Feature Channels: Winter Holidays

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Heartburn does not have to be on the menu along with turkey and dressing this holiday season.

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This holiday season consumers are thinking small. So small, in fact, that the space under the Christmas tree may appear a bit empty for some on Christmas morning. However, market researchers are seeing an ongoing trend of quality over quantity, and this holiday season looks to continue that trend.

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As the public flips its calendars from October to November, December remains only one thin calendar page away, which means movie studios begin rolling out their holiday releases within the next several weeks. The question of whether or not these new Yuletide pictures will ever match up to the classics of old remains to be seen, but some films have a better chance than others, based on a number of factors.

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A traditional holiday meal could be on the menu for you if you make some slight modifications to cut back on fat and sodium, and add more vegetables and whole grains. U-M nutrition experts say doing so will not only make a delicious meal, but also save the typical person a staggering 50 to 60 grams of fat intake on Thanksgiving.

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With the ease of credit card purchases, online shopping, 'no payments until 2009' and the like, it is SOOOO EASY! for individuals and families to get into real 'hot water' by overextending themselves with their purchases of holiday gifts. A University of Kentucky professor, co-author of the book Personal Finance, presents practical advice to avoid holiday debt.

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University of Kentucky admissions and scholarship representatives offer insider tips on writing the most effective college admission essays.

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Have your holidays become more pain than pleasure? If so, take some time to recoup your sanity and make the holiday season the joyous time is was meant to be for you and your family.

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1) Nutrition: Ways to Watch Your Waistline at the Holidays; 2) Holiday Food Tips for People with Diabetes; 3) Skin Needs "Winterizing" to Head Off Damage; 4) Winners on Super Bowl Sunday Can Include Dieters; 5) Does Food Make You Sexy "“ Fact Or Fiction?

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This year IEEE Spectrum recommends gifts for geeks of every age and price range.

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When traveling long distances this holiday season, take heed of the dangers of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition that can result in stroke, organ damage or even death.

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The National Center for Family Literacy is teaming up with three partners to provide reading and safety items -- holiday gifts that will be the perfect fit this season. In addition, NCFL offers tips to find the right book for the child in your life "“ one that will instill a lifelong love of reading.

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Social media sites like MySpace are used increasingly as safe havens for grieving teenagers and are truly helpful during times of the year, like the holiday season, when grieving process is especially difficult.

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At Sandia National Laboratories autumn triggers Sandia's Christmas story "” the Shoes for Kids Program. What began as a holiday gift exchange between two scientists 51 years ago has become a tradition. Instead of giving gifts or cards to each other, they spent the money to benefit little children who needed shoes.

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The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, but kids and adults can often be tempted to overindulge. To ensure children have a healthy holiday, Brenner Children's Hospital offers the following tips.

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The holiday retail shopping season is here, and that means retailers across the country will be hiring extra retail workers to staff up for the holiday season. Hiring the right type of people is critical -- bad hires are bad for business.

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Winter is the season for holidays, resolutions, big games and other traditions. Several Central Michigan University faculty and staff experts are available to comment on a variety of seasonal topics.

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The holiday season is sneaking up on us, but as candle-lit festivities begin and the mercury drops, the number of burn accidents"”particularly ones involving children"”begins to escalate.

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The recent withdrawal of over-the-counter cold medicines for children under 2 leaves many pediatricians and parents relieved, but the question remains: What should distressed parents do when their baby is sick on the eve of yet another flu season?

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The holidays are here - and for many, stress will be an unwelcome guest. University of Maryland psychology lecturer, Dr. Thomas Capo, says that holiday stress can be conquered by following some common sense tips that aim to help body, mind and pocketbook. "Your quality of life need not be diminished because of holiday stress," he says.

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Eat, drink, be merry and break some old and possibly dangerous food handling habits this holiday season with these tips from the American Dietetic Association.

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Story ideas about holiday traditions, folklore, gifts, and retail.

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Magazine subscriptions make great gifts for the kids during the holidays, especially if the giver and receiver don't live close to each other. National Wildlife Federation's Ranger Rick turns kids on to everything wild! Latest issue featured pink-toed tarantulas.

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While New Year's resolutions around the country focus on diets and exercise, in Western New York, home of the chicken wing, the trendy resolution is starting a small business.

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Seasonal story ideas from Saint Louis University. Experts are available to discuss a variety of topics from holiday heart attacks, to how to treat dry skin and properly cook a turkey.

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Halloween itself is wearing a mask, an ancient year-end spiritual ritual disguised as Spider-Man, says Gettysburg College sociology professor Charles Emmons. "Halloween has gone through two major transformations since its beginning at least 3,000 years ago as an ancient European folk festival to a Christian folk festival and now a modern, pop culture holiday," said Emmons.

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On the Midwest's foremost winter-driving track, drivers learn how to stay out of trouble on snow and ice.

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This flu season, schools around the country continue to make efforts to prevent the spread of the influenza virus and keep students healthy. Children are particularly vulnerable to catching the flu and the close quarters of the classroom further add to the spread of the illness. There are many methods to combat the transmission of the flu virus in schools and school nurses play a important role in this effort.

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Comprehensive feature story with tips for preparing a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

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Armed with long underwear, handwarmers and lots and lots imagination, students carve out fantastic snow-and-ice dioramas for the annual Winter Carnival.

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One of the nation's leading economists -- James F. Smith of Western Carolina University -- is predicting record retail sales this holiday shopping season.

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Dr. Howard Turney of UALR's School of Social Work and a practicing family therapist urges divorced parents to set aside their own problems with ex-spouses and ease tensions children of divorce can experience during holidays.

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Western Carolina University child psychologist Bruce Henderson discusses the pros and cons of parental encouragement of the Santa Claus traditions.

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Don't believe in Santa Claus? If you're skeptical of Santa's abilities to deliver presents to millions of homes and children in just one night, North Carolina State University's Dr. Larry Silverberg, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, can explain the plausible science and engineering principles that could allow the Jolly Old Elf to pull off the magical feat year after year.

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While many associate the holidays with Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and its theme of sharing the holiday spirit, E. Christine Moll, PhD, notes that the holidays can also be a time of stress, loneliness and anxiety. Says Moll, the opening lines from "A Tale of Two Cities" may have even more relevance: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the season of light, it was the season of darkness...

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Shoveling snow is no different than any other physical activity. It is important to warm up and stretch according to Dr. Susan Wainwright, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. She also warns that older adults who aren't physically active can tax their cardiovascular system when they start to shovel and this can result in heart attacks.

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As the weather turns colder, dry skin becomes a common problem for most people. Most lotions and creams contain one or both of the following agents−an oily agent and a watery agent said Jeff Moore, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. A little background on the make-up of skin creams would make selecting the right cream easier.

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The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

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The onset of winter cold and flu season combined with colder, short days unfortunately all contribute to increased asthma symptoms for many children. People remain inside this time of year plus indoor air quality becomes poor, while colds move through families, schools and communities.

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Sometimes "less is more" when it comes to placating disgruntled holiday customers, say Tulane University researchers in the A.B. Freeman School of Business, and it all depends on whether the customer is an optimist or pessimist.

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As the holiday season kicks off, UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business is offering several experts to talk about a variety of topics, including last-minute shopping, giving experiences as gifts, avoiding hidden charges, and heating habits.

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As Baby Boomers visit their childhood homes over the holidays, they may find themselves facing unexpected concerns about the health and well being of Mom or Dad.

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Tulane University researchers found that heavy drinking -- more than 21 drinks per week -- may increase the risk of stroke.

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Smoking cigarettes causes cancer and increases the risk of cardiovascular and other diseases, but there's even more bad news for men who smoke. They have an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED), and the more cigarettes smoked, the greater the risk, according to a study by Tulane University researchers published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

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1) Advice for how to prevent injuries during winter skiing vacations; 2) Winter travel to exotic places.

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SU professors Barbara Fiese and Robert Thompson comment on the new and old traditions of the holiday season.

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Pennsylvania Hospital nutrition counselor, Debra DeMille, M.S., R.D. offers the following healthy eating tips to ensure a merry holiday season.

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What ailed Scrooge's little friend, Tiny Tim? This medical mystery may forever go unanswered, but one Pennsylvania physician has some suggestions on what may have been Tiny Tim's medical situation.

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Indiana University health, wellness and wine experts discuss holiday gifts that promote wellness during work hours, wine tasting tips, exercise and alcohol considerations and a holiday survival guide for college students and their parents.

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The approaching holidays may be merrier than expected for retailers. Despite a troubled housing market and higher gas prices, Florida consumers say they intend to spend more this season than they did last year, a new University of Florida survey shows.

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This New Year, make the resolution to spice up your health "“ literally. By adding spices like basil, oregano, garlic and rosemary to your diet, you can fight cancer, lower blood pressure and even maintain a healthy weight.