Holidays are associated with good food, family, and festivities, but they can also bring winter blues, loneliness, cabin fever, and other challenges to those working to maintain healthy diets, limit alcohol consumption or manage difficult family dynamics.

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Healthy Cass County encourages all residents of Cass County to make time for personal wellness over the holidays, and in that spirit the group will have a Holiday Wellness Stop at Harvest Market. Harvest Market will be held this coming Monday, November 25, at the Cass County Community Center on the fairgrounds in Atlantic from 3:00-7:00 PM.

The Healthy Cass County Holiday Wellness Stop will provide resources promoting ways to eat well, move more, and feel better over the holidays. Participating organizations include:

• The Nishna Valley Family YMCA, which will have free class coupons and member special coupons, and will be doing a drawing for a free 3-month Y membership.
• Senior Life Solutions, a program of Cass County Health System, will be providing information on Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons, and sharing ways to combat winter blues.
• Shift ATL will be promoting their Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot will be held at 8:00 am on Thursday, November 28. Athletes of all ages and abilities are invited to enjoy 5k or 1-mile routes. Costumes, strollers, dogs (if friendly, vaccinated, and on leashes), and cheering squads are welcome! For more information and to register, visit: getmeregistered.com/AtlanticTurkeyTrot.
• Cass County Conservation will bring snowshoes and fliers on outdoor winter events and activities.
• Zion Recovery Services will be providing information and resources for those struggling with substance abuse or close to someone who is struggling.
• Cass County Public Health will be handing out walking maps for all communities in Cass County, and promoting 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count, a statewide health initiative promoting the importance of eating 5 fruits/vegetables, 2 hours or less of screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity, and 0 sugary drinks each day.
• Cass County Extension will be sharing information on healthy holiday recipes, and resources to encourage good physical and mental health during the holiday season. You can sign up to win a Spend Smart. Eat Smart. gift basket featuring a 2020 calendar and recipe book full of healthy low cost family meal ideas!

Healthy Cass County reminds all residents and visitors to Cass County, to take the Produce in the Park Survey. Those who complete the survey by November 24th will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift card to Harvest Market (contest entry not required to participate in survey). The survey is part of a Healthy Cass County initiative to ensure Produce in the Park is meeting the needs of the community. Whether or not you have visited Produce in the Park your feedback is valued. The survey can be found at the Atlantic Public Library and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or online through www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or directly at https://forms.gle/9bVkA5Ej12bQvQnX6. Your responses will guide decisions for Produce in the Park in 2020.

Healthy Cass County is a community-focused network of organizations and individuals working to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. For more information or to join visit https://www.atlanticiowa.com/relocate/health-wellness-2/healthy-cass-county/ or contact Brigham Hoegh, Cass County Wellness Program Coordinator at 712-249-5870, of by email at bhoegh@iastate.edu.