Jun 29, 2017, 1:04 pm EDT |By William White, InvestorPlace Writer

Taco Bell, which is part ofYum! Brands, Inc.(NYSE:YUM), is now serving vegan rice again.

The new Taco Bell vegan rice is listed as Seasoned Rice on the companys menu. The menu item was available in April, but was removed and replaced with a vegetarian option. The Mexican food chain originally didnt plan to have the option back on the menu until the end of summer.

We worked closely with our supplier to make it happen as quickly as possible to let our vegan fans know we were committed, Alec Boyle, a Taco Bell spokesman, told VegNews. We recognize we have a lot of vegans and vegetarians who come to us, and that even meat-eaters and flexitarians come to us and enjoy our vegan products.

To cut down on confusion, Taco Bell now only serves Seasoned Rice to its customers. This makes it easier for vegans and vegetarians to keep track of what they are eating, without it being a bother to other customers.

Taco Bell actually has a full guide on how to eat vegan at its restaurants. This includes a full list of items on its menu that are vegan certified by theAmerican Vegetarian Association. That list is as follows.

You can learn more about Taco Bells vegan options by following this link.

As of this writing, William White did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, http://investorplace.com/2017/06/taco-bell-vegan-rice-yum/.

2017 InvestorPlace Media, LLC

The rest is here:

Taco Bell Vegan Rice Is Back - Investorplace.com

Lara Walker is the owner of TwoTails DC, a boutique dog-walking service. Check out their gorgeous Instagram feed for more information.

Photo courtesy TwoTails DC/Lara Walker

Following is my annual reminder that more pets get lost on the 4th of July than any other day in the US. July 5th is the busiest day for animal shelters.

For your pets safety, please keep them safe inside with relaxing music or ambient noise.

Fireworks terrify many pets, dogs and cats: Create a safe haven for your pets in a sheltered, escape-proof part of your home w/ plenty of water. Turn on soothing music or ambient noise to help mask the fireworks with familiar sounds. The TV is another option, although its not ideal if the programming becomes loud or violent, or news programs replay fireworks displays.

If you have a ThunderShirt for your dog, this is the ideal day to use it! (If your dog has thunderstorm, fireworks, or other noise related anxieties and you have questions about the ThunderShirt, let me know. Contact info above.)

Trumpets, drums, sirens, prop guns, canons, fireworks, poppers All these loud sounds can terrify your pets. If youre thinking of taking your dog to a parade this weekend, please think twice. But if you must, please: Bring lots of water and make sure its not too hot and humid (your dog would be happier at home in AC) Be sure to keep your dog on a secure lead with a well fitting collar or a slip-proof harness. Make sure your dogs ID tags and online chip info and photo are up to date. Even the calmest and most well-behaved dog can be startled and bolt if surprised by a loud noise. It only takes a second for something to go horribly wrong, so best to be prepared to keep your fur babies safe.

Happy 4th! All my best, Lara

View original post here:

Pet Safety Tips for the Fourth of July - The Hillishome

Former nurse plays healing music

Bradley Blackburn, WFAA 6:38 PM. CDT June 27, 2017

After decades spent helping patients as a registered nurse, Diane Michal found a new way to care for patients. (Photo: WFAA)

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS - They say music has the power to heal, and it's the reason one Grapevine nurse is starting a new career.

After decades spent helping patients as a registered nurse, Diane Michal found a new way to care for them while following a lifelong passion for music.

"When we play for patients, it's not performance. It's service," said Michal. "We're looking at where they are in the moment, and what their needs are."

Michal still works as a nurse, but she's now pursuing a career as a certified music practitioner. She plays the flute weekly in the lobby of Baylor Grapevine, in addition to other Baylor hospitals.

"We are just there providing the music with no real expectations from the patient," said Michal.

She played songs ranging from classical to pop, rendered in the peaceful tone of the flute.

"Beautiful music, and it's really relaxing," said Emile LeBlanc, who was listening in the lobby as she cradled her 2-week-old baby. "She's sleeping right through it, so I think she's doing good. She likes it."

Michal is a volunteer, but there are several staff music practitioners. It differs from music therapy, where music is actually prescribed. This, Michal said, is less clinical but still with a purpose.

"They may have needs for comfort. They may have needs for distraction," she said.

Michal has loved the flute since she first picked it up in the fourth grade, and through high school, she thought of pursuing music as a career. Her parents suggested otherwise.

"My parents really discouraged me from going into music. I think they had this image of a starving musician," she said.

