Salmon can be a heart-healthy food to add to your diet. But not all salmon fillets are the same; some can contain high levels of chemicals, metals and other contaminants. When shopping for salmon, look for “wild-caught Alaskan” salmon over “farm-raised.” Scientists recently found that wild salmon had low levels of contaminants and higher levels of heart-healthy omega-3s versus farm-raised. Plus, tough Alaskan regulations make wild-caught salmon a more sustainable choice.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

The next time you squeeze lemons, grab a vegetable peeler and make a few lemon skin peels. They act as a natural preservative for a number of food items. Does your brown sugar get rock-hard in storage? Adding a lemon peel or two to the bag will keep the sugar soft and pliable. Even olive oil (which has a shelf life of around six months) will stay fresh longer if you add a lemon peel to the bottle. The peel gives the oil a subtle lemon flavor, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A lot of outdoor potted plants can’t be brought indoors to protect them from the harsh, cold winter months. When you leave your potted plants to fend for themselves, give them a little extra security using bubble wrap. Wrap the pots with a few layers of bubble wrap and use tough shipping tape to secure it in place. The air pockets act as insulation and will help keep the pots from cracking, and the wrap will also help protect the pots from things like snow shovels. Remove the bubble wrap in the spring and watch your plants come to life.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION