Total of 1,423.15

pounds were lost

National Earth Day

April 22nd is National Earth Day. Did you know incopororating plants into your dai-ly lives increases attentiveness and lowers blood pressure? If you do not have a green thumb, secculants are a great option. They do not require a lot of attention, just water them once in a while.

In this NewsletterPage 2 Rethink Your StressPage 3 Employee Assistant ProgramPage 4 Blue 365 DiscountsPage 6 Unlock the Power of NaturePage 7 30 Ways to Spring Clean Your WellnessPage 8 Grilled Chicken with Arugula and Warm Chickpeas

Stop, Breathe and Think App

Try this free mindfulness app! Specific breathing activities will be suggested to you based upon your answers when you check in with the app.

Slim to Win Weight Loss

Page 2

The breath is a powerful tool but something humans take for granite. Our bodies naturally breathes and our breath changes based upon the demands of our body. Have you noticed when you are is stressful situations, your breath is shallow and when you are relaxed the breathe is deeper. This month take note of what your breath is telling you. If you notice your breath is shallow, take 1 minute and refocus by taking deep breathes. You will notice your whole body relax.

Breathing Mindful Moment

Rethink Your StressThe human body was created for stress. When the body interperts a stressor, the adrenal glands release a hormone called coristol. The hormone allows us to focus and complete the task. Once the stressor is gone, coristol stops being released.

When Stress Becomes HarmfulIn excess, stress will turn into chronic stress that will impact your health. When stress becomes chronic, the adrenal glands constantly release cortisol, not allowing the body to have a break from the hormone. This is when health risks will appear; blood pres-sure increases, weight gain or lose, lack of concentration and the health risks goes on. The key to chronic stress it to get support and create an action plan.

Ways to Support Healthy Stress LevelsTry these self-care intereventions to support your body to be resilient to stress. The key to stress managment is self-care and living an inentional life that is meaningful to you.

When stress interferes in your daily tasks, professional support is advised. As a North Kansas City Schools employee, you have access to unlimited telephonic counseling through the Employee Assistant Program (see page 3 for more information).

ResourceGreenleaf Intergrative: www.greenleafintegrative.com/m-home

• Monitor stress indicators like sleeping habits, eating, feeling agitated at little things and more. • Decompress by doing activities you enjoy like teatime, stretching, journaling, exercise, breathing or listening to your favorite playlist. • Remind yourself of the positive moments that day. Gratitude provides the op-portunity to let go of the past and fear of the future and grounds us in the pres-ent moment. • Talk with people you trust. Humans were made for connection.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP) CONSULTATIVE SERVICES• Telephonic Counseling — Unlimited, 24/7 consultations with master’s and doctoral-level counselors

• Face-to-face Counseling — Up to 3 visits per employee/household member per year

• Bereavement — Support available through telephonic or face-to-face sessions; online resources available on EAP website

• Tobacco Cessation Coaching — Unlimited telephonic support and resources to assist with tobacco cessation; refers members directly to the American Lung Association’s Quit program

• EAP Website Resources — Comprehensive website that includes articles, videos, FAQs, etc.; additionally, individuals can chat online with an EAP Consultant or email an EAP Counselor through the website

• College Planning Resources — Expert assistance in finding the right college that fits your child academically, socially and financially, provided by College Planning USA

WORK/LIFE ASSISTANCE & RESOURCES• WorkLife Services — Unlimited 24/7 access to WorkLife Specialists (subject matter experts)

in the areas of: family and care giving, health and wellness, emotional well-being, daily living, andbalancing work/life responsibilities

• Child and Elder Care Referral — Unlimited telephonic consultation with a WorkLife Specialist (part of WorkLife Services)

• Employee Discounts — Access to discounts on a large number of products and services, from gym memberships to dental, vision and pharmacy items, entertainment, restaurants, computers, cars, and much more

• Webinars, Podcasts, Articles and FAQs — Various topics available on the EAP website

LEGAL/FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & RESOURCES • Legal Consultation — Unlimited telephonic support and free initial 30 minute face-to-face

consultation with an attorney, includes a 25% discount on attorney services thereafter; online legal forms; extensive online law library

• Financial Consultation — Unlimited telephonic support for financial problems or planning needs; 30 days of financial coaching; extensive online financial library and calculators

• ID Theft — Free consultation with a trained Fraud Resolution Specialist that will assist with ID theft resolution and education; ID theft educational materials available online

