only makes it worse, no wonder when this all rests on your shoulders you have set yourself up for failure. Take a deep breathe, there are a few ways to prepare yourself. With a couple of conversation starters you can ease your anxiety and hopefully  dry up those sweaty palms.

Where Have You Been?

No, this is not to be used as a pick up line. Lots of people today have done even a little traveling. Ask thought provokeing questions on the travel that has already done. Where, when, why? Leave out the question of with whom, as it can only lead to an answer that may be to awkward to answer. Save you and your date the embarrassment and perhaps stick to the questions that will blossom a conversation.

Reality Anyone?

With pop culture today, reality TV is big in the every “buzz”. This allows a number of conversation to open the floor. Even if you love it or hate it, it still provides the ability to have a great debate for some conversation with substance. If you can hold the other persons interest, this can be a lengthy conservation that will show case your knowledge and ability to “discuss” without arguing. This is a very important attribute.

Entertain Me

Trying to have a conversation with someone shouldn’t feel forced. Talking about your interests should include things like music, movies, play or theater if your interested. Express what your likes and dislikes are. Having an opinion isn’t wrong, it’s how you express it. If you can convey your opinion in a manner that is both respectful and articulate you should have no problems hold ing the conversation. Being respectful of someone else opinion is a great way to show your opened minded, but at the same time still able to maintain your own. There is something to be said for someone who is able to be true to their own beliefs and opinions.

Don’t become a “yes man” in your first date. Agreeing with everything someone thought the entire conversation doesn`t make for good conversation, it just makes for a stale one. Keeping your own opinions and thoughts when conversing with allow for a actual discussion. Never  bring up past relationships or your pay check.

Past relationships encompass a ton of informationthat only needs to be left in the past. Relating any experiences into your first date conversation probably won’t get you a second date. Discussing how much or how little money your make is just in poor taste. Keep your first date enjoyable and entertaining. It just might get you second one.

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Top 10 Unique Christmas Gift Ideas

November 9, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Christmas time is coming and so is your list of people to buy for. Making that list can be lengthy, making you blend in with everyone else. As you make the list you may wonder how you can possible stand another year of buying the same typical gifts for the same people. At some point it becomes and task not a joy to give gifts.unique christmas gifts

Does it really have to be that way? Really look at the people in your life, think about what emphasises them. Are you really going to satisfied with giving them another run of the mill gift? Why not try this year to make you gift the memorable gift that’s received this year.

Look at the person your buying for, think specific to them. What would say your thinking of them personally with a gift that no one else has thought of? Try these ten unique items, perhaps they will fit the people in your life that you want to leave a mark with.

  • Beer Club Of The Month - While this may not sound like the gift to give, it sure is the gift to receives. The beer of the month club offers twelve premium bottle of beer from around the world. It comes every month with a bottle of the brew, information on how it’s made, and recipes that call for beer. This is a gift that keeps on giving.
  • Wine of the Month Club - Gift recipients receive two bottles of premium, hand-crafted wine every month from award-winning wineries around the world. Free shipping, instant gift messages and club newsletter.
  • Kindle Wireless Reading Device - Latest Generation, similar to an Ipad these gifts are a unique way to give a book to someone. Your actually giving them about five hundred with more options to upload. Surely something to remember.
  • Riding ShotGun in a Nascar - for only about one hundred dollars you can take a thrill ride in a Nascar stock car  on an official raceway
  • Sculpted jewelry tree - It’s the perfect accent for your dresser to hold all your jewellery that you are not wearing. A very unique and personal gift.
  • Magazine Subscription - This is a great readers choice gift. You can really fulfill some one’s interest by providing them the gift of every month receiving the latest information.
  • Ticket Stub Diary – For the keepsake enthusiast, a diary devoted to the ticket stubs of all your favorite shows attend. A great way to showcase your memories
  • Personal Library Kit - This is a great idea for the book lover who likes to lend books, but hates to keep track. Why not  give this gift to help organize their library.
  • All in One Kitchen Gadgets - If you have someone who like to multi task try the egg and muffin toaster to help someones morning routine.
  • Name in Photo Customer Art - A Personal Creations Exclusive! The detail and contrast in this unique print is truly compelling. Each letter in your name is represented by a different black-and-white photograph.

