Secrets to finding happiness in life (06/25/08)
Last week I watched several of the television specials about the life of Tim Russert, moderator of Meet the Press. While he was acknowledged to be a great journalist, everyone also mentioned his attitude toward life and his constant smile. Most of the stories which were told were not about his interviews with famous people, but about his concern for and interest in other people and his positive attitude...

Tips on produce handling, salmonella (06/18/08)
The recent outbreak of Salmonella in fresh tomatoes should be a reminder that government agencies are doing a good job of protecting our food supply. Fresh produce, including tomatoes, can become contaminated at any point along the supply chain, from the field or greenhouse where it is grown to distribution points to food preparation in restaurants and homes...

Tips on produce handling, salmonella (06/18/08)
The recent outbreak of Salmonella in fresh tomatoes should be a reminder that government agencies are doing a good job of protecting our food supply. Fresh produce, including tomatoes, can become contaminated at any point along the supply chain, from the field or greenhouse where it is grown to distribution points to food preparation in restaurants and homes...

Helpful ways to reduce screen time for families (06/11/08)
We used to talk about the amount of time children spent watching television, but now the concern has spread beyond the television screen. Screen time now also includes non-school or non-work-related computer and Internet use, video games, and DVD use. Time spent in front of a screen is time when children are not being physically active. It's not just children who need to get away from the screen. A sedentary lifestyle is not healthy for adults either...

How to spend food dollars wisely at the store (06/03/08)
It can be difficult to feed a family on a budget. Even with rising food costs, it is possible to trim food costs and still eat well. Mary Meck Higgins, an Associate Professor of Human Nutrition in the College of Human Ecology at K-State offers some tips to make the most of food dollars...

We all scream for ice cream, how to make it homemade (05/28/08)
The cold, sweet taste of ice cream is a summertime favorite. A fun activity for 4-H camp for many years has been making ice cream in a coffee can or a plastic bag. Whether you shake a bag, roll a can, or crank an ice cream maker, nothing beats the taste of homemade ice cream. Here are some tips for making ice cream with a smooth, creamy texture...

Healthy lifestyle improves quality of life for older adults (05/21/08)
The United States is nearing the start of a huge shift in the age of its citizens. It's being referred to as the "silver tsunami." This year the first of the baby boomers are turning 62. With 78 million baby boomers (people born between l946 and l964) in our country, the number of elderly people in the United States will be increasing for some time...

Healthy moms are good role models for their families (05/14/08)
Mothers are busy people with multiple respomsibilities for their families, their jobs, and their communities. One of moms' most important roles is as front line health educators for their families. Just think of all the important health advice we learn from mothers, or have given as a mother -- "Hold hands and look both ways when you cross the street. Wash your hands after using the bathroom. Eat some breakfast--it's the most important meal of the day. Drink your milk. Eat your veggies…."...

Use economic stimulus payment to improve finances (05/07/08)
Many people are anxiously waiting for their economic stimulus payment. More than 130 million households will begin receiving their payments this month. The amount people will receive depends on the information contained in their tax returns. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a plan to issue the payments based on the last two digits of Social Security numbers. ...

Drink up without filling out, beverage guidelines (05/01/08)
The latest data show that more than two-thirds of all American adults are overweight or obese. The fact that we consume 21% of our calories from beverages may be a major factor in the creeping incidence of obesity. Not only are we drinking more servings per day of sweetened beverages, but the portion sizes of these beverages have increased over the years...

Vitamin D: Important at every age of life (04/23/08)
Vitamin D has been recognized for a long time as being very important, along with calcium, for healthy bones. Known as the "sunshine vitamin," it is made in the body after sunlight, or ultraviolet light, hits the skin. Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption. Only 10-15 percent of the calcium taken into our bodies is absorbed without Vitamin D...

Use caution with over-the-counter ointments (04/09/08)
Acne, cough due to a cold, athlete's foot, hemorrhoids, itching from insect bites, and minor aches and pains of muscles and joints -- these are among the conditions that people treat by applying over-the-counter (OTC) creams and ointments to their skin. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges consumers to keep safety in mind when using such treatments...

