Post on 08-Aug-2020
Healthy Tips
BlueResourceFrom the Leader in Health Care Communication Solutions
Many disease risk factors are controllable, especially when individualsadopt healthy habits. Employers can help by promoting prevention ofillness and chronic disease, thus benefiting from the improvement oftheir employees’ health.* Since most employees spend nearly half oftheir waking time on the job, worksites are key venues forencouraging healthy behaviors.
Take a look at this edition of BlueResource—you’ll findcommunications that provide practical, healthy tips, like:
• Choosing healthier fast food options
• Reducing calories
• Increasing physical activity
• Using sunscreen
• Turning off the TV
• Buckling up
Check out the messages and artwork. Copy for all PDFs isprovided in Word doc format, and most files shown are availablein both English and Spanish. Locate the files you want on the CDprovided by your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IllinoisRepresentative or at bcbsil.com/employer.
BlueResource files have been designed for you to use electronically,cut and paste copy from Word docs, or print from PDFs and
distribute. It’s your choice!
Be sure to keep each edition of BlueResource you receive. The themeof each booklet is different, and taken together, they offer a very
useful collection of employee communications.
Would you like to co-brand these messages with your group’s logo?Contact your BCBSIL Representative to have your logo added to the files
and returned to you – ready to go! It’s all part of our service to you—at nocost—because communications are key to your employees’ health and
improving plan utilization, which helps reduce health care costs for everyone.
*Harvard Business Review, February 2006
Employees who makehealthy behavioralchanges—at any age—can return rewards inhealth and productivity.This could be good newsfor your business.
www.bcbsil.com1
BlueResource Posters
Smart Snacks Poster46326.0706IL - English46327.0706IL - Spanish
Physical Activity Poster46316.0706IL - English46317.0706IL - Spanish
Fast Food Poster46312.0706IL - English46313.0706IL - Spanish
Tip!People who are usuallyinactive can improve theirhealth by becomingmoderately active on aregular basis. Considerscheduling walking breaksfor your employees.
Tip!Use BlueResource elements onyour intranet site.
Look for new and updated files at bcbsil.com
Tip!Print and hang postersin employee break rooms.
www.bcbsil.com2
Turn Off The TV Poster46320.0706IL - English46321.0706IL - Spanish
Role Models Poster46322.0706IL - English46323.0706IL - Spanish
Sunscreen Poster46318.0706IL - English46319.0706IL - Spanish
BlueResource Posters continued
Tip!Request that your group’s logo be added to the PDF filesto create a co-branded campaign.
Look for new and updated files at bcbsil.com
Tip!When you request co-branding, you’ll receive a custom CD of artworkfiles that display your group’s logo.
www.bcbsil.com3
Breakfast Poster46324.0706IL - English46325.0706IL - Spanish
100 Fewer Calories Poster46314.0706IL - English46315.0706IL - Spanish
Positive Outlook Poster46328.0706IL - English46329.0706IL - Spanish
Posters are designed in an 11x17-inch format. To scale down to an 8.5 x 11 - inch format, use Adobe Acrobat(full version) and follow these steps:
• Select File, then Page Setup.
• Click on the Properties box, and select the Effects tab.
• Check the Print Document On box, then select Letter in the drop-down box, and check Scale to Fit. Click on OK.
Tip!Research attributes the rise of obesityin the U.S. to one simple fact—weconsume more calories than we use.Encourage your employees tochoose bottled water instead ofcanned soda.
www.bcbsil.com4
BlueResource Paycheck Stuffers
Look for new and updated files at bcbsil.com
Drinking Water Paycheck Stuffer46330.0706IL - English46331.0706IL - Spanish
Buckle Up Paycheck Stuffer46334.0706IL - English46335.0706IL - Spanish
Healthy Fats Paycheck Stuffer46338.0706IL - English46339.0706IL - Spanish
www.bcbsil.com5
Tip!Planning to use paycheck stuffers electronically? Crop marks can be eliminated in Adobe Acrobat (full version) by using the Crop Tool.
Fruits and Vegetables Paycheck Stuffer46332.0706IL - English46333.0706IL - Spanish
Reading Food Labels Paycheck Stuffer46336.0706IL - English46337.0706IL - Spanish
Grocery Shopping Paycheck Stuffer46340.0706IL - English46341.0706IL - Spanish
www.bcbsil.com6
BlueResource Newsletter Articles
Children’s Lunches46348.0706IL - English46350.0706IL - Spanish
Mammography46355.0706IL - English46356.0706IL - Spanish
Dining Out46346.0706IL - English46347.0706IL - Spanish
Add a Healthy Punch to YourChild’s Lunch
Today’s myriad of tempting fast foodoptions makes it difficult to compete withyour child’s appetite. But you can fill thelunchbox or bag with enticing andnutritious foods and beverages, and alsoset a good example at home with healthyeating habits. Introducing a diet high inwhole grains, fruits and vegetables withfast food in moderation can help parentsto model good behaviors that children willuse for the rest of their lives.
Lunch does not have to be limited to coldsandwiches. The more creative andflexible the choices, the easier it is to
Choose Your Battles Carefully The importance of fighting breast
cancer with regular screenings
Believe it or not, the best time to check forbreast cancer is when your breasts feelfine. If cancer is found early, there’s amuch greater chance of survival. Threebasic screening methods are used to lookfor breast cancer: mammograms, clinicalbreast exams* and breast self-exams.Mammography is the best screeningmethod widely available for early breastcancer detection. However, it is notperfect. But by regularly doing all thescreening methods, there’s a good chancethat cancer will be caught early.
