by kelsey | May 28, 2015 | Exercise, Family, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
As a reminder, the Park and Rec’s Trail Challenge is currently underway! Jeremy Herrboldt, adult and senior activities coordinator with the Watertown Park and Rec developed a really great program that is new this year. The details are below and it starts May 1st and runs through September 30th. Be sure to get a log sheet from the Park and Rec and give this new challenge a try! You can get signed up by contacting Jeremy at 882-6260.
Watertown Recreational Trail Challenge NEW!
Ever wonder how many miles you have biked, run or walked on the Watertown Recreational Trail? Well this summer we want you to keep track and participate in the Watertown Recreational Trail Challenge. Starting May 1 you can stop at the Park and Rec. Fieldhouse and pick up a tracking sheet that also has the mileage chart for the Recreational Trail on it. Keep track of how many miles you bike, run or walk, then at the end of summer by September 30 just turn your tracking sheets back in and we will tabulate who the three people are who have biked, walked or run the most miles and those three will be recognized later in the month as the ones who put on the most miles on our beautiful trail system.
Dates: May 1-September 30
Fee: Free
Location: All miles must be on the Watertown Recreational Trail
by kelsey | May 27, 2015 | Exercise, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
The outdoor walking club is set to start next Friday!! Below are the details. This is a great way to get out and enjoy the beautiful trail system while getting some activity!
When: Each Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. for around an hour each week.
Cost: Free of charge
We will walk at a comfortable pace, so come and join the social aspect of being outside with friends and getting some exercise.
Dates:
June 5 McKinley Park (at the picnic shelter)
June 12 Stokes-Thomas City Park (at the Veterans Memorial)
June 19 Mt. Hope Cemetary (by the front entrance)
June 26 Redlin Art Center (by the front entrance)
July 3 No Walk Scheduled
July 10 Joy Ranch (parking lot near SE side of Main St.)
July 17 Jackson Park (in the parking lot across from Cattail Crossing)
July 24 Bramble Park Zoo (by the picnic shelter)
July 31 Eastwoods Park (by the playground)
August 7 Slumberland Disc Golf Course (in the parking lot)
August 14 Stokes-Thomas City Park (at the Veterans Memorial)
For more information call Jeremy @ 882-6260
by kelsey | May 26, 2015 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Summer has officially started now that school is out! The kids are back home and they’re going to be eating more of the foods that you keep stocked for them at home. Active children burn through their energy stores very quickly and need to replenish them often. Snacking is an important part of keeping your kids energized for their play-filled summer days.
Snacks should be a combination of fiber and protein so that they are filling and satisfying. Pistachios are a good snack as they contain both fiber and protein. You can also pick out two foods that will meet the fiber and protein combination needs. Some ideas are:
- An apple and a teaspoon of peanut butter
- String cheese and a few whole wheat crackers
- Baby carrots and hummus
- Low-fat yogurt and almonds
- Mixed nuts and raisins
- Celery sticks filled with peanut or almond butter
Just be sure to keep in mind that snacks are just to get by until the next mealtime, so snacks should not be a significant source of calories. Kids have small stomachs so keep the portion sizes small as well. This is a good time to instill healthy habits in your child so try to avoid having the TV or video games going during snack time in order to discourage mindless munching. Any fruit, vegetable, low-fat dairy product, or whole wheat grain product makes a good snack so find out what your child likes and get creative with the combinations!
-Written by Kara Schmidt, SDSU Dietetics Student
by kelsey | May 21, 2015 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
| Looking to eat locally and economically? Grow your own produce in a garden, either in the ground or in pots. This is also a fun way for children to be active outdoors during the summer and can help them to learn about where their food comes from! Almost any container can be used for planting, just make sure that there are holes in the bottom so that excess water can drain.Easy vegetables, like cherry tomatoes and sugar snap peas, might be a good start for a first-timer. However, most vegetables will grow in containers. You can buy seed packets, which will have the best planting and harvest times, or buy starter plants from your local greenhouse. When the vegetables are ready, just harvest, wash, and enjoy!
If you do not want to grow your own garden, be sure to check out the great locally grown produce at our farmer’s market every Saturday morning at the Runnings parking lot!
-Written by Kara Schmidt, SDSU Dietetics Student |
by kelsey | May 20, 2015 | Cooking Tips, Diabetes, Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Last night was our last night of STRIVE 2 Survive until fall. The treats County Fair Foods served are healthy and tasty appetizers and would be a great addition to your holiday get togethers this weekend! Be sure to give these a try!
Creamy Feta-Spinach Dip (pictured above)
6 oz fat free Greek yogurt
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 oz reduced fat cream cheese, cubed
1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 cups finely chopped fresh spinach
1 tsp dill weed
1/8 tsp pepper
Fresh veggies, pretzles, or sliced bread
Place yogurt, feta cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, and crushed garlic cloves in a food processor; process until smooth. Spoon yogurt mixture into medium bowl; stir in spinach, fresh dill, and black pepper. Cover and chill before serving.
Mock Tuna
1 (19 oz) can garbanzo beans
2 Tbsp mayo
2 tsp spicy brown mustard
1 Tbsp sweet pickle relish
2 green onions, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
In a food processor combine garbanzo beans, mayo, mustard, relish chopped, onions, salt, and pepper. Mix well and chill and serve fresh veggies, pretzles, or sliced bread.
Enjoy!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | May 19, 2015 | Motivation, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Today marks our last STRIVE 2 Survive lecture until fall. This icon is one of my favorites at is wraps up the basics of wellness. We put a lot of focus on diet and activity, however in order to truly be successful with those key components of wellness, one must be happy and content inside. Weight loss, eating healthy, exercising, etc are not easy…they do take some effort, motivation, and determination, but once you get into the swing of living a healthy lifestyle, it becomes easier and easier and eventually it’s your new lifestyle. Many times we consider ourselves failures due to our previous unsuccessful efforts at wellness or weight loss, we compare ourselves to others and downgrade our abilities as we don’t believe in ourselves and our abilities, and then we obsess or over-think about it that it basically inhibits us from moving forward and truly being successful. Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone, there are many struggling with this! No matter what your weight status is, you deserve to have a healthy body…and you are worth it! Whatever is inhibiting you from your past experiences, let go of it. Everyone has our own unique genetic makeup so quit comparing yourself others and accept your body for what it is and work it as you are able to (ie- if you are genetically predisposed to carry your weight in your butt and thighs, it’s unrealistic to think you’re going to have stick legs!). Journal your daily intake and personal insight and include at least one positive thing about yourself daily to help boost your self worth and self esteem. Surround yourself with positive, happy people and let the little things go. Reflect on these 7 rules of life and apply them to help you live a healthier life!
-Kelsey
