2025 Budget-Friendly Series

This past year, the team at Stilly Valley Health Connections has been working with Sound Dietitians, LLC, to offer a virtual Budget Friendly Series. This monthly series was designed to provide education on how to eat nutritiously without breaking the bank. It has covered a wide range of topics, including how to utilize canned goods, budget-friendly proteins, and seasonal produce.

With only two classes left in the 2025 series, we invite you to view the Nutritional Education page on our YouTube channel to view our recordings for prior months. We have also linked the two final sessions below so you can register to attend the live session and receive the link to the recording and handouts.

November 25th: Breakfast on a Budget

December 9th: Budget-Friendly Takeout from Home

Thanksgiving Stress:

4 Ways to Keep Your Cool During the Holidays

Thanksgiving is meant to be a time of gratitude, abundance, and delicious meals. It is also frequently served with a side of stress. Between travel time, sharing personal updates with extended family members, and figuring out how the heck to defrost a turkey, the holiday is known to throw an unexpected curveball or two. To help embrace the sweeter side of the season, we’re sharing four actionable tips to help you manage any Thanksgiving-related stress as it comes:

Take a deep breath before responding to an uncomfortable question or comment.
Have some topics at the ready to easily switch gears.
Take control of what you can.
Give yourself emotional space in advance.

To view the full excerpt and read more about these tips, click HERE and view the American Institute of Stress article.

Research shows that deep breathing can positively impact lung function, pain management, and digestion, as well as lower stress levels, improve focus, and help regulate emotions.

This technique is well-suited for both beginners and those with more experience with deep breathing exercises. Use it for when you’re feeling tense, unfocused, or depleted. Here’s how to get started.

Click HERE to view the rest of the excerpt from Healthy Monday.

This free workshop equips parents and caregivers with practical tools to help children and youth develop emotional strength, adaptability, and a positive mindset.

Participants will explore strategies to foster strong family connections, manage stress, and support kids through challenges. By the end of the session, participants will feel more confident in nurturing resilience at home, and empowering their children to thrive in the face of adversity.

Kid-friendly activities for children ages 4 and older will be provided in the children’s section of the library.

This workshop will be led by Jenne Alderks, M.Ed., MPA (she/they pronouns). Jenne is a Human Services Specialist with Snohomish County Behavioral Health and leads the CARE Movement in Snohomish County, which offers training for public agencies and human services organizations in trauma informed practices.

This workshop was organized by the Arlington Coalition For Healthy and Resilient Youth.

Date: November 20^th, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Format: In-Person at Arlington Library - Sno-Isle Libraries

Address:135 N Washington Ave. - Arlington

Upcoming Programs & Events

All of our programs and events are held in-person, online, or in a hybrid format. Many are recorded and can be viewed on-demand. Programs and events are free, unless otherwise stated in the description. To learn more, or register for a specific program or event, click on the name of the program below.

Holiday Programs

Make Ahead Holiday Sides (Online)
All Ages Holiday Craft Night (In-Person)

Mental Health

All Ages Art Journaling Workshop (In-Person)
Mindful Activities for Difficult Emotions and Stress (In-Person)
Restorative Sound Bath (In-Person)
All Ages Art Journaling Workshop (In-Person)
Restorative Sound Bath (In-Person)

Health and Safety Education

Cannabis 101: Trends and Perspectives (Online)
Overdose Prevention and Narcan Training with Snohomish County (In-Person)

Cooking and Nutrition

Make Ahead Holiday Sides (Hybrid)
Breakfast on a Budget (Online)
Simple and Healthy Comfort Meals (Hybrid)
Budget-Friendly Takeout from Home (Online)

To view a complete listing of all upcoming programs and events, please visit our website.

Programs & Events

Recipe of the Month

Roasted Delicata Squash Boats

Ingredients:

2 medium delicata squash, sliced in half lengthwise, seeds scooped out
extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
1 medium shallot, diced
2 cups diced mushrooms (any kind)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup white wine
2 tablespoons panko
2 kale leaves, ribs removed, shredded finely
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese or dairy-free cheese, plus more for garnish

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rub a little bit of olive oil on all sides of each piece of squash. Grind fresh salt and pepper over the cut side of each piece, and set the squash face down on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes. The squash should be soft yet firm.
Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a pan and add the shallots. Cook for 1 minute, or until the shallot is transparent. Add the mushrooms, thyme, and a dash of salt, and cook on medium heat until the mushrooms reduce, 2-3 minutes. Deglaze the pan with wine, and cook for another 2 minutes, or until the liquid has mostly dissolved. Turn off the heat, and stir in the panko, kale, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. The mixture should be moist. Season with salt and pepper if needed.
When the squash is out of the oven, gently scoop out the center, and coarsely chop it with a knife. Be sure to leave the rind intact. Add the cooked squash to the mushroom mixture, and stir well. Spoon the stuffing back into the squash halves, sprinkle with more cheese, and place the stuffed squash on the baking sheet, cut side up. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the cheese has turned golden brown. Serve hot.

This recipe was found on Meatless Monday. To view this recipe and others, click HERE.

Community Services

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We Have a YouTube Channel!

You can easily find and view our 2025 recorded classes and presentations by visiting our YouTube Channel.

Find us on YouTube under: @stillyvalleyhealth

As a program of Public Hospital District #3, Snohomish County, Stilly Valley Health Connections provides and promotes health and wellness programs to the residents of our hospital district.

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