SPICE IT UP: Try Healthy Foods Bursting with Flavor
Adding different flavors into your healthy eating routine is a great way to make good-for-you food choices. During March, which is #NationalNutritionMonth, try something different: spice up your menu with foods from various cultures, like these:
- Mix Za’atar (a middle eastern spice blend) with a little olive oil and spread on whole wheat pita bread, then top with tomato slices, olives, cucumber, and fresh mint.
- Congee, a Chinese rice porridge, can be served plain or with vegetables and a protein food, such as cooked chicken, meat, or fish.
- Vegetable upma, an Asian Indian dish, can be made with semolina or rice, spiced with ginger and other seasonings.
Worldwide cuisines offer many dishes that include ingredients from all of the food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein foods). These are great choices that provide all the nutrients needed for good health.
Resources:
- Celebrate a World of Flavors: See the toolkit for tips, recipes, ideas and more.
- USDA MyPlate Healthy Eating Plan: Are you making every bite count?
- Cigna: Healthy Eating
- Kaiser Permanente: Plan for Mindful Meals
- WW: Healthy eating and cooking tips to help you lose weight
SAVE YOUR VISION MONTH: Keep Your Eyes Healthy
As you age, it is normal to notice changes in your vision. For example, you may need glasses for reading and your prescription for distance vision may change.
Your risk for more serious eye diseases and conditions also increases as the years go by. More than four million Americans aged 40 years and older are either legally blind or have low vision, primarily caused by age-related eye diseases, including macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
No matter how old you are, reduce your risk of vision loss with these simple habits:
- Get an annual eye exam, to detect age-related eye problems early.
- Wear UV sunglasses outdoors on bright days.
- Include dark leafy greens and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids in your menu.
- Be physically active and maintain a healthy weight.
- Maintain normal blood pressure.
- If you smoke, quit.
- Manage diabetes if you have it.
Your benefits cover an annual eye exam at a low (or no) cost to you when you use an in-network provider. Get the details on your coverage at sdtrust.com. Then celebrate #SaveYourVisionMonth by scheduling a vision exam today.
Resources:
- VSP (for Cigna medical plan participants): Six easy ways to keep your eyes healthy
- Kaiser Permanente: Learn about eye and vision health
WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PPS BENEFITS? We’ll Link You Up
Who doesn’t want to save money? Or plan for a financially strong retirement? Or get access to exclusive discounts on services that keep you healthy? Of course, you do!
As an employee of Portland Public Schools, you have access to many valuable benefits, like these:
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- WW (formerly Weight Watchers) Subscription Subsidy
- Retirement Planning and Resources
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Credit Union Membership
- Exclusive Discounts
- Professional Development
- Employee Mileage Reimbursement
These benefits are available to you through Portland Public Schools (not the SD-1 Health Trust), but it’s easy to get information about them on the SD-1 Health Trust website. Simply go to sdtrust.com, click Menu, then choose from the list under My Benefits.