Health Wellness And Safety

Relieve Stress – Eat Healthy!

2011-04-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

Feeling stressed? As our lives get busier our eating habits tend to get poorer, whether it’s eating out more frequently, skipping meals, or grabbing fast food, poor nutritional decisions may lead to an increase in our stress levels. Here are some simple tips for improving your eating habits and maintaining a healthy diet, while never changing your busy lifestyle. Incorporate these quick tips into your diet over the next couple of weeks and you will already begin to feel a difference, in not only your body, but in your stress levels.

• Hasn’t anyone told you breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Well it is and skipping it only makes it difficult to maintain blood sugar levels and harder for you to function throughout the day. If you are really in a rush in the morning; think about stocking up on healthy breakfast bars or yogurt that quickly can be grabbed on your way out the door.

• Cut the caffeine. This may be one of the more difficult things to do if you are either a coffee or soda junkie. Try subbing decaf green tea, which has an added benefit of plenty of antioxidants, for coffee; or at the very least minimize the amount of coffee you have throughout the day. For soda try subbing it for some juices. It is also important to note that; the later in the day you consume caffeine the more likely it becomes that it will interfere with your sleep.

• Bring healthy snacks to the office or carry them with you throughout the day. When you get the munchies snack on those carrots you brought with you, this can actually counteract mood swings and fatigue that you may feel mid day.

• Pack your lunch! Not only does it save you from going out to eat, raising the possibility of having something with low nutritional value, but it will also save you some money.

• Clean out the kitchen. The easiest yet hardest thing to do is keep the bad stuff out of the house and the good stuff in. When you start to crave something you will have to settle for a healthy option. You may want to keep a couple of treats around though, because depriving yourself completely can lead to binge eating. Just remember to eat your treats in moderation.

Positive Promotions Celebrates School Nutrition Week

2011-03-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

Positivepromotions.com understands the importance of student nutrition and to show appreciation to those that work hard to educate our kids about a healthy lifestyle. We believe these educators deserve a big THANK YOU!

Hauppauge, N.Y. - Positive Promotions, whith specializes in turnkey solutions for promotional, educational, health and wellness, safety recognition and reward, is gearing up for School Nutrition Week in May. Positivepromotions.com has an entire line of products specifically designed to say thank you to those who work hard every day to make nutritional programs successful. School Nutrition has become a number one priority and a daily part of a child’s educational program.

School-based nutrition education can improve dietary practices that affect a child’s health, growth, and intellectual development. Immediate effects of unhealthy eating patterns include malnutrition, iron deficiency anemia, and obesity. Research has also shown lasting effects on children’s cognitive development and school performance by those who are not getting the proper nutrition. It is crucial to teach children at an earlier age the importance of nutritional eating, and to build a foundation for a healthy lifestyle. The habits that are instilled in them now, will be taken with them into adult hood.

Although School Nutrition programs are very successful, eating healthy should not stop once they leave the building. Check out some of our simple steps you can do at home with your children to promote healthy eating:

Read over the different food pyramids and ask your kids to pick out some favorite foods from each food group.

Have them help you plan a meal that includes a healthy serving of protein, a vegetable or two, and a healthy fruit for dessert.

For young kids, make a chart to keep track of all the fruits and vegetables they eat (we need at least five servings of fruits and veggies every day).

Snack time can be more fun if you try different recipes and snack ideas together with your kids. (Check out Positivepromotions.com Parents’ guide to healthy snacks for kids pocket pal)

In May, remember to recognize those staff members who work hard to promote the value of nutrition everyday in the lives of our youth. Show them that their efforts do not go overlooked, and are rewarded with a gift that reminds them of the important job they are doing!

