March 2010 Newsletter

Nutrition from the Ground Up

National Nutrition month, recognized in March, is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored by the American Dietetic Association. This campaign provides consumers with practical tools and tips they can use to make healthier food choices. This year's theme "Nutrition from the Ground Up," encourages families to get back to the basics by preparing simple and healthy meals at home and relying on whole instead of processed foods.

Healthy eating and routine exercise are needed all year round; but many of us need a friendly reminder to get ourselves back on track. Be kind to your body and reacquaint yourself with healthy eating habits and fitness. Replace your unhealthy habits with smart health choices for a healthier body. For more information visit the American Dietetic Association's website.

Spring Training - Last Chance to Register!

The Spring Training Challenge begins March 1st, so there are just a few days left to register! In this challenge, you will learn about the fundamentals of health as you're encouraged to improve your overall health habits by completing and tracking healthy activities. The activities range from bringing a healthy snack to work - a "single" - to exercising for 45 minutes - a "home run." The goal is to earn 100 points in 1 month by eating healthy and being more physically active. So regardless of age, gender, fitness level, or love of baseball, this challenge is for you! The challenge begins March 1st and runs through March 31st, 2010. So forget the peanuts and crackerjacks and take the Spring Training challenge! Download the Spring Training Flyer (PDF) for more information.

Wellness Warriors

Last month we unveiled our 8 Wellness Warriors. They are each working on health goals and they're making great progress! Check our Facebook page (in the Notes section) to see how they're doing!

Family Health Newsletter

The March Family Health Newsletter is filled with helpful and fun information for you and your entire family. Look for an article about how to keep your kids safe online, National Nutrition Month, a healthy pasta recipe, a fun craft activity for the kids, and much, much more! Take a moment to check it out!

Join us for the Upcoming Healthy Utah Webinars

Our next scheduled webinar is just around the corner!

Title: Nuts & Bolts of Physical Activity
Date: Monday, March 1, 2010
Time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM MST

In this webinar we will focus on how physical activity can help you feel stronger, happier, and younger. Learn simple exercises that you can do to reduce stress and improve your health. This 30 minute webinar will be filled with practical advice and instruction to get you started.

Reserve your Webinar Seat Now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/986825474

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And mark your calendar for our April webinar:

Title: 4-10's Survival Guide
Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010
Time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM MST

Has working 4, 10 hour days put a dent in your efforts to be healthy? Do you think you don't have time to exercise or eat right because the kids need your attention, or work seems to be consuming all your time, or you have no energy left at the end of the day? In this webinar, learn simple tips on exercise, nutrition, and stress management to help you not only survive your longer work day, but actually have energy at work!

Reserve your Webinar Seat Now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/462293355

Food for Thought

Easy and practical meal ideas can help your family eat better, save money and improve their health. These meal suggestions focus on the principles of a healthy diet, incorporating fruits, vegetables and whole grains into every dish. Because time and convenience play an essential role in our food choices all of these meals are quick and easy to prepare.... [Read More]

Simplify Your Life

A well-planned budget can help you to achieve your financial goals. Times are tough, but with proper planning you can create a budget that works. Here are some tips to help you get started... [Read More]

Move It!

Sometimes fitting exercise into our day can feel like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. What makes the difference in making it fit or missing it? That is exactly what we asked our members this month. How do you make it fit? We had a flood of responses and we hope that these suggestions will provide ideas on how to make it fit... [Read More]

Testing Sessions

These assessments are FREE for you and your spouse. You must have an appointment to attend, so visit www.healthyutah.org/myhu to schedule your appointment today!

Appointments have been filling up fast, so make sure and schedule early. You can view additional testing sessions on our testing session page or on our events calendar.

Healthy Recipe - White Chili

Beans are bursting with antioxidants that thwart cell damage. Make a batch of this chili and freeze the leftovers.

Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon canola or olive oil
• 2 medium onions, peeled and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 3 15 1/2-ounce cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed well
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 3 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  
• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent. Add the beans, broth, chicken, cumin, cloves and oregano. Cover and simmer for about one hour. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese until it melts.

Nutrition Facts per Serving: (serving size: 1/8 of recipe)

Calories: 373
Fat: 13 g
Saturated fat: 6 g
Trans fat: 0
Cholesterol: 61 mg
Sodium: 227 mg
Carbohydrates: 30 g
Fiber: 6 g
Protein: 34 g

Recipe provided courtesy of John Wiley & Sons, from Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During & After Pregnancy by American Dietetic Association ©2009, John Wiley & Sons.

For more great recipes, download the National Nutrition Month 2010 Recipes (PDF).