I'm so excited! I got a free ice cream maker for walking around!! Let me explain...
My work's health insurance has a "wellness plan" deal with Virgin HealthMiles. You get a free pedometer and earn "health miles" based on the number of steps you take! And then you can get free stuff with the miles. Guess how much I earned in one year? Go ahead. Guess.
$100!
How absolutely cool is that?
I cashed in my health miles for Amazon gift cards and bought the $48 Cuisinart ice cream maker. My next post will be my first creation!! If you have ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt favorite recipe, please send them my way!!
Oh yeah. One last thing. Yes, I'm completely ignoring the fact that I'm using money earned in exercise on an Ice Cream Maker. But who wants to buy hand weights or an exercise video with this FREE MONEY? I'll just have to set my goal much higher on the ice cream making days!
By the way, if you work in HR or can make suggestions to them, this program really works! I've had pedometers before, but never the incentives for CASH MONEY. I quickly realized how little exercise I get on the weekend (when I seem to be in my car a lot) and how easy it is to get at least 7,000 steps by taking three short walks during my breaks (10 am, lunch and 3 pm) and running around the library. Here is an article about companies saving health care costs by investing in wellness programs from TIME Magazine.
It's going to be a cool and tasty summer!
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32 comments:
I really like the Betty Crocker Vanilla ice cream recipe. It's veru creamy and rich. I have a strawberru frozen yogurt recipe that I like. I have it on my blog here http://kitchencorners.blogspot.com/2008/10/strawberry-frozen-yogurt.html
by the way I totally made the buttermilk cake and it was awesome.
That is such a cool idea! Also, time to break out my ice cream maker.
Ha. I hope your next pedometer purchase is for a gas guzzling car.
What a great incentive... I guess they don't have any say in how you spend that moola - I'd say a health company might frown upon purchasing an ice cream maker ;).
Oh, how cool. That would work so well for me. I put all my groceries and gas on Amex and eventually get gift cards that way, but that just means I'd be buying food and NOT walking to get a free ice cream maker. I guess I just need to get a free pair of walking shoes with the money, and it will all balance out.
I spent $60 for mine (same one) but got an extra bowl, which won't fit in the freezer either. So looking forward to hearing more about your first batch of sorbet and sharing mine!
How cool!! I have the same ice cream maker and I love it! I have a few ice cream recipes on my blog if you're looking for ideas.
What an awesome work health incentive program. I've been wanting/needing ;) an ice cream maker, so I just put this one on my Amazon wish list for my husband to see! (Our anniversary is in a few weeks! Hmmm? What will he get me? Hey it benefits us both!)
My husband's cousin was going to get us one for our wedding gift but I told him not to because I'd use it way too much hehe!
But I've seen quite a few people with that machine and they love it, so I think you picked a good ice cream maker :D
That is SOOOO cool!!!! congratulations!!!!! I wish my work had something like that... but they did give us all a free yoga mat and excersice ball... forget it, it doesn't beat an ice cream maker!!!
I can't wait to see what tasty frozen treats you'll make with it!
OK...you must go IMMEDIATELY to Smitten Kitchen and get her recipe for chocolate sorbet. It is by far the best thing I have ever made in my ice cream machine. Do it now!
Yea for you! That's awesome! I can't wait to see what you make.
Love the irony! Enjoy the frozen treats. We love our IC maker too.
Congrats! My husband's company does something similar. I adore my ice cream maker, so much fun and so many opportunities for cold, creamy goodness.
Here is a link to our favorite ice cream recipe...cinnamon ice cream! Everyone loves it.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cinnamon-Ice-Cream/Detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cinnamon-Ice-Cream/Detail.aspx
That is a link to our favorite ice cream recipe for Cinnamon Ice Cream. Everyone who tries it just loves it.
Thats the same one we have, love it!
You lucky thing you!!! Woohoo!!! How nice to get a reward for your walking - you EARNED that ice cream maker :)
I have several ice cream recipes on my site... my absolute favorite is lemon but I've got mint chocolate chip, strawberry cheesecake, vanilla custard and bubble gum flavors too.
Congrats once again!
Big hugs...
~Em
The Repressed Pastry Chef
That is sooooo awesome! Congrats! What an amazing prize!
I love my pedometer and all of those walks really do add up. It's just a great idea all around. Can't wait to see what you make first! So glad it's ice cream time. Guess I had better get walking, too!
You are going to have so much fun! We tried the Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Cup-Ice-Cream/Detail.aspx.
I used natural peanut butter to avoid the over-sweetness some people complained about and added the new Reese's dark chocolate peanut butter cups. It was a hit!
What a cool idea! I wish my work had that wellness walk-for-points plan. Might have to submit to the HR suggestion box. B/c I'd totally do it! Have fun with your ice cream maker. Definitely need to get Perfect Scoop by David Lebowitz. Love it!
/Clara
Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Can't wait to try all your favorite recipes! :) - mary the food librarian
What an awesome idea your work has!
Wow, this is very cool! What a great incentive...I love the pedometer, too!
That is an awesome program! I have the same ice cream maker. I hope you love it as much as I do. Can't wait to see your creation.
try tomato garlic sorbet, YUM!
That's very cool! I wish mine did that. I walk a ton as I'm at the basefields all weekend long.
~ingrid
You should try to make some gelato in your new ice cream maker. It has less butterfat than regular ice cream. That way you can safely justify the ice cream maker purchase!
But, if you want to go all out, I also would recommend the Cinnamon Ice Cream from Allrecipes. It's the most requested flavor at my house.
HAHAHAHA! You walked to earn $100 TO SPEND ON ICE CREAM!
i wish they is such plan here.
This is awesome! I walk so much I would have every kitchen appliance. So jealous! Here is a link to Avocado Banana Pest Ice Cream I made. It was so creamy and good!
http://mortadifame.blogspot.com/2009/05/day-of-fun-and-yum-with-charles-and.html
The HR dept at my work also gave employees the option of joining the Virgin Healthmiles, but we had to pay $10/month to be a part of it (to cut some of the cost from HR). I enjoyed the year I spent in it, and I'm glad you're enjoying the fruits of your walking! I decided not to renew with VH because I'm a swimmer, not a walker/runner, so my "miles" weren't adding up like those who walk, run, ride horses, do aerobics, etc. I'm so happy to find someone who also found a great benefit from the pedometer!
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