One of the fabulous perks about being a teacher in the great state of Alabama is our annual health and wellness screenings that are sponsored by our insurance plans, PEEHIP. Once a year, a caravan of nurses arrive at each school and perform simple tests so that teachers can be aware of our cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, etc. Because Mrs. Monroe has been a teacher for over a decade, she has participated in the health and wellness screenings every year. While this is not a replacement for yearly check-ups, it does allow each teacher to follow up with her regular doctor.
Over the past few years, Jennifer has worked really hard to lose over 60lbs through diet and moderate exercise. She credits this weight loss to her wonderful and supportive husband, Donnie. He is an amazing chef, so in order to help Jennifer achieve her goals, he decided to change up some of Jen's favorite recipes so that she could eat healthy and enjoy her favorite foods. Because Donnie began to cook more at home and change up some of the ingredients, Jennifer started bringing her lunch to school every day (much to the envy of all of her lunch buddies!).
As she began her weight loss journey, she participated in the annual health screening only to discover that her sugar was slightly elevated. Last year, her blood sugar remained a little high, but there was not a need for her to be labeled as "diabetic." Two weeks ago, we had our health and wellness screenings at Sardis and little did Jennifer know, she had become a Type B diabetic. Even though she continued to lose weight over the past year, her body had other plans!
The day of the health screening, the nurse performing the test was very alarmed by Mrs. Monroe's blood sugar levels. At the time of the test, her blood sugar was over 300! The nurse begged her to leave immediately and go to the doctor, but Jennifer insisted that she would go right after school. When the 3 o'clock bell rang, Jennifer left SHS and headed straight to the doctor's office. Upon her arrival, the nurses performed a blood test and later a C1C test for more accuracy. The doctor determined that Jennifer is definitely a Type B diabetic, but she will probably be able to manage her blood sugar through diet and a simple medication.
Even though Jennifer can manage this on her own, it has still been quite an adjustment for her over the past few weeks. She has had to stop eating all "white" foods and stop drinking sweet tea (oh, the agony!). Much like myself, Jennifer loves sweet tea! Donnie has been working with her to create new ways to cook some of her favorite foods the "diabetic" way.
Jennifer's doctor has scheduled a follow-up appointment in three months to check her progress. Between now and then, she has to incorporate exercise into her daily routine. This is easier said than done! One of the hardest parts of being a teacher is time management! Not only is Jennifer a teacher, but she is ALSO in graduate school AND the Senior class sponsor, so extra time isn't just sitting around waiting for her.
It always amazes me to learn about the physical health of many of my co-workers. There are so many amazing teachers that always have smiles on their faces even though they might not feel well or they are trying to learn to adapt to a new lifestyle. The Jennifer Monroe's of the world inspire me to keep a smile on my face and an extra pep in my step no matter what I feel like when I walk through that school door. 
Here are some of Jennifer's favorite recipes:
Recipes that we love:
Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich
1 strip extra-lean turkey bacon, cut in half cross-wise
Olive oil spray
1 large egg white
1 light multigrain or whole wheat English muffin, toasted
1 (3/4 ounce) slice fat-free yellow American cheese
Place a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the bacon. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until crisp. Remove from the pan and cover to keep warm.
Spray a 3 1/2" or 4" microwave safe bowl with the olive oil spray and add the egg white. Microwave for 30 seconds. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals until it is just set completely.
Assemble the sandwich by placing the bottom half of the warm English muffin, inside up, on a plate. Top with cheese, the egg, then the bacon. Add the English muffin top and serve.
My husband and I usually make a week or two worth. We put them in Ziplock bags and store them in the fridge. Then we can pop them in the microwave for 20 seconds and have our breakfast on the go.
Jam-Packed Turkey Soft Tacos (The original recipe called for chicken. Our grocery store happened to be out that day, so we opted for the turkey.)
4 (7 1/2") low-fat, low-carb multigrain or whole wheat tortillas
Olive oil spray
1 lb. extra-lean ground turkey
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp salt-free Mexican seasoning (We use Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle)
8 tsp fat-free sour cream
4 ounces (2 cups) finely shredded light cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
1 cup chopped seeded tomatoes
4 Tbsp red taco sauce, or to taste
Cook the turkey over a medium-high heat in a pan sprayed with the olive oil spray. When warm, add the seasoning. Cook until it is no longer pink.
Warm the tortillas for a few seconds in the microwave. Assemble tacos using the remaining ingredients.
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