Don’t throw that out – eat it! Good food going to waste...

Don’t just eat the orange – eat the peel! 

Most of us toss some really healthy stuff right into the garbage. Melissa Williams of Healthy Living has a list of good garbage we should be eating:

• Orange peels: They’re packed with more nutrients that the fruit itself. Orange zest is excellent in smoothies, salads, vegetable dishes and even deserts.

• Broccoli leaves and stems: Instead of throwing them out, cook them alongside the florets. This will increase the amount of vitamin A in your meal.

• Celery tops: Those leaves are packed with magnesium and calcium. Chop them up and save some for your next soup or stew.

• Onion skins: They’re full of antioxidants. Simmer them in sauces and side dishes and remove before serving.

The next time you decide on a restaurant – pick one with tablecloths. Why it makes a difference...

Can’t decide where to eat? Find a restaurant with tablecloths and maybe some candles...

Brian Wansink, author of “Mindless Eating,” says we’ll eat less and enjoy it more in that atmosphere. In his experiment, he redecorated half of a casual chain restaurant with tablecloths, low lighting, plants, paintings and soft, instrumental music. He left the other half as-is, with bright lights and colors, hard surfaces and loud music. The people in the “fine dining” section took longer to eat, consumed fewer calories and rated the exact same food as more enjoyable. 

You don’t have to break the bank for a fine dining experience. You’ll get the same benefits in small cafés with low lighting and pastel colors. If you’re limited to fast food, opt for the one with more earth tones and a quieter atmosphere. 

Have you been the victim of a ghosting? What it means...

Has your date disappeared? 

You could be the victim of a ghosting, a relationship phenomenon that appears to be on the rise. Andrea Syrtash, relationship and dating expert, says ghosting occurs when someone breaks up with you by just disappearing into thin air. No more calls, no more texts or emails, poof! Andrea says technology has made it much easier to disappear in a relationship because most of us rely on it way too much for communication.

If you’re tempted to ghost someone – don’t. It’s cowardly and disrespectful. Andrea says, be an adult and have the talk. Give that other person some closure and an opportunity to move on and you’ll be giving yourself some peace of mind as well. If you’re the victim of a ghosting – consider it a blessing in disguise. Anyone weak and selfish enough to be a ghost certainly doesn’t deserve any consideration on your end. Be glad they didn’t waste any more of your precious time and pray they don’t ever come back to haunt you.

Who takes the majority of antibiotics in the U.S.? The surprising answer...

You might think most antibiotics wind up treating strep throat, ear infections or other ailments...

...but those account for just a tiny fraction of U.S. consumption. Consumer Reports says 80% of our antibiotics are actually given to animals to make them fatter and to prevent disease. It’s a big problem for us because those animals are prone to developing resistant bacteria. If we get sick from that, we may not respond to antibiotic treatment.

Experts say we should make the extra effort to buy meat without antibiotics – but some of the labeling is bogus. “Antibiotic free” is a misleading label and doesn’t guarantee there are were no antibiotics used. The same goes for meat labeled “natural.” The best bet are labels that say “no antibiotics ever” and also display the USDA seal. “Organic” is another label that indicates there are no antibiotics in there.  

What will you be doing at 2 pm today? Here's a suggestion...

If you’d like today to be extra productive – start over at 2 pm...

Most of us try to motor through a lot of stuff at the start of our day and wind up in an afternoon slump. According to time management expert, Eva Wisnik, 2 pm is the perfect time to assess how much you’ve accomplished. Details and tasks have probably changed since this morning and you might be stuck in your original plan. 

Eva says most people tend to evaluate their day around 5 pm – and then it’s too late. You’re out of time and in crisis mode, putting out fires, or putting things off. Set your alarm for 2pm. Get up and stretch, have another cup of coffee, take a fresh look at the rest of your day and re-prioritize. 

Are you supposed to tip the guy that delivered your furniture?

Most of us tip the standard 20% when we’re dining out – but some other tipping situations can get tricky...

Here are some tipping basics from Real Simple magazine:

• The tip jar: You’re not obligated to toss your change in. Save that for service that goes above and beyond.

• Bar tips: The general rule is one to two dollars a drink, including water.

• Takeout food: If you’re picking it up yourself, there’s no need for a tip unless you had a special request or they throw in extras. If your food is delivered, give 10% or a little less if there is also a delivery fee.

• Hotel tipping: No need to tip for room service unless they went out of their way, as gratuity is almost always included. As for housekeeping, you should tip between two to five dollars per day depending on the size and mess of your room. Leave the tip daily since it's often a different person cleaning your room each time.

• Gas Station Service: You don't need to tip the attendants when filling up your car at a full-service gas station. If they go out of their way or if the weather is extreme, by all means – feel free to tip. 

• Furniture Delivery: If it’s a standard delivery, no tip is required. If it’s a difficult delivery involving stairs or extra effort, tip accordingly.  

Hey guys, the color tie you choose matters. Which one to wear, by occasion...

Men don’t have quite as many fashion decisions to make as women – but choosing a tie is an important one...

Here is some advice from the experts at Brooks Brothers:

• Red ties: These are a good choice if you need to be in charge at that meeting. It’s also considered good luck. Ruby red is the ultimate power tie.

• Blue ties: Blue represents calm and tranquility. It’s a good choice to ease a tense situation. 

