Healthy lifestyles summer 2013

healthy

l i f e s t y l e s

July 24, 2013

summer 2013

2 - Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Healthy Lifestyles is published by the Ravalli Republic

Table of Contents

newspaper, a division of Lee Enterprises Sherry Devlin, Editor Jim Coulter, General Manager Dara Saltzman, Production & Design Frannie Cummings, Kathy Kelleher, Jodi Lopez & Justine Morris Project Sales Healthy Lifestyles copyright 2013, Ravalli Republic.

High school athletes..............................4 Duce’s Wild.............................................6 Optimism as medicine..........................8 Staying healthy.....................................11 Boomeritis.............................................12 A healthy kitchen..................................14

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4 - Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013

High school athletes prepare all summer long

By Stacie Duce For

the

on the spin bikes and tried a variety of things,” she said.

“They’re a really a fun group of girls to work with,” she said. “It’s inspiring and is keeping me young. I just really want to see them do well in soccer this season and in everything they do.

They don’t have to be in sports to come and enjoy the workout, it’s open to all those who are interested.”

Each participant pays a small fee to the club but not for her training.

“I am having a lot of fun with them,” Mussberger said. “But at this point, they’re sore enough that I don’t think they’re saying the same thing about me.”

Ravalli Republic

Lunges. Squats. Sit ups.

Groans. All in a day’s work for members of the girls’ soccer team at Hamilton High School.

Although not required, the athletes are getting together on early summer mornings for intense workouts at the Iron Horse Athletic Club in Hamilton. Fitness instructor Erica Musburger leads the workout and donates her time to the girls – one of whom is her daughter on the team.

“We started the class this month to condition the girls for soccer,” she said. “According to the research I’ve done, young athletes are most susPhoto STACIE DUCE ceptive to ACL injuries so Fitness Instructor Erica Musburger, middle, donates her time to help hopeful members of the Hamilton High School girls soccer team condition and prepare for their fall season. our focus is to help them Down the street at Hamilton High School, Coach Steve Weston strengthen areas of the leg that protect the knee.” opens the school’s weight room for early morning workouts as well.

She said that even though soccer is focused on leg strength and For more than 20 years, Weston has directed strength training for skill, the body functions best when the whole system is primed so high school athletes during the schoolyear and the summer. core strength and upper body strength are equally important.

While the football players have been lifting weights for weeks, “I also want to give the girls a taste of everything a gym has to the girls just started an early-morning training program during the offer and get them comfortable in the weight room so we’ve been

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second week of July. Weston said they were a little sore after their third day but he can see they’re enthusiastic and dedicated. Anywhere from 15 to 35 boys have been going to the weight room at 6:30 a.m. for an hour. The girls arrive at 7:30 a.m. and about 10 and 15 have showed up during the first week but Weston hopes those numbers increase shortly.

“Of course weight training increases their strength but I think it helps the kids mentally more than anything,” Weston said. “We’re trying to help the kids develop team unity and come together as a group.

When they see each other working hard and striving for the same goal, it really helps the entire group prepare for fall, winter and spring sports.”

He said the group of senior boys has especially “bought into the program” and have been developing a lot of leadership and team unity.

“I’m looking for the girls to do the same,” he said.

“In this day and age, most schools do what we do (with year-round strength training),” he said. “If you don’t, you won’t keep up and we’re looking forward to a great year for all the athletes.”

Stacie Duce is a freelance writer from Hamilton who contributes to special sections of the Ravalli Republic.

Photo STACIE DUCE

A strength training program for girls is now up and going on early mornings in the weight room of Hamilton High School. Coach Steve Weston leads the training and is impressed with the dedication of the football players as well as the determination of the female athletes who have just started to attend.

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6 - Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Duce’s Wild: Benefits of looking back and embracing the future

Stacie Duce

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“Young men speak of the future because they have no past, and old men speak of the past because they have no future.”

It’s a quote my Dad has shared recently as sort of an apology for walks down memory lane as he enters his retirement years. I, on the other hand, see no need for an apology and appreciate his wisdom and moraled stories.

And yet the more I think of it, healthy lifestyles are enhanced when we work for the exact opposite – give children glimpses of the past so they can make more of their future and offer older folks some reprieve from the ruts of their past for hope in a more fulfilling future.

I’m stuck in the middle trying to avoid all those predisposed crises of people my age. I feel like I’m grasping both ends of a broken tugo-war rope wanting desperately to be the young woman I feel inside yet hoping to mold enough life experiences into a solid future for my family and myself.