These are just a few of the top picks for this season. When you set out to shop, instead of going for the first thing you feel might fit the bill, try going the extra mile and searching for the unique.

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Delicious & Healthy Breakfast Ideas

November 9, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. How many times have we heard this? Usually from the time we were kids into adult hood we have been told this. After becoming parents, we are now letting our children know the same thing. How many times have you had to remind your children, or yourself to eat in the morning?  This may be due to any number of reasons.

When trying to create breakfast ideas it can be daunting task.  With hectic schedules, breakfast usually is the meal you skimp on, or skip over entirely. Not enough emphasis is put on eating a healthy and declious breakfast to start your day off correctly. Just becuase your day is about to become hectic, dosent mean the who idea of fifteen minutes in the morning shouldn’t be an everyday routine. Establishing a breakfast routine is the easy part, sticking with it is where the difficulty lies. Here are some suggestions to make your morning a great morning everyday. Some delcious, time friendly healthy breakfast ideas are all available for you.

Fruit

There are many ways to get your alloted servings of fruit for breakfast.  Try to be prepared by  purcahsing a variety of fruit when you grocery shop will give you more options for breakfast ideas.  Having a bowl of mixed fruit is one option. Mixing fruit with plain or vanilla yohgurt is a great addition to keep it delcious and healthy. You can also enjoy banas and strawberries in milk if a variety of fruit isn’t to your liking.

Granola

This is a great option for a monring breakfast. Eating granola on it’s own with milk( warmed or not) can be a delicious experience. With a variety of options for granola avaiable, you can mix up your choices. Mixing granola with any type of yogurt makes for a great taste  in the mornings.

Eggs

There are so many options for quick and easy eggs in the morning it can be different every day. Try cracking an egg, adding a little milk and microwave for about three minutes. Place you light and fluffy egg on a bagel with a cheese slice and you have convienient breakfast for ont he go. Subsitute the bagel for a tortilla wrap, add some tomatoe and lettuce and you can enjoy a breakfast burrito to take with you. Adding a little salso or hot sauce to scarmblem eggs gives them an intense flavour to wake you up in the morning.

There are so many variations that you can do to help make sure that you enjoy breakfast in the mornings. If it is simple as a crossiant with some brock cheese in the morning, at least your eating while getting two of the food groups first thing in the morning. Adding in some grapefruit would complete that dish for a great breakfast meal idea that is healthy. Try to get some of  your food groups during the breakfast hour and it will start your day off right. Enjoying breakfast.

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The Perfect Gift Ideas for Your Spouse

November 8, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Shopping for your spouse can always be a fun time. Trying to find that special gift that says your thinking of them whether it be for humour or for sentiment, finding that gift can always be fun. What can decide the perfect gift? Is it finding something that is extravagant, or would it be more meaningful to your spouse if it was a small token that is specific for them? Knowing who your spouse is and what appeals to them most will help you find the perfect gift.

What type of occasion are you buying for? Perhaps what occasion your buying for will dictate what type  of gift you choose. For a birthday gift you can purchase a more humorous type of gift. If it is a Christmas gift perhaps a little more sentimental  is appropriate.

Think about what your husband or wife does for a living. If she works at home all day and cares for the kids, the house, and everything in between, then the best thing you can give her is a day off. Maybe even a weekend off. Set her up in a hotel where she can relax. Schedule a massage for her or something else from the local spa. She will love the fact that you have thought of her, what she needs and what would make her happy. If sending her away isn’t in your budget you can be a little creative for half the price. If she is an avid reader, why not put together a basket that says relax. Try including new pajama’s, a couple of novels that will interest her, a bottle of wine, or different types of tea.

