General – Page 31 – HR Connect

Combat Bad-Weather Blues With Exercise!

Do your exercise plans get put on hold during cold or dreary months? Beat the bad-weather blahs and tone up by bringing your workout indoors, starting today.

Think of your home as a gym. You might consider investing in a treadmill, stationary bike, or other exercise machine. But you don’t necessarily need expensive equipment to get a good aerobic workout at home.

Try climbing stairs, jogging in place, or jumping rope.
Join an indoor volleyball or basketball team.
Swim laps or take water aerobics in an indoor pool.
Walk briskly around an indoor mall.
Be a domestic athlete. Cleaning closets and washing windows or floors count as exercise and help you get a head start on your spring cleaning.
Rent or buy some workout videos.
Experiment with different exercise classes, from tai chi to spinning at a local fitness center.

If you’ve been inactive for a while, start gradually and add a few minutes of physical activity each day. Eventually, try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise on five or more days of the week. Experts also recommend stretching every day and lifting weights two to three times a week.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Outside Activity Reports and Notification Requirements – Due by April 30, 2020

Pursuant to Chapter UWS 8, all UW System faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees with half-time appointments or more are required to annually report outside activities and interests related to their areas of professional responsibility and for which they receive remuneration.

All faculty, academic staff, and limited appointees should have received an email on March 11, 2020, from Human Resources with instructions on how to fulfill this requirement, as well as an associated escalation schedule for non-compliance. All forms must be returned to your budget unit chair or supervisor. Your supervisor or chair will forward the completed forms to the Division Leader after they have been signed. All forms must be received by Human Resources no later than April 30, 2020.

All employees must also be aware of Regent Policy Document 13-4: Wisconsin System Policy on Institutional and Employee Relationships with Educational Loan Lenders. Please review this document, as well as Regent Policy Document 20-22, which identifies guidelines related to employees’ public responsibilities and definitions of those activities that cause a conflict of interest.

If, after reading the guidelines that were attached in the email, you have a question about whether to include a specific activity on the form, please email a detailed explanation of the activity to hr@uwgb.edu.

Spicy Asian Veggie Pasta

(Gluten-free)

Ingredients

8 ounces angel hair rice pasta
1/4 cup gluten-free tamari
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves minced garlic
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more if you like it hot)
1 teaspoon peanut oil
1 cup chopped red, yellow, or green pepper
1 cup sliced sweet onion
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 cup grape tomatoes

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Make sauce by combining tamari, rice wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes together in a small bowl. While pasta is cooking, heat peanut oil in a wok or large frying pan. Stir-fry peppers and onions. Add broccoli and mushrooms when onion and peppers begin to soften. Stir in tomatoes and sauce. Add noodles and mix well. Can be served hot, at room temperature, or chilled (as a side dish to grilled salmon, for instance).

Serves 8

Each serving contains about 145 calories, 4 g protein, 2 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 28 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, and 515 mg sodium.

To make this recipe gluten-free, use only spices or condiments that are gluten-free. Read food labels carefully and contact the company if you have any questions.

Recipe from the StayWell Company, LLC.

Black Bean Chili

Black Bean Chili (Gluten-free)

Ingredients

1 pound dry black beans
2 cups onion (about 2 large), chopped
1 cup red, yellow, or green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons dried cilantro
1 28-ounce can tomatoes

Directions

Soak beans according to package directions. Rinse. Add all ingredients except tomatoes to 3 quarts of water. Bring to boil, then reduce to low heat. Simmer for about 2 hours, until beans are soft and water is gone. Add tomatoes. Cooking until tomatoes are heated. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fat-free sour cream and chopped scallions.

Serves 6

Each serving contains about 333 calories, 20 g protein, 2 g fat (5% calories from fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 63 g carbohydrates, 15 g fiber, and 204 mg sodium. To make this recipe gluten-free, use only spices or condiments that are gluten-free. Read food labels carefully and contact the company if you have any questions.

Recipe from the StayWell Company, LLC.

