October 28: Chris Payne's "Asylum: Inside the Closed Doors of State Mental Hospitals"

From 2002 to 2008, Ken Book Award-winning photographer Chris Payne visited 70 closed psychiatric institutions in 30 states for his powerful book, Asylum. Join us for an evening with Chris to learn more about his groundbreaking project and explore these haunting images. This event is free and open to the public.



Date: Thursday, October 28
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: NYU Langone Medical Center, Skirball Institute, Third Floor Auditorium, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY (Entrance is a block north of 30th Street on the East side of First Avenue)
Contact: To RSVP for this event, call the Helpline at 212-684-3264.

Have a Healthy (and Happy) Halloween

Yes folks it's that time of year again when candy is everywhere. It's stocked on the grocery store shelves, it's in the break room at work, and some is even hiding in your own cupboards. You feel as if candy is lurking around every corner, and just like Halloween the temptation can be scary. Never fear because here are some helpful tips to satisfy your sweet tooth without sabotaging your diet.


1. Choose Dark Chocolate
Choosing dark chocolate treats over milk chocolate has a ton of health benefits. Dark chocolate usually contains less butter fat and is packed with antioxidants. Organic dark chocolate, sold at specialty stores like Trader Joe's, are much less processed and contain healthy flavonoids.

2. Treat Yourself
Recipes for Healthy and spooky snacks - Disney Family Fun


3. Know the Candy Breakdown

1 treat size (fun size)	Calories	Fat (g)	Sugar (g)
Snickers	71	3.6	7.6
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup	88	5.2	8
Reese's Caramel Cup	100	5	11
Reese's Nutrageous	95	5.5	7.5
Milky Way	77	2.9	10.2
Butterfinger	85	3.5	8.5
Almond Joy	91	5.1	9.2
Milk Duds	40	2	6.3
M&Ms	90	4	11.5
Peanut M&Ms	93	4.7	9.1
Nestle's Crunch	51.3	2.7	5.6
Peppermint Pattie	47	1	8.6
Kit Kat	73	3.7	.67
Dots	70	0	11
Skittles	80	.8	15
Jelly Belly Jellybeans	35	0	7
3 Musketeers	63.3	2	10
Milky Way	75	3	10
Hershey's Bar	66.7	4	7.7
Take 5	105	5.5	9
100 Grand	95	4	11
Nerds	50	0	12
Whoppers	100	4	13
Mike & Ike	50	0	9
SweeTarts	10	0	2.4

4. Have Fun
Instead of making the whole night about candy, have a party! Play games, have a costume contest, and watch scary movies. Add some healthy treats to the mix by putting out bowls of healthy non-candy treats like popcorn, sliced fruit and your favorite veggies. Set up a Jack-o'-lantern carving station, bob for apples, and make your own haunted house.

Recipie for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are high in plant sterols and phytochemicals. They aid in lowering cholesterol and promoting good prostate health. On top of that, they're also a good source of protein, fiber, potassium, and magnesium.



Ingredients
2 cups pumpkin seeds
2 teaspoons canola oil
Salt to taste
Optional seasonings to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, toss pumpkin seeds with canola oil and salt. (At this stage also add any additional seasonings to the mix)
3. Spread pumpkin seeds evenly onto a baking sheet in one layer.
4. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the seeds are crisp, stirring every few minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and if desired, re-season to taste.

Tip: Remove pulp by rinsing the seeds through a strainer. Also, make sure the seeds are completely dry before roasting.

Heal Any Mood with These 4 Yoga Poses

1. Stress: Tree Pose
Why it works: Balance yoga postures like this one require your complete focus, and that takes your mind off whatever’s stressing you out.

How to do it: Stand with right foot on the inside of left calf or thigh, knee pointing out. Place hands in prayer position in front of chest, palms together, and hold for 3 breaths. Slowly raise your arms overhead and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on opposite side.

2. Angry: Twisting Lunge
Why it works: When you're irritated, toxins build up in your liver; this yoga pose literally 'wrings' them out and massages your organs to help you calm down.

How to do it: Lunge forward with right leg until thigh is parallel to floor. Place left palm next to inside of right foot, and extend right arm up, rotating shoulders and right palm upward. Look up at hand. Hold for 5 breaths; repeat on opposite side.

3. Sad: Camel
Why it works: This yoga pose helps open up your lungs so you can breathe deeply, which increases oxygen levels in your blood. That elevates your mood and makes you feel better.

How to do it: Kneel with legs should width apart, arch back, and reach hands behind you to grasp your heels. Push your hips forward so they're aligned with knees, and relax your head and neck. Hold 30 seconds, and remember to breathe deeply.

4. Tired: Shoulder Stand
Why it works: From this yoga position you'll increase the blood flow to your brain, which will boost your energy.

How to do it: Lie face-up with arms at sides, palms on mat, and pull knees in toward chest. Press palms down as you raise hips and extend legs straight up, placing your hands on the small of your back to support you.

Fall into a Healthy Routine this Season

As the fall weather blows in and the day light hours become shorter and shorter we may find ourselves falling into an unhealthy routine of sleeping too much, staying indoors, and over indulging on high calorie foods.

Let's be honest who doesn't want to curl up with a big bowl of mac and cheese on a cold dark night and watch bad TV?

The truth is you can have your lazy and indulgent days... but earn them! If we regularly allow ourselves to overindulge and sink into bed when the sun goes down we'll be setting ourselves up for a long depressing winter.


Here are some helpful tips to stay healthy, happy and motivated all through the grueling winter months.

1. Get some daylight ASAP
A dark house is an invitation to get back in bed. As soon as you get up open the curtains and let in whatever light from outside shine in. If it's not too cold open a window and get some fresh air to wake up all your senses. Keeping yourself in the dark can contribute to SAD (seasonal affective disorder), which we definitely don’t want to do!

2. Eat breakfast
Get off on the right foot by preparing a healthy breakfast for yourself each morning. A nutritious meal in the morning will rev up your metabolism and set you up to make healthy decisions throughout the day.

3. Bundle up and get out
Put your warmest winter wear to good use. Pile on your hat, scarf, coat and gloves and get moving outside. Your brain may not like it but make your feet take you there.

4. Tune into your tunes
Play your favorite tunes to distract you from the cold or blast them indoors to make house work more fun. Music has incredible power over moods.

5. Evening Activity
Plan to take part in an afternoon or evening group activity. This is the perfect time to register for that painting class you've always wanted to do or try something new like a spinning or dance class. Group activities keep you engaged in your community and now there is no excuse to run home right after work.