LiveWell Vermont

Carrot, Zucchini and Parsnip Frittata Fingers Ingredients: Melted butter, to grease 2 tsp. olive oil ½ cup firmly packed grated green zucchini ½ cup firmly packed grated carrot ½ cup firmly packed grated parsnip 2 green shallot ends, trimmed and finely chopped 3 eggs, lightly whisked 1/3 cup coarsely grated cheese of choice 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh or 1 tsp dried parsley 1 Tbsp. flour, sifted Preparation: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a shallow, square cake pan with melted butter to lightly grease. Line the base and 2 opposite sides with non-stick baking paper, allowing it to overhang. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the zucchini, carrot, parsnip and shallots. Cook, stirring for 4-5 minutes or until the vegetables soften. Remove from heat and set aside for 10 minutes to cool. Combine vegetable mixture, egg, cheese, parsley and flour in a large bowl and stir until well combined. Spoon vegetable mixture into prepared pan a...

Hunger Killers :  Just a handful of almonds are a rich source of antioxidants, vitamin E, and magnesium. Almonds have also been shown to increase feelings of fullness in people and help with weight management, according to a study presented at The 2006 Obesity Society Annual Scientific Meeting. So what are you waiting for? Nosh on almonds for your next healthy snack!  Morning/Mid-Afternoon Snack:  If you're fighting the urge to nap on your desk after lunch, then maybe that midday cup of coffee just isn't cutting it. Stave off the afternoon slump by swapping your caffeine for fresh fruit with nuts or Greek yogurt. They'll fight fatigue and keep you going between meals. Healthy Lunch:  Forget take-out for lunch and think take-in. Lunches can easily be taken to the office, to school and anywhere else you need to go. Tasty and healthy, these lunch recipes emphasize lots of delicious fresh produce, whole grains and lean protein to fuel you for the rest of your day...

Upcoming Event in Montpelier! Find out more about this event HERE

Honey-Lime Sweet Potato Black Bean & Corn Tacos   Yield:  About 5 - 6 servings Ingredients 1 1/2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled if desired and diced into 1/2-inch cubes 4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp paprika 1/4 tsp ground coriander 1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 small yellow onion, diced (1 cup) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 (14.5) oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup frozen yellow corn, thawed and drained 3 Tbsp. honey 3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro Corn or flour tortillas Romaine lettuce or purple cabbage, feta cheese (Monterey or Manchego would also be good), diced avocados, fresh salsa or Pico de Gallo and hot sauce (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil then place sweet potatoes on foil. Drizzle with 3 Tbsp. olive oil and toss to evenly coat. Sprinkle evenly with cumin, paprika, coriander, cayenne pepper and seas...

Ever wonder what it would be like to open your fridge to find a full week of healthy, delicious food that’s prepped and ready to be eaten? Meal prep is a fantastic way to keep you on track with your eating throughout the entire week. Meal prep does not have to be complicated! The thought can be intimidating, and maybe overwhelming, but follow these simple steps and you will be a pro in no time! Meal prep is basically any preparation of your food that you do ahead of time. Any amount of prep at any time counts. It can be your whole week of meals or just pre-cutting your veggies. Anything that saves you time. 1. EVALUATE YOUR SITUATION – a little “pre-prep” work   Before you dive in for the first time, think about the following: Do you have containers to store the food you prepare? Storing food in airtight containers is important for freshness. I would recommend 4-cup plastic or glass containers in general, for lunch meals prepared ahead. How many ...

We love this posture poster! Have can you improve yours today?

Register for the Challenge by Sunday, July 19th! https://mybluehealth.bcbsvt.com/dt/v2/bcbsvtindex.asp Questions? Contact: Alissa Robertson Live Well Vermont Health Educator & Registered Dietitian Alissa.Robertson@state.vt.us (802) 828-2931

Look: mosquitoes are awful. They may be great food for birds and bats, but you don’t want them hanging around your backyard. You also don’t want to cover yourself in harsh chemicals to repel them. So, aside from making your property less friendly to the buggers by getting rid of any standing water (including those rain gutters!), what can you do to keep them away? It turns out that mosquitoes, along with many biting insects, are attracted to certain odors in the human body. They’re especially attracted to your body odor and other secretions, meaning that if you’re spending a lot of time running around and sweating, you can expect to have more mosquitoes following you around. Alternately certain strong—or unpleasant to the bug—smells can both hide your scent and dissuade them from getting close enough to bite you. There are several plants with strong scents that we find pleasant, which you can use to help mask your own smell and keep nearby mosquitoes at a distance. ...

We all have those afternoons and weekends where we want to go out and get into the woods, but we don’t feel like hiking our usual spots and aren’t sure where to head. Lucky for you, the  Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation  has teamed up with the  Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA)  and the  Vermont Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Community  to help you solve that problem! We are very proud to announce our new  Trail Finder website , just in time for National Trails Day on June 6th. How does it help you?  Trail Finder  (www.trailfinder.info) is basically a search engine for trails in our region that combines interactive trail maps and descriptive details that enable you to search not only by town, but also by hiking difficulty, trail activity (mountain biking, snowshoeing, etc) or keyword. It presents you with a list sorted by relevance to your search, and you can see all of the trails’ stats easily as you scroll: acti...

Apple pie, fireworks, sunshine and barbeque's - 4th of July is all about family, friends and food. Here are a few tips to stay healthy and safe during the holiday! Wear Sunscreen. Beach, hike, travel to the mountains - whatever your plans for the extended weekend are, make sure you are protected from the sun. Excessive sun exposure could cause sunburns, skin rashes, hives and blisters. Chose a broad spectrum sunscreen, one that provides protection from UVA and UVB rays and has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30. Check the Water. What better way to beat the heat than diving into some cool water? But before you take the plunge, remember to check the clarity of the water. Blue-green algae, the slimy and smelly greenish film that coats the surface of most lakes or pools, could be a breeding ground for toxic bacteria such as cyanobacteria. The toxins released from the bacteria can cause a sore throat, wheezing, irritation of the eyes, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Br...