Fit Together Highlights
“Share Your Healthy Habits” Photo Contest Winners
We were excited to have so many fun and creative entries to our summer contest! The following were selected as our winners:
- Fan Favorite (most votes) – Cristina Mera, Kids enjoying an active day outdoors
- Most Creative – Kimberly Habasinski, Practicing yoga while on vacation in Vegas
- Most Local (features Northwest CT community) – Jennifer Kelley, Ladies from the Winsted Senior Center on the Sue Grossman Greenway
- Best Display of 5-2-1-0 – Sebastian Penaranda, Getting in his daily activity through the Celebrate West Hartford FUNd Runs 5K Race
Thank you to all who participated!
Family Bike Rally 9/27/25!
The fall Family Bike Rally on the Sue Grossman Greenway is just over a month away on 9/27/25 (rain date 9/28/25) from 12-3. There will be a bike helmet giveaway, a bounce house, Nibbles n’ Noms food truck, trail equipment demos, a Strider bike course for the little ones, and more. You don’t want to miss this!
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and find the latest flyers and event updates on the Bike Rally page.
Kids’ Corner for August – Happy Hiking
Our northwest corner of Connecticut offers so much natural beauty! There are many area trails to explore for all ages. Being out in nature is healthy for everyone, but kids can especially benefit from stepping away from screens and stepping into green spaces.
Learn more about how to hike safely with kids in this blog from KidsPlay Children’s Museum that even includes some of our favorite area hiking spots – “Take a Hike! Tips for Safe, Fun Northwest Connecticut Hiking with Kids”
Northwest Connecticut Hiking Trails
Locate safe hiking trails in Northwest Connecticut (and beyond) with the following resources
- The Fit Together Resource Guide – http://www.how2fitkids.org/resource-guide/
- NHCOG: Regional Trails Map – https://www.nhcogct.gov/maps
- (CFPA) Interactive Trails Map – https://ctwoodlands.org/explore-trails/interactive-map/
- CTTrailFinder.com – https://www.cttrailfinder.com/
- CTVisit.com Outdoors – https://ctvisit.com/articles/ct-outdoors
- CTVisit.com Hiking – https://ctvisit.com/hiking
- CT State Parks – https://portal.ct.gov/deep/state-parks/listing-of-state-parks
- Americas State Parks – https://stateparks.org/
Worksite Wellness Tip – Healthy Celebrations
Many workplace celebrations tend to focus on food. This often means sugary desserts like cakes, cookies, and other sweets. There are lots of healthier and more meaningful ways to celebrate work successes, milestones, and birthdays. Following are just a few:
- Focus on connection vs. food. When celebrating a coworker’s birthday, focus on them and their interests. Decorate their desk or ask the team to fill out a card with one thing that they love and appreciate about that coworker. You could also offer small gifts or trinkets that remind you of that person.
- Fill break rooms with natural items like flowers or produce from your garden.
- Have an “office swap party” where you regift or recycle items that you no longer want but feel other colleagues might benefit from.
- Share your favorite healthy dish, recipe, or product. If food is the focus, get creative by sharing your favorite fruits or vegetables or a healthy snack or drink that you enjoy, which could enable colleagues to try something new. Maybe you found a new protein bar, a delicious lower-sugar yogurt, or a mixed nut combo that is helping you get through the workday. By sharing, you could expose your team to a healthy new habit.
Find more Workplace Celebration Ideas here
Healthy Recipes – Cool Summer Treats
Nice Cream is a cool treat to beat the summer heat! With the creamy, sweet flavor coming from frozen fruit, it is naturally lower in sugar and fat than traditional ice cream. It is also an easy way for you and your family to get 1-2 of your 5 servings of fruits or vegetables per day on your way to fulfilling your 5-2-1-0 goals!
The basic Nice Cream Recipe is super simple and includes:
- ½ – 1 cup frozen fruit – sliced bananas are perfect because they create a creamy texture
- A splash of milk (dairy or plant-based) for added creaminess
- Optional add-ins – vanilla extract, cocoa powder, nuts, shredded coconut, cinnamon
You can use a blender or food processor to pulse your nice cream into a cream consistency, stopping frequently to push ingredients away from the blade with a spatula or spoon.
Find a more detailed Banana Nice Cream Recipe with flavor variations at SimplyRecipes.com
Or, follow along with a video on How to make Banana Nice Cream 4 Different Ways
Do you have a favorite Nice Cream recipe? Share it with us on Facebook
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