Happy Labor Day!

Last Friday, Hurricane Earl landed in North Carolina and caused minimal damage. With Tropical Storms Fiona and Gaston directly behind Earl and a tropical storm in the Eastern Pacific, it seems to me we are entering the height of hurricane season. Since the season does not end until November, it's good to be prepared in case a tropical storm or hurricane heads your way.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has many resources on how to mitigate damages and prepare for hurricanes. They also have guides on what you should do during an evacuation and after a hurricane. If you are like me, you probably watch the local news to get your hurricane updates, but remember you can get information from the original source.

The National Weather Service website frequently updates information on hurricanes. You should also keep an eye on government social media. Last week, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) flew a DC-8 through Hurricane Earl and described what it was like on Twitter.

Are you prepared for hurricanes and tropical storms? 

My friend’s 6-year-old daughter wanted to be Bobby Flay one morning and created a new snack: tomato with yogurt and sprinkles. I love the fact that this little girl got an idea in her head and created a brand new snack all on her own. Hey producers of The Next Food Network Star – she is one to watch!

Six years old is a great time to start teaching kids to cook, but you could start even younger. MyPyramid.gov has a great section for preschoolers. They have suggestions on different activities that 2- to 5-year-olds can do in the kitchen.

Give kids small jobs to do. Moms and dads, we could always give up something from our to-do list. Remind your kids that all great chefs wash their hands and thank them for being so helpful. The more kids help with preparing a meal, the less likely they are to reject the food.

My son likes to help make mac and cheese from the box – ok, so it’s not real cheese. He likes to pour the pasta in the water, stir and mix in the powder cheese. It makes him feel grown up and it shows him the importance of a family meal.

Remember food should be fun! There are plenty of kid-friendly recipes online. What are your favorite kid-friendly meals?

Lee la versión en español

We’re trying something new here at GovGab – once a month, I'll review a recipe from the government. Think Julie and Julia. Our first recipe is from FDA's Office of Women's Health: Diabetes Recipe Cards (also available in Spanish). You can order this free recipe and other recipes online from the Federal Citizen Information Center.

Recipe: Grilled Shrimp with Pasta and Pineapple Salsa

I made a few tweaks:

• I bought fresh pineapple, already cut instead of canned.
• I used half of a green pepper instead of 1 jalapeno pepper.
• I bought fresh, deveined shrimp; I just had to peel them so it saved me time. You can also buy a package of frozen shrimp already peeled and deveined; thaw it out according to the directions on the package.
• I bought whole wheat rotini pasta to make it a little healthier. I cooked it according to the package.

Cooking experience:

I don’t own an outdoor grill, so I used an indoor grill pan, sprayed with cooking oil. I set the burner to medium-high.

This recipe required a lot of chopping, so I probably would make this on the weekend unless I pre-chopped everything beforehand. I also used a mini-chop to dice the onions - less tears for me.

It took me about an hour from start to finish. Maybe if my knife skills were better, it would’ve saved me time.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Me: "It’s a nice light dish. I definitely would make it again. You could also substitute the pasta with romaine lettuce for a nice salad."

Husband: "This dish would not be out of place at a seaside resort, say Hawaii. It has a great aroma and combination of sweet and crunchy. It’s tricky to get good balance with the pasta. The shrimp holds up well as a leftover."

Son: "Mmm...yummy!" (picked out and ate the pasta only).

So GovGab readers – wanna try this recipe out? Try it with the jalapeno pepper! If you do, let us know what you think and leave a comment on this post.

Read this blog post in English

En GovGab vamos a intentar algo nuevo. Una vez al mes yo voy a probar, tipo Julie y Julia, una receta del Gobierno. Encontré nuestra primera receta en las tarjetas de recetas de la diabetes que publica la Oficina de la Salud de las Mujeres de la FDA (también disponible en inglés). Usted puede ordenar gratis esta y otras recetas del Centro Federal de Información para el Público.

