Wellness September 2019

CHILTON COUNTY

SEPTEMBER 2019

CALMING EFFECT

MHS UNVEILS SENSORY TOOLS

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CHILTON COUNTY

TABLE OF CONTENTS 13

SEPTEMBER 2019

5 PUBLISHER Tim Prince GENERAL MANAGER Brandy Clackley EDITORIAL Joyanna Love, editor J.R. Tidwell, managing editor Anthony Richards, writer MARKETING Zack Bates, marketing consultant CUSTOMER SERVICE Kacy Barrett PRESSROOM & MAILROOM Jimmy Ruff, production manager Michael Turner, asst. production manager Chris Love, asst. production manager Malinda Nance, mailroom manager Jimmy Huett, press maintenance Wellness is published twice a year by The Clanton Advertiser.

20 BRAIN BREAK 5 Sensory resources help MHS students

WHAT IS CBD? 13 Definition, uses and potential concerns

HOW ARE YOU? 20 Community is important to mental wellness

SERVING PATIENTS 28 St. Vincent’s food service full of care

ON THE COVER Zoe Riley completes The Sensory Path at Maplesville High School.

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Brain

Harrison Payne squats on a log like a frog.

BREAK Sensory resources help MHS students

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOYANNA LOVE

M

ovement and a time to rest can help students who are having a difficult time in school.

This can be especially true for students with special needs.

At Maplesville High School, special education teachers have secured resources to

give their students the break they need in the school day to keep on learning.

The school established a sensory room and an interactive sensory path at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year.

Each features elements that have been shown to help students.

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Harrison Payne pushes against the wall at the start of The Sensory Path.

The sensory room gives students a place to calm down with a variety of things to see and feel in a room where the lights have been dimmed.

Unique lights with plastic fish inside them or neon jellyfish give students something to focus on and adds to the calming effect of the space, and music plays in the background.

The room features many hands-on activities such as playing with play dough.

An activity table filled with dry rice gives students a chance to feel the texture and play with it with sand toys.

A few specialized tiles on the floor have colored water in them that moves when stepped on. Special education teacher Brittany Yeargan said this has been a favorite of people of all ages.

“We have kids that use it daily,” Yeargan said. “We have kids that use it four times a day eight to 10 minutes at a time just to cool down.”

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Yeargan hopes to be able to add a swing to the sensory room in the future.

She said it will likely cost $1,500.

While sensory resources are designed with special education students as the focus, Yeargan said the elements can also help any student having a bad day, if teachers deem the resources would help.

On the first day of school, the sensory room helped students who were anxious about a new year calm down.

“It’s just a time to chill out and let all your worries go away,” Yeargan said.

The Sensory Path is a series of large vinyl stickers that have been placed along a hallway. The path has different sections that have students stretching, jumping and pushing against the wall in a resistance exercise. The Sensory Path was developed by special education teacher Holly Clay after meeting with occupational therapists and physical therapists to determine what movements would most help students with sensory processing disorders, such as autism.

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Sofia Sanchez plays in a tunnel in the sensory room.

According to The Sensory Path website, Clay saw a “huge reduction of sensory seeking behaviors and an increase in cognitive functioning” when students used the path.

The path features letters, numbers and lily pads with jumping, hopscotch, cool down and other movements.

“The research behind it has the different types of movement that need to be exhibited in order to break those brain blocks,” Yeargan said.

Yeargan said The Sensory Path gives students a chance for a brain break during the day.

“They have consumed a lot of information and they may be overstimulated, so that gives them a chance just to release some of that energy,” Yeargan said.

“I love it,” student Harrison Payne said.

He said he enjoys the duck walk and jumping like a frog when using the sensory path.

His favorite color on the sensory path is blue.

Student Sofia Sanchez also said jumping was her favorite part. Her favorite color is the purple on the letters and the yellow of the flower.

For student Zoe Riley, the portion with letters outlined by circles is her favorite part.