She largely gave the up flute as she focused on medicine. She served 20 years as a nurse in the Navy before moving to civilian work. But five years ago, she rediscovered her love of the flute when she began playing at her church.

"I started in the orchestra, picked up my old, old flute from high school," Michal said.

Now, after private lessons and a certification program, she is close to achieving her goal of becoming a certified music practitioner and hopes to do the work full time. She'll still be serving patients, but with renewed passion.

"To me, it's a blessing to play for them," she said.

2017 WFAA-TV

Read the rest here:

Medicine & Music: Grapevine nurse pivots careers, picks up flute - WFAA

The Inn at Crestwood is a beautiful venue in Boone that can provide residents and guests of the High Country with a wide array of accommodations. Not only does The Inn offer rooms for people to stay inbenefitting from its stunning environment and viewsbut The Inn also acts as a venue for spas, romantic getaways and weddings.

With amazing rooms, and some of the most awe-inspiring set-ups for weddings, its natural to assume that The Inn also provides delicious food at The Table Restaurant, where everything is served fresh in a memorable atmosphere.

This summer, The Inn at Crestwood is opening its welcoming arms to the community of the High Country to join it for the summer music series that is currently in full-swing.

Every Thursday from 6-9 p.m., there will be a different local musical artist to perform for those currently staying at The Inn or those simply passing through or stopping by to listen to some great music in a relaxing setting. It doesnt matter who you are, everyone can find a place at The Inn for these musical performances.

Theres a wide variety of music from Southern Rock to Brazilian, said Hannah Woodard, The Inns Marketing Manager.

This Thursday, June 29th, you can see Jimmie Griffith, a Brazilian singer, composer and guitar player, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Other performers that are part of the series include Folk & Dagger, Redleg Husky, The King Bees and Handlebar Betty. While there you can also enjoy The Inns seafood boil for $20 an amazing price for some of the most delicious food in the High Country!

Its a good time. You get to sit outside with great views, and its a really talented show,said Woodard. Everything is very local local bands and local breweries sponsor bands, so we have pint specials.

Who could ask for more? Local music, local people, pint specials and incredible deals on seafood it sounds like the perfect combination for a beautiful summer evening in the High Country.

The Inn is located at 3236 Shulls Mill Rd. in Boone.

For reservations or more information, call 828-963-6646 or visit The Inn at Crestwoods website.

comments

Read the original here:

The Inn at Crestwood Brings the High Country its Summer Music Series, Every Thursday Until October 19th - High Country Press

Let the battle begin.

Hain Celestial Group Inc., (HAIN) the company behind a variety of organic products including Terra Chips, shares were up Thursday afternoon after activist investor Glenn Welling of Engaged Capital LLC said he has launched a change-of-control director election contest that could include a push to have the company sold.

Specifically, Hain was up by 5% in after hours trading to $35.76 a share on news of the campaign. The company's shares dropped precipitously in August 2016 after it announced at the time that it was delaying earnings and expected to miss its own guidance over revenue recognition problems.

Nevertheless, the situation seems to be coming back under control. Hainreported its annual 2016 report on June 22, after 13 months without filings, after the company corrected what it said we're "immaterial errors" for prior-period financial statements. Itsrevenue is down slightly so far this year, and its profits dropped recently by half, compared to the company's results over the same period last year. Hain hasn't had an annual meeting since 2015. However, with its reports back on track expect an annual meeting and a boardroom skirmish to take place in the coming months.

In a securities filing, reporting a 9.9% stake, Engaged said it had discussions with the company's board and may have further discussions. Welling did not disclose the names of the seven director candidates he has submitted to Hain. However, Welling, who has launched a number of successful director election contests in recent years, will be seeking to replace seven of the New Hyde Park, NY-based company existing eight directors. In the filing, Welling suggested that Engaged could push for a variety of changes at the company including a "sale" of the business as a whole or in parts.

According to a person familiar with the situation, Welling is likely interested in pushing Hain to boost revenue through a new stronger approach to sales and promotion. Alternatively, the activist may seek to have Hain sold to another packaged foods company, he added.

It's very likely that a number of different buyers could be interested in the company as a whole or in pieces, as packaged foods companies seek to increase their exposure to organic foods, he added, including PepsiCo. Inc. (PEP) Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) General Mills Inc. (GIS) , Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC) , Nestle SA, and Unilever NV (UN)

Hain Celestial has a variety of well-known brands beyond Terra chips, including Celestial Seasonings teas and Earth's Best Organic. It has dozens of products, including dairy and non-dairy foods, baby foods, frozen foods and deserts. The company says its goal is to be the leading marketer and maker of organic and natural better-for-you products.

