Seven Top Animal Symbols Used By Company Name Generators
January 26, 2012 | 
Author Company name generators keep up with modern social trends. From the blockbuster movie “March of the Penguins” to a political critique through the eyes of lions called “Pride of Baghdad”, animals are taking over our social consciousness.
We tend to view the natural world as having symbols and meanings far beyond what we can understand at our human level. As such, company name generators has subconsciously assigned meanings to certain animals that help us understand what people are trying to say when they use the specific wildlife to describe their business. Here is the top seven animal symbols image consultants use:
1. Wolf – Wolves stand alone above the other predators of the desert. They are independent, strong and smart. They don’t need anyone else and rely on the instincts to get things done. A wolf is confident, vibrant and solid. Whether its brand names such as Wolf Brand Chili or the famous Timberwolf Lodge; wolves add a lot to our professional market place and the usage is popular among company name generators.
2. Bee – You would not ordinarily think that company name generators would think an insect that can sting you as a positive thing; however bees have an important place in our cultural psyche as a symbol of busy behavior and work ethic. We think of bees as tireless workers, gathering pollen, making honey and protecting the hive. That kind of activity is something we admire. Examples are found in local childcare facilities such as “Busy Bee Daycare” or “Bumble Bee Candy”.
3. Eagle – The Eagle is the national symbol of pride, nobility and powerful presence. It carries with it a symbol of patriotism and freedom as well as amazing beauty and self reliance. For company name generators, the Eagle remains one of the most well used animal symbols in America on everything from football teams to American Eagle outfitters (an outdoors store). Eagle brand milk, and Eagle tires are even more examples of this strong animal symbol.
4. Fox – Known for its cunning and ingenuity, Company name generators often use the fox to show a company or business than can get things done in an assertive or creative way. Although the fox symbolism runs the risk of people thinking of the idea of “sneaky”, most people find them to have the ability to creatively assert themselves and find intelligent solutions. Fox News, Fox Bakery and even the internet server Foxfire all illustrate the point.
5. Owl – Anyone who has watched Winnie the Pooh or Harry Potter knows that owls are revered for their wisdom, patience and the amazing capability to stay up late. From coffee shop’s called “Night Owl’s” to the many company mascots that use an owl as part of the packing, owls are a favorite among company name generator when promoting a business that helps people be steady, wise and patient with the challenges ahead.
6. Cow – Perhaps it reflects this countries’ amazing relationship with dairy products, but cows have been used by company name generators as spokes-animals and mascot for years. They bring of the image of America’s heartland, with purity, goodness and quality all a part of the symbols with people relate to them. People see cows as gentle, generous and solid so they respond to businesses and products with confidence and ease. “Brown Cow Chocolate Milk”, “Top Cow Comic Books”, and “Purple Cow Book Publishers are just a few of the hundreds of business names to utilize this docile farm animal.
7. Dogs – from Dog the Bounty Hunter to “Top Dog Appliances”, man’s best friend is by far one of the most popular animal symbols used by company name generators. People think of dogs as being friendly, loyal, loving and energetic. Dogs can help human beings through service or make their lives better through a woof and a tail wag. It’s now wonder so many of our businesses use dogs as name sake. From the “Stray Dog Bar and Grill” to “Black Dog Carwash” people use the image of the dog in many ways to convey their expertise and meaning.
Not every business is suited to use an animal symbol as part of its name. However, wise company name generators have found that when an animal name, mascot or logo can be used the turn out is positive as people relate to the best qualities in animals and want to think the businesses they patronize have them too.
Eat a Smart Breakfast to Lose Belly Fat Quickly
Growing up, you always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Yet, too often you only rely on a strong cup of coffee to get you moving in the morning. You may think that you are cutting calories by not eating breakfast. Men and women make up for skipping the meal by unconsciously snacking and overeating later in the day. Too often, folks who rely on two large meals a day end up growing obese. Perhaps that will change once you realize just how important a healthy breakfast is for losing weight quickly.
When you drag your body out of bed every morning, your body is hungry. It has not eaten a thing in approximately 8 hours. While you were getting some shout-eye, your metabolism slowed down enough to prevent you from waking up from a growling stomach in the middle of the night. This is why you need to fuel your body every morning and wake up your metabolism.
Doctors recommend eating a healthy breakfast within the first 30 minutes after you wake up to burn the most fat possible. The meal should contain plenty of fiber and lean protein. You also need to start keeping your blood sugar levels stable at the beginning of each day to stay fully energized and burn more calories. Despite what the TV commercials tell you, you should do your best to avoid sweetened breakfast cereals when trying to lose weight quickly. Even if the cereals flaunt cute mascots of the box, all of their flour or grain will cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to go through the roof. Milk does nothing good for your insulin either. If you really require some, choose to drink low-fat milk. Meanwhile, all of the fructose sugar in orange juice will raise your insulin levels as well.
Rather than feeding your belly a fattening dish for breakfast, there are better options to help you slim down your physique. To start, you can enjoy two or three eggs. Egg whites are the best for your belly, as well as for your heart. While spices are okay, do not sprinkle any cheese on top of your eggs for flavoring. A cup of oatmeal is always a wise decision. Any colorful fruits and vegetables are good choices, as their high water content will only help any of your weight loss efforts. Consuming 1 or 2 cups of spinach is ideal. Black beans are another fabulous side on your breakfast plate. When it comes to bacon and sausage, opt for nitrate free turkey meat. Avoid foods that are made with little water, such as fattening bagels. One bagel has the same number of calories as five pieces of bread. If you are in a hurry, simply grab a cup of low-fat yogurt.
Wash everything down with water in order to help fill up your tummy, while flushing out your entire body. If water is simply too boring for your taste, you can drink green tea to avoid calories. However, if you cannot start your day without a cup of coffee, only drink black coffee, steering clear of the calories found in milk and sugar. Once you start each day with a healthy breakfast to lose belly fat, it is all downhill from there.
