You’ve never heard of National Doughnut Day? Yeah, me neither. However, it has been celebrated since 1938. In fact, it was started because of World War I. According to Wikipedia:

National Doughnut Day started in 1938 as a fund raiser for the Chicago Salvation Army. Their goal was to help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honor the Salvation Army “Lassies” of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers behind the front lines in France.

Soon after the US entrance into WWI in 1917, the Salvation Army sent a fact-finding mission to France. The mission concluded that “huts” that could serve baked goods, provide writing supplies and stamps, and provide a clothes-mending service, would serve the needs of US enlisted men.

Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme

Fast-forward to 2009, and you find yourself in the era of free donuts from Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts, the two biggest doughnut chains in the United States.

Today, the first Friday in June, National Doughnut Day, you can walk into a Krispy Kreme without a payday loan or any form of cash at all and get one free donut, no strings attached. If you were planning on buying coffee anyway, you might as well buy it from Dunkin Donuts because you will get a free donut with any beverage purchase.

History of the doughnut

Although everyone pretty much agrees that doughnuts are a delight, the origins of this pastry in the U.S. are somewhat controversial. According to Wikipedia:

Doughnuts have a disputed history. One theory suggests that doughnuts were introduced into North America by Dutch settlers, who were responsible for popularizing other American desserts, including cookies, apple pie, cream pie, and cobbler. This theory is bolstered by the fact that in the mid-19th century doughnuts were called olykoeks (”oily cakes”) by the Dutch. However, there is also archaeological evidence that the pastries were prepared by prehistoric Native Americans in the southwestern United States.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. first started giving away free donuts on National Doughnut Day in 2005. However, the company has been around in one form or another since the 1930s.

Krispy Kreme went through a slow, lengthy growth period. The franchise was started in the southeastern United States and only expanded to the rest of the country in the 1990s.

Dunkin Donuts

Dunkin Donuts was founded in 1951 in Massachusetts, and its headquarters is still in Massachusetts. However, the nationwide chain has locations all over the country, so head out for your free donuts and have a happy National Doughnut Day!

Your Perfect Body

Supermodel Marisa Miller

Most models claim that they don’t exercise or eat healthy food. For some models, this is true, and for others, it is not. The models from the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, however, say that they work out regularly and adhere to a strict diet weeks before the show. Don’t worry that viewers saw Marisa Miller chowing down on a Krispy Kreme backstage in the hair and makeup room. Regardless, it is undeniable that models were born beautiful and born thin. You too, were born beautiful and born with a certain body type. You may not be able to strut your stuff on the catwalk or change your body type, but there are steps you can take to achieve your perfect body.

The Seasonal Seven

The average weight gain between Thanksgiving and the New Year is seven pounds. Most people are interested in losing weight—not gaining it. There are many aspects of the holiday season that make weight gain seem inevitable: shorter, darker days, added stress, holiday parties with holiday goodies, increased alcohol intake, and the ever-intensifying desire for comfort food. Not to mention, when the temperature drops and the weather turns frigid, your body instinctively stores fat in an attempt to keep you warm.

5 Habits for a Healthy Holiday

With so much working against you, it’s a struggle not to gain weight during the holidays, but you can avoid the Seasonal Seven. Here are five easy tricks to keep the pounds off this holiday season:

• Enjoy holiday food in moderation. Avoid overindulging on holiday treats. By all means, go ahead and enjoy your favorite holiday goody, but have one—not three. The same is true for holiday beverages. Not only will passing on that extra glass of eggnog save your gut, it can save you from doing something silly at your company holiday party.

• Keep a food journal. Most people are completely unaware of how many calories they actually consume during the holidays. Keeping track of what you eat and drink will help you maintain perspective on your daily food intake. Remember that it takes about 3500 calories to make a pound. 3500 calories may not sound like a lot, but after a few cookies, a few drinks, a plateful of hoer d’ oeuvres, and a typical holiday meal, you have more than surpasses the 3500 mark.

• Be active for TWENTY MINUTES each day. Play with your kids, walk your dog, do jumping jacks, anything. The cold weather makes your body pack on the fat, but the cold weather also helps you burn calories faster: if you exercise when it’s cold outside, you will burn more calories because your body has to work harder to stay warm.

• Chew gum. If you love to cook and bake, try chewing gum while you’re preparing the food. Chewing gum will prevent you from snacking on those high-calorie goodies and you won’t get fat licking the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl—you know you’ve done it. You can also chew gum at a holiday party to avoid eating all those fatty snacks that don’t really taste that good anyway.

• Relax. Taking time to enjoy yourself during the holidays is so important. You probably spend too much time worrying about foolish things like what you’re going to wear to a party or how you’re going to survive another encounter with the in-laws. Too much stress causes an increase cortisol, a stress hormone, and cortisol has been linked to belly fat. Santa is cute with a belly, but you’re not. So make sure you get in some good ol’ rest and relaxation.

The Cost of Health

The tips listed above are easy and free, but you know that staying healthy isn’t easy and free. Gym memberships are one of the first things to go when people decide to trim their personal budgets. However, a gym membership is more like a personal investment; staying fit now will prevent you from numerous (and costly) health problems in the future. Buying healthy food at the grocery store can also take a toll on your checkbook. The value menu at your favorite fast food restaurant is cheaper and more convenient, but your butt and thighs will hate you for it later. Then you can never be a Victoria’s Secret model! All jokes aside, getting your perfect, healthy body by eating right and staying fit is well worth the cost. Payday loans can help if you’re having trouble paying for those healthy groceries, or any other bill for that matter. Payday loans can help take the weight off your shoulders and your hips.