Category: Wellness

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants for their health benefits. Research results on the effectiveness of aromatherapy have been mixed, but it’s possible that aromatherapy works by sending chemical messages to a part of the brain that affects moods and emotions. Perhaps you’ve seen lavender eye masks or pillow sprays that are intended to help you relax and sleep. But lavender isn’t the only scent known for its relaxing properties. Vanilla, valerian, rose, and jasmine are also potential sleep inducers.

Keep in mind that any scent that makes you feel good can help you relax. If you have fond memories of Grandma baking pumpkin pie, a candle with that scent might lull you into slumber. Just be sure to blow it out before you doze off! Also, be careful with scents containing lemon; while research has shown it to be a mood enhancer, it’s also considered to be a stimulant.

Article from the StayWell Company, LLC

Turkey Sausage Stuffing

 

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  • 1/2 pound turkey sausage
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 cup finely chopped celery
  • 12 slices whole-grain bread
  • 1 large Granny Smith apple, chopped
  • 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms
  • 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
  • 2 cups fat-free chicken broth

Directions
Cook the sausage in a skillet, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain excess fat. Add onion and celery, and cook briefly. Let cool. Cut sliced bread into small cubes, and put in a large bowl with chopped apple, chopped mushrooms, and poultry seasoning. Add sausage mixture to bread, and mix well. Using your clean hands is OK. Stir in chicken broth one cup at a time–you want it moist, but not too wet. Refrigerate until ready to use. Divide the stuffing into two equal parts. Half will be enough to stuff a 6-pound turkey breast. With turkey breast-side-down, lightly mound stuffing between ribs. Cover with aluminum foil. Turn breast over, and place in roasting pan. Add stuffing to neck cavity, and cook the turkey breast as directed. Freeze the remaining stuffing for another use, or bake in muffin cups for about an hour. Paper liners make it easy, and the muffin cups aid portion control.

Serves 12; each serving contains about 128 calories, 8 g protein, 2.5 g fat, 13 mg cholesterol, 16 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, and 246 mg sodium.

Recipe from the StayWell Company, LLC

 

Plan Ahead for Food, Fast—Not Fast Food

GroceryAt the end of a long day, coming up with a recipe, stopping at the store, and making a meal can be more than you can manage.

Instead, plan ahead for what you want to cook and need to buy. This can keep you from splurging on high-calorie, costly takeout or restaurant meals.

Find a system that works for you, whether it’s posting your menu and grocery list on your refrigerator or entering it into an app or spreadsheet.

Keep It Healthy

These tips can help you prepare healthy, low-fat meals:

  • Keep fresh and frozen vegetables on hand. A supply of salad greens and other veggies makes it easy to whip up a salad. And frozen veggies can be quickly warmed up in the microwave for a side dish.
  • Stock your pantry with healthy ingredients so you can create nourishing dishes with little fuss. Include brown rice, whole wheat pasta, kidney and black beans, cans of diced tomatoes, olive oil, and your favorite spices.
  • Use your grill. Outdoor barbecues and indoor electric grills cook foods quickly and with less fat than pan frying or sautéing.
  • Make meatless meals, which are healthier and less expensive. Food items like almonds, black beans, chia seeds, chickpeas, edamame, Greek yogurt, lentils, and tofu are all excellent sources of protein.

Make It Fast

When time is of the essence, keep these tips in mind:

  • Look for recipes with few ingredients. Less measuring, slicing, and dicing make dinner come together faster.
  • Use your food processor. These machines are great for chopping vegetables and blending sauces.
  • Master quick-cooking techniques. Stir-frying and microwaving take less time than stewing, for example.
  • Double your recipes and freeze them in meal-sized containers. Soups, stews, casseroles, and grilled meats freeze beautifully.

Article from The StayWell Company, LLC

Crockpot and 5-Minute Meals Cooking Demo held November 7th

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CookingSydneyCookingOverview2Thank you to Jolene Sell, Registered Dietician with Chartwells and Sydney Keidl, Nutrition Intern, for their interesting and practical presentation and cooking demonstration on Tuesday, November 7th about “Crockpot and 5-Minute Meals”!  We enjoyed delicious samples of Sweet Potato Chili, Snickerdoodle Hummus with sliced apples, Mexican Quinoa, Pumpkin Acai Bowl, and Pepperoni Pizza Wrap!

Get Financially Fit with ETF’s Financial Fitness Program

  • Tuesday, November 7th
  • 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.

Get ready for an engaging, informative ETF webinar on how to improve your overall financial wellness through our online Financial Fitness Program! This exciting new program, available at no cost to WRS members, has 3 core moves:

  1. Financial  Fitness CHECKUP™ -Benchmark your financial well-being
  2. Financial  Fitness ACADEMY™ – Build your financial savvy with courses that meet your life goals
  3. Financial Fitness COACH™ – Get one-on-one financial coaching from a certified financial advisor

Learn how to access and use dozens of online Financial Fitness Program tools designed to help you take charge of your financial future, including: creating an emergency fund, setting a budget, saving for college, preparing for retirement, and much more.

The Financial Fitness Program is available at no cost to all Wisconsin Retirement System members. There will be time at the end of the webinar to ask specific questions about the program, which is offered in partnership with the Department of Employee Trust Funds, Department of Financial Institutions, Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association.

Hurry! Space is limited. Register now for this free webinar, hosted by ETF.

 

November Wellness Webinar: The Greatness of Gratitude

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Before you dive into the turkey or turn on the game, don’t forget to count your blessings. When you focus on the good things, your upbeat attitude helps fight stress and depression. Research shows that practicing gratitude may also improve your social life and enhance your physical health. Join us to learn more.

Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Time: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Location: Cofrin Library, 7th floor, room 735

No need to RSVP – just mark your calendar to join us, and bring your lunch!

You could also participate in this webinar at your workstation if you prefer – please visit wellwisconsin.staywell.com and go to Webinars to register.

Wellness webinars highlighting various health and well-being topics will take place the 3rd Wednesday of each month. All webinars will be recorded and available to Well Wisconsin Program participants on the wellness portal after the event date.

To access the wellness portal, you must be an employee, retiree, or enrolled spouse/domestic partner enrolled in the State of Wisconsin or Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Program.

 

Cooking demo held October 3rd

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Thank you to Jolene Sell, Registered Dietician with Chartwells and Sydney Keidl, Nutrition Intern, for presenting a cooking demonstration for us on Tuesday, October 3rd about “Healthy Eating on a Budget”!  We enjoyed delicious samples of apple cinnamon overnight oats, turmeric-ginger marinated chicken, pesto-prosciutto flatbread and gluten-free apple cheddar cheese toast.  Mark your calendar for their next cooking demo on Tuesday, November 7th at Noon!