Expat Life in Sri Lanka, Colombo
I recently visited the wonderful island of Sri Lanka, and found a country full of surprises.
Sri Lanka is situated just south of India, in the Indian Ocean. Once known as the Dominium of Ceylon and often referred to as the tea country, tea plantations abundantly thrive across the island, with spice gardens, banana and coconut palms growing randomly to create a jungle of natural resources.
People, animals and transport seem to co-exist side by side with no animosity towards each other. Dogs wonder aimlessly across or bask in the sun at the side of roads, cows and goats roam around everywhere, even on the beaches (which I found rather amusing) and people are everywhere, whether walking, cycling, using a tuc-tuc, motorbike with 5 astride, in a taxi, bus, car or truck, each takes up a space of the not too wide road. But co-exist they do, there is no anger at being stuck behind a truck, merely a short hooting of the horn to say I am here and would like to pass, politeness abounds and the expression and sounds are all of friendliness, within a country that sorely needs help at redeveloping itself since the tsunami. People are poor and yet happiness is everywhere…. Not just for the child on the hip or the person at their side, but for expats and tourists as well.
Tourists fluctuate towards the resorts and some chance the areas slightly outside of these areas, to experience a quieter less harassed holiday. Small pockets of expats can be found, dotted all over the country. When you bump into these people and chat about life on the island, there is not much to complain about. Yes, sometimes the water gets turned off or the electricity, yes the internet is not as fast as they would like it to be. Isn’t that how most people feel in developed countries anyway: The faster it gets the faster we want it. In this little piece of paradise, expats are not too concerned that it takes a little longer to do things here, the people are prepared to wait, not too hasty to move forward too quickly. There was a lot of talk and concern about the elections and safety within the country and there are still road blockades and police / army personnel with guns wandering around keeping peace if necessary. However, with 70% of the population being Buddhists, the lifestyle is peaceful and life simplistic.
From an expat perspective, I could not fault the lifestyle. As said above, yes there are definite things missing, things are slower, it takes a good 4 – 6 hours to get from Colombo to Galle and similarly to anywhere about 200km’s apart. I cannot say that the roads are particularly in good condition, but in the 10 days that I visited, I did not see one accident. Hardships could include the lack of being able to get from one part of the island to another quickly, the lack of fast internet connection, perhaps the human waste / refuse, which allows for the influx of flies, the dirt which is left to lie around and lastly the lack of funds to rebuild the country to what it was before the Tsunami.
Having said that, I have to look at all the good things that you find there, the beauty of the natural resources, how the nationals and expats are trying to rebuild the country, the beaches, game parks and mountains. This is truly a beautiful part of the world.
Expat Cost of living summary
The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee LKR
The Exchange rate as at 15 January 2010 was $1 = 114.217 Rupees
I am going to break the Cost of living down according to some of the basket items:
Alcohol and Tobacco: Alcohol at Bar, Beer, Cigarettes, Locally Produced Spirit, Whiskey, Wine
Cigarettes (20s) – $3.14 to $9
Domestic Beer(500ml) – $2.50
Imported Beer (330ml) – $5.80
Wine at a bar – $6 a glass
Wine at a shop – $15 (750ml bottle)
Hotels tend to increase the prices of alcohol as it is the one way that they can make a profit. There are many small hotels and restaurants which create a competitive edge to where you can stay.
Clothing: Business Suits, Casual Clothing, Children’s Clothing and footwear, Coats and hats, Evening Wear, Shoe Repairs, Underwear
Casual Long Sleeved Shirt (Men) – $12
Casual Long Sleeved Trousers (Men) – $20
Shorts (Men) – $11
T-Shirt (Men) – $6
Casual Blouse (Women) – $7
Casual Skirt (Women) – $12
Children’s Jeans (Boys) – $5
Children’s Jeans (Girls) – $3.50
Children’s Shirt(Boys) – $5
Children’s Shirt(Girls) – $4
Clothes are extremely cheap, in Colombo a person can get most of the name branded clothing at fairly reasonable prices in Factory shops.
Communication: Home Telephone Rental and Call Charges, Internet Connection and service provider fees, Mobile / Cellular Phone Contract and Calls
Monthly phone rental – $4.36
Phone call rate – $0.05 for a local call
Internet line connection fee – $104 (buy all equipment with installation)
Internet service provider fee – $17 (1 geg free thereafter)
Monthly mobile contract fee – $2.18 (for the year)
Mobile / cellular call rate – 90% of phones are prepaid,
Mobile Phone 100 Minutes Call – $38
- $0.012 – $0.05 sms peak times
Due to so many of the nationals working overseas to send money home, the communication costs are extremely low and there are often special deals or no cost is involved in the actual call.
Education: Creche / Pre-School Fees, High School / College Fees, Primary School Fees, Tertiary Study Fees
Annual Creche fee – $4.36 per month
Annual Primary school fee – $260 – $436 per month
Annual High School fee – $260 – $436 per month
Annual 1st Year Tertiary / University fee – $260 to $436 per month (dependent on which
private school they go to)
Private schooling is the most expensive on the island for expat children to attend, however the rates in comparison to other countries are reasonable. Expats that I came across spoke highly of the education system in the country and were happy with the private education that their children were receiving.
