Want to soak up the summertime shine ☀️, but worried about COVID-19? As the coronavirus continues to be a big part of everyday life and social distancing is highly important, we’re here to help you focus on your health. Here are some ways to create a fun-filled weekend and keep you active.
Visit An Orchard
Start your weekend by supporting local farmers and picking some fruit! Right now, many orchards are still open — They just ask that you call ahead to make a reservation to make sure they don’t get overcrowded and you are able to pick in peace. If an orchard is not taking reservations, you can always call ahead to make sure that it is not too busy and that it is safe for you and your company. This will give you a chance to be one with Mother Nature and find some great, fresh fruits. We have scouted a few places you may want to explore this weekend:
Cy & Dee’s Blackberry & Tomatoes
*Make sure that you don’t have any symptoms of COVID-19 and have not been exposed before going out in public.
Get Cooking
All good weekend plans include delicious food! Skip the restaurant and make a meal at home…Not only can you save some money, but according to Livekindly, cooking can boost your mental health in seven different ways:
🍴 Gives you a feeling of accomplishment after you’re done.
🍴 Lets you be creative.
🍴 Helps you practice patience.
🍴 Lets you work with others on a recipe.
🍴 Creates a positive outlook and relationship with food.
🍴 Lets you practice your organizational skills.
🍴 Helps you be healthier by having control over what you eat.
We want to help you get to cookin’! 😉 Check out the recipes below that highlight some of the fresh fruit you may have just picked up at the orchard. Starting with apples, get ready for some Maple Apples, Blue Cheese And Bacon Pizza.
🍎 Ingredients:
- Store-bought or homemade pizza dough
- 2 picked apples, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 12 ounces shredded Italian blend cheese
- 4 slices cooked bacon cut into thick pieces
- 1/2 cup roasted garlic cloves
- 3 ounces blue cheese
🍎 Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 475 F.
- Place the sliced apples in a small bowl and add the maple syrup and set aside.
- Divide the pizza dough ball into four sections, reserving half of the dough for another use. Stretch one section of dough and place on a small baking sheet, working the dough into a rectangle. If the dough springs back, let it rest for a few minutes then continue to spread it into the corners of the baking sheet.
- Layer the dough with half of the shredded Italian cheese, then top with half the apple slices, half of the bacon, half the garlic cloves and chunks of blue cheese.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the other portion of pizza dough.
- Bake pizzas for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden. Drizzle with additional maple syrup, cut and serve immediately.
With July being National Peaches Month, we had to include this one: Peach Salsa!
Take A Picnic
When your meal is made, pack it up, and it’s time to go to a park. With so many beautiful parks and spaces throughout KC, you’ll be able to enjoy your meal while maintaining social distance.
When you are having fun you usually don’t notice the calories you are burning. On average, you can lose up to 110 calories by walking around an orchard for 20 minutes. Cooking burns about 150 calories per hour. After you finish your picnic, going on a 30-minute walk can help you burn up to 300 calories!
If social distancing and staying inside are affecting your mental health, we hope these activities help you stay safe while having fun outside of your home.
If you are having trouble staying motivated to hit your fitness goals, we are always here to help. With our medical weight loss program, we customize everything to you and your goals. To learn more, call us at 816-214-5276 or visit https://kcmedicalwc.com/medical-weight-loss/ .
Dr. Rahul Kapur, M.D. is a board-certified family medicine physician with a dedicated passion for integrative medicine and a deep knowledge of functional medicine. He was named intern of the year at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, and has been practicing as a hospitalist for over a decade. He has successfully helped many patients in Kansas City with his specialized IV bags, ketamine therapy, hormone optimization and weight loss therapy methods.
