March 2025

Join us for a Wellness Webinar: 

Smart & Healthy Grocery Shopping

Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 1:00 pm

Are you a smart grocery shopper? Please join Victoria Emmitt-Kasick, Health Coach to learn grocery shopping tips for planning ahead, taking advantage of sale items and becoming an overall smarter shopper.

Live sessions are limited to the first 2,000 attendees. All others can view the recording 6 hours after the live event.

Members that attend the live session or view the recording within 7 days of the original broadcast, will receive 1 HealthQuest Credit for attendance. Credits take 7-10 business days to be reflected in your HealthQuest Portal post completion.

No registration required! Simply follow the instructions on how to access this webinar directly on the HealthQuest Portal under Wellness Learning Events.

Join us for an EAP Monthly Webinar:

The Psychology Behind Saving
Money and Other Good Financial Habits

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 1:00 pm

Most people can honestly say they believe it’s important to spend within their means and to save money for the future. Unfortunately, good intentions are often at odds with how our mind works. For example, many people want to save for the future but have no motivation to because they have not imagined that future. This course addresses the psychology behind saving money and adopting good financial habits. It will examine recent research related to how and why people save vs. spend and identify strategies for participants to change their financial mindset and develop new habits. 

Registration is required!  After you register, and after the live event, you will receive an email within the next 24 hours so you can view the recording, if you miss the live session.

Members that attend the live session or view the recording within 7 days of the original broadcast, will receive 1 HealthQuest Credit for attendance. Credits take 3-5 business days after the vendor file is received, to be reflected in your HealthQuest Portal post completion.

2025: Condition Management Programs

Earn 5 HealthQuest Credits for Completion

As part of the HealthQuest program, you have access to four condition management programs. Each 8-week program is confidential and conducted by Marathon Health medical professionals.  

You may only participate in one program at a time, but don't worry!  Upon completion of the program including watching all the videos in their entirety, submission of the pre-survey (completed during your registration process) and submission of the post-survey, members will receive Five (5) HealthQuest Credits.  

Note:  You can only participate in each program once throughout the calendar year (i.e. you cannot complete the same program twice). 

Weight Management

Registration:  March 18, 2025 - March 28, 2025

April 7, 2025 - June 2, 2025

• This program offers a supportive, judgement free environment where we’ll focus on understanding the psychology behind decisions and the impact that lifestyle and behavior choices have on our health, focusing on weight.

March 5 - EAP Webinar: The Psychology Behind Saving Money and Other Good Financial Habits, Register Here March 13 - Wellness Webinar: Smart & Healthy Grocery Shopping.  Access the webinar directly in the HealthQuest Portal under Wellness Learning Events. April 9 - EAP Webinar:  Relaxation “Micro-Moments” and Winding Down Techniques, Register Here April 17 - Wellness Webinar:  Mindful Movement.  Access the webinar directly in the HealthQuest Portal under Wellness Learning Events.

Should you need accommodations for any webinar, please email SEHPHealthQuest@ks.gov two (2) business days in advance.

Money Matters: Financial Guidance

Your GuidanceResources® program knows how difficult it is to manage money wisely.

Whether you need to save for summer camp or college tuition, are planning for that vacation of a lifetime or just need some tips for setting up a household budget, we can help. Call us to speak with one of our in-house CPAs, Certified Financial Planners or other financial experts to get free, confidential information and resources on a wide range of money matters.

How It Works:

Suppose you want to find a college savings plan or create a budget to help you save for your dream vacation. Just call with your questions and our financial experts will research and provide answers tailor-made to your needs.

What can we help you with?