Welling's fund accumulated shares betweenMay 1 and June 28 at prices ranging from $32.12 a share to $36.89.

PepsiCo. is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells PEP? Learn more now.

Read more of today's top business news here.

View post:

An Activist Investor Wants to Take Control of Organic Food Pioneer Hain Celestial - TheStreet.com

The time is ripe for Jeff Bezos to work his business acumen on an area of the US food system thats been slowly growing for years: organic food. And with his purchase of Whole Foods Market earlier this month, hell have even more reason to try and convince US farmers to join him.

The meteoric growth of Whole Foods over the last several decades has been a testament to the growing popularity of natural and organic foods in America. The Organic Trade Association estimates those foods now account for 5% of total food sales, or $47 billion. Thats still a tiny sliver of food sales. But even before the Amazon acquisition, people in the industry were saying that number would jump to about 10% in coming years. Now that Amazonwith a much broader consumer base than Whole Foodshas officially picked up the natural-and organic-foods mantle, previous growth estimates might actually be conservative.

But theres a problem for Bezos if he wants to make organic food as ubiquitous as an Amazon-branded delivery box. As demand for organic fruits and vegetables has grown, the number of acres used to farm those crops has remained about the same.

One of the reasons is that its particularly onerous for farmers to switch from conventional farming techniques to organic. The government requires they create a three-year plan for how they will transition to accommodate more rigorous standards. The idea is that it takes about three years for conventional soil to contain the nutrient levels needed for organic certification. Organic crops must be rotated, and farmers must follow stricter standards for pest management and erosion control, among other things.

During that three-year transition period, farmers essentially go through the motions required for growing organic foods, but they have to sell it as conventional food at conventional prices. But if Amazon manages to give more people cheaper access to organic foods, there will be an incentive to push more farmers to go through that process, says Maggie Monast, a sustainable sourcing expert at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Most people have computers but they might not have access to a Whole Foods, Monast tells Quartz. But if this acquisition does increase demand for organic, there will be serious challenges in terms of scaling up.

For now, the US has relied on importing organic vegetables and fruits from other countries to make up the differencesomething some experts remain dubious about (paywall) when there are instances of imports of so-called organic corn and soy from China, for example, that have been found to be fraudulent.

Can Bezos overcome the challenges of producing more organic food the way that he overcame the books trade and then pretty much every bricks-and-mortar retailer? Well find out soon enough.

Excerpt from:

Amazon's new grocery venture gives Jeff Bezos his greatest challengecreating enough organic food - Quartz

PAOLI -- Ken and Sherrie Ruegsegger opened the 700-square-foot Paoli Local Foods as a way to sell and market the meat and vegetables grown on their farm near New Glarus.

Since 2007, the business at 6895 Paoli Road, now known as Paoli Cafe & Grocery, has expanded to 5,000 square feet and in 2012 included the addition of a cafe where the offerings have included sandwiches made with meat curated from local producers, stuffed green peppers with wild rice and quiche made with a Swiss chard, kale and goat feta cheese.

Ken Ruegsegger packs cartons with chicken eggs in between waiting on customers at Paoli Grocery & Cafe. Ruegsegger's farm near New Glarus is home to 35 ducks and 400 laying hens.

Customers routinely stop in to purchase duck and chicken eggs and bicyclists have made the store and cafe a regular stop but the business in downtown Paoli is closing, not due to a lack of business, but because of a divorce. Friday is the last day of business for the cafe, while the store will remain open through Wednesday. An auction is tentatively set for July 13.

"It's been an awesome journey," Ken Ruegsegger said. "I get to grow the food, cook the food. ... It's really sad that I have to leave but I'm trying to do the work of three people, and it's not working."

Paoli Grocery & Cafe offers a wide range of organic and natural products but is closing after 10 years of business.

The grocery store became known for its wide range of locally raised products including grass-fed Angus beef, chicken, turkey, organic produce, homemade jams, pickles, wild gathered items and organic compost from the family farm that Ken's father, Albert, purchased in 1958. Ken took over what is now a 140-acre operation in 1980.

The store also helps support about 80 local producers and has been one of the staples of Paoli, an artisan community along the Sugar River just south of Verona. Other businesses in the hamlet founded in 1856 include Paoli Schoolhouse Shops & Cafe; Cluck, The Chicken Store that sells backyard chicken supplies and art; Paoli Pub & Grill, Zazen Gallery, Hop Garden and Paoli Bread & Brat Haus.

