Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 92
For many people, autumn events like Halloween and Harvest Day are fun times to dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, trunk or treating, to a fall festival, and eat yummy treats. These events are also opportunities to provide nutritious snacks, get physical activity, and focus on safety. Going Trick-or-Treating or Trunk-or-Treating? Follow these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for your love ones: Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible. Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in...
There are many advantages of living so close to the gulf coast. One of them is, it’s easy for us to enjoy eating fresh seafood as we celebrate October as National Seafood Month. Fish and shellfish are easy to prepare and swimming with nutritive value. Fish and shellfish have become an even more important part of the diet as people turn to more healthful eating. People are choosing fish and shellfish more for several reasons. It is economical, versatile, high in nutritive value, quick and easy to prepare, and it tastes good, too. When p...
Oo-oooh! Finally, the early mornings are cool and crisp - and I love it! Fall is finally in the air! Fall signals the arrival of the bountiful apple crop. Hmm-m! The aroma of fresh baked apples, the crunch of a juicy fresh apple and the variety of ways to cook apples make them a desirable fruit to keep on hand. Just thinking about it, apples may be the original fast food rolled up in its own nutritious container. (Remember Adam and Eve?) This delicious fruit is an affordable addition to any meal or snack. Remember, an apple a day keeps the...
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the perfect time to learn how to reduce your risk by eating right and engaging in physical activity. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing it and boost your odds of full recovery. All women are vulnerable to developing breast cancer but certain women are at a higher risk. Although some risk factors can’t be controlled, such as family history, gene mutations, onset of menstruation and menopause, other risk f...
The following is a very timely article written by one of my colleagues Dr. Theresa Jones, a certified financial education instructor and Alabama Extension regional agent in Human Sciences. It has some important information about Identity Theft I thought I would share with you today. Identity theft was among the top three consumer complaints in the United States in 2017, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Everywhere you look, everyone seems to be consumed Identity theft was among the top three consumer complaints in the United States in...
Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Local markets carry a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that are both nutritious and delicious. However, harmful bacteria that may be in the soil or water where produce grows may come in contact with fruits and vegetables and contaminate them. Fresh produce may also become contaminated during preparation or storage. Eating contaminated produce or fruit and vegetable juices made from contaminated produce can lead to foodborne illness, often called food poisoning. As you...
Before biting into that juicy steak, take a moment to think about your cholesterol level. Is it high? High cholesterol usually has no symptoms but can increase the risk of heart disease. The month of September has been designated as National Cholesterol Education Month. It’s the ideal time to have your levels checked and then take steps to bring your levels down if necessary. What is cholesterol, anyway? Cholesterol is a waxy substance that circulates in the blood. It is found in animal foods including butter, meat, cheese, and eggs. In a...
Eat Right for a Healthy Mouth and Teeth “Brush! Brush!” “Come on and brush your teeth! Make those pearly white’s clean” “Brush so your pretty smile can be seen”. (Children’s tooth brushing song) Young children with healthy teeth have more than just beautiful smiles. Baby teeth help children speak and chew. They also hold the jaw in place for the permanent teeth that are hiding under the gums. But poor oral health at any age can impact overall health. It's never too soon to start caring for your children's teeth. Beginning a few days after birt...
More than 634,000 people in Alabama, live with diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, another estimated 127,000 Alabamians have this disease but don’t know it. Alabama is the seventh (7) leading state in the United States to have Diabetes. Alabama Extension offers diabetes education programs to citizens across the state. Two of these programs are: The Right Bite Diabetes Cooking School –Participants learn to prepare and eat foods that help reduce their blood glucose levels. It’s a 4-week program. Cost: A one-time fee of $5...
Sports fans are gearing up across the country to tackle tailgating. This season, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers tips to defend your pre- and post-game gatherings from the most challenging opponent — food poisoning. Wash Wash hands before, during and after preparing food for a tailgate. Sing your favorite team's fight song — while lathering with soap and water for 20 seconds. Be sure to pack moist towelettes for guests to clean up before digging in. Separate Always defrost meats in the refrigerator or in the microwave — never...
Mmm, mmm good! Mmm, mmm good! Home grown watermelons are Mmm mmm Good! Folks at the USDA Office Building in Brewton enjoyed strolling through the “watermelon patch” searching for the biggest, sweetest, watermelons that were perfectly ripe for the picking! For us, this passage marked the end of the watermelon growing season, and time for a “watermelon tasting party”! The last hurrah of summer! Yum Yum! Here are some tips to follow in selecting your watermelons next year. Be sure to clip and save these tips. Selection A good ripe melon is firm...
This week school bells will ring announcing the beginning of the new school year! Children, parents and teachers are all excited about it! YEA! Some children are so excited that they are not conscious of their surroundings – including ongoing traffic. Let’s remember to slow it down when we see children walking or running around their schools and along the streets - especially in the mornings and after school. Also, be mindful of school buses that have FLASHING LIGHTS, and have STOPPED in the middle of the street or roadway. This usually means t...
