Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Food

Cooking for One?

Sometimes, cooking for one or two may seem like it’s not worth the trouble. You may worry about making too much food or having too many leftovers, or you simply may not feel like cooking and cleaning up afterwards. We all need to eat, however, and homemade meals are often healthier and less expensive than […]

WRITTEN BY: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County

REVIEWED BY: Kathy Tutt, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Clark County

SOURCES:

  • Garden-Robinson, J. (2016). Cooking for One or Two. North Dakota State University Extension Service. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/food-nutrition/cooking-for-one-or-two
  • Food $ense. Create a Skillet Meal. Utah State University Extension. https://extension.usu.edu/fscreate/ou-files/4_Create_a_Skillet_Meal.pdf
  • Lobb, J. (2017). Muffin Tin Meals. Live Smart Ohio. Ohio State University Extension. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/food/lobb-3osu-edu/muffin-tin-meals/

In the Calm BEFORE the Storm

While I love the warmer temperatures that come with spring and summer, I do not like the severe storms. As we have just seen here in Ohio, the results can be devastating to individuals. With severe storms, people may lose electricity and/or water which makes daily living tasks such as safely maintaining and preparing food, […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/photos/road-earth-storm-horizon-meadow-2155402/
  • https://pixabay.com/photos/storm-damage-oak-tree-break-597217/

SOURCES:

  • Centers for Disease Control, (2018). Educational Materials by Topic. Found at: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/educationalmaterials.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fdisasters%2Fhandhygiene.html
  • Centers for Disease Control, (2019). Keep Food and Water Safe After a Disaster or Emergency. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater/facts.html
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Emergency Supply List. Retrieved from: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1390846764394-dc08e309debe561d866b05ac84daf1ee/checklist_2014.pdf
  • United States Department of Agriculture, (2013). Preparing for a Weather Emergency. Found at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/emergency-preparedness/preparing-for-a-weather-emergency/ct_index
  • United States Department of Homeland Security. Financial Preparedness. Found at: https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness
  • United States Department of Homeland Security. Make A Plan. Found at: https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
  • United States Department of Homeland Security. Plan Ahead for Disasters. Retrieved from: https://www.ready.gov/
  • United States Department of Homeland Security. YOUTH PREPAREDNESS: Empowering the Nation’s Future. Found at: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1480971205120-e250ebf542d7c1aa40e6d6188798e41f/Youth_Resources_One_Pager_20160706_508.pdf

Healthy Eating for $4.50 a day??? No Fooling!

The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion issues monthly USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food Reports that estimate the current weekly/monthly costs of a nutritious diet at four different levels (thrifty, low-cost, moderate-cost, and liberal). The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the nutritional bases of the Food Plans. Here are some examples from the […]

REVIEWED BY: Dan Remley, PhD, OSU Extension Field Specialist

SOURCES:

  • https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietary-guidelines
  • https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/CostofFoodFeb2019.pdf https://www.choosemyplate.gov/dietary-guidelines
  • https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/fruit-and-vegetable-prices/interactive-chart-costs-per-edible-cup-equivalent/
  • https://celebrateyourplate.org/
  • https://www.choosemyplate.gov/budget

REFERENCES:

  • The Thrifty Food Plan 2006 Report, which details the development and methodology of the TFP (in 64 pages) is available online in PDF format at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/FoodPlans/MiscPubs/TFP2006Report.pdf

Managing in a Crisis: How to Stretch Your Food Dollar During the Government Shutdown

As the government shutdown continues, many employees are going on several weeks now without a paycheck. With the historic length of this shutdown, another major challenge for many families is that SNAP benefits through February are being released now and must last households through the end of February, with no current assurance on what will […]

WRITTEN BY: Amy Meehan, MPH, Healthy People Program Specialist

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods, Healthy Finances Program Specialist

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/usda-to-fund-snap-for-february-2019-but-millions-face-cuts-if-shutdown
  • https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
  • https://www.mealtime.org/~/media/files/fact-sheets/Canned_Food_Fills_MyPlate_Fact_Sheet_FINAL_.pdf
  • https://celebrateyourplate.org/recipes/sunny-baked-eggs-and-vegetables
  • https://www.choosemyplate.gov/amount
  • https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/food/bohlen-19osu-edu/overnight-oatmeal-to-the-rescue/
  • https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5341
  • https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-NSWPUhldRS0-Ql5XySPSWAzVGk4ndxg

Caffeine Contest: Coffee versus Tea

What is your morning drink of choice? Do you habitually drink coffee or tea? If so, you’re not alone; statistics suggest that roughly 90% of Americans consume caffeine in one form or another on a daily basis. Caffeine is a plant product found naturally in coffee beans, tea, cocoa and chocolate, and it is an […]

WRITTEN BY: Katie Minnelli, Dietetic Intern, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County

SOURCES:

  • Sass, C. (2015). Which is Healthier: Coffee or Tea? Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/health/which-is-healthier-coffee-or-tea
  • University of Michigan Student Life, University Health Service. Caffeine. https://www.uhs.umich.edu/caffeine
  • USDA (2016). 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines: Answers to Your Questions. https://www.choosemyplate.gov/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines-answers-your-questions
  • USDA (2017). MyPlate, MyWins Tips: Redo Your Coffee Shop Stop. https://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate-mywins-tips-redo-your-coffee-shop-stop
  • Villanova University Student Life. About Caffeine. https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/studentlife/health/promotion/goto/resources/drugs/caffeine.html

Have a Happy, Healthy Holiday!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, we are already knee-deep into the holiday season! While these last few weeks of the year can be filled with joy, time away from work, family traditions, and memories with loved ones, it never ceases to be a time accompanied by stress. One common stressor […]

WRITTEN BY: Katie Minnelli, Dietetic Intern, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County

SOURCES:

  • USDA https://www.choosemyplate.gov/
  • Chieh, Helander & Wansink (2016). Weight Gain over the Holidays in Three Countries. New England Journal of Medicine; 375:1200-1202. Available at http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1602012.
  • Turner, T. (2018). Chow Line: Holiday Indulgence in Moderation? https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/chow-line-holiday-indulgence-in-moderation
  • Yanovski et al. (2000). A Prospective Study of Holiday Weight Gain. New England Journal of Medicine; 342: 861-867. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4336296/

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