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How UPC Codes Work

Guest post is provided by Food Trade Consultants, a consultation service offering seminars and packing of small orders to entrepreneurs in the food industry. Visit www.foodtradeconsultants.com for more information.

If you plan to start your own food business, especially if you plan to sell your product in grocery or wholesale stores, food trade consultants will recommend that you get a UPC code. In fact, they even feel it is a necessary requirement for a successful business in the food industry. UPC codes allow your wholesale customers to quickly scan your products to track them for their own records, as well as send you payments.

If you look around your own kitchen you will notice that there are UPC codes everywhere. Anything that is packaged has a UPC code, and even produce usually has a sticker. UPC stands for “Universal Product Code” and was created by a company called the Uniform Code Council (UCC) manufacturers can only use the UPC process if they apply for permission to use it from the UCC. This successful method of coding has revolutionized retailers and manufacturers alike, making selling and tracking incredibly efficient. Processing sales would take significantly longer and require more resources than simply scanning a UPC.

Food consultants advise you to register for two to three different UPCs, one for an individual sale of a product, one for multiple quantities of your product sold together, and one for palate sales of your product. It would be a good goal to get some accounts that want to buy a palate’s worth of product from you. Those are huge accounts indicative of your success. Without a UPC, a customer of yours may feel that your product will be too hard to track, or even violate their policies for selling it, causing them to pass you by. Avoid this by getting a UPC code for your product.

Facts About the Gluten-Free Diet

Gluten-free means it is a protein that will need to be avoided.  Gluten is found primarily in wheat, rye and barley.  The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has not regulated the term and use of “gluten-free”.  They require manufacturers to declare if there is wheat used in the product.  However, the regulations don’t require companies to disclose those ingredients that were made with rye or barley.  There are food additives that are artificial or natural that may contain gluten.  Keep in mind there are some companies that say they are gluten-free or the product has been contaminated as it was manufactured on a shared production line that used wheat or gluten.  There are no guarantees with a product that is labeled gluten-free.  It is important to read the labels very carefully and make sure the ingredients are indeed gluten-free.

A short list of some safe gluten-free foods and ingredients:

  • Agave
  • Amaranth
  • Arrowroot
  • Beans (chickpeas, soybeans)
  • Beta Carotene
  • Corn
  • Corn and rice cereals
  • Dates
  • Eggs
  • Egg Yolks
  • Flax
  • Meats (beef, chicken, fish)
  • Seeds
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Milk
  • Masa flour
  • Almond Nuts
  • Peanuts
  • Pea flour
  • Polenta
  • Popcorn
  • Potato flour
  • Quinoa
  • Rice (enriched)
  • Rice flour
  • Tapioca
  • Tarrow Root
  • Tea
  • White Vinegar
  • Sweet and chewy treats such as marshmallows, plain hard candies and gumdrops)
  • Turmeric
  • Yam flour
  • Yogurt (plain, unflavored)
  • Whey protein (concentrate)
  • Wine and liquors

Consulting with a physician before going on this diet will help determine if it is the best route for the patient’s health.

Article provided by Paleo Forever

The Proper Way in Preparing Food for Transport

Article Submitted by Foodtradeconsultants

 

Off-site catering locations require for you to carefully transport your food from your commercial kitchen. Consider preparing the food that you will bring beforehand so that it will be easier for you to serve the food once you get to the venue. You should already cut your ingredients in your kitchen where you have access to available kitchen utensils and equipment.

Cold Food

Cook cold dishes in your commercial kitchen so that you have time to chill them before you place them in your van. Fresh ingredients such as vegetables and fresh fruits should be placed in a pan. You can refrigerate them a few hours before the trip. If you frequently have off-site catering locations, you can also invest in a refrigerated vehicle or purchase a food carrier that allows refrigeration of dishes which are already placed inside catering trays. You can also rent out a van if space if you only have a small vehicle for traveling.

Hot Food

Hot dishes should also be prepared in advance. Once you arrive at the location, you can re-heat the dishes since food warmers might not do the job adequately. You can also consider preparing casserole dishes a day prior to the event since they actually taste better when reheated. However, this strategy will not work with pasta or meat since they tend to get dry when reheated. Prepare such dishes a few hours before the trip or even see to it that they are cooked as soon as you are ready to leave. Transfer these dishes in their respective food pans after cooking so you can easily transport them in the food van.

Learn to Cook Exquisite Meals for Your Family with Evening Cooking Classes

Article Submitted by Foodtradeconsultants

Perhaps you have noticed lately that your husband and children have not been very enthusiastic about meals at home. You are probably a good cook but your specialties are rather limited. And you know that however good dishes are when people have been eating them for a long time, they tend to lose their taste.

