A Carnival Story IV : Port of Spain

Carnival started off as usual despite the rain. However, by midday it was blazing hot sun. Here are some highlights thanks to my friend Brent.















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A Carnival Story III : Jouvert in Chaguanas

While I was enjoying myself in Maracas, my friend Brent and his crew was having a good time in Chaguanas.
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A Carnival Story II : Jouvert in Maracas

In the wee hours of Carnival Monday morning, while most were asleep, revelers were in the streets all over Trinidad and Tobago celebrating Jouvert, the beginning of carnival. And it was no different in Maracas, my home town. Instead of going down we usually have our own internal "jump up" for Jouvert. All the villages come together with their jouvert bands to be judged at the savannah. Over the years it has been growing, with more and more people participating from the different villages. It was really an experience.


Of course, as the trini saying goes "yuh cah play mas if yuh 'fraid powder"... or mud or paint for that matter. So at the end of the celebrations, I had paint and mud all over me: my head was covered in paint; my hands got paint; and my new t-shirt got paint that spoiled it, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Next time, I will have to wear some old clothes though! Enjoy.







































In the end, I got chicken and beer from this guy.
Jouvert 2009 was great!


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A Carnival Story I : Carnival Sunday Lime

Even before Dimanche Gras started on Sunday evening we were already enjoying ourselves. The village of LLuengo in Maracas had their little carnival extravaganza and I was there with camera in hand. Everyone depicted their favourite characters and had lots of fun.




























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Carnival 2k9

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The 1-2-3 of Credit Card Use

Welcome to the credit card club. You are now the holder of a credit card but beware how you use it. Gone are the days when credit was given by the store manager. Having an account in a store allowed the shopper the same benefits the credit cards allow today. Credit cards are one of our modern day marvels. A credit card is very helpful; it helps rent a car, purchase airline tickets, book a room in a hotel....

It has made shopping easy and convenient for the card holder: it can be used in just about any store (physical or online), no immediate cash payment is necessary for purchases, and payment on credit card purchases can be paid at a later date without any interrogation from the purchaser. Credit cards are a buyer's dream come through. The user just have to remember to repay what they owe the bank (generally within 14-20 days). However, the credit card dream could go sour.

Credit cards have placed many in bankruptcy or financial ruin and it is obvious to see why credit cards are abused. Many who allow balances to be carried forward continually into the next month (this is referred to as revolving consumer debt) find it harder to settle their debt. Generally, about 70 percent of card holders carry their balances forward.

Therefore, it is necessary to take care when using a credit card. Always pay off ALL the money owed within the grace period! It makes no sense to search for bargains or sales, use the credit card, and allow the unpaid balances to accumulate. In the end you pay back in high interest rates; and above all your savings are nullified by the interest rates. And this is also no way to build a good credit card history.

Here are three credit card tips you should remember now that you have a credit card:

1. Keep your credit cards safe. Protect your credit card and even sales receipts or slip after you use your credit card from fraud and theft. You can secure you credit card. Here are some ways you can ensure the safety of your credit card:
  • Carry no more than two credit cards with you while shopping.
  • Don't leave your purse whenever you out shopping, or hanging on a chair while in a restaurant.
  • Don't lend your credit card to anyone, or give any stranger or telemarketer your number.
  • Make sure the clerk returns your credit card after a purchase.
  • Be alert of when the bank will send you a replaced credit card.
  • Keep the toll-free number in a handy place to report stolen or misplaced credit cards early.
  • Tear credit card receipts and secure all billing statements for your credit cards.
  • Ensure your online transaction is safe (your web browser should read https, instead of http or look for a padlock icon in your web browser).
  • Cut up all canceled credit cards.
2. Know when to use your credit card. There are times when the credit card is necessary and not really necessary. The credit card is very useful in cases of emergencies and you don't have the cash to pay at once. Here are some examples. It is useful for online purchases, renting a vehicle while on vacation, paying for an airline ticket, and booking a room at a hotel. It is a good replacement when your shopping and it is risky walking around with a lot of cash. However, in the absence of safety, there are times when it should not be used. Don't use a credit card for something that could be worn out by the time the bill arrives or for for purchases that could easily be made with cash .

3. Getting the best deal with your credit card. You can minimize the cost of a credit card by doing a number of things. Seek better interest rates and annual fees on your credit card. Be aware of the grace period for paying your credit card balances. Check credit card policies - they may have some hidden fees such as late fees, cash advance fees, and penalty fees. If you see a two-cycle billing charge, you should start looking for another credit card company.


Having a credit card is rewarding, some companies reward he customer who uses a credit card. But despite all of this what should always be remembered is that convenience could encourage out of control spending and you may end up damaging your credit score. Be honest with yourself and keep in mind that you still have to pay for your purchases. Finally, don't spend money you don't have.



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The Hidden Truth About Soda

Sodas, called sweet drinks in T & T, are very popular. Studies have shown that the average person would consume 43,371 cans of sodas in his/her lifetime. That's a lot!