“Because it’s like hopscotch,” Zoe said.

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Wellness 9

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Zoe Riley reaches to the sky on a portion of the path.

Sofia Sanchez tries out the trampoline in the sensory room.

A variety of interactive items are available to help students in the sensory room.

Sofia Sanchez plays in a tunnel in the sensory room.

Her favorite colors featured are purple and pink. She usually goes through the path twice a day.

Both sensory focused resources are already being used on a daily basis, Yeargan said.

Early in the school year, there were six students using these sensory resources on a daily basis.

“We take them into the room for 10 minutes, then they complete the path, then they go back to class,” Yeargan said.

Once the path was installed, Yeargan tested it out.

“You really do feel movement from every part of your body — You are reaching for the sky, you’re walking like a duck,

you’re hoping like a frog, you’re squatting ... it really does allow students to use movement,” she said.

According to The Sensory Path website, “When a child with a sensory processing disorder such as Autism is in a general education classroom, their brain is trying to process several different things at once. From sitting up in the chair, the climate in the room, the other children next to them, the smells, the teacher talking, another child talking, the movements in the room, everything we usually can tune out, they are tuning into.”

The Chilton Education Foundation, Valle Grande Mexican Restaurant in Maplesville and community member through DonorsChoose.org contributed to funding these resources.

10 Wellness

Zoe Riley pushes against the wall at the start of The Sensory Path.

Special education teacher Brittany Yeargan helps Sofia Sanchez on a portion of the path.

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Sofia Sanchez hops through the flower portion of the path.

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12 Wellness

What is

CBD?

Definition, uses and potential concerns STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOYANNA LOVE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

C

annabidiol (CBD) has become widely available in Clanton with dedicated businesses to gas stations advertising the product.

While still under research by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, CBD is a legal derivative of the hemp plant, which contains very little tetrahydrocannabinol.

According to Alabama Senate Bill 225, the hemp must have a “delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”

Hemp was taken off the controlled substance list with the passage of the federal 2018 Farm Bill, making cultivation of the plant legal.

However, regulations about the use and marketing of CBD on a national scale are still being debated. The FDA held a public hearing on May 31 to hear information about CBD products from those in favor of them.

“The FDA continues to believe the drug approval process represents the best way — Randall Chandler of Chandler Drugs to help ensure that safe and effective new

“I hope something good comes out of it.

I’m just very skeptical about it.”

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Executive Director, Richard Fallin, LPC

“It’s not the cure for anything, other than putting your body in balance, so it is going to have a positive impact on just about anything, any kind of condition your body is going through.”

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14 Wellness

medicines, including any drugs derived from cannabis, are available to patients in need of appropriate medical therapy,” the organization posted in an article on its website. “The Agency is committed to supporting the development of new drugs, including cannabis and cannabis-derived drugs, through the investigational new drug and drug approval process. We are aware that there may be some products on the market that add CBD to a food or label CBD as a dietary supplement.

Under federal law, it is currently illegal to market CBD this way.”

Both the FDA and Alabama Public Health Department have cautioned consumers that any claims made by a company that CBD cures or can treat a specific condition lack scientific and medical proof.

Testimonials do exist from those who have used CBD products and seen positive results. Some such stories have happened right here in Clanton.

Joe Moore of American Shaman, which was one of the first stores to sell the product locally and opened in March, said repeat customers have commented that they sleep better and have less pain.

In marketing their product, American Shaman focuses on balance, not curing a specific illness or condition.

“What the CBD does is it fuels your cannabinoid receptors, which is a part of your endocannabinoid system,” Moore said. “It (the endocannabinoid system) basically helps your body take care of itself ... it doesn’t cure anything. It puts your body into a balance to basically allow your body to take care of itself.”

He said this balance primarily works on pain and anxiety.