The benefit of looking both backward and forward applies to our community as well. Holding on to a valued heritage makes future planning more solid. And when we channel our resources productively, we’re all more healthy which is evidenced by more locallygrown produce served in our restaurants, new fitness programs offered in more locations and continued emphasis on embracing the fresh air of our great outdoors.

I propose that another local site promotes our community’s healthy lifestyle – the Marcus Daly mansion. I was reminded of this during the lawn party they hosted for children on July 3. With visiting relatives, my daughter and I enjoyed a fun afternoon of crafts, old-fashioned games and ice cream on the sprawling lawn of the historic home and designated arboretum.

Of all the places parents take children to be amused, historic sites can be the most beneficial for the following reasons: • When children learn about the history of their community, they develop a greater appreciation for their place in the world. I overheard my daughter tell her cousin that “our town is the funnest ever.”

• When children learn their community leaders are/were generous, they are more likely to be generous themselves. A friendly actress dressed as Mrs. Daly offered prizes to children who completed a certain number of activities at the lawn party and was a nod to her

Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - 7

legendary philanthropy.

• Tossing a corn husk through a grapevine wreath can be more fun than any video game that challenges a child’s ability to hit a target.

My 2-year-old nephew couldn’t get enough of his cornhusk challenge and insisted we all take turns again and again.

• Kids should get their hands dirty. For all the times we sanitize hands before we eat or after the bathroom, it was just as healthy for the children to dig in rich topsoil and plant a blooming flower in their very own pot (Thanks Evans Ace Hardware for donations of supplies and manpower for the event).

• Kids should make joyful noises. We shush them enough in life, so wasn’t it liberating to see a parade of children, some dressed in red, white and blue marching in a makeshift parade down the drive to the mansion waving American flags and banging on homemade instruments. It was the grand finale of the lawn party and a celebration of life itself.

We are lucky to live in a community that was built on optimistic hope in the future. Let’s not let it die with our own personal discouragements. Look back on hard times as learning opportunities and look forward with a little more faith and hope that when we channel our resources productively and make healthy lifestyle choices, we are creating a better future for ourselves, our children and our entire community.

Stacie Duce is a freelance writer from Hamilton.

Photo STACIE DUCE

Two-year-old Jake Lloyd loved throwing corn husks through grapevine targets at the lawn party hosted by the Daly Mansion on July 3.

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8 - Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Optimism can be the best medicine

Photo Provided

Peggy with some of her sister-in-laws at the luncheon held for her before her surgery. The “Stay Calm and Eat a Cupcake” themed decorations now adorn her living room inspiring her during her recovery.

By STACIE DUCE for the

Ravalli Republic

It’s not often you find the most optimistic woman in the room to be the one who suffered an abusive childhood and is currently fighting multiple brain tumors. But that’s Peggy Orr for you.

She grew up in a dysfunctional home and later in foster care and was repeatedly victim to abuse of all kinds. Her knight in shining armor was her high school sweetheart, Allen, and together they have lived the ups and downs of raising a large family and making ends meet in the Bitterroot.

Their latest “down” arrived in the form of meningioma brain tumors, but you won’t find Peggy complaining.

She was first diagnosed in April 2010 and within a week entered the operating room for a craniotomy where the tumors were removed.

“I guess if I’d had more time to think about it or learn about it, I might have been more anxious about the operation, but at that point it happened so fast,” she said. “These types of tumors are

more frequently diagnosed in post-menopausal women,” she explained. “It could be hormone related, could be from a past head injury or a No. 22 chromosome that’s defective. But it is what it is.

Life is what it is. You can’t start tossing up red flags and scare the kids. At my age, you’ve got to go at your trials with some courage.”

She unabashedly explained that her first surgery included putting her head in a vice, making an incision along the hairline, cutting through the TMJ muscles, peeling back part of her face and cutting a hole in her skull. “I think they put that in the freezer while the doctor goes digging around the brain,” she explained lightly.

Peggy’s recovery went well, but a follow-up MRI last November showed a “mass indicative of a meninginoma recurrence,” she said.

“I was starting to lose my eyesight so I could tell something was wrong, but I felt so bad for the doctor because that’s the last thing he wants to hear when he’s gone in and removed it all once before.”

This time, Peggy’s sense of humor was effective medicine as she named the tumor at the base of her skull “Ted” and the one behind her right eye “Tina.” She frequently posted the status of Ted and Tina on her Facebook page where more than 400 friends and family members responded with encouragement and hope during the last few months.

