Gratitude and confidence. Those are the two words that come to mind when I think of the future of Affinity Occupational Health. Effective June 16, I will be stepping down as director of Employer Solutions for Affinity Health System. I am pleased to announce my new role as president and CEO of Catalpa Health, a joint venture of Affinity, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and ThedaCare, dedicated to caring for child and adolescent behavioral health in the Fox Valley. 

Affinity Occupational Health has been my home for more than a decade, and I am sincerely grateful for the many relationships I've built over the years, and for the trust you've placed in me to make a positive impact on wellness in your organization. Moreover, I am confident that Affinity Occupational Health will continue to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions for your employee health, safety and wellness needs, with a focus on value-added customer service.

We will be sure to keep you updated when a new director has been named. In the meantime, please accept my heartfelt thanks for allowing me to serve you and your team throughout my tenure with Affinity.

All the best,

Lisa Kogan-Praska

Do you like good food, fresh air, local artisans and family entertainment? You'll find all this and more at your local farm market.

"Farmers' markets are an excellent place to find colorful, fresh produce while also supporting your local farmers and merchants," says Julia Salomón, corporate dietitian and nutrition educator for Affinity Health System. Fruits and vegetables are picked the day before--or event the morning of--the event, which allows the produce to retain optimal ripeness and nutritional value. Many markets also offer locally raised meats, jams and honey, fresh cheese and baked goods.

So pack a sack, bring the kids, and shop to your healthy heart's content. Here is a sampling of some farm markets near you:

Appleton Downtown Farm Market
College Avenue from Appleton Street to Durkee Street plus Houdini Plaza
Saturdays, June 16 - Oct. 30
8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Neenah Farm Market
Shattuck Park
Saturdays, June 16 - Oct. 13
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Oshkosh Saturday Farmers Market, Inc.
400 and 500 blocks of North Main Street
Saturdays, June 2 - Oct. 20
8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Community gardens are gaining popularity in Northeast Wisconsin. And it's easy to see why.

A community garden is a shared plot tended by multiple gardeners. This solution is ideal for people can't plant their own garden because their lawn is unsuitable, or because they rent and don't own green space. Some people simply prefer the camaraderie that a community garden provides. Together, these green thumbs enjoy the healthy labor and delicious rewards of growing fresh produce and flowers.

Consider bringing the benefits of community gardening to your workplace! As part of your company's wellness efforts, a community garden is an excellent way to:

Got weeds? Rabbits in your lettuce patch? Pesky bugs nibbling your carrot tops? Here's how to handle these common gardening woes the all-natural way.

Yank them while they're small. Aim to pull weeds while they're young sprouts, before they go to seed. Because, as the old gardening saying goes, "One year's seeding makes seven years' weeding."

Mulch. Two to three inches of mulch will prevent sunlight from reaching weed seedlings, making it more difficult for unwelcome plants to grow. Organic mulch options include compost, shredded leaves, wood chips, bark or grass clippings. But be sure to keep mulch an inch or two from plant stems so moisture won't get trapped in the mulch, which can lead to rot.

Cover up. Control pests by covering plants with floating row covers. Sold by the yard, this translucent, porous polyester fabric can keep insects out while allowing up to 80 percent of the natural light in.

Fence in. Chicken wire fencing is still one of the safest, most effective ways to keep rabbits out of a garden. Make sure the mesh is one inch or smaller so that small rabbits can't fit through.

Spray away. Keep those bad bunnies out with hot sauce. Mix one tablespoon of Tabasco sauce per one gallon of warm water, fill an empty spray bottle and saturate the grass surrounding your garden. Bunnies will turn up their noses at the taste of hot pepper. Do this for several nights in a row, and you just might train those furry friends to stay away all summer.

Source: OrganicGardening.com, WikiHow.com 

Create a Farm Market

 

Do you have gardeners on staff? Why not invite them to share their fare at a company-wide farm market?

Turn the parking lot into a produce paradise where employees can buy and sell fresh fruits and vegetables over the lunch break. Schedule your event for a date when household gardens are in peak season and growers have an overflow of crops to unload. If participants are willing, consider donating some or all of the profits to a local food pantry or other charity.

Road construction will affect Affinity Medical Home clinics in Greenville and Brillion this summer. If you have appointments at either location, please allow a little extra time to navigate the construction detours. Following is some helpful information to ease your travels.

Please welcome John Steinlage, MD, to the Affinity Medical Home clinic in Greenville. Dr. Steinlage has roots in the Fox Valley medical community, and we are pleased to welcome him and his family back to the area.

As a board-certified Family Medicine physician, Dr. Steinlage treats patients of all ages. He has special interests in pediatrics and dermatology. "I enjoy developing a close practice relationship with my patients and their families, and offer immediate care when they need it," Dr. Steinlage says.

Outside of the office, he enjoys downhill skiing, reading, and going to sporting events with his sons.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Steinlage, call the Greenville clinic at (920) 882-2400.

By Julia Salomón, MS, RD, CD
Corporate Dietitian and Nutrition Educator, Affinity Health System
 
Black coffee has zero calories and zero carbohydrates, yet today's coffee drinks have turned into the caloric equivalent of rich desserts that people are consuming on a regular basis.
 
Many specialty coffee drinks use espresso as the starting ingredient, a concentrated form of coffee. Espresso does not take up too much room in the cup, allowing for the rest of the drink to be filled with calorically dense ingredients such as whipped cream. A coffee drink that includes half and half would provide double the amount of calories and three times as much fat than if whole milk were used. In turn, a coffee drink made with whole milk would provide 50 percent more calories and 7 grams more fat than if skim milk were used.

In addition to milk-based products, many coffee beverages contain other ingredients. Flavored syrups, for example, contain 20 calories for each pump, and most coffee drinks take at least three pumps, adding to the caloric value of the beverage.

Dry coffee creamers and other flavored powdered coffee mixtures may add to the caloric and fat content of your coffee beverage. Read the ingredient label as some may contain partially hydrogenated fats as well.

The caffeine content of different coffee drinks will vary depending on the kinds of beans used, and how the coffee was prepared. It is interesting to note that some coffee drinks may contain more caffeine than some of the more popular soft or energy drinks. Consult with your doctor about issues related to how caffeine affects your health.

Consider this for the following 16 oz coffee drinks*:

What's the best way to grill a potato? Asparagus? Corn on the cob? For tips on these tasty vegetables and more, click this link for a handy PDF. Bon appétit!

Affinity Wellness and Preventive Services is proud to offer a variety of 60-minute healthy cooking demonstrations for your employees. We understand that eating healthy can be difficult with life's daily obstacles. Through these interactive cooking demonstrations, employees will learn how to make nutritious meal and snack choices for themselves and their families. As a part of each demonstration, healthy samples will be provided for all participants.

For your next wellness activity or lunch and learn, consider hosting one or more of these fun and interesting programs:

Eating Healthy on a Busy Schedule
Eating well when your life is so busy and stressful seems to be an impossible chore, but it's doesn't have to be. With a little time devoted to planning and choosing simple, healthy recipes, you can do it. Come explore how to eat healthy on your busy schedule and try some delicious recipes. Learn how to plan your menu for the week, write grocery lists and stick to it, and make three 30-minute meals. (Microwave required for this presentation).

How To Start Your Day Out Right: Eat Breakfast

Why do they say we need to eat breakfast? So many people are in a hurry to get out the door in the morning and don't really understand why breakfast is so important. Learn about the body's need for morning nutrition and some easy, quick and healthy ways to fit breakfast into your day.

Snack Attack - Healthy Snacks!
On the run, driving kids to and from their sporting events? Need an energy boost during the afternoon? Snacks can be good for you and easy to put together for your entire family. Learn how to make healthy snacks and share the good taste.

Family Fun at the Dinner Table
Healthy Meals for Those Finicky Eaters (or not)
Getting your family to sit at the table and eat a healthy meal can be a challenge, but with the right attitude and recipes, you can do it! Bring your agonizing dinner table issues, try some delicious, easy-to-make foods, and let's make feeding your family fun and nutritious.

Eating the "MyPlate" Way
"MyPlate" is the new government version of "MyPyramid." It's a wonderful tool to help us all eat the way we should and in such a simple way. Come learn about "MyPlate.gov" and how you can cook or prepare foods that will help you conform to the "MyPlate" ideal. Explore easy and innovative ways to prepare meals. Learn and taste the wonderful ways to eat the nutritious and tasty foods. This program can be one 60-minute demonstration or a five-part series.

The Wonderful World of Whole Grains
"I like my Wonder Bread. Why do I have to eat whole wheat or whole grains?" In this hands-on demonstration, we'll dispel the whole grains myths. Yes, whole grains play an important role in our nutritional requirements, but NO, they don't have to taste like sawdust! Come taste for yourself.

Eating Healthy on the Road
Fast food restaurants and junk food gas stations are not the only way to eat when traveling by car. Learn great tips and foods that can help you fight the road trip blues, and keep you healthy, energetic and fun! With a little planning and possibly a cooler, you're ready to hit the road!

My Luscious Lunch!
Facing lunch time with nothing but fast food restaurants, vending machines or sit-down restaurants can eat up the paycheck! What can we do instead? With proper planning, you can make easy, quick, healthy lunches in 5 to 10 minutes. It's perfect for that rushed morning! You can beat the temptation to buy calorie-dense foods that make you lethargic. Let's make a few luscious lunches!

We're ready to cook with you! To book an on-site cooking demo, call Affinity Occupational Health at 1-800-541-0351. 

Nutrition journaling programs can help you track and learn!

Looking for an easy, economical way to boost healthy eating awareness among your employees? Affinity Occupational Health offers a wide range of nutrition journaling programs designed to motivate your entire workforce to start eating healthy. Our programs are designed to be educational and motivational for all employees. Options include:

Bite It & Write It Journal--Focuses on enjoying each of the main food groups in moderation and with appropriate portion sizes each day.

Can the Soda Journal--The Can the Soda program focuses on the importance of drinking less soda daily or cutting it out completely, and drinking more water to maintain proper hydration and weight maintenance.

FiberFit Journal--Most people don't consume enough daily fiber. This program focuses on assisting your workforce to increase their daily fiber and the health benefits of eating more fiber.

Naughty or Nice Choices Nutrition Journaling Program--This program is designed to show you exactly how much fat and sugar you are consuming each day. The goal of the program is to aim to eat less of the "naughty" choices while consuming the daily recommended amounts of "nice" choices.

Get Your 5 a Day! Nutrition Journal--In this program, participants will track the fruits and vegetable servings they eat daily.

In addition, we offer some eye-opening healthy eating displays, such as "Sugar Stacks" (how much sugar is in your food?) and "Portion Distortion" (a four-week series on serving sizes, dining out, MyPlate, then and now). To bring these healthy eating programs to your workplace, call Affinity Occupational Health at 1-800-541-0351.

Got a bumper crop of rhubarb this June? Try this delicious and light recipe from SparkPeople.com.