The cola industry is booming and expanding even to the remotest areas. Here in Trinidad and Tobago, this product is pushing aside the more traditional drinks such as mauby and the vast number of fruit juices.

Sweet drinks or sodas are cheap and come in large quantities, but they have a lot of sugar (there is about 10 teaspoon of sugar in a 12-ounce non-diet soda). They are rich in phosphorus, and most contain benzene levels up to 10 times higher than the limits for tap water (5ppb). Phosphorus has been known to produce imbalances of calcium intake in teenagers which is likely to increase bone fractures in this age group as well, it also increases the risk of osteoporosis in older folks.


This ready drink is obviously worth very little in nutrition. It contributes to obesity, especially in children. It also contributes to kidney stones, health problems, dental carries, diabetes, and heart diseases. Worst of all it can curb one's appetite. Many who consume large amounts of sweet drinks or sodas find themselves drinking less water than is recommended.

It is better to have fresh juices made from orange, grapefruit, passion fruit, pineapple, mango, five fingers. These juices can be diluted with water or remain 100% pure (which is even better). Either way, fresh juices taste better,are more nutritious, and you drink less juice during the day and more water. As a natural alternative you can even try some teas. Punches are also a good idea.

In other words, your food budget is more than buying food within your means. It is about buying food that is affordable, and nutritionally healthy. After all, taking care of one's health always ensures that you spend less on health problems that could arise out of indulging in foods that are not nutritionally dense.


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10 Great Snacks Ideas

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Snacks

Everyone love to eat snacks. It gives us that extra energy during the morning after breakfast and during the evening after lunch. It helps to satisfy those cravings for something sweet, sour or salty to eat, but certainly not heavy. But, is it really okay to indulge in a couple of snacks?

Who can go through an entire day without craving some snack at least once? When that craving for a snack comes on, some cringe at the fear of overindulging in excess fatty foods while others welcome it with a hearty appetite. I hate to deprive myself, or far less anyone else from the snacks they love. Why suffer yourself, and yearn even more for a good snack. I believe that the more you deprive yourself of these cravings the more you crave for it. However, snack time should be at least twice daily.


Snacking can become a healthy activity, but it should be done at least 2 before the main meal. You can use snack time to help your body get the essential nutrients daily. So instead of depriving yourself or even children from snacking, you can make sure that you and your children are eating the right foods by checking the label on the packaging, or by preparing your own snacks.

Checking labels is a simple task. If sugar is placed first in the ingredients listing you can be sure the snack is a very sweet snack and most likely should be avoided or eaten in moderation. The nutritional content on the packaging can also encourage you to seek low fat alternatives in snacking.



If you are preparing your own snack you may seek to decrease the amount of sugar called for, in the recipe. One way to do this is to replace half the amount of sugar for a fruit sauce, a fruit or dried fruits if possible. Also, when you make your own snacks you can leave out the preservatives and artificial flavors.




If you wish to decrease your cravings for the unhealthy snacks, I found out that if you buy one less package of snack every week your craving decreases - not to mention the money you save. Over time this could mean a good direction towards a healthier self. By not packing the pantry or refrigerator with a lot of processed snacks, I push them out of my mind ( the classic out of sight out of mind). I buy more fruits and I find myself naturally craving them instead.

There are a lot of homemade snacks on this site. You're welcome to try them. You can also
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Watching Too Much Television

Television ads have one main purpose: to encourage the viewer(s) to purchase a product. When it comes to ads on food, most of the foods advertised are snacks. Most snacks are low in nutrient density and have a high fat content. These ads are especially geared towards children, mostly between the ages of 6 and 11, who are not so concerned about the nutrient content of these snacks. Then they harass and nag us parents for those so called tasty treats that can easily ruin a well prepared dinner.




We often include in the grocery list a number of snacks for the whole family to enjoy (most of them could be classified as unhealthy). But, snacks on a grocery list could accumulate to a costly figure as well. Think about it! Calculate the sum total of the monthly servings of these prepackaged goodies, such as chocolate bars, cream cheese ice cream, cheese snacks, biscuits and cookies, sweets, cakes, soft drinks, etc. The cost of these snacks could be in the hundreds.

I find a good method to reduce the amount of snacks consumed, is by being discrete on the amount of time we (parents and children) spend watching television. Less time spent in front of the television is less time spent being reminded of snacks you have to try while relaxing in front of screen. It is so easy to crave these same snacks being advertised on television.

Another good method that I find useful is buying one snack less each week. It is not about punishing yourself because you crave for it and enjoy it. It’s about learning to control what you eat for the right reasons and teaching your children how to make healthy decisions about eating and staying healthy. However, I would like to add, if you are strong enough and truly want live above other influences, you could cut the cable bill from your household budget, like we have done. But that is another story.

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Thinking about Health & Budgeting

We have all been told that Fast Foods lack variety and nutrients, and it discourages us from enjoying a well-balanced meal. But if we cook our own meals, we should be able to get back control over what we eat and ensure we enjoy a well-balanced meal. Some people think cooking is tedious, but I can assure you that it is not. For one, many of the meals featured in this blog are simple and take little time to prepare. Also when we cook our own meals we are mindful of what we eat, and we minimize the risk of developing common nutrition-related diseases (not to forget the amount of money we can save cooking our own meals, and I think that is the best part of it all).


