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Healthy Halloween Treats

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Halloween is scary enough but what is even scarier is the amount of sugar one can consume during this frightful season.

We have provided a few fun Halloween recipes that you and your family can try that will still fill your sweet tooth just not your calorie bank!

Spooky JELL-O Jigglers

Recipe from Kraftrecipies.com

Total time: 3 hr 10 min
Prep time: 10 min
Servings: 2 dozen or 24 servings, one jiggler per person

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 60
Total fat 0 g
Saturated fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 65 mg
Carbohydrate 13 g
Dietary fiber 0 g
Sugars 13 g
Protein 1 g
Vitamin A 0 % DV
Vitamin C 0 % DV
Calcium 0 % DV
Iron 0 % DV

What You Will Need

2-1/2 cups boiling water (Do not add cold water.)
2 pkg. (8-serving size each) JELL-O Orange Flavor Gelatin

Directions

STIR boiling water into dry gelatin mix in large bowl at least 3 min. until gelatin is completely dissolved. Pour into 13×9-inch pan.
REFRIGERATE at least 3 hours or until firm.
DIP bottom of pan in warm water 15 sec. Cut into 24 decorative shapes, using 2-inch Halloween-shaped cookie cutters, making sure to cut all the way through gelatin to bottom of pan. Lift gelatin shapes from pan. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Carrot Finger Food

Recipe from familyfun.go.com

Ingredients

Vegetable dip (or spinach dip)
4 long carrots
1 medium carrot
Softened cream cheese
Sliced-almonds
Baby carrots

Instructions

To prepare them, just fill a serving bowl with your favorite vegetable dip. Wash and peel 4 long carrots for fingers and 1 medium carrot for a thumb.
With a paring knife cut a flat, shallow notch in the tip of each carrot. Then use a dab of dip or softened cream cheese to glue a sliced-almond fingernail atop each notch.
Stick the fingers in the dip, as shown, and serve with plenty of peeled baby carrots for dipping.

More Healthy Halloween Treats

Hopefully these fun alternatives will help you enjoy the Halloween season without the guilt of eating just sugary candy!

Sources:

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/spooky-jell-o-jigglers-75638.aspx

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/carrot-finger-food-683529/

http://familyfun.go.com/halloween/halloween-recipes/halloween-snacks/

Tags: Halloween, health, Healthy Halloween recipes, recipes
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Healthy Fall Recipe!

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Happy first day of Fall everyone! It is hard to see summer go but it is also exciting to think of all the holidays and wonderful food that is to come.

After looking through many fall recipes, we wanted to share something with you that would be quick, yet full of rich flavors and of course healthy! Here is what we found…

Chicken Piccata with Pasta and Mushrooms

Recipe provided by EatingWell.com

Serving Size: 4
Active/Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

6 ounces whole-wheat angel hair pasta
1/3 cup all-purpose flour, divided
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 chicken cutlets, (3/4-1 pound total), trimmed
3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 10-ounce package mushrooms, sliced
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup white wine
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons capers, rinsed
2 teaspoons butter

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just tender. Drain and rinse.
Meanwhile, whisk 5 teaspoons flour and broth in a small bowl until smooth. Place the remaining flour in a small dish. Season chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper and dredge both sides in the flour. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and no longer pink in the middle, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place the chicken on a plate; cover and keep warm.
Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in the pan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add garlic and wine to the pan and cook until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the reserved broth-flour mixture, lemon juice and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in parsley, capers, butter and the reserved mushrooms. Measure out 1/2 cup of the mushroom sauce. Toss the pasta in the pan with the remaining sauce. Serve the pasta topped with the chicken and the reserved sauce.

Why It is Healthy

Per Serving:

397 calories
9 g fat ( 3 g sat , 3 g mono )
54 mg cholesterol
45 g carbohydrates
0 g added sugars
28 g protein
5 g fiber
544 mg sodium
609 mg potassium

Nutritional Bonus

Selenium (37% daily value)
Vitamin C (18% dv)
Potassium (17% dv)
Iron (16% dv)

Substitutes

2 1/2 starch
1/2 vegetable
3 1/2 lean meat

Learn how to shop smart for your fruits and veggies this Fall season at local Farmers Markets!

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/latest/fall-healthy-recipes-50102208

We would love your feedback if you happen to try out this recipe!

Sources:

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/chicken_piccata_with_pasta_mushrooms.html

Tags: Fall Recipe, family medical walk-in clinic, FMWIC Health tips, health, recipes
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Happy Birthday FMWIC!

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

Family Medical Walk-In Clinic is turning 14 years old today!

Our Urgent Care facilities have served over 673,136 patients in the Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas areas since 1997!

If you haven’t used any of our facilities in the past, please visit our website http://www.fmwic.com and check us out!

We are an Urgent Care facility that treats patients for minor illnesses/injuries. All six of our offices are open late, seven days a week, 363 days a year!

We want to thank the surrounding communities for allowing us the opportunity to serve you for the past 14 years. We hope you will continue to use and refer Family Medical Walk-In Clinics for all of your urgent care needs!

