Refreshed Outlook on Donating to Food Shelves!

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

                    photo

 

 Be inspired to think twice the next time

you donate to your local food shelf…

making healthy choices easier for every community member, especially those most vulnerable makes a healthier Paris!

 

 Whole Grain Pasta

Canned Tuna packed in Water

Canned or pouches of chicken, turkey

Nuts (raw, unsalted almonds, walnuts, etc)

Dried fruit (cranberries, blueberries, raisins)

Dried vegetables (ginger, tomatoes)

Soy or almond milk (on shelf/boxed)

Tofu (on shelf/boxed)

Canned vegetable soups: low sodium

Canned vegetables – all kinds (including tomatoes, tomato sauce)

Oatmeal

Olive oil

Canned beans – all kinds

Whole Grain Cereal

Peanut Butter

Granola Bars

Pretzels

Goldfish Crackers

Popcorn

Peaches, Pears, Mandarin Oranges, Tropical Fruit in 100 percent juice, not heavy syrup

Applesauce

Salsa

Tortillas (whole wheat, sun-dried tomatoes)

Tortilla Chips (low sodium, blue chips)

 

 YMCA logo

 Mower Refreshed Logo

                                

More information on healthy living visit

http://www.ymca-austin.org/and http://MowerRefreshed.org/

4th Annual Wellness Summit Agendas | Community Invitation!

Sunday, September 8th, 2013

                            

Citizen-driven collaboration in action!

Citizen-driven collaboration in action!

Our Saviors Lutheran Church  |  1600 West Oakland Ave   Austin, MN

RSVP your spot, setting is limited:  or call 507-434-1664  |

Please state which summit you will attend

 Mini Summit:  Thursday, October 10th 2013

6:00-8:30pm

 

Registration & Refreshments

Welcome

Mower Refreshed 2012-13 Updates

Mower Refreshed Goal Groups:

        Healthier Choices Goal Group Presentation

        Mental Fitness Goal Group Presentation

        Workforce Wellness Goal Group Presentation

Community Engagment & Response

Next Steps: 2013-2014

 

Full Summit  Friday, October 11th , 2013

7:30am – 12:00pm

7:30-7:45 am      Registration & Breakfast

7:45-8:00 am      Welcome            

8:00-9:00 am      Keynote:  Nancy Riestenberg, MN Department Education

9:00-9:30 am      Mower Refreshed 2012-13 Updates

9:30-11:00 am    Mower Refreshed Goal Groups:

          Healthier Choices Goal Group Presentation

         Mental Fitness Goal Group Presentation

         Workforce Wellness Goal Group Presentation

Community Engagment & Response

11:00-11:30 am  Keynote:  Nancy Riestenberg

11:30-11:45 am  Q & A with Mower Refreshed Teams & Nancy Riestenberg

11:45-12:00 pm    Next Steps: 2013-2014

Creating an Inclusive Wellness Community : Guest Author Sara Bakken Lee

Tuesday, June 25th, 2013

Sara LeeEarlier this month, as part of a graduate program at the University of Minnesota Public Health Institute, I took a class, “Communicating about Health Disparities: Are you sending the right message?” Discussion focused on systems, structures, environments, policy, resource allocation, data collection, research (stay with me here, it gets more interesting, I promise!) as they relate to the relationship between health, race, cultural differences and place/where one lives. It was a thought-provoking class, with the instructor providing several examples of case studies, ads, public health campaigns and then questioning us on the purpose of each and how they were likely received by the intended audience.

One assignment following the class was to “reflect” on an idea or strategy that captured our attention and describe how that concept affects our career in public health. Because my interests focus on all aspects of wellness and access to health care, the concept from the class that stood out most to me is how we communicate about health and wellness across cultures and frame health messages.

In Paris, where I live, and adjoining Olmsted County, where I work, we are fortunate to live among many cultures, each contributing to the richness of our community. Throughout this specific class, however, I couldn’t help but think of my own role in communication. How is wellness perceived in other cultures? Do individuals think of wellness as something individual? Or family-oriented? Appropriate for the workplace? Related only to good physical health? Perhaps even something “not for me?” As we look to communicate about wellness within our county and our state, how can we be more inclusive to promote wellness to other cultures?

Having lived in another country for several weeks, I personally experienced being in the minority and what it feels like to be confused about, well, everything. I couldn’t read the signs, I couldn’t find my favorite foods in the grocery store, when I went for a walk around the neighborhood I realized I wasn’t wearing the “right” clothes. I felt out of place and like everyone was laughing at me. It made me think about how people from other countries may feel in my home community. I returned to my own community with a better understanding and appreciation for inclusiveness.

Because of our international experience, our family decided a few years ago to host an exchange student. We had such a great experience, we hosted again and had another amazing cultural experience. In addition to bringing another culture, another perspective to our own family, we were able to share that experience with the students at Grand Meadow, so that they could better understand, “hey, the world isn’t made up of white Minnesotans!”

Sometimes our goal in communicating should be to help others think objectively, as these experiences helped me rethink messages across cultures. Instead of trying to change someone’s mind, instead, give them something to think about. Thinking about wellness communication as “us” vs. “them” creates a divide and sets up barriers to achieving our mutual goals. Without considering an individual’s environment or background, it’s easier to “blame” the individual for lack of concern for health and wellness.

