Month: April 2022

2022-04-01T14:31:00

(BPT) – A child’s fight against a critical illness is not only physically exhausting — it is emotionally traumatic. A spark of hope can change everything. For wish kid Tyler, this hope was found through the life-changing power of a wish.

Tyler was in and out of the hospital and emergency rooms throughout his high school career due to his blood disorder. At the time, Tyler felt depressed and didn’t want to go to school or hang out with his friends. One of the things he did to pass the time was think about his passions — fishing and his dream car, a Subaru WRX.

Tyler loves mechanical engineering and is especially interested in learning about how cars work. When Tyler was 17, he wished to go shark fishing in Florida — a journey that empowered him to experience life beyond illness and build strength and joy. After his wish, his views on life and his future completely changed. His hope was restored and he had renewed ambitions to fight for a brighter future. Due to this renewed motivation, Tyler graduated from high school. His wish journey didn’t end there.

Through the Subaru Share the Love^® Event, Make-A-Wish^® has partnerships with local Subaru retailers such as Lithia Subaru of Oregon City. Make-A-Wish Oregon and Lithia Subaru of Oregon City wanted to help Tyler’s passion for Subaru rally racing cars come to life.

Now 19 years old, Tyler was invited to Lithia Subaru of Oregon City during the 2021 Subaru Share the Love Event to share his incredible story. The team at Subaru gave him a behind-the-scenes tour of the service area. There was even a Subaru WRX onsite that Tyler was able to drive — an unforgettable experience that filled him with excitement.

When Tyler triumphantly exited the vehicle, he beamed with pride and joy, knowing that he didn’t stall out once. By the end of the day, Tyler and the Subaru team had built such a close bond that they invited him to apply for a summer job at Lithia Subaru of Oregon City for 2022.

Subaru of America, Inc. has donated over $29 million to Make-A-Wish and helped grant more than 3,000 wishes, like Tyler’s, through the Subaru Share the Love Event. A 2022 Wish Impact Study conducted by Make-A-Wish found that parents, former wish recipients and doctors agree that the wish experience:

• increases hope, strength and self-esteem;
• serves as a coping mechanism during treatment;
• brings families together and strengthens relationships;
• assists in overcoming traumatic stress, hopelessness and loneliness; and
• leads to better health outcomes.

Tyler’s story shows that hope is restored with a wish. With this hope, Tyler found light in the darkness of his situation. The fear of the unknown was replaced with exciting possibilities for the future. Because of a community of supporters and partnerships such as the one with Subaru of America, Make-A-Wish is able to create hope for many more families and make more wishes come true.

2022-04-01T08:01:00

(BPT) – Eating well and exercising regularly are key components of a healthy lifestyle. Rather than thinking of these two efforts independently, it’s important to understand the connection between eating and exercise so you can maximize your workouts and feel your best.

Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Dalina Soto shares tips on how to prioritize your wellness, with a focus on maintaining a well-balanced diet with plenty of water and wholesome foods that support your exercise routine:

Stay properly hydrated

Proper hydration fuels the body and mind while curbing hunger pangs. Hydration is especially important when you exercise because the more you move, the more water your body needs to replenish.

A smart first step is to keep a water container nearby all day as a reminder to sip regularly. When working out, bring a source of hydration with you. While sports drinks provide hydration, they also typically have a lot of sugar, so it is best to stick to plain H20.

Eat a wholesome breakfast

Many people like to work out in the morning, but before you move your body, it is important to eat breakfast first. Set your alarm so you can eat an hour or more before working out. This helps ensure you have energy for your workout and enough time to digest food to avoid an upset stomach.

Some ideas for a quick and healthy breakfast include whole-grain cereals, fruit, yogurt and eggs. When choosing eggs, consider Eggland’s Best eggs, as they contain double the Vitamin B12 compared to ordinary eggs to fuel your workout with a boost of energy. They also have six times more Vitamin D and more than double the Omega-3s, which aid in muscle recovery and help support strong bones.

Don’t overdo food or water

Food and water can help you feel your best during a workout, but if you eat or drink too much before working out, you may feel sluggish or experience indigestion. This can negatively impact your exercise.

Good guidelines for eating pre-workout include enjoying larger meals three or four hours before and smaller meals at least one hour before. Light snacks can be OK right before a workout but pay attention to how your body feels because everyone is unique.

Snack post-workout

Eating after your workout is essential to help your body recover and your muscles heal. Nutrient-dense snacks are a smart choice such as a protein smoothie, nut butter on wholegrain crackers or pretzels with hummus.

Another satisfying option that combines many nutritious foods is deviled egg boats that can be made ahead and enjoyed all week. The Crispy BLT Deviled Egg Boats below are packed with protein and vitamins, making them the ideal pre or post-workout snack to keep your body energized before and aid in recovery after.

Crispy BLT Deviled Egg Boats

Prep time: 20 minutes; Cook time: 5 minutes; Makes 12 servings

Ingredients

Crispy garlic crumbs:

4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
1 clove garlic, mashed with fork
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

Egg filling:

8 Eggland’s Best eggs, hard-cooked or Eggland’s Best Hard-Cooked Peeled Eggs, divided
2 tablespoons very soft butter, divided use
2 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped sundried tomatoes (not oil-packed)
1 tablespoon minced pickled jalapeños (regular or tamed, or minced dill pickles if preferred)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
12 inner romaine heart leaves
1/2 cup crumbled crisply-cooked bacon
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Directions

Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil until simmering in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in garlic and salt; let stand 10 minutes. Return pan to medium heat and add breadcrumbs, folding until well-coated. Toast until golden brown, stirring and watching to prevent burning; this will take about 3 minutes. Scrape crumbs onto a large plate to cool; wipe out skillet, reserving for further use.

Slice 6 Eggland’s Best hard-cooked eggs in half lengthwise and remove yolks to a large plate. Smash yolks with a fork until very smooth and scrape into a medium bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the butter, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, tomatoes and jalapenos, blending thoroughly. Stuff into cavities of egg whites and smooth top with a butter knife to make an even covering of filling over entire flat surface (there will be extra filling; reserve it.) On the same plate that yolks were smashed, coarsely chop and finely smash the remaining 2 hard-cooked Eggland’s Best eggs. Fold into the reserved excess filling, add vinegar and remaining butter and set mixture aside.

Place flat sides of stuffed Eggland’s Best eggs on top of the crispy garlic crumbs, coating well and leaving on plate until all are coated (do not coat rounded sides.) Return large skillet to medium heat and brush remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil over pan bottom. When hot, place all eggs in skillet, crumb side down, and fry until browned, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

Cut ends from romaine leaves to make 5-inch long ‘boats.’ Spoon and spread remaining filling mixture over bottom lengths of romaine boats and arrange on serving platter. Sprinkle crumbled bacon over filling and top with a crisped Eggland’s Best egg; sprinkle with chives.