by Dan | Apr 27, 2015 | Etc.
My son Nick had his last Prom this weekend. He had a great time, and Sarah and I helped out at the after prom party. This is the beginning of some final events of his senior year. He will graduate on the 24th of May, and then his final state track meet the last weekend in May in Rapid City. Where has the time gone? There were enough times throughout his 18 years where you think things went slowly, and then you look back, and it’s over! Make the most of those memories and times with your family, kids, grandkids…each has there own rewards. Each will have lasting memories. That is the point of me exercising all of these years…trying to stay healthy enough to make sure I am around to be able to see all of these events…events that create lasting memories. I would not trade it for anything! This is what life is about. Take advantage of all of those moments…many of them only come once! Appreciate your family, spend time together, enjoy life! Below are a few pictures from the night. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2768
by kelsey | Apr 22, 2015 | Cooking Tips, Diabetes, Diet, Food, Weight Management
Our friends at County Fair Foods help make our STRIVE 2 Survive lectures extra great with their healthy and tasty treats. Last night’s treats were once again delish!! These are must try recipes! The Angel Lush is a great sweet treat without all of the extra calories and the Eggplant Parmesan was excellent! Eggplant is not a common vegetable we eat in our area, but this recipe is wonderful so I really encourage you to give it a try!
Angel Lush (pictured above)
1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple in juice
1 pkg (1 oz) vanilla fat free, sugar free, instant pudding
1 cup thawed lite cool whip
1 round angel food cake cut into 3 layers
10 small strawberries
Directions:
Mix pineapple and dry pudding together. Stack cake layers on a plate, spreading pudding mixture between layers on top of cake. Refridgerate for one hour. Top with berries and enjoy!
Healthy Eggplant Parmesan
1 egg
3 egg whites
1 Tbsp water
3 eggplants thinly sliced
2 cups whole wheat bread crumbs
6 cups spaghetti sauce (divided)
3/4 lb part skim shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (divided)
1/2 tsp dried basil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together egg, egg whites, and water in a shallow bowl. Peel and slice eggplant. Dip eggplant slices into the egg then bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until fork tender about 7-10 minutes on each side. Spread spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan. Place a layer of eggplant in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Repeat layers ending with cheese on top. Sprinkle with basil. Bake in oven for 35 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy!
-Kelsey
by Dan | Apr 19, 2015 | Etc.
We all have our degree of stress in our lives, and there are multiple ways of dealing with it. As long as we truly find a way to deal with it! It is easy to let things in life take over, with multiple things that have to get done, both for work, and at home. It don’t effectively figure out how to manage it effectively, it can have major ramifications to our overall health. The whole point of STRIVE to help maintain our health, so figuring out how to effectively deal with stress is a major factor. For me, exercise has been the most effective way of dealing with all of the pressures of everyday life. It is my time for me, to relax, sweat a little, and work out my frustrations from the day or week while I am out either running, biking, or walking. Which type of exercise it is really does not make much difference. My favorite is still running. My solitude…my time to reflect…my time to take in my own piece of the world, and figure out how I am going to deal with it. Running along the trails, and along Lake Kampeska can be some of the most relaxing time to think. Unfortunately, we have our fair share of wind here to contend with, but on those days when the wind is calm, the temperatures are in the 50-60’s, it is as close to perfection as I can get. Just take in all of the surroundings, enjoy what I am seeing, and let my mind go…as well as my legs! There was a day about 2 weeks ago that was as close to perfection as I have had in a while. The water at the lake was so calm it looked like glass. These are some images of the lake along the new boardwalk at City Park. Serene! This is truly why I run! Pictures really can say a 1000 words! Here were some of those images I got to take in on that run…Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 2760
by kelsey | Apr 16, 2015 | Cooking Tips, Diabetes, Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
With the weather finally getting nicer, grilling season is officially here! Grilling is a great way to change up cooking techniques and try new flavors after a cold winter season. Spice up any cookout by adding fruits and vegetables to the menu. Beyond the benefits of adding color, variety and flavor, fruits and vegetables can also add a variety of vitamins and nutrients. Keep in mind the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend to fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables at each meal.
Kabobs are a great item to include marinated vegetables like red or yellow peppers, mushrooms, eggplant, cheery tomatoes, and onions. Simply brush your favorite vegetables with olive or canola oil and your favorite spices and grill over medium heat, turning until marked and tender.
When grilling meat, choose healthier options like lean cuts of beef, pork, chicken, or fish. Be sure to keep raw meat, poultry, and their juices separate from ready-to-eat foods avoiding cross contamination. This can be done by using separate plates, cooking utensils, and cutting boards. Frozen foods should be thawed in a refrigerator or the microwave, not on the countertop or by the grill. Also remember to use a food thermometer when cooking meat, poultry, or fish to ensure it reaches a safe minimum internal temperature, this is key to reducing risk of food poisoning. Steak should reach 145°F, hamburgers 160°F, and chicken and pork 165°F.
Vegetarian or an avid mat lover, a grilled marinated Portobello burger can be a tasty alternative. Marinate and grill mushrooms, gill sides up, over medium-low heat with the grill covered until they are marked and softened (about 15 minutes). Flip and grill until cooked through.
Not forgetting dessert, try fruit kabobs with pineapple slices, watermelon, or peach halves. Grilling on low heat until the fruit is hot and slightly golden. Serve them on top of low-fat frozen yogurt or angel food cake.
Most of all enjoy!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Apr 15, 2015 | Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
There are many different kinds of multivitamins and it’s hard to know which one is best for you. We always prefer you to get the vitamins and minerals from real food over supplements, so striving for a well balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy, and lean proteins is the first step. If you are cutting calories to lose weight, you have a health condition that needs additional vitamins or minerals, or you just want to stay healthy and aid in disease prevention, a MVI may be for you. There are two types of vitamins: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K and can be stored in our bodies. Water soluble vitamins such as the B vitamins and vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, which means we can only store so much and when excess is consumed, they are excreted out. This concept is very important to understand as often times, you may be wasting your money on a supplement if you are already getting adequate amounts through your diet.
Deidra Van Gilder, Pharm D discusses vitamins in our STRIVE lectures and here is her take on the various kinds:
- Basic: contains essential vitamins from vitamin A to Zinc
- Women’s- more Calcium and Vitamin D to help support breast and bone health
- Men’s- more Lycopene for prostate health
- Silver (50+)- Supports eye health, bone health, and B vitamins for energy…Deidra recommends the Centrum Silver as an excellent one for this population.
- Prenatal- More folic acid, iron, and DHA (omega-3) to help support child growth
- Performance/Energy/Metabolism- Contain some herbals thought to help increase energy as well as extra B vitamins…be sure to ask your health care team about these before taking them as they may interact with your meds or contain extra caffeine.
- Cholesterol/Cardio- Contain phytosterols to help lower cholesterol
** Vitamins vary in the levels of vitamins/minerals they contain
** Look at the amount of calcium and vitamin D in each vitamin
** Some multivitamins don’t contain iron
** Grocery store generic vitamins are ok to buy
As you can see there are many different types of vitamins. Overall, we recommend just a basic multivitamin such as One a Day or Centrum Silver to help fill the gaps that your diet is not fulfilling (a multivitamin should NEVER replace real food included in a well balanced diet!). If you have a specific health need such as a woman being pregnant or you are over the age of 50, then you can take that specific vitamin to fit your needs. The supplement industry is not regulated by the FDA like prescription drugs are…thus it is essential to consult your health care provider before taking supplements to ensure it is appropriate for you.
-Kelsey