Her doctor determined that the tumor on her brain stem was benign, stabilized and not worth the risk to remove, so he focused on “Tina” and Peggy underwent a second surgery at the end of June to have “her” removed.

All five of her children, a dozen grandchildren as well as some of her brothers gathered in Hamilton to support her. Her co-workers at the Bitterroot Foot and Ankle Clinic had a party before an extended leave. Her church sisters hosted a luncheon with the re-emerging World War II theme of “Stay Calm” with a twist. Her party served cupcakes and was prompted by the book, “Stay Calm and Eat a Cupcake.” The decorations from the party now brighten Peggy’s living room. Her sister-in-law, Jennine Jones, hosted a barbecue the night before her surgery that was complete with fireworks and fun.

“I think the kids expected me to crawl into bed and hide until my surgery, but we just partied instead,” she said.

When the doctor entered her skull from a different angle, he didn’t initially find what he was looking for and removed some bone fragments and scar tissue instead. The days since have been a roller coaster of emotions wondering if she’d just experienced a miracle or simply a reprieve before more bad news and alternative procedures.

“Removing the bone will now allow more space behind the optic nerve to do a different procedure, but it’s all so frustrating to know we’ve got a long road ahead,” she said. “But obviously I’ve got a lot

Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - 9

of people cheering me on.

“I would be interested to know how many said a prayer for me,” she said. “I always think of George Bailey in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and all the prayers that were sent to heaven for him. It felt like that to me.”

Peggy’s daily Facebook posts often end with a mantra she’s adopted that despite her troubles, “It’s a wonderful life.”

She said, “I’ve always been optimistic even though I came from a life of child abuse. I look at the bright side and embrace the positive things in life. I absolutely shun the negative. In fact I recoil from it, it’s literally a physical reaction. Life is just too grand to be negative… I guess as a little kid, despite the bad that happened, I always knew that Jesus loved me. I knew it deeply and I guess it’s hard to be negative when you know that. It helps when I’m surrounded by so many wonderful people. I just love everybody no matter what.”

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Peggy and Allen Orr at home in Hamilton.

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10- Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013

And the feeling is mutual.

“I think that a good attitude goes along with gratitude and I’m just so grateful for all that is good in my life,” she said. “Sometimes I have to remind Al of that when times are tough. But I keep telling him that we’re just so lucky.”

Peggy’s battle with brain tumors is far from over but she said she feels an immense amount of peace as she recovers at her Hamilton home. Although it’s only been a few days since her hospital release, she’s up and around and her swelling has decreased significantly. Her vision is still off and she’s seeing double so that keeps her resting.

“If my vision was normal, I’d almost forget this ever happened,” she said. “I never came home with pain medicine. I just take Tylenol every six hours along with my seizure medicine.”

Peggy also credits her weekly workouts at Bitterroot CrossFit in Hamilton for making her recovery easier.

“I was the oldest person in the place but they modified everything so I could do it,” she said. “It’s a fabulous workout and I met new friends so thanks to them, I really believe that being in better shape physically made a difference this time.”

And so surrounded by family and positive messages, Peggy surmised, “While I know there are many sad circumstances around us, I think we should do our best to make our little spheres happy and positive. And that means overlooking a lot of minor or even major irritants. I’ve realized my way is not the only way, and other people have so much to offer. But bottom line, I love life and all it offers, challenges or not.”

Stacie Duce is a freelance writer from Hamilton who contributes to special sections of the Ravalli Republic.

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Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - 11

The fundamentals of staying healthy

By JIM FRENCH for the

Ravalli Republic

“When you have your health, you have everything!” A longer life to enjoy family. The ability to ride a bike on a beautiful sunny afternoon with friends. Walking a short distance on a mountain trail to a beautiful lake. However, achieving good health is not easy. Similar to most all life’s projects, maintaining good health takes time, effort, and practice - basically a lifetime of research and development!

Projects are not easy, and take time. Very few educators are great teachers in their first year in the classroom. Solid lesson plans do not magically appear. Curriculum appropriate for a wide range of learning abilities is difficult to develop. A carpenter cannot build the finest home the first time on the job. They might be an apprentice, and work with a more seasoned carpenter before striking out on their own. A surgeon often dedicates years training with other experienced doctors before they are capable of operating on their own.

Our approach to health care should be like minded to these pursuits.