“It’s not the cure for anything, other than putting your body in balance, so it is going to have a positive impact on just about anything, any kind of condition your body is going through,” Moore said.

Information for an exact dosage to take does not exist for CBD products, which can include water soluble, oil drops for under the tongue, capsules and a version that can be vaped.

Moore said he recommends starting on a low dosage, such as five milligrams “then you can just build yourself up as you go as you need it.”

This is what Moore did when testing the product before opening the Clanton store. Moore said he now takes “10 milligrams in the morning and 10 milligrams in the evening with the water-soluble version.”

He did not have any real ongoing health issues he was looking to solve but has noticed being calmer while taking CBD. “I feel more balanced,” Moore said. “I’m able to focus more. I have more energy.”

One customer used a topical anti-inflammatory CBD cream while she was in the store and said her pain was gone before she left the store.

Local pharmacist Randall Chandler of Chandler Drugs in Clanton said he thinks more research needs to be done on the substance.

“I don’t know if the research has been done on it enough,” Chandler said. “I don’t know if it is a fad that is just going to pass on ... or its going to lead to other problems. I think if it keeps going is approved and grows, I think this thing is going to turn into legalization of marijuana.”

Marijuana has a higher THC level and can cause people to get high. Marijuana is still illegal in Alabama.

Moore said he knows someone who takes CBD on a daily basis and passed a hair follicle drug test, so it should not impact someone’s ability to pass a drug test.

Chandler hopes some positives, such as a decrease in long-term opioid use, will come from the legalization of

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CBD. He hopes that further research shows CBD to be a good alternative medication.

He said when patients have been talking opioids for 20 years for pain “that’s not taking care of their pain, that’s called treating their addiction.”

“I hope something good comes out of it,” Chandler said. “I’m just very skeptical about it.”

Although he has received calls for companies offering to help him sell CBD in his pharmacy, Chandler has kept it off his shelves because medical research has not confirmed the effectiveness. He said many of these companies have not been in business more than a year.

Alabama Senate Bill 225 legalized growing hemp in Alabama. According to Senate Bill 225, the federal Farm Bill had required the “state department of agriculture, in consultation with the Governor and Attorney General, submit to the federal Secretary of Agriculture a plan under which the state will monitor and regulate the production of hemp.”

Since then, individuals have received approval from the state to grow the plant, including six in Chilton County, as a part of the state’s pilot program.

Moore is one of these.

According to the Alabama Farmers Federation article “High Hopes: Alabama Farmers plant first legal hemp crop,” some have estimated a farmer could make $100,000 off one acre of hemp.

About 100 farmers have decided to invest in planting the crop.

“It could be a good thing for our farmers, but there is still a lot of challenge,” Chandler said.

Unlike some natural substances that are reviewed by United States Pharmacopeia, a nonprofit that verifies products meet quality control standards, CBD products have not been verified by an outside source. However, Moore said the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, of which the founder of American Shaman is a part, is looking at selfregulating the industry to ensure quality.

“I really do want the FDA to regulate this industry,” Moore said.

He said this would help ensure the quality of the product.

“As far as I know, all of our hemp is organically grown and sourced in the United States,” Moore said.

After the public hearing it held, the FDA has continued to research this issue but had not reached any conclu-

sions on regulation as of Sept. 1.

Public comment was also gathered through an online docket that had received 4,494 comments as of Sept. 5.

The FDA has approved Epidiolex, which has a purified form of CBD in it, “for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older.”

However, the FDA still cautions consumers on other uses.

In their statement “FDA is Committed to Sound, Sciencebased Policy on CBD,” Dr. Amy Abernethy, FDA principal deputy commissioner and Lowell Schiller, J.D., principal associate commissioner for policy, state “During our review of the marketing application for Epidiolex, we identified certain safety risks, including the potential for liver injury. Furthermore, unsubstantiated therapeutic claims — such as claims that CBD products can treat serious diseases — can

lead consumers to put off getting important medical care. Over the past several years, the Agency has issued several warning letters to firms that were marketing unapproved new drugs claiming to contain CBD, including for uses such as treating cancer or Alzheimer’s disease.”