“A family that eats together stays together”, is a truism that should encourage you to upgrade your culinary arsenal; add more varieties to your meals. You can be sure that when the husband and children notice new and delectable dishes appearing more frequently in the family dining table, they would be more enthusiastic and happier.

When will I find the time for that, with all work and children to take care of? You ask yourself. No problem, you can enroll in one of the many evening cooking classes that are offered in almost all localities. All you have to do is search the internet and you will an evening class that offers courses that will enable you to come up with meals entire the family will appreciate.

And they have courses for different food types, too. So if you are into healthy foods and a vegan, no worries there because there are classes that offer vegan cooking classes. The point of course for enrolling is to add variety to your table and you will get a lot of help from these evening classes. Naturally, you would also want to learn about desserts, children just love desserts.

The best part of these evening classes wont is they ruin your budget even if you bring your husband along. Surely, he’d like to whip up something palatable when you are tired or busy. The kitchen could offer a good place for bonding.

Coleanse Helps People Lose Weight

Contrary to what some people might say, it’s not easy to lose weight. Rather, for many people it is nearly impossible. If you’re one of the many people who have tried diet and exercise and still can’t get rid of those last ten pounds or belly fat, there is good news. It might be time to try Coleanse, the new way to get rid of harmful waste from your body and lose weight.

Coleanse is more than a weight loss pill. Coleanse is a powerful weight loss solution consisting of Cape Aloe, Bentonite Clay, and other natural ingredients designed to remove excess buildup of toxins in your body. As the Coleanse diet works to flush out toxins from your body, it also helps you lose weight.

In addition to a weight loss pill and detox solution, Coleanse offers many other benefits. Coleanse has been said to provide people with more energy, reduce bloating, and improve mood swings. The Coleanse diet has also been shown to improve occasional constipation, skin problems, and yeast infections.

Whey Protein Supplements 101

Written by: Whey Supplements

Proteins are the building blocks of muscles, blood and skin. The body needs protein to accomplish a variety of activities, including building muscle and recovering from a hard workout. For these reasons, a growing number of body builders and athletes take protein supplements to reach their goals faster.

But not all protein supplements are created equal. The market offers a wide variety of pills, powders, and bars made of different ingredients, including soy, casein, egg, and whey protein. The following is a look at whey protein, the most popular ingredient among body builders and athletes who want to get bigger faster.

Whey protein is a waste product of cheese manufacturing, and a very common ingredient in many protein supplements and powders.  According to popular magazines and health food stores, whey protein offers many benefits to athletes, strength trainers and weight lifters. It has been said to enhance strength, size, and stamina. It has also been shown to improve exercise efficiency.

Regardless of which product you purchase, you will still need to work hard to build muscle. It’s also important to note that a body builder and athlete in training can easily reach their goals without supplements by simply eating a well-balanced diet. Nature’s protein sources include lean meat, milk, eggs, and legumes.

African Mango May Reduce Waist and Hip Size

Thousands of products on the market claim to help shrink your waist and hip size, from exercise equipment to weight-loss pills. But most of these products lack scientific proof, and some can even be harmful to your health. However, the makers of Pure African Mango claim that the miracle product can not only shrink your waist and hip size, but that they have the research to back it up.

A study published in 2005 suggests that African Mango supplements can actually reduce waist and hip size, offering people a way to get slim without any dietary changes. Scientists at the University of Yaoundé in Africa followed 40 men and women who took Pure African Mango three times a day for 28 days. The subjects in the study did not have to change their lifestyles or make any dietary changes. After 28 days, the scientists found that the subjects reduced their waist circumference. According to the study, African Mango “safely and significantly” shrinks body weight in overweight and/or obese men and women.

“It may be helpful for those needing to lose 5-10 pounds, and studies have shown no undesirable side effects,” said Dr. Oz, the popular celebrity doctor. Losing those last five to ten pounds can help people not only shrink their waste and hip size, but also lower their blood pressure, reduce their risk for a stroke, and lower their cholesterol.

Knowing what to eat before and after your workout

Workout at the gym, Knowing what to eat before and after your workout. Read more at http://www.free-weight-loss-guide.com/knowing-what-to-eat-before-and-after-your-workout/

The foods which you eat on a day of exercise will affect your performance and your recovery. You need to think about the foods you have before, during and after your workout. You want to make sure you get the right balance between your intake, and the amount of exercise you are going to do. If you want to put on muscle you need to eat enough to fuel your body as well as give it what it needs to recover and rebuild your muscles.

