Dear Heloise: Do cucumbers have any nutritional value? I no longer like the taste of them in a salad … or anything else come to think of it. — Tracy G., Franklin, Pennsylvania

Tracy, here is the breakdown of a 1/2 cup of cucumber:

— Calories: 30

— Carbs: 6 grams

— Protein: 3 grams

— Fiber: 2 grams

— Vitamin C: 10% of the recommended daily value (DV)

— Vitamin K: 57% of the DV

— Potassium: 12% of the DV

Some people say that the skin is too bitter, but you can and probably should peel the cucumber to reduce the chance of ingesting pesticides and wax. Since they have no fat and are low in calories, they’re a good addition to your meals. — Heloise

A CHEESY HINT

Dear Heloise: I made a discovery that made my life a little easier. Before I grate cheese, I always spray the grater with nonstick cooking spray. The whole process of grating the cheese is easier, and the cleanup is much faster, too.

I used to soak my grater for a couple of hours, but now I can just run it under the hot water from my kitchen faucet and clean it that way. — Ellen T., Brushy Creek, South Carolina

PATCHING RUBBER GLOVES

Dear Heloise: I wear rubber gloves to do house work, especially in the kitchen. If I get a small hole poked into the glove, I take a bandage and cut off the sticky part. Then I apply a drop of a super glue over the small hole and apply the bandage to the glove. Why buy new gloves if the old ones are still serviceable? — Florence C., Missoula, Montana

SAVE THE DATE

Dear Heloise: Food often goes out-of-date, even if it’s canned. Since we live a ways from town, I usually stock up at the grocery store on things like pasta, canned tomato paste, canned vegetables, fruit juices, etc. I always take time to use a felt tipped pen to write the date on top of the can.

If it’s an item where the felt pen doesn’t work on the surface, I grab a short piece of tape and write the date on it instead. At least now we’re not eating 7-year-old canned goods! — Denise M., Norman, Oklahoma

MUSTARD INSTEAD OF MAYO

Dear Heloise: I made a cheese sandwich for my husband and two teenage boys, but when I went to get mayonnaise, I discovered I was out. Well, I went through the refrigerator and found that I had a bottle of yellow mustard. I decided to give it a try, so I put it on the Swiss cheese sandwiches I’d prepared. It tasted fantastic! It also works well with sharp cheddar.

Since we watch our weight in this family, it’s always nice to use foods that are low in calories like mustard. — Renee F., Fremont, Nebraska

Renee, I’ve used mustard on cheese sandwiches for years, and I have to agree with you! The mustard seems to add a little more “zip” to an otherwise plain sandwich. — Heloise

COOKIES BY MAIL

Dear Heloise: I mail cookies to my two sons, both of whom are in the military. To keep them fresh, I wait until they are cool, then place them in a box. I wrap the box in tin foil and place the foil-wrapped box into a plastic bag. They’re always fresh when they arrive. — Kim S., Bakersfield, California

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.