God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.

In the face of the COVID-19 health crisis, every day is about learning new ways to accept the things we cannot change and the courage to change the things we can. At this time, we can’t celebrate birthdays and other milestones with our families or stop by a friend’s house to chat over a cup of coffee. We aren’t going out to eat at our favorite restaurants or cheering on our beloved sports teams. The Olympics are postponed and theaters are closed. And, for the love of all that’s holy, there’s no toilet paper anywhere! So, what now?

Accept the things we cannot change; change the things we can.

As a society, we are finding courage to change the things we can. Many of us are working from home and kids all over the world are attending school remotely. Friends are getting together via Zoom or Google Hangout for virtual dinner gatherings, and communities are coming together to sew face masks for healthcare workers. We are, indeed, changing the things we can.
What else can we do?

• Stay home. Practice social distancing protocols for the sake of your own health and the health of those around you. Be wise. Remember that those who are immunocompromised are more at-risk. By staying home, you are saving lives.
• At the same time, try to stay connected. We can’t get together in person, but we can reach out via telephone, text, email, or online chats. Check in with each other regularly. We are in this together. If you or a loved one is fighting cancer, call us. The Cancer Hope Network Programs Team is working remotely, and we are here for you. We can be reached at 877.467.3638 (877-HOPENET).

• Remember to eat well and to move your body. Take your vitamins and get lots of fresh air. Mind your nutritional needs, and don’t let social distancing become an excuse for poor choices. It’s easy to skip meals or to mindlessly binge on junk food when we are home all day. But, it’s more imperative than ever that we give our bodies their best fighting chance of staying strong and healthy by eating balanced meals.

In that spirit, I’d like to invite our Cancer Hope Network community to join me in supporting each other by sharing your favorite recipes and other tips for staying healthy while practicing social distancing. My tip for staying healthy… get outside for at least 15 minutes every single day. It’s good for the body, mind, and soul. During this crisis, I’ve made it a point to go out for a walk no matter what the weather. I’d also like to share this link to one of my favorite recipes: Lightened Up Lasagna Soup

I stumbled on this recipe a few years ago and I’ve made it dozens of times. It is delicious! You can kick up the health benefits by adding your favorite vegetables to the base recipe. I like to throw in a few handfuls of spinach. You can also omit the turkey sausage to make it vegetarian-friendly. This recipe is a wonderful way to enjoy lasagna without overdoing it on saturated fats and carbs.

Remember to opt for low sodium versions of the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and broth. All three of these items can be very high in sodium. I prefer Hunts No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes and Tomato Sauce, as well as Pacific Free Range Low Sodium Chicken Broth. To give you an idea on how significant the difference is in sodium content on these three ingredients, please note:

• Hunts Diced Tomatoes = 200 mg of sodium per 1/2 cup serving vs. Hunts No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes = 15 mg per 1/2 cup serving.
• Hunts Tomato Sauce = 410 mg per 1/4 cup serving vs. Hunts No Salt Added Tomato Sauce = 20 mg per 1/4 cup serving.
• Pacific Organic Free Range Chicken Broth = 570 mg of sodium per 1 cup serving vs. Pacific Organic Free Range Low Sodium Chicken Broth = 70 mg of sodium per 1 cup serving.

By opting for the lower sodium versions of these three ingredients, you decrease the overall sodium content per serving on this recipe by 1,170 mg. That’s a pretty big difference.
What’s your favorite recipe, and how are you staying healthy?

The post Health Coach Corner: Serenity & soup in the time of COVID appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

We are grateful to Rachel for this helpful, practical post.

Guest Post by  Rachel Tiemeyer, Co-author of ThrivingHomeBlog.com on Sep 3, 2014. Originally posted on takethemameal.com. 

After years of freezer meal cooking and taking meals to others in need, I’ve found that these 10 recipes work the best to freeze and give away. If you’re unsure of what freezer meal cooking is or want some more guidance, be sure to check out Freezer Meal Cooking 101.

The 10 meals I’m sharing with you today are easy to warm up, delicious and family-friendly. They have been well-tested in our home and by many others. Be sure to include directions on the top for the recipients, so they know how to prepare it (i.e. “Thaw in the fridge and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.”).

