Play Streets offers free healthy activities for kids and families. (Submitted)

The event will be held 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 19 on Newberry Street between Kiwanis Lake and the Graham Aquatics Center in York. Kids can enjoy inflatables, water fun, an “ice skating” rink, imagination playground, NEOS electronic life-sized game, youth sports activities, face painting, caricature drawings and crafts.

For adults, entertainment includes music by Mark DeRose, a bike rodeo with the sheriff’s department, and of course, watching their children navigate through healthy activities.

At the last Play Streets event, kids participated in many of the same activities and especially enjoyed racing each other through obstacle courses and having their caricatures drawn. Organizers distributed healthy snacks, such as apples and bananas, to give kids a boost of energy between activities.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and Partnership for a Healthier America selected York to host four Play Street events this summer. Highmark Blue Shield, Eat Play Breathe York and York City are partners.

Organizers expect Play Streets to have a significant impact on activity rates, according to a news release. Pioneer programs have shown that when given the choice between participating in Play Streets or a sedentary activity, the majority of children chose Play Streets.

“Today in America, one in five kids doesn’t have access to a playground — that’s millions of children who can’t pick up a ball, run outside or have fun in a safe environment,” PHA President and CEO Lawrence A. Soler said in a news release. “We can’t wait to see the initiative in action –- to see kids running around these new spaces and to hear sounds of traffic replaced by sounds of kids at play.”

Can’t make it this week? Attend noon to 4 p.m. July 20 at Albemarle Park or 5 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at Campus Park.

For details on Play Streets, visit Eat Play Breathe York.

Join us for Gruver Fitness Outdoor Boot Camp at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 20 at the York Daily Record in West Manchester Township.

Read more about No Sweat in the Park

Closer to 200 after second boot camp

First boot camp draws 120 people

No Sweat in the Park: Free Gruver Fitness Outdoor Boot Camp in June

First Zumba class at YDR a success

No Sweat in the Park: Zumba and other free classes

Find an Ultimate pickup game in the area or join a league. (Submitted)

Then I grew up, started working full time, got married and started a family. With new responsibilities and priorities, I now have less and less time to play those wonderful sports of my youth.

It wasn’t until after high school that I discovered the amazing world of Ultimate. It’s a high flying game of throwing, catching, sprinting and intense layouts. Sometimes, known as Frisbee Football (even though it’s a non-contact sport) or Ultimate Frisbee, the game is simply called Ultimate. And the game is simple. All you need is a Frisbee, a field, eight cones to make end zones and a bunch of friends.

The rules are simple as well. The goal is to throw the disc to your teammates who are running around to get open and advance the disc up the field until someone catches it in the end zone. Once someone catches the disc, they must stop moving and can only pivot on one foot until they throw the disc to someone else. If the disc is dropped or there is an interception by the other team, then it’s a turnover. It’s fast-paced and a lot of fun.

Not only is Ultimate a great cardiovascular workout, but it’s great way to meet new people. There are pickup games all over the surrounding area and there are even leagues not too far from home that are expanding with the growing interest in the sport.

Ultimate is the only sport that I get to play anymore. I get exercise, I get to be competitive, and most of all, I get to have lots of fun playing with great people.

Ultimate is governed by the “spirit of the game,” which is a spirit of sportsmanship that places the responsibility of fair play on the players. It’s one of the aspects of Ultimate that makes it stand above the rest. Grab a disc, grab a buddy and get outside.

Stay Active, Stay Healthy.

Here are some resources to check out if you want to learn more about this wonderful sport and how you can get involved.

Stewartstown Ultimate Players Association

Central Pennsylvania Ultimate Club

USA Ultimate

The Garmin Forerunner 50 tells you pace, distance, time, calories burned, maximum and average heart rate. (AP Photo/Garmin International)

If you want to take your cardio workout outside of the gym, you need the right gear.

Running outside by yourself can be a challenge. You don’t want to carry backpacks that will irritate you during your every motion. But, you want to hold on to the essentials: keys, water, ID and cellphone.

Stephanie Cole, store manager at Dick’s Sporting Good’s on Kenneth Road in York, told us about some of the best-selling running essentials:

1. Reflective gear: Some people like running after work, as it’s getting dark, Cole said. Safety should be a No. 1 priority. Cole said many of her customers like Nathan-brand reflective gear. Nathan offers a variety of reflective running equipment, including a Reflect 2 Pack, $9.99 and a 5K Runner’s Pak with reflective details, $24.99.

2. Armband (to hold a phone or MP3 player): If you like to take your cellphone with you or listen to music while you run, you probably want to buy an armband. If you want one that is really form-fitting, Cole reccomends the Nike E1 Prime Performance iPhone 5 Armband (if your smartphone has a case, it most-likely won’t fit). For iPhones (even those with a full case), Cole reccomends the Yurbuds Ironman iPhone 5 Armband, $24.99.