Receta: Camarones a la parrilla con pasta y salsa de piña

Hice algunos cambios:

• Compré piña fresca cortada en rodajas en lugar de enlatada.
• Usé la mitad de un pimiento verde en vez de un chile jalapeño.
• Compré camarones frescos desvenados. Yo solo tuve que pelarlos, lo que me ahorró tiempo. También se puede comprar un paquete de camarones congelados que ya vienen desvenados y pelados. Siga las instrucciones para descongelar el paquete.
• Decidí comprar pasta rotini integral para que sea un poco más saludable y la cociné siguiendo las instrucciones del paquete.

Mi experiencia cocinando:

Yo no tengo una parrilla al aire libre, así que usé una sartén plancha que rocié con aceite. Puse la hornilla a temperatura media-alta.

Esta receta requiere que uno pique muchos ingredientes, así que probablemente la volvería a hacer durante un fin de semana a menos que ya haya picado todo de antemano. También usé una picadora para la cebolla y me ahorré algunas lágrimas.

Me tomó cerca de una hora de principio a fin. Tal vez si fuera más hábil con el cuchillo, me hubiera ahorrado tiempo.

Calificación: 4 sobre 5

Yo: "Es un plato ligero y agradable. Definitivamente lo volvería a hacer de nuevo. También podría sustituir la pasta con lechuga romana para hacer una buena ensalada."

Esposo: "Este plato no estaría fuera de lugar en un balneario, por ejemplo Hawái. Tiene un gran aroma y la combinación de dulce y crujiente. Es difícil conseguir un buen equilibrio con la pasta. El camarón también se defiende solo".

Hijo: "¡Qué rico!" (Él se limitó a separar y comer solo la pasta).

Lectores de GovGab, ¿quieren probar esta receta? Pruébenla con el chile jalapeño. Si se deciden a prepararla, díganos lo que piensa y déjenos un comentario a continuación.

When I was in high school and college I almost always had a part-time job. I worked at the mall, in department stores, sold shoes, lifeguarded, and did some office work in an academic office on campus. I always avoided being a waitress. I’m so clumsy that I would have surely dropped a tray of drinks in someone’s lap.

All of these jobs lined my pockets with a little extra cash, but it was really that job in the academic office in college that was something that gave me the skills and experience I needed to enter the workforce. And who would guess that it was a federal work study job that would get me started? The university got the money to pay me through a federal grant program.

Students looking for a job have a lot of options. I wish I knew about all these different programs when I was in school.

If you’re looking for a paying position like I had at the university, talk to the people in your financial aid office. They know where the work study jobs are. If you want to branch out a bit, I recommend looking at the student jobs section of usajobs.gov, the official source for federal government jobs.

Internships are also a great place to gain experience, and sometimes they pay too. There are many internship opportunities with government and non-government organizations.

And if you’re really not in it for the money, think about volunteer opportunities like Job Corps or Peace Corps that offer rich life experiences.

What was your favorite student job? I think the one that I really liked the most was teaching swimming lessons.

Every week we receive many calls at the National Contact Center from people looking to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission because they have a  problem with a cell phone, internet and/or cable company. 

 I was happy to see that the FCC launched their Consumer Help Center earlier this month. The new website's FCC consumer complaint form will be very helpful for our callers and the public but the FCC created the website to help people get the best value out of their phone, TV and internet services.

You can watch the video I posted in this blog to learn more about the site, but I wanted to highlight some features. If you are confused with advertisements about broadband speed,  the new page has a resource to figure out what you need and you can even test your current broadband speed. My favorite section is the one on "bill shock," which happens when you get a bill with unexpected charges. Here you can learn how to avoid it and see how the FCC is taking steps to prevent it.

What do you think of the FCC's Consumer Help Center?

From time to time, I like to eat only foods that are orange. It was something I started in college. I know it sounds odd, but this just happens to be my only odd habit. The rest of the time, I am completely normal.