Healthy America – Get the Tools to Eat Smarter, Exercise More, And Manage Weight for a Healthier Lifestyle

2011-03-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Dietary Guidelines, which replace the 2005 edition, was developed to curb today’s dramatic increase in obesity and to help people quickly take steps to a healthier lifestyle. Positive Promotions has a variety of unique, easy-to-read, fun tools that support these guidelines, using 3 key strategies:

1. Balance Calories Consumed With Physical Activity For Weight Management

Weight management is all about balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of calories you burn off through physical activity. If you’re overweight, you need to decrease your intake of calories and increase your physical activity. By achieving and then maintaining the appropriate calorie balance, you will live a healthier, longer, more active life. Positive Promotions’ Eating & Exercising for Good Health Handbook; Activity & Food Tracker; and Healthy weight Loss 101 Pocket Pal, are just some of the many products that can help you lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.

2. Increase Intake Of Foods That Contribute To Health

You are what you eat! Eating healthy makes us feel better and have more energy, and studies also have shown that eating nutritional low-calorie foods have impressive anti-aging benefits as well. This doesn’t mean you have to eat like a rabbit; there are many options such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean protein that are beneficial to a healthy diet. The Smart Shopping Healthy Heart Pocket Pal is a handy guide that can be taken with you on your trips to the grocery store to help improve your eating habits.

3. Decrease Intake Of Foods That May Lead To Disease & Obesity

Over the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. Obesity is a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Two things that have contributed to this increase in obesity, are eating out and lack of portion control. Check out Positive Promotions Fast Food Nutrition Guide and Portion Control Products that promote smart eating options.

Remember eating healthy leads to a world of benefits that does not end with weight loss. A healthy lifestyle will increase your energy and ward off illness, as well as reduce stress and improve sleep. If you want some more information on eating healthy there are some great websites such as mypyramid.gov and check out Positive Promotions for some great educational tools and ideas to achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle!

Keeping Them Up-To-Date

2009-01-20T14:07:00.002-08:00

As Women’s Health Liaison at Chase Brexton Health Services in Baltimore, Maryland, Patrice Meekins coordinates mammograms for uninsured women. She promotes breast cancer awareness with Silicone Wristbands, butter mints, key tags and much more. But she knows that breast cancer is not the only disease women suffer from, so she looks at a calendar of health events and tries to celebrate one per month. Since heart disease is the leading killer of women, Meekins decorated the clinic for American Heart Month and distributed “101 Ways To Exercise Your Heart” Bookmarks. She helped educate patients and employees during Stress Awareness Month and High Blood Pressure Month as well, just to name a few. Sometimes Meekins places educational products in the downstairs lobby for everyone who enters the building.

National Women’s Health Week

2009-01-20T14:07:00.001-08:00

Started by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this nationwide event reminds women to make health a top priority. Join health organizations, businesses and communities in uniting to tell woman the steps they can take to prevent disease. See our selection of women’s health products. New to this catalog are “Get The Facts About Breast Health” Slideguides and “Helping A Loved One With Breast Cancer” Pocket Pals.

Honoring Mature Adults Through Health

2009-01-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

The Southeast Georgia Area Agency On Aging, based in Waycross, offers a walking challenge at its 19 senior centers. More than 220 people participate. The challenge lasts all year. Whoever walks the most in a set amount of time from each center and overall is awarded a prize. Water bottles, pedometers and stress balls from Positive Promotions are used as incentives. At four of the centers, a more extensive program called “Live Healthy Georgia: Seniors Taking Charge!” focused on exercise and nutrition. Health tests were given to 100 seniors. Then they could attend daily exercise sessions as well as classes on fruits/vegetables, diabetes and healthy cooking. According to Wellness Coordinator Bridget Delaney, the health tests were repeated after three months, and participants showed improvement. They received Key Tags for completing the program. Multiple groups of 100 went through “Live Healthy Georgia.”

Older Americans Month

2009-01-20T14:04:00.000-08:00

Physical activity, good nutrition and preventive medicine can help seniors have longer, happier lives. Celebrate healthy aging during Older Americans Month. Positive Promotions’ items made for seniors, such as The Senior Good Health Journal, are perfect for encouraging wellness.