Furniture and Appliances: DVD Player, Fridge Freezer, Iron, Kettle, Toaster, microwave, Light Bulbs, Television, Vacuum Cleaner, Washing Machine
DVD Player – $87
Fridge / Freezer – $489 (LG / Whirlpool – 4 year guarantee)
Iron – $12 cheap to $35 top of the range
Kettle – $20 cheap to $37 top of the range
Microwave – $191
TV 21 inch – $244 (2 year guarantee)
Washing Machine LG – $570
Discounts can be negotiated with stores on all items
Groceries bought in a grocery store: Baby Consumables, Baked Goods, Baking, Canned Foods, Cheese, Cleaning Products, Dairy, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Fruit Juices, Frozen, Meat, Oil & Vinegars, Pet Food, Pre-Prepared Meals, Sauces, Seafood, Snacks, Soft Drinks, Spices & Herbs
Powdered baby formula (400g) – $7
Plain biscuits (100g) – $0.20
Loaf white bread (200g) – $0.70
Cake Flour (1kg) – $2.80
Baked Beans (415g) – $1.92
Tuna (185g) – $2.75
Cheese: Cheddar (250g) – $6.63
Crisps: Pringles (139g) – $2.50
Autowash clothing powder (750g) – $1.57
Dishwash liquid (500g) – $0.87
Clothing Softener (2l) – $5.40
Breakfast Cereal (250g) – $2.45
Butter (227g) – $2.18
Milk (1l) – $1.40
Eggs (12) – $1.80
Orange Juice (1l) – $2.80
Frozen Mixed Vegetables (1kg) – $6.20
Cooking oil (1l) – $3.22
Olive oil (500ml) – $8.28
Can of cola (355ml) – $1.00
Local Fizzy Soft Drink (1l) – $1.30
Local Natural Mineral Water (5l) – $1.08
Tea Bags (200g) – $1.85
Instant Coffee (100g) – $6.75
Local Ground Coffee (200g) – $3.66
Salt (400g) – $0.26
Pepper (400g) – $0.35
Prices were obtained from local grocery stores, there are no big department stores to shop in.
Healthcare: General Practitioner Consultation rates, Hospital Private Ward Daily, Rate, Non-Prescription Medicine, Private Medical Insurance / Medical Aid Contributions
GP Private rate visit with meds – $3.50
Hospital Private ward rates – $28 per day
Dentistry – Tooth extraction – $4.35
Most expats use Bupa or the Sri Lankan Equivalent
Household: House / Flat Mortgage, House / Flat Rental, Household Electricity Consumption, Household Gas / Fuel Consumption, Household Water Consumption, Local Property Rates / Taxes / Levies
Rent 2 bed Apartment City Centre – $700
Rent 2 bed Apartment outside of City Centre – $600
Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage per – $80 to $90 per month for an average
household, this is expensive when taking household
air conditioning into account
Gas / Fuel – 12 ½ kg bottle – $14
Local property Rates – 8 to 10% of value of property
Expats cannot buy a property directly, this has to be done via a Lawyer who owns the property. Mortgage for locals is 4/5%. This is where most expats find the costs creep in, running the air conditioners is extremely expensive as well as the cost of water.
Miscellaneous: Domestic Help, Dry Cleaning, Linen, Office Supplies, Newspapers and Magazines, Postage Stamps
Domestic Rates – full time per person – $80 average
1 Black inkjet printer cartridge – $14
1 Color inkjet printer cartridge – $21
500 sheets printer paper – $5.23
Local Daily Newspaper – $0.17
International Daily Newspaper – $0.45
International Magazine – $20
International Airmail Stamps – $0.22
Domestic Stamps – $0.12
Domestic help is cheap and most employees either live on the property or close by. Office supplies are reasonable, with CD’s and DVD’s freely available on the street where most locals buy them.
Personal Care: Cosmetics, Haircare, Moisturiser / Sun Block, Nappies, Pain Relief Tablets, Toilet Paper, Toothpaste, Soap / Shampoo / Conditioner
Body lotion (400ml) Vaseline Intensive car – $4.53
Toilet paper 1 ply per roll – $0.50
Toothpaste (200g) – $1.92
Shampoo (200ml) – $2.40
Some of the items that can be purchased can be expensive, like creams, sunblocks and cosmetic creams. Name brand products are the most expensive.
Recreation and Culture: Books, Camera Film, Cinema Ticket, DVD and CD’s, Sports goods, Theatre Ticket
Books paper back – $10
Cinema ticket – $0.50
DVD / CD Imported – $2
Cricket ticket – $0.50 to $8
Theatre Ticket – only in Colombo – $30
Hard cover books are expensive in the country, but paper back books are of a similar cost to the US and UK. Cinema tickets are cheap due to the availability of cheap DVD replicas which can be bought on street corners. International cricket tickets are also kept cheap for the local population.
Restaurants / Meals out / Hotels: Business Dinner, Dinner at Restaurant (non fast food), Hotel Rates, Take Away Drinks & Snacks (fast Food)
Business Dinner excl Alcohol – $22 per person
Dinner / lunch at local restaurant – $8 per person
McDonalds Big Mac – $4.10
Hotel Rates 3* – $8 to $50 pppn
Hotel Rates 4* – $80 to $120 pppn
Hotel Rates 5* – $140 pppn upwards
Take away – Can of cola x 1 – $0.70
Medium pizza – $3.50
Hamburger – $2.00
Coffee – pot x 3 cups – $1.40
As in most countries how much you pay for a meal is dependent on where you go, the local restaurants have great local meals, as well as international flavours, we found a fabulous vegetarian restaurant in Galle, well worth a visit and all prices were fairly cheap. Some restaurants do take advantage of the tourist population and serve sub standard meals. However, most restaurants were good with their portions and meal plans.
Transport: Hire Purchase / Lease of Vehicle, Petrol / Diesel, Public Transport, Service Maintenance, Tyres, Vehicle Insurance, Vehicle Purchase
Hire / Lease car – Sedan Toyota Corolla – $37.14 per day for 1 week
Hire / Lease car – Toyota RAV4 – $46.71 per day for 1 week
Petrol unleaded per litre – $1.23
Diesel per litre – $0.64
Bus Ticket (one way) – $1.00
Taxi Ride – per km – $0.50
Tuc Tuc – 10 km ride – $6.00
Train Ticket 2nd class – $1.57
If you are visiting I would suggest you use the local taxis and tuc-tucs, driving can be a head-ache and unpleasant experience if you are not used to the local norms. However, speeds do not go over 80km on the bigger roads and overall a safe place to drive.
The above detail are some of the items form the basis of the cost of living indexes for each basket group in the Xpatulator calculators, these costs are then used with their indexes and exchange rates to calculate the cost of living in different locations.
