LiveWell Vermont

 This Memorial Day, bring nutrition to the grill!  Grilling doesn't have to be all burgers, hot dogs and potato salad. Follow these steps to reduce calories, fat and boost nutrients! 1. Start with the perfect protein. Fish, skinless chicken breast and lean ground poultry are all healthier choices. The good fats in fish like salmon and trout actually have health benefits. Wrap marinated fish fillets in foil, construct colorful chicken kebabs or make savory turkey burgers by mixing onions and peppers into the patties. If you do choose meat or pork, avoid "prime" and gravitate towards the loin, round, choice or select grades of meat. 2.  Right size your portions. A healthy portion of meat is about 3 ounces, or the size of a deck of cards. If that sounds small, just remember all the delicious grilled veggies and side dishes that will be keeping it company on your plate! 3. Add color – eat the rainbow! Just about all your favorite colorful fruits and veggies can be g...

 Do you love hiking and want to make sure you're prepared on the trail? Make sure you have these essential items on your next hike.   1.) Appropriate footwear.  For shorter hikes, trail shoes are great, but for longer hikes or if you're carrying a heavier backpack a more supportive hiking shoe/boot will be beneficial. 2.) Map/Compass.  Having a map and compass with you in case you get lost and in case your GPS fails, is essential. 3.) Extra water and/or a way to purify water.  When you become dehydrated, your body can't perform well. Be sure to pack plenty of water. 4.) Extra food.  It's always a good idea to have extra food on hand in case you get lost, you want to spend a little more time by a stream you found, the terrain was more difficult than expected and you need to keep your energy up, etc. 5.) Rain gear and extra clothing.  The weather can be unpredictable especially if you're changing altitudes throughout your hike. Dressing in layers can hel...

  The hills are alive with the sounds (and sights) of Mountain Days 2021! As the weather continues to improve, firming up our trails and woodlands, and health guidelines open more outdoor opportunities for recreation, we want to encourage you to get moving and keep healthy! This year we won't be able to host our traditional Mountain Day events at specific sites as we have in the past — but we still want to see you moving and exercising outside! From May 17 to 31 share your photos to our Facebook page or Instagram (#mountaindaysvt).* We want to see photos of you, your family and friends hiking and adventuring around the hills of Vermont. Then, enter your contact information here for your chance to win a Vermont State Park pass for 10 day-visits – a $30 prize value, with no expiration date! After May 31 we'll randomly select 50 winners to receive a pass. (Raffle winners will receive a paper voucher via regular US Postal Mail.) Happy ...

This request is for you to temporarily add the following message to your email signatures:  This is our shot, Vermont! Everyone age 12 and older is now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Sign up for your shot today at healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine or follow @healthvermont on Facebook and Twitter for walk-in opportunities. #OurShotVT   If you are uncomfortable with this or prefer not to, that is clearly your choice, but any small thing you can do to create awareness about vaccination availability is helpful and appreciated. Tip:  To change your signature, go to file, options, mail, signatures. Also, as a reminder, we should all be using email signatures that include our name, pronouns (optional), title and contact information.  Any messages or taglines following your signature should always be approved by your supervisor.

With over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year,   skin cancer is America’s most common cancer.   Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. By sharing facts about the dangers of unprotected exposure and encouraging people to check their skin for warning signs, we can and will save lives. We can’t do this work alone. In 2021, for the second straight year,  Skin Cancer Awareness Month  takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though many of us are separated, we can still unite against skin cancer,  share the facts  and help save lives. Reach Young People Sun Smart U  provides educators with the resources they need to teach youth how to make sun-safe choices that are vital in preventing skin cancer. We ask t...

This week, we celebrate all nurses, both at the bedside and those working to support them. Each of you is raising the bar in new ways, creating strong teams and working in service to others. It is your passion and hard work that will help us shape the future of healthcare. The  International Council of Nurses ’ theme for Nurses Week is “ Nurses: A Voice to Lead.”   This year – more than ever – we are looking to your voices and ideas for innovations and improvements to elevate nursing practice and define what it means to provide compassionate, connected care. We see your passion to comfort and desire to care and are filled with gratitude and humbled to work for you and alongside you every day. Thank you for all your hard work for healthier tomorrows!

  Looking at all your choices you may think—do I have to change all of these? And if not, which ones should I choose? Remember that all components—frequency, weights, reps, sets, and method of training—are related. Changing one aspect of your training may require you to change others to make things work. Keep it simple by changing only one component and allow your body to respond to that. Over time, you'll learn more about your body, allowing you to make changes more easily.