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April is Stress Awareness Month!
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Stress not only diminishes our quality of life but can also perpetuate and contribute to chronic disease. Learning to cope with our stress and finding healthy ways to deal with these situations can go a long way in living a healthy and positive life. Take a deep breath and view the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guide on managing and screening your stress using the tool below.
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Calling All DC Hospital Chefs!
It's not too late to participate in this year's cooking competition for hospital chefs. This friendly competition highlights healthy and low-sodium recipes as a part of the Healthy Hospital Initiative. Participants will be challenged to create three dishes both incorporating a mystery ingredient: blueberries. An award will be given to the winning chef/hospital and they will be featured on our website, social media, and newsletters. See below for full guidelines.
Dates to Remember:
- April 28 – Submissions Due
- May 2 – Judging Begins
- May 26 – Winners Revealed
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Worth a Read: FAQs About Healthy Beverage Initiatives
Being prepared for questions from patients, staff and visitors is an important part of getting buy-in and creating sustainability for a healthy beverage initiative. Check out some frequently asked questions and common concerns that your organization may encounter below.
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Upcoming Webinars: Duke University Food Matters Series
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Habits that Stick
Monday, April 11, Noon-12:30pm
We all likely know how to get started with exercising or eating better, but why is it so hard to stick to it for more than a few weeks? Join us for a dive into forming habits that will stick through pandemic to endemic.
Food for Immunity
Monday, April 25, Noon-12:30pm
People often seek special foods or vitamin supplements that are believed to boost immunity. Join us for a discussion of the immune-boosting diet and learn what steps you can take to keep your immune system functioning at it's best.
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Wellness Tip: Practice the Big Three
There is a reason that eating healthy, exercising and getting enough sleep always appear on prevention lists. These three habits are the cornerstone to a happy, healthy life and their impact on stress is no different.
- Eating a diet full of fresh, whole foods helps the body combat stress naturally. It is also wise to avoid stimulants like caffeine, alcohol and nicotine that can amplify stress, interfere with sleep and worsen the effects stress has on the body.
- Getting the recommended amount of exercise lowers blood pressure and provides a healthy outlet to relieve stress. Rhythmic exercise such as walking, jogging and swimming has proven to be especially effective. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity, five days a week.
- Not getting a proper amount of sleep makes it difficult to deal with stressful situations and can increase anxiety and depression. To establish a healthy sleeping routine, make sure to turn off all electronics at least 30 minutes prior to going to bed and try to establish a calming nighttime ritual, such as reading or meditating. This ritual will signal your mind to relax and prepare for a restful night’s sleep.
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Healthy Recipe: Everything Spring Salad
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Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 bunch asparagus, tender parts, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- ½ cup frozen peas, thawed
- A few handfuls of salad greens
- 2 radishes, thinly sliced
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ avocado, pitted and diced
- ¼ cup chopped, unsalted pistachios
- ½ cup salt-free canned chickpeas
- Fresh herbs, for garnish (basil, mint and/or chives)
For the Dressing:
- ¼ cup fresh basil or a mix of basil and mint
- 1 small garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, plus ½ teaspoon zest
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, more as desired
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and set a bowl of ice water nearby. Blanch the asparagus for about 1 minute, until tender but still bright green. Transfer to the ice water for 1 minute, then drain. Allow the asparagus to dry and transfer it back to the bowl and add the peas.
- Make the dressing: In a food processor, pulse together the herbs, garlic, lemon juice, zest, vinegar, olive oil, and salt.
- Add half of the dressing to the bowl with the asparagus and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Assemble the salad. Arrange the salad greens on a platter, then layer the asparagus/pea mixture, the radishes, feta, avocado, pistachios, chickpeas, and herbs.
- Drizzle with remaining dressing, season to taste with more salt and pepper, and serve.
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Healthier Hospital Initiative Materials
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- Be on the lookout for Q2 data requests coming soon!
- Please complete the survey included in the data request by April 15.
- Don't forget to share your wellness stories with us!
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The Healthier Hospital Initiative is a partnership between DCHA Program Services Company, Inc. and DC Health to reduce the availability and consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and to promote healthier eating choices in DC hospitals.
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