1. Baked Beef Ravioli – This recipe is one that my Freezer Club has been making for years. I don’t know a man, woman or child alive who wouldn’t like this fake-out lasagna. To make into a freezer meal: Put the casserole together and then freeze before baking. 

2. Burrito Pie – Refried beans, taco meat, veggies, and sauce are layered between whole wheat tortillas for a hearty and tasty meal for the entire family. Burrito Pie is one of those comfort meals that it’s hard to stop on. To make into a freezer meal: Put the casserole together and then freeze before baking.

3. Cheesy Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas – Here’s my husband’s and my favorite enchilada recipe. Serve with a nice side salad and some chips and guacamole for a delightful Mexican meal. To make into a freezer meal: Put the casserole together and then freeze before baking.

4. Chicken Parmesan Casserole – Use up leftover chicken in this easy and delicious casserole. My family loves this simple comfort-food recipe served over any kind of pasta or just by itself. To make into a freezer meal: Put the casserole together and then freeze before baking.

5. Mini Chicken Burgers with Herbs – My kids go gah-gah over these! To make into a freezer meal: Package the uncooked breaded burger patties in a freezer bag between layers of wax paper. Separately package cheese slices and some mini buns or dinner rolls, which can be frozen as well. The recipient will have to cook these on the stove for about 4 minutes per side, but they are assured a kid-friendly meal that night.

Soups are some of the easiest freezer meals for others. They thaw easily and quickly warm up on the stove. Sometimes I just plop the entire frozen square of soup into a pot, set it on low, and walk away. Within 20-30 minutes, it’s ready to go. Provide a frozen baguette or dinner rolls to serve along side. Here are three of my absolute favorite soups to make and freeze.

6. Mexican Soup – It doesn’t get easier than Mexican Soup when cooking in large batches. Perfect for a hearty winter meal. Corn bread goes well with this one. To make into a freezer meal: Fully cook, cool and freeze. When ready to cook, thaw and warm up on the stove.

7. Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup – This is my kids’ favorite soup. When you give this soup to someone, give them the frozen soup and a bag of frozen tortellini to add. To make into a freezer meal: Fully cook soup except do NOT add the tortellini. Cool and freeze soup. When ready to cook, thaw the soup and bring to a simmer on the stove. Add frozen tortellini and simmer until done, according to package directions.

8. Tomato Bisque (Panera Bread Fake-Out Soup) – This soup is so full of flavor and veggies! It reheats exceptionally well, even with the half-and-half in it. I’ve made this more times than I can count. To make into a freezer meal: Fully cook, cool and freeze. When ready to eat, thaw and warm on the stove. You could include a bag of shredded Parmesan cheese and a bag of croutons for garnish.

Lastly, don’t forget that a pre-made breakfast can be a huge help to those in need, too. There are so many great breakfast muffins, pancakes, waffles, and more that freeze and can be warmed up for an quick and filling meal. Here are two of our favorite freezable breakfast foods.

9. Brownie Baked Oatmeal – I make this once a week for my family, and it never seems to get old. Yes, it has the word brownie in it, but it’s full of good-for-you nutrition to start the day. To make into a freezer meal: Put casserole together and freeze before baking. When ready to eat, thaw and bake according to directions.

10. Savory Breakfast Muffins – This is my husband’s favorite grab-and-go breakfast. Hearty, delicious, and quick to warm up. To make into freezer meal: Bake muffins and let cool completely. Then put in a freezer bag and into the freezer. When ready to eat, wrap a frozen muffin in a moist paper towel and microwave for 1 minute. Continue to nuke in 20-30 second intervals until warmed through.

There’s great news for those of us who can’t quite pull off a warm, delivered meal right now for a friend in need. A frozen meal can warm the heart just as much as a warm one! I hope you find freezer meal cooking as helpful to your family and others in need as we have. Find over 60 more of my favorite freezer-friendly recipes here.

About the Author

Rachel is a stay-at-home mom of three very opinionated passionate little people who keep her on her toes at all times; a blogger at Thriving Home; and the part-time Family Events Director at her church. Her husband affectionately coined the nickname “ferdie” for her: (n) a foodie nerd. Rachel can frequently be found with her nose in a cook book or magazine, sneaking in a Food Network show while folding laundry, or destroying the kitchen while tweaking recipes to make them healthier for her family. Find all of her healthy, family-friendly recipes here.

The post Top 10 Freezer Meals to Take To Others appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.