Resources
NutritionStaff Meeting in a Box: Nutrition
Need staff meeting ideas? Welcome to our Staff Meeting in a Box! Each month, we provide a full staff meeting worth of materials on a particular topic, taking all of the planning off of your shoulders!
This month’s topic is Nutrition. By clicking on the link below, you will be directed to our online platform, where you will have access to a 22 minute video, created by Carol Hurst, as well as a jeopardy game and a handout for your staff!
Employee Handbook Tip of the Month
While employee breaks can be hard to schedule, they are essential for employee health and job satisfaction. Many states have requirements on how long, and when breaks have to be taken. So, it is recommended that you check your state labor law first and foremost. Lunches tend to be easier to schedule than shorter 10-15 minute breaks. It is highly recommended that practices make lunches mandatory, regardless if state law requires it or not. Secondly, encourage staff to take personal responsibility for their 10-15 minute breaks. The biggest challenger here tends to be communication. Have staff communicate with their floor/shift leader, the DVM they are working with or the manager on duty (MOD). With clear communication (ex. “I am going to go on break, I will be in ___ (room) if I am needed.”), and appropriate timing (ie. not during an emergency), breaks should go relatively smooth. Lastly, encourage team members to use the break room, or step out of the clinic for their breaks. A quiet area, or change of scenery can do wonders for energy levels.
Wellness Tip of the Month
Book Review/Recommendation
When I first became vegan, I was overwhelmed by where to begin when it came to cooking and finding good recipes that would satisfy my cravings while still providing me with a healthy plate at each meal. I started with 2 cookbooks (The Minimalist Baker and The How Not to Die Cookbook) and built up my repertoire of meals slowly and steadily. And then, I was gifted my favorite vegan cookbook one Christmas, which is Vegan Comfort Classics.
Ms. Toyota put together a solid cookbook of recipes that veganized traditional comfort food, and recipe after recipe yielded me with tasty results. Nothing is overly complicated, and many can be made for quick and easy meals. Favorites include cinnamon rolls, bean and cheese enchiladas verdes, and pizza dough! I bravely baked my first loaf of seitan, from the recipe in this book which I then turned into vegan gyros and Phillie cheese steak sandwiches….both sandwiches have become fan favorites of many of my meat-eating extended family members.
If you want to eat more plant-based meals, this cookbook is a must-have!
– Brenda Tassava Medina, CVPM, CVJ, VLCE
Featured Product: The Vegan Juju Meal Planner
Brenda Tassava Medina and Jesi Peck have created the Vegan Juju Meal Planner! With a 52-week meal planning spread, including grocery notes, and nutritional tips and tricks, you can take this meal planner to the grocery store and use it all year long!
Vet Med After Hours Podcast Recommendation
Recipe: Comforting Meatless Chili
This is a great recipe for those who want to dive into Meatless Mondays, or want to cut down on meat because there are so many different ways you can make it! You can add in different kinds of beans or a meat substitute like Impossible Meat, seitan or mushrooms to make it hearty so you won’t even miss any meat!
Ingredients
- 1 Green bell pepper – diced
- 1 onion – diced
- 2 cloves of garlic – minced
- 1 can of crushed or diced tomatoes
- 1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can of black beans (or any other type of bean you like!), drained and rinsed
- Meat substitute, like Impossible meat, seitan, mushrooms or simply another can of beans!
- Vegetable broth or water – depending on the thickness of chili you enjoy
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp salt
Directions:
- Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat
- Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook for about 2-3 minutes, until starting to soften.
- If using a meat substitute – add in the meat substitute and cook until meat substitute is heated through and browned. If not using a meat substitute, continue to cook the onion, bell pepper and garlic until softened.
- Add in Chili powder, cumin and salt. Stir and cook for another minute or 2.
- Add in drained beans and can of tomatoes (with liquid). Depending on how thick or soupy you like your chili, you can add in additional vegetable broth or water.
- Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes.
- Top with whatever toppings you might enjoy, like green onions, crackers, or cilantro.