I am often stopped and asked the difference between buying organic foods and naturally grown foods I encourage them to the following timely Extension Publication: Buying Organic – What Does It Mean? ANR 1425. I am sharing parts of the pamphlet here: Fact and Myth When asked the difference between organic goods and those labeled all-natural, eco-friendly, or naturally grown, consumers may respond that these are one and the same. In reality, they are different. In 1990, the federal Organic Foods Production Act established the National Organic P...
I really enjoy eating fresh blueberry crunch and drinking strawberry smoothies in December. You can too! Fruits can be frozen and still be as appetizing and tasty as fresh fruit if they are properly selected, prepared, packaged, frozen, stored, and thawed. However, if you try to slip by on just one step, you can ruin the quality of your fruit. Follow reliable research information given here, and your family and guests will want second, and even third, servings. Too, the nutrients in these fruits will still be there. Selecting variety...
If I knew then what I know now I would have a beautiful set of perfect pearly white teeth! Multiple trips to the dentist office through the years, remind me that it’s worth it to follow these tips to have healthy teeth for a life time. Daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing are essential to a healthy smile, but did you know nutrition has an effect on your dental health, too? Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods from all the food groups promotes healthy teeth and gums. A balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, protein foods, c...
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday To you! Happy Birthday Dear America on your 242nd Birthday! On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Each year on July 4th, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. It’s our main summer holidays providing a break from school and work, but we shouldn't break from being smart about food safety. More care is needed since foodborne illnesses increase during the summer. July is National Picnic month and summer p...
Planning a trip this summer? Sure, that’s what vacations are all about. But, fun all goes by the wayside if you take a vacation from diabetes control. Some careful pre‐travel planning can help you manage your diabetes while on the road and allow you to get the most enjoyment out of your vacation. First, you want to request a letter from your physician stating your medical condition and a list of medications. Next, get prescriptions for medications, insulin, syringes, etc., and have all syringes and vials of insulin clearly marked with the pharm...
June is Men’s Health Month, and every year Men's Health Week is celebrated in the week including Father's Day. However, men should be aware of their ailments, symptoms and have them checked throughout the year, not just during the Month of June. Anchored by a Congressional health education program, Men's Health Month is celebrated with screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities. The purpose of Men's Health Month is to increase awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detec...
It’s Blueberry Picking Time! This coming weekend all roads lead to Jenning’s Park in Brewton, AL for the 38th Annual Alabama Blueberry Festival. We are inviting you to come and join us for this BIG EVENT! The Festival will be held Saturday, June 16th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It will be a day full of good wholesome food, fun, and entertainment for the entire family. If you are not familiar with Brewton, just follow the signs and look for the old Ritz Movie Theatre Marquee in downtown Brewton where Hwy 31 and 41 intersect. (Jennings Park is...
No matter where you live or what type of severe weather is likely for your area, it is important to be prepared. Along the Gulf Coast, hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak period occurring in September - October. Preparedness keeps more people from being hurt and is also a key to food safety during a hurricane and the floods that can accompany it. Residents in Lower Alabama and surrounding areas subject to hurricanes should keep an adequate supply of food, water, and emergency equipment on hand. This includes enough...
Even though May is National Asthma Awareness Month, we should be mindful of the little “triggers” that cause asthma to flare-up year round. Why? Because Asthma is one of our nation’s most common and costly diseases? There is no known cause and over 20 million people have it. The severity of asthma, as well as the frequency of asthma episodes (“attacks”), can be influenced by exposures to allergens and/ irritants (“triggers”) in the environment, both indoors and outdoors. It is important to know that asthma “attack triggers” are often hidden....
Congratulations to ALL 2017 GRADUATES! We are so proud of you for completing this big milestone in your life. We wish you the best as you start a new journey in life! School is out! Time to Prepare for Vacation… Checklist! School will soon be out and it will be time to get ready for vacation! YEA! Packing up your family to leave for vacation is a crazy and chaotic project, which often leaves you wondering if going away is worth the effort involved! In order to simplify your departure, follow these tips to ensure your peace of mind: Three days b...
Do your eyes have all the nutrients they need to help prevent cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and other sight woes? Read on to learn about the top foods for eye health. But don't count on popping a pill to get these nutrients — your best sources of vitamins and antioxidants are from whole foods, since it may be a food's combination of nutrients that have a synergistic healing effect. Kale: See the Light This leafy green is a rich source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are related to vitamin A and beta carotene, and are believed to p...
Sunday, May 13th is Mother's Day, the time set aside to honor all Mothers for the important roles they play. The day trace its history back to 1905 when Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Virginia, inspired by the death of her own mother, started a campaign to create "Mother's Day." In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day as a national holiday to be held on the second Sunday in May. Here are some of best quotes, remembrances and inspiration to celebrate and honor Mothers and Mother figures. You may remember...
As I walk around the grocery stores, I notice a variety of new package products that are gluten-free. It’s a new trend offering more food choices for those who have Gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is triggered by ingesting certain proteins, commonly referred to as "gluten," which are naturally present in some cereal grains. While Celiac Disease cannot be cured, its symptoms can be controlled through diet. Celiac Disease is a genetic disorder and may occur in children as well as adults. Approximately one in 133 people may have celiac disease;...
