Couscous With Carrots, Walnuts, and Raisins

This quick-cooking grain dish has a touch of sweet and nutty flavors to go with most main dishes

Recipe Source: Deliciously Healthy Dinners
Prep time Cook time Yields Serving Size
5 minutes 12 minutes 4 servings ½ C couscous

Ingredients

1 C couscous (try whole-wheat couscous)
1 tsp olive oil
2 Tbsp walnuts, coarsely chopped
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp black pepper
½ tsp pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
1⅓ C water
2 Tbsp raisins
½ C carrots, rinsed, peeled, and shredded or thinly sliced; cut in half
Photograph of the completed recipe.
calories 218
Total fat 4 g
Saturated fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 155 mg
Total fiber 3 g
Protein 6 g
Carbohydrates 39 g
Potassium 168 mg

Directions

  • 1
    In a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook and stir couscous, olive oil, walnuts, salt, pepper, and spice just until couscous begins to brown.
  • 2
    Slowly add water, then raisins and carrots.  Cover.  Bring to a boil over high heat.
  • 3
    Remove from the heat, and let stand for 10 minutes.
  • 4
    Fluff with a fork.  Serve immediately.

healthyeating.nhlbi.nih.gov/recipedetail.aspx?linkId=1&cId=8&rId=56

4 Tips for Not Touching Your Face

Tips for Better Blood Sugar Levels

glocumeter at 5.3, diabetes, blood, diabetic, sugar, medical ...• Spread out carbohydrate into 3 meals each day and 1–2 snacks, if needed.
• Choose fresh fruit instead of juice. Fruit has fiber and will affect your blood sugar slower than drinking juice.
• Choose a small serving or avoid most desserts, sweets and snack foods. They are high in carbohydrates and do not promote health.
• Choose to drink water and tea and coffee with no sugar.
• Avoid all sugary drinks like regular soda, sweet tea, fruit punch, lemonade, and sport drinks. These drinks are high in sugar and can make your blood sugar levels rise quickly.
• Try to be active every day. If you are not doing any activity at all now, start with just a few minutes of light activity at a time.
• Achieve and keep a healthy body weight by balancing your food intake with your physical activity over time
www.lipid.org/sites/default/files/lifestyle_tips_for_blood_sugar_control_0.pdf

Staying Active Through Pandemic

For all of us, young and old, regular physical activity is important for staying healthy! Compared to just sitting around most of the time, moderate-intensity physical activity is associated with better immune function. Regular physical activity can help reduce your feelings of stress and anxiety (which many of us may be feeling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic).  The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends 150-300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity and 2 sessions per week of muscle strength training.. Fit in 2, 5, 10 or 20 minutes, however and wherever you can. Every active minute counts!

www.exerciseismedicine.org/

Indiana Nature Preserves

Portland Arch | Portland Arch (or Natural Bridge) is located… | Flickr

As “shelter-in-place” orders are loosened, you may be feeling the yearnings for an outdoor experience.  We have dozens of nature preserves in Indiana that offer many different opportunities.  Hikes to arches, waterfalls, historical sites, as well as other experiences await.  Usually, you will find the nature preserves less heavily visited than Indiana State Parks.

www.in.gov/dnr/naturepreserve/4698.htm

Grace’s Green Bell or Poblano Peppers Relleno

Vegan style  (Serves 6)  Serve this dish with tostada chips.

Baked Chile Rellenos with Corn and Crema Recipe | Serious Eats

  • 2-3 cups pre-cooked brown rice
  • 1 medium (1-½ pounds) eggplant, baked 45 minutes,
    skin peeled off, then drained in a strainer while mashing
  • 1 red onion, cleaned and finely chopped
  • 1 medium yellow or zucchini squash, carefully washed and finely chopped
  • ½ pound firm tofu, drained approximately 15 minutes and crumbled
  • ½ cup frozen or fresh green chile peppers, finely chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon oregano
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4-6 whole fresh bell or poblano peppers,
    stems and seed sacks removed (Cut around the stem base;
    the whole seed sack will come out;
    then wash and drain the inside of the peppers.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix the rice, vegetables, tofu, and seasonings in a bowl. Stuff the hollowed-out peppers with the mixture. Set the stuffed peppers in a non-stick baking pan, preferably on their sides. Put a little water in the pan as well. Cover and bake for about 30 minutes. Be sure to check the stuffed peppers so they don’t overcook and dry out. Remove from oven, and cover each pepper with salsa to taste.

Total calories per serving: 194
Fat: 4

http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vjnewmex.htm

Food Substitutions for Pandemic Times

Quarantine Fatigue

How to Cope With Loneliness During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Are you unsure how to cope with loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic? You could be self-isolating because you’ve caught the infection, but there are many other reasons why you’ve elected to stay indoors.

While those with chronic illness may already be familiar with what it’s like to face long periods of time alone at home, most of us are used to getting out daily; even those who are retired or don’t work usually make trips to run errands or visit friends. To have all of that stop suddenly is jarring, to say the least.

For tips and insights:    www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-with-loneliness-during-coronavirus-4799661

Holliday Park

PLAN YOUR VISIT – Friends of Holliday Park

Holliday Park is a little gem of a place near Butler.  This park includes statuary, gardens, playgrounds, picnic areas and a nature center.  Trails are rugged and others paved, offering something for every ability.  A lovely water feature for children has been added at the base of the statuary.

Dr. David Geseslin, Superintendent/CEO of the Indiana School for the Deaf wrote the following description:

My last recommendation for a well-rounded outdoor experience is Holliday Park. This park has 3.5 miles of moderately steep trails, winding up and down the cliff-side property along the White River formerly owned by John Holliday, an Indianapolis native and philanthropist. He and his wife donated the property to the city in honor of Indiana’s centennial anniversary in 1916. The park was originally planned as an arboretum, and is home to over 400 species of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.

While the trails are not wheelchair accessible, the rest of the park has level, paved walkways, a nature center, playground, and an interesting architectural structure. The Ruins were designed and built as a result of a national competition. New York City’s first skyscraper was scheduled for demolition, but the building owners wanted to save the sculptures from the building’s façade. An Indianapolis artist won the competition, and the sculptures, which were actually made from Indiana limestone, were shipped to Holliday Park. Over the years, other architectural remnants and engraved stone have been incorporated into The Ruins, making it an interesting spot to visit.

www.visitindy.com/indianapolis-accessibility-indy-outdoors