Now the following is just my opinion, but there are three keys to maintaining great health. Regular exercise, a good diet, and supplements. Some might disagree on the last item mentioned, but no one would disagree with the first two. However, regardless of one’s point of view, the keys must be put to practice over a long period of time.

When personal health goes sour, the three keys might be too late.

Exercise is medicine! No one disagrees. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, wrote centuries ago regarding the value of conditioning the body to prevent disease. Modem research confirms the rather simple statements of the Greek writer. Moderately and highly active people have better health. They experience less cardiovascular disease, lower frequency rate for diabetes, increased life expectancy, positive mood enhancement, stronger bone and connective tissue, successful weight control, cancer prevention, and overall enhanced quality oflife. To join this club, you have to do something. Once again, the project is not easy, but the rewards are great.

Consisting of processed foods and refined grains, the use of chemicals to raise plants and animals in huge monocultures, the superabundance of cheap calories of sugar and fat produced by modem agriculture, and the narrowing of the biological diversity of the human diet to a tiny handful of staple crops (wheat, soy, com) have given us the “western diet” that is killing Americans by the thousands every year! (heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer) The cure. Eat real food, not too much, and mostly plants. If it’s green, eat and become lean. Ifit’s white, keep it out of sight. If it’s brown, slow down. Berries and cherries make your heart and brain merry. Your heart and brain have a wish, please eat more fish. Meat from green eating things will make your heart sing. Eat fruits and nuts raw and your heart will say “aahhh!” Use monosaturated fats

and prevent heart attacks. Dark red: go ahead! (red wine kidney beans, tomatoes) Supplements. They are like an insurance policy against the harmful effects of a poor diet, and the unknowns in a decent diet. Seventy per cent of the food Americans consume has been processed. On an average day 41 % of Americans eat no fruit; 72% eat no vitamin C rich foods; 82% have no cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, etc); 84% eat no high-fiber whole grain foods.

So ... which supplements to take, and how much? Work with your doctor on this project. Simple blood tests can help determine your supplement requirements. The blood test can help from a basic cellular perspective in determining the nutrients an individual requires.

Here is a list of supplements (by no means an exhaustive list) to discuss with your doctor, or do your own research as you take charge of your own health.

Antioxidants Essential Fatty acids Coenzyme Q 1 0 Nitric Oxide therapy Herbs Super green foods .... algae All vitamins especially D 3 and a B complex The article started with the statement, “when you have your health, you have everything.” There are simple answers how to achieve long term good health. However, the “project” of our good health is not an easy one. The word discipline comes to mind! Take charge of your own health. Discipline yourselfl The rewards are great (plus the costs to our health care system will be reduced ... hallelujah!).

Jim French is with Canyons Athletic Club.

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12 - Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Avoiding “boomeritis” with diet and excercise

By SERENA HODGES-JOLLEY and REBECCA MORLEY for the

Ravalli Republic

Mix it up. Go light. Allow for recuperation time.

These aren’t rules for weekend party-goers. They are guidelines for non-professional baby boomer athletes, especially those who are just beginning to focus on being more active, that should be applied to their daily exercise regimen in order to stay both fit and injuryfree.

Injuries can stop athletes in their footsteps. Due to the normal aging process, baby boomers – people born 1946 and 1964 – are increasingly vulnerable, as evidenced by a steep increase in musculoskeletal injuries.

Orthopedic surgeon and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery spokesman Nicholas DiNubile has dubbed the occurrence “Boomeritis.” Injuries such as strains, sprains and fractures occur due to lack of variety in resistance, exercise type, implementation and recuperation time from strenuous exercise sessions.

Exercise regimens should include cardiovascular or aerobic activity, as well as flexibility and strength training. This cross-training will help keep the body limber and strong.

When starting new regimens, athletes need to start light and gradually increase intensity. Every muscle group needs to be strong to maintain an optimal balance throughout your body, which requires challenging all muscle groups.

If you work out every day, focus on your upper body one day and alternate to emphasize lower body the next. Mix a day of aerobics with another day of yoga or swimming. You want variety. Listen to your body and be willing to adjust.

If working out in a group setting hinders you from listening to your body, discontinue group workouts. On the other hand, if group workouts keep you motivated and appropriately challenged, use them often.

Listening to your body will help you avoid energy depletion, lack of proper form and possible injury.

After particularly long and difficult sessions, you should allow your body to rest and recuperate a day or two before resuming your exercise program.

Mix it up and go light apply not only to exercise, but also healthy diets.