The centre of each family gathering is the kitchen, especially in Trinidad, and more so on Sundays. In our family, everything begins in the kitchen while enjoying a hearty meal we begin conversation or common chit chatting about the latest happenings in our lives. For me, the kitchen is the heart of the household, and cooking and food is what keeps the jokes, laughter and picong coming. Just take that food element away and everyone becomes bored. But, what could really dampen a good conversation is the household budget on food and the grocery list.


The grocery list is the second most important expense, second only to the housing expenses. The grocery list therefore takes up a good chunk of the total household expenditure budget. But if you live to eat, you are more likely to buy more than you need ( need being the operative word here!) You are also more likely to indulge in a lot of snacking and spend less time planning your meals.

A good food budget can help us avoid such excesses. I welcome you to this article section of the blog once more and hope you all enjoy my writing on this topic.



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You are what you eat… Really!

Having a long conversation with a 97 year old lady got me to wonder about how uncommon it is, to be able to meet and speak at great lengths on so many topics with a person past 80 years. I began to feel privileged and wished this was really a common occurrence. Her memory was without fault and her spirits was youthful. How many of us can say we will be like that if we ever (luckily) reach that age or even 80 years of age.

For many of us our diet and eating habits is a major cause of concern. Many are becoming obese, especially in the Caribbean, and we neglect to recognize how we are increasing our chances of developing any of these chronic diseases. These risk factors are like bargains when we go into a shoe store, buy one get one free, because they come in clusters over time.

I beg the reader to take note. You don’t have to get paranoid and start counting every calorie you consume or release – that is difficult. Start simple. One can adopt the recommendation put forward at The National Consultation on Non Communicable Diseases (2006): Curb fat, sugar, and salt consumption, increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, adopt a physical regime into your daily life, control the use of tobacco, also avoid drugs, over consumption of alcohol, and processed foods. It is encouraging that the governments of the Caribbean are focusing on this issue because it cost the governments millions of dollars to treat. Prevention is still better than cure.

I believe we can still enjoy our myriad of local dishes in a sensible manner. There are a few tricks of the trade I have learnt that will help anyone who wishes to eat “right” and enjoying our local Trinidad cuisine:

  • Meat could be browned without oil.
  • Do not over cook food
  • Choose the leanest of meat and remove the fat from chicken
  • Limit the consumption of red meat
  • Eat more locally grown vegetables and fruits because they are cheaper than imports
  • You can use less sugar in many recipes
  • Substitute whole wheat flour for white flour
  • Eat lots of natural grains and cereals
  • Drink 8 glasses of water daily
  • Drink fresh squeezed fruit juices
  • Avoid all soft drinks or sodas
  • Eat salads without dressings
  • Do not include in your dinner plate more than one serving of starch item (this encourages you to include fruits, vegetables, and legumes on your plate)

Yes, sometimes I too, indulge at times… I just love coconut sweet bread, coconut bake, roti and doubles (with slight pepper) but that doesn’t stop me from making healthier choices when I eat. In this life I believe moderation IS the key.

No one said you cannot enjoy your self, but not to the detriment of your health and well being. So become aware , become conscious of the choices you make when eating because you are the only person responsible for what you put in your mouth.

I hope this writing was helpful to many who are like me aiming for a healthy, fit and fulfilling life. Also, enjoy your food, and take good care of yourself. Remember, being healthy is a process, it cannot happen over night. So love the body you're in.


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Yam Chips

First of all I would like to say that this has been a very wet dry season so far. I don't know the reason for this change in the weather patterns but I hope it doesn't make for a wet carnival! Could you imagine rain on Carnival Monday and Tuesday?


Last evening while rain fell, as if God forgot to turn off the sprinkler system, we had some yam lying around so we decided to make some yam chips. This was most welcomed while we watched
T.V. The yam we used is called Juba Yam and is known for its sticky consistency when boiled. Boy! That yam made some mouth watering chips.






So next time when you're relaxing at home and you're feeling for something salty and on the crispy side, instead of rushing to the pantry for a bag of potato chips try some yam chips. It's far more healthier and filling and don't forget to fry it in some coconut oil.

Tip: Yam chips stay fresher and crispier longer, once stored in a sealed plastic bag e.g. a Ziplock bag



YAM CHIPS




Peel and boil the yam until it is cooked. Do not over cook.
To test whether the yam is cooked use a knife.
Once the knife goes straight through, the yam is cooked.



Remove the yam from the water, drain and allow to cool.



Slice the yam into 1/4 inch pieces.



Heat the oil and fry the yam until golden brown.



Remove and drain on a napkin. Once most of the oil is drained out place in a bowl
and add salt to taste .


You can also prepare a dip for your chips if you like.
Here I mixed a little ketchup, mustard, and homemade pepper sauce.
Mix the ingredients well.



See you soon. Bye!




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