Learn How to Eat Healthy During the Holidays

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host two free presentation about health self-management during the holidays on Tues., Dec. 12 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the hospital, 130 Division St., Derby.

 

Certified Diabetes Educator Mary Swansiger, BSN, MPH, will lead “Navigating the Holidays,” a presentation of a holiday meal survival guide and open discussion of strategies for making the holidays happier and healthier.

 

The presentations will be in the hospital’s Childbirth Education Classroom A. There will be free valet parking for the 2:30 p.m. session.

 

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September - June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

 

No registration is required. For more information, call Mary Swansiger at 203-732-1137.

 

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Take a Healthy Eating Tour at Derby ShopRite

 

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host two free grocery store tours to help with healthy shopping on Tues., Jan. 10 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at ShopRite, 49 Pershing Drive.

 

Jenna Hourani, registered dietitian at Grade A ShopRite, will lead a tour of the store to help make sense of grocery shopping so participants can better take care of themselves and their families by selecting nutritious and cost-friendly choices.

 

Managing diabetes starts at the supermarket with choosing foods that make up a healthy, balanced diet. Topics on the tour will include label reading, navigating the departments and aisles for healthier choices, and comparing products.

 

The tours will be from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The group will meet in the produce section of the store.

 

Space is limited, so contact Mary Swansiger at 203-732-1137 or mswansiger@griffinhealth.org to reserve a spot.

 

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September - June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Budding Young Chefs Create Healthy Recipes at Seymour Middle School

Seymour Middle School's Chefs left to right:  Arlinda Peraj, Seymour’s winning Chef with her Healthy Cinnamon Apple Waffles; Destiny Opotzner created the Egg White and More Omelet; Victoria Caiza and her Ezekiel Bread French Toast; Gina DeBlasi made Zucchini Eggs; Michaela Roach made an Omelet in a Bag. Student Jonathan Forte – not in photo, out sick, submitted Jonathan’s Smoothie.

 

SEYMOUR = Students at Seymour Middle School recently cooked up a storm for a chance to compete in a Valley-wide healthy cooking challenge. 

 

As a way to promote healthy eating habits among teens and tweens, the school district's Director of Nutrition Services, Cindy Brooks, recently staged the school's annual "Healthy Recipe Challenge."

 

Six student chefs were chosen to compete in the final round, with the middle school's winning chef, Arlinda Peraj, taking home bragging rights with her Healthy Cinnamon Apple Waffles. 

 

Brooks said her role, along with the School Nutrition Association of Connecticut and Valley Initiative to Advance Health and Learning in Schools, or VITAHLS, is to get kids thinking about healthy eating habits at a young age.

The young chefs worked with assistance from the cafeteria staff to create their healthy dishes.

 

Arlinda now moves on to compete with other Valley students in the final VITAHLS competition, scheduled for May 17 at Griffin Hospital in Derby.

 

 

 

 

 

6th graders' culinary skills impress crowd at challenge in Ansonia

Held Monday at Molto Bene restaurant

Seymour Middle School student Faith Rousseau chops an onion at Molto Bene Italian American Kitchen at the start of the healthy cooking competition. 

The event was sponsored by the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center at Griffin Hospital in Derby.

The cooking challenge evolved from the Valley Initiative to Advance Health & Learning in Schools (VITAHLS).

Faith's Black Bean and Corn Salad entry won the contest.

Derby Middle School student Natalia Wyszkowski slices bananas for her 'Rainbow Riot' fruit salad.

Shelton resident Madysen Miller, a Perry Hill School student, prepares broccoli florets to create her Broccoli Raisin Salad.

Ansonia resident Kiersten LaRue, a John G. Prendergast School student, cuts romaine lettuce for her creation, Wonton Bowls with Buffalo Chicken Salad. 

 

 Here's a peek at the flurry of activity in the kitchen.

Pictured from left, Catherine Katz, wife of renowned nutrition expert Dr. David Katz, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller, former Derby Mayor Marc Garofalo, Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti. The elected officials and Dr. Katz were judges. Catherine Katz accompanied her husband because, he said, she is a wonderful cook. "I've been the theory and she has been the practice," he said.

Neil Fuentes, a.k.a. The Singing Chef, served as master of ceremonies. He interviewed each of the contestants and encouraged them to continue learning about cooking, which he called a 'wonderful' activity.

This is Kiersten's presentation of her entry, Wonton Bowls with Buffalo Chicken Salad, which was my personal favorite!

My daughter and I enjoyed sampling all four delicious entries. We also enjoyed observing the culinary chaos in the kitchen.

The young cooks all deserve plaudits for their creativity and hard work. Great job, girls!  


Please stay tuned for a story in the New Haven Register.
 

Talk in Derby to focus on healthy summer eating

DERBY - Learn to ensure that summer get-togethers include healthy eating at a free presentation by Griffin Hospital May 28.
Medical experts at  Medi-Weightloss Clinics in Shelton will present “Set a Good Example This Summer,” a discussion about healthy summer eating at 6:30 p.m. at Griffin Hospital’s Meditation and Learning Center, 130 Division St.

This talk will help attendees set the right example for children at family picnics and cookouts with recipes and meal planning tips.
The presentation also includes information about the Power Play program for children ages 12-18, which offers healthy weight loss solutions for the entire family.
Attendees can receive a free BMI analysis for an adult and child (ages 12-18 only).

 The event is part of Griffin Hospital's Healthy U “Tuesday Talks,” a series of free wellness talks featuring Griffin Hospital medical experts and community partners providing trusted health information and answers to questions on a wide range of topics.

All Tuesday Talks are held in Griffin Hospital’s Meditation and Learning Center at 130 Division St. Light refreshments will be served.

To reserve your spot or for information, call 203-732-1511 or visit griffinhealth.org.
To find out about upcoming Tuesday Talks, visit griffinhealth.org/programsevents.


This post is taken from a press release from Griffin Hospital.