It’s Zucchini Season!

Zucchini is a resourceful vegetable that can be enjoyed on its own or added as an ingredient in dishes. It is mild in flavor. It does not overpower other tastes and makes a great addition in spaghetti sauce and stir fries. Zucchini is known for its high moisture content and it is a star ingredient in baking such as zucchini bread and cake.        

Fresh zucchini can be frozen to use at a later time. Check out Getty Stewart’s website for tips on freezing zucchini  

Have you been gifted a zucchini from a neighbor or have an overstock of zucchinis from your own garden? If so, give this recipe a try!

Zucchini Bread

This zucchini bread makes 2 loaves so you can eat one now and freeze the other one for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Tips:

• To add more moisture to the bread you can add another ½ cup grated zucchini and/or add 2 heaping tablespoons of low-fat sour cream.

• If you like a sweeter loaf, use 1 and ¼ cups of lightly packed brown sugar. If you enjoy a less sweet bread, use ¾ cup sugar.

• You can jazz up the zucchini bread with nuts, chocolate chips or even blueberries. 

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• ¾ – 1 ¼  cups lightly packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 ½ cups packed grated zucchini (do not drain)
• ½ cup grated zucchini (optional)
• 2 heaping tablespoons low fat sour cream (optional)
• ¾ cup chopped walnuts or ¾ cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (165 degrees C). Generously grease two 8×4-inch pans.
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla and sour cream together in a separate large bowl until mixed
4. Stir in zucchini.
5. Add flour mixture to wet mixture and stir just until combined (batter will be thick).
6. Add walnuts or chocolate chips. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes.
8. Cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Remove loaves from pans onto a wire rack and let cool completely.

Submitted by Vanessa Hamilton, Registered Dietitian/Healthy Living Facilitator

Grill Up Some Cauliflower

Did you know? Cauliflower is part of the mustard family, as well as being a cruciferous vegetable along with broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, and kale. The white part of the cauliflower, sometimes called the “curd” due to the resemblance of cheese curds, is the edible part of the plant. There are about 80 different varieties of cauliflower in North America, including green, yellow, and purple varieties.

Raw cauliflower is roughly 92% water, with a small amount of carbohydrates and protein. Cauliflower is considered high in Vitamin C, with moderate levels of B Vitamins and Vitamin K and a good source of fiber. Cauliflower is a very delicous and versatile plant that can be roasted, grilled, boiled, fried, steamed, pickled, or eaten raw. In recent years cauliflower-based product consumption increased by 71% in the United States as cauliflower started being used as a low carbohydrate and gluten free alternative to grains.

Before you go loading up on cauliflower it’s important to know that eating cruciferous vegetables may cause gas, bloating and abdominal discomfort. This is due to the high fiber content as well as raffinose, a complex carbohydrate that ferments in the gut. When increasing your fiber intake, it’s important to drink plenty of water, increase the fiber intake gradually, as well as chew food well to decrease those side effects. Over the counter gas reducing products can help break down those complex carbohydrates like raffinose. Since cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables have moderate to high levels of Vitamin K, people that take blood thinning medication like warfarin need to be mindful that eating a lot of cruciferous vegetables can impact the efficacy of these medications.

Check out these delicious ways to enjoy cauliflower:

Bang Bang Cauliflower Best Bang Bang Cauliflower Recipe – How to Make Bang Bang Cauliflower (delish.com)

Loaded Grilled Cauliflower Best Grilled Cauliflower Recipe – How to Make Grilled Cauliflower (delish.com)

Roasted Cauliflower Roasted Cauliflower – 4 ways

Information updates regarding critical motor vehicle incident

Shared Health and Prairie Mountain Health responded to a serious motor vehicle incident which occurred near Carberry on June 15.

Prairie Mountain Health offers our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.

We want to thank all first responders including members of Shared Health Emergency Response Services team, for your remarkable response to today’s tragic events. Work is underway to ensure supports are available to all who responded today with the utmost of skill and professionalism.

Brandon Regional Health Centre as well as Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Health Region received patients related to this event, and/or had patients relocated in order to create capacity at Manitoba’s tertiary centre (HSC).

The Code Orange called earlier in the day triggered an all-system response to the incident. Response teams  transported patients and emergency department, surgical and critical care teams at HSC and Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) supported the care needs of incoming patients.

June 16 – Updated statement from Shared Health

Message from Brian Schoonbaert, CEO, on behalf of Prairie Mountain Health

Yesterday, our region and some of our communities were thrust into the most tragic and surreal circumstances that one could never imagine possible, or be fully prepared for. There are no words to cover the enormity of the tragedy in the critical accident near Carberry.

On behalf of our staff, Board, communities and stakeholders, our hearts ache, and our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of all involved with this unbelievable tragedy.

From the bottom of our hearts, we sincerely appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from throughout the country.

We thank the emergency personnel who answered the call to deal with this major critical incident—coordinating response to a mass casualty event is complex, difficult and physically and emotionally taxing.

We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the significant contribution staff at Brandon Regional Health Centre made yesterday as the initial primary site managing the majority of accident victims who were sent to hospital.

