Garlic Lime Tofu with Bell Peppers, Tomatoes and Onion
Make two delicious tofu-based recipes at once. The ingredients are similar but are flavored with different savory sauces. This is meal planning the easy way!
Note: Our two recipes are presented separately, but it is easy to prepare both at the same time, as Christy demonstrates in our video. Just prepare tofu exactly the same for each recipe, prep and roast all vegetables, and prepare two separate sauces!
Mason Jar Rainbow Salad
I enjoy recipes that are flexible with ingredients you already have in your kitchen—and this mason jar salad is no exception.
Sesame Chicken Mason Jar Salad
I enjoy recipes that are flexible with ingredients you already have in your kitchen—and most of these ready-to-go mason jar salads are no exception.
Tips: Use a wide-mouth, 16-ounce mason jar (or other tall glass or plastic container with tight lid).
- Put the dressing in first, to avoid a soggy salad.
- Pile in individual ingredients, in the order listed—hardy vegetables or proteins on the bottom, delicate leaves and seeds on top.
- You can store the salad for 1-2 days.
- When ready to eat, shake and tumble jar until contents are mixed, and enjoy! Eat it straight from the jar (great for a picnic!) or pour into a bowl.
Rainbow salad
I enjoy recipes that are flexible with ingredients you already have in your kitchen—and most of these ready-to-go mason jar salads are no exception.
Tips: Use a wide-mouth, 16-ounce mason jar (or other tall glass or plastic container with tight lid).
- Put the dressing in first, to avoid a soggy salad.
- Pile in individual ingredients, in the order listed—hardy vegetables or proteins on the bottom, delicate leaves and seeds on top.
- You can store the salad for 1-2 days.
- When ready to eat, shake and tumble jar until contents are mixed, and enjoy! Eat it straight from the jar (great for a picnic!) or pour into a bowl.
Flatbread Pizza
This easy weeknight meal comes together fast and is flexible depending on what you enjoy with pizza. Other colorful options—a great way to eat a variety of vitamins and nutrients— include mushrooms, pepperoni or meatballs, purple potatoes, cauliflower, corn and olives. Recipe adapted from www.gimmesomeoven.com.
PacMed stands against racism
Let us stand against racism
PacMed wants to state, loud and clear, that racism needs to end, in all forms and everywhere. The recent murders of George Floyd and others have been haunting reminders of deep-seated injustice that continues to plague our country. At PacMed, our diverse caregivers are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we serve and to patients from all walks of life. To reclaim a space for justice, love and belonging, we stand with you against acts and systems of injustice wherever we see them. We are listening, thinking deeply and taking steps with you toward an equitable, empowered community.
You can read our full executive letter to the community and follow our actions against racism on our Facebook feed.
TAKE ANTI-RACIST ACTION:
- Learn: blacklivesmatter.com
- Act: kingcountyequitynow.com
- Listen: rainieravenueradio.world
- Read: southseattleemerald.com
- Bank: blackoutcoalition.org
- Spend: intentionalist.com
- Invest: communitypassageways.org
- Relate: aapf.org/sayhername
- Connect: bcia-intl.org
- Immerse: pinwseattle.org
PacMed clinics put health and safety first
New protocols. Same promise.
Our new normal still puts your health and safety first
While living through a pandemic is new to us all, we remain wholly committed to your care and safety. We’ve put the following steps in place to protect your health, and ours.
eCheck-in from anywhere. Confirm your appointment up to four days in advance on MyChart to reduce time at the front desk.
Screening. We’ll take your temperature at the door and check for symptoms.
COVID-19 Testing. Patients with symptoms are diverted away from waiting areas to be tested, or are seen at Northgate or Renton drive-thrus.
Visitors. We limit the number of people inside and ask nonessential guests to wait outside.
Masking. Everyone must wear a mask at all times. Bring one from home, or we have one for you.
Distancing. Marks on the floor remind you to keep a safe distance from others.
Sanitizing. We’re rigorously wiping down high-touch areas and surfaces. Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout.
Specialties. Close-contact departments are taking extra precautions, like physical therapy and ear/nose/throat.
Virtual Visits. Routine online appointments add more breathing room in our clinics. Learn more and ask us how to get care from the comfort of home: www.PacMed.org/Telehealth.
Thank you for working with us as we create a new normal that’s safe for everyone.
