Energy Levels newsletter #01 June 2017

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the birdies is?…

Well, they might be inside enjoying their new homes in Shroggs Park and Beechwood Park!

Junior Wardens at Moorside and Lee Mount schools in Ovenden have been busy making new bird boxes and feeders to help promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation in North Halifax.

So, next time you’re in having an afternoon stroll, or walking the dog in Beechwood Park or Shrogg’s park be sure to look up and admire their handywork!

Eco lighting

ENERGY SAVING TOP TIP #1

Lighting accounts for 8% of typical household energy bills. Replacing one traditional light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb of the same brightness will typically save around £3 a year, or £55 over the lifetime of the product, according to the Energy Saving Trust. LED lights are becoming increasingly popular and use 10% of the energy of a typical light bulb.

Saving: Replacing all standard bulbs and halogen spotlights in a home could save £35 and 120kg of carbon dioxide a year.

Don’t skip breakfast!

ENERGY BOOSTING TOP TIP #1

Breakfast gives you the energy you need to face the day. Despite this, up to one-third of us regularly skip breakfast, according to the British Dietetic Association (BDA).

Go for healthier options, such as porridge with fruit, vegetable omelette, or wholemeal toast with a scraping of low-fat spread or jam. Here are five healthy breakfasts.

If you can’t face eating as soon as you get up, take a high-fibre snack to eat on the run, rather than snacking on high-sugar or high-fat foods

How to grow cress at home

Follow these simple steps:

Find a container – such as an empty yogurt pot, a section of an empty egg box.
Take a cotton wool ball or a piece of kitchen towel and put it into your container.
Wet your cotton wool ball or tissue.
Sprinkle cress seeds on top
Pop on a sunny windowsill.
Make sure you keep the cotton wool ball damp.
Watch how quickly your cress starts to grow!
Eat with a salad or egg and cress sandwich.

Download the Easy Meals app

Eat healthier versions of the foods you love. You’ll find delicious, easy meal ideas in this free app.

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Grow Your Own

Wed 21 June, 9.15am – 10.45am
Field Lane Children’s Centre

Four weeks of family growing sessions where you will learn about growing their own from beetroot, tomatoes and strawberries to wild flowers. Each family will take something home to keep growing through the summer.

Suitable for families with children aged 2 ½ to 5 yrs.

Food for Summer

Tue 1 August, 11.15am – 1.15pm
Wellholme Park Children’s Centre

Two weeks of families making picnics and eating together in the park. Each week families will make a range of savoury and sweet picnic foods, trying different food and enjoying the weather and activities in the park.

Suitable for families with children any age.

Beechwood Big Picnic

Saturday 1 July, 12 – 4pm

Join the Vegetable Nannies in their Allotment for a bit of gardening and childcare. Come and get stuck into the daily duties of feeding, bathing and caring for the baby fruits and vegetables.

At Beechwood Park, Holmfield, Halifax

Beach plus lots of free activities for children, young people and grown-ups!

Including Peppa Pig, Facepainting, Dog Show, Butterfly Hunt, Sports Day Races, Archery, Football, Boxing, Tai Chi, Mountain Bikes, Treasure Hunt, Family Fun Run, Dream-catching, Henna Hands, Community stalls, Art class, Men in Sheds, Golf Putting, Local History display and a Picnic Meadow – bring your own or burgers and ice cream for sale.

Healthy Start

The Healthy Start scheme can help you buy basic foods like milk or fruit. If you qualify for the scheme you’ll be sent vouchers you can use in over 30,000 shops in the UK to be spent on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk. You can also get coupons to swap for free vitamins

You qualify for Healthy Start if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old and in receipt of certain benefits.

You also qualify if you are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don’t get any of the above benefits. Read more in the NHP Sure Start Summer newsletter…

From community allotments to art classes, reading groups to walking football; in Calderdale there are all kinds of activities to get involved in.

Staying Well can put you in touch and help you get involved, even if you’re nervous about taking that first step out of the door.

People who lead happy and active social lives tend to enjoy better health than those who do not. If you’d like a chat with a Staying Well worker, give us a call on 01422 392767 or visit the website www.stayingwellhub.com