GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

YMCA Member Hope Heiser has been dancing with the Chicago Bulls Swingin’ Seniors for four seasons. Like the Luvabulls, the Swingin’ Seniors appear at Bulls home games and perform during intermissions. But unlike their counterparts, all Swingin’ Seniors are at least 60-years-old. A recent Facebook video shows Hope—wearing number 66, her age when the season started—front and center on the United Center floor, dancing to a mix of Whitney Houston, Cardi B and Big Sean.

“I would’ve never been able to perform our dance routines or keep up with the team’s practice schedule if I had not gotten involved in some structured exercise programs,” Hope says of her time with the Swingin’ Seniors. “I owe it to the Y.”

Hope survived a bout with breast cancer in 2008 and underwent surgery to repair two joints in her foot in 2009. She made a full recovery but found herself more inactive than ever. She credits the Y with helping her get back into shape.

Today, she is an active member of the C.W. Avery Family YMCA in Plainfield, where she regularly attends classes like Pumped Up, Cardio Interval and Pound, just to name a few. Since joining in 2013, she has lost 40 pounds.

“When I walk into the Y, I feel like I’m part of a family. Everyone is extremely welcoming,” Hope says. “I’m often the oldest one in the classes I take, but I get so much encouragement from my fellow members. The instructors show us how to modify the moves and take great care in making sure everyone feels comfortable during class.”

Hope’s affinity for the Y extends down into her immediate family as well. She says her grandchildren have enjoyed a number of Y programs, from swim lessons to sports camps.

Hope and the Swingin’ Seniors perform at Bulls games between 12 and 15 times each year. Look out for them during your next trip to the United Center!

Everyone has a Y story, a way in which the YMCA has impacted your life. Believe it or not, your story has the power to inspire hundreds—if not thousands—of members to follow in your footsteps. To submit a Y story of your own, click here.

Earlier this week, the Lion’s Club of Plainfield donated $5,000 to benefit the C.W. Avery Family YMCA’s new Diabetes Self-Management Program. Set to debut this spring, the program will be offered at no cost to diabetics, pre-diabetics, caregivers and friends of those who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes. Using curriculum developed at Stanford University, classes will focus on healthy eating, exercise and blood sugar monitoring, among many other self-management tools. Look out for more information in the coming weeks.

You’ve seen the Toys For Tots donation boxes around town, often filled to the brim with action figures, dolls, Legos and board games. Perhaps you’ve even donated to the program before. But have you ever wondered how those toys end up in the hands of a needy family?

Well, after the United States Marine Corps Reserve (the program’s organizer) rounds up all the donations, they rely on local organizations to sort and distribute the toys.

In Will County, most of the toys end up at the Greater Joliet Area YMCA. As the largest distribution organization in the area, the Y sorts through several thousand toys each holiday season.

During a daylong volunteer event, YMCA staff and members come together as Santa’s Helpers to carefully select gifts for the families who qualify.

This year, the Y organized and distributed enough toys for 800 area children to experience the joy of opening gifts on Christmas morning.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, please call (815) SAY-YMCA. For more information about Toys For Tots in our area, visit www.joliet-il.toysfortots.org.

RECIPE #1: HERB ROASTED TURKEY

• Feeds: 10-12
• Ready In: 3.5 hours

Prepare the turkey.

• One 10-15 lb turkey

First things first, preheat the over to 475 degrees. Then spray a large roasting pan with olive oil or cooking spray. Open the turkey over a clean sink or on a large cutting board. (This will make it easier to clean and disinfect the working area you use for the raw turkey.)  Remove any giblets or the neck from inside the turkey. Set them aside. Place the turkey, breast side up, in the roasting pan and pat it dry with paper towels.

Add the seasonings.

• 1/4 cup fresh rosemary (chopped, plus 10 sprigs)
• 1/4 cup fresh oregano (chopped, plus 10 sprigs of thyme, sage, and/or oregano)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp sea salt

Combine chopped herbs with oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Spread this mixture all over the turkey, including inside the turkey. Place about 10 sprigs of fresh herbs inside the turkey and the remaining herb sprigs around the base of the turkey in the roasting pan.

Add the aromatics and roast the turkey.

• 2 lemons (cut into large chunks, with the peel)
• 1 orange (cut into large chunks, with the peel)
• 1 apple (cut into large chunks, with the peel)
• 2 white onions (cut into large chunks)

Place inside the turkey. For any pieces that won’t fit inside the turkey, place them around the turkey in the roasting pan. Tuck the tips of the turkey wings under the turkey to keep them from browning too quickly and if you have kitchen twine, tie the turkey legs together. (If you don’t have kitchen twine, don’t worry about this part.)  Pour 3 cups of water into the roasting pan around the base of the turkey. (If cooking the giblets and/or turkey neck, you can add them now around the base of the turkey.) Roast the turkey at 475 degrees for 45 minutes, and the skin will become golden brown.

Reduce heat and roast longer.

Remove the turkey from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Place a double layer of foil just over the turkey breasts (this will keep them from drying out — just cut the foil to fit only the breast area). Place the turkey back in the oven and roast for another 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours (if the liquid in the pan dries up, you can add another cup of water). The turkey is done when a meat thermometer registers 165 degrees in the thickest part of the turkey, such as the thigh.  Let the turkey “rest” for 20 minutes before serving.
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Is there a better seasonal comfort food than chili? We don’t think so. This fall, swap ground beef for chicken and try this chili recipe with a twist.

Ingredients:

3 skinless boneless chicken breasts
2 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 1/2 cups, cut into bite-size pieces, no need to peel)
1 cup carrots (chopped)
1/2 cup yellow onion (chopped)
1 red bell pepper (chopped)
1 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or low-sodium vegetable broth)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper
1 chipotle chile in adobo (chopped, plus 1 tsp of chipotle sauce)
1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
1/2 Tbsp chili powder
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans (low sodium, rinsed and drained)
2 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes (low sodium)

Instructions:
Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker and add the rest of the ingredients.  Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours. When done, use 2 forks to shred the chicken while it is in the slow cooker. Stir to combine.

Shared with permission from Zonya Foco, RD. For more real food recipes, visit www.eatrealamerica.com.

“Healthy at Home” is a series of healthy recipes curated by Morris Hospital Clinical Dietitian Liz Fischer.