Frozen Throttle

Young Illinois Farmers Awarded Nearly $60K from CME Group                You herd it here first, the Illinois State Fair is back again this year, providing a way for skilled young farmers to show off their hard work and demonstrate their expertise in the agricultural industry. Agricultural education is an important priority for CME Group. During this year’s Governor’s Sale of Champions, student exhibitors were presented with one-time scholarships totaling $50,000. Each of the ten Grand Champion exhibitors will receive a $5,000 scholarship, which will be used to advance their education. Recipients of the 2021 CME Group scholarships were: Ashtyn Guyer (Crawford, IL), Brayden Wilson (LaSalle, IL), Cole Caldwell (Peoria, IL), Edward Hanson (Iroquois, IL), Ella Bobell (Logan, IL), Jess Hawk (DeKalb, IL), Landrey Freeman (Scott, IL), Maddox Horner (Jasper, IL), Nolan Hoge (McDonough, IL) and Owen Pree (Iroquois, IL)."At CME Group our roots are in agricultu

Keeping Kids Healthy & Hydrated      As we head into fall and go back to school, it’s more important than ever to carry on with healthy hydration habits from the long, hot days of summer. The human body is made up of 50% water. In order to achieve peak hydration needs, kids ages 4-8 require five cups of water per day and kids ages 8+ require 7-8 cups per day. "Unfortunately, water isn’t the most tasty or easy-to-drink liquid so often we substitute it with other things such as milk, sports drinks, OJ or fruit concentrates," says James Mayo, Co-Founder and CEO of SOS Hydration. "These substitutions offer some hydration benefits, but also come with excessive amounts of sugar and high calories that kids don’t need. Just take a peek at the nutrition panels the next time you reach for one of these beverages. Many of these drinks disguise their contents on the front by clever marketing or small pack sizes, but look at the truth panel on the side to see the amo

New Social Network Supports Skilled Trades this Labor Day       Transportation technology is critical to the American economy, as are the skilled technicians who help maintain steady supply chains and get goods where they need to go. The demand for transportation technicians is surging. However, many students planning their futures and individuals considering career changes don’t realize the opportunities and the potential for success in transportation technology and repair. Often underestimated as "blue collar," or "grease monkey" jobs, today’s transportation technicians are actually high-tech "new collar" workers who depend on their computer skills and fluency with the latest in digital technology. "A modern car runs on approximately 100 million lines of computer code, more than twice that of the NASA space shuttle," says Mike Present, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for TechForce Foundation. "Now, with electric vehicles se

What You Need to Know to Survive Any Dating Scenario Dating is never easy. Never mind first impressions and the getting-to-know-you awkwardness, the Internet has created a world where every foible, every flaw, every little thing (both literally and figuratively) is on display for the all the world, including potential dating partners, to see. “Surviving any worst-case scenario comes down to not panicking, having a plan, and ultimately being prepared,” David Borgenicht, author of The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Dating & Sex, told the Chicago Tribune in an interview. “And this applies to the realm of dating.” This is why it’s important to be prepared for any dating scene so you aren’t wondering whether leaving-by-the-bathroom-window might actually be an option. The following tips will help you avoid the minefield of dating. • You spill wine all over the table, yourself or your date. The best-case scenario is that you and your date laugh it off. Bonus? If you l

A Little Known Fact: Most Insurance Plans Cover Chiropractic Care When you visit your doctor of chiropractic, feel free to have your insurance card ready. About 30 million Americans seek chiropractic care annually, and apparently not all of them know their visits are routinely covered by major medical insurance carriers, Medicare, workers’ compensation, and even some Medicaid plans. Part of the increased availability is a result of non-discrimination measures in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the welcome mat to chiropractic care at various government levels, including military bases and Veterans Administration facilities. Boosting awareness, say experts, could be a game-changer. Consider this: The more than $796 billion spent caring for musculoskeletal diseases in 2011 made it among the costliest healthcare expenditures, according to the latest available statistics. Meanwhile, the “chiropractic-first” approach many experts advocate — avoiding traditional spine s

