Ah, summertime-lots of time outdoors-sunshine-pool parties and barbecues. Do you know how to keep your food safe in the sun during all of these occasions? No sense in letting a festive day turn into a hospital visit by simple carelessness. Hosting a good party also means hosting a safe party, where you keep foods prone to spoil safe for all. Be sure you are hosting a party memorable for fun and not food poisoning.

Undercooked or raw eggs (in dressings, for instance) are responsible for many food-borne illnesses, and are responsible for carrying salmonella. The elderly and infants are particularly susceptible, so be cautious in cooking eggs for these age groups. Make sure you serve any eggs fully cooked, and stay away from recipes that call for raw eggs, and you and your guests will be at less risk.

Undercooked meat and raw fish are also threats to perfect health. If you are at a party serving pink meat or raw fish, it is best to avoid these items if you want to avoid a bout with illness. When you are hosting, be sure all meats are stored, cooked and presented properly so no one becomes sick.

When serving foods that contain mayonnaise or another ingredient known to spoil quickly, be thoughtful for yourself, friends and family members, and nest serving containers in a bed of ice. Potato salad, shrimp, deviled eggs and even certain melons are best served this way to avoid any contamination. Make sure your party is remembered as a success, and not as the forerunner to a frightening hospital visit, and follow these few simple steps to make your event the smash of the summer.

Being sure you maintain optimal health is another good way to fight off disease. Serve the healthy juice DEFENDER, with its blend of 40 fruits and vegetables, to your summertime guests to be sure you get all the goodness of antioxidants and vitamins your body needs to stay well and be healthy.

So many clichés exist that point to the importance of home and family. You’ve probably already had a few come to mind just as you have been reading. “East, West, Home’s Best,” is an oldie but a goodie. Say “there’s no place like home” to someone and see if it starts a conversation about a particular Judy Garland film. One of the best from recent years, which no one can take issue with, is the following idea. This is not a direct quote, but the gist of it is: Home is your starting point. Now, regardless of how or where you define your home, you have to agree that it forms the beginnings for each and every one of us.

Each of us is concerned with the well-being of our loved ones. Children particularly need good nutrition, and so often dislike the very foods that will keep them strong and healthy. If this is the case in your home, be sure to give DEFENDER a try. This drink supplement will give your family the benefit of 40 whole vegetables and fruits. Now how much easier could that be? Forty fruits and veggies represented by one little drink?

Family is important. Each family is a little nucleus of society, and each family member contributes to the collage of family life. Value each other, enjoy working on projects together and playing games to build strong family bonds. Take time to savor the little moments and dream big dreams with those you love; your life will be richer for the exercise.

Kids and teens are often faced with difficult choices. They have to stick up for their friends around bullies, they do their best to do well in school and sports, and they try to eat healthy…because Mom and Dad say so. One way you can help your kids and teens eat healthy is making sure they get their daily-recommended dose of fruits and vegetables from as many different color groups possible. The easiest way is by adding Be Healthy products to kids’ lunch bags or sending them off to the bus in the morning with a nutritious Be Healthy smoothie. Help cut down some of those difficult choices kids have to make by including nutritious snacks in their meals. It’s a no-brainer!