Health & Wellness
Happenings
Holiday Edition December 2016
Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties
111 N. Pennsylvania Blvd. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
570-822-1158 or 1-800-252-1512
www.aginglw.org
Health & Wellness:
Offering programs for community members 50+ years young!
All monthly Health & Wellness classes are offered at no cost for those 50+ years of age.
If you would like to join a class, please feel free to simply go to the class and participate, unless the class
is listed as “filled”. If the class is filled, please contact Patti at 570-822-1158 Ext. 2303 for your name to
be placed on a waiting list.
Some things to keep in mind:
 Always consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.
 You must sign-in on the sign-in sheets (at the class) each time you participate.
 There are evaluations that are distributed every May that you will be asked to fill out and
return. Placing your name on them is optional; however it is very important that they are
completed and returned in order to determine the benefits and effectiveness of the programs.
 Take your time, go at your own pace, and enjoy!!
Class Schedule:
Tunkhannock Library:
 Zumba Gold- Mon & Thurs at 9:30am
 Body Sculpt/Geri-Fit- Mon & Thurs at
10:30am
Dietrich Theater Tunkhannock
 Chair Yoga- Fridays 11am-12:15pm
Edwardsville Active Adult Center:
 Geri-Fit (strength training): Tues & Fri at
11:15am
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Falls Active Adult Center:
 Zumba Gold- Fri at 9am
 Body Sculpt/Geri-Fit- Tues at 9:30am & Fri
at 10:15am
Butler Twp. Active Adult Center:
 Zumba Gold- Tues & Thurs 9:15am
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Riverside Rehabilitation:
Aquafit- Tues at 3pm; Fri at 12:30pm
(classes filled)
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JCC (Jewish Community Center in WB):
Tai Ji Quan- Wed at 10am; Fri at 9:15am
Geri-Fit (strength training): Tues & Thurs
10:30am
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Pittston Active Adult Center:
Geri-Fit (strength training): Tues & Fri at
12:30pm
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Hazleton YMCA:
Zumba Gold: Mon & Wed at 11:30am; Fri at
5pm
Twinges for the Hinges: Mon at 10am;Tues
at 11:10am
Arthritis Aquatics: Mon at 2pm
Gentle Yoga: Mon at 5pm; Wed at 12:30pm
Chair Yoga: Thurs at 1pm
Tai Ji Quan: Mon at 12:30pm; Fri at
11:30am
Geri-Fit (strength training)Session 1: Mon &
Wed at 1:30pm
Geri-Fit (strength training)Session 2—NEW:
Tues & Fri at 1:15pm
Wilkes-Barre YMCA:
Zumba Gold: Fri at 11am
Water Fitness: Mon & Fri at 4:30pm; Wed at
2:30pm
Dance Fit: Mon at 5pm & Wed at 6pm
Zumba: Friday at 10am
Yoga: Sat at 9am
Body Vive: Thurs at 4:30pm
Geri-Fit: Tues& Thurs at 8am
Fitness Magazine’s Buckeyes
www.fitnessmagazine.com
Mmmm...COOKIES
If you are anything like me, you enjoy a
good cookie (or 4-ish ) anytime of the
year but especially around the holidays.
How’s a girl gonna stay healthy and still
have the cookies and desserts that she
loves?!
I searched the internet and found healthier
versions of some of my favorites...
hopefully they will be some of your
favorites, too 
Check out these websites for more
recipes!
www.fitnessmagazine.com
www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com
www.hungry-girl.com
Ingredients:
1 16oz jar or low fat, low sodium smooth
peanut butter (about 1 ¾ c)
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
6 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 ½ c semisweet chocolate chips
4 ½ tsp. shortening
Toothpicks and waxed paper
Directions:
1. Place the peanut butter in the large
bowl of a sturdy mixer. Beat on
medium speed until very smooth,
scraping the sides of the bowl as
needed. Gradually beat in
confectioners’ sugar until smooth.
2. Roll mixture into 1 inch balls. Arrange
balls on waxed or parchment paperlined trays or baking sheets. Cover
and chill for 3 hours or overnight.
3. In a small heavy saucepan, melt
chocolate chips and shortening over
medium-low heat, stirring frequently.
Keep warm over very low heat.
Remove about ¼ of the peanut butter
balls from the refrigerator. Use a
toothpick to hold a peanut butter ball
and lower it into the chocolate, leaving
the top exposed so that it looks like a
buckeye. Allow the excess chocolate
to drip off.
4. Place ball, undipped portion up, on
lined tray or baking sheet. Repeat with
remaining peanut butter balls until all
are dipped. Chill for 30 minutes, or
until firm. Store in refrigerator. Makes
90 cookies.
This recipe cur 46 calories and 6 grams of
fat from each cookie!
Serving size: 1 cookie
Per serving: 120 calories; 3 grams fat (2 g
sat. fat); 21 carbs; 1 gram protein
MAKES 6 SERVINGS
Hungry Girl’s Ginger Spiced
Softies
www.hungry-girl.com
Serving Size: 1 softie
Calories: 135
Fat: 2.5g
Sodium: 112mg
Carbs: 26g
Fiber: 2g
Sugars: 13g
Protein: 2.5g
PointsPlus® value 4*
Ingredients:
1/4 cup brown sugar (not packed)
2 tbsp. granulated white sugar (or HG
Alternative)
2 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery
spread, room temperature
2 tbsp. fat-free liquid egg substitute (like
Egg Beaters Original)
1 1/2 tbsp. molasses
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 cup old-fashioned oats
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a
baking sheet with nonstick spray.
In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar,
white sugar, butter, egg substitute,
molasses, and vanilla extract. Whisk
thoroughly.
Add flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder,
nutmeg, and salt. Stir until smooth.
Stir in oats. Spoon batter onto the sheet in 6
evenly spaced mounds. Use the back of a
spoon to spread and flatten into 3-inch
circles.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the
center of a softie comes out clean, about 10
minutes. Yum!
HG Alternative! If made with an
equal amount of Splenda No Calorie
Sweetener (granulated) in place of the
granulated white sugar, each serving
will have 121 calories, 22g carbs, and
9g sugars (PointsPlus® value 3*).
Chocolate Covered Katie’s
Healthy Chocolate Pudding
www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com
Read more at
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/healthychocolate-pudding-nutritionfacts/#i5AFqO0d3EFcu4b4.99
Ingredients

