Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Patrice Powers-Barker

Life Beyond the Screen

Annually, the Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood celebrates Screen-Free Week. From “May 2-8,[2016] children, families, and communities around the world will rediscover the joys of life beyond the screen. Unplug from digital entertainment and spend your free time playing, reading, daydreaming, creating, exploring, and connecting with family and friends.”  Their screen-free week gives exception for work […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Terri Worthington, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Geagua County

REFERENCES:

  • Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org
  • Screen-Free Week http://www.screenfree.org/
  • American Academy of Pediatrics https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/The-Benefits-of-Limiting-TV.aspx
  • Harvard School of Public Health http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/television-and-sedentary-behavior-and-obesity/
  • Live Smart Ohio http://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/extensionauthors/screen-time-for-young-children-be-intentional/
  • Family Fundamentals CFAES http://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/family-fundamentals-too-much-screen-time-word-setting-limits
  • Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/children-and-tv/art-20047952?pg=2
  • eXtension http://articles.extension.org/pages/42511/what-are-things-our-family-can-do-together-if-we-dont-watch-television

Gardening For All Ages

Gardening is a great activity for all ages. A garden can be as simple as a few vegetables or herbs growing in containers. It can be as elaborate as built-in raised beds or a large area complete with play spaces including a bean-pole tepee.   Not only is gardening is for everyone, but there are also ways […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE (Certified Family Life Educator)

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, MPH, RD, LD

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Photo from Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/home.asp

REFERENCES:

  • National Gardening Association http://www.garden.org/
  • Ohio AgrAbility http://agrability.osu.edu/
  • Robinson-O’Brein, R., Story, M., & Hein, S. (2009). Impact of garden-based youth nutrition intervention programs: A review. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 109, 273-280.

Hydrate for a Smart Mind

It is not unusual to think about drink choices for hydration during the warmer summer season or during exercise. It is also important to “think your drink” in relation to so many of our drink choices being high in sugar. Research has shown the negative effects of dehydration on the brain such as impaired memory […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County and Maumee Valley EERA

REVIEWED BY: Cheryl Barber Spires, R.D., L.D. Program Specialist, SNAP-Ed OSU Extension Northwest Region Office

SOURCES:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/nutrition/index.html
  • Live Smart Ohio http://livesmartohio.osu.edu/
  • Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
  • Ohio Department of Education http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing

REFERENCES:

  • Benton, D. & Burgess, N. (2009). The effect of the consumption of water on the memory and attention of children. Appetite 53:143-146. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19445987
  • Edmonds, C.J. & Crombie, R. & Gardner, M. (2013). Subjective thirst moderates changes in speed of responding associated with water consumption. Front. Hum. Neurosci: 7:363. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712897/
  • Edmonds, C. J. & Jeffes, B. (2009). Does having a drink help you think? 6-7 year-old children show improvements in cognitive performance from baseline to test after having a drink of water. Appetite 53:469-472 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19835921

From International Celebration to Personal Favorites

Last month Jenny introduced the 2016 International Year of the Pulses as a way to add nutrition, affordability, versatility, taste and sustainability to your plate.  Did you eat any pulses on January 1st for good luck?  Pulses, also known as dried beans, dried peas and lentils have a global history as being a good-luck food […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, MA, CFLE, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Lucas County, Maumee Valley EERA

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, MPH, RD, LD, Research Associate, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension

REFERENCES:

  • Global Pulse Confederation http://iyp2016.org/
  • The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations http://www.fao.org/pulses-2016/en/

Dining In on December Third

Ellen Swallow Richards was born on December 3, 1842 and is known for her leadership in the field of Family & Consumer Sciences and Family Life Education, including founding the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), originally named American Home Economics Association. Although she was born in the 1800s, Ellen’s research, work and […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, MA, CFLE, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Carmen Irving, M.A., CFLE, CYC-P, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Union County

REFERENCES:

  • American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (http://www.aafcs.org/)
  • Chemical Heritage Foundation and History (http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/chemistry-in-history/themes/public-and-environmental-health/public-health-and-safety/richards-e.aspx)
  • Do Family Meals Really Make a Difference? Cornell University, College of Human Ecology (http://www.human.cornell.edu/pam/outreach/upload/Family-Mealtimes-2.pdf)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology History Library (http://libraries.mit.edu/mithistory/community/notable-persons/ellen-swallow-richards/)

Do Brain Breaks Work?

Unlike a specific class period of physical education, brain breaks are short bursts of physical activity that can happen throughout the day in the traditional classroom. They often last only one to three minutes and require minimal supplies and preparation. So, do they work? While brain breaks are not a substitute for physical education nor […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Fairfield County

SOURCES:

  • A-B-C for Fitness http://www.davidkatzmd.com/abcforfitness.aspx
  • Alliance for a Healthier Generation https://www.healthiergeneration.org
  • Donnelly, J. E., Lambourne, K., Classroom-based physical activity, cognition, and academic achievement https://www.nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/www/filebox/service/preventive/nhps/pep/classroompa.pdf
  • GoNoodle www.gonoodle.com
  • Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans http://health.gov/paguidelines/

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