The response of ALL of our health teams was extraordinary! It was an incident unlike we have ever managed in our facility or region. It was truly an ‘all hands on deck’ response, with every department stepping up and doing their part. Quite simply, it’s another example of our “healthcare heroes” in action, and as always, it’s awe-inspiring and never in question!

The Emergency Medical Services response to this tragic event was well-coordinated, patient-centred and highly efficient. We thank Shared Health and STARS Ambulance for all of their assistance.

Mental Health and Wellness

Witnessing and responding to such a tragedy is, of course, unexplainably difficult. We realize that people must support each other and make no hesitation in reaching out for support. It’s okay, to not be okay.

We have mental health teams of professionals working with and supporting the communities of Dauphin, Carberry, Brandon and Neepawa. Mental health support for those impacted by yesterday’s tragedy can contact the general mental health crisis support line at 1-888-379-7699.

An update regarding community support in Dauphin:

In collaboration with our partners at the City and RM of Dauphin, we are providing support at Credit Union Place (Curling Rink), which is now the area for overall community support. The support centre commenced operation today (June 16) at Noon. Please watch for more information about the centre and hours of operation, which right now are Noon to 10 pm. PMH is also collaborating with officials in Carberry, and we currently have mental health support present there now.

Individuals in the health region who are struggling with their mental health are encouraged to call 1-888-379-7699 to access support.

We know the days to come for members of our communities will be unquestionably difficult and filled with sorrow and grief. We urge those impacted or affected not to hesitate to seek health supports, which are readily available.

Thank you.

More Help is Available

Tragedies such as the incident near Carberry can have a significant impact on our mental health and well-being.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with this news and is in need of support, please know help is available.

• Wellness Together Canada counsellors are available 24/7 to speak with anyone in need of assistance by calling 1-866-585-0445. Help is also available by reaching out to one of the resources listed below or by visiting https://ow.ly/4EVn50OPZZh.
• Crisis Response Centre: 204-940-1781 or toll free 1-877-499-8770
• Klinic Suicide Prevention & Crisis Support Line: 204-786-8686 or toll free 1-888-322-3019
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
• Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern Support Services: 204-571-4182 or toll free 1-866-367-3276
• First Nations & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310
• For any members of Shared Health ERS team seeking immediate support please contact our Employee Assistance Plan at 204-786-8880 or 1-800-590-5553.

Other Resources

• The Grief Experience and Reactions
• Frequently Asked Questions about Grief and Bereavement
• Mental Health Resources – Following a Traumatic Event

Know the signs of STROKE

You could save the life of someone you love. Time is everything during a stroke. In fact, there is a saying that “time lost is brain lost.”

Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Brain cells die at a rate of 1.9 million per minute after a stroke, so the sooner blood flow can be restored, the better the chance of survival – with little or no disability.

If you, or someone with you, experiences any of these signs, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number FAST.
FAST is an easy and memorable way to remember the major signs of stroke:

F Face, is it drooping?
A Arms, can you raise them?
S Speech, is it slurred or jumbled?
T Time to call 9-1-1 right away.

Don‘t drive yourself or the person having a stroke to the hospital – an ambulance will get you to the best hospital for stroke care. The emergency medical services will be able to determine which hospital in your area can best help.

Treatments can reduce the severity of a stroke and reverse some of its effects, but only if they are given as quickly as possible.

More signs of stroke

The FAST signs are the most common signs of stroke and are more likely to be caused by stroke than any other condition. There are some additional signs of stroke that are less common. They include:

• vision changes – blurred or double vision
• sudden severe headache – usually accompanied by some of the other signs
• numbness – usually on one side of the body
• problems with balance

Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and the 4th leading cause of death in Canada. Currently 878,000 people are living with stroke and more than 108,000 strokes occur each year – or approximately one every five minutes.

We can all beat stroke.
Share the signs and help save lives.

For more information, visit heartandstroke.ca/FAST

Rural Week 2023

Rural Week is coordinated annually by the Department of Family Medicine, Shared Health (Manitoba HealthCare Providers Network) and rural regional health authorities.  It provides medical students with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of how rural and northern Manitoba medical practices function.  It also promotes the many benefits of working and living in a rural/northern Manitoba area. This year, there were 24 first-year medical students participating within the PMH communities of Brandon, Dauphin, Hamiota, Neepawa, Roblin, Russell, Souris, Ste. Rose and Treherne.

Pictured (l-r) are James Wagner, Edwin Tse and Roblin physicians Dr. Hina Atif, Dr. Dalia Bushara and Dr. Donatus Osurah.

Medical Students who participated in Rural Week in Dauphin, Ste. Rose and Brandon spent a day at Clear Lake.

U of M Medical Students Lexie Wu, Felicia Daeninck, Davis McClarty and Nolan De Leon enjoyed their time in Ste Rose!

Jun Kim, Jainik Shah and Orest Fylyma were in Russell for Rural Week. “During our time in Russell we were able to see another side of healthcare and the unique environment of rural medicine. We were welcomed with open arms by the community and were able to visit farms, learn more about rural living, and gain a greater appreciation for the entire network of healthcare professionals that keep our rural communities healthy.“