May 28, 2020

Get into the habit of THANKFUL THURSDAY!

Distancing doesn’t have to mean you’re completely disconnected! You can pick up the phone to talk, text, or video chat with others. During this time of social distancing, make an effort to stay connected to those people who are important in your life. Share with your family, friends, church community, etc. why you are thankful that they are part of your life. The key to maintaining emotional connections is opening up to others, even from a distance! If you’re just not up for the sense of community, you can focus on what makes you thankful more privately.
START A GRATITUDE JOURNAL! Each day when you wake up, jot down what or who you are grateful for that day. And then, as you settle into bed at night, think about what happened throughout the day and find 1 thing that made you grateful or was positive about your day. Ending the day with this mindset of positivity can help you get to sleep easier and may help to ward off the negative thoughts that can disrupt sleep or cause insomnia. Getting adequate rest each night is another important way to take care of yourself that supports health and immunity.

FAMILY ACTIVITY: Create a gratitude jar. Each day, have every family member write one thing they’re grateful for (something or someone they appreciate, something that happened that day, etc.). This is a great way to stay positive during this difficult time and can serve as a time capsule for this historic time in life.

May 27, 2020

It’s WELLNESS WEDNESDAY! What are you doing to stay well? Evidence is showing that people with pre-existing health conditions may be more vulnerable to COVID-19. So, it’s as or more important than ever to try and manage pre-existing conditions.

PHARMACY – Be sure you’re taking any medications as prescribed. Take advantage of pharmacies offering free delivery, drive up windows, or curbside pick-up now. Or, switch your prescriptions to mail-order. Don’t stop taking medications because you’re uncomfortable going into the pharmacy for refills.

DOCTOR VISITS – Take advantage of telemedicine options that may exist with your physician if you’re concerned about going in-person for a routine appointment.

HEALTHY HABITS AT HOME – Trying to get a bit more active and eating more fruits and vegetables will contribute to better managing your health conditions, and could help to prevent complications.

May 26, 2020

Do you tend to serve tacos for TACO TUESDAY? Tacos can be a great way to include more vegetables to help you feed your best self! There are so many meat substitutes that can make tacos plant-based for more fiber and antioxidants. Shelf stable items like beans, lentils, and walnuts are great options. Fresh or refrigerated options like mushrooms and tofu are also a good swap for meats. Grilled veggies or a chunky, fresh salsa offer some great opportunities to boost the value of veggies.

A variety of healthier ingredients and healthier taco recipes are available from the American Heart Association. Be sure to check them out at: https://sodiumbreakup.heart.org

Dietitians Dish – May 25, 2020

May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month!

What is Celiac Disease?

• It’s an immune system reaction triggered by gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye grains).
• Gluten causes digestive problems and damages the lining of the small intestine (where most nutrients are absorbed).
• Currently, there are no medications to treat it, so a Gluten Free diet is the only way to manage it.
• Intestinal lining damage causes vitamin and mineral deficiencies, anemia, infertility, weak and brittle bones, and other serious health conditions.

In recent years, Gluten Free products have become easier to find in grocery stores. More products are labeled with “Gluten Free” or “Free from Gluten” on the package. Some stores also have Gluten Free symbols on shelf tags to help find items quickly. The food industry does NOT require products to be identified as Gluten Free, so it’s important to scan the ingredients list for wheat, barley or rye listed. Also, look for package statements that indicate it was manufactured in a facility where foods containing wheat, barley or rye may have been processed, since cross-contamination is a concern. Learn about hidden sources of gluten in other products by reviewing
http://eatrightforlifeonline.com/home/where-does-gluten-hide/.

Celiac.org has a variety of recipes and feature many gluten-free ingredients and brands. Try this spin on Shrimp Cocktail from Dole.

Tropical Fruit Shrimp Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 24 jumbo shrimp, peeled & deveined, with tails on
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1/3 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1 can (15.25 oz.) Dole Tropical Fruit, drained

Directions:

• Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Season shrimp with salt
  and pepper. Sauté shrimp until pink, about 5-7 minutes.
• Combine cooked shrimp, onion, cilantro, and tropical fruit in a large bowl.
  Toss to incorporate ingredients.

 

May 22, 2020

Get outdoors whenever you can. Research has found that connecting with nature improves your mood. It offers a brain-boost, which we could all use to get through this temporary period of social distancing and isolation! Go for a walk, sit outside and listen to the birds and other sounds of nature. Get out at night to see the stars. Whatever way you can connect with nature is a mood booster.