3. Heart monitor: “They go from very basic to very elaborate,” Cole said. One of Dick’s best-selling monitors online is the Garmin Forerunner 210 GPS Watch with HRM – but it’s not cheap at $249.99. There are a variety of other products that cost less than $100 online.

4. Water bottle pack: Hydration is key, especially when running long-distances in hot sun. The best-selling hydration belt from Dick’s is the Nathan Trail Mix Hydration Belt, $44.99.

Another product that is popular at Dick’s Sporting Goods is Bodyglide Anti-Chalf Balm, $9.99, which prevents skin irritation when running.

Photo by Bethany Fehlinger

I hate to waste the food in my kitchen. I try to use up everything I have, and if not, I freeze it.

I love trying new recipes, but that also leaves me with ingredients I will only partially use and then let them get moldy.

And there are some nights I don’t feel like pulling out the pots and pans to cook dinner after work for just me. (My fiance is not vegan and usually is at work when I get home. I also am childless.)

Sometimes the same, old thing over and over gets boring for my tastebuds, and I don’t feel like looking at all the dishes in the sink — we are sans dishwasher in our York city apartment.

When I discovered the glory of my crock pot, where I can make dinner while sleeping, it was glorious. And now, in the summer heat, I don’t have to slave over a hot stove in our ventless kitchen; I can just pop it in the microwave when I get home, and store the leftovers right in the crock.

This chick’n verde recipe by Kathy Hester in “The Vegan Slow Cooker” was the best solution for my situation: The crock pot produced a yummy dinner as I slept and I subbed out certain ingredients for what I had on hand.

Photo by Bethany Fehlinger

The chiles and jalapenos went hand-in-hand for my chile con queso, so instead of a whole can of chiles, I used the leftover chiles and jalapenos sitting in the fridge at a 1/2 of a cup each. I took out the chile powder, because I figured this would be spicy enough. I didn’t have apple cider vinegar, so I just used the red wine variety since it would burn off. My fiance hates cilantro, so I used parsley — still green and curly without the cilantro taste.

I did splurge on tomatillos, which cost about $2.50 for the pound. These beauties will be in season soon so grab them from your garden instead when the time is right.

While chick’n verde is great for rice or burritos, try it in a sub or maybe on salad greens.

Chick’n verde
Serves 10

Ingredients

• 1 pound of tomatillos, husks removed
• 1 tablespoon of garlic
• 1/2 cup of canned green chiles
• 1/2 cup of canned jalapenos
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Juice of 1 lime
• 3 to 4 cups of chicken-flavored seitan or fake meat, cut into cubes or strips

Recipe

1. Beforehand, coarsely chip the tomatillos into chunks. Place all the ingredients, except the seitan, into a food processor or blender. Mix until combine.
2. Place sauce and seitan in an airtight container and store in the fridge until ready to cook, letting the seitan marinade.
3. Oil the crock of your slow cooker with a little vegetable oil. Place seitan and sauce in crock, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
4. Serve over rice or use as filling for a burrito or sub.

Have a recipe to share? Email bfehlinger@ydr.com.

A Paleo Diet-friendly dinner Photo by David Reber’s Hammer Photography

At first glance, a return to caveman-era dining doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors survived off meat, fish, seafood, fruits, veggies, eggs, nuts, seeds and healthy oils, so why can’t we?

And cutting out Doritos, McDonald’s and Haagen-Dazs is bound to make anyone healthier — and a little lighter around the middle.

Devoted followers of the popular Paleo Diet are touting weight loss, clearer skin, better sleep and reduced risk of several diseases.

But is it worth giving up a few food groups for?

Probably not, said Susan Kopins, a registered dietitian at The Women’s Healthcare Group in Spring Garden Township.

“The Paleo Diet is considered a fad diet,” she said. “When you have to restrict so many food groups, it’s really not a sustainable diet — not in today’s society”

Those following the Paleo Diet can say goodbye to cereal grains, legumes (including peanuts), dairy, refined sugar, potatoes, processed foods, salt and refined vegetable oils.

“The premise is that the Americanized diet contributes to obesity, heart disease and diabetes,” said Kopins, who noted that most diseases are caused by a combination of diet and lifestyle factors.

And she said there are definitely some concerns with making such drastic diet changes. Kopins said dairy is a good source of calcium and Vitamins D and B. Grains are also fortified with vitamins that contribute to good health.

“I have talked to a number of patients who have done extreme things in their diet without doing research … and they end up with major vitamin deficiencies,” said Kopins. “You have to be willing to take supplements to cover the gap.”