Retirement Readiness Improves from Generation to Generation  Are people becoming more savvy about ensuring their retirement won’t be like something out of the “Hunger Games?” Perhaps. Two years ago, Fidelity Investments (fidelity.com) created a unique way of measuring not only how close working Americans are to meeting their post-retirement expenses, but also how different generations — Baby Boomers, Gen Exers, and Gen Yers — compare to one another. The one stand-out back then was Boomers. Now that same measure, the Retirement Preparedness Measure (RPM), is signaling more widespread improvement — due in large part to what John Sweeney, Fidelity’s executive vice president of retirement and investment strategies, ascribes to “across-the-board savings, and investments being allocated in a more age-appropriate way.” Specifically, the number of people likely to afford at least their essential expenses in retirement jumped seven percentage points since 2013, from 30 to 45 percent, accor

Americans Would Prefer to See a Chiropractor Than Primary Care Doctor for Certain Conditions, Study Finds To hear news outlets tell it, the majority of Americans are overwhelmingly unsatisfied these days. So it’s worth noting that a study in the Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics found that a whopping 83 percent of households surveyed were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with chiropractic care. Among the factors? Displaying “concern about a patient’s overall health, and the extent to which (they) explain the condition and the treatment.” In fact, even as the number of Americans attracted to chiropractic care for its drug-free, hands-on and non-invasive approach to caring for neuro-musculoskeletal conditions continues to grow — virtually tripling in the past two decade s — evidence of patient satisfaction continues to pour in: • Nine out of 10 patients in a recent BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders study on upper cervical chiropractic care for neck pain, headaches

Fall in love with cool-weather gardening for a healthy, hefty homegrown harvest      Shorter days and cooler temperatures mean gardeners everywhere can flex their green thumb that much longer to squeeze every last moment out of the growing season. Cooler temperatures make it a delight to spend time outside in the garden. You’ll spend less time caring for crops because of the favorable cool weather growing conditions. Plants will grow rapidly at first and gradually slow as the days become shorter and colder. Destructive insects won’t be as numerous, and weeds germinate less frequently and grow slower than they do during the warmer weather. Compared to hot and dry summers, fall usually brings an increase in precipitation, reducing another time-consuming chore -watering. Veteran or novice gardener, if you’re not ready to give up your garden, here’s how to get growing's transplants: For the timeliest results, buy quality transplants that are already started, so the germination process

5 Low-Carb Swaps for A Guilt-Free Holiday Season       With the holidays just around the corner, you might be worrying about how to get through all the parties and cookie exchanges without derailing your healthy lifestyle. It can be a struggle to avoid temptation, particularly when you’re busy, stressed, sleep-deprived, or all three. At times, you might consider giving up and just diving into the dessert tray. But with a bit of motivation and creativity, you can whip together some festive treats that are both delicious and carb-conscious.Courtney McCormick, Dietitian at Nutrisystem, offers five low-carb swaps to keep you healthy and happy through the holidays:      1. Try veggies when you’re craving a crunch. We’re all guilty of lingering too long at the chips and salsa bowl at a holiday party. If you’re craving something crunchy such as a pretzel or chips, try carb-conscious snacks with a crunch – brussel sprouts chips, kale chips, veggies such as cucumber, zucchini, and carrots – th

Fuel Your Adventures with Great Coffee on The Road             Sponsored News -Whether you are in a hotel room, at your desk, in an RV, or by a campfire, it can be difficult to get a good cup of coffee away from home. With the holiday travel season in full swing, travelers are wondering how best to enjoy their morning java while on the go. Most away-from-home coffee options have major drawbacks. Hotel room coffee makers are convenient and cheap, but the coffee they brew means a major compromise on taste. Local cafes often offer good coffee, but the cost of all those to-go cups can really add up. Existing travel coffee presses offer a way to brew while on the go, but they typically brew slowly and therefore brew a bitter and very acidic cup. Travelers benefit from being able to brew delicious coffee quickly and easily wherever they are. Luckily there is a perfect way to do just that. The AeroPress Go travel coffee press brews up to three cups of delicious hot or cold brew coffee that is

