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Spread Holiday Cheer, Not Flu!

It’s not too late to get your flu shot! Enjoy the holiday season knowing that you have done the best thing to protect yourself and loved ones from getting the flu.

The MGH Central Flu Clinic will run through December 9th. Open to patients 5 years and older. Walk-ins are welcome but scheduling an appointment through Patient Gateway is strongly encouraged.

Clinic hours and location:
Tea Leaves Cafe
Wang Ambulatory Care Center Lobby

Monday-Friday
9am – 5pm

Visit massgeneral.org/flu for more details.

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MGH Central Flu Clinic Opens Next Week

The MGH Central Flu Clinic opens Tuesday, September 27 at Tea Leaves Café in the Wang Lobby and will run through Friday, December 9.  Open to patients 5 years and older.  Walk-ins are welcome but scheduling an appointment through Patient Gateway is strongly encouraged.

Clinic Hours

  • September 27 – November 18
    • Monday – Friday: 7am – 6pm
    • Saturday: 8am – 12pm (October only)
  • November 21 – December 9
    • Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm

Holiday Hours

  • October 10 (Indigenous People’s Day): 8am – 1pm
  • November 23 (Day before Thanksgiving): 8am – 1pm
  • November 24 and 25 (Thanksgiving and day after Thanksgiving): Closed

Important Information About COVID-19
All patients and visitors are screened for possible symptoms of COVID-19 and given a mask to wear regardless of vaccination status. Visitors to the Central Flu Clinic are expected to be healthy and well. If you have upper respiratory symptoms including fever, sore throat or cough, please postpone your visit. The flu shot does not protect against COVID-19. Visit vaccines.gov or Mass.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccination site near you.

Visit www.massgeneral.org/flu for more details.

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National Influenza Vaccination Week

It’s not too late to get your flu shot! Enjoy the holiday season knowing that you have done the best thing to protect yourself and loved ones from getting the flu. Patients five years and older are encouraged to visit the MGH Central Flu Clinic to get their flu shot.

Clinic hours and location:
165 Cambridge Street, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA

Monday-Friday
9am – 5pm

Visit massgeneral.org/flu for more details. Spread holiday cheer, not the flu!

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2021 MGH Central Flu Clinic

Flu season is here! Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect you and others from getting or spreading the flu. The MGH Central Flu Shot Clinic opened today and will run through December 10th.  This clinic is open to patients aged 5 years and older.

Clinic Schedule:
September 27th – November 23rd
7:00am- 6:00pm Monday – Friday
8:00am – 12:00pm Saturday (October only)

November 29 – December 10th
9am – 5pm

Location:
165 Cambridge Street, 2nd floor
Boston, MA

Exceptions:
Monday, October 11th: 7am – 1pm
Day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 24th): 7am – 1pm
Thanksgiving Holiday (November 25th and 26th): Closed

Parking:
Parking for the Central Flu Clinic is available at the Parkman, Yawkey and Fruit Street garages. Visitors to the flu clinic may park for up to one hour free of charge (after the first hour, regular rates apply).

Important Information About COVID-19
All patients and visitors are screened for possible symptoms of COVID-19 and given a mask to wear regardless of vaccination status. Visitors to the Central Flu Clinic are expected to be healthy and well. If you have upper respiratory symptoms including fever, sore throat or cough, please postpone your visit. The flu shot does not protect against COVID-19. Visit vaccines.gov or Mass.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccination site near you.

Visit www.massgeneral.org/flu for more details.

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National Influenza Vaccination Week December 7-12

It’s not too late to get your flu shot!  Enjoy the holiday season knowing that you have done the best thing to protect yourself and loved ones from getting the flu!

Patients 9 years and older are encouraged to visit the MGH Central Flu Clinic at the Russell Museum of Medical History and Innovation to get vaccinated.  Clinic is open through Wednesday, December 9th 7am – 6pm.

Visit massgeneral.org/flu for more information.

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2020 MGH Central Flu Clinic

Flu season is quickly approaching. Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect you and others from getting or spreading the flu. The MGH Central Flu Shot Clinic will open September 22nd and run through December 12th.  This clinic is open to patients aged 9 years and older.

Dates:
Tuesday, September 22nd through Saturday, December 12th

Time:
7:00 am- 6:00 pm Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Saturday

Location:
Russell Museum of Medical History and Innovation
(2 North Grove Street, Boston)

Exceptions:
Columbus Day – Monday, October 12th, open 7a – 1p
Day before Thanksgiving – Wednesday, November 25th, open 7a – 1p
Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday, November 26th through Saturday, November 28th), closed

Parking:
Visitors to the Central Flu Shot Clinic may park at any MGH garage for up to one hour at no charge

Important Information About COVID-19
All patients and visitors are screened for possible symptoms of COVID-19 and given a mask to wear. If you have upper respiratory symptoms including fever, sore throat, or cough, please postpone your visit. The flu clinic is often busiest during the early morning and late afternoon. To minimize crowding and promote physical distancing, patients are encouraged to plan their visit outside of these times. The flu shot does not protect against COVID-19.

