Unlike at most gatherings this time of year, maintaining a healthy diet was easy at Boothbay Region Health Center’s healthy potluck dinner Dec. 1 at the Boothbay Fire House. 

Some attendees contributed healthy dishes, while others brought only their appetites. The $5 cost to attend benefited the Health Center.

There was plenty of food to fill and refill plates. Attendees voted for their favorite dish, the Scottish salmon in vinaigrette. The Center’s board of directors president, Patty Seybold, prepared it.

Second place went to the soto ayam soup Brett Auclaire, RN, FNP prepared and third place went to Anna Apollonio’s apple salad. Seybold declined the first prize of a $150 gift certificate for Ports of Italy restaurant, saving it for another prize winner at a future Health Center fundraiser.

Other dishes included a group fruit salad, mixed vegetable slaw by Jane Homer, sautéed kale with garlic and balsamic by Seybold, butternut squash with kale, Parmesan cheese and sage by Maureen Kinsey, curry mee soup by Brett Auclair, sweet potato and cabbage soup by Liz Lussier and braised red cabbage by Apollonio.

Seybold and fellow board member Liz Lussier told guests about the Center’s “Gift of Health” offer for the holidays. For $100, the Center is selling gift cards valued at $239. The cards can be used to cover the costs of lab tests, a health history review, a physical exam and screening, and other services. Cards are valid between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2019.

Using the “Gift of Health,” those who would like to contribute to a stranger’s healthcare can do so by designating their buy as an “unassigned gift.” Those who would like to receive an unassigned gift can also participate. To arrange for a contribution or to sign up for the wish list, call the Center at 633-1075.