The custom of Halloween started in Europe during the harvest season. The Europeans would celebrate the end of summer by having a harvest feast the last day of October. They would build bonfires to cook the feast and also to keep the ghosts away. They were superstitious people and believed that ghosts roamed about on the last day of October. “Hallow” meant holy and “e’en” was short for evening. Because this celebration was the evening before All Hallows Day or All Saints Day, they decided to call it Halloween. But how did this holiday get to America? Irish immigrants brought the tradition here in the 1800s. In Ireland, Irish beggars would go to the homes of the rich on Halloween night and ask for food or money. If they refused, then evil spirits would destroy their homes for their inhospitable behavior. Once the tradition came to America, families and neighbors got together, dressed up in festive costumes, ate foods of the season and played games.Halloween costumes are available everywhere and in most major cities there are many Halloween costume stores that carry a wide selection for you to choose from.

Weight Watchers Baked Lumpia Rolls (Filipino appetizer) recipe
Makes 15 servings

Ingredients
1 lb ground lean pork
1 package wonton wrappers
1 (8 ounce) can bamboo shoots, drained and chopped fine
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped fine
1 medium carrot, chopped fine
8 cloves garlic
1 medium onion, chopped fine
1 large egg
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon black pepper

For the dipping sauce
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2-3 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon cornstarch, mixed with the water

Preparation
1. In a large bowl, combine the pork, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, carrot, garlic, onion, soy sauce, ginger and pepper.
2. Stir the mixture until thoroughly combined (you can cover it and stick it in the refrigerator overnight).
3. Lay out about 10 wonton wrappers at a time and roll the meat mixture into cigar shapes about finger thickness and the length of the wrapper.
4. Roll, brush the ends with beaten egg and finish the roll to seal.
5. Place seam side down on a cookie sheet and repeat until done.
6. Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven for about 20 minutes (until the wrappers turn golden brown), turning once.
7. Serve hot with dipping sauce.
8. To make the dipping sauce: in a 3 quart saucepan mix together the vinegar, brown sugar and soy sauce.
9. Stir over high heat until the sugar dissolves.
14. Mix the cornstarch/water and add to the sugar mixture, stirring until the mixture boils.
15. Remove from the heat and stir in the ginger.

WW POINTS per serving: 5
Nutritional information per serving: 221 calories, 7.3g fat, 1.7g fiber

source  

Have you heard of an Energy Mint? Neither had I until a friend of mine recommended I try one called Revive Natures Energy Mint. To make a long story short, I’ve been hooked ever since. Revive Nature’s Energy Mint is a healthy, all natural energy mint that tastes great and leaves your mouth feeling clean and fresh. I’m a big mint buff and have tried dozens of energy mints but nothing compares to the pure mint taste of Revive Energy Mints. Unlike other energy mints, Revive Mints don’t leave that nasty caffeine aftertaste. They’re smooth tasting and delicious all the way through without that chalky texture so many other functional mints have. Honestly, I can’t get over the outstandingly refreshing taste!

This is truly a supermint! It gives you a great energy boost and contains tons of healthy antioxidants. The long lasting energy that Revive Mints deliver is nothing short of incredible. Revive’s energy boost beats that of coffee, hands down. Revive Mints promote a sustained energy that increases your concentration and awareness. It does not give you the jitters or end in an unpleasant caffeine crash. In fact, I’ve completely replaced my everyday coffee consumption with Revive Mints - and they’re all natural! Instead of drinking a cup of joe now I just pop a Revive Energy Mint. Besides, with Revive Mints I don’t have to consume any liquid which means I’m not running to the bathroom every half hour. Revive Mints are AMAZING

The grapefruit is a citrus fruit with distinctive flavor that is usually consumed in the form of juice or in preparations such as liquefied, shakes or salads. This fruit contains favorable nutrients that can benefit our health and contribute to the plans of weight loss. On the other hand, the grapefruit has diuretic properties that prevent fluid retention and produces a mild laxative effect if consumed in moderation, because it has organic acids own fruit and fiber that are strong stimulants of intestinal transit. But these characteristics, we must not confuse the grapefruit with a food that magical “burn fat” because, as many know, there’s diet grapefruit that does not generate only temporary results, with a significant rebound effect, and high risks of nutritional deficiencies due to the monotony of it.

Therefore, this fruit should be regarded as a great alternative to calm anxiety, improve the overall functioning of the body and vary our daily diet, while it fills us with antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and calcium.

The grapefruit, besides having a major protective effect against free radicals, is very rich in folic acid, vitamin essential for the proper development of neural tube of the fetus during pregnancy.

This fruit of great attributes can give you a soft drink full of vitamins and minerals, without raising the caloric intake of your diet. But hey! is not a miracle food that will help you lose weight only to consume, but their intake will be properly accompanied by a varied diet which does not allow the development gap.

Taking caution in these cases and not forgetting the rest of the food, the grapefruit is powerful source of nutrients that can prevent diseases and benefit your health.