Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Food

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/

Mind Your Meals this Holiday Season

With fall in full swing and Thanksgiving just a few days away, many of us are faced with lots of opportunities to eat. Though the many celebrations and festivities of the season can be a great time to catch up with family and friends, these might also tempt us to overindulge. The gatherings and special […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.417@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Joseph Maiorano, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Harrison County, maiorano.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • American Heart Association, Mindful Eating Infographic. Retrieved from: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/mental-health-and-wellbeing/mindful-eating-infographic

SOURCES:

  • Nelson, J. (2017). Mindful Eating: The Art of Presence While You Eat, Diabetes Spectrum. American Diabetes Association, Retrieved from: http://spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/30/3/171
  • Harvard Health Publishing (2016). 8 steps to mindful eating. Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/8-steps-to-mindful-eating
  • Mindful Eating. Retrieved from: https://smokefree.gov/stay-smokefree-good/eat-healthy/mindful-eating
  • Dugas, Julia (2017). Mindful Eating Checklist: How To Master Mindful Eating, Food Insight. Retrieved from: https://www.foodinsight.org/mindful-eating-checklist-flavors-meditation

Pumpkin Spice: Sweet or Savory?

It’s that time of year again: pumpkin spice lattes have returned to our favorite coffee shops, and many fall and holiday-themed sweets (cookies, muffins, doughnuts, cakes, pies, etc.) feature the humble pumpkin. Pumpkin is a vegetable, and when eaten plain, it contains many nutritional benefits. A ¾ cup serving of pumpkin contains only 25 calories […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Candace J. Heer, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County

SOURCES:

  • Fruits & Veggies More Matters. Pumpkin: Nutrition, Selection, Storage. https://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/pumpkin
  • Stowell, AJ. Insider’s Viewpoint: 10 Surprisingly Perfect Ways to Use Canned Pumpkin. Fruits & Veggies More Matters. https://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/10-surprisingly-perfect-ways-to-use-canned-pumpkin/

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