Recently it was orange food day for me, so I was at the grocery store buying my cheese doodles, orange soda, boxed macaroni and cheese, and carrots. As I was waiting in line, there was a mother in front of me with her little girl and she was teaching her daughter how to make a purchase. It brought memories back to me of my own mom doing the same with me.

I am sure everyone has a recollection of learning about money: how to estimate how much money is needed for a purchase; figuring out what change you should get back; and how to save for that coveted action figure, comic book, or, in my case, an “Easy-Bake Oven”. Who doesn’t remember having a piggy bank or a jar for saving money for those “I have to have it, or I will simply die” moments of our youth?

Kids today have more money than ever to spend on snacks, clothing, and games/toys. One website that I visited states that more than 10 million--40 percent of the Nation's children and youths between ages 10 and 18--receive regular allowances or handouts from their parents or guardians, averaging $50 per week. I found that statistic surprising. As a kid, I considered myself lucky when my parents raised my allowance to a dollar. With that kind of cash in the hands of kids today, it is even more important that they learn from a young age how to handle money.

Here are some great resources to help parents get their kids started on the right foot when it comes to good financial habits:

• Talking to Your Kids About Money
• Kids.gov Money Section
• Financial Literacy Activities and Lesson Plans for Teachers
• Money Management for Teens
• Teaching Kids to Manage Money

How are you teaching your kids about being financially responsible?

How many bureaucrats does it take to fill Colleen’s shoes? Three.  We’ve created a team of bloggers to keep you informed. I'm Marietta and I’ll be writing for you every other Wednesday and my colleagues Arlene and Carolyn will be sharing useful tidbits on the other Wednesdays. Think of us as your Wednesday variety pack. 

As a child I was very fortunate to have a family who celebrated my achievements and supported my dreams. From being a fashion designer to the next Oprah Winfrey, and every career in between, my aunts and older cousins were always in my corner.

Unfortunately, not all young people have a solid emotional support system to encourage them. That’s why I’m considering becoming a mentor. Mentors offer support and friendship to young people by encouraging and nourishing mentees’ interests and strengths. Mentoring doesn’t take the place of parenting, but draws from your personal experiences to offer a positive example in mentees’ lives.

There are many formal mentoring programs throughout the country, including one of the most popular, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters. Many mentoring programs are based in schools and local non-profit organizations. One particularly interesting mentoring initiative is Health and Human Services’ Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program. Children of prisoners are often the forgotten victims of crime, but this agency partners with community organizations to ensure that these children can build healthy relationships with adults and avoid negative influences.

You can enjoy a variety of activities with your mentee, such as attending sporting events, movies, tutoring in academic subjects, or teaching them new hobbies. However I’ve found that the most memorable times with mentors are during one-on-one chats. Aside from a criminal background check and training, there are no rules for who can be a mentor. You don't have to fit a certain mold, however some characteristics that are helpful include:

• Being accessible
• Ability to empathize
• Being a good listener

If you have time to mentor, I encourage you to join me; you’ll never know how much it will mean to them (and you) in the years to come.

Tell us about your experiences with mentoring.

Did your kids start school yet? Mine start next Monday, and I know that the other 76 million students in this country will be heading back to school soon, if they’re not in the classroom already.

Back to school time is exciting and busy for students, parents, and teachers alike. If you’re a teacher looking for a lesson plan, you should know that there are great, free educational resources available from the government.  

Parents, I know you’re gearing up to pack lunches, teaching your kids how to be safe on the school bus, and preparing to battle the inevitable colds and illnesses that your kids will bring home from school. I’m ready for the bus, and I’m ready to nurse the colds, but my daughter is starting kindergarten this year, and is an unbelievably picky eater. Lunch is a major concern for me. Any great ideas for how to pack for the picky?

If you have a credit card or two (and I've been known to have many more than two), you might be interested in knowing about some recent changes designed to protect you from certain credit card fees and rate increases. They're part of the provisions of the Credit Card Act's amendments to Regulation Z (Truth in Lending).