The diet should include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, aiming for five or more fruits and vegetables each day. Fruits and vegetables are important because of all the vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants they provide. All essential nutrients are necessary for optimum health.

One example of a vitamin that is particularly pertinent to a successful exercise regimen is vitamin C, which supports muscle rebuilding. Therefore, adequate vitamin C helps to reduce the need of extended recuperation time. Foods high in vitamin C include oranges, tomatoes and bell peppers.

Avoid eating only your favorite fruits and vegetables day after day. Instead, aim to include the entire rainbow of colors every week. Some people do this by linking colors of fruits and vegetables with specific days of the week. There are six groups – white, yellow, red, orange, green and purple – that can be divided among the days of the week; this assures you will include that particular color, leaving one extra day open for whatever produce you desire.

If this works for you, great! The main point is to make it a habit to eat a wide variety of produce and whole grains, which helps ensure you meet essential nutrient needs.

Also important to the fitness equation, especially as we age, is adequate consumption of protein.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average adult should consume about 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. That would be about 54 grams for a 150pound adult. However, if you are a boomer who is exercising vigorously for extended periods of time, your protein needs will increase.

Consider consulting a registered dietician to assist in adjusting your protein intake to meet individual needs.

Go for lean protein sources. Granted, you can meet protein requirements from a juicy, marbled steak, but you also will consume harmful and unnecessary saturated fats, putting you at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. If you are a carnivore, consider going meatless at least one day a week, aiming for meals that provide complete protein from a combination of legumes, whole grains or

Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - 13

nuts. This simple substitution gives you a boost in fiber while limiting unhealthy fats.

Don’t forget hydration.

Water intake supports muscle health, helps decrease fatigue and therefore decreases risk of “Boomeritis.“ If athletes are dehydrated, muscles can feel stiff and rigid, decreasing the level of performance as well as endurance. If you take your weight in pounds and divide it by two, you get a number in ounces equal to the approximate amount of water (or other fluids) you should be consuming.

Another nutrition principle that contributes to the prevention of “Boomeritis” is calorie control.

Extra calories here and there add to extra pounds as the years add up. And that extra weight can put increased stress on our joints. Listen to hunger pangs and avoid super-size portions. Avoid high-calorie, low-nutrient foods full of fat, sugar and empty calories.

Highly processed products often support weight gain and promote disease. Limit drinking calories in the form of soda, juice drinks and fancy lattes. These drinks tend to be calorie-dense and lacking nutrients. Eat whole fruit to increase fiber and nutrient content.

Because of America’s obesogenic environment, we are likely to experience portion distortion. Although it takes extra time and effort in the beginning, if you’re interested in maximizing nutrition while minimizing weight gain, measure servings until you get a handle on it. We think we know what a serving size should be according to cus-

tom and culture, but we can be really off, especially if we allow the fast-food industry and numerous restaurants to decide for us.

Finally, everyone, especially boomers who exercise vigorously, should listen for hunger pangs. Eating when truly hungry and stopping when minimally satisfied is a rule that will assist you with portion control and avoiding binge eating. Try to keep your blood sugar stable by spreading your individual calorie needs into three meals and one or two snacks every day. Choosing foods that contribute to your health, instead of those that promote disease, will supply you with energy and nutrition reserves to combat “Boomeritis.”

It is not impossible to reach lofty goals such as participating in a half or even full marathon, but know it can’t happen overnight. It takes months and even years to achieve maximum fitness levels.

After all, it has taken us a good many years to become a bona fide boomer.

Whether you have been exercising for years, are new to exercising or are somewhere in between, the key to a healthy exercise regimen is listening to your own body. If you refuse to listen, you risk injury.

“Boomeritis” is avoidable by mindful exercise and smart eating.

Rebecca Morley provides nutrition services through the Eat Smart Program. Serena Hodges-Jolley is an intern with that program.

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14 - Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Look to your kitchen to stay healthy

By EMILY WALTER for the

Ravalli Republic

When we think about places to improve our health and physical fitness, it might be the gym, the yoga studio or hiking trails that come to mind. For many, unfortunately, it’s the doctor’s office. I’d propose we add another destination to the list: our kitchens.

Yes, our time in the kitchen truly can be an important complement to both our physical and mental fitness regimes. Regardless of whether you like to cook or not, there’s a pretty good chance you spend some time in the kitchen every day. Why not make that time fruitful, give it a purpose?