For more information on Sri Lanka read more at www.xpatulator.com/outside.cfm.
How Serious Is It To Have Your Gallbladder Removed?
The gallbladder is a small sac located between the stomach and liver, which stores the bile secreted by the liver in order to deliver it to the small intestines when you eat. This bile helps in the digestion of fat. Typically a person has their gallbladder removed when it becomes diseased due to the formation of stones or cysts. Some 10%-15% of the adult population in the U.S. has gallstones, but only a small percentage of these patients develop them to such a size or extent that they cause a problem or even make the person aware of them. There may also be inflammation that leads to the blockage of the ducts in this area. This surgery is typically minor in nature with few complications. Most patients return home that day or the next, and can return to work and normal activities almost immediately.
When the gallbladder is removed this bile secreted by the liver can no longer be stored and delivered during meal times, and flows right into the intestines whenever it is produced. This means that there is still that necessary bile in the intestines but the amount is now being controlled the way it would be if the gallbladder were still present. Without a gallbladder you can still digest fat and rarely need to make adjustments to your diet that include a low-fat or nonfat diet.
As a matter of fact, the one common side effect to this surgery is recurring diarrhea, which occurs in about 10% of patients. This happens because the surge of bile that a gallbladder delivers when one eats helps to control how quickly the food is digested and sent through the system. Without the proper delivery of bile, the food moves too fast through the system and this causes diarrhea. Of course, if any patient suffers from diarrhea after having a gallbladder removed, he or she needs to make sure to slow down while eating and to keep himself or herself properly hydrated.
Most gallbladder removal surgeries today are being done laparoscopically, meaning that rather than cut the patient open enough for the surgeon to see what he or she is doing, smaller incisions are made so that a tiny camera can be inserted into the patient which gives the surgeon visual access. The gallbladder is cut away and removed through these small incisions, as is the laparoscopic equipment and the incisions then closed. This means less risk of bleeding and other complications.
Having your gallbladder removed is typically a very routine procedure and nothing that any patient should be concerned with. It rarely interferes with one’s normal routine and can serve to protect your health in the long run.
If you are having problems after gall bladder surgery you should always talk with a nutritionist, or someone who is educated in this field and will be able to give you the best advice here. You should consider avoiding chocolate, ice cream, eggs, red meat, milk, coffee, nuts, beans, pork, onion, chicken, milk, oranges, grapefruit, corn, hydrogenated oils, saturated fats, fried foods and margarine.
Nutrition is the most important aspect when it comes to dealing with gall bladder symptoms, it is important that you get an adequate amount of exercise into your regular life, and even if this means that you just take a walk around the block a couple of times when you have some free time.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
I’m Going Gluten-Free – What Can I Eat?
Good question.
It would be easier to say what you can’t eat!
But the question is, what can you eat. So let’s start there.
Well, for a start, obviously you can eat meat, poultry and game. That’s unprocessed meat. Avoid burgers, sausages, grill steaks and similar items, as they almost always contain filler which is wheat based (though the highest quality may be gluten free – check the label for anything like wheat, flour, starch, and in particular monosodium glutamate).
If you like gravy, ketchup or sauce with your meat, take care. These products are almost always made with flour. Gravy granules and powders might be thickened with cornstarch, because it mixes with boiling water more quickly than wheat flour, but you do need to check, particularly with the cheaper varieties. Soy sauce (except for the gluten free variety) is also off the menu, because the soy beans are fermented with wheat.
Next on the list: fruit, raw or cooked, but without thickened sauces (custard may be ok, check the label to make sure any thickening is either corn or egg based). You can also have cream, but not if it’s squirty cream containing starch to thicken it.
Vegetables are usually pretty safe. Potatoes, green vegetables and roots are almost always served without any thickening added. Again, if it’s a processed product, check the label! Watch out for coatings and fillers in frozen potato products. If you use packet mash, read the label carefully, best go for the top quality brands.
Salad prepared by your own sweet hands is great. Prepared salads are also fine, so long as you don’t use any dressing packed with it, unless you first check the label to make sure there is no wheat flour, unspecified starch or monosodium glutamate in it. Dressings you buy to put on your salad need to be checked as well. Good quality mayonnaise should be fine – Hellman’s for example – but be careful of low fat varieties of anything, as thickener is often added to make up for the lost viscosity of the oil they removed, and this is usually based on some variant of flour.
Milk, cheese and yogurt should be fine – but again, be careful of the low fat varieties, for the reasons already mentioned. Also, don’t buy grated cheese, unless you see the deli grate it in front of you, as the pre-packaged variety is coated in – you guessed it – flour.
You can eat gluten-free bread and cakes, but these are mostly ridiculously expensive, and not very nice. A good substitute are Corn Thins from Real Foods Pty, an Australian company. They have a page on their site listing stockists around the world, including major supermarket chains. Alternatively, if you don’t mind eating food that squeaks, you can eat rice cakes. Kallo do a chocolate coated rice cake that is probably very nice, but as I do object to my food squeaking, I haven’t tried them.
As far as takeouts go, you can eat Indian food, but not the breads and chapatis. Poppadoms are fine, though. You need to check that they don’t use any thickening in their food (apart from chickpea or lentil flour), or ask them to make you a version without.
Another takeout style that you can go for is Chinese – no noodles, apart from rice noodles (sometimes called Singapore hot noodles), and ask them to leave out the “taste powder” (monosodium glutamate). I’m afraid fortune cookies are off the menu as well, although there’s nothing to stop you reading the contents and throwing the cookie away! Like I said earlier, soy sauce must be the gluten free variety, so get them to leave it out and add it yourself at home.
All drinks except for whiskey, beer, and malted drinks like Ovaltine, Milo and Horlicks should be fine, but avoid the cheaper varieties of instant coffee, as flour is sometimes used as a filler.
So there you are, a pretty good selection of gluten-free foods you can eat to your heart’s content.
