Tag: Dr. Barbara Edwards Princeton

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How to Entertain Guests When Socially Distancing

Although it seems as if life is finally getting back to normal in the wake of Covid-19, this may not be the case for everyone, including some of our own neighbors right here in the U.S. People that are old, sick, or immunocompromised still run the risk of experiencing severe and potentially fatal symptoms if they contract the lingering virus, so it’s important to keep other people’s fears and comfort levels in mind if and when you decide it’s time to start hosting gatherings again. Keep reading for some tips on how you can entertain guests as safely as possible when social distancing this summer, while still making sure everyone has a good time.

Start Small

Again, it’s important to keep in mind that even though many Covid-19 gathering restrictions have been eased or lifted in recent months, some people are still worried, and they have every right to be. When entertaining guests this summer, it’s best to start small: invite only a handful of close friends, family members and neighbors, and make sure they know not to bring any additional people without asking first. It also might be a good idea to set boundaries with your guests before they arrive. If you’re not comfortable with something (or vice versa), make sure this is communicated openly before the gathering or set ground rules when you send out the invitations.

Food and Service

Another certainty of Covid-19 is that, for now at least, the age of high-touch food buffets is over. Instead, consider asking your guests to bring their own food, prepare disposable meals for each person beforehand, or just have everyone buy their own takeout meal. While any experienced host can relate to wanting to tend to their guest’s every need, especially in a friendly, personal way, it’s better to play it safe and allow party-goers to fetch themselves a soda this summer, in order to minimize direct contact.

Socially Distant Activities

The biggest advantage to hosting socially distant guests this summer is that the warmer weather allows for more activities outdoors, which is the ideal location for any gathering in the foreseeable future. Some popular outdoor activities that could easily accommodate social distancing include marshmallow-roasting by the firepit, a follow-along painting workshop (make that a paint and sip night for the adults!), or a karaoke party where one or two people go up at a time. It’s been a rough year and a half for everyone, so do your best to keep the atmosphere light and reassure your guests that, despite the unusual circumstances, they are welcome and wanted.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, a Princeton MD is the Academic Director for the Ambulatory Residency Program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, providing quality care to uninsured and under-insured New Jersey residents in Mercer and Middlesex counties.

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Seasonal Vegetables: Recipe with Summer Vegetables

From cucumbers and zucchini to peppers, tomatoes, and everything in between, there is no shortage of hot-weather vegetables to keep your meals light, healthy and colorful this summer. Keep reading for some fun, easy recipes that include some of the best tasting and most nutritious vegetables in season.

Caprese Zoodles

Switch out those carb-loaded pasta dishes for something a little lighter (but just as tasty) this summer: zoodles! Zoodles, aka zucchini noodles, are a fiber-rich and low-calorie alternative to regular wheat pastas. Zoodles are loaded with Vitamin B6 and have even been known to protect against diabetes. For this simple recipe, dress the zoodles in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and add some halved cherry tomatoes, quartered mozzarella balls, fresh basil leaves and balsamic vinegar into the mix. If zucchini is not your vegetable of choice, replace it with fresh corn or just stick to the traditional version of the salad: tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, balsamic, and salt and pepper to taste. Whichever way you go, you cannot go wrong with this fan-favorite summertime dish.

Stuffed Peppers

As another summer vegetable classic, stuffed peppers are fun and versatile in that they can be customized however you want and can pass as both a main and side dish. Although red peppers pack the most nutrition, all varieties are great sources of vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber. Cut and stuff the peppers with cooked rice, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, and a meat of your liking, bake at the required temperature, and top with cheese, parsley, and Italian seasoning. Most people opt for a ground beef filling, but feel free to think outside the box. If you are really committed to getting your vegetable nutrients in, substitute the meat filling with some corn, black beans, and pepper jack cheese for a southwestern spin on this dish.

Sheet Pan Summer Vegetables and Chicken

This next recipe is chock-full of nutritious veggies and is easy to both cook and clean up. Plus, if you keep a garden in the summer months, most of these ingredients can be found right in your backyard. Keeping true to the recipe’s name, all you will need to do for this dish is cut up and season some zucchini, tomatoes, and yellow squash, and bake them on a pan with cubed pieces of a boneless, skinless chicken breast. Vegetable-heavy sheet dinners like this one are perfect for vegetable lovers who need a little extra protein to get through the day. They  pack the nutrients and vitamins you would find in a meal that took twice as long to make.

Summer Vegetable Tart

Now for a slightly more complicated but equally healthy and delicious mention: a summer vegetable tart. Depending on how ambitious you are, you can either create your own dough-based crust for this dish by hand or get a premade dough from the store. Once baked to crispy perfection and filled with the creamy, cheesy filling, add bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant, top with fresh basil, and enjoy the best version of a pizza you will have all summer.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, a Princeton MD is the Academic Director for the Ambulatory Residency Program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, providing quality care to uninsured and under-insured New Jersey residents in Mercer and Middlesex counties.