For that wonderful man in your life you will need to think about what he likes to do. If he works hard all week and has an outside hobby he likes to participate in, such as golf, set him up on a golf retreat. Let him relax and play golf for the weekend. If golf isn’t his thing, what about some hockey tickets for him an a friend? If sports takes a back seat to your hubby’s interests, try thing about his likes. Does he like to work with his hands? Purchasing some construction workshops can provide a thoughtful day for your hubby.

If your finding it difficult to purchase a gift for your loved one try window shopping with your spouse well in advance of any occasion. Having the occasional outing will provide you with some ideas and insight into where their interests lie.  Some interests are always changing so getting a feel for where they are in their sports, hobbies and physical activities is a great idea. You will definitely get a window into what will make the great gift for the appropriate occasion. You can then give your gift with confidence.

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Medifast Lean and Green Meal Ideas

November 8, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

In just 3 minutes this article will tell you everything you need to know about Medifast’s Lean and Green Meals to help you be healthy, fit and feeling your best faster than you ever thought possible.

With obesity on the rise and being described as an epidemic across the country, eating right has never been more important. The Medifast Meal Plan has virtually taken the country by storm.  Medifast has designed meals that allow specifically formulated meals to be mixed with lean and green meals ideas. Medifast offers meal plans for men, women and people who have been diagnosed as diabetics.

Believe it or not, menu ideas for the Medifast lean & Green meals whenever you are eating out are quite simple to come up with. Most restaurants have a healthy portion to their menu and will allow you to mix and match some lean meat with some vegetables. As long as you choose wisely whenever you are eating out, you will not have a difficult time putting together a meal that fits right in with the diet plan. Not only that, it will help to keep you sane so that you can continue on with the entire weight loss program.

Because each of the lean & Green meals consist of a lean protein and a vegetable, you really have a wide variety of choices and you don’t need to restrict your Lean & Green meal to dinner every day. Feel free to have it for breakfast one day and lunch on another.

You can do such things as omelette’s in the morning that are made with one whole egg and five egg whites, a little bit of cheese and the required vegetable. For lunch on the go, you can try a tuna salad that is made from 6 ounces tuna, to hard-boiled egg whites and some diced vegetables along with low-fat mayonnaise. If you want some breaded chicken, you can try making a breading from the Medifast crackers and using it just like you would shake and bake.

Not a big fan of cooking? You might wonder if you can use frozen dinners for your Medifast lean & green meal? The main reason that frozen dinners aren’t really appropriate for use as a lean and green mealis because of the way most frozen dinners are processed, they have too much sodium. Remember, your lean and green meal is pretty simple. It’s 5 to 7 ounces of lean protein, two cups of salad and 1/2 cup to 1 1/2 cups of raw or cooked vegetables. Opting out for frozen food alternatives won’t get the nutrition value you are looking for following the Medifast meal plan.

It is exciting to design your own meal for a diet plan as it requires much creativity. In like manner, Medifast dieters need to come up with their own menu ideas for the Lean and Green meal. They have to use this meal properly. It can help to keep dieters concentrated on the meal plan. The Lean and Green meal can be taken in a dinner out. For example, a busy businessman can have it for lunch with a client. This means that the changes in one’s schedule do not have to cause the dieter to deviate from the diet. This is a great addition to the Medifast diet plan. It offers a complete and comprehensive package .

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Wedding Reception Meal Ideas

November 3, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Wedding planning is detailed, organized and exhausting. Every minute detail must be planned and reviewed and then coordinated. There is so much to remember, so many things to overlook and decide on, that planning your wedding reception meal should be one of the things you take pleasure in planning. The meal that is served at your wedding reception should be a reflection of you, and your event. A lot can be said about the meal that you sit down with a hundred plus guests to share.