Carol Torregrossa of Verona carries a carton of duck and chicken eggs purchased from Ken Ruegsegger. Torregrossa said she likes the taste of the eggs from Ruegsegger's poultry. "His stuff you can count on it all being good," she said.

But the loss of the business will leave a sizable retail space empty at the corner of Ridge Trail and Paoli Road and be one less outlet for organic produce, meats and locally produced foods, although Ruegsegger plans to continue selling products from his farm through his website, his delivery service and at the Dane County Farmers' Market.

He has 3,500 subscribers to his newsletter and the number continues to grow. On Thursday, he was busy packing eggs from his farm into cartons in between waiting on customers at the deli counter. He has 35 ducks and 400 laying hens. The soy-free duck eggs sell for $10 a dozen and the soy-free chicken eggs for $6 a dozen.

"I sell out. I can't keep up," Ruegsegger said of the demand for his eggs.

A basket of soy-free chicken and duck eggs gathered from Ken Ruegsegger's farm wait to be packed in cartons. The duck eggs are more white and larger than the chicken eggs.

In 2008, the Ruegseggers were nominated by the local chapter of Slow Food Wisconsin to represent the state at the Slow Food Nation festival in San Francisco and were nominated for a Dane County small-business award.

Among the items that are part of the store's liquidation are 300 free-range, soy-free chickens that were just recently butchered and pastured, and soy-free pork. The sale also includes jams and jellies, pickles, salsas, cheese, Kombucha, granola and bulk grains and pasta. All restaurant and store equipment is being sold, including a walk-in freezer and walk-in cooler, shelving and cooking and baking equipment.

Ken Ruegsegger rolls a cart topped with 30 dozen chicken eggs out of his Paoli Grocery & Cafe. These eggs were purchased by a vendor who plans to sell them at a farmers' market in the Milwaukee suburb of Elm Grove.

Ken Ruegsegger said his wife has been gone from the business for nearly two years and he only has a few part-time people working at the farm and the cafe and grocery operation. There is little free time for Ruegsegger but it also has been his life.

"It's insane but you know what? I've enjoyed every minute of it," Ruegsegger said. "I love what I do, I love the people, I love the food. I've learned so much and I've helped so many people. It was just an incredible experience, but there will be a transition period."

See the original post:

'It's been an awesome journey,' but Paoli Cafe & Grocery to close - Madison.com

Ever wonder what your body is going through when you deliberately shut it down for 10 to 20 minutes during a nice, solid bout of meditation?

Believe me, you're not alone, girl.

Those deep breathing exercises you're instructed to do during meditation aren't just for show.

As you sit still and demand your mind to calm the f*ck down, your psyche is actually undergoing some major positive changes.

Here are five things that happen to your brain not before or after, but exactly while you're meditating.

Cortisol is a hormone your body releases when you're stressed, so if your cortisol levels are low, that means you are #TooBlessedToBeStressed.

Astudy published by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health involved 30 medical students who had their blood tested to measure their cortisol levels before meditation.

After four days of mindful meditation, their blood levels were checked again. The findings revealedthat the average level of cortisol significantly lowered post-meditation.

When you're meditating, your brain produces theta and alpha waves.

Theta waves usually occur when you are in your deepest phase of dreamless sleep.

Alpha waves occur when your mind is in an idle state, like when you're daydreaming.

This means that, though you are awake, meditation induces brain activity that happens when you are either in your most relaxed state, or when you are sleeping.

That is honestly beyond incredible.

Like, think about it: Even though you're technicallyawake, your brain is so ridiculously relaxed, it produces activity as if ityou're freaking asleep.

I'm sorry, but you cannot tell me meditation is nota gift sent down from the heavens.

After all of that, you are in an ultimate relaxed state.

This is basically what people mean when they say that they feel zen.

You feel light, and free from worry you feel happy.

And you can thank good ol' dopamine for those positive vibes.

Dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, is released into the body during pleasurable situations.

Meditation, my friend, is indeed, a very pleasurable situation.

The gray matter in your brain is located in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is crucial for learning and memory.

Gray mattercan also be found in other parts of the brain associated with self-awareness, compassion, and reflection.

In a 2009 study published in the journal NeuroImage, Eileen Luders, a researcher in the Department of Neurology at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, compared the brains of 22 meditators and 22 non-meditators of the same age.

