Author: Jolene Truckenbrod

UW-Extension Classes on Horticulture

VegetableGardenBrown County UW-Extension is offering classes on gardening and horticulture this spring.  Here are some of the interesting and helpful topics:

  • Seed Starting
  • Pruning (fruit trees, shade trees and shrubs)
  • Vegetable Gardening
  • Composting
  • Native Prairie Plants to Attract Pollinators
  • Growing Blueberries in Containers

Classes are led by an expert in that field, last a little over an hour, and most are held at the Green Bay Botanical Garden.  There is a cost to attend these classes and preregistration is encouraged.  Please click on this link for details.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Consider making the simple recipe below today! You can make this tasty dish without added fat or salt. Your whole body—not just your taste buds—could thank you.

IngredientsGarlic-Mashed-Potatoes

  • 2 (1 lb.) large potatoes, peeled, quartered
  • 2 cups skim milk
  • 2 cloves garlic, large, chopped
  • ½ tsp. white pepper

Directions

  1. Cook potatoes, covered, in small amount of boiling water for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. Drain and recover.
  2. Meanwhile, in small saucepan over low heat, cook garlic in milk until soft (about 30 minutes).
  3. Add milk-garlic mixture and white pepper to potatoes. Beat with electric mixer on low speed, or mash with potato masher, until smooth.

Yield: 4 servings.

Each serving provides: Calories: 142, Total fat: <1 g, Saturated fat: <1 g, Cholesterol: 2 mg, Sodium: 69 mg, Total fiber: 2 g, Protein: 6 g, Carbohydrates: 29 g, Potassium: 577 mg

Recipe from the StayWell Company, LLC

Sleep better by eating this before bed

Try eating foods with tryptophan before bed for better sleep tonight.

You’ve likely heard that eating turkey makes people especially sleepy thanks to the sleep-inducing amino acid called tryptophan that it contains. Turns out there is science behind that tale. Some research shows that foods with tryptophan help your body product serotonin, which helps promote sleepiness. And there are foods with even more tryptophan than turkey. Try one or more of these tonight:

  • WalnutssleepLady
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Soy foods
  • Shellfish
  • Eggs
  • Whole grains, like oatmeal
  • Dairy products

Carbohydrates help your brain use tryptophan. Proteins are the building blocks of tryptophan. So combinations of carbs and proteins can pack a bedtime punch. Try hummus on whole-grain crackers, cereal with milk, or peanut butter on whole-wheat bread.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Why is mindfulness important?

Mindfulness

We all have stress in our lives.  Regardless of the cause, your body’s reaction to stress can make you more likely to get sick, so finding ways to de-stress is important to your health. Mindfulness can be the key to slowing down and enjoying the moment.

What can mindfulness do for me? 

  • lower stress levels
  • reduce blood pressure
  • help you sleep better
  • improve depression and anxiety symptoms
  • enjoy food more and maintain your weight
  • reduce fatigue and increase energy
  • improve your health
  • better brain function
  • sense of calm

Mindfulness involves paying deliberate attention to the present moment in a nonjudgmental way. By becoming more aware of the present, you can recognize anxious thoughts and free yourself from their grip. When we practice mindfulness at work, we think more clearly.  We respond rather than react.  We take events less personally.

How can I become more mindful?

  • Attend mindfulness sessions on campus led by an expert in this field (click here for details and to sign up to attend one, some, or all 5 sessions being held this spring)
  • Take the 21 day meditation challenge on the StayWell website (click on Programs > Well-Being Activities > 21 Day Meditation Experience)
  • Learn about meditation through videos, articles and quizzes on the StayWell website (click on Programs > The Best Possible You)

The latest research shows you can gain mindfulness benefits anytime by just stretching or taking deep breaths.  Once you learn these techniques, you can practice them on your own to continue reaping the benefits of mindfulness.

Article contents from the StayWell Company, LLC

Mindfulness Sessions

MindFull

Back by popular demand!  Last spring, Reed Hardy lead mindfulness/meditation sessions for employees, which were well received, and employees asked for more!  Thanks to a wellness grant from the Department of Employee Trust Funds, we are offering five more sessions this spring led by Reed Hardy!  These sessions will be at the Richard Mauthe Center at Noon to 12:30 p.m. on the following dates, and there is no cost to employees to attend:

  • Friday, March 16th
  • Thursday, March 29th
  • Friday, April 13th
  • Thursday, April 26th
  • Friday, May 11th

Please register to attend by clicking on this link: http://uwgreenbay.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3sKmT9dkQ2HOo5L

You can wear your work clothes – no need to change or bring anything with you.  Thank you to the Richard Mauthe Center for sponsoring the room fee!  Please contact the Wellness Committee at wellness@uwgb.edu or ext. 2203 with any questions.

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Bellin Run

Bellin

It’s time to get registered for the 42nd annual Bellin Run!  The event will be on Saturday, June 9, 2018 in Green Bay. UW-Green Bay is part of the Corporate Challenge, which gets you these perks:

  1. If you register by May 1st, you will receive an early registration incentive gift with the Bellin Run logo on it
  2. If you register by May 15th, your race packet (bib and race shirt) will be delivered directly to UWGB about a week before the event.

Friends and family can be registered on our team so that they receive these benefits as well.

Also, due to a wellness grant from the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), the first 50 UW-Green Bay employees who register will receive $10 off of their registration fees. NOTE:  This discount (promo) code is only for use by UW-Green Bay employees.  If you are registering family members or friends, please note that the $10 discount is only applicable to employee’s registration fees.  Unauthorized users will be asked to reimburse us for the registration fees.

To register on the UW-Green Bay team, go to www.bellinrun.com and click on Register Today.  There are options for both the 10K and the Children’s Run.  At the registration page, you will input some basic information, and then choose Corporate Challenge and Join Team.  Search for UW-Green Bay and input our team password: 840.  On the payment page, input coupon code 18BR10 (for employees only), which will discount your registration by $10.

Aaron Maternowski is our team captain, and he can be reached at maternoa@uwgb.edu or ext. 2985 if you have any questions.

Last year, we had 24 employees who participated in the Bellin Run.  Get out and enjoy some fun with co-workers, family and friends by participating in friendly competition and promoting a healthier lifestyle!

 

Student employee hours limit increases to 40 hours the week of March 11 – 17

The student employee hours limit increases to 40 hours per week the week of March 11 – 17, 2018.  The hours limit is in place to make sure we are in compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).  The hours limit returns to 25 hours per week starting Sunday, March 18th.  Please review the 2018 Student Bi-Weekly Payroll Schedule at: http://www.uwgb.edu/UWGBCMS/media/hr/files/StudentBiWeeklyPayrollSchedule2018.pdf.

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu or ext. 2390.

Onsite Health Screening on April 25th – more time slots added

Screening3

Did you try to register for a health screening on April 25th, only to find out that all the time slots were already full?  Well Wisconsin was able to add 40 more time slots, so please log in to the StayWell website if you would like to register for a health screening.

There will also be another onsite health screening on Friday, September 21, 2018 in the Phoenix Room of the University Union, and registration is open for this date as well.

Please review this blog post for details: https://blog.uwgb.edu/hr/2018/02/on-site-health-screening-on-april-25th/

Please contact us at wellness@uwgb.edu or ext. 2203 if you have any questions.

2018 Runs and Walks

Run3

Looking for some fun events to stay healthy? Here’s a list of some area runs and walks coming up this year!

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December: