Treats are pretty common around a 911 Comm Center or any office during the Halloween season. So I thought, maybe we could add a healthy spin to the treats we all know we will eat. Bringing healthy ideas and initiatives to your next office pot luck or event gathering doesn’t have to be scary. It can be fun and rewarding for both you and your co-workers. Here are three phases to a creepy plan of bringing better health into a workplace near you.
Phase 1: keep the candy at home for the kiddos. While, I do love those mini Heath Bars and the KitKat’s, I try and leave the candy at home. Like most things, if it’s in front of me, I will eat it. A USA article on candy consumption said, that if you eat candy in addition to everything else you're already consuming, you'll probably gain weight, says registered dietitian Sarah Krieger, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. So while you're enjoying some Halloween candy, she suggests cutting back on something else that's sweet such as sugary drinks, cookies or granola bars.
Phase 2: Veggies! Yeah, not what many of us think about. But there are some neat ideas for using greens as a dish. Classic example is the pumpkin puking green guacamole. Who doesn’t love guacamole? There are also several examples of Halloween veggie trays. Some of these are really creative! Or try the spinach and artichoke dip that looks like a graveyard. Graveyard veggie pizza anyone? The point is, there are a ton of great examples of healthy things to eat that are fun and creative. (thanks to sites like Pinterest you can find all sorts of ideas, but just make sure they’re healthy) At the end of the day, I’m sure your co-workers will be not only buzzing about your creativity but also about your tasty recipe.
Final Phase: Bring on the Halloween decorations. As we are big advocates of movement throughout the day, we encourage you to (should your Comm Center allow it) decorate! Yes, get your co-workers together and have a bit of fun decorating your Center. Put up those cobwebs, be creative with a theme, MOVE those bodies and most importantly have fun this Halloween! Send us your pictures!!