Her results showed that the meditators had more gray matter in regions of the brain that are imperative for attention, emotion regulation, and mental flexibility.

Increased gray matter is needed to ensure that the brain is efficiently processing information.

Luders believes that the increased gray matter in the meditators' brains should make them better at controlling their attention, managing their emotions, and making mindful choices.

It's safe to say, with all of that goodness listed, as you wipe your mental slate clean, your brain is literally re-configuring it self.

Your cortisol levels are lowering, gray matter is increasing, and alpha and theta waves are flowing.

Honestly, your brain sounds like a kickass, naturally high work of art.

So continue breathing in deep, and exhaling anything that doesn't serve you.

Your mind is undergoing a major glow-up!

#NewBrainWhoDis?

Subscribe to Elite Daily's official newsletter, The Edge, for more stories you don't want to miss.

Imani Brammer is a writer, on-air talent and YouTuber, where she produces videos on how to navigate the nuances of adulthood. Subscribe to her channel at YouTube.com/ImaniBrammer.

Read this article:

This Is What's Actually Happening Inside Your Body When You're Meditating - Elite Daily

CRYSTAL LAKE The McHenry County College Continuing Education Department is offering students two classes next month to teach individuals self-defense and how to reduce stress.

In the Womens Self Defense class, participants will be taught awareness and how to protect themselves. The course is designed for beginners. Participants are asked to wear comfortable pants and a T-shirt.

The self-defense class costs $29, and will be from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. July 13 in the MCC Gym, Room A107. When registering, use course code NHE S09 002.

MCC also is offering a class called Meditation for Stress Reduction and Concentration to teach participants methods for stress reduction. The instructor will teach participants daily meditation practices such as mantra meditation and loving kindness meditation.

The meditation class costs $25, and will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 13 at Yoga Seva, 407C E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. When registering, use course code: NHE S68 003.

To register for either course, call the MCC Registration Office at 815-455-8588. For information, call Renee Erling at 815-455-8759.

Continued here:

MCC to offer self-defense class for women; meditation course - Northwest Herald

Futurism only supports companiesthat we trust. Aura Premiumis one of those companies. We may collect a share of the sales from the items featured on this page. Sign up for Aura Premium here. A New Way to Think

Mindful meditation is becoming an increasingly popular tool, one that people use to manage both their emotional and mental health. The practice is,in essence, the art of not reactingthe art of finding inner stillness through the use of external stillness. Its taking the time to close your eyes, turn your focus inward, and put all of your energy into just breathing.

Its an incredibly simple practice that doesnt take much time at all, and it is incredibly helpful. Ina study published in Clinical Psychology Review,researchers at Boston University and Harvard Medical School found that the technique helps alleviateanxiety and allows individuals to better cope with stressfulsituations. Similarly, in a study fromFrontiers in Psychology, researchers found that individuals who meditate have more gray matter volume in their brains than those that do not.

Yet, only 18 million Americans report their participation. Unfortunately, the reality for many overworked Americans is that relaxation is a luxury. Indeed, 92 % of the country still hasnt caught onto the trend. Its a surprising statistic considering the fact that meditation has been proven to increase concentration, decrease anxiety, and even help to preserve the aging brain.

Over the last few years, there have been a variety of apps that have aimed to close the gap between people who make time for meditation and the people who dont know how to fit it into their lives. And while many of the apps that have hit the market have effective qualities, few are as impressive and progressive asAura Premiumthe app created by meditation teachers and therapists that actually gets to know you, so it can help you better.

The AI-infused app is programmed to take post-session feedback information and use it to become a dynamic tool that assists with your mental health. Each time you use the app, it creates more pathways for you to get better at finding your zen.

And while anyone whos into mindful meditation will appreciate the app for its relaxation enhancers, its most appealing for people who are new to meditation and need guidance. All users need is three minutes a day to practice, though you can also choose 7 and 10-minute meditation durations as well.

The app is mostly geared towards helping its users get into a better headspace through exercises, breathing routines, and key spoken wordsthough it also has the ability to track users moods to help them see patterns and form connections.

Aura is essentially like having a portable guide in your pocket. And its been so successful in helping its users find inner peace, it was rated the best new app for February 2017 with thousands of nearly perfect ratings. For $59.99 on StackSocial, you can get a lifetime subscription to the app and start your journeyto better mental health.

Read the original:

There's A New Way to Use Meditation to Reshape Your Brain - Futurism