LiveWell Vermont

Spinach & Artichoke stuffed Spaghetti Squash Submitted by Jennifer Woolard Ingredients: 1 medium spaghetti squash 1 small sweet onion diced 1 red bell pepper chopped 3-4 gloves garlic minced 1 package frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained) 1 cup Greek plain yogurt 1 jar/can artichokes drained (14 oz) 4 ounces cheese of choice (I like mozzarella) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Half squash lengthwise and scoop out seeds Place spaghetti squash halves face down in a casserole dish. Pour about an inch of water into the bottom of the dish. Bake 45-60 minutes, until squash is fork tender. Remove squash and let cool, draining any remaining water from dish While the squash bakes prepare your filling. Lightly saute garlic, onion and chopped peppers in olive oil over medium heat, roughly 5-7 minutes. Set aside to cool. Mix thawed spinach, drained artichokes, yo...

Lean ends on April 14th! All points must be earned prior to this date. With the first trimester of the year winding down, Live Well Vermont wants to make sure all eligible candidates receive their payout! Three mandatory requirements for the payout are: Your Username MUST be your Employee ID #. If you need to change your user name, refer to # 3 of this document for guidance. You MUST complete your Health Assessment.  You can access the Health Assessment here . You MUST complete the Wellness Score Survey. You need the results from your Health Assessment to successfully complete the Wellness Score Survey. Take your Wellness Score Survey here . The payout for Lean is May 10, 2018. Points do not roll over from trimester to trimester! Refer to the Wellness: Your Way FAQ and Video for more instructions. Live Well Vermont is proud of all your efforts to improve your health and wellness and wants you to receive your payout!

Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing is a standard recommendation when it comes to oral health. Did you know that your oral health can have a direct impact on your overall health? According to WebMD, gum disease is linked to a host of illnesses including  heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. By combing through 1,000-plus medical histories, researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry found that people with gum disease were twice as likely as others to die from a heart attack and three times as likely to have a stroke. To protect your oral health, practice good oral hygiene every day. For example: Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Floss daily. Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed. Schedule regular dental checkups and ...

Recipe and Photo courtesy of Skinny Taste These zucchini tots make the perfect side dish or snack. With just a few ingredients, you can create a quick healthy treat!  INGREDIENTS: Cooking spray 1 packed cup grated zucchini 1  large egg 1/4 medium onion, minced 1/4 cup grated reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese 1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs 1/4 tsp kosher salt and black pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 400°F.   Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. G rate the zucchini into a clean dish towel until you have 1 packed cup.   Wring all of the excess water out of the zucchini, there will be a lot of water. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon 1 tablespoon of mixture in your hands and roll into small ovals. Place on the cookie sheet and bake for 16 to 18 minutes, turning halfway through cooking until golden. Serves 3. NUTRITION INFORMATION Per serving: 106 Ca...

Balance exercises are important when trying to prevent injury and build strength. Falling is painful and can hinder your physical activity routine. Here are some simple balancing exercises for all ages!    Standing on one Foot: Stand on one foot behind a sturdy chair, gripping for balance Hold for 10 seconds Repeat 10 times on each leg Heel to Toe: Position heel of one foot in front of toes of other foot. Your heel and toes should be touching or almost touching Select a spot ahead of you, focusing on it to keep you steady as you walk Step forward. Place your heel just in front of your other foot Repeat this for 20 steps Balance Walk: Raise your arms to your sides at should height Again, select a spot ahead of you and remain focused on it to keep steady while walking Walk in a line with one foot ahead of the other As you walk, lift your back leg and count to 1 before stepping Alternate legs and repeat for 20 steps

Need an easy, nutrient packed salad? This recipe from Smitten Kitchen, combines unique ingredients to create an edible masterpiece. This warm butternut squash and chickpea recipe is perfect as a side or for a potluck! For Salad: 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 1 medium garlic clove, minced or pressed 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice (I skip this) 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt One 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (1 1/2 cups) 1/4 of a medium red onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro or parsley For Tahini Dressing: 1 medium garlic clove, finely minced with a pinch of salt 1/4 cup lemon juice 3 tablespoons well-stirred tahini 2 tablespoons water 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more to taste Direction: Preheat the oven to 425°F I n a large bowl, combine the butternut squash, garlic, allspice, olive oil, and a few pinches of salt. Toss the squash pieces ...