Evaluate the type of wedding your having will help you determine which way you should go with when looking at your meal for the wedding reception. Is your wedding later in the evening? If so a great idea is an antipasto bar. This can provide a variety of elegant starters to wow your guests and keep the style of your wedding. This style of food is still plentiful while providing options for everyone. Served with red and white wine, this is a classic way to celebrate.

Some couples have chosen to be married in the morning and offer a breakfast brunch. This can be a great alternative to a traditional wedding, and perfect if you’re looking at an intimate ceremony or perhaps a second wedding. This idea could include Eggs Benedict, salmon, french toast or crepes. Fresh fruit, an omelette’s station or souffles are an elegant way to share your happiness with those closest to you.

For an evening wedding, typically a sit down meal is required. You can choose the number courses you would prefer. Some have the full six course meal, while others limit it to three. When choosing your wedding reception meal idea, remember to encompass everyone attending your wedding. While some are vegetarians, you should offer two choices of meat. A popular choice is poultry and red meat. Offering a chicken breast or a Fillet Mignon has been done with success. Others can choose to choose a seafood and a roast.  It all depends on your budget and what your willing to offer your guests. How important is the meal to you? If your wedding is large and your out to impress a roast pig could definitely be the way to go. Larger weddings can be more difficult to plan for, since you will have a larger variety to feed. Perhaps this instance would call for a buffet style wedding.

Buffets offer a variety of  choices  in many ways. If you have a multi cultural wedding a buffet can be a great solution to please everyone. This can be a unique way to celebrate by having a host of  food for all your guests to sample. It may also be a great solution financially.

Planning your wedding reception meal will give you all the creativity that you want. You can impress your guests with any number of ideas when it comes to choosing the food.

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Gift Ideas for Grandparents

November 3, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Shopping for anyone can be always a challenge. Shopping for grandparents can be even more difficult. What do you get someone who already has everything? Especially when they have had a life time to accumulate it. What can you get your grandparents that will say that you have thought of them and be happy with the gift you have gotten for them.

If your looking for a sentimental gift idea why not try to capture the memories you have had? A thoughtful gift would be to put together a photo album of all the special occasion and memories up until this point. Compliling a book of memories can include the entire family or be can be just a story of pictures of your grandparents. This can be personalised with engravings and captions  to document the journey. A gift like this can actually be made with as much or as little detail as you like. If a photo album isn’t your style, why not present your grandparents with a series of photo’s that are specific to a time that will be sentimental to you both.  Gifts like these are warming to the heart.

Really look at your grandparents interests. If they happen to be outdoor enthusiasts, perhaps tailoring their gift for their areas of interests would be the best idea. If gardening is big on the interest list, why not purchase some trees or perennials? This is a gift that will always remind your grandparents of the thought and care you put into their gift. It is also an idea that will continue to grow and last forever. Giving a gift for them, that encompasses who they are, and what you would like to portray can come in many variations.

What if you are unaware of any immediate needs or wants? What about purchasing a night on the town for the couple who already has everything. Tickets to a recent play or show in town might just be the answer. If that’s not something you feel is likely to be received well, how about a dinner out? A gift certificate to a nice restaurant in town might be the perfect night out for the older couple.

You can also look at gifts that say you are thinking of them. The latest  in appliances might help make their day to day cooking go smoother, or a new sleek coffee maker might help their mornings routine. Gifts don’t have to be personalized, but the idea behind giving you say that you have thought about them, as your grandparents personally. This can be achieved simply by paying attention to their everyday life and what would suit them.

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Budget Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas

November 1, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Christmas time can be a frenzied buying experience that can leave you exhausted and broke. Year after year we get caught up in the season, forget ourselves and wind up in the same situation. Yet we promise ourselves every year that we won’t make this mistake again. Make this year the year that you stick to your budget. Also make it the year that you get it done on time without the anxiety of last minute shopping.

Time

Getting yourself ready for Christmas can be done in order to complete a budget friendly Christmas. If you spare yourself the agony of standing in long retail  lines ups late in the year for last minute Christmas gifts, than you may be saving yourself a bundle. If you are organized and put pen to paper, you will compile a list of gift intendee’s that will give you an idea of the gifts you need to buy, and an expectation of what your budget ought to be.

