Walking is the easiest exercise to help you start moving during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Walking outside, keeping a  safe distance from others and wearing a mask can keep you safe. S.T.E.P.S Walking Routes for Modesto, Patterson and Ceres are mapped out routes so you can easily track your miles. These routes are available complete with directions, map,  and other helpful walking tips. Please call (209) 525-4670 and we will mail you the map of your choice.
​Please be aware due to COVID-19 safety protocol, the Senior Centers that are listed on the maps may be closed. 
Also, before you start your walk check the air quality index on your phone or computer to ensure the best outside experience!

Consider a range of appliances to cook with during these hot summer months. Not only will this help to not heat up your whole house, but they can also be great options for cooking in small spaces or when cooking for one.

• A slow cooker, or crock-pot, uses very low heat to cook food slowly. It can be left alone for hours and uses less energy than many other appliances.
  • ​Great for soups, stews, tough meat or dried beans.
• A rice cooker uses medium heat to steam food. It works faster than a slow cooker. For safety it shuts off automatically and has no exposed heat source.
  • ​Great for grain or bean dishes, soups, stews, or steamed foods.
• A toaster oven is a very small oven. This option is more energy efficient than a stove for cooking small items and is great for small spaces.
  • ​Great for sandwiches, pizza, or reheating small items.
• An electric skillet works like a skillet on a stovetop. This appliance is great for cooking small items and is safer than a hot plate.
  • ​Great for eggs, stir fries or whole grain pancakes.
• A microwave cooks food very quickly and is great for small spaces. ​
  • Great for thawing, hot beverages, steaming items, ready-to-heat foods, and leftovers.

For more energy saving tips during the summer months visit pge.com or join Healthy Aging Association’s 5-Week Nutrition Class from Leah's Pantry to learn more about cooking with these appliances.

Written by Jessica Shupp Enes, Fitness Program Coordinator
Sources: https://www.pge.com
https://www.leahspantry.org/

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Did you know there are many mental and emotional health benefits of walking? Whether you are walking indoors, or outside walking can have many positive impacts on our mental and emotional states.

• Walking can be a form of relaxation to clear the mind and focus better.
• Walking can relieve feeling of anxiety or depression you may be experiencing especially with the unknowns of this time.
• Walking can help you sleep better or improve your sleep quality.
• Walking can make you more creative and allow you to refresh the mind especially if you are doing a lot of concentrating.

Our mental health, along with our physical health, is very important to our overall well-being. Here are some ways to keep your mental health in check and perform self-care:

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories.
• Make time to unwind and try activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others by making phone calls or Facetime family to maintain healthy relationships and build a strong support system.
• Take care of your body – Try to eat healthy well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, take deep breaths, stretch and get plenty of sleep.
• Seek help when needed– If distress impacts activities of your daily life for several days or weeks, talk to a clergy member, counselor, or doctor, or contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-985-5990.

For more information on Coping with Stress and Taking Care of Your Emotional Health visit the CDC website www.cdc.gov

Written by Jessica Shupp Enes, Fitness Program Coordinator
Resource: https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/
Image: https://postbuck.com/walking-and-jogging-for-the-elderly-people/

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As we age, having good nutrition plays a vital role in our overall well-being. Making sure we are getting the vitamins and nutrients our bodies need helps to give us the energy we need to go about our normal day, build up our immune system to fight infection and other diseases, and have strong skin and bones, to name a few benefits. There may be challenges we face to be able to eat healthy and get the nutritious food our bodies need. 

The National Institute on Aging advises us, "Different foods in each food group have different nutrients. Picking an assortment within every food group throughout the week will help you get many nutrients. For example, choose seafood instead of meat twice a week. The variety of foods will make your meals more interesting, too." EatFresh.org remind us of the importance of making sure our plate is colorful with a variety of fruits and vegetables, this is also a great resource to find new recipes to try!

EatFresh.org has come up with a Mini Course to "boost your nutrition, cooking and healthy living knowledge". Take this fun course to learn more ways you can eat healthy, save money, and cook easy, tasty meals. 

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Written by Jessica Shupp-Enes, Fitness Program Coordinator
Source:https://eatfresh.org/eatfreshorg-mini-course
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/vitamins-and-minerals
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If you are a snack-er, being home at this time may come with its own added challenges to limit the amount of snacks you have in a day. MyPlate MyWins has come up with some simple steps to "Hack Your Snacks" while remaining healthy and keep you moving toward your nutrition goals. 

• Build your own snacks such as trail mix to allow you to customize your snack to your liking.
• Pre-portion snacks in baggies to save time and avoid overeating.
• Combine food groups for a snack - yogurt with fruit or apples with peanut butter.
• Keep your snacks colorful by trying raw vegetables with dip to take in more vitamins.

Another helpful resource for making your own snacks or trying new recipes can be by visiting eatfresh.org for snack recipes like smoothies, dips, wraps, trail mix, and more!

Written by Jessica Shupp-Enes, Fitness Program Coordinator
Resources: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate-mywins-tips-hacking-your-snacks-0
https://eatfresh.org/recipe/filter-meal-type/snacks-7
Image: https://foreignpolicyi.org/the-best-healthy-snacks/

​For the whole month of February, American Heart Month is celebrated to bring awareness to heart disease and ways to prevent heart disease at any age. The American Heart Association encourages everyone to have a healthy diet and adequate physical activity no matter your age. By choosing a healthy eating plan and being physically active you can decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. 

During the month of February it is also important to talk with loved ones about the warning signs of heart attack and stroke. The American Heart Association mentions, "Not everyone experiences sudden numbness with a stroke or severe chest pain with a heart attack. And heart attack symptoms in women can be different than men."

Check out the links below from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, The American Heart Association, and HealthFinder.gov to learn more about heart disease and ways to prevent the onset of heart attack and stroke for you and your loved ones.

SNAP-Ed Connection has also come up with some heart healthy meals to enjoy this Valentine's Day. These meals include: Pink Party Salad, Baked Parmesan Fish, Caribbean Casserole, Kale with Nuts and Raisins, and Fudgy Fruit for dessert. We hope you enjoy some of these recipes and continue to strive for a healthy heart!




Resources:
Image: https://healthychesapeake.org/american-heart-month/
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/how-to-help-prevent-heart-disease-at-any-age
https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/
https://healthfinder.gov/healthtopics/population/men/health-conditions-and-diseases/keep-your-heart-healthy