•January 20, 20201•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
I have talked a lot about mindfulness in this column and I wanted to share this article by U of I diabetic intern Andrew Dinsmoor, which focuses on mindful eating. Andrew says: Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, known for founding the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course, defines mindfulness as “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” Mindfulness may be practiced anytime, including while eating. Mindful eating means paying attention to the body and the senses when eating, in the present moment and without judgment. To read more about the principles behind mindful eating, visit www.thecenterformindfuleating.org/Principles-Mindful-Eating/ TCME also offers webinars and teachings on mindful eating. A popular hands-on way to learn about mindful eating is through the “eating a raisin meditation.” Duke Integrative Medicine provides a mindful eating exercise, where one can use a raisin or food item of their choice. After trying a mindful eating exercise, you may notice that mindful eating invites you to slow down and take more joy in your food. The practice suggests taking an attitude of beginner’s mind. Meaning, even if you have already eaten thousands of raisins before, you eat this one raisin as if it is for the first time—and without judgment. Unlike most things we do in life, there is no goal to attain when eating mindfully. However, mindful eating may naturally provide benefits. Since mindful eating allows you to become more aware of when you are full or hungry, you may eat more in sync with your body’s needs. For example, a 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis, which uses agreed upon scientific methods to report findings from a group of studies on a topic, suggests that mindful eating is effective for weight loss and is as effective as dieting strategies aimed at caloric restriction. Read More
Tips and Tricks For Savory Slow-Cooked Meals
•January 20, 20201•
Kitchen gadgets come and go, but one mainstay continues to deliver tasty meals with ease.
The Crock-Pot®, dubbed the original slow cooker, was invented in 1940 by Irving Nachumsohn. This slow cooker was created to cook a traditional stew eaten on the Jewish sabbath. Because faithful Jews are forbidden from cooking on the sabbath, Nachumsohn found the stew could easily be prepared prior and allowed to cook unattended, then carried to dinner, meeting the sabbath requirements. It was another 30 years before the slow cooker garnered widespread acclaim. That newfound popularity developed when more women entered the workforce and needed convenient ways to prepare meals at home without affecting their work schedules. Read More
Virtual Writing Workshop Offered
•January 20, 20201•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
Do you have treasured memories from your past you would like to record? Have you written down the special moments of your life to share with your family? Everyone has a unique and individual story to tell. Start writing yours with a little help and guidance. University of Illinois Extension is hosting an 8-week online workshop called Life’s Moments: From Memory to Legacy. Classes will be held via Zoom every Tuesday starting January 19th - March 9th from 11 a.m. - noon CST. Read More
3 Simple Ways to Eat Healthier Every Day
•January 20, 20201•
Diets can be difficult to navigate. Since no two people are the same, a healthy diet that satisfies one person won’t necessarily satisfy another. Vegetarians might be perfectly happy without chicken or steak, while some people might shudder at the notion of never indulging in the occasional filet mignon.
While the most effective diets tend to be those that emphasize nutrition while still allowing individuals to indulge in some of their favorite dishes in moderation, the following are three ways that everyone, regardless of their personal preference, can eat healthy every day.
1. Eat lots of whole-grain carbohydrates. Read More
Menu 1-20-2021
Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
Monday, January 25 - Breakfast Casserole, Warm Fruit Compote, Fruit Juice, Cinnamon Roll, Craisins
Tuesday, January 26 - Shepherd’s Pie, Harvard Beets, Dinner Roll, Fresh Fruit
Wednesday, January 27 - Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Spinach, Whole Grain Wheat, Pears
Thursday, January 28 - Beef Stew w/Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions, Tangy Cole Slaw, Dinner Roll, Warm Bread Pudding w/Fruit
Friday, January 29 - Ham Loaf, Frosted Sweet Potatoes, Buttered Midori Vegetables, Whole Grain Wheat, Chunky Applesauce
LLC Board of Trustees Approves ERCA Intergovernmental Agreement
•January 13, 20201•
At the January Lake Land College Board meeting, trustees approved an intergovernmental agreement with 14 area school districts to formalize the role of the Effingham Regional Career Academy (ERCA) in providing specialized career and technical educational programs for students residing within the member districts.
The intergovernmental agreement demonstrates the commitment of all involved to propel the Effingham Regional Career Academy forward and outlines the roles and responsibilities involved in delivering the programs. Lake Land College will administer career and technical education programs that allow students at the member districts to earn high school and college credit simultaneously.
As part of Lake Land’s commitment to the agreement, the director of the Effingham Education Center will serve as the vocational/technical director of the ERCA program. Read More
Madigan Suspends Speaker Campaign; Veterans Affairs Director Resigns
•January 13, 20201•
By Capitol News Illinois
House Speaker Michael Madigan announced he would suspend his campaign for House Speaker of the 102nd General Assembly on Monday, Jan. 11, but his statement made clear he was not withdrawing from the race.
“This is not a withdrawal. I have suspended my campaign for speaker,” Madigan said in a statement released by his office Monday morning. “As I have said many times in the past, I have always put the best interest of the House Democratic Caucus and our members first. The House Democratic Caucus can work to find someone, other than me, to get 60 votes for Speaker.”
The last sentence of the brief statement is indicative of the uphill battle Madigan’s challengers will have to climb – they will need 60 votes, or 42 more than any challenger appeared to have Sunday night.
The House speaker is chosen by House members, and can receive both Republican and Democratic votes. There are 73 Democrats and 45 Republicans who will be seated in the 102nd General Assembly.
Traditionally, however, a majority party speaker receives votes from members of their own party.
In the first closed-door unofficial ballot conducted between Democrats in a private room at the Bank of Springfield Center on Sunday night, Madigan received 51 votes, according to several reports confirmed by Capitol News Illinois.
The speaker also has the endorsement of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus – two key voting blocs that make up the majority of his support, although some individual members of those caucuses have said they would not vote for Madigan. Read More
Tools That Can Keep People Safe at Home
•January 13, 20201•
Homes should be sanctuaries for their inhabitants. Keeping homes safe and sound requires both maintenance and some caution designed to make homes less vulnerable to potentially costly issues.
Promptly addressing maintenance issues around the house can reduce the risk of accident or injury. In addition, various items can alert homeowners to problems they may not otherwise recognize before issues jeopardize residents’ health or take a turn for the costly.
Auto shut-off features: Who hasn’t left the house only to worry an hour or so later about whether the coffee pot was turned off or the straightening iron was unplugged? When shopping for personal care items or appliances, seek out models that have automatic shut-off features. This safety feature will power down the unit after a certain amount of time, which can reduce the risk of overheated products and house fires. Read More
NAMI Family to Family Class
•January 13, 20201•
NAMI is offering a free eight-session peer education program for family members, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. The program will be taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there and includes presentations, discussions, and interactive exercises. The program is open to adults and those 14-17 when attending as a participant and accompanied by a parent or guardian. Sessions will be held Tuesday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m. from February 2-March 23 (March 30 if needed). Read More
Remember When? 1-13-2021
25 Years Ago This Week
Roger Betzler, Russell Craig and Doug Lane, city electric department employees worked for 2 ½ hours to restore power at the west edge of Sullivan which also knocked out the city’s cable tv service. After grounding the 69,000 volt power line, they replaced the dead-end bells which arced, causing the fire and the loss of power.
The Lovington school board learned that village schools are moving futher into cyberspace thanks to a new state grant. High school principal Judy Uphoff reported that the high school had received a grant from the state board to obtain conductivity onto the internet. The elementary school had received two state connectivity grants. Read More