A person holding a fork and a bowl of salad

Description automatically generated with low confidenceMarch Wellness: National Nutrition Month

March is the National Nutrition Month in which we focus on healthy eating and the benefits of good nutrition to your overall well-being. Be sure to visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GTCMHIC for healthy recipes and quick, healthy meal ideas throughout the month of March.

When trying to make healthier choices for meals and cooking with less fat and salt, you can become frustrated in trying to still have a lot of flavor or taste-depth to your meals. Below are a few tips to get restaurant-level flavor at home without restaurant-level calories.

 

A bowl of soup with a spoon

Description automatically generated with low confidenceTurn your pan crust into a pan sauce.

Add a splash of wine or stock and a few seasonings to the brown leftovers in your pan, reduce over low heat for a few minutes, and you’ve got an instant savory sauce.

Save the best for last.

Finish veggies and proteins with a judicious drizzle of your very best olive oil and a pinch of flaky sea salt. Adding a little salt and fat at the last minute will allow you to use a lot less of both while cooking.

 

Caramelize your veggies.

Carrots, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and brussels sprouts contain natural sugars, yet when raw or steamed they still taste vegetal. But expose them to high heat, and those sugars caramelize transforming them into addictive candy bombs. Roast on high, oven set to 400 degrees, and roast for 15 minutes or until brown.

Add high-impact, low-calorie flavorings.

Citrus zest, citrus juice, fresh ginger, fresh herbs and chiles can add brightness to a dish. Balsamic vinegar, miso paste, anchovies, Dijon, soy sauce, Parmigiano-Reggiano and harissa contribute a richer and deeper flavor.

 

 

3 Antiaging Snacks

Almonds

They contain loads of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects cells from damage. That helps explain why people who eat nuts every day live longer than those who don’t.

A picture containing indoor, red, berry, decorated

Description automatically generatedBerries

Whether they’re blue, red, or black, berries are loaded with natural jewel-toned pigments called anthocyanins, which are packed with memory-enriching compounds.

A picture containing container, glass

Description automatically generatedGreek Yogurt

This common staple of the Mediterranean diet offers calcium for strong bones, protein to support muscle, and probiotics that nourish the gut microbiome to help with healthy aging.

Source: AARP: The Magazine, www.aarp.org

Visit our Facebook page to learn about the 7 Surprising Uses for Carrots the week of March 10th- March 17th!

 

Additional Resources

MyPlate- This website has numerous tools to help get you or keep you on track for healthy eating. Check out the app that helps you keep track of your servings.

48 Healthy Recipes: They’re all under 500 Calories- This article from Women’s Health Magazine offers a variety of recipe ideas for low calorie, tasty meal options; includes vegetarian options too!

Food Preservation- With food costs on the rise, eating healthy has become more costly. Check out this website full of information on best to can, freeze, dry, cure, ferment, pickle, and store our favorite foods!

 

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March Food Drive: Building a Better Community by Fighting Hunger Today!

In honor of National Nutrition Month, we are hosting our second annual food drive to promote community involvement as part of your “self-care is healthcare” in 2024. All donations will be delivered to local food pantries to support the communities where our members reside. Tompkins County, Village of Cayuga Heights, Town of Ithaca, Town of Dryden, Village of Dryden, Town of Homer, Lansing Library, Village of Owego, and City of Cortland have all volunteered to have drop off locations available to all our Consortium members. See the flyer for locations and hours of operation.

Blue4U Clinics March 2024

The GTCMHIC, has partnered with Integrated Health 21 to provide employees on the Platinum, Silver, Gold, or Bronze health plans with a clinically sound biometric screening experience and an easy to use interactive educational platform. The Consortium supports and encourages healthy behaviors that translate to a better quality of life, for life!

What to Expect

The purpose of the voluntary Blue4U program is first to help you understand your current health status, then to provide the tools that can help you reach and maintain your wellness goals.

If you or your spouse/domestic partner choose to participate, you will complete a health questionnaire and have a biometric screening provided by a licensed clinician, which includes a fasting blood sample for testing, and measured height, weight, and BMI. The clinics will be located conveniently at various municipal locations, or you can visit an offsite lab as well.

Your results will be shared with you and will not be seen by your employer. All your information will be kept confidential. After your screening you will receive your results packet in the mail. You can log onto the wellness portal to see your results and access tools and resources to help you on your personal wellness journey.