• Yellow ties: You need to wear these carefully. Certain tones of yellow can be perceived as weak, while others can be bright and cheery. For business, a deep, gold yellow can be warming and rich and is best paired with a dark blue suit.

• Black ties: These really should be saved for special events because they suggest formal. Black ties with a pattern are a little more versatile.

• Green ties: The right shade can be a symbol of rebirth and growth. It’s a good choice if you’d like to be perceived as a team player.

• Brown ties: This tie lets everyone know you’re practical, down-to-earth and will get the job done.

You put a lot of time and effort into carving that pumpkin. How to make it last longer...

Carving a pumpkin can be great fun – and hard work...

There are a few steps you can take to discourage pumpkin rot and make it last a week longer:

• Freeze your pumpkin first. Leave it in the fridge for a half a day and then let it thaw. The freezing method will delay decomposition.

• Pumpkin pre-wash: It’s covered in bacteria and fungus. Wash all of the dirt off and then spray your gourd inside and out with a bleach and water solution and let it dry. Lemon juice works too.

• Once you’re finished carving, give all exposed and cut surfaces a layer of petroleum jelly.

• If you’re displaying your jack-o-lantern outside, try to find a spot that is out of direct sunlight. You might want to bring it inside at night - lots of nocturnal critters love to snack on pumpkin.

Do you have hairy feet? Why that says about your health...

Check your toes for hair! If you can’t find any, that could be a problem...

Hair on the toes and feet are actually a good thing. Poor circulation, usually caused by vascular disease, can make hair disappear from the feet. Here are some other red flags your feet may be waving regarding your health:

• Frequent foot cramping could mean you’re dehydrated or have a vitamin deficiency.

• Numbness in the feet could indicate damage to the nervous system. The same goes for a tingling or burning sensation.

• Cold feet could indicate you have a thyroid problem or poor circulation. Women over 40 who have cold feet often have an under-functioning thyroid.

If you feel a cold coming on – watch what you eat. Which food could make things worse...

The minute you suspect a cold or virus may be in your near future – check your diet...

What you eat from here on in could help determine the severity and length of that bug. You’ll want to cut back on fatty foods right off the bat and start snacking on the stuff that will actually boost your immune response. Melina Jampolis, author of “The Calendar Diet,” says go for orange, yellow-orange and deep green produce. Those are the highest in the symptom-busting antioxidants you will need right away, including vitamin C, E and beta-carotene.

Drink plenty of fluids too – but skip the juice. The added sugars will hinder white blood cells from fighting infection. Water and tea are your best options.

What are the most popular Halloween candy hand-outs? Let’s ask some trick-or-treaters...

Are you handing out candy this Halloween? 

If you want to preserve your reputation in the neighborhood, you might want to know what those trick-or-treaters really want. Here are the top 10:

10: Candy corn

9. Skittles

8. Butterfinger

7. Twizzlers

6. Reese’s

5. m&ms

4. Life Savers

3. Tootsie Rolls

2. Nerds

1. Snickers

Oddly enough, candy corn made it onto the least favorite list too – in 1st place! Other non-crowd-pleasers are Neco Wafers and waxed candy, like candy lips, marshmallow circus peanuts and toothbrushes.

If you’re sex drive could use a boost – step outside...

Not in the mood? Get some sun...

New research says people who spend more time outdoors every day have significantly higher sex drives. There’s a reason the sun makes us hot. Soaking up the sun has been found to boost sexual desire and even enhance performance. It’s particularly effective for guys because the extra vitamin D also boosts their production of testosterone. 

Rallie McAllister, author of “The Busy Couple’s Guide to Great Sex,” says the more sun we get, the more love we’re likely to make. Some people need more sun than others – but just 15 minutes of daily exposure could be enough to heat things up a bit. 

If you or your child has pinkeye – you might want to wait it out...

The next time you or your child winds up with an annoying case of pinkeye, or conjunctivitis – don’t rush off to the doctor...

According to pediatric ophthalmologist Eric W. Hein, pinkeye usually clears up on its own, without meds, in about 7 to 10 days. The most contagious days are days 3 to 5 - and you might want to keep your child home from school then.

As soon as you spot pinkeye, apply a cool wet compress a few times a day and start using artificial tears. Wash your hands as much as possible and be sure consult the doctor for any green in your pinkeye or for excessive swelling.

There’s something subtle you can do to stand out in a crowd. Getting noticed...

If you’d rather not just blend in with the crowd, smile – or snarl – just be sure to bare your teeth!

German researchers say our instincts will notice teeth in a crowd or group of people faster than anything else. That’s because we’re wired to detect social signals from potential friends and foes before proceeding – and the teeth say it all. They conducted a face-in-the-crowd experiment in which participants were asked to point out the first faces they noticed, and those showing their teeth stood out every time.

They say we’ll get more pleasure buying experiences rather than things. Which experiences to skip...

Experts say we will be happier if we spend money on life experiences rather than material things... 

But you might want to think twice before splurging on a trendy vacation or must-have tickets to an event. According to Dr. Ryan Howell, a psychologist at San Francisco State University, when people buy life experiences to impress others, it wipes out the well-being they receive from the purchase.

Dr. Howell says we you need to ask yourself why you are buying something. If the experience is in line with your desires and values, you’ll probably get your money’s worth. If the experience is to gain recognition from others, you’ll probably feel cheated – and lonelier when it’s all over.