Saturday, March 18, 2023

Most Efficient (and Safest) Uses of Kitchen Appliances

We all love kitchen appliances!

Blender:

Always put liquid ingredients in first, then smallest solid pieces, finishing with the largest. If ice cubes are on the ingredient list, they go in last.

Cool hot foods if possible before blending. If you must blend hot liquids, use the Low or Pulse setting, then gradually increase the speed if necessary. Be sure to keep the lid on, as steam can form and cause the contents to squirt out like lava.

Oven:

Clean spills as soon as the oven has cooled. Don’t allow them to harden or bake on.

Keep that drawer under the oven empty unless you are keeping cooked food warm while the rest of the meal is cooking. Pots and pans stored the warming drawer can have their finish ruined as they heat up with the rest of the oven.

Dishwasher:

Load the dishwasher properly for the cleanest wash. For more information: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/loading-a-dishwasher.

Wait to run the dishwasher until it is fully loaded to save water and energy. 

Never put new items with stickers on them in the dishwasher. Yes, the labels will peel off. But the adhesive from the stickers can clog up the dishwasher’s filter and pump.

Microwave:

Use round dishes. Square corners don’t heat as evenly and food there can overcook.

Stir salt in before microwaving; don’t leave it on the surface. Otherwise the surface layer can be dried out.

Don’t expect optimal Wi-Fi while using the microwave. They interfere with each other.

For more microwave tips: https://www.mashed.com/70561/foods-never-put-microwave/.


Saturday, March 11, 2023

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for March 2023

You can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this blog entry. Click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images. 

If you click each poster, you will get a message with additional information and live links.

To go directly to Healthinfo Island, click on either the SLURL or the picture of the poster.


Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island

Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24



March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22



Trisomy Awareness Month

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24



Swim for Your Health

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22



Osteopenia

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24



National Nutrition Month

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26



Caffeine!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28



Somatic Stretching

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30



Stomach Flu, or Something Else?

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32

 


Thanks to Mook for assistance with the posters this month.


Saturday, February 25, 2023

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for February 2023

February is Heart Health Month, and several of the poster sets this month relate to heart health.

You can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this blog entry. Click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images.

If you click each poster, you will get a message with additional information and live links.

 

Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island

Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24

 

Alcohol and Your Heart

 

Paxlovid

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24

 

Autophagy

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22

 

Feb 14 is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

 

Exercise and Your Heart

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26

 

Stop That Coughing!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28


How We Damage Our Hearts

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

 

Heart Healthy Diet

 

Thanks to Anna and Mook for assistance with the posters this month.

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Things To Do - Volunteer to Help Seniors and Persons with Disabilities in Your Community

During a pandemic, the elderly and persons with disabilities are often at the greatest risk. To protect themselves, they may become isolated and unable to access basic services or meet their daily needs for food and supplies. Isolation and loneliness have negative impacts on overall health and wellness. If you feel safe offering assistance, there are three areas in which you can volunteer.


Delivering Meals or Groceries

Organizations that deliver food to the needy include Meals on Wheels and Feeding America. Contact local service agencies as well as the large national ones to see if they need drivers willing to bring food and groceries to needy isolated persons.

If you live in an area not served by any of these agencies, you can use social media to let people know that you are willing to shop for and deliver groceries, or run other errands such as picking up and delivering prescription medications.


Technology Assistance

Help older family members or elderly community members stay up to date with information and keep connected with loved ones through technology. Sometimes the easiest way is to phone and talk the person through how to use their existing electronic tools, including smart phones.

Consider writing (or making a video) and sharing tutorials for downloading ebooks or audio recordings from the local library collection, or directions for emailing or for downloading a podcast. Create step-by-step written instructions for using video conferencing tools. 

Remember to include tips for safe experiences online. Seniors and the disabled are frequent targets of online scammers.

If you are unsure how to start creating these educational materials, check out the free materials provided by Generations on Line.


Social Support

Loneliness has large impacts on health, and is increased during times of enforced isolation. Check with local civic organizations and churches to see if they can match you with a person who would benefit from a regular phone call “just to check in.” 

For a good list of potential discussion topics for talking with seniors, please look here:  https://www.griswoldhomecare.com/blog/senior-conversation-starters-discussion-topics-for-elderly-adults/

If you feel too shy to volunteer in this way, consider sharpening your interpersonal skills. Here is a helpful list of tips on how to engage in small talk: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinapark/2015/03/30/an-introverts-guide-to-small-talk-eight-painless-tips/#74f0b662574a 

Volunteering helps others, but helping others also benefits you. You will be less likely to feel depressed and will experience increased overall well-being. Where can you volunteer safely?