LiveWell Vermont

Next time you're feeling sluggish during your work day, try these quick tips to help boost your energy and mood! Drink water: Dehydration can cause a lack of energy and make you feel sluggish. Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day! Go for a walk: If you're sitting at a desk all day, even just 15 minutes in the fresh air and sunshine can do wonders for your energy levels. Reach for an energizing snack: Your brain and body need food to get through the day. Don't reach for snacks loaded with sugar or fat. Instead, to avoid a mid-afternoon crash, choose snacks that are full of protein, fiber, and/or whole grains.  Examples: Fresh fruit, veggies and hummus, single serving of trail mix, whole grain crackers, yogurt, and air-popped popcorn. Stretch: A quick stretching session can boost energy and get the blood flowing! A quick workout: If you have the time, go for a quick run or bike ride, but even just a few jumping jacks or stair climbing will do!

Are you looking for a new healthy recipe to try? Take a look at our new 2016 LiveWell Recipe Book ! All the recipes were submitted by state employees for our 2016 recipe contest in March. We had 31 recipe submissions and our top four winners are: 1.) Avocado Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing  Submitted by:  Leslie Baker 2.) Strawberry Oat Bars  Submitted by:   Robin Katrick 3.) Rockin' Moroccan Soup  Submitted by :  Lori Perry and Carrot Lentil Soup Submitted by:  Jane Malgeri These recipes will be featured on the blog soon. You can find these recipes and many more on the DHR Wellness Site.

As the weather continues to warms up, you may be thinking it's time to dust off your bike! Whether you're planning to cycle into work or go for a weekend ride with the family, cycling provides a fun way to add more movement in your day. Before you head out, it's important to review these helpful tips to keep you safe on your next biking adventure. Get your bike tuned up. Whether you can tune it up yourself or bring it into a shop, it's good to know the bike you're using is in good shape! Always wear a helmet.  Know the rules of the road. While you don't have to pass a driver's test to ride a bike, you're sharing the same road. Be as obvious as possible. If you're turning into a specific driveway or onto a street, point at where you're going. Wear bright colors.  Cyclists are required by state law to use a headlight and taillight or rear reflector when riding at night.  Learn some simple bicycle hand signals: Left arm extended strai...

Looking for a satisfying versatile snack? Try this easy to make hummus and pita chips. The hummus makes for a great sandwich spread, salad topping, veggie dip, or goes well with whole wheat crackers. Edamame Basil Hummus Yields 3 cups. Prep time 10 minutes. Cook time 10 minutes.  2 cups cooked and shelled edamame 2/3 cup garbanzo beans 3 cloves garlic 1/2 cup fresh basil 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp cracked pepper 1/3 cup olive oil 1.) In a food processor or blender, blend edamame, garbanzo beans, garlic, basil, and lemon juice. Add oil slowly and continue to blend until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Homemade Pita Chips Serves 4-6. Prep time: 5 minutes. Cook time: 10 minutes. 4 Whole Wheat Pitas 3 TBSP Olive Oil Sea Salt to Taste 1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2.) Cut each pita into 8 triangles and arrange evenly on baking sheet. 3.) Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. 4.) Bake for ...

                   Due to the warm winter, ticks are predicted to be particularly bad this year. Learn what to do to be safe. Tick season is upon us!  Protect yourself, your family and your pets! 

Hiking is a great activity for the body and mind. Not only are you getting physical activity, being out in nature can also boost your mood! Now that we've experienced hints of spring, many of us are looking forward to getting back on all the beautiful hiking trails Vermont has to offer. Unfortunately during mud season, walking on the trails can cause damage. Vermont State Parks has some great suggestions on where to hike during mud season - from Mount Philo State Park Road to the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail and the Cross Vermont Trail, there's something for everyone! Before you head out on your next hike, make sure you are prepared by packing the following hiking essentials. Appropriate footwear: For shorter hikes, trail shoes are great! For longer hikes, hiking boots provide more support.  Map and Compass/GPS: Make sure you know where you're going and how far you have to go! Water: Hiking is a great workout - make sure you're properly re-hydrating....

Department of Human Resources observed National Walking Day by getting out for a quick walk around Montpelier and afterward, enjoyed a salad potluck with one another. Fun and good eats was had by all. Thank you to our fellow coworkers who joined us!  Top Row (left to right): Alissa Robertson, Live Well Vermont Wellness Specialist; Krystal Sewell, Compliance and Reports Manager; Harold Schwartz, Director of HR Operations; Kathryn Guare, Benefits Administrator; Tom Cheney, DHR Deputy Commissioner; Jerry Fry, Benefits Supervisor Bottom Row (left to right): Chris Cadorette, CAPS Training and Engagement Specialist & Wellness Ambassador; Maura O'Brien, Live Well Vermont Program Coordinator; Clarke Collins, Deputy Director of Benefits and Wellness; Anne Carver, Benefits Administrator From left to right: Harold Schwartz, Director of HR Operations; Chris Cadorette, CAPS Training and Engagement Specialist & Wellness Ambassador; Clarke Collins, Deputy Director of ...

World Health Organization 2016: Beat Diabetes The numbers don't lie—1 in 3 American adults has prediabetes. With a little exercise and a change in diet, it can be reversed. Let's face it, there are millions of reasons why we don't find the time to make healthy lifestyle choices. Kids, jobs, cat videos on the Internet — we're busy. But whatever your reason, prediabetes is real. So find out if you have prediabetes by taking the test now. You won't regret it.                                                           https://doihaveprediabetes.org/ Find out about free self-management courses in VT focused on diabetes prevention and management at http://myhealthyvt.org/ .

  Cholesterol from eggs may not be the heart breaker it was once believed to be according to more and more research. Government guidelines about dietary cholesterol are changing to reflect the growing body of evidence that suggests a weak relationship between cholesterol in the diet and cholesterol in the blood. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans now place no limit to daily cholesterol. For the most part, people who eat eggs do not have a higher risk of heart attack (excluding people with diabetes). Enjoying one egg a day for most people falls within these new dietary guidelines. Saturated fat, sugar and lack of exercise most likely play a bigger role in the risk of heart disease. Contrary to the popular beliefs held for many years, eggs really are an affordable nutrition powerhouse with most of the nutrition found in the yoke. One egg has 13 essential vitamins and minerals plus 6 grams of high-quality protein, 9 amino acids and zero carbs, ...