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Tips to Remain Committed to Health Goals

One of the most difficult parts of self-improvement is setting and committing to goals. Setting ambitious goals can be stressful, and it may cause you to feel fearful at the thought of making lifestyle changes. Whatever your qualms are, there are ways to stay on track and be committed to your health goals.

Set the Goals

The first step is to set the goals. It’s very important to set goals that are actually attainable. Setting goals that ask too much of you will result in negative situations that aren’t conducive to completing the task at hand. Consider all aspects of your life when deciding on which goals you’d like to achieve. Once you have your goals established, write them down. Having your goals physically written down will help to cement them and encourage you to stick to them.

Find Motivation

Motivation is crucial when committing to health goals. There are many ways to motivate yourself towards a goal. One way would be to reward yourself after making steps to a goal. Another way is to follow people on social media that spread positivity and who inspire you. Finding what motivates you is key to committing to your goals.

Journal

Consider creating a journal to track your health goals. You can create to-do lists in a journal to keep you accountable for keeping up on your goals. You can also use the journal to keep track of your progress and reflect on what you’ve achieved. Journaling is an excellent way to organize your thoughts and create some accountability to keep you on track to your goals.

Stay the Course

The journey to achieving a goal is not always completely successful. There may be setbacks and failures along the way. It is important to stay the course regardless and continue working toward your goals. With enough motivation, you can commit to and achieve almost any goal you set your mind to!

Dr. Barbara Edwards, a Princeton MD is the Academic Director for the Ambulatory Residency Program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, providing quality care to uninsured and under-insured New Jersey residents in Mercer and Middlesex counties.

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How Meditation Helps Mental Health

Mental health is important. Through proper self-care, mental health can be maintained and even boosted. An excellent self-care practice is meditation. When most people hear of mediation, they picture a person sitting cross-legged on the ground with their eyes shut, but this is not the only way mediation can occur. Meditation can be taking time out of the day to read a book you enjoy, it can be going for a relaxing car ride, it could be going for a walk, or it could be any way that enables you to clear your mind and find happiness. Incorporating meditation into your daily routine can help your mental health. Meditation can:

Reduce Stress

Day-to-day life can be pretty stressful. With busy schedules and many responsibilities, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Carving out a little time every day — or even every week — can help to ground yourself and clear your mind of current stressors. While meditation may not remove your stress entirely, it is an excellent way to give your mind a minute to catch up and rest.

Boost Confidence

Meditation often involves repeating mantras or positive words and phrases. Whether said in your head or out loud, these positive words can greatly improve your confidence and outlook on life. Reminding yourself of your value and abilities through meditation can help to boost your confidence and make you feel proud of yourself.

Encourage Emotional Health

When juggling many responsibilities in life, it can become difficult to remember to consider and express your emotions. Meditation gives you time to reflect on and process your emotions. It’s important for your mental health to deal with any feelings you might have and encourage happy emotions.

Increase Attention Span

Recently, society has adopted a very fast paced way of living. This had led to a decrease in individuals’ patience and their length of attention spans. Practicing meditation reminds you to slow down and enjoy every moment. It gives your brain a chance to “reset” and not expect immediate results. Meditation can increase your patience and attention span thus boosting your mental health.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, a Princeton M.D. internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

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Five Health Goals for the Summer

Summer is a season of fun and relaxation. It is also a great time for setting yourself some new health goals. With the warm, sunny weather and increased activity outdoors, summer is the perfect time to reinvent yourself and achieve great things. Read below to learn about some health goals you can try this summer.

Drink More Water

Drinking enough water should always be a priority, but during the summer it is especially important. Staying properly hydrated helps to maintain energy levels and brain functions, aids in digestion, and boosts skin and organ health. Make it a goal to drink more water and hopefully create better hydration habits.

Develop an Exercise Routine

Finding the motivation to exercise can be difficult but having an exercise routine can make exercise fun and even exciting. Creating an exercise routine is a great way to encourage yourself to improve your physical health. Make it a goal for the summer to develop an exercise routine.

Adopt Positivity

With great weather comes great positivity. It is suggested that warmer weather can lead to happier feelings. Take advantage of the warmth and sunshine that summer brings and find ways to incorporate more positivity in your life. Maybe make a goal to begin meditating, start a journal, or spend more time with friends and families. The possibilities are endless.

Try a New Hobby

Notice we didn’t say start a new hobby? That’s because you don’t need to commit to a hobby you’re not even sure you’ll enjoy. Just putting yourself out there and trying something new is an excellent goal to have for yourself this summer.

Read a Book

Reading is a great way to engage the mind and momentarily escape reality. Reading allows for learning, it can reduce stress, and it can improve concentration. Whether it’s the newest science fiction or an encyclopedia, make it a goal this summer to pick up a book and get reading. Already an avid reader? Make it a goal this summer to read a book you normally wouldn’t consider reading.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, a Princeton M.D. internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.