KNOW BEFORE YOU GO HOW TO READ A ROAD ATLAS Buy this year's edition.  The cost is less than buying a handfull of maps, and it will have the most current facts on major construction activity. GPS isn't infallible; you'll want old-school backup. Study the legend.  The little box of icons at the front of the atlas helps you decipher the maps. Most atlases indicate scenic routes and long-term  construction projects. Some even show which rest areas have toilets. Know your numbers. Two-digit interstates (I-90) are often the most direct routes through cities; three-digit interstates (I-787) circle urban areas. Odd-numbered highways run north to south; even numbered ones run east-west. Orient the driver.  Highlight your route and keep the map in the passenger's lap. Turn it to show the direction you're going. That way, the driver can glance down and take it in.        HOW TO FIND A GOOD PLACE TO EAT Plan ahead.   Go to www.roadfood.com  to map out the best small town eats on your route. Skip the rest stops.  The point of road-tripping is not to see the Interstate, " says Pauline Frommer, creator of the Psuline Frommer Guidebooks. " Get off the highway to explore, and patronize local eateries - clam shacks, barbeque huts, and soda parlors". Stick to a meal schedule.  "The hungrier you get, the worse choices you'll make. Skip lunch and Pizza Hut looks like the gates of heaven," says Caril Tucker, who spent nine months road-tripping to write  The Bear Went Over the Mountain: Finding Americam Finding Myself (Mary Ann Liebert, $20). If you stop at regular intervals you'll be less likely to settle out of desperation. In a pinch, find a grocery store.  " Supermarkets offer plenty of safe and healthy foods, " says Tucker.

SECRETS OF HEALTHY SHOPPERS THEY DON'T  JUST SHOP THE PERIMETER   Many supermarkets have turned the perimeter into a tempting gourmet market. Sure, you'll still find fresh produce, lean meats and dairy products there, but you'll also face "imported cheeses,  fancy desserts, and calorie-laden prepared foods". No aisle should be off-limits. After all, plenty of good-for-you items, like canned beans and whole grains, are buried in the midsection of the store. And even the junk-food aisle has heart-healthy dark chocolate bars. A better tactic? Stay focused by eating before your trip and come armed with a well-edited shopping list. THEY GET THEIR FIBER ON - THE RIGHT WAY!  Not all fiber is created equal.  Healthy shoppers stick to foods with naturally occurring fiber (found in produce and whole frains) instead of the fortified variety (found in junk foods like enrished toaster pastries and sheese puffs).  That'/s because fiber, which helps you absorb nutrients, is only as good as the company it keeps.  If the product has nothing much to offer beyond sugar and empty calories, there are no benefits to absorb. Another caveat, Exceeding 35 grams of fiber a day may interfere with nutrient absorption. THEY'RE NOT BLINDED BY PACKAGING. We're hit with a riot of information every time we pick up a product. There are head - scratching ingredient lists and chirpy claims. Smart shoppers ignore the front of the package - it's just advertising - and go straight to the side panel.  And they don't get hung up on words they can't pronounce.  They look for food that's high in good stuff like fiber, protein and nutrients, and low in sugar, sodium and fat. WHEN THEY BUY BEEF, IT'S GRASS FED! Not only is it lower in total fat, but most of it's fat is the good kind heart-healthy - 3 fatty acids and cancer-fighting CLA's. The percentage of grass-fed meat offered in supermarkets has doubled over the past few years, but be sure to read the fine print. Look for grass-finished or 100% grass fed ...meaning the farm hasn't fed the animal grain which cancels out the nuttritional benefits, to ensure you are getting your money's worth nutritionally.  And, of course, it's important to eat even grass fed beef in moderation. Hopefully this will help you shed pounds, keep you strong, and save you $!

EVERYTHING IN IT'S PLACE                                 HERE ARE 6 INSTANCES WHEN GIVING ITEMS A HOME REALLY MATTERS. Go beyond purse pockets and try ZIPPERED POUCHES to corral small cosmetics or keep feminine products discreet. Opt for bags in bright colors for faster finding. Create a base for remote controls WITH A SMALL BASKET or tray that permanently resides on your coffee or side table - the clickers will be less likely to go missing. Assign keys to a single spot SUCH AS A CHIC TRAY on your entry table and shave valuable seconds off your daily dash out the door. For on-the-go gadgets INVEST IN A DOCKING STATION. Then match labels on cords to those in the gadget slots (e.g. Sue's cell phone, David's PDA, Tyler's ipod). Keep your pet leash ON A HOOK or in a basket or bin, by the door - so it's always right there when Buddy needs out, now! Store important papers in A LOCKABLE FIREPROOF BOX. This includes any hard-to-replace documents like birth certificates, passports, Social Security Cards, and Wills.

, The Voice of the Martyrs                   KCFY 88.1 FM YUMA, ARIZONA