If you are working out in the morning:

If you are working out in the morning you need to allow roughly 2-3 hours to have your breakfast before your workout session. Make sure to allow time for this in your daily plan. It is not a great idea to skip breakfast as it can leave you feeling worse or sluggish and light-headed. It could even cause you to get ill. If you can’t fit in time for a full breakfast, make sure to eat something a little lighter a couple of hours before you work out.

For snacks stick to: Wholegrain foods such as bread and cereals are great. Fruit is also a great idea, bananas and apples are good.If you don’t have any breakfast then you should get some fuel in the form of an energy sports drink.

Snacking:

When snacking during the day you want to keep to low sugar snacks, I go for snacks with less than 10grams of sugar where possible. The exception to this is if you need the snack to fuel a workout in which case wholegrain bars or sports are are great.
For snacks try and stick to wholegrain foods. Cereal bars are good, cereal and milk is good, fruits make a great snack too. You can buy wholesale food to save money.

Post workout foods.

For your post workout foods you want to give your body what it needs to help you recover and repair your muscles. If you are muscle building you will need slightly more food to fuel your recovery. You will want to eat a meal that is high in protein, such as chicken or steak, and some vegetables. Try and keep the meal low in saturated fats, salt and sugar if you can. If you don’t feel hungry after working out then try and have a sports drink or protein drink to get what you need in your body.

Good snacks for after a workout include:yogurts, foods with peanut butter,and dried fruits and nuts.

Know what works well for you

The key here is knowing what foods work for you, if you feel certain things making you sluggish or hyper, adjust your intake or your foods until you find the right balance that fuels your exercise plan and lifestyle. It is also important to drink plenty of water.during your workout.

Health Benefits of Medical Marijuana

Article Submitted by Los Angeles Marijuana Dispensaries

Marijuana is more than a recreational drug; people have been using it medicinally for more than 5,000 years, and today it is a doctor-recommended medical treatment for people with terminal and debilitating conditions such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. But you don’t have to be on your death bed to experience the health benefits of medical marijuana.

In Europe, Canada, and the U.S., doctors are able to treat patients suffering from a variety of health conditions, ranging from severe PMS to adult ADHD. While not terminal, these health conditions can be severe enough to disrupt daily life. Before you head out to one of the many Los Angeles marijuana dispensaries in the area, discover the unknown health benefits of medicinal marijuana.

Helps Ease PMS: Nearly 75 percent of menstruating women experience some premenstrual syndrome symptoms. For some, the physical pain can be excruciating. Pot has been shown to reduce pain in severe cases of PMS, especially for women whom traditional pain medications do not work.

Benefits People with Adult ADHD: Nearly 4.1 percent of the adult population is diagnosed with ADHD, a condition that causes impulsive behavior, inattention, and hyperactivity. Traditional treatment of ADHD includes stimulant drugs and other medications including Ritalin that are not always helpful or come with negative side effects. However, medical grass has been shown to treat the symptoms without any negative side effects.

Calms People with OCD and Tourette’s: Weed has been shown to slow down the symptoms of people with Tourette’s as well as the obsessive neurological symptoms in people suffering from OCD.

Counting Calories: The Three Steps to Obtain a Lean Body

Counting calories gives you an insight to the almost precise amount of calories required to get a lean body. According to my experience, this helps in setting up a healthy diet plan, a crucial factor to lose weight without triggering nutritional deficiency.  This is vital to maintain the body composition, and is more useful than timing or breakdown of calories required for losing fat. So, in this article, we shall find an answer to the question as to how many calories should one consume for obtaining a lean body via counting calories.

Before we look at how many calories, you might be wondering how one would reduce the calories this much. In fact, it is quite simple. A few replacements to the food you eat could make all the differences. You could for instance replace whole eggs with egg whites. Why? Since most of the fat in an egg is in the yolk, the calories in egg whites are quite low. The same goes for replacing regular milk with almond milk. Though there are a lot more almond milk benefits compared to regular milk.

First, determine the calories to be burned per day with the help of the formula: Body Weight x 14. However, this equation is for those who lives a sedentary lifestyle, has body fat of almost 20 to 25%, and exercises 3 to 5 times per week. Second, now calculate the calorie deficit that is triggered daily. Herein, most people take a random number, say 500 calories; but it is highly suggested to avoid this because of the risk of starvation. Rather, select a percentage gamut of 15% to 35% calories fewer than the actual calories being burned daily. Third, calculate the calories required on a daily basis.

For instance, for a man of 150 pounds and with total daily burn of 2100 (150 x 14), a 30% calorie deficit would amount to 630 calories. This means that his actual calorie intake should be calorie burned – calorie deficit, which equates to 1470 calories per day. Although health organizations have given out standard figures on how many calories to consume, it is better not eat less than your BMR (calories burned at rest).

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