Audio version

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HEALTH&HABITAT

Aug/Sept 2011 www.esb.ie/em

HEALTHY EATING

A summer sensation

Roast beetroot and feta salad

Serves 4

6-8 small beetroots, unpeeled but with tops trimmed
2 tbsp olive oil
180g baby spinach leaves
1-2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
120g feta, crumbled
Handful of walnuts, chopped

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4.

2. Drizzle the beetroot with some olive oil, then wrap each individually in tin foil and roast for 40-50 minutes until very tender. Leave to cool slightly before peeling and quartering the beetroot.

3. Meanwhile, combine the balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

4. Arrange the baby spinach leaves and walnuts in a large serving bowl, top with the beetroot and chives, before drizzling over the dressing. Scatter over the crumbled feta and serve immediately.

Rice salad

Serves 6-8

900g cold cooked rice
400g cooked ham, shredded
4 tomatoes, diced
1 red pepper, deseeded and diced
1 yellow pepper, deseeded and diced
3-4 spring onions, chopped
½ cucumber, diced
190g sweetcorn Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
3-4 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper

1. In a large bowl, mix together the cooked rice, ham, tomatoes, peppers, spring onions, cucumber, sweetcorn and parsley.

2. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, mustard and olive oil. Season to taste, then stir into the salad and serve.

Cherry and nectarine pavlova

Serves 6

3 egg whites
175g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
250g whipped cream
150g cherries, pitted and halved
150g nectarines, pitted and sliced

1. Preheat the oven to 120°C/gas mark ½.

2. Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until they are stiff. Fold in one tablespoon of the caster sugar, then gradually whisk in the remainder until peaks form. Gently fold in the vanilla extract.

3. Spread the meringue mixture onto a sheet of baking paper, to form an 8-inch circle. Cook for one hour, until the meringue is crisp, then remove from the oven and set aside. Don’t try removing the paper from the meringue for 10-15 minutes.

4. When the meringue has cooled, cover with whipped cream and the chopped fruit.

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Members of the Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability Team pictured at the talk.

Skin Cancer Awareness talk

THE HEALTH, SAFETY, Environment and Sustainability Team held a Skin Cancer Awareness talk recently in ESB Head Office. The talk was given by the Irish Cancer Society and it included a range of information regarding skin cancer and how the risk can be reduced.

The Irish Cancer Society encouraged staff to follow the SunSmart code. This is simply to seek shade, apply sun cream, cover up and wear wrap around sunglasses. The speaker also stressed the importance of applying sun cream 20 minutes before going outside and of re-applying it at least every two hours after that.

There was also a skin scanner, which gave people an image of their face, showing any pigmentation and skin damage done to the skin down through the years, and it proved to be very popular!

FAST campaign

Various Health & Wellbeing Co-ordinators across Services & Electric Ireland took part in the Irish Heart Foundation’s stroke awareness FAST campaign.

THE FAST CAMPAIGN aims to help the public achieve a better understanding of the warning signs of stroke and to assist in tackling the frightening lack of awareness around Ireland’s third-biggest killer.

Stroke is a very serious medical emergency, if you suspect that someone has had a stroke, you need to call 999 immediately.

When stroke strikes, act FAST

The acronym FAST can help you to rapidly recognise when a stroke is taking place and then to act quickly to get medical treatment and prevent serious damage.

Information stands were set up in canteens/ tea areas promoting the FAST message. In ESB Head Office a representative from the Irish Heart Foundation visited and spoke with a group of first aiders about FAST and stroke awareness and was also present to answer any queries with staff in the canteen.

Staff manning the information stands in Head Office.

Along with this Occupational Health Nurses from ESB Health Services attended and provided blood pressure screening for staff.

FAST STANDS FOR:

F FACE – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?

A ARMS – Can they raise both arms and keep them there?

S SPEECH – is their speech slurred?

T TIME to call 999 if you spot any single one of these signs.

SPORTSCO Courses

September courses and dates: six week courses in yoga, Pilates, tennis and Tai Chi commence the week of 5 September - call us on (01) 6687022 Extn 0 or check www.sportsco.ie for more information.