July 21st dedicates a giant menu of items to National Junk Food Day. Each year, the day permits us to chow down on the foods we usually don’t include in our daily diet. Junk foods, by definition, typically contain high fats, sugars, salt, and calories and very little nutritional value.
With the advent of packaged foods during the late 1800s, junk food made its way into American life. Still, home-cooked meals remained the standard for several more decades. Eventually, after World War II, the artery-clogging industry took off. Since the population ate out more, traveled more, the industry was primed to produce products at an increased rate.
From the frozen food aisle to fast food chains, a myriad of choices for consumers flooded the market. Potato chips, baked goods and so much more filled supermarket shelves, prepackaged and ready to go.
By the 1970s, junk foods earned a name and a bad one, too. Michael Jacobson, a microbiologist, is credited with coining the phrase. He also set out to curb our appetite for the high sugar, high salt, high preservative foods Americans consumed at an alarming rate.
While deep-fried, fat-laced foods increase our waistlines, cholesterol, and blood sugar numbers, an occasional indulgence shouldn’t impact a healthy, diverse diet and lifestyle. Also, producers make healthy versions of our favorite junk foods to entice us to enjoy a little.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalJunkFoodDay
Snack a little. Chow down on your favorite chip, dip or treat. In fact, treat the family or workplace to a beverage or take out. Post on social media using #NationalJunkFoodDay. You can also celebrate by taking a walk or doing some yard work to burn off those extra calories.
Short for Software Application, apps quickly appeared as our mobile cellular phones incorporated smart technologies. As the power of our phones increased with processing chips, internet connectivity, and touchscreens, so did the apps that became available.
Since that time, apps continue changing how we work, live, and play. They offer opportunities, too, by creating thousands of new companies, millions of new jobs, and billions of dollars in revenue.
Apps accelerated in growth with the advent of Apple’s iPhone in 2007. In 2008 Apple introduced OS 2.0, which included approximately 500 apps and allowed third-party app generation. Today there are over 3 million apps on both the Apple and Android platforms and thousands more introduced daily.
From social networking to productivity, apps function in every part of our lifestyle. They control the lights in our house and keep our playlists at our fingertips. We stay in tune with the world around us through news apps customized to our interests and stay connected to the people who mean the most to us.
NATIONAL APP DAY HISTORY
Platinum Edge Media and its founder CJ Thompson created National App Day in 2017 to celebrate the importance of apps as they change our collective culture by organically promoting creativity and innovation.
My goto Apps that I use practically everyday include:
Prism – Money and Bill Pay. We use this App for almost all our bill paying. It not only keeps track of when it’s due, but gives me balances, and real time payments directly from the App. Actively helps me from being a victim of identity theft.
Digical – All calendar. Appointments, To Do, reminders, and blog reminders.
Medisafe – Keeps my prescription medications on track with scheduling and reminders. Also a very conventional way to have a current medicine list on your phone in case of emergency, hospital stay, Dr visits and more.
My Sugar – As a diabetic this app links to my meter and gives both short and long term readings on my blood sugar. Helps me stay informed and make good diet decisions as well.
Lose It! – Calorie counter, dieting App. Keep track of what you eat, calories, carbs, food diary, and fitness logs. I was amazed at how much more contentious just keeping the food diary helped me choose healthy eating and loose weight.
News Break – News source that gives local, State, National, and worldwide news.
Google Weather – Accurate conditions
YoWindow – the weather both now and forcasts
WordPress – If you are reading this post, it’s where I blog. Easy to use visual and html, let’s me build my site.
Canva – create stunning social media posts, pins, and graphics.
Calligraphy – Add text to photos, and create graphics like you see on my site.
Polaris Office – Write, spreadsheet, newsletters, slides, slideshows, word and text documents.
My Drive – Cloud storage. Store pictures, documents, receipts, and backup info. I regularly keep digital copies in cloud storage. If you’ve ever lost or broken a device or need to access legal documents cloud storage gives me access no matter what device I’m using.
Googl Keep – My husband swears by this App. He keeps everything from grocery lists and To do lists to passwords and reminder notes.
Samsung Notes – I like this one as my Notes can even be written with stylus. Keeps notes, lists, observations, and reminders at my fingertips.
Walmart – Like most of we do our shopping for groceries and household often. Shop in store or online, checkout on your mobile device. Have it delivered or shipped straight to your door. Saves me so much time and money.
Shipt – Publix, Winn Dixie, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Petsmart, Office Depot Office Max and even GNC. Groceries or even better imagine not having to trudge through a store. Get it delivered.
Instacart – Get everything I need for dinner in 2 hours or less. Gives me delivery from stores like Aldi’s in my neighborhood.
Amazon Shopping – Amozon is so well known now. My Prime membership gives me perks, savings and access to products simply not sold locally.
Ibotta – Cash back at the grocery store! We all have to eat. So why not get cash back on what’s you’re already buying. Seriously I make enough cash back to get Thanksgiving dinner free! This year it’s Christmas dinner too.
Fetch – Shop & Save Money! Scan Receipts to Earn Gift Cards. Your Shopping & Saving Superpower! Fetch brings you a fun and exciting way to shop and save, turning all your receipts into rewards in a snap. Earn points by scanning receipts, then choose from hundreds of your favorite rewards. Shop personalized offers, play free point games daily and connect with your friends.
Rakuten – Cash back on the most popular shopping sites online. Great deals from the app or browser extension. We save on things like Daytimer, Amazon, Chewy, and do many more.
Temu – While similar to Wish the shipping deals have made this my new favorite this holiday season. Gifts for lots and something for myself too.
