GARFIELD COUNTY SENIOR PROGRAMS Volume 10, Issue 12 December, 2020 ‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE HEALTHY 6 TIPS FOR HEALTHY HOLIDAYS Just because it’s holiday time doesn’t mean that winter’s little ills Inside this issue: will take a break! Here are our tips to avoid them and have a healthy holiday season. Nutrition ed. 2 - 3 1. Avoid overeating: Let’s face it, food is a major theme of the holidays. Dec. birthdays 4 Try to eat slowly, as it takes 20 minutes to know you’re full. 2. Stay active: Don’t neglect your physical activities during the holidays. Christmas poem 5 3. Limit consumption of alcohol. Takeout meals 6 4. Prevent infections: Handshakes, kisses and hugs are great ways to spread infections like colds, flu, and COVID. Word search 7 5. Watch out for food poisoning: A stuffed turkey the night before can become a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria. LIFT-UP Info. 8 6. Take time for yourself: If you’re feeling tired, you risk exhaustion and increasing your level of stress. - Provided by Healthy Aging Times Eagle County EXERCISE OF THE MONTH WINTER • When your grandchildren visit, head outside to build a snowman together or go ice skating. Drink some hot chocolate. • Cold outdoor temperatures are an excellent reason to join a mall-walking group. • Start the new year by trying out a fitness center. Many offer New Year’s resolution spe- cials. Get your name on the list for a Well & Wise exercise class. Refer to page 3 • Give your heart a Valentine’s Day gift with dance lessons, such as salsa, tango, or belly dancing. Senior Program Connection is a publication of Garfield County, Colorado, and is an open record for purposes of the Colorado Open Records Act., § 24-72- 201 C.R.S., et seq. All content is expressly for communications, and is for informational purposes only. Garfield County assumes no responsibility of any kind or type for errors contained herein. Connection is not to be construed at any time as the official statement of Garfield County, Colorado, with respect to the resolutions, motions, policies, or decisions of the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners. © 2016, all rights reserved. This newsletter may not be redistributed or reprinted, in whole or in part, without the express, prior, and written permission of Garfield County, Colorado. For permission, please contact the Garfield County Communications Department at 970.945.1377, ext.1466. Page 2 A Strong Immune System Through The Holidays NUTRITION EDUCATION - Approved by Stephanie Nick, RD Having a strong immune system this holiday season is more important than ever before. Holiday foods are delicious and can be comforting but don’t forget about those immune boosting foods, too. Watch added sugars Ensure you’re getting enough zinc Excessive added sugar (sugar that doesn’t occur naturally in Zinc deficiencies can be very common, es- food) can tank the immune pecially in the aging population. Zinc is im- system. The holiday season can portant to keep the immune system run- be a sugar trap for many. The ning strong. USDA recommends no more Men need 11mg/day and women need than 25g of added sugar per 8mg/day. day. That limit can easily be exceeded with 1 cookie, piece Foods high in zinc: of pie, or cake. Red Meat Tips to reduce added sugar: Poultry • Incorporate fruit as a dessert Fortified cereals (try apple crisp or thawed Beans cherries with whipped cream! Nuts • Use fruit and cinnamon in plain yogurt. • Drink 100% fruit juice instead of juice cocktail. Stock up on vitamin C. • Enjoy holiday sweets only Vitamin C helps keep our immune for a couple of days instead system strong Its important to shoot for of months. 65-90 mg per day. Here are foods high in vitamin C: Other immune system boosters: Red Bell Pepper (medium) = 152mg • Fruits and vegetables! Vary Orange (medium) = 70mg the color of these to ensure Pineapple (1 cup) = 78mg you are getting different vita- Strawberries (1cup) = 85mg mins and nutrients. • Green tea • Physical activity Information from: Today’s Dietitian. • Mental health activities Page 3 RECIPE APPROVED BY Stephanie Nick , R.D. Baked Apples Serving Size Serves 6, 1 apple per serving Ingredients 6 small apples 1 large lemon ¾ cup chopped walnuts ½ cup raisins ¼ cup brown sugar ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F. Rinse apples. Remove stems by cutting a 1-inch-wide hole out of the top of each apple. Cut into the hole to re- move and scoop out the core and seeds. Rinse lemon and cut in half. In a small bowl, squeeze the juice from each half. Discard seeds. In a second small bowl, mix walnuts, raisins, and brown sugar. Stuff the center of each apple with 1 heaping tablespoon of the walnut mixture. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon over the top of each apple. Place stuffed apples upright in the baking dish. Pour the lemon juice around them. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the skin is wrinkly. Spoon some of the pan juice over the apples about halfway through cooking time to keep the apples moist. Remove from oven. Let cool slightly before serving. Well & Wise exercise programs: We have suspended in person Well & Wise classes at this time due to the Coronavirus. You may still call us to get your name on a list for a future class. You will be called when we are able to start teaching classes again or when a class will start in your area. Call Debby to get signed up for Tai Chi, Matter of Balance, N’ Balance, Cooking Matters and Geri-Fit classes at 945-9191, ext. 3084. Subscribe today to the Garfield County Senior Programs Connection. You don’t already receive this newsletter regularly, subscribe for email or U.S. Mail delivery by calling 970-665-0041 or email Judy Martin at [email protected]. There is no charge for subscription. Donations are welcome! . Page 4 OPEN INSURANCE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT If you are not insured and don’t yet qualify for Medicare, this may be a good option for you. Or if you already have insurance through ACA, you may want to review Please know that your coverage for the next year. you are loved and we can’t wait to see Coloradans can shop for health insurance plans right now. Financial help to lower you at a congregate your monthly premiums is available for Coloradoans with qualifying incomes. This meal in the near year, reviewing your options and shopping for a plan that is best for you and your future. family is extremely important. Even if you are happy with your coverage, take a The Garfield look at your plan to make sure it still meets your health and financial needs. County Senior Community is You can shop for plans and sign up at connectforhealthco.com. strong and we can get through this together. DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS Our birthday list is compiled from Carol Abbott completed 2020 Robert Milner No Traveler service or Cindy Alvardo consumer Beth Mohsenin Senior lunch due to the assessments. Earlene Babcock Susan Murphy Christmas Holiday and Bobbie Barker Alice Newcomb county offices closed Barbara Barnes Please accept our Don Olsen on 12/24 and 12/25. apology if we missed Renelda Batson Cheryl Page your birthday. If you Maria Blanco Jo Ann Peaslee want to complete an Leonard Bowlby Sharon Perrin assessment, please Kimberly Bron Jean Proud see Judy, Barbara or Lavania Cerise Frances Ralff Debby for a form. Roy Cerise Brenda Rice Gini Christensen Larry Rynearson Judy Cobb Mike Salensky Keith Davis We wish each of Christine Samuelson Terry Decker Jerry Seifert you a very Dennis Diaz Rosie Shaw happy Jo Ann Duffy Anastasia Stowe birthday Hector Flores Colleen Strepka Delia Gray Maebelle Tomlinson and Stefani Kindall Deb Trujillo a great year Ruth Kirschbaum Cliff Vashus ahead! Carol Klein Elaine Wear Sheri LaFond Mary Weaver Bob Macias Marilynn Wiggins Alice McDaniel Janet Williams Iris McFarlin Pat Wood Marion Woods Friday, December 25 Page 5 The Christmas stocking he Christmas stocking! How endearing to childhood’s joy T To find it bulging on Christ- mas morning With candy and nuts and a toy. The Christmas stocking! What a thrill to a little boy’s hands When he tries hanging it from the mantel, As way on tiptoe he stands. The Christmas stocking! The funniest sight, I believe, As it looks wrinkled, empty and flat, Ready for Santa on Christmas Eve. The Christmas stocking Is the knobbiest looking sight When the youngster takes it from the mantel Where he hung it the other night. The Christmas stocking Becomes the jolliest sight, I’d say, Filled with sweet goodies that are sure to please. What a thrill on Christmas Day. The Christmas stocking! What a change from the night before, Where it hung so shapeless, wrinkled and limp Before Santa filled it galore. The Christmas stocking! Each bulge is a brand-new surprise, Because of it, childhood’s Christmas magic Puts stars in the little ones’ eyes. - Ann Schneider Senior Programs staff hopes your Christmas will be filled with peace, love and joy. Wishing you all a great year ahead! Page 6 GARFIELD COUNTY CONGREGATE TAKE OUT PROGRAM INFORMATION Senior Nutrition Program TEMPORARY CONGREGATE TAKE OUT MEALS Due to the Governor’s Order, our congregate meals were discontinued on March 14. We have switched to a temporary congregate takeout meal program held at six locations throughout Garfield County. All meals are cold and will contain a main course, fresh fruit, dessert and milk.