2 cups milk of choice OR canned
coconut milk

heaping 1/8 tsp salt

1/4 cup Dutch cocoa powder

pinch uncut stevia OR 1/4 cup sugar,
pure maple syrup, or honey

1/2 cup milk of choice + 3 tbsp
cornstarch (such as Rapunzel non-


GMO) - Readers reported success with
Instructions
arrowroot, although I have not tried it
Healthy Chocolate Pudding Recipe: Heat the 2
optional 3.5 oz chocolate chips or
cups milk of choice in a saucepan with the salt,
broken-up bar
cocoa powder, and sweetener. Meanwhile,
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
whisk the cornstarch and 1/2 cup milk in a small
bowl until dissolved. When the 2 cups milk are
Yield: 3 Servings
image:
http://www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com/wpcontent/uploads/Basic-ChocolatePudding_A625/chocolate-pudding_3.jpg?x55466
warm, add the cornstarch mixture and bring to a
boil. Once boiling, stir constantly for 2 minutes.
Lower to a simmer for an additional minute, then
turn off the heat. Once the heat is off, stir in the
vanilla and broken-up chocolate pieces until the
chocolate melts. Transfer the pudding to the
Calories: 70 Fat: 3g Carbs: 12g Protein: 2g
refrigerator to thicken. It gets thicker the longer it
sits and will be ready to consume after a few
Fiber: 2.5g
hours or overnight. *Note: I’ve only tried this
recipe with Dutch cocoa powder so can’t vouch
Sugar: Depends on what sweetener you add.
Zero grams if using stevia and unsweetened
milk. Weight Watchers Points Plus: 2 points.
Nutrition information above is for 1/3 of the
total recipe, or a heaping 1/2 cup chocolate
pudding made with Silk cashew milk.
for the taste if regular unsweetened cocoa
powder is used in its place. But you are always
free to experiment!
Read more at
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2015/06/25/he
althy-chocolate-puddingrecipe/#gSEUgZjObpZud1GK.99
Look on the
Bright Side Day
is December
21st!!
Sometimes it’s difficult to remember to look on
the bright side. With day to day stresses it’s
easy to get “down in the dumps” and see the
glass “half-empty” instead of “half-full”.
On December 21st (or ANY day) take a moment
to think about all of the positive things that we
have in our lives. Some of the best things we
have cannot be measured, such as friendship,
love, faith, and hope.
Looking on the bright side doesn’t just make
you feel better for the moment. According to
www.Happify.com it also brings the following
benefits:
 You feel healthier
 Improved heart health
 More likely to be centenarians
 Fight infections better
 Have better romantic relationships
 Are more satisfied with their jobs
 Are better at “bouncing back” with
transitions in life
For more ways to be happier and have a “halffull glass”, visit www.happify.com. They have
free sections/tracks where you can learn ways
to be a bit happier, more optimistic and not be
such an Eeyore (as we all get sometimes) ,
rather be more like Tigger 
Cherry Coketail
From www.mixthatdrink.com
½ oz. maraschino cherry juice (or cherry syrup)
¼ oz. vanilla extract
1 squeeze of lime
Pour the cherry juice and vanilla into a rocks glass.
Squeeze the lime in next. Pour the cola on top
and enjoy!
(We garnished
Ours with a lime)
Have a SAFE New Year’s
celebration...
With the holidays fast approaching, it will be time
to get ready for our New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Some folks spend some quiet time at home;
others enjoy going out and celebrating.
Whichever way you welcome in the New Year,
please remember to celebrate SAFELY this holiday
season.
If you plan on consuming alcoholic beverages, do
so responsibly and get a designated driver, call a
cab, or call Uber to take you back home.
Caribbean Sunset Mocktail
From www.coca-colacompany.com
4 oz. Sprite®
2 oz. Minute Maid® Orange Juice
2 oz. Minute Maid ® Lemondae
1 dash grenadine
1 each: orange wheel, lemon wheel, and
maraschino cherry for garnish
Fill a glass half full of ice and add the orange juice
and lemonade. Top it off with Sprite® followed by
a splash of grenadine. Garnish with an orange
wheel, lemon wheel, and a maraschino cherry.
If you plan on hosting an event or if you are not
partial to alcoholic beverages, but still like to
celebrate with something special, enjoy the below
mock-tails that have zero alcohol per serving.
These are actually the beverages we served at the
Kingston Active Adult Center’s Single Senior Social
back in February and everyone LOVED them 
Each recipe makes 1 drink.
MockMosa
From www.mixthatdrink.com
2 parts orange juice
3 parts dry sparkling white grape juice
Pour the orange juice into a flute glass and then
pour the sparkling white grape juice. Garnish with
a sprig of mint, if you like.