Restaurants and food delivery – Uber Eats, Door Dash, Postmates, Grubhub, we learned about during the Covid pandemic. Now delivery from your favorite restaurants is at your fingertips. We love getting McDonald’s, Burger King, Popeyes, Panda Express, Captain D’s, Chili’s, Texas Roadhouse, Taco Bell, Applebee’s, Cheddar’s, Greek, Mexican, American, you name it they can probably deliver it.
Prime Video – Streaming is so much better than high priced cable bills. Live Football, original series and movies all directly to your smart tv. What to see a new movie, simply purchase and stream. Pausing when you need a snack, or a break is ultra convenient.
Kindle – Amazon’s answer for Ebooks. I love my Kindle! Not only is it available on Amazon devices but you can seamlessly change from phone, tablet, Kindle, or even a desktop computer. Now I can take my book literally anywhere my phone goes. As a bibliophile, you’ll never find me without a great read.
Amazon Music – Load your favorite playlists, and let the music play. Prime members enjoy lots of tunes. No need for a separate device. I just load my phone widget and press play. Bluetooth connection let’s me play it on the surround sound system, my personal Bluetooth speaker, ear buds, air pods or headphones.
Love Nikki – We all need to unwind. This dress up game is like having both a fantasy adventure and a never-ending closet. Put your fashion sense to the test to save Mirland.
Facebook – Who hasn’t heard of this one by now? This allows family and friends to communicate, check up, check in, and share easily. Pictures of the grand babies, how school is going, or just video chat with Mom. Remember to check you feed!
Pintrest – My #1 bookmarking spot. Recipes, lists, books, movies, celebrities, crafts, shopping, new products, home decor, gardening, games, Journaling, you name I’ll bet there’s a pin. Pin your likes to your own boards. Keep ideas, thoughts, planning, and even wishlists and vision boards.
Nextdoor – Do you know what’s going on in your neighborhood? Giveaways, Yard sales, stolen packages…. Communicate with each other. Chances are even if your just curios you’ll find something near you.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalAppDay
Post your favorite app on social media. Share how apps make your life easier, too. Beyond games, what tools do you use to save money and time? While you expound on your favorites, explore new apps, too. What kinds of apps do you predict for the future?
Join the conversation using #NationalAppDay, and be sure to include why you couldn’t imagine life without your favorite apps.
On November 16th food lovers get a dose of their favorite convenience food on National Fast Food Day. Whether they use the drive-thru, dine-in or get it to go, fast food will grill up, fry up and broil up menu staples.
First popularized in the United States in the 1950s, fast food is considered any meal with low preparation time and served to a customer in a packaged form. The meal makes for quick dine-in, take-out or take-away. Most fast-food restaurants offer drive-thru service.
Merriam-Webster dictionary first recognized the term “fast food” in 1951.
Following World War I, automobiles became popular and more affordable. At that time, restaurants introduced the drive-in.
Much like today’s food trucks, Walter Anderson first began selling hamburgers out of an old streetcar body at a Wichita intersection. While the menu was limited, the hamburgers were a crowd-pleaser. When the popularity of his hamburgers grew, he partnered with E.W. Ingram and opened the first White Castle in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. The enterprising restauranteurs were the first in the fast-food business. They sold hamburgers for five cents each.
The United States has the largest fast food industry in the world. American fast-food restaurants are located in over 100 countries.
Fun fact: The first Happy Meal was served in June of 1979.
While fast-food began as sandwiches and sides, the menus expanded over-time. Today fast-food includes fish, a variety of fried chicken, tacos, pizza and a wide selection of sides. Sodas quench the thirst and desserts sweeten the menu. From ice cream and shakes to pies and cakes, fast food delivers.
As times changed, restaurants added breakfast items to the menu, too. Expanding their hours increased their workforce and their menu options, as well. However, not all fast-food chains offer breakfast.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalFastFoodDay
Invite a group out to your favorite fast-food restaurant. Share some rings and a shake. Do you prefer breakfast or lunch? No matter which one you prefer you can get it to go to make it faster, too!
Give a shoutout to your favorite fast-food restaurant using #NationalFastFoodDay to post on social media.
National French Fry Day on July 13th recognizes a staple food on menus across the country. It comes in so many different cuts and styles, there’s a favorite for everyone to enjoy!
French fries, also known as chips, fries, finger chips, or French-fried potatoes, are batons of deep-fried potatoes. No matter what we call them, they’re common fixtures at fast-food restaurants and are loved by all ages!
A wide selection of condiments such as ketchup, ranch dressing, vinegar, mayonnaise, honey mustard, cheese, and many more complement French fries. As a healthier alternative, sweet potatoes also make delicious fries and accompany many dishes on menus around the country. Other varieties are baked and come in unusual shapes such as curls, waffles, crinkle, or tornado cut.
Beyond the condiments, chefs and home cooks sprinkle seasonings to add flavor and spice to their fries. Whether you add a little garlic and onion powder or spice it up cajun style, a potato crisped just right will satisfy a combination of tastes. We top them with chili or nacho cheese and jalapeños, too. Depending on the type of fries, we might top them with even more ingredients and call them all sorts of things.
The expression “French Fried Potatoes” first occurs in print in English in the 1856 work Cookery for Maids of All Work by E. Warren.
It is believed by some that the term “French” was introduced to the potatoes when the American soldiers arrived in Belgium during World War I and consequently tasted Belgian fries. Since French was the official language of the Belgian Army at that time, it is possible the American soldiers began calling the fried potatoes “French” fries.
