October 2026 eNewsletter

More space. More programs. More ways to support your health and well-being.

For generations, Tahoe Forest Health System has been part of the Truckee-Tahoe community—caring for our neighbors, supporting local families, and helping our region thrive. Now, we’re excited to begin a new chapter.

Tahoe Forest Wellness is moving to the new Tahoe Forest Sierra Center!

This beautiful new space gives us room to grow and, most importantly, creates more opportunities to support you and your health. Conveniently located in Truckee in the Gateway Shopping Center adjacent to Safeway, the Sierra Center will make it easier to connect with wellness programs, services, education, and support—all close to home.

Tahoe Forest Wellness is growing in more ways than one. With our new home comes expanded space, growing programs, new services, and new opportunities to connect with our community. Our programs are designed to support you throughout your health journey, whether you are looking to become more active, improve your nutrition, build strength, manage a health condition, support your recovery, or simply feel your best.

Our offerings include:

• Fitness
• Restorative wellness
• Nutrition
• Baby & Me
• Health education
• Support programs
• Medically supported exercise
• And more

Wellness is part of your care team

One of the things that makes Tahoe Forest Wellness special is how closely we work with the rest of Tahoe Forest Health System. We partner with departments including Cancer Center, Orthopedics, Women & Family, Community Health, Physical Therapy, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and many others to help connect patients with programs and services that complement their care.

We also work closely with our providers to help extend the care you receive beyond the exam room—with opportunities for movement, education, support, healthy living, and connection. Because good health is about more than treating an illness. It’s about supporting the whole person.

Come grow with us

The Sierra Center is more than a new building. It is a place where our community can come together, learn, move, connect, and find support. We are excited to welcome longtime participants, new community members, patients, families, and friends into this next chapter of Tahoe Forest Wellness.

Sarah Bernhoit, RDN, LD Sarah Bernhoit is a Registered Dietitian at Tahoe Forest Health System. With more than 20 years of experience, Sarah has worked in clinical nutrition, skilled care, weight management, and as a Lead Nutritionist for a grocery store chain. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. Sarah specializes in supporting people with diabetes, weight managment, pre- and post GLP-1experience, heart health, and metabolic conditions. Her counseling style is compassionate, practical, and individualized, helping each person build realistic habits that fit their lifestyle. Also, utilizing new techniques for understanding food through mindfulness and intuitive eating strategies.

Sarah lives in Truckee and embraces the Tahoe lifestyle through skiing, cycling, paddle boarding, Pilates, and strength training. She is a certified ski instructor who enjoys helping others build confidence. She and her husband, a triathlete, exercise together. They moved from Southern California five years ago. Sarah is proud of her whole family, including her adult children, who grew up playing water polo and have developed a lifelong appreciation for movement and wellness.

The winter conditioning class is for those adults looking to get stronger prior to the winter sport season. We will work on improving core stability, balance, plyometric and landing technique, and strength training with an emphasis on lower extremities. The class will be tailored to the participant’s ability and background. Participants should be able to complete 45 minutes of moderate to intense exercise. Past surgeries are ok, as long as the participant is no longer following surgical precautions.

Program is offered once per year during the Fall months. Pre-registration required.

Incline Village Series

When: Series happening each week on Wednesdays starting on October 7th until November 25th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm
Location: 230 Village Blvd #1, Incline Village

Truckee Series

When: Series happening each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on October 13th until November 19th from 5 to 6 pm
Location: 10710 Donner Pass Road, Truckee

Cost: Call for pricing

Wise Mind Series is a FREE program featuring speakers and various topics, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, mental health, cognitive games, and more!

October class: Accept/Allow/Adapt

A psychological toolkit for hopeful aging with MaryAnn McCarthy, MA

When: October 7th from 4 to 5:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Eskridge Conference Room Tahoe Forest Main Hospital

If you’re using a weight loss medication this comprehensive four-week program provides the education, tools, and support to help you achieve lasting results.

Led by a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Exercise Specialist/Health Coach, you’ll learn:

• How nutrition and GLP-1 medications work together to support metabolism
• Healthy eating strategies, meal planning, and symptom management
• Exercise routines that boost metabolism and help preserve muscle mass
• Body composition analysis and personalized fitness guidance
• Mindful eating techniques and sustainable habit-building
• The important roles of stress management, sleep, and long-term wellness planning

When: 4-week series happening on Wednesdays starting on October 28th from 4 to 5 pm
Cost: $99 for the 4-week series
Location: Tahoe Forest Wellness

Join us for monthly healthy cooking demos.

Get out of your cooking rut and come get INSPIRED at our monthly Health Supportive Cooking Club! Each month, our Registered Dietitian Lisa Fligor, MS, RDN, will provide a fun and interactive cooking demo. You get to taste test and take home easy, healthy, and delicious recipes!

October class: Cooking for bone health

Build strength from the inside out! In this interactive cooking demo, you’ll learn how to prepare delicious, nutrient-rich meals that support bone health at every age. We’ll highlight foods packed with calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and protein — key nutrients that help keep your bones strong and resilient. Discover simple, everyday recipes that make eating for bone health both easy and enjoyable!

When: October 28th from 5 to 6:30 pm
Cost: $30
Location: Tahoe Forest Wellness – Truckee

When: Monday’s starting on November 2nd through December 7th from 1 to 2:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Tahoe Forest Wellness, Truckee

Call Tahoe Forest Wellness to schedule your program at (530) 587-3769.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups cornmeal
• 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour or barley flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• ½ cup avocado oil
• ½ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup water

For the topping:

• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly oil muffin tins or line with paper muffin cups.
2. Mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt together in a larger bowl; set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together squash, oil, syrup, and water until smooth.
3. Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients and mix with a minimum amount of strokes, just until combined.
4. Spoon into muffin cups. Decorate the top of each muffin with pumpkin seeds.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes. Top of muffins should crack slightly when done and edge run a light golden brown.

Prep and cook time: 30 minutes
Makes 12 muffins
Recipe Source: “Feeding the Whole Family” by Cynthia Lair

Credible Minds – Tahoe Forest Community Health

Life can be challenging – there’s no way around it. Work or school can be stressful, relationships may face rough patches, and financial worries can weigh heavily. Resilience is the ability to recover and adapt when facing these difficulties. By learning to bounce back and move forward, you strengthen your capacity to grow and thrive. Research shows that developing resilience skills can enhance decision-making and performance under pressure. In other words, when the next challenge arises, you’ll be better prepared to manage it effectively. Building resilience can also reduce stress-related illness and boost your overall well-being. Explore the resources below to learn how you can strengthen your resilience.

Visit the Credible Minds Topics of Resilience

Truckee Recreation Center: Golden Hour

Join TFHD Wellness Director Wendy Buchanan for an engaging conversation about the Wellness Department offerings and an easy mobility activity!

When: Thursday, October 29th, 9-11 am
Where: Truckee Recreation Center, 10981 Truckee Way, Truckee
Cost: FREE

Truckee Recreation Center hosts a free weekly social event for seniors on Thursdays. All are welcome!

Find more information on Golden Hour.