• Will Prep — Online self-service documents available on EAP website; 30 minute consultation (part of Legal Consultation offering) can be used for estate planning/will preparation

• Legal Document Preparation — Online self-service documents available on the EAP website

• Tax Consultation — Tax questions only can be answered as part of the Financial Consultation offering

• Online Self-Service Documents — Examples include, but are not limited to: Living Trust, Will, Power of Attorney, Deeds

WWW.GUARDIANANYTIME.COM

1. WorkLifeMatters Program services are provided by Integrated Behavioral Health, Inc., and its contractors. Guardian does not provide any part of WorkLifeMatters program services. Guardian is not responsible or liable for care or advice given by any provider or resource under the program. This information is for illustrative purposes only. It is not a contract. Only the Administration Agreement can provide the actual terms, services, limitations and exclusions. Guardian and IBH reserve the right to discontinue the WorkLifeMatters program at any time without notice. Legal services provided through WorkLifeMatters will not be provided in connection with or preparation for any action against Guardian, IBH, or your employer. WorkLifeMatters Program is not an insurance benefit and may not be available in all states. 2. Office hours: Monday-Friday 6am-5pm PST.

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America7 Hanover SquareNew York, NY 10004-4025www.guardiananytime.com

GROUP & WORKSITE BENEFITS

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Our comprehensive WorkLifeMatters Employee Assistance Program1, available through Integrated Behavioral Health, provides you and your family members with confidential, personal and web-based support on a wide variety of important and relevant topics — such as stress management, dependent/elder care, nutrition, fitness, and legal and financial issues.

WWW.IBHWORKLIFE.COM

User Name: Matters

Password: wlm70101

Phone: 1-800-386-7055

Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week2

2017-40276 (05/19)

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER DISCOUNTSAND SERVICESBlue KC members can take advantage of complimentary Blue365® discounts and services from one of the many participating companies. Through Blue365, you have access to a wide range of savings from top health and wellness brands around the country, plus some local favorites.

Examples include:

• Discounts on health and fitness clubs

• Weight loss programs

• Vision care, and more

We designed Blue365 to support you as you make healthy choices every day and throughout your life. Blue365 gives you access to special savings on health-related products and services from leading national companies, all in one convenient place.

Featured Deals

Also, the Blue365 program now includes a weekly “Featured Deal” which is only available for a limited time. These “Featured Deals” are offered via email to members who sign up for the program.

Sign Up Now

You can sign up for Blue365 through the Blue KC website by visiting BlueKC.com/Health_and_Wellness/Blue_365.aspx or directly at Blue365deals.com/BlueKC.

Once you have signed up for Blue365, you’ll start receiving weekly “Featured Deals” by email.

Questions?

For questions, call 1-855-511-BLUE (2583) or email

support@Blue365deals.com. See the reverse side of this flyer for a complete list of services and providers that are available.

MCM B365-PAR 7/17

Blue365 Participants MyBlueKC.com

Continued on back

Visit Blue365deals.com/BlueKC for offer details and to explore all the healthy choices and discounts offered by Blue365.

BLUE365 PARTICIPANTSYour Resource for Living HealthierTake advantage of discounts and services from participating companies.

As a Blue KC member, you automatically have access to the content, tools, and discounted offers available through these participating Blue365 companies:

MCM B365-PAR 7/17

Blue365 Participants MyBlueKC.com

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

FINANCIAL HEALTH• Petplan Pet Insurance• Quicken Loans• Sprint

FITNESS• FitBoomBah – The Flex Belt• Fitness Magazines• Garmin• Heart Rate Monitors USA• Kansas City B-Cycle (KC Metro Area Only)• Polar Products• Reebok• Rugged Maniac• Skechers Direct• SNAP Fitness 24-7• Tivity Health• The Wearables Store• Wellness Codes – Zumba

HEALTHY EATING• Dole• eHealthPath• FitBoomBah – Bestowed• Handstand Kids• Holly Clegg Cookbooks• Jenny Craig• Nutribullet• NutriSystem• Retrofit

LIFESTYLE• Cellcontrol• Fairmont Hotels & Resorts• Harry & David• Last Minute Travel Club

• Organic Life Magazine

PERSONAL CARE• Aesthetic and Cosmetic Services (KC Metro Area Only)• Beltone• CaringBridge• Contacts America• Cord:Use• Davis Vision• Discount Eye Care (KC Metro Area Only)• FitBoomBah – Dentisse• FitBoomBah – Kolibree Smart Toothbrush• Hope Paige Medical Designs• Jonathan Paul Fitovers• LasikPlus• Lively• Medical Alert• QualSight LASIK• SeniorLink Care• Teeth Whitening (KC Metro Area Only)• TruHearing• Wellness Codes – Healthy Baby Products

WELLNESS• eMindful

Visit Blue365deals.com/BlueKC for offer details and to explore all the healthy choices and discounts offered by Blue365. Discounts, services and participants may vary.

