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Western Regional Wellness Coalition

Western Region

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Autumn 2019

Colour It Up Pg. 2 Planting Seeds, Building Relationships Pg. 3

Healthy Eating

Physical Activity

Injury Prevention

Child & Youth Development

Mental Health Promotion & Addiction Prevention

Sexual & Reproductive Health

Healthy Environments

Tobacco Control

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W e l l n e s s I n A c t i o n

The Bay St. George Status of Women Council has offered Colour It Up several times with

the financial support of the Western Regional Wellness Coalition. Our latest offering was

from May – June 6, 2019 and eight women participated. The goal of the program is to

learn about the benefits of fruits and vegetables, explore how to include them into a

healthy diet, and to problem solve the obstacles that participants face in doing so. Some

of the topics included the benefits of vegetables and fruits, how to set smart goals,

Canada's food guide, serving sizes, etc.

During this program participants also had an opportunity to try different recipes in which

fruit and or vegetable were the key ingredients. This program is offered in a

nonjudgmental setting that encourages women not to cut out foods, but how to

incorporate healthier foods. One of our favourite memories from the program was running

into a participant several weeks later at the grocery store, and her cart was full of fruits

and vegetables. She looked at us and said, “I’m doing this because of you!”

Submitted by Janice Kennedy

Community Grant Highlight

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St. Boniface School in Ramea was awarded funding from the Western Regional Wellness Coalition

for their spring project Planting Seeds, Building Relationships. Students and community seniors

came together to build planter boxes for the school and community. Carpentry skills, math,

geometry, science, art and design all came together for this intergenerational project. With help

from the school custodian, students learned to use several tools as they worked on this construction

project. Other community seniors contributed their time, building skills and gardening knowledge to

complete three bench planter boxes. The planters were filled with flowers and herbs and placed

around the community and near the school for all residents of Ramea to see and enjoy.

As students and seniors worked together, relationships were also cultivated and bloomed. It was

great to see everyone working together to complete this project, to build a lasting contribution to the

community and to build friendships that bridge the age gap. Our project was a great success, with

the benches, plants and relationships positively impacting our students, seniors and community into

the future.

School Grant Highlight

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W e l l n e s s I n A c t i o n

Set your priorities. Before too many activities overwhelm you, it’s important to decide which traditions offer the most positive im-pact and eliminate unnecessary activities. If you usually become overwhelmed by a flurry of baking, shopping, sending cards, visiting relatives and other activities that leave you exhausted, you may want to pick your favourite activities and really enjoy them, and skip the rest.

Ask for help. Have a “family meeting” and make a commitment to share tasks. Rather than have one person cooking the whole meal, have family and friends bring a dish. Try to focus on doing what's really im-portant to you and your family.

Beware of overindulgence. Alcohol is a de-pressant so try to keep consumption to a minimum. Too much food can make you feel lethargic, tired and even less able to keep up a busy pace.

Relax…Breathe…Enjoy! This sounds so sim-ple, but sometimes we forget to take deep breaths and give our bodies the oxygen we need. Remember to take time to do things you enjoy like exercising, listening to music or meditation that will serve as much-needed breaks during the hectic weeks of the holidays.

Stay within budget. Finances are a great stressor, so set a budget and stick with it. A call, visit or a note to tell someone how im-portant he or she is to you can be as touch-ing and often more meaningful than a gift.

Include others. If you have few family mem-bers or close friends nearby, reach out! Find ways to spend the holidays with other people. If you're part of a family gathering, invite someone you know is alone to your gathering.

Put fun, humour, affection and “break time” into your holidays. Fun or silly activities, games or movies that make you laugh, hugs, playing with pets, and quiet time alone or with a partner are all good ways to reduce stress.

Get into the light. Research suggests that elevated depression around this time of year can have a lot to do with the weather, especially lack of daylight and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). So soak up the sun when you can. If your dampened mood persists for weeks into the New Year, consider a visit to your physician or mental health professional.

Holiday Stress-Less Tips to Help You Maintain Good Mental Health During

the Holiday Season

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W e l l n e s s I n A c t i o n

A new take on a traditional favourite! In this delicious one-dish meal, black-eyed peas and barley

create a savory filling that steams inside cabbage leaves. A budget-friendly, 100% plant-based

family meal. Black beans are an alternate bean choice. Makes 16 cabbage rolls.