Both the FDA website and Moore said tests done on many CBD products in places outside of Chilton County have shown some products do not have the CBD levels it was supposed to.

“The information we have underscores the need for further study and high quality, scientific information about the safety and potential uses of CBD,” the FDA said.

Chandler said it typically takes at least five years of study before the FDA approves a substance.

Moore said he encourages people to research CBD and give it a try. He said everything he has heard from people who have tried it, and his own experience, has been positive.

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St. Vincent’s Orthopedics, PC

Wellness 19

How

Having a trusted friend or group of friends to talk to when life gets tough is important.

ARE YOU? Community is important to mental wellness

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOYANNA LOVE PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

M

ental health has become more of a focus in recent years with many hoping that awareness and education are finally decreasing the stigma of asking for help.

Richard Fallin of the Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center said everyone needs to be taking steps to improve their mental wellness.

“We typically think of mental health as a certain subsection of services, but what we are

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trying to do here at Chilton-Shelby is we are attempting to redefine what mental health means and focus more on wellness,” Fallin said.

This approach focuses on self-care and a holistic view of how a person’s mental state can impact their overall health.

“Mental health kind of sits at the top of a lot of our other health situations,” Fallin said. “If you are depressed, you potentially might have more of a proclivity toward heart disease.”

Life can feel overwhelming for everyone at times. Sometimes seeking professional help to deal with it is needed.

He said being depressed can also keep people from making good food choices and exercising, which can have negative impacts on their physical health.

“If we just treat symptoms, we are never going to get to the root of the issue, so we are trying to dig a little deeper and look at the person as a whole, not just the symptoms they present with,” Fallin said.

One of the things Fallin has often seen that impacts a person’s mental health negatively is isolation.

“I think that when people think they may have a mental disorder, or they are having some mental issues there is a lot of shame and stigma, so they don’t want to necessarily be shouting it from the rooftops,” Fallin said.

He said when people isolate themselves, “you are not seeking help, you are not sharing your story, trying to let others share the bur-

dens with you and that isolation really gets a lot of our patients in trouble.”

Fallin stressed the importance of every individual becoming an active part of a community.

“Find your tribe, so to speak,” Fallin said. “Find your people.

Have a support network, a social support network, a family support network, a church family that you are involved with.”

Fallin said having a community of trusted people keeps individuals from becoming isolated, then if

they are struggling with something, they have someone they can talk to.

Many people only have “surface relationships.” Fallin said most people only let people see the absolute best things about them.

“Everything is shiny and new and my life is perfect and my kids are perfect, and that’s not true for any of us,” Fallin said. “We all have situations that come up and we all need to talk to someone from time to time. I think the time to seek help professionally is when you have tried a couple of avenues on

“Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. There is no shame in it, and it’s no different than strep throat.”

— Richard Fallin of Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center

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Depression and anxiety are the top two mental health issue for the general public seen in Chilton County by Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center. your own and you have gotten no success or no relief from those things that are bothering you.”

Only having surface level relationships can lead to feeling like there is no one to turn to when things start to feel overwhelming.

“I think if we work together as a county and a community to help people engage back into our community, back in to our people groups that would be helpful,” Fallin said.

He said close friends will often notice something is going on before the person themselves does.

Helping a friend one thinks is struggling can mean asking “hard questions ... and be willing to answer the questions.”

“A lot of times in good ole Southern American culture, ask, ‘how are you?’ but we don’t really want to know how you are, we want you to say fine and move on down the road,” Fallin said. “If you are a friend of someone and you know they are struggling and you ask how are you, then be willing to listen to the answer. No matter what they say, be willing to offer assistance, if needed ... in any way that you can.”