Tags: about us, family medical walk-in clinic, FMWIC'S Birthday, health, Urgent care services
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What’s In Your Child’s Lunchbox?

Friday, August 26th, 2011

Let’s face it, obesity rates in U.S. children keep increasing and it is our responsibility as adults to take action and help educate our children on ways to eat right and ways to stay active.

Obesity is being targeted as one of the only major reasons for adverse health effects. It leads to severe health problems and in addition to this, it also reduces life expectancy.

According to one study conducted by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, they found that obesity rates in children are now as much of a concern for parents as is the risk of drug abuse.

When the kids are at school, it is out of your hands whether or not they are getting exercise, but one thing you can control is what they eat for lunch.

Lunch is not the time for kids to sit down and over-indulge in a fried chicken sandwich along with an order of cheese fries and a large soda from the lunch cafeteria. Lunch is a time to socialize and eat a nutrious meal that will give them energy and brain power to make it through the rest of the school day.

Think about it, after lunch these kids go right back to the classroom and sit in their chairs for the remainder of the day and all that food they just consumed just sits there and stores as fat.

That is why packing them a healthy lunch every day will not only educate them on healthy foods but will also help teach them about portion control. So, what are you packing in your child’s lunchbox?

Food to Avoid

Fried food
Heavy bread
A lunch full of snack foods (even if they are 100 calorie packs)
- Oreos
- Snickers
- Scooby Snacks
Candy
Soda Pop- even diet soda!
Leftovers

Foods to Include

Make their sandwich with whole grain wheat bread rather than white bread
Wrap sandwiches- helps avoid using bread all together
- Grilled chicken wrap
- Turkey wrap
If you are going to pack chips- go for the baked chips
An alternative for chips; unbuttered popcorn
Veggie sticks; carrots, celery, etc.

Snacks

String cheese (go for the 2%)
Low-fat yogurt
Trail mix
Raisins
Dried fruits

*All are full of protein and calcium*

Even though you might be packing your kids a healthy lunch in reality if they don’t like what you packed they probably won’t eat it.

Follow these tips on ways to know they like what you are packing;

Include the kids while making their lunches- this is a great way to educate them and to get them excited as to why you want to pack celery in their lunches.
Always do a variety- try not to pack the same lunch twice in one week. You have to keep their lunch fresh and exciting.
Keep it simple- most school lunch breaks don’t go pass 20 minutes. Make their lunch simple to assemble and eat.
Make it special- include a little note in their lunch box letting them know how proud of them you are or even something as simple as enjoy your lunch!
- You could even include a fun fact related to something that you packed. For example; Eating carrots help give you good eye sight.
Include one special treat per week- maybe throw in a piece of dark chocolate or even a mini fruit snack.
Have a routine- plan out their lunches for the week on Sunday, let them help you create it, that way they will look forward to certain days of the week because they know what they are going to eat.

For more healthy lunch packing tips, visit; http://www.healthychild.com/healthy-school-lunches/packing-a-healthy-lunch-box-for-school/

Hopefully some of these tips will help open the bag to a healthier lunch.

Sources:

http://www.thirdage.com/news/obesity-concerns-in-children-rank-as-high-as-drug-abuse_08-20-2011

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/unhealthy-school-lunches.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_8007522_tips-packing-school-lunches.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_8066940_ideas-pack-school-lunches.html

Tags: back to school, diet, family medical walk-in clinic, Food, health, health tips, healthy school lunches
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Head Lice Prevention

Friday, August 19th, 2011

Now that school is back in session, your kids are more likely to be exposed to a lot of new germs, including the dreadful parasite known as head lice.

According to the MayoClinic.com head lice is the second most common communicable disease affecting schoolchildren.

Head lice are are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that live among human hairs and feed on small amounts of blood from the scalp.

When some people hear the word “head lice” they think only those with poor hygiene or those who live in an unkept living environment can get head lice. Well in fact, that is not the case at all. Head lice is a very common problem, especially for kids ages 3 to 12. Studies have shown girls are more apt to develop head lice then boys (kidshealth.org).

Lice Facts

Lice aren’t dangerous
Lice don’t spread disease
Lice aren’t transmitted by pets
Lice ARE contagious
Lice can cause irritation or infection to the scalp with excessive scratching
Lice can be treated with over-the-counter and prescription medication

How Head Lice Is Spread

Close Personal Contact- (children or family members that are in close contact with one another) This is the most common way head lice is spread
Sharing Personal Belongings (combs, brushes, hats, etc.)
Group settings (schools, childcare, camps, work, etc.)
Home furnishings (couch, blankets, pillows, etc.)

Did You Know?

Head lice can’t jump or fly but they have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair (EWW!)

Signs and Symptoms of Head Lice

Intense itching of the scalp- some people, if this is their first infestation, don’t experience any itching
Adult lice and nymphs(baby lice) on scalp- the best place to look is behind your ears and/or down your neck
Lice eggs on your hair shaft- Lice (nits) slightly resemble dandruff but lice can’t be easily brushed out of hair

When to see a Doctor

You can usually get rid of head lice without having to see a doctor. Try using a nonprescription shampoo that is specifically formulated to kill lice. If the nonprescription shampoo still does not work or if you scratch your head so hard you get an open wound infection, see a doctor.