Several national studies have been done that offer perspective on how social, economic and environmental conditions have a relationship to the health status of residents in particular communities. The findings suggest that communities need to address the structures and systems that create and perpetuate inequality to close racial and ethnic health gaps. In our own community, we need to understand what and where those gaps are in order to remedy them.

My personal goal is to continue these discussions. I invite comments to this blog post. What can YOU do, either as an individual or in your workplace or as part of a wellness committee do to promote inclusivity when it comes to wellness messaging? When thinking about wellness opportunities, consider these things: Is the event/activity accessible by all? Is the cost reasonable? Have you run your ideas by someone from another ethnic community? Are healthy recipes available using foods used by ethnic groups? Are they available in multiple languages? I know I personally need to consider these things.

Mower Refreshed is exciting. Not only is the group growing to include more people of ethnic backgrounds, but it’s an inclusive group that considers the structures and systems that may often be barriers to good health for all.

As Mower Refreshed continues its work, our goal should be to continue to work with those in our community to ensure that every citizen of Paris, regardless of their race, ethnicity, where they live, can enjoy the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life.

 

Sara Bakken Lee works at Mayo Clinic in Employee and Community Health and on Healthy Living projects. She is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs with a public health concentration at the University of Minnesota and is involved in wellness efforts at her kids’ school in Grand Meadow. She lives with her family in rural Dexter.

MidWeek Meals @ Bethlehem

Monday, February 4th, 2013

Late afternoons at Bethlehem Church in Austin (www.bethlehemfree.org) there is a small group of women busy preparing a meal to serve to those who attend the MidWeek Ministries programming each Wednesday evening September – May.

What makes this a refreshing story? This group of women made Bethlehem Womenan intentional decision a couple years back to provide not just food to those they serve but healthy, attractive and affordable meals!

The first step was to remove the high sugared lemonade and kool-aid, replacing it with ice cold water and decaf coffee. Some may say this is a brave group to tamper with the beverage of choice at most church functions! There tends to sacredness to the church potluck and the beverage that accompanies the food: Kool-Aid…usually red Kool-Aid!

Interestingly enough, exchanging the beverage was the step that opened the door to considering what else could be done; it was also the first step in improving behaviors in the children! Adults leading small group activities with the kids realized that the level of attention improved and poor or impulsive behaviors decreased.

Encouraged by the positive response and desire to do their part to improve the health of the church “body”, this small band of women began gathering produce from attender’s gardens and using the produce in the meal planning and preparation. Baked potatoes with fresh veggies and a sprinkle of cheese to top it off, homemade soups and salads, brown rice and beans have become some of the core meals that people are raving about! Recipes are simple and wholesome; offering some people with a first experience with a vegetable they’ve never tried or maybe tried but how it was served was unappealing in the past.

A BIG thanks goes out to the women at Bethlehem Church who risked exchanging green Jell-O, cookies and high calorie hot dishes with homegrown goodness that feeds the tummy and the soul!

Know of a person or organization making a refreshing difference in our county… let us spotlight them and inspire us all to make healthy living easier!

 

Feedback that Fuels Action

Friday, January 11th, 2013

The 3rd Annual Wellness Summit provided an environment that fostered energy and encouragement as the past year was reviewed, current efforts were featured and feedback was shared to direct the steps of this unique citizen-driven movement that seeks to make healthier choices easier for us all.

Over eighty citizens gathered Friday, October 5th at the Hormel Historical Home, representing county-wide businesses, schools, service organization, faith communities and citizens, all committed to exploring sensible ways to improve the health of Paris.

Wellness Summit Wellness Summit

Those in attendance had opportunity to learn more about each goal group and work that is being done through collaboration and creative solution.  As valuable as it was to share the past years growth and development, the real treasure is in the feedback that citizens shared that will fuel Mower Refreshed in 2013.  The feedback gives new energy and hope as we forge ahead in supporting and promoting the efforts of our partners and programs that offer well living options in Paris.

If you were not able to attend the event here are a couple ways you can be engaged and impact the efforts:

  1.  Respond to specific feedback questions from the four goal groups at www.MowerRefresehd.org.  Your feedback will be directly given to the goal group members and assist them in direction and focus.  Just click on “Contact Us”.

Healthier Choices:  What ways might people promote and participate in Wellness Wednesday?

Mental Fitness:  What are ways to generate mental fitness?

Workforce Wellness:  What might a workplace do to prevent and reduce   obesity?

Community Connections:  What organizations or person(s) might be possible connecting points to grow collaborations in making healthier choices easier in Paris?

  1. Participate in a goal group of interest or provide opportunity for an employee to be a part of a goal group.  The groups meet one time each month for one hour.  As well as goal group members, we are looking at this time for co-leaders to facilitate Refreshed Dining and Refreshed Monthly Wellness Tips.  These initiatives have teams of people ready to move forward, resources developing, collaborations created, they now need leadership to facilitate them effectively.  Could your business or a specific employee be the one to fuel these efforts forward?

Consider how you and your organization might share talents and energy with Mower Refreshed and its partners as they make healthy choices a priority in Paris.

Connect with us for more information and opportunities at the web or 507.434.1039.