Look past myths, get nutrition facts (03/19/08)
March is National Nutrition Month, a nutrition education and information campaign created by the American Dietetic Association. Each year, the campaign focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits...

Be mindful of eating habits, portion sizes (03/12/08)
In some parts of the world, people eat to satisfy hunger. Most Americans, however, do not stop eating when their stomachs are satisfied. Each day we make more than 200 food-related decisions, according to Brian Wansink, PHD, director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. ...

Diet and lifestyle habits can reduce risks of cancer (03/05/08)
A new report published by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund International offers some recommendations to reduce the risk of cancer. A panel of the world's leading scientists reviewed over 7,000 studies to develop a list of ten recommendations of diet and lifestyle habits people should follow to lower their chances of getting cancer...

Personal savings help prepare for emergencies, other needs (02/27/08)
This week is America Saves Week, to focus on the importance for consumers saving part of their income. Whether saving to repay debt, to be prepared for emergencies, for home ownership, education or retirement, those families that have a plan are more likely to be able to save...

Got the winter blues? Try some of these remedies (02/20/08)
Call it cabin fever, winter blues, or holiday let -- down--the effect is the same. Some people will experience fatigue, apathy, and irritability during the winter months. There is a medical term to describe those feelings -- Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD...

Save some green by going green with your grocery shopping (02/13/08)
"Going green" is a topic discussed from the local level to national politics. There are many things we can do daily to promote a "greener," more environmentally friendly household. Following are some steps consumers can take with the routine task of grocery shopping. Besides helping the environment, you will also save some money, adding a little extra green to the wallet!...

Physical activity important for maintaining good health (02/06/08)
Researchers are continually learning more about the relationship between regular exercise, good nutrition and good health. They tell us that deaths from such causes as heart disease and stroke to colon cancer and diabetes could be greatly reduced if people were physically active and ate a nutritious diet...

Nobody is immune to identity theft, so reduce your risk (01/30/08)
Identity theft is a crime which is on the rise. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in the U.S., more than 10 million people experienced identity theft in 2005. I recently was at a workshop led by Marilyn Bischoff, Extension family economics specialist at the University of Idaho, Boise. She stated that nearly 30 million people have been affected by identity theft in the last five years...

Organize household records for safety, convenience (01/23/08)
The start of a new year is a good time to take stock of all the papers and documents which are a part of our lives. Canceled checks, receipts, insurance policies, deeds…the list goes on and on. And as years pass, storing all those papers takes up a lot of space in our homes...

Nutrition expert shares tips on how to lose weight in 2008 (01/09/08)
Tips can make healthy resolutions a reality New Year's resolutions may have been made with good intentions, but they often do not last long. Over time, it may just be too difficult to actually carry through on what seemed like a good idea. Weight loss and eating more healthy foods are common resolutions made at the start of a new year. Sandy Proctor, Kansas State University Research and Extension nutrition specialist, encourages making change gradually to build on those good intentions...

Be prepared when bad weather strikes (01/02/08)
The early round of wintry weather in our area was a reminder of the need to plan ahead to handle emergencies that may occur without much warning in our state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers some tips to help people prepare for bad weather...

Tiny tastes can total big calories over the holidays (12/26/07)
The extra calories sometimes sneak up on us over the winter holidays. They don't always arrive in the form of large portions of calorie-laden food. Rather, they may tiptoe in through many tiny tastes throughout the day. Here's how those bites can add up during the day. Calories are approximate...

Holidays should be a time of joy, not unneeded stress (12/20/07)
Television and magazines depict the holiday season as a time when everything is perfect and everyone is happy. We tend to try to make this "the best holiday ever." But in reality, things don't always turn out as picture-perfect as we might hope. Planning ahead can help make the holidays more enjoyable and happier. ...