Starting a Coffee Shop – Equipment Needs
So you have decided on starting a coffee shop! Congratulations! In my coffee shop business plan package, I go into more detail regarding equipment but due to space here, I am only going to give you some basic ideas of what to consider when looking at your equipment needs.
First of all, do yourself a favor and DO NOT buy any used equipment unless you know the exact age, where it came from, who used it, and that maintenance records are verifiable. I am only referring to anything with a motor or compressor. Used sinks, tables, counters, etc are fine as long as they are in decent shape. All other equipment, be VERY careful!
Even if you get it from a friend, you might be assured by them that the equipment was maintained properly and often, however did they get it used and can they get that guarantee from whom they bought it from? And how old really is it?
As you may have guessed, I fell into this trap and had things breaking down when I did not expect it shortly after I opened my coffee shop. Yes even my espresso machine. I was in a bad spot then! Luckily I had access to a one group machine for backup and a local guy was able to fix the other fast but you may not be as lucky.
I eventually upgraded to mostly new equipment when, but this can be avoided by getting new equipment at the start. You will be glad you did it, trust me!
Equipment Needs
Cash register or POS computer? – A computer POS (point of sale) system is good there is no doubt about it. These are the ones that have the touch screen monitors and such. However, they are probably (and arguably) best for analyzing your sales and inventory only, and not much more. They do not speed up your customer line.
If you want one of these guys, be prepared to pay about $5000 for a base system. The price goes up for multiple terminals and printers, monitors, a kitchen printer, etc.
In my opinion though, a POS fast food register that has price look ups (PLU) and department categories is sufficient for most coffee shops. Try to get one that allows you to download the information to your computer. Most have this feature today. It may, however increase your manual inventory and sales tracking if you have to put this info into your accounting software and spreadsheets manually but it can be a big money saver. If you get in the habit of entering the figures daily, you will not have a huge amount of data entry to do at month’s end. You can usually get these types of registers for about $800 or so.
If you end up opening other stores, I think the touch screen computer POS may be the way to go then because it will make your management and inventory control much easier, and you can link all of your stores together and control them from one place.
Espresso Machine
This is the Mack daddy of the whole business, your life blood. DO NOT SKIMP ON IT! However, having said that there is the line of overkill you do not need to cross either. I say, two group maximum, if you need more power or want a backup, get a one group as well.
The feasibility of a three or four group is great but it’s difficult to get more than one person working on them due to spacing of the group heads, etc. Ordinarily, you do not need more than one person pulling shots and making the espresso beverages anyway. It is almost impossible for one barista to use all four groups at one time so you be the judge! However that may be up to debate if you get REALLY busy. However, a two group is always my choice.
There are three basic types of espresso machines: Semi-Automatic, Automatic or Super Automatic. Well My choice is always the automatic because you can program them to cut off a shot at 23 seconds, or whatever you choose but still do it manually. The semi-automatic requires manual shut off by the operator.
The super automatic machine will grind the beans, tamp, pull the shot, shut it off and even discard the used grounds. Yes, I am serious. I believe you lose a lot of ‘art’ when you use one of these. You’d be surprised at the amount of people that love to see a barista set up and then pull a great shot. These super autos are also big bucks. But if all you want to do is move your cattle call through the line, this is the machine for you!
The boiler capacity should be large enough for a big rush, 9-14 liters should be sufficient. You do not want to run out of steam or hot water in a rush and with a smaller boiler that will happen! Trust me on this from experience!
Buy a machine based on the availability to get parts and service locally. Do not buy based on price alone, or ‘coolness’ or ‘features’ of a machine. They are all good these days. Features will not mean anything if you cannot get local service on your machine.
As far as water softeners, the choice to get a whole water system softener is going to depend on where you are located. In central Texas, the water is VERY hard but I chose to not soften my whole water system, just for the espresso machine. If you are not familiar with hard water, this is what causes lime build-up. It’s a white, crusty looking build up that will kill your $5000 or 10,000 espresso machine. It clogs up the piping that in time, builds up to the point of the water not being able to get through. Then your machine needs to be completely taken apart and de-limed. Not pretty and not cheap!
You will most likely have to have a complete de-liming performed several times over the life of your machine, however if your water is very hard and you do not soften it for your espresso machine, you will most likely have to have it de-limed at a minimum of once per year. This will get time-consuming and expensive, even if you learn to do it yourself. I had my one group de-limed for about $900 so do the math. Avoid lime scale build-up by getting a water softener.
Espresso Grinders
You will need one for decaf and one for regular espresso. There are several manufacturers and models. I will tell you though to be sure it’s automatic and has a doser/coffee hopper. They make a doserless model that grinds right into the portafilter and though this is freshly ground espresso, it does not work well in a rush! The units with a hopper allow the hopper to fill with ground espresso and have a lid to keep out the air. The bigger units have a bigger hopper and vice versa. Also, these have a bean hopper that you can get about 2 lbs of espresso beans in.
Bulk Coffee Grinder
These are the types you see in the food store bulk coffee aisle. Be sure to get the full scale version, not the shorter one. The only difference I can see is the taller one is easier to get a bag under to grind beans for customers. The shorter one is not! Try to have one grinder for regular and decaf, and another for flavored coffee if you will serve it. Using the same for all three will make the regular and decaf coffee taste like the flavored coffee. This grinder will need proper maintenance and burr replacement after so many hours as well. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on this.
Coffee Maker (drip)
Be sure to buy for your volume. Automatics are best as they are plumbed to a water line. Pour over units will you need to fill manually! The air pot brewers are the better fits because they brew the coffee directly into the air pots. There are single unit models and double unit models. You will save a lot of time especially in a rush, with a double brew unit.
Pastry Case (refrigerated and non)
There are several different sizes. Take your floor space into consideration but also buy for capacity and visual display. A nice, attractive unit that holds and displays a nice array of pastries is key for merchandising. Dual zone cases are a good idea because they let you have part cold, and part room temperature (dry case) pastries that do not need to be refrigerated.