Yesterday the latest set of rules for credit card companies was issued. Essentially, if you are late making your minimum payment, your credit card company can't charge you a fee of more than $25 unless:

• one of your last six payments was late (in which case your fee may be up to $35), or

• your credit card company can show that the costs it incurs as a result of late payments justify a higher fee.

In addition, your credit card company can't charge a late payment fee that is greater than your minimum payment. So if your minimum payment is $20, your late payment fee can't be more than $20. Similarly, if you exceed your credit limit by $5, you can't be charged an over-the-limit fee of more than $5.

Other recent changes include:

• Your credit card company can't charge you inactivity fees, such as fees for not using your card.

• Your credit card company can't charge you more than one fee for a single event or transaction that violates your cardholder agreement. For example, you can't be charged more than one fee for a single late payment.

• If your credit card company increases your card's Annual Percentage Rate (APR), it must tell you why.

• If your credit card company increases your APR, it must re-evaluate that rate increase every six months. If appropriate, it must reduce your rate within 45 days after completing the evaluation.

Interested in reading about the first set of rules for credit card companies that came out in February? See the Federal Reserve's What You Need to Know: New Credit Card Rules Effective Feb. 22, or visit the FAQ at USA.gov.

What do you think about the new credit card regulations?

When I was a teen, I was aware of kids who smoked, drank, or did pot, but that really was outside of my little world and it didn’t touch me. Today, there are so many more opportunities and a wider variety of drugs available that kids could encounter. The good news is that statistics show a decrease in drug use among teens. Despite this good news, we know that there will be kids out there who will get sucked into abusing drugs.

Helping teens steer clear of these dangers (anabolic steroids, ecstasy, inhalants, marijuana, prescription drug abuse, stimulants, and tobacco addiction) can be a difficult thing. NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse is a good source for information and can help teens get the real deal behind the hype. The site delivers science-based facts about how drugs affect the brain and body so that kids will be armed with better information to make healthy decisions.

One of the features of the site is the Sara Bellum Blog. It is written by a team of NIDA scientists, science writers, and public health analysts of all ages. It is written to share the latest scientific research and news with teens in a manner that is not preachy. Visitors can leave blog comments and vote on how useful the various blogs are.  It gives teens a way to communicate their thoughts about drugs

Teens need to be educated about the dangers of various drugs in order to make good decisions. It’s not enough to tell them to just “Say No,” they need to know why they are saying no.  They need to know the affects of drugs and the possible outcomes if they decide to take a drug, especially if they become addicted. The Sara Bellum blog is just one more tool in the arsenal to fight drug abuse… pass it on.

Carolyn Cihelka is the editor of the Consumer Information Catalog and the writer/editor of the FedInfo enewsletter. 

I’d always been too cheap to buy organic, and in too much of a hurry to give my fruits and veggies more than a quick rinse, so I was horrified recently when, as the mother of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I read about an article in a respected medical journal indicating a possible tie between pesticides on produce and ADHD.

It was particularly upsetting because I’d always felt good about feeding my kids lots of fresh fruit, even if other parts of their diet weren’t necessarily the healthiest. While the article states there’s no evidence that pesticides can actually cause ADHD, it clearly encourages reducing exposure to the chemicals.

The Environmental Protection Agency has been enforcing limits on pesticides in “kids’ foods” for over a decade, and has been requiring additional studies to better understand the effects of pesticides on kids specifically. The EPA encourages healthy, sensible food practices which include washing produce thoroughly under running water and peeling fruits and veggies. 

While I can, and have, started following fresh produce safety guidelines,  I don’t load up my shopping basket with strawberries, blueberries and blackberries—my kids’ favorites—the way I used to.  Berries are thin-skinned, and among the produce most likely to absorb pesticides. Now, I buy a couple of boxes of organic berries, and choose watermelon, pineapple and other fruits with thick rinds that are less likely to absorb the bad stuff.