If your child is two years old or younger, you can NOT use medicated lice treatments. You will need to remove the nits and lice by hand. Learn more about Wet Combing.

Treatments

Wash and dry all bed linens and clothing that have been recently worn by anyone in your home who may have been infested with head lice- make sure you put the washing cycles on HOT!
For items such as; linens, stuffed animals, etc. that can’t be washed or dry cleaned, place in an airtight bag for up to two weeks.
Vacuum carpets and furniture.
Accessories, such as; combs, barrettes, hair ties, etc. soak in hot water for at least an hour or dispose of the items all together.

Prevention

Although head lice is hard to prevent due to individuals being in close environments on any given day, tell your kids to try and avoid head to head contact with one another and tell your kids not to share their personal belongings with others.

In efforts to prevent the spread of head lice this school season, do your part and share with others the knowledge you gained from reading this article. Stay proactive my friends!

Sources:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/head_lice.html

http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-126626/Head-lice?q=head+lice

Tags: back to school, family medical walk-in clinic, FMWIC Health tips, head lice, health, Safety Tips, urgent care
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Dealing with Genital Herpes

Friday, August 12th, 2011

Did you know you can get genital herpes even if your partner has no symptoms?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one out of six people in the United States, ages 14 to 49, have a genital herpes infection.

It is extremely important to learn the facts and the reality of this highly contagious STD, not only to protect yourself but to help protect your partner(s) as well.

Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease that affects both men and women. Studies show the genital infection is more common in women, affecting about one out of five women ages 14-49, whereas with men about one in nine, ages 14-49 are infected. Although, transmission from an infected male to his female partner is more likely than from an infected female to her male partner (CDC.gov).

With that being said, what is genital herpes?

According to MayoClinic.com

Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by one of two types of the herpes simplex virus (HPV), type 1 (HPV-1) and type 2 (HPV-2). According to the CDC, most individuals have none or only minimal signs or symptoms from HPV-1 or HPV-2 infections.

How Is The Virus Transmitted?

The virus enters your body through small breaks in your skin or mucous membranes. Sexual contact is the primary way the virus is spread because the virus dies quickly outside the body. According to the MayoClinic.com it is near impossible to get the infection through contact with toilets, towels or other objects used by someone who is infected.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

According to the MayoClinic.com the first outbreak is usually the worst and may occur within the first two weeks of the virus being transmitted and may take up to 2-4 weeks to heal. Although some people who have been infected may not experience their first outbreak until 40 years after being infected. Get tested!

When present, symptoms may include;

Small red bumps, blisters or open sores (ulcers) in or on the genital, anal or nearby
Pain or itching around your genital areas, buttocks or inner thighs
You may experience flu like symptoms, including fever and/or swollen glands

Initially, you will most likely experience pain or itching, after several days small red bumps may appear, eventually rupturing causing ulcers and bleeding. These sores will eventually scab over and heal (mayoclinic.com).

In women, sores can appear in the vaginal area, external genitals, buttocks, anus or cervix.
In men, sores can appear on the penis, scrotum, buttocks, anus or thighs or inside the urethra (the channel inside the penis leading to the bladder).

Recurrences

Everyone’s body reacts different to this virus. For some people the virus may recur for years and for others you may never experience an outbreak. For many people, however, the outbreaks become less frequent as time moves on. There are some factors that may trigger an outbreak;

Stress
Menstruation
Low immune system
Illness
Surgery
Friction, caused by sexual intercourse
Fatigue

Please note- sometimes the virus may be inflamed without signs or symptoms present.

When to see a Doctor…

In healthy adults genital herpes usually doesn’t cause any other complications besides the sores. But if you think you may be infected with the virus, it is important to visit with your doctor and get tested because sometimes these complications may occur:

Having herpes can increase your risk for catching another type of STD.
Newborn infections- a mother can pass on her infection to her newborn when he/she passes through the birth canal. Genital herpes may result in brain damage, blindness or even death for the newborn.
Meningitis
Urinary bladder retention- Women may experience difficulties with their urinary system.
Proctitis- In men, HSV can lead to inflammation in the lining of the rectum.

Treatments

There is no cure for genital herpes, but with some treatment options, such as; oral prescriptions and antiviral medications from your doctor, you might;

Help sores heal sooner during an outbreak.
Lessen the severity of symptoms in recurrent outbreaks.
Reduce the frequencys of recurrences.
Minimize the risk of transmitting the virus to another.

Are you aware of all the risk factors that involve Genital Herpes? Take the Quiz TODAY!

http://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/rm-quiz-genital-herpes

If you can’t get in to see your doctor and want to be tested, Family Medical Walk-In Clinics can do herpes testing and the good news is we are open late, seven days a week!

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/STDFact-herpes.htm

http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-125463/Genital-herpes?q=herpes

http://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/rm-quiz-genital-herpes

http://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/herpes-tests

Tags: about us, family medical walk-in clinic, Genital Herpes, health, health tips, MO Urgent Care, STD, urgent care, Urgent care services
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