Wellness

@ Moraine Valley

Kelly Devine Rickert

Moraine Valley Wellness 8 Week Nutrition Program

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Join our 8 week weight loss/nutrition program to jump-start your health and wellness goals in 2021!

Details:

  • Program starts on Wednesday February 3rd and will conclude Wednesday February 24th.
  • Weekly PowerPoint lessons, handouts, a meal plan provided
  • All classes will be on Webex at 11am every Wednesday. Classes will be recorded (up until the Q and A portion).
  • Participants will self weigh
  • Goal of the program is to lose 1-2 pounds per week and to focus on lifestyle changes.

Cost and Registration: FREE for MVCC benefit eligible employees

To register: https://forms.gle/bFw6Cb4NVxv2WF256

Any questions email me at devinerickertk@morainevalley.edu

Fitting in Fitness Around the Holidays!

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Don’t forget about your fitness this holiday season! Here are some ideas to help you fit more physical activity into your day. Even just 10 minutes of exercise can blast 100 calories!

• Look for short periods of time (at least ten minutes) during the day in which you can do some physical activity.
• Do a 10 minute interval workout.
o Alternate the following exercises for the first 30 seconds of each minute followed by 30 seconds of rest.
 Pushups
 Sit-up’s
 Planks
 Burpees
 Jumping Jacks
 Stairs
 Walk/Run in Place
 Lunges
 Squats
 Tricep dips

• Park at the far end of the parking lot when you are out and about (When safe to do so!)

• Be active during lunchtime! If you bring your lunch to work, you may have time to take a brisk walk.

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

• Plan and prepare meals ahead of time, so you’ll have time to exercise.

• Get your family to exercise with you. It’s a fun way to spend some quality time together.

• Leaves still hanging around? Rake leaves for the evening.

• Keep a daily log; this can help you see where you can fit in more physical activity.

• Exercise inside using machines or DVD’s (PX90, Leslie Samsone, On Demand etc)

• Track your pedometer steps. Increase your goal each week!

  • Walk around the neighborhood and look at the holiday decorations!

Happy Holidays!

Kelly

Cranberry Orange Bread

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Quaker Oats-image Recipe Image Print

SERVINGS1 Loaf (16 Servings)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup(s) all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 Cup(s) Whole-wheat flour
  • 1-1/4 Cup(s) Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
  • 1/2 Cup(s) brown sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon(s) Baking Powder
  • 1/2 Teaspoon(s) Baking Soda
  • 1/4 Teaspoon(s) Salt
  • 1/4 Teaspoon(s) Nutmeg
  • 1/2 Teaspoon(s) Cinnamon
  • 1 Cup(s) non-fat milk 3 Eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/3 Cup(s) Tropicana Pure Premium® orange juice or Dole® 100% orange juice
  • 1/4 Cup(s) vegetable oil
  • 1 Tablespoon(s) Grated Orange Peel
  • 3/4 Cup(s) chopped fresh, frozen (thawed) or dried cranberries
  • 2 Tablespoon(s) chopped pecans

Cooking Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray pan bottom only of 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with non-stick vegetable coating. In large bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon; mix well. In medium bowl, combine milk, eggs, orange juice, oil and orange peel; blend well. Add to dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not overmix).Stir in cranberries and pecans. Pour batter into pan. Bake 60 to 70 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely. Store tightly wrapped.

Cook Note:

To toast nuts for extra flavor, spread evenly in shallow baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 5 to 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Cool completely before using.

Thanksgiving Recipes!

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Stuffing with cranberries
Serves 6
Ingredients
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
10 slices whole-wheat bread, toasted and cut into cubes
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped fresh cranberries
1 cup whole water chestnuts
1 cup chopped apple
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large skillet, heat the chicken broth over medium heat. Add the celery and onion and sauté until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, parsley, tarragon, paprika, nutmeg, cranberries, water chestnuts and chopped apples. Add the onion and celery mixture. Stir to mix evenly.
Spoon stuffing into the prepared baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes. Serve immediately
Nutrition:
120 calories, 2 g fat, 5 g fiber.
Credit: Mayo Clinic Staff

Skinny Green Bean Casserole
Just in time for the holidays!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and sliced into 1 ½-inch pieces.
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
• 1/3 cup fresh whole-grain bread crumbs