Use caution, know what you're buying when shopping online (12/12/07)
Online shopping continues to be popular and experts predict that consumers will spend more online this holiday season than ever. But, shoppers won't be the only ones online--scammers will be there too. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) offer the following tips to make online shopping as safe as possible...

Here are tips for ensuring safe holiday meals, leftovers (12/10/07)
Turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie -- all are essential parts of a holiday meal. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about preparing these traditional favorites. Can a turkey be cooked overnight? The method of cooking a turkey overnight at a low (200-250 degree) temperature, then holding it until serving time later in the day can result in two problems...

Strong families share certain characteristics (11/30/07)
Last week I wrote about the importance of healthy, strong families in our communities and in society. For many years researchers in the field of family studies have asked "What makes a strong family?" "What are the qualities that make for success in families?"...

National Family Week emphasizes family's importance (11/20/07)
Nov. 18-24 is National Family Week. It is a week to call attention to the important role families play in communities and society. I recently heard a researcher, Dr. John DeFrain, speak at an extension conference about the importance of strong families in a society...

Turkey cooking recommendations have changed (11/08/07)
The Thanksgiving Day menu -- turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans--typically stays pretty much the same. But some of the recommendations for preparing the meal have changed this year. The United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has eliminated the recommendation for washing raw meat and poultry, including raw turkey, before placing it in the oven. ...

Lifestyle choices help prevent breast cancer and other illnesses (10/26/07)
The survival rate among women who have had breast cancer is now up to 96 percent with an early diagnosis and five years of remission. Regular annual mammograms, improving lifestyles, and advancements in cancer care, medications and treatment have contributed to the rise in survival rates...

Bullies now doing it online (10/11/07)
For some students, the enthusiasm about a new school year may be tempered by fear of the school bully. A bully can make life miserable for another student in face to face encounters. Now, in the age of technology, harassment can continue long after the school day has ended...

Area 4-Hers to celebrate National 4-H Week Oct. 7-13 (10/04/07)
Next week, Oct. 7-13, is National 4-H Week. One may think of 4-H as green clovers and county fairs. These are important parts of the 4-H program, but there's much more. As one of the largest youth programs in the United States, 4-H provides many activities in which youth can grow and learn...

Simple steps can reduce foodborne illness (09/27/07)
Food safety issues make the headlines when there is a problem in a food processing plant or in the growing of fresh fruits and vegetables. But much of the responsibility for safe food rests with us, the consumers, in our own kitchens. How we handle and prepare food is important...

Preventing foodborne illness by careful preparation (09/13/07)
Each year in September National Food Safety Education Month is observed. Originally created by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the educational program is endorsed by other governmental and public agencies to remind everyone of the importance of safe food handling. The theme this year is Foodborne Pathogens: Your Family's Health is in Your Hands...

Making time for breakfast (09/06/07)
Skipping breakfast is comparable to trying to drive a car without gas. Food is the fuel that lets our bodies function as they should. The name of the morning meal --breakfast -- indicates that breakfast is needed to break the overnight fast to fuel daytime activities...

Changes, challenges for children, their parents (08/30/07)
A new school year has started. Some families will have the first experience of a child going to school. For others, there may be the new adventure of starting middle school, high school, or college. Whatever the age, a new school year brings many changes and challenges for children and their parents. Children are each unique and individual, but they all have some common needs...

Eat fruits, vegetables, including red ones (08/23/07)
The word is out that most people need to eat more fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy and balanced diet. With all the fresh produce so readily available, summer seems an easier time of the year to include more fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes and watermelons are rich in lycopene. ...

Use care so outdoor dining is a pleasant experience (08/29/06)
Next weekend will undoubtedly be a big outdoor dining weekend. And soon tailgating season will start. Outdoor cooking presents some special food safety challenges. When cooking and serving food in an outdoor setting, be sure to follow some basic food safety guidelines...

Keep bag lunches safe (08/22/06)
Whether it's off to school or work or an out of town sports event, many of us pack and carry "bag" lunches. Food brought from home can be kept safely until mealtime if these guidelines from the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service are followed...