In addition to being “engaged with whoever our people are,” Fallin said “self-care is important, diet and exercise is important.”

Fallin suggested having a hobby, volunteering and looking for ways to help others are good avenues for improving mental wellness.

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“There are many things that you can engage in that would help you be out and about more, and I think those things will add to our mental health,” Fallin said.

However, he did caution not to get so involved that it compounds the issue.

Chilton County’s many civic groups may be a good avenue for finding ways to get connected and involved. The Lions Club, Kiwanis International and Rotary International all have chapters in Chilton County.

While having true, meaningful relationships with others does increase mental wellness, some people may need to seek professional help to address difficulties.

Some symptoms of this may include sleep issues and losing a sense of control over what is happening to them.

“All of us need help from time to time, and I think some of us wait too late to ask for help and then a small problem which could have been potentially been handled early on becomes a huge problem later on,” Fallin said.

As with any other health issue, early detection is important.

“The earlier you seek help for something, the more success you are going to have with a situation like this,” Fallin said.

Not dealing with things can lead to a bigger problem and “an incident that we don’t want anyone to have,” he said.

Fallin compared seeking help from a professional for a mental health issue to going to the doctor when a cold does not go away. However, he said fear, the

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Being a part of a community and having meaningful friendships is important to mental wellness stigma that surrounds mental health issues and lack of insurance coverage for mental health services can be barriers to people seeking professional help.

“Don’t be ashamed to ask for help,” Fallin said.

“There is no shame in it, and it’s no different than strep throat.”

For those who do have insurance, Fallin said there is a number on the back of their insurance card that they

24 Wellness

can call to see what providers and services would be covered.

Those who do not have insurance can start by calling their local mental health center, which for Chilton County would be Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center.

The Clanton office can be reached at 205-755-5985.

“We have admins that take your information and get a little information about what is going on and make

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a brief assessment over the phone, of course if it is not an emergency, and get you to the right clinic,�

Fallin said.

The different offices of the center offer different services. Starting in November, the center hopes to have one number everyone can call and receive the same information.

The Clanton location offers both substance abuse and mental illness services.

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IMPROVE YOU MENTAL WELLNESS — VOLUNTEER! Opportunities:  Local churches  Humane Society of Chilton County

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 American Cancer Society

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 Care Net Pregnancy Resource

Center 205-755-6767

 Habitat for Humanity of Autauga

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Centers lifesouth.org/aboutus/#volunteer-opportunities

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26 Wellness

Mental wellness can impact a person’s overall health.

“Everyone wants to be that person that is selfsufficient individual that can conquer the world and do things on our own but that’s not the case all the time,” Fallin said.

He said many times people will “run to substances” to try to feel better.

“We don’t want to replace the pain with something else that is equally detrimental or more detrimental,” Fallin said.

Depression and anxiety are the top two mental health issues for the general public seen in Chilton County by Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center.

Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center also has a diagnostic criteria it uses to help determine if someone has a mental illness.

Stay mentally fresh during the workday

E

nergy levels tend to ebb and flow throughout a typical workday. A cup of coffee may provide some caffeineinfused spark in the morning, but a big lunch can squash energy later in the afternoon.

Waning mental sharpness as the workday progresses can compromise productivity, making it more difficult for workers to complete projects on time. That, in turn, can contribute to stress.

In fact, in its “2017 Stress in America” survey, the American Psychological Association found that 58 percent of Americans say work is a significant source of stress.

Staying mentally fresh during a workday can pay a host of benefits, and the following are just a few ways to maintain mental focus until quitting time.

• Exercise regularly. The physical benefits of routine exercise are well documented. But even the most ardent fitness enthusiasts may not realize just how big an impact physical activity is having on their brains. The Harvard Medical School notes that exercise stimulates regions of the brain that release a chemical called brainderived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which rewires memory circuits so they can function better. A stronger memory can help workers

recall project details and deadlines more easily, even as the workday draws to a close.