For me, time in the kitchen helps me focus on what helps me feel healthy, what makes me happy and what I most value. I can’t recommend it enough as a place to enhance your physical well-being, calm your mind and nurture your social relationships.

The obvious way we connect to our health in the kitchen is by paying attention to what’s on the shelves and in the refrigerator. But given the deluge of advice we get about what to eat and what not to eat, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. So evaluate all that advice in small bites and rely on reputable resources. Focus on one type of ethnic food or seasonal ingredient at a time. Learn more about it. Experiment with differ-

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ent ways to prepare it. Pay attention to the sensory pleasure it adds to your life, to whether it gives you more energy, more mental acuity.

For example, right now I’ve decided to focus on fats. I’ve learned that “fat carries flavor” and that at nine calories per gram, fats are our most caloric energy source. That means I need to keep track of how much fat I’m eating, no matter what type. I’m learning which fats are best for sparking my metabolism, for helping me feel full and contributing to my health. I’ve learned more about Omega 3’s and medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil. And I now know that even small additions of avocado or extra virgin olive oil will definitely turn my ordinary salad into a belly-filling delight. Maybe next month I’ll dig into sweeteners, see what healthy choices I can add to that shelf of the cupboard.

The kitchen also can be an economical alternative to the doctor’s office or pharmacy. Despite the often repeated misconception, eating well doesn’t have to be expensive. But even if you opt for the finest, most exotic ingredients on the grocery shelf, you’ll be spending less than you will if your diet results in medical procedures and prescriptions. So you want to be healthier and save money? Hit the kitchen for your five (or, better yet, nine) recommended servings of fruit and vegetables instead of the medicine cabinet for those five (or, worse, nine)

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Ravalli Republic,Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - 15

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The healing power of foods is a huge and fascinating subject and the kitchen can be your laboratory. Discover how a sprinkle of cardamom can help soothe a sore throat or how a dose or turmeric can ease inflammatory pain. Of course, there are times when a visit to a medical professional is a must. But sometimes a little more time in the kitchen can be just what the doctor ordered.

For many of us, bruised by the stresses of work, family and finances, the time we spend in the gym or on our favorite hiking trail gives us the mental – even spiritual – lift we need to get through the day. The kitchen is another place to find that lift. Sure, after a busy day of work, preparing a family meal can feel like an extended job, yet another task you have to fit into the day. And it can be difficult to quit thinking of “food production” that way. If you’re just cooking for one or two, it can even feel superfluous to prepare a multicourse meal.

Again, let the kitchen be something different. Enjoy the reality that you now have more time to prepare, to research recipes, to lovingly stir your partner’s favorite risotto or caramelize a pan of onions.

Chopping vegetables and even washing dishes can be meditative exercises, a way to “get in the zone” and focus the mind.

Finally, treat your kitchen as a refuge in which you can nurture your personal relationships, as well as your body and mind. Boomers often find themselves around a smaller table in the evening, perhaps facing the strange challenges of loneliness or even boredom. That’s when it’s time to rediscover and re-create the energy that once buzzed around

the family table.

Initiate a supper club with the friends you keep saying you want to see more often. Host a reunion of the parents you traveled with to so many soccer games so many years ago. Meet a friend at the farmers market, then head home to the kitchen to prepare a too-lavish brunch. Volunteer in a community garden plot. Drag your spouse to a cooking class. Let the kitchen be your inspiration for renewing those relationships you value most.

So, keep your membership at the gym and your hiking shoes by the door. Schedule that annual physical with your doctor. But take time to sit down with a cookbook. Solve the mystery of homemade puff pastry. Celebrate your kitchen as a place with a renewed purpose for yourself and for your senses.

Emily Walter can be reached at 541-3663, Ext. 214, or at emily.walter@goodfoodstore.com.

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COMING SOON A New Option for X-rays People in the Bitterroot Valley will soon have a new option for getting x-rays: Ravalli Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.

Our new office building at 312 Fairgrounds Road features an x-ray suite. A radiology technician will staff the suite weekdays from 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm.

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You do not need to be a patient of Dr. Behm to get your x-rays taken here. Simply bring in your x-ray order or have your provider fax the order to our office. Your x-rays will be read by a radiologist, and the images and reports will be made available to the prescribing provider.

Our in-house x-ray suite

The new x-ray suite will be open soon. We look forward to helping patients and providers in the Bitterroot Valley.

Phone: 406 361 7680 Fax: 406 363 4060 312 Fairgrounds Road in Hamilton