Don't do this!

It is easy to fall into the trap of serving the same foods and snacks at meetings. Serving high calorie pastries and muffins are not helping your organization's bottom line. These foods contain high amounts of sugar and fat, which will decrease your productivity and ultimately lead to higher health care costs. Here is a good example of what not to serve at your company meetings!

Today's healthy meeting

Today we had a meeting to discuss worksite wellness with the leadership of the municipality of North Brunswick. I was delighted to see a beautiful array of fresh fruit available for the meeting participants. Check out this healthy meeting photo!!!

Day Devoted to Workplace Wellness

Check out this conference on May 15. We will feature some of the success stories of our current Working Well in NJ workplace wellness toolkit project:
A Day Devoted to Workplace Wellness

Fruity Friday and other stories

Employers are interested in creating a culture of wellness in their workplace. During a recent conversation with a NJ employer I learned they removed three vending machines (one soda, one sandwich, one snacks) from the workplace. In place of the machines a healthy box of snacks is available for purchase by the employees. The employer also instituted a Fruity Friday, fresh fruit available for employees, and a Veggie Monday, fresh veggies available for employees, for alternating months. Of course the employees love these fresh products! Small steps such as these can begin the path to a healthier workplace.

Mini meditation

Stress can be very harmful to your health. The truth is we all face stress on a daily basis....it's how we deal with stress that helps us maintain our health. People who can take a few minutes per day to meditate, or think about a place or situation that makes them content, can relieve stress. Where is your happy place that calms the mind and helps you decompress? Think for a minute about a scene or moment in time that makes you smile. Do you have a picture of that place or the people in your life so you can and smile from time to time?

Interesting recipe experiment

Recently I modified one of my own recipes that makes a very simple and tasty meal. Basil Pesto is delicious and is easily tossed into pasta just before serving. By sauteing some onions, red peppers and broccoli this dish looks and tastes like a gourmet production.

Last weekend I used half fresh kale (one bunch, rinsed and drained) and half fresh basil from my Aero Garden. The result was awesome and a recipe that I will make again and again. The bonus is the recipe is nutritious due to the addition of fresh kale. Soon I will create a recipe video, but for now gives this quick recipe a try. Make the pesto when you have time then freeze it in small batches (I use snack size plastic baggies). Then on a work night, toss the pesto into hot cooked pasta for a family treat!

Basil Pesto

Super snacks for the Super Bowl

People are already thinking ahead to the Super Bowl and the snacks to serve for this annual feasting event. Why not prepare a snack or two that can also serve as a quick energizers for the days following the Super Bowl party? Set aside small amounts in snack-sized plastic bags and take to work along with fresh red peppers or broccoli as a special tasty treat while on the job.

Here is my favorite snack recipe: Roasted Garlic Roasted Hummus