Happy New Year from Healthy Together Wodonga! We hope you all had a relaxing break over the Christmas period and you’re as excited as we are about all the new things ahead for 2015.

Many people use the start of a new year to make a fresh start, pulling out joggers from the back of the wardrobe, scooping extra vegies on to the plate or trying something new like slowing down and practicing daily meditation.

If you’ve made a healthy New Year’s Resolution – if so, that’s great – but remember it’s never too late to make healthy lifestyle changes. Need some tips and tricks - check out Live Lighter for tools, resources and recipes.

What does 2015 have in store for Healthy Together Wodonga? Many fantastic activities and events that we’d love you to be a part of. It all kicks off January 19 when Jamie’s Ministry of Food mobile kitchen rolls into town. Like to know more? Read on!

It’s time to get healthy with your selfies!

Our #HealthySelfie competition will start on January 23 to February 21. Over the month we’re asking you to pair that pout with a plum, wink while on a walk or give some sass while making a salad!

Upload your photos below the pinned Facebook #HealthySelfie post and you’ll be in the running to win one of two fabulous Jamie Oliver cookbooks. Winners will be announced on February 21 at noon.

Did you know that research has shown that taking a lunch break improves energy levels, reduces stress and helps sustain concentration throughout the day?

Having a healthy mind and giving yourself a break is important for your well-being which is why Healthy Together Wodonga is hosting Friday Lunch in the Park.

Running every Friday from noon until 1.30pm from January 23 to March 27 at the Wodonga Council car park near the Jamie’s Ministry of Food mobile kitchen, you are invited to bring your lunch and join us at our little patch of park paradise. Expect to relax in banana lounge chairs, listen to a new musician each week and play some healthy games like bocce and giant Jenga.  See you there!

It’s not too late to sign up for Jamie’s Ministry of Food Mobile Kitchen.

This exciting mobile program offers a five-week cooking course, composing of a 90-minute cooking class per week with up to 12 participants in each class. It is open to residents of Wodonga and surrounding areas.

Date: Monday, January 19 to Sunday, February 22, 2015
Venue: Wodonga Council offices car park (Hovell St)
Costs: Classes cost just $10 per session and $5 per session for concession.
Bookings for cycle one are open now and can be made at The Good Foundation.

For more information please contact The Good Foundation on (03) 9282 9100.

What do you do with all those lemons on the backyard tree? What about all those excess zucchinis growing too large in the patch? If you have more produce in your garden than you can possibly eat then why not share or swap it!

Healthy Together Wodonga and some local Health Champions are launching a weekly backyard produce swap.

Meet and swap garden produce like fruit and vegetables, herbs, flowers, plants, seeds, cuttings and seedlings.

The produce swap will be informal and is based on an honesty system. Simply turn up with your produce, put it on the table and share it or exchange it for something you feel is a fair swap.

The produce swap will run on Saturdays from January 24 to March 21 from 11am to noon outside the Wodonga Council offices in Hovell St, near the front steps.

We are excited to announce that we are supporting the Hume Bank City2City Run/Walk between Albury and Wodonga on Saturday, February 22.

This is a volunteer-run event that celebrates and raises funds for Albury Wodonga Health's cardiac services.

As part of our support, there are five Healthy Together Wodonga Challenge Cups up for grabs!

Celebrate your service, school, workplace or community group by entering to walk or run. Sign up at the Hume Bank City2City Run/Walk website.

The Achievement Program is a Healthy Together Victoria initiative that supports early childhood education and care services, schools and workplaces to create healthy environments for learning, working and living.

Congratulations to Baranduda Preschool, Belgrade Avenue Preschool, Felltimber Children's Centre Preschool, Jamieson Court Preschool, Southern Rise Children's Centre, Stanley St Preschool in Wodonga who have completed the first phase of the Achievement Program and have committed to taking a whole-service approach to building a healthy environment.

During 2015 these preschools - as well as other Wodonga early childhood services - will continue to build on their physical and social environments as well as policies to support specific health areas such as healthy eating, physical activity, mental health and sun protection.

Wodonga organisations registered with the Achievement Program have attended free workshops regarding healthy eating and staff mental health, receive individual support to implement the program and build on their engagement with staff, families, students and community groups.

Healthy Together Wodonga recognises the health promotion achievements in these settings and shares them with the broader community through our eNewsletters, Facebook and the Wodonga Council website.

To check if your school or workplace is registered please visit our website or more information please contact Felicity Finn, Health Promotion Officer, ffinn@wodonga.vic.gov.au or (02) 6022 9323.

Before Christmas we held an end-of-year celebration for our health champions (recipients of our innovation grant projects) and our Voices4Health champions.

What a great year it has been working with these teams!

Through project collaboration we have had excellent achievements.  At our celebration we made healthy home-made pizzas and had a tour of the lovely Birallee Park Neighbourhood House Adopt-a-Plot initiative which was part of the innovation grant project.

We look forward to new and ongoing ventures with both teams this year!

Cool down and beat the heat with this refreshing, delicious and healthy drink.
• 5 green apples
• 4 celery stalks
• 100g baby spinach leaves
• 2 cups of mint leaves
• 1 lime – peeled.
Simply put all ingredients through your blender and enjoy! Serves eight.