There is virtually no limit to what we can research:

• College savings plans and student loans
• Home-equity loans and their alternatives
• Budgeting for a big purchase
• Eliminating credit card debt or loan repayment plans
• Questions about estate planning or retirement plans

Regardless of your planning needs, you can count on your GuidanceResources® program year-round for spot-on information, resources and referrals. Call us for free, confidential assistance anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

EAP Information:

Call: 888-270-8897

Online: guidanceresources.com

App: GuidanceNow

Web ID: SOKEAP

by Valerie Porter, HealthQuest Health Coach

Monthly recipes are provided by Valerie Porter, RN, HealthQuest Health Coach. Health Coaching appointments are available to all benefits-eligible employees, and their SEHP-covered spouses, free of charge. To schedule an appointment with Valerie or another health coach, call (785) 783-4080.

Greek Zucchini Salad in a Mason Jar

Ingredients:

Directions:

• Place avocado, yogurt, garlic, shallot, lemon juice, and parsley in a blender; cover. Blend until smooth. Evenly divide dressing between 4 one-quart Mason jars. Set aside.
• Evenly layer celery, bell peppers, onion, cucumber, spinach, tomatoes, cheese, olives, and zucchini on top of dressing in jars. 
• Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Shake before serving.

Time to “Spring Clean” Your Diet!

As we welcome the fresh energy of Spring, it’s the perfect time to refresh not only our homes but also our daily food choices! This month, we’re focusing on simple, healthy changes that can boost your mood, energy, and overall well-being.

Food & Mood: Beat the Winter Blues

Did you know that what you eat can impact your mood? As we shake off the winter blues, focus on nutrient-rich foods like leafy greens, berries, nuts, and omega-3-rich fish to help boost serotonin levels and keep you feeling your best.

Simple, Healthy Food Swaps

Spring cleaning your diet doesn’t mean giving up your favorite foods—just making smarter swaps! Try:

• Whole grains instead of refined grains
• Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
• Nuts or dark chocolate instead of sugary snacks
• Sparkling water with fruit instead of soda
• Oats in energy bars instead of cookies

Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Nights

No time to cook? No problem! Quick, nutritious meals like sheet-pan salmon and veggies, stir-fry with lean protein, or a hearty grain bowl can be ready in under 30 minutes. Meal prep and freezer-friendly options can also help you stay on track.

Rethinking Your Snacking Habits

Are you reaching for snacks out of hunger, boredom, or habit? Make mindful snacking choices by keeping nutritious options on hand—like hummus with veggies, mixed nuts, or apple slices with almond butter. Try blending a smoothie with milk, powdered peanut butter, cocoa powder, frozen banana to cure a sweet tooth.

Let’s embrace the new season with a fresh, healthy approach to eating!

References: 

Top 10 heart-healthy foods you should be eating | Mayo Clinic Diet

Intentional and Mindful Eating

Have you ever thought about how we eat being just as important as what we eat?

There are many health benefits to slowing down, chewing thoroughly, and other mindful eating practices. Slowing down and chewing thoroughly leads to feeling full faster, bringing more awareness to what and how much you are eating, and therefore helps prevent overeating.

Did you know that the longer that your food is exposed to saliva, the easier it will be to digest?

Chewing thoroughly helps with the timely release of saliva, which contains digestive enzymes that break down food and aid in the digestive process. Chewing thoroughly also helps with your tooth, gum, and mouth health. Saliva helps to wash away food particles and bacteria, preventing plaque build-up and tooth decay. Speaking of bacteria, this also helps with the right balance of bacteria in the gut.

As far as mindful eating goes, start with acknowledging how your body feels before and after eating a meal or large snack.

Evaluate your hunger level (you can even make your own 1-10 scale). Evaluate your other feelings as well, such as tired, frustration, sadness, loneliness, happiness, fidgetiness, anxiety, or other feelings. 

While mindful eating isn’t necessarily an effective weight loss strategy or dietary overhaul on its own, it’s a great complement to any healthy eating that you want to implement since it embraces making food choices that promote overall wellbeing and increased enjoyment with food.

Resources:

Mindful Eating - The Nutrition Source

Questions?

HealthQuest Portal

Each person's path to well-being is unique and personal. Need an accessible alternative for an activity? To learn more email SEHPHealthQuest@ks.gov.