• Avoid the “quick fix.” Relying on a beverage or snack to provide a quick mental boost may end up compromising your mental sharpness. Foods and beverages that are high in sugar may provide an immediate energy boost, but that spike is almost instantly followed by a crash that can adversely affect your mental sharpness. Stick to healthy snacks, such as fruits and vegetables, and avoid late afternoon cups of coffee, which studies have shown make it harder to fall asleep at night, thereby compromising your energy levels the next day.

• Take a walk outdoors. Spending some time outdoors during a lunch break, or even a quick, post-lunch stroll around the office grounds, can provide a break for the brain. That break can help the brain refocus, improving productivity as a result. One great way to get outdoors during busy workdays is to conduct meetings outside when the weather permits. This gives everyone a chance to recharge their brains in the great outdoors, and few people would prefer a dusty conference room to a nearby park or picnic area outdoors.

Various strategies can help working professionals maintain their mental sharpness throughout the workday.

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Serving

PATIENTS

St. Vincent’s food service full of care

STORY BY J.R. TIDWELL PHOTOS BY J.R. TIDWELL AND CONTRIBUTED

W

henever someone is thinking of a place to go for a meal in Chilton County, St. Vincent’s Chilton in Clanton is likely one of the last places that comes to mind.

28 Wellness

People who have been patients or employees at St. Vincent’s are probably familiar with Peach Tree Bistro, the cafeteria that sits just past the main lobby, but many other residents may not know the business exists.

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Food Service Manager Kevin Cooper says the cafeteria is one of the best kept secrets in the county.

“We do it all,” Cooper said. “Chilton County is missing out. We have some following, but we’d love to have some more. We’re just trying to get the word out. We want to make sure the community knows they can come out and enjoy the food here.”

Cooper has been the food service manager at St. Vincent’s going on three years.

His staff is in charge of not only the cafeteria at the hospital, but the food served to patients in their rooms as well. “(The menu) depends on their diet,” Cooper said. “I think it’s a very good menu. Today, they had spaghetti and

meat sauce, garlic bread and a side salad. The patients’ menu is just as good as the retail side.”

Having actual chefs prepare patients’ food already gives St. Vincent’s a leg up on some other hospitals, but Cooper says having people that are passionate about food and really care about what they are serving really makes a difference.

“You can get anybody to cook a meal, but it’s better when you get people that care about what they do,” he said. “Most chefs love what they do. You can’t please everybody, but we are consistently in the top tier of our department as far as taste of food and care of our patients (in reviews). When you are in the hospital, there are many things you don’t have control over. Your food is one. But we strive to make sure we give them the best product, the best quality of food, that we can put out. The retail side is nice, but we are here for the patients.”

Cooper is originally from Birmingham. He attended Jefferson State Community College for nursing, but life had other plans for him.

“I got married young and got stuck in the food service industry,” he said. “I started off as a kitchen manager at a restaurant in Birmingham. It was a chain based out of Louisiana. Even in high school, I had worked (in the food service industry), so food came easily for me. I have been an assistant manager and general manager at fast food restaurants.

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“My passion is food, so I went back into the kitchen at a full-service restaurant. I worked for several chains for a while as kitchen manager. I moved to Pennsylvania for a while. I still managed at restaurants, but I decided to try cooking. I worked for a place where the chef trained me on everything he knew. Then it became a passion to make people smile through food. It kind of started from there.”

Cooper opened up a restaurant in Springville called The Choppin Block that also served as a butcher shop.

“I left there and went to Hueytown, where I was a dietary manager for three years at a nursing home,” he said. “That got me some experience (in a similar field), and when (St. Vincent’s Chilton) opened up, I was able to come here.

They were looking for a sous chef, and I applied. When I first got here, Donette Leathers was the dietitian and another guy was the food service director. When he left, she took over his position, and I got bumped up in the kitchen. I run it on a daily basis now.”