The Best of All Possible WorldsHow to eat healthy when dining out
at ethnic restaurants
There’s no shortage of ethnic restaurantsto satisfy your taste buds. WhetherChinese, Italian or Mexican, differenttypes of ethnic cuisine can offer you atasty treat even if you are countingcalories and fat. The key to healthy diningout at ethnic restaurants is to be menu-savvy.
For example, when choosing Chinesefare, look for options that are steamed,jum (poached), kow (roasted), shu(barbequed). Also, it’s best to choosesteamed rice or brown rice rather than
Actions Speak LouderThan Words
Healthy kids startwith positive role modeling
It’s not always what you say but what youdo that gets kids’ attention. Do you insistthat they eat their green beans and notwatch too much TV while you regularlychug down soda and “veg out” in front ofthe TV for hours? Kids watch what we do,so setting a positive example is animportant action that parents can take tohelp children adopt healthy habits for alifetime.
Here are some healthy routines you canmodel at home:
Rise, Shine and Dine Busy people can eat breakfast, too
Think that skipping breakfast can helpyou conserve on calories? Think again.Studies show that people who don’t eatthis important first meal of the day missout on essential nutrients and are lessable to be productive and focused. Infact, missing breakfast actually increasesyour hunger later on and makes you lessable to control your urge to eat, ultimatelyleading to weight gain.
To make a healthy breakfast each day,choose one item from at least three ofthese four food groups: fruits andvegetables, grains, dairy and protein. For
Role Models46353.0706IL - English46354.0706IL - Spanish
Breakfast46351.0706IL - English46352.0706IL - Spanish
Tip!Integrate copy in your company’sintranet site and existingmaterials, like enrollment bookletsand newsletters.
Look for new and updated files at bcbsil.com
www.bcbsil.com7
BlueResource Flyers
Nutrition Flyer46342.0706IL - English46343.0706IL - Spanish
front
back
Tip!Use handoutsat health fairsor add toenrollment packets.
Tip!Practice small steps tobetter health at yourworksite—provide fruitinstead of doughnuts orcookies during meetings.
Look for new and updated files at bcbsil.com
Small Steps Flyer46344.0706IL - English
46345.0706IL - Spanish
front
back
www.bcbsil.com8
BlueResource E-mail
Tip! Send a series of e-mail messages to encourage your employees to make healthy choices.
Look for new and updated files at bcbsil.com
Food Labels46363.0706IL - English46364.0706IL - Spanish
Turn Off The TV46365.0706IL - English46366.0706IL - Spanish
The Facts on ReadingFood Labels
Are you label-conscious? Many of us paymore attention to the designer labels onour clothes and accessories than we dofood labels. But reading labels can helpyou make wise food choices.
Most packaged foods in the grocery storelist nutrition information on the packagein a section called “Nutrition Facts.” Theinformation on the left side of the labelprovides total amounts of differentnutrients per serving. Choose your foodwisely by checking the total amounts for:
• Calories• Total fat
The Importance ofUsing Sunscreen
Red alert! If you regularly soak up thesun’s rays without proper protection, youcould be setting yourself up for seriousdamage to your skin. And we’ve allheard about the potential dangers of skincancer. If you’re beyond the pale when itcomes to using sunscreen, keep these tips in mind:
• Always use a sunscreen with SPF15or higher
• Use at least one ounce to cover yourarms, legs, neck and face
• Protect your lips by using sunscreenlip balm
Tips on Turning off the TV
Think good health is only a remotepossibility? Not when you put down theTV remote—and find ways to be moreactive. Turning off the TV is a great wayto improve the health of you and yourfamily. Watching less TV can also helpyou eat less since many of us munchwhile gazing at our favorite shows. Andmany TV ads even push a diet that’sexactly opposite of what doctorsrecommend. For instance, a recent studyat Tufts University found that families whohad their TVs on during mealtimesconsumed more processed meats, salt,soda and quick-preparation foods andfewer fruits and vegetables. And don’t
Making Nutritious FastFood Choices
You’re on the run and starving, and thetriple meat cheeseburger and super-sizefries are clamoring for your attention.While it’s okay to occasionally indulgeyourself in this caloric creation, there areways to cure the desire for unhealthy fastfood choices.
Try these great ideas to help you drivedown fat and calories at the drive-through:
• Pass on the “value-size”—the size ofyour fries isn’t the only thing that getsbigger
Making Physical Activitya Priority
A growing body of evidence reveals thatAmericans’ bodies are growing—nearly60 million are considered to be obese.Lack of physical activity is a bigreason why.
If your “get up and go” has fizzled out,here are some easy ways to fit in activityseveral times a day:
• Do housework yourself instead ofhiring someone else to do it
• Stand up while talking on the phone• Keep exercise equipment repaired and
use it
Fast Food46359.0706IL - English46360.0706IL - Spanish
Physical Activity46361.0706IL - English46362.0706IL - Spanish
Sunscreen46357.0706IL - English46358.0706IL - Spanish
Tip!Use copy provided to
create messages specificallyfor your employees.
Tip!Enhance your employee e-mail messages by including e-mail banners. In your e-mail program’s menu,select either Create or Insert, then click on Picture. Find file 46367.0706 on your BlueResource CD, and clickon Import or OK.
Healthy Tips E-mail Banner46367.0706IL- English
46368.0706IL - Spanish
21079.0207 A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
www.bcbsil.com