Health & Wellness
BE SOLAR ECLIPSE SAFE
Planning
- When looking for areas to view the eclipse, be sure to stay away from electric equipment. This includes not parking near substations, utility poles, pad-mounted transformers, transmission rights-of-ways and all other electrical infrastructure.
- Revisit your emergency preparedness plan. Contact family, friends and neighbors who are elderly or have a medical condition.
- Pets may exhibit unusual behaviors. Veterinarians indicate the darkening of the skies during a total solar eclipse may signal to animals it’s time for bed. Horses and chickens may head into the barn or coop to rest. They recommend, when possible, leave dogs, cats and other indoor pets inside.
- Check your children’s school to see if they will be closed.
- Assemble or update your emergency kit.
- Fully charge your cell phone and fill up your gas tank.
On the Road
- Drivers should make sure they have a full tank or a fully charged electric vehicle before heading out in case they are stuck on the road for a while.
- Roads are expected to be congested. Expect heavy traffic and sudden stops by drivers.
- Be on alert for distracted pedestrians looking to the sky.
- Keep your headlights on while driving, even in the daylight.
- Do not wear eclipse glasses while driving.
- Always keep your eyes on the road. Only view the eclipse once safely parked away from the flow of traffic.
Viewing
- Never look directly at the sun without appropriate eye protection. This can cause serious eye damage or blindness.
- Use solar filters or eclipse glasses. Regular sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. Make sure your solar filters or glasses are certified and are not scratched or damaged.
- Help children be sure they use handheld solar viewers – such as a DIY Pinhole Projector – or eclipse glasses correctly.
- You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face – during the brief and spectacular period known as totality. (You’ll know it’s safe when you can no longer see any part of the Sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer.)
- You may be in direct sunlight for hours to watch the few minutes of the eclipse. Remember to wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing to prevent skin damage.
SALMON COUSCOUS SALAD BOWL
Ingredients
Salmon:
• 2x 4-6 ounce salmon fillets (use fresh rather than previously frozen salmon, if possible)
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil (or other high-heat cooking oil)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt + pepper, to taste
Salad:
• 1/2 cup moroccan couscous, dry
• 1 cup cucumber (Persian or English)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (vine-ripened, if possible)
• 2 tablespoons shallot, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh mint
• 1/2 cup feta, crumbled
• 1/2 a lemon, juice only (or more, if desired!)
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, mix avocado oil with cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and salt until well-combined.
2. Place salmon fillets on a plate and brush with oil and spice mixture until evenly coated. Season with pepper and set aside.
3. On the stovetop, cook couscous according to package directions.
4. While the couscous cooks, chop cucumbers, tomatoes, shallot, and fresh mint.
5. Once couscous is cooked, add chopped cucumber, tomatoes, mint, feta, lemon, and olive oil to the pot. Toss with couscous, seasoning with salt and pepper as desired. Set aside.
6. Heat a large pan over medium-high. Test to make sure the pan is hot enough by splashing a drop of water on it. If it sizzles – you’re good to go!
7. Place salmon skin side down onto the hot pan. Cook for 3-5 minutes (depending on thickness), using a spatula to press salmon down.
8. Once the sides of the salmon have turned more opaque, flip the fish so that
the skin-less side is touching the pan. TURN OFF THE HEAT, and let the fish
cook for another minute or two. The goal is to have the outside cooked, but
the insides soft and tender.
9. Serve couscous salad in 2 bowls and top with cooked salmon. Enjoy!
