Consumer News: 14 popular burger chains ranked by value — the winner isn’t who you think

Real work-from-home jobs no degree or years on your resume required and where to find them

• Remote work opportunities that dont require prior experience do exist and span a wide range of roles.

• Employers are hiring now for entry-level positions you can do from anywhere with a laptop and internet.

• Your existing skills even non-traditional ones can help you stand out, even if you havent held a formal job before.

Finding a remote job can feel overwhelming when youre just starting out or switching careers, especially if you dont have a traditional resume stocked with experience.

But heres the good news: you dont have to wait years to start working from home.

There are legitimate opportunities that dont require prior professional experience and companies are actively hiring right now. These arent make money fast schemes or vague side hustles; theyre real remote positions that often offer competitive pay and chances to grow into a long-term career.

Career experts at FlexJobs put together a list of the top 25 remote jobs including companies that are hiring right now that require no prior experience. ConsumerAffairs also spoke with Toni Frana, a career expert at FlexJobs to learn more about the opportunities that currently exist.

Landing a job requiring little to no prior experience offers people many positive opportunities, Frana said.

First, jobs that dont require experience give new professionals the ability to launch their career. These roles also give anyone the opportunity to try something new, or something they have been passionate about and had previously considered making a move, but were unsure how to do so without having a lot of experience.

Creating the list

To create this roundup of remote opportunities, FlexJobs pulled from the latest career research and its own database of active remote roles that list no experience required or are considered entry level. The final list included a diverse mix of jobs that:

• Are fully remote and available now

• Dont insist on prior industry experience, and

• Match real job listings with data on average pay ranges.

Top 25 remote jobs no experience needed

Heres how the list panned out:

1. Administrative Support ~$46,994

2. Appointment Setter ~$40,775

3. Billing Support ~$53,847

4. Bookkeeping Assistant ~$50,290

5. Call Center Representative ~$42,860

6. Chat Support Specialist ~$43,579

7. Collections Representative ~$53,052

8. Community Engagement Coordinator ~$51,091

9. Customer Service Representative ~$45,864

10. Data Entry Specialist ~$41,156

11. Gaming Support Roles ~$52,226

12. Graphic Design Assistant ~$53,910

13. Insurance Claims Support ~$62,812

14. IT Help Desk Support ~$58,478

15. Marketing Assistant ~$52,584

16. Onboarding Coordinator ~$53,675

17. Proofreader ~$51,295

18. QA Tester ~$68,400

19. Research Assistant ~$63,686

20. Remote Sales Representative ~$52,371

21. Social Media Associate ~$54,642

22. Transcriptionist ~$48,711

23. Translator ~$54,612

24. Virtual Assistant ~$50,502

25. Writer/Content Creator ~$63,753

Making the most of these opportunities

Frana explained that if a role doesnt require experience to get started, it doesnt mean the experience you gain while in the role wont set you up for success and career growth.

For example, when in a support role like customer service, data entry, or IT support, its absolutely possible to grow into a larger role, she said. Getting promoted, or becoming a supervisor from a support role, happens a lot as many companies are interested in retaining and developing the best employees. In fact, many times, companies prefer to give opportunities to current employees.

Updated dietary guidelines raise protein recommendations, but health experts urge caution

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Has the U.S. Department of Agriculture flipped everything you thought you knew about nutrition on its head?

• At first glance, the newly released dietary guidelines featuring a new food pyramid may seem like a protein-first approach to eating well.

• However, registered dieticians and public health experts say the basics are largely the same as the advice author Michael Pollan shared in his book Food Rules.

The U.S. has flipped the food pyramid, and all of a sudden, protein is having a moment. From protein-fortified cereals and snack bars, to high-protein coffee drinks and even soda, grocery store shelves reflect Americas growing fascination with the macronutrient.

Social media influencers tout high-protein meal plans for weight loss, muscle gain, and metabolic health. And now, updated federal dietary guidelines appear to reinforce the trend, raising the recommended daily protein intake from 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight to between 1.2 and 1.6 grams per kilogram.

But nutrition experts caution against mistaking the shift for a green light to load up on steak and cheese.

The increase in protein recommendations doesnt mean weve abandoned everything we know about healthy eating, said Dr. Susan Veldheer, associate professor of family and community medicine and public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine.

The guidelines still limit saturated fats to 10% of daily calories, still recommend five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and emphasize whole grains.

Eating better-quality food

In fact, she says, the new pyramid isnt about eating more protein so much as its about eating better-quality foods especially whole foods while minimizing ultra-processed products.

Ultra-processed foods industrially manufactured products made mostly from refined ingredients and additives include sodas, chips, cookies, candy, lunch meats, and frozen meals. Many are now marketed as high-protein options.

But Americans already exceed recommended limits for saturated fat, Veldheer says, meaning red meat and full-fat dairy cant be the only answers.

You need to find protein sources that are leaner and lower in saturated fat or plant-based, she said. This is particularly important if you are concerned about heart health, managing diabetes, or trying to lose or maintain weightwhich most people are.

Plants are important

Thats where beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, quinoa and soy come in. Even leafy greens, whole grains, and fruit contain smaller amounts of protein that add up over the course of a day.

Veldheer likens amino acids the building blocks of protein to coins in a bank.

It doesnt really matter if some amino acids come from broccoli and whole grains and some from steak and yogurt, she says. When you eat steak and yogurt, you get all the different types of amino acids at once, but plants have these protein building blocks too.

While the new guidelines increase general recommendations, experts stress they are just that general.

Individual protein needs vary greatly based on age, health status, medications people are on, and specific conditions they may have, said Angelina Sickora, a registered dietician and clinical nutrition manager at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. What works well for one person may not work well for everyone.

