by Heather McMillion
Winter in Alaska can be a difficult time for social and mental wellbeing. Darkness coupled with decreased outdoor activity can result in feelings of loneliness and disconnection. But positive social habits can help you build support systems and keep you feeling healthier.
Use the checklist below from the National Institute of Health to help you build a support system and stay healthier mentally and physically.
1. Make connections: Social connections might help protect health and lengthen life. Whether with family, friends, neighbors, romantic partners, or others, social connections can influence our biology and well-being. Look for ways to get involved with others.
2. Take care of yourself while caring for others: Many of us will end up becoming a caregiver at some point in our lives. The stress and strain of caregiving can take a toll on your health. It’s important to find ways to care for your health while caring for others.
3. Get active together: Where you live, work, or go to school can have a big impact on how much you move and even how much you weigh. Being active with others in your community can have a positive effect on your health habits and create opportunities to connect.
4. Bond with your kids: Parents have an important job. Raising kids is both rewarding and challenging. Being sensitive, responsive, consistent, and available to your kids can help you build positive, healthy relationships with them. The strong emotional bonds that result help children learn how to manage their own feelings and behaviors and develop self-confidence. Children with strong connections to their caregivers are more likely to be able to cope with life’s challenges.
5. Build healthy relationships: Strong, healthy relationships are important throughout your life. They can impact your mental and physical well-being. It’s important to know what a healthy relationship looks like and how to keep your connections supportive.
6. Shape your family’s health habits: Many things can influence a child, including friends, teachers, and the things they see when they sit in front of the TV or computer. With your help, kids can learn to develop healthy eating and physical activity habits that last throughout their lives.
7. Cultivate cultural and community connectedness: Positive mental health outcomes are consistently related to feelings of being connected to culture and community. Adults and children with close ties to family, friends, school, and community are more likely to have a solid sense of security that produces strong values and prevents them from seeking destructive alternatives.
You can accomplish bonding with your kids and shaping your family’s health habits by cooking a meal together. These reindeer tacos are fun to make and eat as a family.
Reindeer Tacos
Ingredients
1 lb. ground reindeer
1 large onion
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 tsp chili powder
1 ½ tsp cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup salsa (optional)
2 tablespoons oil
Tortillas
Instructions
Heat oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add ground meat and cook until brown. Chop onion into small pieces. Add onion to brown meat and continue to cook on medium-high heat. Drain bean and corn and rinse with water to remove salt. Place beans and corn in pan. Add chili powder, cumin, salt, and salsa (optional) and cook for 15 minutes on low heat. Stuff tortillas with meat mixture and enjoy!
Heather McMillion, MS, RD, LD, CDCES is a Registered Dietitian/Clinical Diabetes Educator for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation.
