Health Briefs

By Kacie Schumann, Health Promotion Coordinator, kacie.schumann@cityofames.org.

Saves the Dates for Health Screenings!

Employee health screenings will be back on July 7, 8, 16, 22, and 23. The 23rd will be an afternoon screening for those who may be working overnights. Be on the lookout for more information and registration soon!

Person getting blood pressure done

June is National Employee Wellness Month 

People at work practicing yoga

June is National Employee Wellbeing Month — a time to recognize the importance of supporting our overall health and wellbeing at work and in our personal lives. Employee wellbeing matters because healthy, supported employees help create healthier, stronger workplaces and communities. Throughout the month, we encourage you to focus on your wellbeing in ways that are meaningful to you, whether that’s moving more, connecting with others, prioritizing rest, or taking advantage of City Health Promotion Programs.

Be on the lookout for healthy snack bags arriving in your work areas during the month of June. These are a “thank you” from Employee Council, Health Promotion, and the Wellness Team and a reminder that it’s always a great time to invest in your own health and wellness!  

 

Take Our Feedback Survey! 

The Health Promotion Coordinator is looking for feedback on both general Health Promotion Programs as well as the Healthy4Life program. If you have participated in any health promotion program at all, then this survey is for you! Click the following link to go to the survey: Health Promotion / Healthy4Life Year End Survey FY 25/26 – Fill out form

This survey will be available until July 1. 

Healthy4Life 26/27: Wellness Your Way 

Healthy4Life logo

The City of Ames Healthy4Life Program is a voluntary employee wellness program designed to help employees on City health insurance plans build healthier habits and focus on areas of wellbeing that matter most to them. Whether your goal is to improve physical health, reduce stress, strengthen social connections, support your financial wellbeing, or simply create healthier routines, Healthy4Life offers flexible options that allow you to personalize your wellness journey.

By completing a combination of preventative care activities, wellness programming, and healthy lifestyle actions throughout the year, you can earn a health insurance premium reduction equal to the cost of the single HMO plan ($47.98/month, or up to $575/year). The program includes access to tools and resources such as the Wellmark Connect wellness portal, health and nutrition coaching, wellness challenges, educational content, and more. Don’t worry about if you’re “healthy enough” for the program or not – this program is for anyone at any stage of wellness!

If you are interested in registering for the program, contact Kacie Schumann at kacie.schumann@cityofames.org or 515-239-5354 to get started.

Healthy Recipe: Watermelon Lemonade Ice

Chunks of watermelon and lemon

 

 Ingredients

  • 5 cups cubed de-seeded watermelon (about 1/4 of a large watermelon)
  • 1 cup lemon juice 3-4 lemons
  • 1/2 cup sugar or raw honey

Instructions

  1. Heat the lemon juice in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the honey and stir to dissolve.
  2. Put watermelon and lemon juice in a blender; liquefy.
  3. Pour watermelon mixture into a square 8x8 metal or glass baking dish, or into a bread loaf pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid, about 4 hours.
  4. 10 to 15 minutes before serving time, remove the watermelon ice from the freezer to let it soften. Scoop and serve!

Watermelon Lemonade Ice Recipe - Keeper of the Home

 

 

 

 

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