The hospital cafeteria is open to the public seven days a week. You do not have to be a patient to come enjoy the food there.

Peach Tree Bistro has breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Breakfast is from 7-9:30 a.m., while lunch runs from

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11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The cafeteria is also open for dinner from 4-6 p.m. on weekdays.

“We have a great breakfast,” Cooper said. “Certain days we do omelets. Certain days we do hot breakfast sandwiches. If you come here there’s nothing (left out) that you wouldn’t get at any restaurant. It is set up as a restaurant-style buffet.”

Cooper said the lunch menu is as varied as the people who prepare the meals.

“All of our chefs come from different backgrounds, so the menu is wide open,” he said. “We have a menu online.

We just pick things that we think will sell in this area. One of our biggest hits is our shrimp and grits. We did that at the Taste of Chilton (County), and it was such a big hit we added it to our menu schedule every third week.”

The menu also includes soul food, oriental and Pacific Northwest cuisine.

“We do anything we can think of that we think people will like and try something new,” Cooper said. “It’s more than just serving the hospital patients; we are trying to reach the community. We are trying to reach Chilton County.”

One day, the cafeteria had beef stroganoff, carrots, cauliflower mash (similar to mashed potatoes) and honey bourbon pork loin for sale, as well as soup, salad and desserts.

Food Service Manager Kevin Cooper stands with other food service employees in the kitchen at St. Vincent’s Chilton.

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Skin Lesion/ Cancer Procedures Hernia Repair Surgery – for umbilical, groin and complex abdominal hernias Breast Cancer Surgery Endocrine Surgery Colonoscopy/ EGD – Screening for Colon, Esophageal and Gastric Disease and Cancer Inside Elmore Community Hospital

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PEACH TREE BISTRO HOURS: Breakfast: 7-9:30 a.m. seven days a week Lunch: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. seven days a week

The cafeteria at St. Vincent’s Chilton, dubbed the Peach Tree Bistro, is one of the best-kept secrets in Chilton County.

Dinner: 4-6 p.m. on weekdays.

Cooper said the cafeteria has a good following on Sundays with the after-church lunch crowd.

“We have things like chicken and dressing, fried chicken, after church food,” he said. “We make sure the menu is right for the after-church folks on Sunday. We always have fresh desserts throughout the week.”

Cooper said his department will be rolling out a new menu in the coming months.

“Our program will be called Three Square,” he said. “It is based upon giving patients three square meals of the best (food). We want to concentrate on the patients and give them what they like.”

St. Vincent’s Chilton is located at 2030 Lay Dam Road in Clanton.

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“We do anything we can think of that we think people will like and try something new. It’s more than just serving the hospital patients; we are trying to reach the community. We are trying to reach Chilton County.”

— Food Service Manager Kevin Cooper

How to make your favorite foods healthier

R

esolving to eat healthier can be easy by making some simple swaps when preparing your favorite foods.

Many people to resolve to live healthier, and they may not have to give up their favorite foods to do so.

Research from the National Institutes of Health suggests American adults between the ages of 18 and 49 gain an average of one to two pounds every year. Grazing and overeating tends to increase when the weather cools down. A 2005 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, in the fall, people tend to consume more calories, total fat and saturated fat. In the spring, people seem to prefer more carbohydrates. In addition, less powerful sunshine in winter coupled with people bundling up translates into less vitamin D being absorbed by the body. Some researchers believe there is a link between vitamin D deficiency and weight gain as well.

To ensure that certain foods do not sabotage healthy eating plans, people can employ some easy modifications and make healthier versions of the foods they like to eat.

• Choose crunchy foods. Those who are prone to snacking can reach for noisy foods. These include crunchy items like apples, carrots and pretzels. Scientists say that when people listen

to what they are chewing — called the “crunch effect” — they eat less of that item.