She said the biggest adjustment for those looking to take the plunge into caveman-style eating, though, is going to be more meal planning.

“If people choose to do the Paleo Diet, there’s no way you can dine out,” she said. “You really have to have a plan to have all your meals and snacks planned ahead and cooked from home.”

A better alternative, she said, is to build a healthy diet on fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy and protein.

“You can incorporate a whole variety of food groups and still lose weight or maintain a healthy weight,” Kopins said.

Try this, not that

Step away from Dr. Loren Cordain.

“People are looking for something drastic to do in their diet,” said Kopins.

But she said there are plenty of good alternatives to the tough-to-follow caveman lifestyle — which ranked last in U.S. News & World Report’s list of best overall diets.

Here are some tried-and-true tips from Kopins:

On carbs:

“You shouldn’t be eating a big bowl of rice or a big bowl of cereal … need to learn to eat in moderation.”

On fruit: “Eat fresh fruits. Don’t drink them. … Fruit is high in sugar, so you can’t eat unlimited amounts.”

On protein: “It’s really important to get good, quality protein.” Lean beef, lean pork, chicken breast, fish and seafood — that’s not breaded, nuts, natural nut butter, beans, eggs and soy are all Kopin-approved.

On meal planning: “A lot of people just don’t take the time to plan their meals at home. If you don’t have a menu, you’re going to be forced to go to fast food and what’s convenient … and your options are going to be limited.”

About 160 people exercise at No Sweat in the Park: Gruver Fitness Outdoor Boot Camp on June 11 at the York Daily Record in West Manchester Township. The weekly class is free. (Submitted)

But he expected to see 50 or 60 because sometimes, people can’t hack it.

We presented a challenge to prove him wrong, and we did. Although we didn’t hit Gruver’s goal of 200, we had a better turnout than the first class. About 160 people filled a grassy field outside YDR — our “park,” for now. Some people were new. Some attended the first class and brought friends and family along. Some were Gruver’s boot camp clients.

The energy generated by 160 people working out together felt palpable. It’s not something you’d find during solitaire workouts or even during average-size group fitness classes.

For that reason, we urge you to join us 6 p.m. June 18 for our third class. You don’t need to be fit to start. As Gruver says, people participate in boot camp to get in shape.

We think we can get 200 people to attend the next No Sweat in the Park: Gruver Fitness Outdoor Boot Camp. But of course, we need your help. Think we can do it? Spread the word, and we hope to see you here.

Related
Diary of a wimpy mom in her first boot camp class

What’s No Sweat in the Park?

Lebanon Daily New photos; Sean Firestine, owner of Fat Puppy Coffee, holds a handful of freshly roasted coffee beans in January.

To your health: Drink up. The New York Times Well blog breaks down studies on coffee, some of which link moderate drinking with reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes, basal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, oral cancer and breast cancer recurrence. Is it time to stop visiting the dentist twice a year? Maybe, but read this first. This month, Connecticut became the first state to pass a law requiring labels for foods make with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Read more about the debate. And, from Gawker, new diet drugs still not as good as pushups.

For the kids: A new study suggests that tummy time — advice that parents should place infants on their stomachs to help build upper-body strength — might be irrelevant. Research estimate that nearly 5,000 future cancer cases could be caused by the roughly 4 million pediatric CT scans performed each year. So, parents are being encouraged to Choose Wisely when told their child needs a scan. Does your child want to be a vegetarian? Parents’ reactions — and education — are keys for health.

Get more updates and find ways to stay active on the jump.

Here are a few events to get healthy this weekend:

– Fit with father: Experience family time during a Night Hike 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at Indian Steps Museum, 205 Indian Steps Road, Lower Chanceford Township. The hike ends with a campfire. There is a $5 fee for participants age 12 and older. Or, explore the summer woods with naturalist Kelsey Frey during the Father’s Day Nature Ramble 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Richard M. Nixon County Park in Springfield Township. The event is free.
– York County Buy Fresh Buy Local will host a Summer Scavenger Hunt game June 15 to Aug. 10. The public is invited to visit 32 local farms and businesses to discover fresh food around York County. Game maps will be available at the Tastes of York County event 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Miller Plant Farm, 430 Indian Rock Dam Road, Spring Garden Township. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Scavenger hunt maps and details are also available at any of the 32 participating locations or online at www.buyfreshbuylocalyork.com. Get more details about the event and scavenger hunt here.
– The York County Heritage Trust will fire up its replica squirrel-tail oven Saturday behind the Golden Plough Tavern, 157 W. Market St., York. Learn about the seasonal veggie asparagus, its long history and how different cultures prepared it. For details and pricing, visit www.yorkheritage.org or call 848-1587, ext. 301.

