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FOR INSPIRING GOOD HEALTH...

INTRODUCING "LUNCH 'N LEARNS"! 

Benefits Service Wellness Newsletter
February 2014

 

 

With my son in preschool and a niece in elementary school, I am exposed to a school environment for the first time since college days and am surprised to hear teachers often using the words "make good choices" with their students.  That wasn't around when I was in school.  What great words to teach kids!  I can't imagine more empowering words to guide people into creating better lives.  What good choices are you making today to enhance your life?  How about starting with some good choices to improve your health?

EAT WELL
tomatoes.jpg Are you eating enough fruits & vegetables?  See 10 Tips to a Great Plate!  This is a great visual to aid you in balancing your meals - focus on filling half your daily plates with fruits and vegetables!  If you are looking for maximum nutrition with the limited foods you eat, here is an article on 'Superfoods' Everyone Needs from WebMD and Kaiser's article on Superfoods.  Also, from Anthem, read about how Colorful Foods are Powerful Foods.
KEEP MOVING!
tennis-player-male.jpg What are the basics to stay fit & healthy?  Read here for a great guideline to how much physical activity you need.  A half hour of moderate exercise at least 5 days a week is a great goal.  And you don't have to hit the gym to stay fit.  Many activities at home or elsewhere will burn calories and benefit your body.  Find something you enjoy doing!  Anthem shares this article: Don't look now... but you just may be exercising.  Bump up your physical activity with small additions to your daily routine.  It will have a ripple effect of encouraging overall better health & fitness for you and those around you.  Inspire yourself and others with some small steps toward better fitness!
"LUNCH 'N LEARN" SYNOD WEBINARS STARTING IN MARCH! 

business-cellphone-woman.jpgDo you want to learn about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), your Synod Benefit Plans and Benefit Choices?  Beginning next month, we will be hosting a "LUNCH & LEARN" Webinar Series on the second Tuesday of each month at Noon.  You bring the lunch - we'll provide the "learn"!  Please join Erika James, Vice President, Employee Benefits at Ascension Insurance Solutions, to learn the basics about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how it affects your employee benefits decisions and budget.  The link for the GoToMeeting is below:

 

ACA: Learn the basics and how it affects employee benefits decisions and budget

MARCH 11th, TUESDAY, 12:00pm-12:45pm Pacific

Please register for this webinar by clicking on the below link:

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/442821526

 

I will also be listing this link and topics for future webinars on our website under "Benefits": www.synodpacific.org

IN THE KITCHEN
food2.jpg As part of the Synod Wellness Program, we'd love your participation IN THE KITCHEN.  Do you have some healthy recipes that you'd like to share?  If so, please email [email protected] with your name and church - I will post your recipe on one of my future emails.  Do you like salsa?  Here's a recipe for homemade salsa from Kaiser's website:
Fresh Tomato Salsa / Serves 8
About 1 1/2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1 jalapeno, minced (save the seeds to add later if you want more heat)
1 Serrano chili pepper, seeded and minced
Small handful cilantro, chopped
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
Juice of one lime
Optional dried oregano and ground cumin to taste
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Mix everything together.  To keep it extra healthy, you can serve your salsa with unsalted baked chips, on top of beans and/or brown rice, with chicken, or with your favorite fish.  Want a great appetizer for parties?  Add shrimp and some fresh garlic to your salsa - the guests will love it!    Bon appetit! 

If you have any particular health topics that you would like to learn more about, please email me and I will work on including these topics in a future Wellness Newsletter.  Additionally, Anthem and Kaiser websites offer free online webinars and recordings on various health concerns for members.  For Anthem: click here and "View Event Recordings.  For Kaiser: click here.  

 

If you are a church administrator receiving this, please forward this email to your Synod Benefit Participants in case they have not yet provided me with their email address.  They can send their name & email address to [email protected] to be added to future mailings.

Best wishes to your Good Health!

 

Melinda Durham

Benefits Coordinator

Synod of the Pacific

[email protected]

(800) 754-0669

 

DISCLAIMER: THE CONTENT AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS E-NEWSLETTER ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL ADVICE, AND WE DO NOT INTEND FOR  THIS INFORMATION TO BE USED TO DIAGNOSE OR PRESCRIBE  FORMS OF TREATMENT.