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The second eligibility period for WOW! Rewards began on April 1st and ends on September 30th. There are only 2 months left to participate for FY08!
For more information on Rolling Rewards and Instant Incentives, go to the WOW! Homepage.
How do you tell if you've completed the program requirements? Click here to find out! | |
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Greetings from the MaineHealth WOW! (Works on Wellness) Team!
Hard to believe it's August already-and the beginning of peak harvest season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated August 3-9 as "National Farmers Market Week." According to the USDA: more than 4,400 farmers markets across the country offer consumers farm-fresh, affordable, convenient, and healthful products such as fruits, vegetables, cheeses, herbs, fish, flowers, baked goods, meat and much more. Maine is home to more than seventy farmers markets of its own. For a farmers market in your area, visit www.getrealmaine.com. To make the most of your local market:
- Get there early for the best selection.
- Ask the farmer about the produce s/he is selling. How can you tell it is fresh? When was it picked? How should you use it?
- Be adventuresome. Select at least one unfamiliar fruit or vegetable to try.
Once you get home, bring out the best in your farmers market fare.
- Invest in fruit and vegetable-oriented cookbooks such as Jane Brody's Good Food Gourmet, Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian or Mollie Katzen's Moosewood series.
- Present fruits and vegetables in a pleasing way. Serve new items as unthreatening side dishes, so that family members will have a chance to get used to them. For a savory appetizer, try the walnut pesto recipe listed below.
- Brighten your dining area with farmers market flowers.
- Discuss healthy eating with the little ones in your life. Begin with a book. Raising Readers recommends Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert (Harcourt, 1994). FMI, visit www.raisingreaders.org.
- Sign up for a cooking class at the MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers: 1.866.609.5183.
For more summer health tips, see the WOW! Calendar and WOW! Newsletter, or read August's Enlightened Living column (click on In Good Health at www.themaineswitch.com), courtesy of the MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers.
Finally, find out whether your summer wellness activities make you eligible for WOW! Rebates, at www.mainehealth.org/wow.
Happy August!
Lisa Belisle, MD, MPH
Medical Advisor, MaineHealth WOW!
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RECIPE: Enjoy the health benefits of walnuts enhanced by aromatic summer basil in this easy walnut pesto. The flavor in this pesto is intensified by toasting the nuts and adding a small amount of walnut oil. 
Walnut Pesto 2-4 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2/3 cup walnut halves, lightly toasted
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp walnut oil (may be omitted, if unavailable)
1/8-1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Optional: 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
Place basil and garlic in a food processor and mince well. Add walnuts and continue to process until the nuts are ground. With food processor running, drizzle in the walnut oil, then olive oil, until desired consistency is reached. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the Parmesan, if desired.
Refrigerate for up to a week in a sterile jar. Cover with a layer of olive oil to minimize discoloration of the basil.
Because it contains walnut oil, this savory pesto won't fare as well when exposed to high cooking temperatures, but it is delicious on raw vegetables, pita chips or crackers. Careful--it is highly addictive!
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LifeBalance
Employee Assistance Program
Struggling with a chronic disease, such as heart disease or diabetes? Patients with chronic illnesses and their families often find themselves faced with significant emotional, physical and financial concerns. These don't have to be faced alone. MaineHealth employees who are dealing with chronic illness can get help through the LifeBalance Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
LifeBalance offers expert consultation, referrals to local resources, nurse line access and face-to-face assessment. For more information, visit www.mainehealth.org/wow. Username: mainehealth; Password: lifebalance.
For information on classes related to chronic illness management, call the MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers at 1.866.609.5183.
Lisa Belisle, MD, MPH
Medical Advisor, MaineHealth WOW! |
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MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers
The MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers have released their Fall 2008 Course Schedule. With a wide range of classes from parenting to healthy, low cost cooking to healthy aging, there is something for everyone! Click here for the full Course Schedule.
Remember- if there is a fee charged for a class that you are interested in, that fee qualifies towards the WOW! Rebates program (formerly known as Instant Incentives). You can receive a rebate for up to $50.00! All employees are eligible for WOW! Rebates. Please visit www.mainehealth.org/wow for more details on the WOW! Rebates program. | |
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