Tag: change

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Quick & Easy Back to School Snacks

With a new school year in full swing now, get in a better habit of preparing healthy after school snacks. While it’s easy to let the kids grab a bag of chips when they drop their backpacks off by the door, a healthy snack habit is one they can carry with them into adulthood. If you are looking for some snacking inspiration read on for some new snacks to try either after school or in their lunches! 

Frozen Yogurt Bark 

What you need for this snack is plain greek yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla, berries of your choice (strawberry and blueberries are popular) and unsweetened coconut flakes. You will need to stir the yogurt, maple syrup and vanilla. Then you spread this out on parchment paper and press the berries in with sprinkled coconut, then freeze for three hours and break apart to serve. Try making it the night before to give it enough time to freeze! 

Mini Pizzas

Make this a cute, fun treat in your child’s lunch in just 20 minutes. You make these pizzas like you make any traditional pizza but place pieces of dough into a muffin pan to make them tiny. However, make sure to spray the pan to avoid a mess. You can top these with any toppings you desire or keep them plain. Bake them for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees, a quick treat from a classic favorite. 

Nutty Butterflies 

This snack changes the classic “ants on a log” snack that people are very familiar with, and this is healthy too! Take some peanut butter and spread it through a celery stick and use two pretzels to make the illusion of wings. You can even take it a step further and add some edible eyes with raisins to make it fun. Follow the recipe to make your own bug picnic snacks! 

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards, Princeton Internist, practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center. She is also the Academic Director for the Ambulatory Residency Program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health.

 

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How to Volunteer to Help Animals in Your Community

Many communities rely on local shelters to help save the lives of many animals without a home. It’s important that shelters are available and have the essential resources they need. Here are a few ways you can share your support:

Become a Volunteer

While a good portion of volunteering for an animal shelter is cleaning up after the animals, (be prepared to get your hands dirty), a huge part is bonding and spending time with them. You will be helping the animals stay happy and active, while having fun taking care of them. Inevitably, you will become attached to one of them. Before you know it, someone else will be taking them to their new home. This can be the hardest part of volunteering for an animal shelter, but it is certainly worth it to see wonderful animals find great homes.

Become a Foster Parent

For various reasons, there are many animals out there that may need a little extra attention. It could be that they need medicine administered during hours the shelter isn’t open, or maybe they are too young to be left unattended. Whatever the reason may be, there are many shelters out there that are in need of foster parents. If this is something you are interested in, be sure to contact your local shelter!

Donate

If you do not have time to become a volunteer, that’s okay—there is still plenty you can do to help improve the animal’s lives. Shelters are constantly in need of cleaning supplies, animal food, grooming supplies, toys, etc. Some of the animals at the shelter may need medicine, and a monetary donation would go a long way. Old blankets and towels can be great donations too. Check with your local shelter to see what they are currently in need of.

Share Their Story

Do you have photography or video skills? Many shelters are looking for help to promote their animals. As animals come in and out of their facilities, they need to update pictures on their website and generate more video content to share on social media. Who doesn’t love a good cat video? You could be part of the reason these furry friends find a forever home.

Every little bit counts and benefits the animals of your community. Consider what you can do to make an impact.

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards is a doctor of Internal Medicine in the Princeton, New Jersey area practicing at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Medical Center.

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5 Ways You Could Make This World a Better Place Starting Today

Whether or not you have social responsibility on your mind, there are many things that you could do today to improve your community. Every little bit of effort will make a difference. Though you may think there is too much out there that needs to be done to make any worthwhile change, the trick is to start small but think big.

Help a Neighbor

Chances are that somebody comes to mind. Whether it be cooking a meal for the young couple that just had a baby or shoveling the driveway for the newly single workaholic mother across the street, a little bit of effort can certainly make their day brighter.

Volunteer at School

Schools are always in need of some dedicated parents willing to donate their time. Maybe the theater department is in need of set-building; whether it’s using power tools to construct the set or simply help with painting, they could use the extra set of hands. If you’re into sports, talk to the athletics department about becoming a soccer coach or starting an afterschool dodgeball club. Maybe the library is looking for tutors in their afterschool programs. It’s likely that there is a department that could use your help tailored to your skills and interests.

Visit a Local Nursing Home

While the staff at nursing homes is often busy and overworked, you can both brighten their day and their patients’ by paying them a visit. Many patients are just looking for someone to talk to, share an old story with, and something to bring excitement to their day. Visiting for just one hour could really make a significant impact.

Volunteer at a Local Food Kitchen

Love to cook? Volunteering for a local shelter is a great way to connect with your community. Taking the time to help prepare a meal for someone else can be relaxing. You will gather with other volunteers who share this common interest in cooking. Helping hungry people in your community receive a good, healthy meal can fill your heart, and their bellies.

Join or Organize a Park Clean-Up

Sick of passing that run-down park everyday on your way to work? Grab some trash bags, rakes, gloves, and ask for some help from your neighbors. A few hours of hard work and a communal effort could make a big difference and help restore the area to what it used to be. Even if you can pick up just 10 water bottles, those are 10 plastic bottles that can be properly recycled instead of harming the environment.

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards is a doctor of Internal Medicine in the Princeton, New Jersey area practicing at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Medical Center.