A Better Alarm Clock May Be The Ticket To Better Sleep!

If you have a tough time getting out of bed in the morning, a fun alarm clock that eases the transition into your day may help. Try these alarm clock tips to help get out of the bed more reliably!

Look for an alarm clock that’s functional, not just pretty. Make sure the buttons are easy to find when you’re groggy first thing in the morning.

Skip alarm clocks that emit bright blue light that can interfere with sleep. Opt for one that uses softer amber, orange or red to help you sleep more soundly.

Choose an alarm clock that wakes you with a sound that you enjoy, whether that’s the news, your favorite music or nature sounds. Consider one that gradually increases the volume to gently rouse you.

Look for fun features that make sure you won’t oversleep. Some alarm clocks have a light that turns on slowly at the time you should wake. Others vibrate the bed to help wake you.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Ciabatta Pizza

(Gout-friendly) ciabatta-pizza

Ciabatta, the Italian flat bread popular in paninis (toasted sandwiches), makes a handy pizza base. You can reduce the carbs and calories slightly by pulling out some of the soft interior of the bread.

Ingredients

1 loaf ciabatta, about 12 by 6 inches (about 1 pound)
2 cups tomato sauce (no salt added)
1 small zucchini, sliced in 1/4-inch rounds
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cups shredded part-skim, low-moisture mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons basil

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut ciabatta lengthwise and remove some interior bread if desired. Place each half crust-side-down on a cookie sheet.

Spread sauce evenly on both pieces. Layer zucchini and mushrooms as desired—mixed or half and half. Top with mozzarella and sprinkle with basil. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Makes 8 slices

Each slice contains about 263 calories, 13 g protein, 8 g fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 36.5 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, and 554 mg sodium.

This recipe is gout-friendly because it contains food moderate in purines.

Recipe from the StayWell Company, LLC.

Color Your Stress Away

Sharpen your colored pencils and dig out your favorite markers because staying inside the lines isn’t just for kids. Adult coloring books are one of the hottest trends! These coloring books look a little different from what you may remember using when you were a child. Instead of featuring cartoon characters with generous room to fill in the outline, coloring books geared toward a more mature crowd often contain tight spaces and intricate designs.

Color Yourself Happy

The great news is that coloring may be even more than a fun activity. Research shows that it can be a healthy way to help you de-stress and unwind. A study in the journal Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association found that just 30 minutes of an artistic activity, like coloring, is enough to reduce anxiety levels.

If you’re feeling stressed out, give yourself permission to step away and do something else to help take the edge off.
Taking 20 minutes to do an activity that makes you feel good, such as coloring, can help you feel less overwhelmed when you return to the stressful activity later.

So pick up an adult coloring book today and enjoy some relaxing, creative time!

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Dark Chocolate Chip Oat Bars

(Gluten-free, gout-friendly)

You don’t have to tell anyone these are homemade, healthy (gulp!) granola bars.

Just let your guests enjoy the chewiness of the oats and dense chocolate flavor from the highest-quality dark chocolate you can find.

Ingredients

1 large egg

1/2 cup fat-free yogurt (plain or vanilla)

1/2 cup artificial sweetener brown sugar blend

1-1/2 cups gluten-free quick oats

2 tablespoons milled flaxseed

1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips or bittersweet baking bar broken into small chunks

Cooking spray

Directions

Whisk egg with yogurt and brown sugar. Blend in oats and flaxseed. Add chocolate chips. Spread mixture in an 8-inch-square pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Cut into bars.

Makes 12 bars

Each bar contains about 125 calories, 4 g protein, 3 g fat, 18 mg cholesterol, 20 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, and 12 mg sodium.

To make this recipe gluten-free, use only quick oats that are certified gluten-free. Read food labels of ingredients carefully and contact the company if you have any questions.

This recipe is gout-friendly because it contains food moderate in purines. You should limit the amount of oatmeal you eat to less than 2/3 of a cup (uncooked) per day.

Recipe from the StayWell Company, LLC.