Dear Heloise: After seeing entire bags of chips, etc., vanish at one sitting with nothing left for school lunches, I tried something new. I took the store-bought bag, got out some small plastic bags and filled them according to the one-serving information on the bag. I took all the bags I made and put them back into the original bag.

They don't get dirty on the outside, and my snacks last a lot longer because people stop after one serving.

-- Mary P., Roseville, Calif.

Dear Heloise: Avoid having melting ice cubes watering down a drink. Make ice from the drink mix you are consuming. This works wonderfully and is a favorite with my whole family.

-- Francis Thorne-Coley, San Antonio