Blender
There are several models to choose from but some have features you just won’t need. Be sure to get a commercial blender. Consumer units do not have the heavy duty types of motors that commercial units have. That means they will break down a lot faster than a commercial one! I would suggest you give Vitamix a look here.
Sandwich Prep Unit
These come in single, double and triple door units. Of course, plan for your overall room but your needs as well. The larger units have more capacity inside the unit, but the bigger plus is the prep top area that has more compartments to put meats, vegetables, etc in. If you are planning on a regular deli and Panini service, I would say the double door unit would be good. You may even get away with the smaller one!
Under Counter Refrigerator
Do yourself a favor and get a double door unit. These are basically like the sandwich prep units but without the top compartments. The inside capacity should be big enough to hold a good portion of your dairy, as well as opened soy cartons, smoothie mix, bottled water and soda (if you do not have a larger unit or merchandiser for water and soda. Plan accordingly.
Storage Refrigerator
This is for the back of your shop. This will be your commercial refrigerator in the back area to house your back stock of refrigerated items such as milk, as well as your baking ingredients, food items, etc. There are double and single door units.
Ice Maker
Getting an ice maker that can make an average of 600-1000 lbs per day is good. It will give you enough and still be able to make more within 24 hours. In a busy shop, you’d be surprised how much ice you can go through: sodas, fruit smoothies, frappes, frozen chai.
Freezer
You will need one of these to keep your ice cream, and other food ingredients that can and need to be frozen.
Oven
Get this based on your baking level. A 1/4 size may be too small and a full size may be too big. The median unit is a 1/2 size and has 3 racks.
Convection oven? Most pastries, pies and other baking can be done well in a convection oven. That is an oven that has a blower wheel that disperses the heat evenly and faster throughout the oven. Therefore your baking time is usually cut in half.
Panini Grill
Cast iron (non-ceramic) with ribbed plates are the better units. With the ribbed, rather than flat plates you will get the ‘grill marks’ on the bread and that always looks impressive. I recommend a double plate unit so you can effectively grill up to four Panini at once if you have a large order.
Three Compartment Sink
This will be essential per most health departments for wash, rinse and sanitize. If you have a commercial dishwasher, it usually overrides the 3 bay sink. However, most restaurants have both. You don’t need a big one, just one big enough to get your biggest ‘washable’ piece of baking or cooking hardware into.
Hand Sink(s)
Check your health department requirements because you may need a hand sink every so many feet or based on how many employees you have, or based on your floor plan. These are sinks only big enough to wash your hands in and that is it. That is why they are so small.
Furniture
Pick and choose what is in between comfortable and not. This will help you avoid squatters that love to stay all day. Ordinarily, people in your store is a good thing but not if they are taking up space and just being comfy! This will include your tables and chairs, as well as couch, wing hairs, etc. If you are an eclectic coffee house, good finds can be had at Goodwill and other resale shops.
Phone
Just get one that you can hear when it rings! A cordless phone is a great idea.
Radio System
If u can, get extra speakers and have one in at least all four corners for best sound quality.
Credit Card Machine
This is the swiper w/pin pad – If you accept credit and debit cards, this is essential. Usually they are purchased from your credit card processor. Leasing one of these is usually a rip-off. Try to buy it outright.
Prep Tables
These are stainless steel or aluminum and great to make a kitchen prep area. They clean easily too. They come in various heights and widths, with or without a backsplash and usually have a shelf underneath.
So there you have some information to get you started on planning your equipment needs for staring a coffee shop. Be sure you take your floor space into account when figuring the sizes of your equipment. Also be sure you account for your anticipated customer volume. Early planning is key to having the right equipment to begin with.
Coffee Varieties
It used to be that we had very little choice when it came to coffee varieties. Basically, you could choose regular or instant, with only a few brands of each available. In the last decade, however, coffee lovers around the world have been delighted by the increase in varieties available. These days, it’s not unusual to find multiple varieties of coffee with more brands than you ever thought possible.
Today, some of the most popular varieties of coffee hail from different regions around the globe and each one has its devoted fans who believe it to be the best. The varieties are determined by the region in which they are grown and the length of time the beans are roasted.
One of the most popular varieties today is Kona coffee, which is made from beans grown in Hawaii. This coffee is generally an aromatic medium blend, with a hint of sweetness. For those who prefer their coffee to be a dark blend with a much stronger flavor, the coffee made from beans grown on the island of Sumatra is a favorite of many. A more exotic choice is coffee made from the Tanzanian Peaberry, which grows on the southern slope of Mt. Kilimanjaro. This particular coffee features a light body and a high level of acidity. Of course, no description of coffee varieties would be complete without mentioning Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. One of the most sought-after and expensive coffees in the world, it is made from beans grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. This coffee is renowned for its smooth flavor and low acidity levels.
Regardless of your personal preference, today it is easier than ever to find just the right variety of coffee to suit your taste buds.
10 Raw Foods and Drinks That Help Treat Asthma
One of the most common disease that affect people from all ages is asthma. Asthma basically targets the air passages which are responsible for bringing oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the lungs. When asthma attacks, the interior walls of these airways become swollen, thus, making it hard for a person to breathe. This swelling or inflammation is more likely caused by free radicals and allergens that a person may have inhaled.
Asthma can cause serious discomfort. If you have asthma, you will know how difficult it is to deal with this kind of recurring respiratory disease. The worst thing about asthma is that is not completely curable. This means that once you have been diagnosed with this disease, it can accompany you through your whole life. Though asthma cannot be fully treated, you can do many ways to manage it.
There are many preventive measures that you can do in order to lessen asthma attacks. One of these measures is to have a balanced, healthy diet. The good thing is that there are various kinds of foods that can help you with your asthma problem. If you want to fight asthma, then you better add these raw foods and drinks that help treat asthma to your daily meal:
Honey is one of the greatest foods that you can find out there. It contains a lot of vitamins and minerals that can help boost your health. Honey is also rich in anti-oxidants and anti-bacterial contents which help ward off those allergens that may be causing the asthma attacks.
