Just last month General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single-digit grams of sugar per serving. Additionally, the company has been increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain. Having survived early morning dilemmas as a working mother, I was excited to share the news about General Mills.

To understand my excitement, let me give you a little family history.  My mother was a stay at home mom. Her children ate a home cooked breakfast every morning… except for Saturday. Cartoons and sweet cereal; a treat for us kids and a break for mom. I am thankful that my mother taught us the importance of a good breakfast.   While I may not have cooked a meal in the morning, I did insist the boys ate a good breakfast. Of course, the breakfast tradition of cartoons and sweet cereal on Saturday morning continued in my house too! My boys, both grown men now, still enjoy cereal with breakfast and as a snack too.  Breakfast, Baking, & Saving was inspired in part, by that very news.

And now General Mills has me really excited!! I received an opportunity to share the Big G Whole Grain Awareness Challenge and a “Grains of Goodness” gift pack here. Why all the whole grain hype? Read on to learn more about whole grains and how you can win a “Grains of Goodness” Gift Pack.

Easy (and affordable) ways to unwind

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Women across the country are meeting the demands of busy schedules and tightened wallets by setting aside life’s simple pleasures and putting themselves at the bottom of the to-do list. In fact, a new survey commissioned by the makers of Edwards frozen desserts finds more than nine in 10 American women have cut back on indulgences during the past year.
Fifty-nine percent of survey respondents are cutting back on events out with friends and more than one-third (35 percent) are cutting back on even the smallest treats, such as manicures and desserts.

The survey also found that:
-Nearly all (94 percent) American women in the study admit that they don’t indulge or treat themselves as often as they’d like because other people or commitments come first.
-Fifty-six percent of women say they don’t treat themselves as often as they’d like because they can’t afford to.
-Nearly a third (32 percent) of women say they now have less free time for themselves than they did a year ago.

I just love General Mills Products. Remembering how the mornings used to be, much like a three ring circus, cereal was the breakfast of choice. I asked, rather I insisted, that the kids eat breakfast before leaving the house. That was fine with them until “the teen years!” General Mills made satisfying that demand quite easy! A few weeks back they announced the lowering of sugar in many of their cereals. My friend Mary wrote a great post about breakfast and General Mills move on sugar, PLUS a $6 VIP coupon up for grabs.

Here’s three sweet fitness deals, perfect for the fitness concious. And for all purchases over 69 bucks, free shipping Yippee! Plus many of the items are guaranteed for Christmas delivery and clearly marked as such.

11/16/2009 – 12/01/2009 Automatic $30 off on an InMontion E-1000 Elliptical Trainer

Features:

• Adjustable tension to control workout intensity level
• The foot pedals can be worked in a forward or reverse direction to target your lower body in different ways
• Electronic fitness monitor displays number of strides per minute
• Sturdy steel construction, non-slip pedals
• Footprint: 20″ L x 12″ W
• Weight: 24 lbs

David H. Murdock is Chairman and owner of Dole Food Company, Inc., the world’s largest producer and marketer of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, packaged and frozen foods.

Is it possible to live to 125 or maybe 150? It’s certainly a possibility, as discussed on Oprah Winfrey’s recent show on longevity. She visited me at my farm to learn how, at 86, I am enjoying the robust health, energy, and mental creativity of someone many decades younger. My secret: large quantities of fruit and vegetables, plus an hour of daily exercise.

No pills, not even aspirin, and certainly no supplements ever enter my mouth — everything I need comes from my fish-vegetarian diet, which incorporates 30-40 different kinds of fruit and vegetables every week. Even though I am Chairman and Owner of Dole Food Company, I do most of my own grocery shopping, and even took Oprah on an impromptu trip to Costco, in a day that included bike riding, exercise in the gym, and juicing vegetables in the kitchen. Oprah marveled at how much I eat, and yet never gain a pound. In fact, I expend a lot of energy in my 50-60 minutes of cardio and strength training every day. Plus there’s the fact that fruit and vegetables tend to be lower in calories, but higher in filling fiber and other nutrients that help you feel satisfied.

By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity. Obesity accelerates aging even faster than smoking, according to scientific research.

We created the North Carolina Research Campus to study the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. It is the only campus in the world encompassing eight universities all working together for the benefit of health and longevity. These include Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Charlotte, North Carolina Central University, NC A&T State University, UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State University. We’ve gathered a comprehensive array of famous scientists and scientific equipment under one roof, including a two-story, 950 megahertz, 8-ton superconducting magnet. It is the largest and most powerful magnet in the world and will help us look at both plant and human cells at the most minute level. We are constantly doing research on all fruit and vegetables, including the ones listed below, which are the mainstay of my diet.

Surviving Spring Allergies

Sneezing; itchy ears, nose and throat; runny or stuffy nose; coughing; watery and itchy eyes – these symptoms blossom each spring for some 35 million Americans.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as “hay fever,” can make beautiful spring days miserable.  In order to treat allergies effectively, it’s best to have a qualified allergist/immunologist examine you and determine your allergen triggers and an appropriate treatment.

The most common spring allergens include:
* Pollen, a fine powder released by trees, weeds and grasses. Ash, cottonwood, poplar, elm and maple are some common spring pollinating trees.
* Johnson, Bermuda, Kentucky bluegrass and rye are possible grass allergens.
* Molds are microscopic fungi with spores that float in the air like pollen. Molds don’t have a specific season, but are more affected by weather conditions.
* Dust and pet dander are common allergy triggers found inside the home.

“Symptoms can be minimized by staying inside air-conditioned environments,” says Gretta Bogaard, a Sam’s Club Pharmacy Manager. “If people have an activity they love, which requires time outdoors, check the weather/pollen reports to determine which day of the week has lower ragweed/pollen counts. Pre-medication with oral or ophthalmic antihistamines might also help to reduce symptoms when going outside.”

Other tips for managing spring allergies include:
* Keep home and car windows closed to prevent pollens or mold spores from drifting in. To keep air cool and fresh, turn on the air conditioning (set on “recirculation”), which also cleans and dries the air.
* Maintain a clean environment at your home and, if you’re able, your office.
* Minimize early morning outside activity between 5 and 10 a.m., when the greatest amount of pollen is usually released.
* Try to stay inside when the pollen count or humidity is reported to be high, and on windy days when dust and pollen are likely to be more of a problem.
* Take medications prescribed by your allergist/immunologist regularly, in the recommended dosage.
* Flush your nasal cavities regularly with an over-the-counter saline spray which provides relief of congestion.

Pharmacists, like those at Sam’s Club, are easily accessible and can offer a wide variety of over-the-counter treatment options for non-life-threatening allergy responses. If these options are unsuccessful, though, it would be advisable to consult with a physician.

Spring allergies don’t have to keep you from enjoying the season. For more tips and information, visit www.samsclub.com/health.