Submit your favorite healthy recipe by Tuesday March 13th for your chance to win! Our State of Vermont Wellness Ambassadors will be voting on their favorite recipes. First Place: 1-year subscription of Eating Well  magazine LiveWell Vermont goody bag Recipe featured in the April edition of HR Connect  Recipe featured on LiveWell Vermont Blog, Instagram and Facebook    Second Place: LiveWell Vermont goody bag Recipe featured on LiveWell Vermont Blog, Instagram and Facebook    Third Place: LiveWell Vermont measuring cup set Recipe featured on LiveWell Vermont Blog, Instagram and Facebook    Click  HERE  to submit your healthy recipe!   For assistance or questions or to submit by email, contact us at: DHR.LiveWellVermont@vermont.gov  or (802) 828-7308

Generally speaking, eating more calories than your body needs will cause you to gain weight, mostly in the form of body fat. Eating fewer calories than your body requires leads to weight loss. However, restricting calories too much may harm your health. Below are a few of the ways cutting too many calories from your diet can negatively impact your health. It can lower your Metabolism:  Several studies show that low-calorie diets can decrease the number of calories the body burns by as much as 23%. To prevent your weight loss diet from affecting your metabolism, make sure that you never eat fewer calories than are required to sustain your BMR. Fatigue and Nutrient Deficiencies: Regularly eating fewer calories than your body requires can cause fatigue and make it more challenging for you to meet your daily nutrient needs. To prevent fatigue and nutrient deficiencies, ensure you eat a variety of whole, minimally processed foods. Bone Weakness : Eating too few calo...

  If you're looking for a delicious way to enjoy tomatoes, here is a recipe that is sure to please your family and friends. This recipe is great for a party or the main meal with a fresh toss salad, on those hot night. Ingredients 1 ½ pounds of plum or multicolored tomatoes cut into ½ in slices 1 pastry shell for a 9-inch pie plate 1/2 cup of thinly sliced green onions 2 tablespoons of minced fresh basil ¼ teaspoon sea salt ¼ teaspoon of fresh ground pepper ½ cup of plain non-fat Greek yogurt ½ cup of 50% light Cabot shredded cheddar cheese 3 slices of uncured bacon cooked and crumbled 3 tablespoons of shredded Parmesan cheese or shake variety Preparation Preheat your oven at 350 degrees. Place your pie shell in your pie plate and shape your edges. Place a layer of tomatoes on the bottom of the pastry shell. Top with onions and the rest of the tomatoes. Sprinkle with basil, salt and pepper. Combine the Greek yogurt and cheddar cheese together. S...

Registration for the 2nd Challenge of the 2018 Wellness: Your Way Incentive Program opens on today! Register in the Wellness Portal  and earn 60 points towards Lean.

What is added sugar? Added sugars are sugars and syrups put in foods during preparation or processing, or added at the table. Naturally occurring sugars are found naturally in foods such as fruit and milk. 4 grams of sugar = 1 teaspoon. Keep this in mind when you are reading over food labels. The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day. That is approximately 350 calories! Do we need added sugar? There is no nutritional benefit in added sugar. American Heart Association suggests an added sugar limit of no more than 100 calories a day (6 teaspoons) for women and 150 calories a day (9 teaspoons) for men. Serious offenders of adding sugar: Sugary drinks and cereals are top offenders in adding unnecessary sugars to their recipes. Be mindful of added sugars when shopping for groceries. Added sugar have many code names. Fructose, glucose, maltose, corn sweetener, and sucrose are only a few of the many names that can disguise added sugars in a recipe. Be aw...

Developing a routine when working out is important for achieving fitness goals and protecting your body from injury. Below are some tips and tools on developing the perfect workout routine. Use these tips to customize a workout routine that works for you! Tip 1: Consistency Building a strong fitness routine does not happen overnight. You must develop a process and work at it regularly. Decide how many days you are going to work out each week and commit to fitting it into your schedule. Tip 2: Recover Your muscles need time to recover to completely benefit from your physical efforts. When creating your routine, make sure there are days for rest! You do not have to remain completely inactive on recovery days. Long walks, light yoga and casual swimming are all things that get your body moving while still allowing time for your muscles to recoup. Tip 3: Variety Consistency is important when you are thinking about duration and frequency of exercise. Variety is import...

The short answer is YES! But, an ideal stretch routine requires a little bit of planning.  Stretching is a vital part of a healthy fitness regimen. When done properly, stretching can  reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries by increasing blood flow/circulation, improving muscular balance and posture, and improving muscle coordination. Stretching Reduces Fatigue Stretching increases blood supply and nutrients to muscles and joints  Stretching increases a joint’s ability to move through a greater range of motion  Stretching decreases tightness in tendons and muscles  Stretching Improves Muscular Balance and Posture Soft tissue structures often adapt poorly to gravity and bad posture habits  Stretching realigns soft tissue structures, therefore reducing effort to achieve & maintain proper posture throughout your day  Stretching Improves Muscle Coordination Stretching enhances the time it takes an impulse to travel to the brai...

Nutrition bars can spark a serious debate, depending on who you talk to. Some say they are the healthiest, most convenient snack while others call them glorified candy bars. Making your own is most definitely the healthiest way to know exactly what’s in the food you’re eating, but this may not be realistic for everyone due to lack of time, ingredients or just plain desire. Buying them is your next best option, but not all bars are created equal. Here is a list of the healthiest nutrition bars you can snack on when on the go, at work, before or after the gym, or even throw them in your kids lunch box! 1. Nothin’ But  Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Bar Made with real ingredients (oats, peanuts, honey are the main ones) that you can actually pronounce, it tastes like a homemade dessert bar, and its 360 calories will fill you up with good fats and protein, instead of processed carbs. This bar is best for the long stretch between lunch and dinner. 2 . Kind ...