Both Sickora and Veldheer say most Americans already get more than enough protein, even under the updated guidelines. The bigger issue, they say, is where that protein comes from.

Natural, whole-food sources are easier to digest and dont come packaged with added sugars, sodium, or artificial ingredients.

The takeaway? Despite the buzz, the recently revised food pyramid doesnt represent a radical shift. It reinforces a familiar message: prioritize whole foods, limit ultra-processed products, balance protein with fiber, and keep saturated fat in check. In other words, even in a protein-obsessed era, the foundation of healthy eating remains largely unchanged.

Inside the new AI features turning your Android phone into a real-world assistant

• Gemini can now handle real tasks like ordering food or booking an Uber.

• The feature works by automating steps inside apps you already use.

• There are limits for now its beta, on select phones, and under your control.

If youve ever wished Siri or your digital assistant could actually take care of things for you like ordering takeout or hailing a ride Googles newest upgrade to Gemini might feel like magic.

With the latest Android update, Gemini isnt just answering questions anymore it can execute multi-step tasks inside other apps, so you spend less time tapping menus and more time doing literally anything else.

Ordering food, hailing rideshares

Traditionally, asking an AI assistant to order food would get you a link, a suggestion, or maybe a list of restaurants. Now, with this new capability rolling out in beta on the Gemini app (starting with select Android devices like the Pixel 10 line and Samsung Galaxy S26 series), Gemini takes your prompt and runs the actual process inside the app for you.

If you say something like order my usual from DoorDash or get me an Uber home, Gemini opens the relevant app in a secure, virtual window, walks through the steps, and prepares the order or ride.

You as the user can watch it live via notifications, take control at any time, or let it finish the task and then confirm the final step yourself a safety-first setup that keeps you in the drivers seat.

This agent-style feature is still early and limited: its only available in the U.S. and Korea for now, and only works with certain food delivery, grocery, and rideshare apps. But its a big step toward making AI assistants feel like real helpers, not just tools for answers.

Gone are repetitive taps and screen jumping; with Gemini, much of the busywork happens behind the scenes while you keep scrolling or answering texts.

What consumers should know:

• Its opt-in and controlled by you. Gemini wont start automations without a clear command, and you can kill a task anytime if you see a hiccup.

• Not every phone or app supports it yet. Beta features often expand over time, but compatibility at launch is limited.

• Future updates could broaden what Gemini handles. Beyond ordering food and rides, scheduled tasks and broader agent features are part of Googles longer roadmap for the assistant.

For consumers, this means a sneak peek at a future where you dont just ask your phone for help you get it. Whether its dinner on the way home or a ride waiting when you step outside, the convenience factor here is undeniable and its just getting started.

Updated dietary guidelines raise protein recommendations, but health experts urge caution

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Has the U.S. Department of Agriculture flipped everything you thought you knew about nutrition on its head?

• At first glance, the newly released dietary guidelines featuring a new food pyramid may seem like a protein-first approach to eating well.

• However, registered dieticians and public health experts say the basics are largely the same as the advice author Michael Pollan shared in his book Food Rules: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

The U.S. has flipped the food pyramid, and all of a sudden, protein is having a moment. From protein-fortified cereals and snack bars to high-protein coffee drinks and even soda, grocery store shelves reflect Americas growing fascination with the macronutrient.

Social media influencers tout high-protein meal plans for weight loss, muscle gain and metabolic health. And now, updated federal dietary guidelines appear to reinforce the trend, raising the recommended daily protein intake from 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight to between 1.2 and 1.6 grams per kilogram.

But nutrition experts caution against mistaking the shift for a green light to load up on steak and cheese.

The increase in protein recommendations doesnt mean weve abandoned everything we know about healthy eating, said Dr. Susan Veldheer, associate professor of family and community medicine and public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine.

The guidelines still limit saturated fats to 10% of daily calories, still recommend five servings of fruits and vegetables each day and emphasize whole grains.

Eating better-quality food

In fact, she says, the new pyramid isnt about eating more protein so much as its about eating better-quality foods especially whole foods while minimizing ultra-processed products.

Ultra-processed foods industrially manufactured products made mostly from refined ingredients and additives include sodas, chips, cookies, candy, lunch meats and frozen meals. Many are now marketed as high-protein options.

But Americans already exceed recommended limits for saturated fat, Veldheer says, meaning red meat and full-fat dairy cant be the only answers.

You need to find protein sources that are leaner and lower in saturated fat or plant-based, she said. This is particularly important if you are concerned about heart health, managing diabetes, or trying to lose or maintain weight, which most people are.

Plants are important

Thats where beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, quinoa and soy come in. Even leafy greens, whole grains and fruit contain smaller amounts of protein that add up over the course of a day.

Veldheer likens amino acids the building blocks of protein to coins in a bank.

It doesnt really matter if some amino acids come from broccoli and whole grains and some from steak and yogurt, she says. When you eat steak and yogurt, you get all the different types of amino acids at once, but plants have these protein building blocks too.

While the new guidelines increase general recommendations, experts stress they are just that general.

Individual protein needs vary greatly based on age, health status, medications people are on and specific conditions they may have, said Angelina Sickora, a registered dietician and clinical nutrition manager at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. What works well for one person may not work well for everyone.

Both Sickora and Veldheer say most Americans already get more than enough protein, even under the updated guidelines. The bigger issue, they say, is where that protein comes from.

Natural, whole-food sources are easier to digest and dont come packaged with added sugars, sodium or artificial ingredients.

The takeaway? Despite the buzz, the recently revised food pyramid doesnt represent a radical shift. It reinforces a familiar message: prioritize whole foods, limit ultra-processed products, balance protein with fiber and keep saturated fat in check. In other words, even in a protein-obsessed era, the foundation of healthy eating remains largely unchanged.