Ready, Set, Walk! According to Harvard Health, walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress. Walking and other moderate exercise programs also help protect against dementia, depression, and colon cancer and can lower death rates. Walking has other benefits that one may not think of as readily; it counteracts the effects of weight-promoting genes, it helps lessen a sweet tooth, and it boosts immune function.
The University of Tennessee-Tennessee State University Extension Smith County is partnering with Smith County Health Department to again offer Walk Across Tennessee for 2026. Walk Across Tennessee is a program that persuades and motivates people of all ages to get started exercising or get back into the routine of exercising. It is a program that is simple and safe. All you need is a team of eight people and a desire to get moving!
Teams simply pool their mileage each week to work towards the chosen destination on a map that will be posted on the Walk Across Tennessee Smith County Facebook page. Dust off your walking shoes and prepare to join us on this eight-week journey “across Tennessee” from April 6-May 31! There is no cost to participate. Prizes will be awarded throughout the competition, and the teams with the most miles will be recognized. Register online by April 2nd at tiny.utk.edu/WATIndividual. Team captains must also register teams at tiny.utk.edu/WATTeam.
Quick & Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
1 tab butter
½ cup chopped celery
½ cup chopped onion
4 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can vegetable broth
½ lb cooked chicken, I use leftover or canned chicken
1 ½ cups egg noodles
1 cup sliced carrots
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
Salt & pepper to taste
Melt butter in large pot over medium heat. Add celery and onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Add broths, chicken, noodles, carrots, and seasoning and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes and serve.
Submitted by: Jan Knowles, Elmwood/Chestnut Mound FCE Club