Shop Online

With retailers now offering so many choices for online shopping, your shopping excursions have just become so much easier. Many promotion codes and online vouchers are available to offer the best discounts possible. If you have an idea of what your looking to spend on each person, you can actually tailor the search to you specific need. Finding great gifts at great prices have never been easier. A tip to acknowledge when shopping online is to pay attention to the shipping costs.  While you may be purchasing something on clearance through a discount website, the shipping costs may far exceed the costs of the actual item. Always read the fine print when you are at the virtual checkout as extra costs can be incurred.

Group Ideas

To cut your budget down extensively, look at buying group gifts. This can mean that instead of purchasing gifts for each individual  in a family, buy one main family gift. This can easily be a cost cutting venture. Buying one item for the whole family can be a great way to encompass a gift for everyone. Perhaps buying a game suitable for the whole family to promote family time, or a gift certificate for a dinner out is an option. Even buying an appliance for the household is a great idea. All these ideas are great for getting the family one gift that says you are thinking of the whole group.

Set a Limit

Knowing what your budget is, and shopping within it can make a world of difference. For example if you have set a limit of forty dollars per person, you can than narrow your lines of vision for purchasing. Setting a limit  will allow you to really think about the person you are buying for and focus on what that gift would be. Without the idea of how much, you can even browse on line and in stores to keep you at that limit.

When shopping on a budget , there is nothing wrong with hitting the clearance racks, or checking discount stores. A great idea is to watch your local flyer’s for merchandisers who are having advertised sales.  Picking up a great gift on sale, doesn’t mean your thinking any less of someone it just means that your doing it on a budget.

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Diabetic Friendly Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

October 28, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

The holidays are generally a time of good food, good friends, family and good desserts. If your a diabetic you may feel that you are missing out, especially during this time of year with all the good food being served around you. Certainly this is not the case. There are many diabetic friendly recipe ideas that will have your mouth watering and your stomach growling.

With the new found information on diabetes, experts now know that by counting carbohydrates, a diabetic can control the amount of insulin that they need.  The less amounts of carbohydrates in foods, the less amount of insulin is needed, there by allowing a diabetic to eat any amount of “free” foods. Foods “free” of carbohydrates are things like  meat, vegetables,nuts and cheese. So when planning your Thanksgiving dinner keep in mind using sweeteners instead of refined sugar will allow a diabetic to eat more of that particular dish.

For instance, take a dessert like pumpkin pie. While this generally calls for sugar in the recipe, try inserting Splenda in place of the refined sugar. This will keep the pie low in carbohydrates and allowing larger serving suggestions. You definatley will not taste the difference. To top off your pie, try using a “light” cool whip  as these generally do not have any carbohydrates at all.

If you like the taste of  homemade cranberries note the amount of sugar that is required. The same idea here is to simply use an artificial sweetener in place of refined sugar. The tart taste of the cranberries will overpower any sweetener that is used. The taste and texture will still be the same, and your guests won’t ever know the difference.

All the vegetables on the table as well as the meat are not in need of any change, since they have limited carbohydrates.

Of course no dinner would be complete without the option of more than just pumpkin pie. Apple and blueberry pies can be made for the diabetic at your table.  The key here is to make sure you are using unsweetened fruit in your pies. Store bought filling contains sugars already, so try using fresh fruit in order to control the amount of sugar being served. As always use your artificial sweeteners in place of and brown sugar or refined sugar that is called for. Top with a scoop of light cool whip in order to make this a sugar free dessert.

Just because your a diabetic doesn’t mean taste has to be sacrificed in your meals. Try being creative with the vegetables using vinegar and oils, topped with your favorite spices. This is carbohydrate free way to get great taste. Substituting with sweeteners is the best way to control the amount of sugar on the table for your Thanksgiving dinner ideas.

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