My goodness, here we are in
February, which is celebrated in the U.S. as American Heart Month. Here
at Pathfinder, we’re focused on cultivating heart health by sharing messages of
eating well and encouraging folks to get enough exercise. Even though
great strides have been made in improving cardiac health, the most recent data
indicate it remains the leading cause of deaths in the U.S. (2014 statistics).
In conjunction with our health
organization partners, Bassett Healthcare’s
5210 Programs and the Greater Utica Chapter of
the American Heart Association, we encourage everyone to take
steps to make their hearts stronger and last longer (which is very timely for Valentine’s Day!).
That includes:
- cutting back on fats, sweets, lots of red meat, and excessive carbs;
- eating more fresh fruits and veggies each day;
- encouraging your loved ones to eat better through your example;
- upping your activity level – an hour a day is optimum, but even 20 minutes of walking each day can make a big difference;
- and giving up sweetened sodas and other drinks in favor of water.
Here at Pathfinder Produce, we can help you meet your eating
goals … stop by our fresh produce markets this week, Thursdays in Edmeston, 1
to 5 p.m., Fridays in Morris at the UMC, noon to 5 p.m., and discover the
variety of healthy foods that can put you on the path to a “heart healthy you.”
Below, in our post from Director of Education Maura Iorio, she
speaks about how our Pathfinder School Students are taking charge of their
heart health and helping out the American Heart Association. Enjoy!
****
Pathfinder
School’s students, led by Adaptive Physical Education teacher Susan Johnson,
are gearing up for their annual Hoops for Heart event! With an emphasis
on fun and fitness, students will be learning about ways to stay heart healthy
and raise awareness for the American Heart Association.
During
the week of February 13th, students will be learning about making
good food choices (lots of fruits and veggies!) and different ways that they
can stay active throughout the day. On Friday, February 17th our
students and staff members will be wearing RED
and hitting the basketball court to show off their skills and celebrate all
that they learned about heart health.
Our
students will also be participating in the official Hoops for Heart fundraiser.
All of the money collected will go directly to the American Heart Association
to be used for research, education, and community service projects. For more
information about Hoops for Heart, please click here.
In
honor of our upcoming Hoops for Heart event, click here to check out this easy
heart healthy idea that’s perfect for a pre- or post-basketball game
snack! We recommend making sure your orange skins are dry before drawing
on them, and using non-toxic markers. 
Another
idea that you can try is to use baby carrots and black olives to make a healthy
veggie tray, like the one pictured to the left. Other Pinterest images show
similar trays with the ball lines delineated with long unpeeled strips of
cucumbers.
Until next time, eat well and love your heart!
Maura (and Lori)
