All Accusure Insulin Syringes distributed between January 2002 and October 2009 have been voluntarily recalled by Qualitest Pharmaceuticals. This recall includes all lot numbers and was issued due to the possibility that the needles may detach from the syringes. This becomes dangerous as the needle can become stuck in the insulin vial, push back into to the syringe, or remain in the skin after injection. If you have any Accusure insulin syringes, stop using them immediately and contact Qualitest at 1-800-444-4011 for reimbursement.

For more information, you can read the complete MedWatch 2009 Safety summary, including a link to the firm’s press release and previous August 2009 recall.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

Cross Island Farms, a local organic farm on Wellesley Island in Northern NY, is offering a Thanksgiving Holiday Vegetable Assortment. If you can’t get to the farm to pick up your healthy, organic produce for your Thanksgiving meal or aren’t local anymore, Cross Island Farms is also offering a shipping option.  Order your vegetables to be delivered in time for the holiday or send them as a gift to family you can’t be with.

For $60 you (or someone love) will receive 5 lbs. each of butternut squash, heirloom squash, yellow or white potatoes, and pie pumpkins, as well as 4 lbs. onions and 2 lbs. each of leeks, beets and parsnips. You will also get small decorative pumpkins and gourds, plus recipes and some bonus surprises. Everything is organic and grown at Cross Island Farms.

The deadline for reserving your vegetable assortment is November 13th, so order now by calling the farm at (315) 482-FOOD (3663) or emailing organic@crossislandfarms.com.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

The Community Guide is currently highlighting an article published in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine indicates that worksite wellness programs focused on improving diet and exercise habits are effective in helping participants to lose weight. Based on this evidence, the CDC has developed a Worksite Wellness resource called LEAN Works! This web-based resource provides information and tools that companies can use to develop their own worksite wellness programs targeting obesity prevention and weight control.

Through support and educational programs within the workplace such as the ones recommended by LEAN Works!, participants learn strategies for improving their health, and support and encourage one another to make positive changes in their health behaviors. And according to the LEAN Works! website, programs like these could save companies a significant amount in medical spending. You can even use their Obesity Cost Calculator to determine how much a workplace wellness program targeting obesity prevention could save your company.

If you are interested in starting a Worksite Wellness program, but don’t have the time to commit to developing one of your own, why not consider the Cre8 A New You program developed here at Feed the Soul, Inc. You can hire us to provide the 8-week program at your worksite or you could have human resources employees or other leaders in your company participate in a Train the Trainer session allowing them to present the program to your employees at any time. Contact us for more information.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

October is Vegetarian Awareness Month and a great time to consider going meatless. No, you don’t have to give up meat for good, but if you give it a try you just might be surprised at the benefits. Besides, research shows that reducing meat intake can have a positive impact on your health.

If you are not a gung-ho vegetarian and can’t imagine eating a meal without meat, that’s OK. This month is about exploring vegetarianism. If you don’t know where to start, try the tips below.

• Take it for a test drive. Want to give vegetarianism a try? Go ahead. It’s your diet and you are in the driver’s seat. Challenge yourself to a day, a week or a month of vegetarian eating and pay attention to how your body feels.You might be pleasantly surprised.
• Do some research. If you are seriously (or not-so-seriously) considering making the switch to a vegetarian diet, check out the Vegetarian Times Vegetarian Starter Kit for useful information and additional tips on creating a healthy vegetarian diet.
• You don’t have to give up everything. If you can’t imagine giving up all animal products, consider a variety of vegetarianism that you are comfortable with. Try an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet containing eggs and dairy products or a pescatarian diet, which also includes fish.
• Be a flexitarian instead. If the thought of never eating meat and poultry again seems too daunting, try eating a vegetarian diet one or two days a week or, if that sounds too difficult, start by planning a few vegetarian meals throughout the month.

Even if you don’t take on a totally vegetarian mindset this month, becoming more aware of how much meat you are eating might help you develop a healthier diet. Amping up your vegetable, bean and whole grain intake is a great first step. And you never know, it might turn out that going meatless isn’t as difficult as you thought it would be.

If you are a regular meat eater, how do you feel about the prospect of going meatless? If you eat a vegetarian diet, how did you get started and why?

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."