Blue365 offers access to savings on items that Members may purchase directly from independent vendors. Blue365 does not include items covered under members’ policies with Blue KC or any applicable federal healthcare program. To find out what is covered, call Blue KC. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and Blue KC may receive payments from Blue365 vendors. Neither BCBSA nor Blue KC recommends, endorses, warrants, or guarantees any specific Blue365 vendor or item. Discounts are NOT insurance. It is important to note that these “value-added” discounts are not covered services under the health plan. Blue KC will not pay benefits for these services. Billing and payment for these services will occur directly between the provider and the member.

Unlock the Power of NatureThe average American will spend around 93% of their time indoors. The good news, spending small amounts of time outdoors in nature impacts our overall well-being. Scientists has shown being outdoors in nature impacts our physical health because the body is moving, decreases scores for depression, anxiety and fatigue.

Forest BathingForest bathing is a term scientists use to simply being in the forest, surrounded by Mother Nature. When outside, utilize your five senses to be present in the moment. Your five senses is a tool to use to train the brain to be present in the moment rather than think about things outside of what is occuring in the moment.

Being outdoors is one of many ways to destress from your day. Next time you are feeling a little anxious, take a step outside. Interested in learning more about Forest Bathing, check out Forest Bathing by Dr. Qing Li.

ResourceForest Bathing Is Great For Your Health. Here is How to Do It. By Time Magazine

• What do you hear? • What are you seeing? • What do you smell?• What are you touching?

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30 Ways to Spring Clean Your Wellness

1 Park at the end of the parking lot. 2 Remove expired foods from the refrigerator 3 Smile at 10 people throughout the day.4 Swap out one processed food for a healthier choice. 5 Just sit for 3 minutes and decompress from your day. 6 Do something outside for 10 minutes. 7 Remove unwanted apps from your phone.8 Write down 5 things you are grateful for. 9 Learn something new. 10 Fill ½ your plate with vegetables. 11Grab someone and go for a walk. 12 Watch the sunset. 13 Exercise for 30 minutes. 14 Turn off technology 30 minutes before bed. 15 Eat a healthy breakfast. 16 Clean out the processed foods in the house. Donate them to a food pantry. 17 Stretch for 10 minutes. 18 Talk with someone you admire and catch up on life. 19 Swap out dessert for a piece of fruit. 20 Text someone reminding them how much you appreciate them. 21 Sit outside and listen to your surroundings. 22 Try something new. 23 Drink at least 64 ounces of water. 24 Get 7-9 hours or sleep. 25 Eat one meal slowly, enjoying the taste. 26 Walk the long way to get somewhere. 27 Take your vitamins. 28 Enjoy a piece of dark chocolate.29 Take 10 deep breathes. 30 Choose a wellness challenge for the next 30 days.

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Grilled Chicken with Arugula and Warm Chickpeas

Ingredients• 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more for drizzling• 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed• 4 sprigs thyme• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes• 8 small skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 2½ lb. total)• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper• 3 cups arugula with tender stems• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice• Flaky sea salt (such as Maldon)

Directions1. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat; cook chickpeas, thyme, and red pepper flakes, stirring occasionally, just until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.2. Prepare a grill for medium heat; oil grill grate. Brush chicken with 4 Tbsp. oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill chicken, skin side down, until golden brown and lightly charred, 8–10 minutes. Turn and grill until cooked through, 4 minutes longer.3. Toss arugula, lemon zest, and lemon juice into chick-peas. Serve with chicken, drizzled with more oil and sprinkled with sea salt.

Nutrition FactsCalories (kcal) 460 Fat (g) 29 Saturated Fat (g) 4.5 Cho-lesterol (mg) 135 Carbohydrates (g) 15 Dietary Fiber (g) 4 Total Sugars (g) 3 Protein (g) 37 Sodium (mg) 540

Source: bonappetit.com/recipe/grilled-chicken-with-arugula-and-warm-chickpeas Page 8