Call us with questions at 1.888.472.2633 or schedule at www.PacMed.org/Schedule
Mental Health & Wellness: Finding comfort this summer amid the pandemic
Millions of people are still trying to navigate the “new normal” amid COVID-19. From adjusting to online schooling and working from home, many are trying to keep their routines intact to maintain a sense of normalcy. With this in mind, and as an active psychotherapist at Pacific Medical Centers in Lynnwood, I would like to help you better understand mental health impacts from the social isolation that we’re all experiencing.
Mental Health Impact from Social Isolation
Those who are practicing responsible social distancing may be experiencing mental health impacts from isolation. Many are experiencing anxiety around the ongoing rise in infection rates, as well as the uncertainty of job security. Due to a lack of personal connections, those who are living alone may be experiencing this at much higher levels.
I’ve noticed that many people are coping in two ways: through self-destruction or self-soothing. Self-destruction is typically not helpful in the long term but can change the mood quickly and may include the urge to eat, drink alcohol, or watch TV in excess. Self-soothing helps with anxiety and stress and can include yoga, breathing exercises, walking, or working on projects that help us feel productive.
Tips to manage stress and anxiety from social isolation include:
- Understand the risk and be mindful of what you’re hearing. Many can often feel overwhelmed while scrolling the news or through social media. It’s ok to take breaks from your phone and/or TV.
- Stay connected with friends and loved ones. As long as we’re connected with people we love and trust, we’ll feel more at ease.
- Make sure you’re moving your body. From at-home workouts to taking regular walks, it’s important to stay active and give yourself a break.
Finding Comfort During a Pandemic and Benefits of Social Isolation
Time has seemingly stood still with COVID-19, whereas before the outbreak, our schedules felt like we could never catch up. Now, many feel like they’re able to take this slower pace to complete more projects. Take this time to use your curiosity to explore past or new hobbies. I’ve been thrilled to hear that some of my patients are using this time to read, draw and do yard work.
Other things you can do to find comfort are:
- Donating things to remove clutter and cleaning, which I believe is great for bringing new energy to your home.
- Deliver gifts to your friend’s doorstep or say “hi!” from a distance. Letting people know you’re thinking about them feels good to you and them.
- Go on short drives and give yourself a change of scenery to let your brain experience something different.
- Do yoga or other workout classes virtually with friends through Zoom, Facetime, or other video programs.
The ongoing uncertainty makes us all feel like we’re losing control. However, it may be hard to see, but there are potential upsides we can all find in social isolation, including learning more about ourselves and how we like to spend our time, re-thinking possible self-destructive tendencies, and staying more in touch with long-distance friends and family.
Eun Ku is a psychotherapist at Pacific Medical Centers at the Lynnwood clinic. She has been practicing for 14 years and has been with PacMed for three years.
Summer Blueberry Basil Salad
LWA: Taking a webinar or yoga class
LWA Spotlight
The Living Well Alliance (LWA) has transformed into a fully virtual service these last few months as we cope with COVID-19. With webinars and yoga classes, LWA continues to create new content and offer price deals for these online services.
When taking LWA learning online, keep these reminders in mind:
- Allow time to download the appropriate e-learning software before the class (15 minutes for a new program is recommended).
- Engage with the instructor and others in the class in ways that feel comfortable to you—whether that is video participation or using the chat function. This can help keep the class engaging and allows you to give the speaker input on what information you want to learn about. The LWA staff love questions!
- Be open to something new and different. Some topics may not be your first choice but being open to new topics and activities like yoga can expand your knowledge base and lead you to other courses on a similar topic. Always leave a seminar naming one new thing that you learned regardless of your initial opinion on that topic!
- At the end of each class, it’s advantageous to make a goal related to the topic to take what you learn to the next level—putting lifestyles changes into action.
- If you have trouble focusing during an online presentation, take the presentation on the go. It’s fun to download the appropriate programs on your phone and get in your daily walk while listening to the live or recorded content.
Happy e-learning!
For more from LWA, check out these recent, fun activities:
- Try these rainbow-themed recipes from our recent cooking demo for Seattle PRIDE festival
- Watch these fun stretching and strengthening chair yoga videos by Christy
Save the date for 2020 LWA Food & Mood Symposium! The Living Well Alliance team is gearing up for our 2020 workplace wellness symposium! Mark your calendars for our event on August 20 at Pacific Tower on Seattle’s Beacon Hill. We will focus on mental health in the workplace this year. You can learn more at the LWA Wellness Symposium page.
The Living Well Alliance is run by Pacific Medical Centers. Call us today at 206.621.4419 for more information or email LivingWellAlliance@pacmed.org.