A community that together achieves and maintains a healthy weight at every age.
November 2015
In this issue:
Tip of the Month
Focus on Maintaining during the Holidays
All your hard work throughout the year should not be lost during the holiday season but it's also not the time to focus on weight loss. The holidays should be a time of family and celebration! Here are some tips for maintaining your weight during the holiday season contributed by Mary Dorn, RN, BSN; Public Health Officer/Manager, Outagamie County Public Health Division.


Recipe of the Month
Healthy Pumpkin-Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
Recipes that are good for you AND tasty? Yes! Try these Healthy Pumpkin-Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies submitted by Brenda Leigh, MS, RD at ThedaCare.


"I took the pledge..."
to eat mindfully.
"Between the hubbub of the holiday season and the busyness of work and family life, I find myself often nibbling or noshing on food, many times, without much thought. My pledge is to eat more mindfully and to honor my hunger and satiety cues.- Julia E. Salom�n, MS, RDN, CD; Community Health Improvement Leader, Affinity Health System



You can  Take the Pledge! Choose something you can routinely do to live a healthier life within your family or your community.
Video of the Month
Acorn Squash Fall Recipe
Calendar
DECEMBER

Weight of the Fox Valley Food System Action Team Meeting
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
Boys and Girls Club of Menasha
Weight of the Fox Valley Updates
Wake Up with Weight of the Fox Valley
Thanks to everyone who attended our Wake up with Weight of the Fox Valley Breakfast Event on Friday, November 20th. A special thank you to our keynote speaker, Dr. Brenda Rooney. Dr. Rooney co-directs the population health and health promotion activities for Gundersen Health System. She built an electronic health scorecard which is influencing how the La Crosse community addresses their most pressing health issues. Dr. Rooney presented how we can "learn from La Crosse," demonstrating how a little bit of information can spark a change in obesity rates. The presentation was compelling and extremely well received by the audience.

We were also inspired by two great Oshkosh initiatives: Girls on Track (pictured right), a South Park Middle School initiative and Bonus 10 Food Bucks, an Oshkosh Farmers Market initiative.

Save the Date
The next Wake Up with Weight of the Fox Valley Breakfast Event will take place on Tuesday, March 8th, 2016 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Bridgewood Conference Center, Neenah.

Dr. Christina Economos, Associate Professor of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and Director of ChildObesity180 will be our speaker. Dr. Economos, a nationally recognized expert on obesity, will present the Shape Up Somerville initiative. More details will follow. The event is free and open to the general public! Read more about our keynote speaker, Dr. Economos...
Family Dinner Night
Thank you Edison Elementary School for hosting the Family Dinner Night. We had a blast with 10 families who came to school in the evening to cook, to learn, and to have fun.
During the Family Night, they had an opportunity to learn how to cook a healthy and simple dinner that they can easily make at home. They went through all the phases such as chopping, cooking, setting the table, and eating. Every one of the family members, including the little ones, took part. Learn more about Family Dinner Night.

The menu for the night included Layered Mexican Salad and Frozen Banana Pops. It was delicious!
Food Tasting Assembly
Two weeks before the Family Dinner Night, we hosted a Food Tasting Event at Edison Elementary School. 290 students attended an assembly during the school day. Both kids and teachers were amazed to learn how food tastes, while their eyes were covered. Some of them tried certain kinds of food for the first time!

Did you know that you have to try a new food 10 times before your taste buds can decide whether they really like the food or not. Read tips about how to get picky eaters to try new foods.

Special thank you to Lori Bjelde from Edison Elementary School; Julia Salom�n and Courtney Immel (intern) from Affinity Health System for leading the sessions.
Ask a Local Expert
Do you have a question about exercise, physical activity or eating right?
Weight of the Fox Valley is able to help! We have access to local experts who are willing to answer your questions on healthy living. 

To access this confidential service, simply go to a topic under the "Healthy Living" section of our website and click on "Ask the Expert." Type in your question and a local expert will answer you as soon as possible!

Wellness Winners
Our Winner: Connor Story
Our  Wellness Winner of the month is Connor Story. Connor decided to make a change even as a young adult. He struggled with poor eating habits throughout middle and high school. "When I hit 285 lbs. on the scale my junior year of high school, it actually hit me like a ton of bricks. I didn't want to grow up like that anymore. I wanted to be healthy and an inspiration to others in the same situation." Read more about Connor's story.

Every month we will feature a person from the community with an interesting story. We will choose an individual who has been living a healthy lifestyle or a person who made a change in his/her life to adopt healthier habits.

The Wellness Winners post will include a photo, background and details about the person. We are not necessarily looking for professionals (athletes or professional basketball/football players), but we are looking for everyday winners in life! Submit your story to become a Wellness Winner!
Food Fight
White Potatoes vs. Sweet Potatoes
Both of these tuberous vegetables are considered to be good sources of fiber, but sweet potatoes tend to contain fewer calories while white potatoes tend to be more cost-friendly. 


Contributors: Julia E. Salom�n, MS, RDN, CD; Community Health Improvement Leader, Affinity Health System and Courtney Immel, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Dietetic Intern, Affinity Health System
Questions? 
Contact: Keren Rosenberg
Weight of the Fox Valley Manager

We appreciate your continued interest in creating a community that together achieves and maintains a healthy weight at every age.

If you know others that would like to receive this newsletter please email us.

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United Way Fox Cities | 1455 Midway Road | Menasha | WI | 54952