Working on Wellness Environments
Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) is a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension multidisciplinary community development program

Have a Happy (and Healthy) Halloween!

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By Dr. Jenna Anding

If you have been in the grocery store lately you probably have noticed that shelves are stocked with candy corn, sweet and sour treats, and bite-sized chocolate bars. This can only mean one thing – Halloween is coming!

According to the National Confectioners Association, 93% of Americans plan to celebrate this spooky day. Many organizations are getting into the Halloween spirit as well by having trunk or treat parties. Some offices encourage employees to wear their favorite Halloween costumes during the workday or take time to enjoy candy and other treats. This can help build camaraderie and get to know other coworkers you don’t always have a chance to work with.

Halloween may come once a year, but candy and other unhealthy foods are often available all year long says Jenna Anding, a registered dietitian and Extension specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. In fact, Statista research estimates that we eat, on average, nearly 12 pounds of candy, chocolate, ice cream and other sweets every year. That’s a lot of added sugar and calories that some of us just don’t need!

Photo from: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/how-to-have-a-healthy-halloween

If your organization or place of business wants to celebrate Halloween but in a healthy way, all is not lost says Anding. If the goal of the celebration is to blow off some steam or give people an opportunity to get to know one another outside of “work” consider these ideas:

  • Have a door, cubicle, or desk decorating contest.
  • Let employees wear their favorite costume contest and host a Halloween parade (make sure employees stay within the dress code policy if there is one)
  • Plan a Halloween-inspired potluck lunch. Include healthy options for those who are trying to stay within their calorie budget!
  • Host a lunch-and-learn pumpkin decorating class. Employees bring their lunch, you bring the pumpkins and tools and carve or paint away; either way allows employees to show their creativity.
  • Play Halloween-inspired music during the lunch hour. “There are lots of great tunes out there,” says Anding. Some of her favorite ones are:
    • Monster Mash (Bobby Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers)
    • Thriller (Michael Jackson)
    • I Put a Spell On You (Annie Lennox)
    • Werewolves of London (Warren Zevon)
    • Ghostbusters (Ray Parker, Jr.)
    • Time Warp (Rocky Horror Picture Show)
    • Somebody’s Watching (Rockwell)
    • I’m in Love with a Monster (5th Harmony, from Hotel Transylvania 2)
    • Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
    • She Wolf (Shakira)
  • Sponsor a clean-up event at a local park or host another type of volunteer activity. Fall weather is a time that outside temperatures start to fall (hopefully!). What a better way to give back to the community by giving employees time during the workday to pick up trash at a local park or volunteer to pack boxes of food at a local pantry.
Photo from: https://seasidesundays.com/healthiest-halloween-treats/

No matter how your office or business chooses to celebrate, be sure to offer options for those employees who are trying to adopt (and keep) a healthy lifestyle. For example, if you have Halloween candy out for people to take, consider offering some healthier options like bags of pretzels, popcorn, or small whole apples.

Happy Halloween from the Working on Wellness Environments Team!

Texas Parks & Wildlife CO-OP Grant Writing Workshops

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The Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) will begin accepting applications for programming that engages under-represented audiences in TPWD mission-oriented outdoor recreation, conservation, and environmental education activities on August 1st, 2022.  Target audience demographics include low income, female, racial minority, and individuals with disabilities.  Grant funding can support personnel, training, travel, food, fees, and supplies.  This grant does not support construction and no sponsor contribution or match is required.  

CO-OP staff will host a series of Grant Writing Workshops to cover all the elements needed for a competitive project application. Offered both online and at sites around the state, the workshop will provide application support and assist potential applicants with grant program requirements and priorities, an overview of the application process, review the new scoring criteria, help with budget planning and eligible grant expenses, and answer questions from applicants.   

To attend at workshop, complete the online registration at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BA5AD2DA1F5C16-community 

June 289:00am to 12:00pm Amarillo Parks and Recreation/ City Hall, Amarillo, TX 
July 281:00pm to 4:00pm ONLINE/ LIVE WORKSHOP 
August 2 9:00am to 12:30pm Franklin Mountains State Park, El Paso, TX 
August 249:30am to 12:30pm The Witte Museum, San Antonio, TX 
August 319:00am to 12:30pm Tyler State Park, Tyler, TX 
September 139:00am to 12:30pm Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, Mission, TX 
October 41:00pm to 4:00pm ONLINE/ LIVE WORKSHOP 

For additional information, contact grant staff or visit the CO-OP website. 

Community Challenge 2022

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The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Working on Wellness Environments program is kicking off the 2022 WOW-E Community Challenge, an initiative for local leaders to pilot test community efforts utilizing policy, system, and environmental changes. We encourage you to attend an CC22 Action Institute and to submit an application for demonstrations to pilot test projects to assist your community in promoting increased physical activity levels and improved access to healthy foods. These projects must be steps toward building and/or strengthening larger system, environmental plans, policy changes, etc. Technical assistance and support will be awarded to up to 15 applicants from Hudspeth, Maverick, Starr, Webb, and Zapata to implement their demonstration projects.  

Click Here to Visit the Community Challenge 2022 Webpage

Pilot-testing Walkability from local Middle School to the Park

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In collaboration with Rio Grande City Parks and Recreation and Working on Wellness Environments, RGCCISD Veterans Middle School Student Council worked to pilot-test walkability between their middle school and Miriam Vale Park. This area currently lacks some sidewalks, crosswalks, and walkways. Rio Grande City Parks and Recreation applied for a WOW-E Community Challenge to pilot-test the infrastructure. Pilot-testing occurred for one week. The Parks Department is currently Working with WOW-E Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop design concepts for more permanent changes.

“I know parents have been calling in regards to the sidewalks. Following this project, kids have already told me they feel safer.”

Frank Eguia
Rio Grande City Parks and Recreation Director

Rio Grande City Public Library StoryWalk (TM)

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In partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Working on Wellness Environment’s team, the Rio Grande City Public Library held its first-ever StoryWalk(TM). The event was held at Miriam S. Vale Municipal Park in Rio Grande City, TX. StoryWalk(TM) combines literature and physical activity and places a children’s story along a walking path. The WOW-E team worked with local librarian Norma Fultz, the City of Rio Grande City, and community volunteers to bring the StoryWalk(TM) to life. To read more about StoryWalk(TM) click here.

If you would like more information on how you can start a StoryWalk(TM) in your community, reach out to a WOW-E team member.