Bean-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients: 1 small head cabbage 2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, mashed 1 cup cooked barley 1 cup finely chopped celery 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp dried basil 1 pinch dried oregano 1 pinch dried thyme 2 drops hot pepper sauce 2 cups reduced-sodium tomato juice Directions:

Step 1: Place cabbage in freezer overnight to wilt leaves. Step 2: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Step 3: Carefully remove 16 cabbage leaves from frozen head, one at a time, cutting each from the core with a sharp knife. Trim the center rib on individual leaves to make the leaf the same thickness throughout, but do not remove the rib. Step 4: In a bowl, mash black-eyed peas and barley together. Stir in celery, onion, salt, basil, oregano, thyme and hot pepper sauce until well blended. Step 5: Place about 1/4 cup (60 mL) pea mixture on the rib end of each cabbage leaf. Roll up and tuck in sides. Pack cabbage rolls tightly into casserole dish. Pour tomato juice over rolls. Step 6: Cover and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until sauce is bubbling and cabbage rolls are hot in the center.

Feature Recipe

Visit www.cookspiration.com or download the

app to your phone or tablet!

Access a wide array of recipes with photos to fit any palate or appetite. Need ideas that are easy on the pocketbook? Find them in Budget Friendly. Have picky kids? Review Kids Choice. Each recipe showcases the nutritional details in the Nutrition Info section.

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NonThere’s no reason to feel you’re stuck inside with nothing to do this winter. To get kids, tweens, teens

and even adults off the couch, off the screens and on the move, try some of these winter fun activities!

Make snow people or sculptures

Start a neighbourhood game of road hockey

Go for a family cross country ski

Take a winter family snowshoe hike

Go out at night to ski or skate

Go sliding on a Toboggan

Have a winter campfire

Explore a favourite summer park in the winter

Go geocaching. Who knows how far you’ll walk

Look at the neighbourhood lights on an after dinner family walk

Round up some friends to skate and play shinny at the rink or on the pond

As the snow starts to fly and the temperatures drop, there’s no need to hibernate. Just remember to

dress everyone for the weather and you’ll be able to have fun and stay active, through the entire winter.

There’s so much excitement to be had in winter; Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Winter Fun

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome a new Steering

Committee Member onboard and introduce her to the Western Region!

Natasha is the Regional Coordinator for Western, Northern Peninsula &

Labrador, Kids Eat Smart Foundation Newfoundland Labrador. Natasha has

been working in the Western Region of the province in various position over

the past twenty plus years. In her new role, she is very pleased represent

KES on the Western Regional Wellness Coalition Committee and looks

forward to working with everyone to support initiatives that promote healthy

living throughout the western region. Natasha was born and raised in

St. Anthony, NL and currently lives in Deer Lake with her husband Scott and

their two children.

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If you are planning an activity, event, or project that focuses on one or more of the priority areas,

you may be eligible to apply for a community or school grant! To get your copy, please visit our

website: www.WesternWellnessCoalition.com

Community Grants Program • Community groups within the geographical

boundaries of the WRWC can apply. Maximum Funding: $1000 Deadlines: January 30, April 30, & September 30

School Grants Program • Schools located between Port aux Basques and

Bartlett’s Harbor- -any teacher, student, principal, or parent may apply.

Maximum Funding: $1000 Deadlines: February 1 & November 1

Contact a Wellness Facilitator:

Bay St. George and Area, Port aux Basques and Area, Burgeo and Area 646-3728

Corner Brook, Bay of Islands, Deer Lake and White Bay 632-2920 Bonne Bay and Area, Port Saunders and Area 458-2381, Ext. 268

Recent Grant Recipients

Community Grants funded in October 2019

Massey Drive Community Garden Expansion Program Lomond Killdevil Campers Outdoor Sports & Games Enhancement Rocky Harbour Bike Skills Park and Mini Pump Track Lark Harbour Lark Harbour Community Garden Cape St. George Kids in Community Kitchen Corner Brook Youth Suicide Prevention Program Stephenville & Area Women’s Walking Club Bay St. George Youth Programming Equipment Project Stephenville Community Kitchen Benoit’s Cove Colour It Up Howley Community Kitchen Rose Blanche Active Seniors Programming

School Grants funded in November 2019

Corner Brook Regional High The Beautification Project and Garden Club St.Boniface All Grade Life Skills and Healthy Living Stephenville High Volleyball Club Pasadena Elementary Intramurals/ after school physical activity Stephenville Primary School Travelling Library for Social Emotional Learning Hampden Academy Healthy Bodies Healthy Buddies