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Health 1st
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Average holiday weight
gain averages about a pound a year and tends to be higher for those who
are already overweight or obese, according to Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and a study by the National Institute of Health.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way.
With a little help from MUSC dietetic interns, this holiday season
won’t be a time for the dreaded weight gain, but rather, a time for
celebration and enjoyment. On Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., a table
will be set up outside the cafeteria in Ashley River Tower (ART),
loaded with tips and tricks for a happy, healthy holiday. The menu will
include:
- An appetizer of recipe substitutions loaded
with calorie-and fat-cutting suggestions
- A hearty portion of well-seasoned advice to
decrease intake and increase activity
- Sides of “Make This, Not That” suggestions for
your holiday table
- Selections served up with examples and visuals
to help control portion sizes
- A dessert sample slimmed down to help curb the
holiday waistline
Employees also may bring in a favorite recipe for a much-needed holiday
recipe makeover and receive suggestions to create a leaner version. The
goal of the season is to combat the extra weight that can be gained
between November and January and that sometimes is never lost.
 Chef Fred Bennett
prepares a split pea and butternut squash soup, mahi
mahi with braised fennel, Thai turkey salad with rice noodles and
chicken and garlic fusilli pasta during the healthy live cooking
demonstration Nov. 19. The show, sponsored by MUSC, East Cooper Medical
Center, Roper Saint Francis Healthcare System, Trident Medical Center
and the S.C. Hospital Association, demonstrated how employees can avoid
holiday weight gain by cooking healthy.
Although it may not sound like much, that one holiday pound can quickly
join other holiday pounds to become 10, 15 or even 20 pounds and more.
The holidays can put people at risk for such conditions as diabetes,
hypertension and stroke, given the holiday parties with friends and
coworkers, dinners that often resemble a feast more than a meal, and
cooler temperatures encouraging more sedentary activities indoors.
Food Swap to
benefit food bank
This holiday season, join local Charleston-area nutrition experts in
collecting canned goods for the Lowcountry Food Bank. During December,
MUSC Employee Wellness, Sodexo Nutrition Services, and the Charleston
Trident Dietetic Association (CTDA) will collect food items to donate
to the Lowcountry Food Bank. In exchange for a donation, registered
dietitians will provide holiday tips to help people eat healthier
through the season.
The Food Swap will be held each Wednesday at the Wellness Wednesday
booth at ART in front of the cafeteria and in the university hospital
by Starbucks cafe. Additional barrels for food donations will be
located at the Wellness Center and at the ART cafeteria until Dec. 17.
The CTDA dietitians from around Charleston will collect canned goods
and bring them to the MUSC Horseshoe at noon on Friday, Dec. 17, to be
donated to the food bank. Healthy holiday eating tips will be available
and the dietitians will bring some of their own special healthy holiday
treats for tasting.
Health 1st events
- Chair massages: Free massages are offered to
employees on Tuesday nights and midday Wednesdays. Look for broadcast
messages for locations and times.
- MUSC employee fitness series: A free Pilates
class will be held from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., Dec. 14 at the MUSC
Wellness Center. Participants will also receive a free one-day pass to
the Wellness Center. E-mail barneslr@musc.edu to register.
- Mobile mammograms: The Hollings Cancer Center
Mobile Van will be conducting mammograms from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
Dec. 14 in the Harborview Office Tower parking lot. Call 792-0878 to
schedule an appointment.
- Farmers market December schedule: Friday, Dec.
3; Thursday, Dec. 9; Friday, Dec. 17; Wednesday, Dec. 22; and
Wednesday, Dec. 29.
Contact Susan Johnson at johnsusa@musc.edu to become involved in
employee wellness at MUSC. Events, classes or any other ideas are
welcome.
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
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