Healthy Lives - FMOLHS

Tis the season for a delicious spiral-cut glazed ham! If you’re looking for a tender, juicy dish that will WOW your guests at your next holiday feast, this ham is sure to please the crowd! What you will need:  1 (7- to 10-pound) spiral-sliced bone-in half ham 1 large plastic oven bag 1 recipe glaze (recipes below) Preparation:  Leaving ham’s inner plastic or foil covering intact, place ham in large container and cover with hot water; set aside for 45 minutes. Drain and cover again with hot water; set aside for another 45 minutes. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 250 F. Unwrap ham; discard plastic disk covering bone. Place ham in oven bag. Gather top of bag tightly so bag fits snugly around ham, tie bag, and trim excess plastic. Set ham cut side down in large roasting pan and cut 4 slits in top of bag with knife. Bake ham until center registers 100 degrees, 1 to 1 1/2 hours (about 10 minutes per pound). Remove ham from oven and increase

Think your diet is suffering from your persistent “sweet tooth”? Think again. Our brains are designed to prompt us to seek out natural sources of sweet carbohydrates and foods containing fat. These naturally higher calorie foods were necessary for survival in times when food was scarce. Now we have 24/7 access to foods manufactured to be highly desirable and loaded with sugar and fat. Food manufacturers continuously come up with new combinations of sugar and fat that are cheap and easily accessible. The more we eat, the more we crave. Most people who think they have a “sweet tooth” often desire cookies, cake, ice-cream, donuts or chocolate that contains more fat than sugar. These cravings add up to more calories and 12-14 more grams of fat per day compared to people who avoid these sweets. Take control of your “fat tooth” by cutting back on sugar and processed fats. If you get a craving, grab a fat-free sweet, like hard candy and ride your “crave wave” for 15 minutes

Planning for the holidays can leave us feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. There are some key things you can do to minimize the stress that comes with the holidays. Try these five tips from the American Heart Association : 1. Keep up healthy habits. Make a pact with yourself during the holidays. For example: “For the next three weeks I will move more and do something active every day, have a healthy breakfast and limit the sweets, and get at least seven hours of sleep each night.” If you don’t completely give up your healthy habits, you won’t feel like you have to start over once the holidays are in the rear-view. 2. Beware of party perils. Special holiday events often serve up extra helpings of less-than-healthy foods.  If you’re a guest, eat a healthy snack before you go to avoid overdoing it at the event. If you’re the host, challenge yourself to offer some delicious and healthier options using our recipes and cooking tips. Your guests will thank you. 3.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! That means it’s time to plan your holiday feast. If you are on a budget, don’t worry! There are some thrifty ways to create the perfect Thanksgiving dinner party. Follow these five steps for a delicious holiday feast without breaking the bank. Visit your local farmer’s market. Seasonal ingredients are often cheaper and almost always better quality than what you’ll find at your local grocery store. While you’re at the market, load up on herbs! They’ll pack stocks with flavor, add nice garnishes and give an extra layer of flavor to your dishes. Take an inventory. Before you head to the market, be sure to take an account for what you already have in stock. You may have several canned goods leftover from last year’s dinner preparations. Shop around. Several markets and grocery stores will offer discounts during the holiday season. Start your planning by checking out the sales online. You might find a great bargain for a turke

We often indulge during the holiday season. From turkey dressing to that sweet, creamy pumpkin pie, it can be difficult to stay on track with diet and exercise. Avoid sinking into a slump after the holidays and boost your energy with exercise. Try these three tips to help you get back into your fitness routine. Take it one step at a time! After the holiday festivities, try to ease back into your routine by taking brisk walks. Walking is the most convenient and affordable form of aerobic activity. Studies have shown that brisk walking for at least half an hour, five times a week, has nearly the same health benefits as more vigorous exercise. People who take brisk walks have a lower risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, colon cancer, osteoporosis and perhaps other diseases. Even mental health problems are less frequent in regular walkers. Invite a friend! An exercise buddy can provide you with the social and emotional support you need