• Tone down the cream. Delicious dishes like fettuccine alfredo typically are made with lots of butter and cream. Replace cream sauces with a healthier base made of low-fat milk thickened with flour. Increase the flavor with favorite spices.

• Fry with care. Use healthy oils like olive or coconut sparingly. Many foods that are traditionally fried also can be lightly coated with cooking spray and baked for a crunchy texture.

• Choose sodium-free seasonings. The USCA recommends limiting sodium to less than 1 teaspoon of salt per day. Try options like fresh herbs or lemon juice to add some sodium-free flavor.

• Increase fiber content. Fiber helps one feel fuller longer and can also be helpful for digestion and heart health. Choose the “brown” varieties of rice, pasta and breads.

• Replace meat with leaner forms of protein.

Lean chicken, turkey and pork can replace red meats in many recipes. Some traditional meat dishes, such as burgers, also can be modified using vegetables or seafood. Lean meats dry out quickly, so keep foods moist by watching cooking times.

• Stock up on yogurt. Greek and other varieties of yogurt can replace sour cream and mayonnaise in many dishes.

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M

uch about trips to the grocery store has changed since many adults were children. Many grocery stores are considerably larger than they were as recently as 20 years ago and now sell everything from traditional grocery store fare to clothing to items one might expect to find in a hardware store.

Another aspect of grocery shopping that has changed over the years is the groceries themselves. Nutrition labels have been around for decades, though todayХs labels contain considerably more information than they did in years past. As a result, many shoppers, even those who make sure to read product labels before placing items in their shopping carts, may not know exactly what they’re buying.

Nutrition labels can be complicated, and ingredients that are beneficial for some consumers may be harmful to others. Seniors and people with existing medical conditions should always discuss their diets with their physicians, asking if there are specific foods they should avoid or seek out. In addition, the following three tips, courtesy of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, can help consumers understand nutrition labels and make sound choices.

1. READ THE SERVING SIZE INFORMATION. Serving size information on nutrition labels indicates both the recommended serving size and the number of servings contained in the package. The AND recommends that consumers compare the portion size they actually eat to the serving size listed on the label. Some people may consume more than one serving size per meal, and that can affect just how much of each ingredi-

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3 tips when reading nutrition facts labels ent, including ingredients like sodium that can be harmful if consumed in excess, a person is eating.

2. PAY ATTENTION TO CALORIE COUNT. Nutrition labels contain calorie counts, which can help people maintain healthy weights. Being at a healthy weight has been linked to a reduced risk for various conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Nutrition labels list calories per serving, so people trying limit their calorie intake to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight should pay particular attention to this information.

3. LET PERCENT DAILY VALUES GUIDE YOU. The AND notes that percent daily values, which are listed as “DV” on food labels, help consumers determine how particular foods fit into their daily meal plans. These values are based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet, though some people may need more or fewer calories than that. In addition, some people may need more than the 100 percent recommended daily value of a given nutrient. Consumers should discuss their specific needs regarding calorie and nutrient intake with their physicians. For those advised to heed the daily values recommendations, ingredients that are listed at 5 percent DV or less are considered low, while those that are 20 percent DV or higher are considered high.

The AND recommends aiming low for ingredients like sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol, while high in vitamins, minerals and fiber can be beneficial.

More information about nutrition labels can be found at eatright.org and fda.gov/food/food-labelingnutrition.

Find the care you need close to home St. Vincent’s Chilton

Specialties:

From the routine to the unexpected, you can count on compassionate, personalized care from Ascension care teams at St. Vincent’s Chilton. This includes giving you access to a variety of specialties right in your own neighborhood. And it all starts with listening to best understand you and your health concerns.

• Cardiology • Gastroenterology • General Surgery • Nephrology • Ophthalmology • Otolaryngology (ENT)

St. Vincent’s Chilton 2030 Lay Dam Road Clanton, AL 35045 stvhs.com/chilton

To find specialty care that is right for you, call 205-289-5581

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