Valuing Employee Well-Being

2009-01-20T14:03:00.002-08:00

During High Blood Pressure Education Month, Arizona Chemical in Port St. Joe, Florida, held its annual employee health fair. Eye Center South did vision screenings, Gulf Coast Medical Center tested cholesterol and Bay Medical operated a bloodmobile. Blood pressure readings were taken, and then Blood Pressure Recorder Pocket Pals were given out to write the results in. Also, the 35 employees who attended the fair received a healthy lunch and many educational products. The company conducted drawings for a sports watch with heart rate monitor and a home blood pressure machine. Cynde Aaron, Administrative Assistant, said that Arizona Chemical offers the fair and other health programs because the employees are its #1 resource.

High Blood Pressure Education Month

2009-01-20T14:03:00.001-08:00

High blood pressure often displays no warning signs or symptoms. More than 65 million Americans have been diagnosed, and many other people have the condition without realizing it. Use May to distribute blood pressure reading recommendations, found in the Know Your Numbers Journal.

Learning More, Stressing Less

2009-01-20T14:00:00.002-08:00

The Pinellas County Head Start/Early Head Start program schedules a session for parents once a month. In April, the monthly seminar was called “Mom’s Morning Out” and it helped alleviate stress. The all-day event in Largo, Florida, gave 50-60 mothers a chance to interact. Nancy Ortiz, Comprehensive Secretary for Nutrition, Health Services and Family Services, shared information about stress management that she found on the Internet. In addition, attendees received Stress Survival Kits. The day included lessons from “Survival Skills for Women,” a curriculum that was designed to increase self-sufficiency.

Partners For Quality, Inc. provides services to adults who have developmental disabilities. At a wellness expo in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, the agency set up a stress-reduction booth that featured relaxing nature sounds and the scent of lavender. Expo attendees were treated to a yoga/meditation class and mini massages. Healthy Lifestyles committee members passed out mints and “101 Ways To Manage Stress” Bookmarks. Committee Chair Katie Phillips said the bookmarks were really well received.

Employees at FAS Controls, an automotive parts manufacturing company in Shelby, North Carolina, benefited from a stress-management seminar. The county health department sent representatives to do the seminar. They presented coping techniques and offered tips for lowering stress. The 145 participants received goody bags that each included a “Fitness On The Go!” Pocket Pal among other items. Exercise was one of the techniques discussed. Human Resources Director Stephanie Oliver said the same seminar was held four times to not interrupt plant production yet still reach everyone.

Stress Awareness Month

2009-01-20T14:00:00.001-08:00

Currently, stress appears to be at record levels. The shrinking job market, increasing foreclosures, and crashing investments have citizens on edge. Stress Awareness Month has never been so needed as now. Help those around you with our selection of stress-reducing items on pages 18-19. New this year is the Stress Management Handbook.

Reaching Out

2009-01-20T13:59:00.000-08:00

A kickoff event for Child Abuse Prevention Month occurred at Down East Community Hospital in Machias, Maine. The Maine State Police, Washington County agencies that assist children and medical professionals were there to educate families. Denise York, Program Director for the Washington County Council to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect, handed out Smart Parenting Journals and other parenting information. After the kickoff event, the council set up month-long displays in Down East Community Hospital and another hospital. The displays included more of the journals as well as stickers, ribbons, buttons and balloons. York said that her county is very rural, and its poverty, lack of transportation to services, and unemployment are all stress indicators for abuse.

Trinity Church United Methodist in Kendallville, Indiana, holds an annual training session every April on its denomination’s child protection policy. The class is required for anyone working with children and youth at the church. Usually 60 people attend the training, which features a speaker from SCAN (Stop Child Abuse & Neglect). According to Sonja Richards, Director of Educational Ministries, in 2008 Trinity brought Child Abuse Prevention Month to the entire congregation. She ordered several products from Positive Promotions, including glancers and pocket pals for adults and educational activities books for kids. The April newsletter and weekly bulletins contained articles on the subject. Richards said that basic statistics “wow” people; they are surprised by the prevalence of child abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Month

2009-01-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

All youngsters should be able to live in safety. Child Abuse Prevention Month is the ideal time to renew our commitment to protecting our nation’s children. It is also the time to invite others to join in, through awareness activities and education. The parenting materials such as the “April Is Child Abuse Prevention Month” Bookmarks, and the child safety products such as the “Who Can You Trust?” Parent-Child Activities Books, will boost any campaign.