Garlic, onion and ginger are common household spices which are nutritionally rich. It is widely used as an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory agent. To reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks and other respiratory diseases, you should add garlic to your food recipes or eat it as is if you can take its raw taste.
Fish has plenty of natural oils such as Omega-3 fatty acids. This kind of oil is healthy and is a great anti-inflammatory agent. Consuming right amount of Omega-3 is good for the health, especially for the heart.
Fruits are delicious and highly nutritious. When you eat fruits, not only can you lessen asthma attacks, but you are making your body a whole lot healthier. If you are asthmatic, consider consuming lots of fruits, especially those rich in Vitamin C.
Green leafy vegetables can do your body good. The vitamins and minerals that you can get from eating this type of vegetable can help in regulating the flow of circulatory and respiratory systems. It also reduces inflammation caused by asthma attacks.
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene which is one kind of antioxidant that helps protect the body from free radicals. This beta-carotene, when converted to Vitamin A can also supply the body with benefits such as good eyesight.
Grains, beans and nuts contain a high magnesium levels which is a necessary element that helps lighten up asthmatic condition. So if you have asthma, maintain a high level of magnesium to help ward off severe attacks. Also remember that foods which undergo minimal process have high level of magnesium than processed foods.
Fresh green tea contains natural compounds that help improve different organs of the body. It works by widening the different passages in the body such as arteries, veins and even the airways. It has been widely used in calming asthma attacks.
Coffee can help in calming a person having an asthma attack. Although caffeine is not seen to be beneficial, it has a similar effect as the medical prescriptions taken by asthmatics.
Water keeps the body fluids flowing. It helps flush away dirt inside the body and lightens up mucus that block the airways. Remember to drink at least eight glasses of water every day to keep your body hydrated.
The best way to fight asthma is to keep your body at the best condition possible. If you consume these anti-asthma raw food and drinks, you can expect less asthma attacks and a more vigorous, healthier body.
Wheat Grinders – Types, Prices, Usage, Recommendations
If you are anything like me, the idea of buying, let alone actually USING a wheat grinder can be pretty intimidating. I am determined to accumulate a healthy-sized food storage and wheat is going to play a big role in that. I am also a fan of the mantra “store what you eat and eat what you store”. Thus it quickly became apparent to me that I needed to do some heavy duty research in order to uncover all the mysteries surrounding “wheat grinders” or “grain mills” as they are officially called. With the help of internet research, some hands on research at several neighbors’ houses, and multiple failed attempts in the kitchen, I have come up with a pretty good summary of what you need to know.
Types of Wheat Grinders
Manual Wheat Grinders
Pros
Inexpensive
Can be used with no power source
Small to store
Cons
SLOW to grind (mine took 6 minutes to grind one cup of flour)
Except for the very high-end models, you cannot grind a fine flour
Inconvenient (messy and hard to fit a large bowl underneath)
KitchenAid Attachments
Pros
Less expensive than an electric grinder
Small to store
Convenient to use and then mix bread in the same machine
Cons
I have heard from multiple sources that these units will BREAK your KitchenAid mixer
Not as fast at grinding as electric grinders
Electric Wheat Grinders
Pros
Grinds very fast
Useful for many types of grains, beans, nuts, etc.
Easy to select how coarse or fine to grind, and has a large range
Cons
Fairly expensive, even for the lower-end models
Must have a generator or battery pack to use with no electricity (unless you buy a high end model that comes with a manual crank)
A large appliance to store in your kitchen
Prices of Wheat Grinders
Manual Wheat Grinders
Low: $20-30 models will not grind flour, only coarse corn meal, etc. Not very useful.
Medium: $75-$175 is a good price range. Back to Basics Grain Mill is $75. It can grind fine enough for bread flour but not for very fine cake flour. Wonder Junior is higher-priced at $169 but it can grind into cake flour.
High: Up to $400 for the Country Living Grain Mill. It is quicker than other manual grinders and is able to grind a fine cake flour.
KitchenAid Attachments
$100-120, some may be used on any stand mixer.
Electric Wheat Grinders
Low: Under $200 for grinders such as the Blendtec Grain Mill. Its drawbacks are it is very noisy and cannot do very coarse grinds.
Medium: $200-$300 can get you a great grinder. The two most popular electric grinders are the WonderMill and the NutriMill. In my tests I found the WonderMill to be faster, quieter, cleaner, and easier to store. And priced at $239 it is even cheaper than the NutriMill which is $269.
High: Over $300 is an unnecessary amount to spend in my opinion. There are heavy duty models out there but you can get the job done with the mid-range models.
How To Use Wheat Grinders
Manual Wheat Grinders
Attach wheat grinder to your counter top
Place a bowl underneath
Pour the wheat in the funnel
Turn the crank (for a LONG time)
Wheat will filter into the bowl below
Electric Wheat Grinders
Select how fine or coarse you want to grind
Turn on the machine
Pour the wheat in the top
Wait for it to grind into flour (super fast)
Turn off the machine and pull out your canister of wheat
How To Use Fresh Ground Whole Wheat
Whole wheat bread can be delicious! I have gone through a lot of recipes trying to find the perfect balance of flavor, nutrition, texture, etc. for my wheat bread. Experiment with different recipes and types of wheat until you find what your family prefers. We liked using hard white wheat in a recipe that included gluten and oatmeal.
Pancakes even your kids will love! I took an IHOP corn cakes recipe and simply swapped all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour and it was amazing. My kids ate 3 each at one meal. They are delicious drizzled with honey over top.
Whole wheat oatmeal cookies you can’t resist. I haven’t tried any of these recipes yet but several of my friends said they prefer whole wheat cookies to regular cookies. Who wouldn’t want an excuse to make cookies, hey it’s rotating your food storage.