Preparation:
Heat oil on low heat in large skillet. Gently cook onion slices for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are golden. Remove onions from skillet and transfer to a plate.
Meanwhile, steam or boil green beans in for 5-6 minutes, then plunge in a bowl of cold water to keep the vibrant green color and stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside.
Add finely chopped onion, garlic to skillet, cook for 2-3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes, until they release their juices. Sprinkle flour and thyme over vegetables. Gradually stir in nonfat milk. Increase heat to medium and stir constantly until sauce thickens. Season with a tsp of salt if desired and some freshly ground black pepper.
Spread green beans in a 1 ½-2 quart casserole dish. Pour mushroom sauce over green beans. Top with onions and bread crumbs.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes, until golden.
Serves 6

Per serving: Calories 125, Calories from Fat 19, total Fat 2.2g (sat 0.4g), Cholesterol 1mg, Sodium 92mg, Carbohydrate 20.9g, Fiber 4.2g, Protein 5.7g

~Kelly

Healthy Holiday Apps

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  1. Brushetta

(In a bowl combine, 1.5 cups soft sun-dried tomatoes or freshly diced tomatoes, 6 basil leaves chopped, 3 tsp minced garlic, 1/8 cup olive oil and toss, sprinkle sea salt and cracked pepper. Spoon onto whole grain crackers (Triscuits, Kashi, Weight Watcher baguettes, etc).

  1. Hummus and veggies/crackers
    Click this link for a fantastic tasting hummus or in a pinch? I recommend Cedar’s Hummus, has zero additives and only 40 calories a serving.
    Pair with sliced peppers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, cucumebers, etc.
  2. Good ‘ol shrimp and dip. Full of protein. Check out this shrimp platter twist here.
  3. Green Chile & Goat Cheese Dip (This looks wonderful, haven’t tried but plan to this season!)
    Link to recipe here
  4. 5 Spice Pistachio Nuts

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons orange juice
6 tablespoons Chinese five-spice powder
4 teaspoons kosher salt
6 cups unsalted pistachios

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 250°F.
Whisk orange juice, five-spice powder and salt in a large bowl. Add pistachios; toss to coat. Divide between 2 large rimmed baking sheets; spread in an even layer.
Bake, stirring every 15 minutes, until dry, about 45 minutes. Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

  1. Popcorn.. with a twist!

Pop 1/2 cup kernels in air popper (or for quick microwave options, place 1/4 c kernels in a brown paper bag, fold down twice and place on popcorn setting. Repeat as many times as you need for desired amount of popcorn.

Combine 4 tsp white truffle oil, 2 tbsp dried parsley, or basil, and 1/4 c Parmesan cheese. Toss and coat popcorn!
*Other oils to use: coconut oil, olive or canola oil, with other spice variations:
Cajun seasonings, garlic, pepper, Mrs Dash, you name it!

In good health,
Kelly Devine Rickert MS RDN CSSD LDN
MVCC Wellness Coordinator

Roasting Veggies!

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Looking to add more vegetables to your diet?
Look no further! Try this quick and easy recipe with tonight’s dinner

Roasted Broccoli
Preheat oven to 450 Degrees. Line a cookie sheet with tinfoil.

Chop up a head of broccoli* (not frozen). Place in a bowl. Pour ~2tbsp olive oil over broccoli and toss. Place on cookie sheet and spread out. Lightly sprinkle with seasonings (I use garlic, pepper and a dash of sea salt).
Roast in oven for 10 minutes. (After about 5 minutes you can mix around veggies if you desire).

Viola! You are done! This is my favorite way to cook vegetables, because it is fast, easy, healthy and best of all? Tastes good!!!

*This recipe can be used for any vegetable: tomatoes, peppers, onions, brussel sprouts, cauliflower.. you name it!

Roasted Parmesan Cauliflower recipe!

1 head cauliflower (chopped into small florets)
Garlic Powder
Fresh or canned Parmesan cheese (about 1/4 cup)
Olive oil (in a diffuser is the lowest calorie way)
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400-425 degrees

  1. Chop cauliflower and spread on a baking sheet (covered in tinfoil for easy clean up!)
  2. Spray olive oil (using a diffuser for lowest calorie options or toss with 1-2 tbsp oil)
  3. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt (I like the taste of sea salt the best) and cracked pepper.
  4. Roast in oven for 20-25 minutes, stirring, turning veggies at least 1-2 times.
  5. Take out and sprinkle on cheese. (Can even add a tbsp of balsamic vinegar as well).
  6. Put back in oven for about 5 minutes.

You can also add a wide variety of spices and herbs to experiment with flavors.

Kelly Devine Rickert MS RDN CSSD LDN