Note: For City of Ithaca and Tompkins County incentive eligible employees, you will need a different company code to access your incentive program.

DATE

START TIME

END TIME

SCREENING LOCATION

ADDRESS

3/5/2024

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

Ithaca Airport                                           CFR Conference Room

72 Brown Rd,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/6/2024

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

County Admin Building                       Scott Heyman Conference Room

125 East Court St,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/7/2024

7:00 AM

11:00 AM

Tompkins County Public Works Building

170 Bostwick Rd.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/8/2024

7:00 AM

11:00 AM

Seneca County Office - Law Enforcement Center
(follow the signs)

6150 Rte. 96
Romulus, NY 14541

3/11/2024

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

Health Department                                Rice Conference Room

55 Brown Rd,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/12/2024

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

Human Services Building                   Beverly Livesay Conference Room

320 W. Martin Luther King Jr./State St.
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/12/2024

8:30am

11:30am

GTCMHIC Headquarters

408 East Upland Rd, Suite 2
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/13/2024

7:00 AM

11:00 AM

Tompkins County Public Works Building

170 Bostwick Rd.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/18/2024

7:30 AM

9:00 AM

City of Ithaca- Police Dept                  4th Floor

120 East Clinton St.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/18/2024

10:00 AM

12:00 PM

Greater Ithaca Activities Center

301 West Court St.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/19/2024

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

County Admin Building                       Scott Heyman Conference Room

125 East Court St.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/19/2024

9:30 AM

11:30 AM

City of Ithaca- City Hall                  2nd Floor

108 East Green St.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/19/2024

7:00 AM

9:00 AM

Ithaca Fire Department

310 West Green St.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/20/2024

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

Human Services Building                 Beverly Livesay Conference Room

320 W. Martin Luther King Jr./State St.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/20/2024

9:30 AM

11:30 AM

Ithaca Youth Bureau                         Gym

1 James L. Gibbs Drive,
Ithaca, nY 14850

3/21/2024

7:00 AM

9:00 AM

Streets and Facilities

245 Pier Road,

Ithaca, NY 14850

3/22/2024

7:00 AM

11:00 AM

Seneca County Office Building
Heroes of 9/11 Conference Room (3rd floor)

1 Dipronio Dr.,
Waterloo, NY 13165

3/25/2024

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

County Admin Building                       Scott Heyman Conference Room

125 East Court St.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/26/2024

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

Ithaca Airport                                        CFR Conference Room

72 Brown Rd.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/27/2024

8:00 AM

12:00 PM

Health Department                                Rice Conference Room  

55 Brown Rd.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

3/29/2024

7:00 AM

11:00 AM

Seneca County Office Building
Heroes of 9/11 Conference Room (3rd floor)

1 Dipronio Dr.,
Waterloo, NY 13165

 

 

To register for a Blue4U clinic you must complete your online registration here

To set up your account:

1.Click on, "New User? Register Here."

2.Enter your first name as it is listed on your insurance card or payroll check, last name, birthday, and the company code.

a. Company Code for all participants across the Consortium: GTCMHIC

            b. Company Code for City of Ithaca incentive eligible employees only: ITHACA

            c. Company Code for Tompkins County incentive eligible employees only: TOMPKINS

3. Please create your username and password. Enter your email address, phone number, and submit.

 

After you complete the lifestyle questionnaire, you will be able to register for a screening. Click on, “click here to register.” You will be redirected to the online scheduler. All locations available to you will be displayed and you can select a date/time/location that works for your schedule.

 

Upcoming Events

March- Food Drive Challenge- see the attached flyer for donation sites in March. All donations given will be donated to your local food pantry in honor of National Nutrition Month.

April- Tune into You Challenge- the goal of this program is to help you to become in touch with yourself, reduce stress, and enjoy the present moment. See attached flyer for details. To register email hcwellness@tompkins-co.org.

May- Cultivating Healthy Spaces- in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month this challenge focuses on mental well-being and you will be delivered a plant to green up your workspace. Plants are delivered before May 1st so register early to ensure a delivery! Email hcwellness@tompkins-co.org to register by April 22nd, include work physical address when registering.

May 10th- Noon- MDLive Informational Virtual Class

Dig deeper into your wellness journey by following our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/GTCMHIC