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EHP FYI
Newsletter from Employee Health Promotions
February Edition 2024
February is American Heart Month, a time when all people—especially women—are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health.
This Heart Month, the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) is encouraging women to listen to their hearts and speak up for their health. Women in the United States are experiencing unacceptable and avoidable heart-related illness and death, and nearly half of U.S. women do not recognize that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women.
“Love is a form of sweet labor: fierce, bloody, imperfect, and life giving – a choice we make over and over again. As labor, love can be taught, modeled, and practiced. “Revolutionary love” is the choice to enter into labor for others, for our opponents, and for ourselves in order to transform the world around us. It is not a formal code or prescription but an orientation to life that is personal and political. It engages all our emotions: Joy is the gift of love. Grief is the price of love. Anger protects that which is loved. And when we think we have reached our limit, wonder is the act that returns us to love.”
— Valarie Kaur
Health Resources for You
Everything needs a tune up now and then. Employee Health Promotions, made possible through a partnership with South Central Service Coop, has changed. This work, which focuses on the health and wellness of all Mankato Area Public Schools employees, looks very different this school year. Here are ways for you to take action:
Know This: Your Site Representative
Add This To Your Calendar: March 10K-A-Day, May Shake It Up.
Visit This: Employee Benefits page for details on resources available to you
Bring your Staff ID and Attend: Water Aerobics and Lap Swim at East Pool, details below
West Staff Highlight
At Mankato West High School, staff strive to provide an organizational culture that values each employee and provides excellent customer service to their students and families. They stand committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression.
Employee Health Promotions Leadership Team recognizes the staff members from West who engage in community-building and wellness activities. We thank the Site Representative, Cheryl Ellstrom for her work and congratulate her for achieving high levels of engagement in the November Gratitude Challenge. Thank You!
Monthly Recipe
Hy-Vee Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
12 strawberries
⅔ c. dark chocolate-flavored melting wafers¼ c. white vanilla-flavor melting wafers
230 Calories per serving
Directions
Step1
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Hull strawberries using a paring knife; then cut a V-shape into the top of each whole strawberry to create a heart shape. Pat the cut tops dry with paper towels; set aside.
Step2
Microwave chocolate-flavor wafers in a small microwave-safe bowl on HIGH at 15-second intervals or until wafers are melted, stirring each time.
Step3
To dip strawberries, place strawberries, one at a time, into melted chocolate coating; spoon mixture over strawberries until coated. Lift strawberry out of chocolate-flavor coating with a fork. With strawberry on the fork, lightly tap fork on rim of bowl to remove excess coating and place on prepared baking sheet. Let stand at room temperature until coating is slightly set.
Step4
For drizzle, microwave vanilla-flavor wafers in another small microwave-safe bowl on HIGH at 15-second intervals or until wafers are melted, stirring each time. Spoon melted coating into a resealable sandwich-size plastic bag. Close bag and snip one corner of bag; pipe onto coated strawberries. Let stand until white coating is set.