Visit www.massgeneral.org/flu for more details.

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Pumpkin Muffins

Enjoy the flavors of fall with this pumpkin muffin recipe from the Pediatric Diabetes Clinic.  Did you know: pumpkin is a great source of Vitamin A, which can help keep your pumpkineyes healthy.

Kitchen Tools:

Cupcake tins
Cupcake papers
2 Large bowls
Large spoon
Large whisk
Wooden toothpicks
Wire cooling rack

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups granulated sugar
1 can (15oz) 100% pure pumpkin
4 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Paper line or grease 30 muffin cups.

Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.  Place sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil and water in a separate bowl and whisk until just blended.  Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and stir just until moistened.  Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.  Remove muffins from pans and let cool completely on wire racks.

Store muffins in covered container or resealable plastic bag.

Prep time: 10 min l Makes: 30 servings l Carbs per serving: 30 grams

Recipe adapted from verybestbaking.com
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Grilled Summer Vegetables

Enjoy the fresh flavors of summer with this easy recipe for grilled veggies from the MGH Be Fit Program.

Ingredients:
2 medium zucchini, cut into large slices (about 1½inches)
2 bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, or green), cored and cut into large chunks (about 1½inches)
1 large eggplant, cut into medium slices(about ¾inch)
1 red onion, peeled and cut into ¼ inch rounds
1 tablespoon fresh herbs (basil, thyme, chives,etc.)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:
Turn grill on medium-high heat.  (If using a charcoal grill, see note below.)

Place all the vegetables in a bowl and add in herbs, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss together until vegetables are well coated.

Spread vegetables on grill grate. Cook until they soften and start to show grill marks (about 10 minutes). Use grill tongs to flip them once or twice during this time to ensure even cooking.  Keep an eye on the vegetables as some may cook faster than others.

Note: To judge heat on a charcoal grill, hold your hand about 5 inches above the grill grate. Keeping your hand there for 4 to 5 seconds (before it becomes too hot) is roughly medium-high temperature.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutrition Information per Serving:
Calories: 120 • Protein: 4g • Sodium: 160mg • Carbohydrate: 22g • Fiber: 9g •
Fat: 3g • Sat fat: 0g

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7 Ways to Increase your Fiber Intake

Jordan Shute
Dietetic Intern

As the weather starts to warm up flowers begin blooming, trees start budding out, and fresh, local produce is right around the corner. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals our bodies need to work correctly.  Now is the time to check out local farmers markets to taste and experience fruits and vegetables grown right here in Massachusetts! Click here to find a market near you, or check for locally grown produce at your grocery store. Worried about produce spoiling before you can eat it? Buy frozen– it’s still full of the same nutrients as fresh produce.

Fiber is a weird word, right? You may have heard that eating fiber is good for you and your health, but what foods have fiber and how much do you need each day?  Fiber is a carbohydrate found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Our bodies can’t actually break down fiber to use for energy. However, fiber helps us feel full longer which helps keep hunger at bay and blood sugars in check.

Fiber comes in two different forms:  soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber can help lower blood sugar.  Foods with soluble fiber include apples, blueberries, oatmeal, nuts, and beans. Insoluble fiber helps keep your trips to the bathroom regular and prevents constipation. Foods with insoluble fiber include carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, legumes, and brown rice.

Adults and children need 20-30 grams of fiber per day. Increase your fiber intake by:

  • Eating whole fruits instead of drinking fruit juice
  • Snacking on raw vegetables and fruits instead of chips or candy
  • Eating whole grain pasta, bread, and brown rice instead of white bread, white pasta, and white rice
  • Eat beans or legumes a few times per week

Try one of these ideas to increase your fiber intake:

  • Layer low fat Greek yogurt with ½ cup blueberries and 1 tablespoon chia seeds (7 grams of fiber)
  • Dip raw vegetables in ½ a mashed avocado (½ avocado has 6.5 grams of fiber)
  • Steam 1 cup of edamame, top with a pinch of sea salt (8 grams of fiber)
  • Make peanut butter & banana sandwiches: spread 1 teaspoon of peanut butter between 2 slices of banana (1 banana has 3g of fiber)
  • Make an apple donut: core an apple, then lay it on its side and slice in rounds. Top with peanut butter or Greek yogurt, then add chopped nuts, berries, or dried fruit.
  • Try a fruit pizza
  • Cut 1 head of broccoli into small pieces, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast in the oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. (1 cup of broccoli has 5 grams of fiber)
Post content reviewed by Melanie Pearsall, RD, CDE