Much much more. I grind up a large Tupperware full of hard white wheat flour and store it in my freezer (it retains the nutrients that way). Whenever I do any baking I replace half or all of the flour called for with my whole wheat flour. If it is as good or better I add that recipe to my food storage recipe binder. It’s a great way to experiment until you find what works for you.
My Recommendations
Emergency-Only Usage
If you are planning to use your food storage and wheat grinder only if an emergency situation arises, it is not worth the expense and hassle of buying and storing an electric grinder. At a minimum you should get the Back to Basics Grain Mill but I would highly recommend splurging for the Wonder Junior.
Every-Day Usage
If you plan to “store what you eat and eat what you store” I highly recommend the WonderMill Grain Mill electric grinder. If you are not planning to find an alternative power source for an emergency situation, then eventually pick up a Back to Basics Grain Mill as well. The price of these two combined are still cheaper than high-end electric grinders that have a manual crank option, and the functionality of the WonderMill is better for frequent usage.
How to Lower Your Blood Sugar Without Medications
How to lower blood sugar without medications is the beginning of a new way of living. Most diet programs available today could be adapted to keeping your blood sugar in control. However, you must plan your calorie intake each day to match what your caregiver has prescribed for you whether it is 1200 calories or even 2000 calories depending on your body size, gender and activity level. So to get started let’s discuss implementing your sugar control diet.
Meal plan or meal planning is necessary to successfully control blood sugar while becoming healthy from what you eat. The first step is to plan your schedule for Meals. Optimal results are obtained by eating: Breakfast, a mid-morning snack, Lunch, an afternoon snack, Dinner and a “just before bedtime snack”. In other words 6 “meals” each day.
Healthy dieting must include foods in proportion from all the food groups: protein, fat, and carbohydrates. These food groups include most vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and beverages. Protein in small amounts in each and every meal and snack is required to make this sugar control diet work.
Protein is slower to digest, which keeps your metabolism working and helps prevent feeling hungry and deprived. Acceptable proteins include lean red meat, ideally no more that 3 oz.s. three times per week unbreaded fish, unbreaded chicken, raw nuts, eggs, cottage cheese and unsweetened (plain or flavored) yogurt can be used to satisfy your requirement for protein which should be 10% to 35% of your overall diet. Dried beans, nuts and seeds can be considered protein but are sometimes “incomplete” so must be eaten with other foods so care in portion and calories is advised.
Carbohydrates includes fruits, vegetables and grains.
Vegetables: Vegetables, especially raw vegetables are your friend. Raw green and red vegetables are unlimited. Eat as much as you want at any meal or snack. Some vegetables have the reputation for burning more calories than they provide especially Celery. Lettuce, Cabbage, Broccoli, are great “treats” when combined with a homemade yogurt dip flavored with zero calorie spices from your spice rack. Cooked vegetables regardless of color and yellow or orange vegetables and potatoes, rice, bread are in the measure category: 1/2 cup equals a serving or the equivalent of one slice of bread and must be calculated into your daily calorie allowance. The exception is corn creamed or whole kernel which is 1/3 cup. Some fun recipes are available at Cararta’s Facts including peanut butter celery sticks.
Fruits: Fruits include almost any fresh fruits or berries except for mango and bananas. No fruit juice…except as listed under beverages! Fresh means fresh so no canned, dried fruit. Can use frozen if no sugar added.
Grains: Some diets restrict bread, oatmeal, grits and rice however I often have a sandwich for lunch including two slices of bread, all you have to do is make sure to include these calories in your daily allowance and have a protein filling and you will be fine. The body needs a certain amount of carbohydrate for quick energy while waiting for the protein to digest. A small baked potato with 1 tablespoon of regular sour cream with dinner is fine. Again just keep track of what you eat!
Beverages: Water is great!. Unsweetened tea is fine. If you count the calories you can have fresh fruit juices no added sugar diluted with water…half water-half juice (grape is good) but count the calories! I love coffee, but found more than a cup per day seemed to slow down my weight loss. Your choice!
Not listed but important is fat. Every diet should include a certain small amount of fat. You can get this from lean red meat, oily fish, certain nuts, olive oil (salad dressing) canola oil…an amount daily equivalent to 3 pats of butter! Fat helps with sugar control as it’s digestion takes longer than carbohydrates so it helps maintain a level sugar rate with fewer spikes and lows. Forget the fake “butters” what is in them is worse than fat!
While on the food part of this program: I personally do not like “lite” fat free, reduced fat, sugar free or artificially sweetened anything. Besides their unpalatable taste, they often contain more calories than the original because of attempts to make them”taste”acceptable. It has become accepted that some of these altered foods can cause digestive problems (diarrhea when over consumed). Decide for yourself.
Final recommendation regarding the diet part of the control blood sugar plan. There are certain supplements and herbs that can help control blood sugar. Two that I use are Cinnamon and Chromium. Do your own research or talk to a nutritionist.
Exercise: Exercise is necessary to lose weight and control blood sugar and stop taking medications. Just like the scheduled meal plan, exercise should be on the “menu” every day. The easiest, least expensive and probably the best exercise is Walking. Walking uses your whole body, especially if you swing your arms when you walk. Thirty minutes a day or the equivalent is required. Riding a stationery bicycle if you can’t walk or don’t have a place to walk will meet your exercise requirements. If you can’t walk for 30 minutes, break it up into smaller amounts, gradually increasing until you can walk for 30 minutes.
Adhering to this diet will improve your life by improving your blood sugar level. If you are currently taking medications for your diabetes, keep a close check on your sugar levels and consult with your caregiver regarding adjustments to medications. Losing weight usually reduces blood sugar levels and leads to having more energy and less of that tired feeling common with uncontrolled diabetic blood sugar levels.
A footnote: If you are overweight or have close relatives with diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar, there is the possibility that using this diet will help prevent diabetes or delay the onset of diabetes.
Finally follow your scheduled eating times using the correct food combinations and do a little walking and you will soon know how to control blood sugar levels without medications!