Terrific "T's" of the week...

It is the time of year that I think about a few Terrific T's...

1. Time with Family and Friends. In the mist of all the hustle and bustle enjoy the moments and conversations with family and friends. We all are going through the motions of life, but stop and enjoy it a little!  
2. Travel. Lots of people travel this time of year to see family and friends. As you travel this holiday season here are a few travel tips from Natasha Haynes via this weeks episode of the Food Factor before you hit the road this Thanksgiving.                       
3. Turkey. If you have a 20 pound turkey start THAWING your turkey today for THURSDAY! Allow 24 hours for every 4-5 lbs of bird. Check out this tip and many others here. If you have questions on Thanksgiving call the USDA Food Safety Hotline at 1-888-674-6854.  The Hotline will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT on Thanksgiving Day. Or simply follow the infographic below!  
      
4. Take temperatures. Cooked, hot foods should be kept at 140 degrees F or warmer. Be sure to use a food thermometer (the only safe way to ensure proper temperature) to check temperatures. The USDA recommends whole turkeys to be cooked to an internal temperature to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold foods should be kept at 40 F or less. Keep cold foods refrigerated until just before serving. If food is going to stay out on the buffet table longer than two hours, place plates of cold food on ice to retain the chill.
5. Take time to wash your hands! Proper hand washing is the most effective way to keep food and guests safe. Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water following restroom use, after handling raw meat products or before eating. A good tip is to sing “Happy Birthday” to yourself two times to make sure you wash your hands for 20 seconds. Clean hands help prevent the spread of potential illness-causing microorganisms.
6. Tracking food intake. Personally I want to not gain this holiday season so I am tracking my food intake. I want to "Eat Smart, Move More, Maintain and Not Gain"! So I am tracking my calorie intake via the app on my smart phone "LoseIt", but you can also do it the old fashion way with a pencil and piece of paper! 
7. Think cash only spending. In order to not over purchase items this holiday season, especially with all the "Black Friday" specials think about spending cash only this year for your holiday purchases. Literally freeze your credit card in water. Personally I know if I spend cash I will spend less money. Put your holiday cash in an envelope and once all the cash is gone out of that "envelope", then you should be finished shopping since you will have no money left to spend. If your credit card is "frozen" you will have to go to extreme efforts to thaw it! This is a great way to avoid running up your credit card this holiday season.  Spending with plastic almost always lets us overspend. 
8. Thank you's! Don't forget to tell others thank you and that you love and appreciate them if they do something for you. Use this week to reflect on what all you are thankful for this year. 

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Maybe these Terrific T's will be useful for you this week as you celebrate Thanksgiving later this week...