Finding The Right Foods

2009-01-20T13:56:00.000-08:00

Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC), located in Portsmouth, Ohio, organized an informative luncheon for its volunteers that focused on nutrition. The Mexican-themed luncheon was held in March. Representatives from Pampered Chef and Tupperware prepared the food. The 80 volunteers who attended learned about healthy cooking. They also received goody bags containing cookbooks, “Taste Of Home” items and “Understanding Food Labels” Pocket Pals. The luncheon was one of the monthly functions SOMC has for its 500 volunteers. Bingo, crafts, sightseeing and shopping trips have been offered in the past. Janet Williams, Manager of Volunteer Services, said she has a great group of people dedicated to the hospital.

The City of Bullhead, Arizona, presented a March nutrition workshop for its employees. A registered dietitian went over the “My Pyramid” Pocket Pal and “Fruits and Veggies: The More The Better!” Slideguide. She gave examples of nontraditional fruits and vegetables. She also talked about the ratio of protein to carbohydrates to fats that a diet should have, and she connected food to heart health. According to Human Resources Specialist Kim Plough, the workshop was part of a comprehensive wellness program.

In the past three years, more than 20,000 “101 Healthy Snacks” Bookmarks and “101 Family Fitness Activities” Bookmarks have been distributed across Kansas. The bookmarks were given out at the state fair, community wellness nights and health fairs. This was part of the Healthy Kansas initiative, a program that promotes sensible nutrition, increased physical activity and tobacco-free lives. According to Healthy Kansas Program Director Mandy Cawby, health is a priority in her state. General funds finance the initiative, which Governor Kathleen Sebelius was a driving force behind.

Good Nutrition In March

2009-01-20T13:55:00.000-08:00

Healthy eating is the cornerstone of healthy living. Traditionally, March has been the month to call more attention to nutrition. Use our products for adults and our products for children to meet your education objectives. The “One Hundred 100 (Or Less) Calorie Snacks” Pocket Pal and the “Be Wise About Portion Size” Glancer are new additions.

Taking The Matter To Heart

2009-01-20T13:54:00.000-08:00

Bringing health education to the employees at General Mills’ largest plant is quite a challenge. Nearly 1200 people, spread out over three shifts, work in the Wellston, Ohio, facility. “Gate greetings” are a solution. On her gate greeting days, Wellness Manager Andrea Myers stands out by the main gate everyone uses. Rain or shine she distributes information, sometimes with a treat, from 5:00-8:30 a.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m. For American Heart Month, she distributed “Be Smart For Your Heart” Women’s Heart Health Pocket Pals, red dress pins and “Know Your Numbers” Men’s Health Tests Recorders. High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, obesity and diabetes are conditions the employees are struggling with, so heart health was a particularly useful topic to cover.

Principal Carmen P. Gonzalez wanted to show gratitude to everyone on her staff at Bishop Elementary in Bishop, Texas, while emphasizing the importance of wellness. She gave each person a “Heart Healthy Lifestyle” Value Pack and a Deluxe Pedometer with Clock. She included a card stating that she appreciated all they did for the students and she hoped they worked on staying healthy. The staff members were encouraged to monitor their weight and set wellness goals, such as eating more veggies, drinking more water and walking more. The pedometers helped them track their steps and reminded them to walk the two blocks to the school district’s central office instead of driving. Gonzalez said that staff members are more conscious now about their health, and their habits have changed for the better.

American Heart Month

2009-01-20T13:53:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of thousands of lives are claimed by cardiovascular disease each year in the United States. And millions of Americans live with some form of the disease. The good news is that this can be prevented. During American Heart Month, promote prevention by giving out educational heart-health products. Take special note of the new “Heart Healthy Snacking For Busy People” Pocket Pal and “Eating And Exercising For A Healthy Heart” Handbook .