Steve Miller of Spring Grove throws a horseshoe during the 2012 York County Senior Games. The 12th annual Senior Games begin Monday. (Daily Record/Sunday News — File)

The opening ceremony is at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Central York High School soccer stadium, 601 Mundis Mill Road in Springettsbury Township. Competitive events begin immediately following the ceremony.

Here’s a daily schedule of events for the games. If you haven’t registered but would like to participate, visit the York County Area Agency on Aging.

MONDAY, JUNE 17

All events at Central York High School unless otherwise noted
10 a.m. — Bocce, ages 70-74
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Croquet
10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Wii Archery
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Washers
10:45 a.m. — Bocce, ages 80 and older
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Ladder Golf
11:30 a.m. — Bocce, ages 75-79
12:15 p.m. — Bocce, ages 65-69
1:30 p.m. — Bocce, ages 60-64
2:15 p.m. — Bocce, ages 55-59
3 p.m. — Bocce, ages 50-54
5 p.m. — Billiards at Cobblestones Restaurant

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

10 a.m. — Bowling, singles, at Hanover Bowling Centre
2 to 7 p.m. — Mini golf, at Heritage Hills Mini Golf

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

8 a.m. — Nine-hole golf, at Little Creek Golf Course; horseshoes, singles, at John Rudy Park
noon — Horseshoes, doubles, at John Rudy Park
1 p.m. — Target shooting, at Izaak Walton League of America
5 p.m. — Trap shooting, at Izaak Walton League of America

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

All events at Central York High School
8:30 a.m. — Tennis, singles
9 a.m. — Shuffleboard, ages 70-74
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Wii Bowling (Choose one day: event also offered on Saturday, June 22)
9:30 a.m — Uno
10 a.m. — Shuffleboard, ages 80 and older
11 a.m. — Shuffleboard, ages 75-79
Noon — Shuffleboard, ages 65-69
1 p.m. — Hearts
1:30 p.m. — Shuffleboard, ages 60-64
2:30 p.m. — Shuffleboard, ages 50-59
3:30 p.m. — Badminton

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

All events at Central York High School
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Football, softball and Frisbee throws. From 9 to 10 a.m., one line will be dedicated to triathlon participants only
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Darts (Choose one day: event also offered on Saturday, June 22)
9:30 a.m. — Pinochle
11 a.m. — Swimming warm-ups
11:30 a.m. — Swimming, 50-yard freestyle
Noon — Swimming, 50-yard backstroke
12:30 p.m. — Swimming, 50-yard breaststroke
1 p.m. — Poker; swimming, 100-yard freestyle
1:30 p.m. — Swimming, 100-yard backstroke
2 p.m. — Swimming, 100-yard breaststroke
2:30 p.m. —Swimming, individual medley
3 to 5 p.m. — Basketball hoops, foul shooting and hot shot (Choose one day: event also offered on June 22.)
6 p.m. — Volleyball

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

All events at Central York High School
8 to 11 a.m. — Basketball hoops, foul shooting and hot shot
8 a.m. — Running, 5K
9 a.m. — Running, 50 meter; Table tennis
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Wii Bowling
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Soccer Kick
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Darts
9:30 a.m. — 500
9:45 a.m. — Running, 100 meter
10:45 a.m. — Running, 400 relay
11:15 a.m. — Running, 400 meter
11:45 a.m. — Running, sprint medley
12:15 p.m. — Running, 1,600 meter
12:30 p.m. — Men’s 3-on-3 basketball
3:30 p.m. — Closing ceremony

Past coverage: Registration opens for York County Senior Games
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Kathryn Sipe, 6, practices a kick during Tae Kwan Do class in May at the YMCA’s Eastern Branch in Hellam Township. Kathryn, 9, has Asperger’s syndrome, as well as sensory processing disorder. (Daily Record/Sunday News — Kate Penn)

The resource center will include a website, a toll-free number and community outreach specialists. The initiative was developed by the Autism Services, Education, Resources & Training Collaborative and funded through the Department of Public Welfare’s Bureau of Autism Services.

According to a news release, the collaborative strives to better serve people with autism by providing better access to information and help.

“With one in 88 children now being diagnosed with autism, the center will provide essential information for families who are new to the diagnosis, as well as those individuals who need ongoing services across their lifespan,” acting secretary Beverly Mackereth said.

The resource center includes information about local, regional and statewide events, professional training, services, research and other information relevant to the autism community.

To access the center, call 1-877-231-4244 or visit www.PAautism.org.

The ASERT Collaborative is a partnership of medical centers, centers of autism research and services, universities, community organizations, and other providers of services involved in the treatment and care of adults and children with autism. It aims to be a national model of effective public-private partnerships that provide wide-scale support by efficiently using resources.