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Drive-thru trick or treat is back again this year, and we’re upping the excitement with trick or treat for kids… on the climbing wall! Bring your costumes and join the fun!
  • Climbing Wall Trick or Treat
    • October 27 @ Briggs Community YMCA
    • 4-7pm
    • Bring your costume and find the treats hidden on the climbing wall. Open to kids ages 5 and up.
  • Drive-Thru Trick or Treat
    • October 29 @ Briggs Community YMCA
    • 5-6:30pm
    • Come in costume, stay in the comfort and safety of your own car, and let our costumed staff and volunteer bring you the treats! This event is FREE and open to everyone.

By Lesli Baker

Fall has arrived, and with it Halloween – the time of year when we seem to be surrounded by sweet treats and candy. Even just entering the grocery store we are bombarded with sales techniques to temp our taste buds! And while there is nothing wrong with an occasional treat, keeping our hands out of the candy bowl can be a real TRICK!

Here are some ideas for some healthier Halloween options without losing the fun!

Frankenstein Monster Apples

Try cutting a green apple into a wedge, cut out a section, and put some almond butter inside. Add a slice of strawberry for a tongue, sunflower seeds or raisins for the teeth, and candy googly-eyes for extra effect!

Banana Ghosts

  • 4 medium bananas
  • 3/4 bag white chocolate baking chips
  • 16 candy eyes
  • 8 raisins (for the mouth)
  • 8 bamboo skewers
  1. Cut the bananas in half and stick them on a popsicle stick or a bamboo skewer. Make sure not to stick it too far – it’ll poke through the other end of the banana!
  2. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer for 1-2 hours.
  3. Melt white chocolate (I like to use white chocolate baking chips) in the microwave for about 1 minute, or until melted. Dunk bananas in the melted chocolate and use a knife to spread around the chocolate on the entire banana.
  4. Before the chocolate hardens, place the candy eyes on the banana and the raisin for the mouth. Or drizzle a little chocolate on the bottom so it acts as glue for you to be able to stick it on!
  5. Plop a raisin on for a howling ghost mouth!

Instead of Candy as a Treat…

Another healthy Halloween option that I like especially for Trick-Or Treaters. Instead of bags of candy, I head to the Dollar Store and pick up Halloween-themed party favors! Pencils, erasers, plastic eyeballs, bugs, and spider rings! Always fun and never fails to prevent falling victim to a trick!

SEPTEMBER 18 -24 IS FALLS PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK AT BRIGGS COMMUNITY YMCA!

Falls at any age are dangerous, and as you age your risk for serious injury increases. In the United States, more than one out of four older adults fall each year, and one out of five falls result in serious injury (CDC). There are many factors that increase the risk of falling in older adults. These include mobility problems, balance disorders, chronic illnesses, and impaired vision. Many falls cause at least some injury. These range from mild bruising to broken bones, head injuries, and even death. In fact, falls are a leading cause of death in older adults.

Join us September 18-24, 2022, for a nationwide observance to raise awareness of falls prevention to reduce the risk of falls and help older adults live without the fear of falling.

Events during Falls Prevention Awareness Week include:

  • Guest Speakers Donna Feddarn and Alison Lord from the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging – 9/19 at noon 
  • Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance demonstration day (open to all) – 9/20 at 10am
  • Fall risk assessment opportunity- 9/21 at 10am

By Lesli Baker

Hummus (also known as houmous) is not only easy to make, but can be inexpensive as well. I think home-made hummus is infinitely better than store-bought. Hummus can be eaten as a dip with veggies or crackers, or spread into a pita and eaten as part of a great lunch with lettuce, tomato, and falafel (or anything you want for that matter)! I even like it on toast with avocado for breakfast!

All you need are a few ingredients and a food processor:

 

  • 1/2 cup tahini (roasted, not raw)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (plus more for garnishing)
  • 2 garlic cloves, mashed and roughly chopped
  • 2 15-ounce cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed preferred
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  1. Puree everything together.
  2. Garnish with a sprinkling of paprika, a swirl of olive oil, toasted pine nuts, and/or chopped parsley.
  3. ENJOY!

Sugar appears in all kinds of foods, both naturally (think fruits) and artificially as added sugar. Trainer Steve Messman walks you through common grocery store foods that have added sugars, and explains more about what it all means in his newest video.