General Archives - Page 5 of 6

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

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!
Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer for 1-2 hours.
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.
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!
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

Puree everything together.
Garnish with a sprinkling of paprika, a swirl of olive oil, toasted pine nuts, and/or chopped parsley.
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.

By Lesli Baker

How can we make the most of solar energy, without getting burned?

Make the Most of the Time of Day!

Low solar angles (such as at dawn or dusk), higher latitudes, lower elevation, and cloud cover represent scenarios that decrease the intensity of the sun’s energy. Energy from the sun is more intense at midday, at higher elevations, and in certain parts of the northern hemisphere during the summer months. Working out outside, running, or working in the garden are best done in the early morning hours, or even at dusk once the temperatures have dropped a bit. UV rays can cause all kinds of different skin damage; the most worrisome is of course skin cancer. Commonly, this comes in the form of melanoma, but there are other kinds of skin cancer too. While some people are less susceptible due to their skin type and other factors, no one is exempt from skin damage.

Here are a few more tips for staying safe while enjoying the sun:

Wear Sunscreen

This is the most important one and it applies to absolutely everyone.

How much sunscreen you need will vary from person to person, but in general you should aim to replenish it every two hours. You do not have to apply layers of it on yourself, but make sure you cover all your exposed skin.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to evaluate sunscreen products to ensure that they are safe and effective, and so that available sunscreens help protect consumers from sunburn. Broad spectrum products with sun protection factor (SPF) values of at least 15 can protect you from skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun when used as directed, and with other sun protection measures.

Dress Appropriately

Bright colors are useful. Wearing black will attract sunlight and you will roast. The best material to wear is recycled polyester – it’s a great sustainable clothing option which doesn’t attract heat.

In general, you should look for clothes which are “sweat-wicking”. This means that they will effectively transfer sweat through the material and out into the environment instead of trapping it inside.

Keep Hydrated

When you are in the sun, you get hot, and when you get hot you sweat, and this can lead to dehydration if not replenished. When dehydrated, you may feel dizzy or begin to have a headache. Always have enough water with you. If you are outside all day, bring a few bottles or one that you can refill when you need to.

Seek Shade

For longer days outdoors, such as when you play golf, you should try and get into the shade on a regular basis. Go from hole to hole in the cart and stand under trees while you are waiting. If you are playing tennis, get into the shade between matches.

It is better to not spend the entire day in direct sunlight if it’s possible not to.

Cover Your Head

Getting burned on your scalp is no fun. The skin there is thin and it can be an uncomfortable place for a sunburn. Wearing a hat is best, plus the bill of your hat will protect your face from getting burned.

Enjoy the sun this summer and have fun outside with friends and family, and remember to play it safe!