Premera CEO Gubby Barlow Chairs 2013 Puget Sound Heart and Stroke Walk

June 17, 2013 Leave a comment

Premera CEO Gubby BarlowWe are pleased to announce that Premera President and CEO Gubby Barlow is chairman of the American Heart Association’s Puget Sound Heart and Stroke Walk on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 at Seattle Center.  It will be the walk’s 20th anniversary.

The Heart and Stroke Walk is the signature event for the American Heart Association, and draws more than 10,000 participants from across Puget Sound, including survivors of heart disease and stroke. As chair, Barlow will lead efforts to bring the Puget Sound community together in the fight against cardiovascular diseases and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers, and lead the local fundraising campaign to its goal of $1.75 million.

“Heart diseases and stroke are among the greatest health threats Americans face.  I am involved with the AHA because I, like others, have seen the devastating effects of heart disease and strokes on family members and close friends,” Barlow said.  “With the AHA’s partnerships, we can be part of the solution by supporting research, embracing a culture of health in our companies and making a healthy difference in our communities.”

Donate to the American Heart Association or sign up to participate in the 2013 Heart and Stroke Walk.

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Navigating The Food Court While Traveling

June 13, 2013 Leave a comment

Taqueria foodBy Heather Snively, MS, RD

Third in a series about healthy food choices while traveling.

So you’ve made it through breakfast with your brought-from-home oatmeal and now it’s lunch time. What’s your plan?  It can be challenging to avoid the burger stand, but here are a few choices that should leave you satisfied and on-track to keep your trip healthy:

Taqueria. A great place to get the basics! Instead of a burrito, build a bowl. Ask for grilled chicken, black beans, grilled vegetables and two corn tortillas. Avoid the extra-large burrito with sour cream, extra sauce and cheese. 

The Asian station. Select brown rice (instead of white), steamed vegetables and broccoli beef. This option will be high in sodium but lower in calories, saturated fat and a better option for fiber than most items on the menu. Avoid the heavy sauces and fried items. 

Italian. Select whole wheat pasta and red sauces. The best options are salad with a light dressing.  Avoid the cream-based sauces and the huge pizza slices. 

Sandwiches. Best options will be broiled chicken or turkey. For toppings, go for lettuce, tomato, onions and mustard.  Choose a whole wheat option instead of a sourdough or white bread.

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Heather Snively, MS, RD, is a nutrition and wellness manager at Guckenheimer, an on-site corporate restaurant management and catering company.  She received her Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Washington in 2011.  Heather is passionate about helping others determine the best way to enjoy food and stay healthy.  Her food philosophy is simple:  moderation in all things, except for vegetables—eat all the vegetables you like.

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Pack With Health In Mind

June 7, 2013 Leave a comment

Healthy eating on the roadBy Heather Snively, MS, RD

The last time I traveled, someone on the airport tram kindly pointed out that the outside pocket of my carry-on was open.  “No worries” I told him, “if someone wanted the oatmeal packets in there, I would be happy to share.”  I firmly believe in packing your own shelf-stable staples, such as oatmeal packets, when traveling.

Everything is more expensive when packaged for traveling, and relying on options available at the airport often results in paying a premium or choosing something that isn’t as nutritious.  A few options:

  • Oatmeal packets. Spend under $4 for 12 oatmeal packets.  All you need is a cup of hot water which you can get from any coffee cart in the airport.  Ask the barista to fill a 12 ounce cup with about 3/4th ounce of water and then add your own oatmeal.  The BEST option is always plain oatmeal: the flavors add unnecessary and unwanted sugar.  Choose a variety with flaxseeds and get some more fiber and a nice dose of Omega-3s!
  • Your favorite health bar. Look for a bar that is less than 200 calories, with ingredients like “dates”, “almonds”, “dried fruit”, and whole grains.  Avoid bars with sugar as the first or second ingredients.
  • Nuts. Take the time to buy a 1 pound package of your favorite unsalted nuts and portion them out into ¼ cup bags.  Or, if you’re pressed for time, bring the whole bag and your ¼ cup measuring spoon.  This is an excellent shelf-stable snack that offers fiber, a little protein and healthy fats.
  • Dried fruit. Just like nuts, find a way to portion your dried fruit.  Make sure to select fruits that don’t have added sugar.  Great options are apricots and prunes.  These will help provide fiber and natural sugar.
  • Fruit.  Do you have a few apples on your counter?  An orange? Or a few tangerines?  Bring them with you!  You’ll find that it can be a challenge to find the fruits you like in the airport and often they are $1 each.

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Heather Snively, MS, RD, is a nutrition and wellness manager at Guckenheimer, an on-site corporate restaurant management and catering company.  She received her Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Washington in 2011.  Heather is passionate about helping others determine the best way to enjoy food and stay healthy.  Her food philosophy is simple:  moderation in all things, except for vegetables—eat all the vegetables you like.

Filed under Ask a Nutritionist, Your Health

Don’t be Helpless; Be a Hero – Learn CPR

June 6, 2013 Leave a comment

Hands Only CPRIn an emergency where another person’s life may be at stake, your odds of being a hero might depend on a simple fact:  Can you give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), less than half of cardiac arrest victims get help before emergency personal arrive.   Clearly, no one wants to be that person who stands by a tragic situation without being of help.

The good news is, learning CPR is easier than ever!  The AHA recommends that everyone learn Hands-Only CPR™ in event of an emergency involving a teen or an adult.

It’s only two steps:

  1. Call 911
  2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives.

Even easier to remember, according to the AHA:  Time your beats with the immortal beat of the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive! 

During National CPR Week, take a moment to check out this information so that you can be one more everyday hero!

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Fuel for the Road Warrior

May 28, 2013 Leave a comment

By Heather Snively, MS, RDBusinesswoman in Airport with a latte

Do you spend a large amount of your work week in airports, restaurants and hotel rooms?  Work travel can be fun, but it can make sticking to a health goal exhausting and frustrating.  Here are some simple ways to stay healthy without  too much time and effort.

Hydration

It’s critical! The air circulating in a plane cabin is dryer than the air on the ground, which results in a greater amount of fluid loss through our skin and breathing. 

Dehydration can make you feel tired, result in headaches and can lead to extra snacking. Our brains easily confuse thirst for hunger so after you get off a long flight and feel like a snack is desperately needed, take a long sip of water—you just might be thirsty!

Make sure that you carry an empty water bottle through the security check point and fill it up before you get on the plane. This will help prevent dehydration and could help reduce feeling jet-lagged.

Beverages: That’s right, I’m looking at you, latte!

Stands selling lattes, mochas and other coffee drinks are everywhere in airports.  But beware: Here’s something you might not know—the brain isn’t good at registering calories from beverages.  Depending on the drink, many of those calories are coming from unwanted sugar and fat—upwards of 500 calories. 

In conjunction with making sure that hydration stays a top priority, think about cutting out calories from drinks and going with a simpler beverage like drip coffee or an Americano. Just be sure to go light on the milk or cream.  This is a simple way to make sure your trip doesn’t result in a rise on the scale at home.

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Heather Snively, MS, RD, is a nutrition and wellness manager at Guckenheimer, an on-site corporate restaurant management and catering company.  She received her Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Washington in 2011.  Heather is passionate about helping others determine the best way to enjoy food and stay healthy.  Her food philosophy is simple:  moderation in all things, except for vegetables—eat all the vegetables you like.

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