Meat Shortages Mean It’s Time to Try Plant-Based Protein       During times of change, many of us find comfort in simple pleasures. Like a great burger.           Yet, some of those simple pleasures have been compromised by the dramatic changes caused by COVID-19, including the disruption of the animal meat industry. Meat plants are closing, causing meat to be harder to find and its prices to rise. Some grocers are limiting the amount of meat shoppers can buy to curb pantry loading.           I know these issues will be resolved as the pandemic subsides. The animal meat industry will recover, and supply chains will be restored. But right now, you may be asking: What do I do without meat? Now is the time to try plant-based protein. Made from simple ingredients you know, Light life     P lant-based meat is as nutritious as it is delicious. And you can find the products in your grocer’s meat case.      To be clear, I’m not against the animal meat industry. I believe we’re all trying to so

COVID-19 Elevating Concerns About Food Safety and Security        The latest fallout from the coronavirus pandemic? Food safety and security now rank among consumers’ top global concerns. According to a new study from the Mars Global Food Safety Center, 73 percent of the adults surveyed last month in the United States, China and the United Kingdom said they believe COVID-19 will wind up adversely impacting the viability — and, yes, safety — of the global food supply chain many of us have come to expect. And almost as many (71 percent) think people’s access to food will consequently be negatively affected around the world. Doubt it? "New food safety threats, like those posed by COVID-19, are constantly emerging through a combination of factors including global warming, increased globalization of trade, and changes in agriculture practices and food production," said David Crean, chief science officer at Mars, which strives to generate new scientific and technological insights t

Plant-Based Twists to Classic Summer Dishes     With people more focused on wellness and nutrition these days, interest in a plant-based diet is hotter than ever. One easy way to get in on the trend: Pair summer produce with simple ingredients like pecans for a dish the whole family will enjoy.Pecans are a versatile ingredient and are naturally sweet with a rich and crunchy texture. As each one-ounce serving of the nuts offers three grams of fiber and protein, essential vitamins, minerals and heart-healthy benefits, pecans also happen to be one of the tastiest ways to elevate the nutrition of any recipe. IN fact, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts – including pecans – as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. A one-ounce serving of pecans has 18g unsaturated fat and only 2g saturated fat.Add a sweet and nutritious crunch to th

Healthy Eating Adds Up to a Healthy Heart             Making healthy food choices can be overwhelming, especially if money is tight. Good nutrition is at the core of good health and reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease and stroke. "Eating delicious nourishing meals on a budget is possible, especially with a few key tips to make it simple," says Bridget Wojcik, director of nutrition and dietetics at Kroger Health, a national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good initiative. Planning ahead can help your dollar go further. The American Heart Association has developed tips to help families shop, eat and cook healthier meals on a budget. Make a list. Plan your menu ahead of time so you spend your money on what you really need. Try theme nights, such as Meat-free Monday or Taco Tuesday. Go frozen. Fresh fruits and vegetables are frozen at their peak ripeness, so they’re as tasty as they are fresh, won’t spoil, and are often cheape

New Subway Sandwiches Reinvent the Grilled Cheese   There is no denying that a grilled cheese is the ultimate combination of crunchy bread and gooey cheese. So, if you are someone who considers grilled cheese to be its own food group, you are in luck! Subway is taking grilled cheese sandwiches to the next level with new Fresh Melts. Guests can enjoy Subway’s newest innovation by upgrading their favorite freshly made footlong into an extra cheesy, gooey and grilled sandwich for $1 more. "Fresh Melts are our latest menu innovation to give guests fresh, smart choices that don’t sacrifice taste or flavor," according to Chef Paul Fabre, Subway’s senior vice president of culinary and innovation. "Our Melts are unique because they are grilled, not toasted, so we’re creating the ultimate sandwich that has crunchy bread, melty cheese, and your favorite ingredients for a perfect bite every time," he emphasizes. The new menu items are the latest addition to Subway’s culinary l