Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Food

Fresh, Safe Garden Produce

Preventing contamination is the most important part of food safety in fresh produce and it starts in the vegetable garden. Follow these steps to promote food safety with fresh, garden produce. In the Garden Be familiar with the water source for the garden. If using well water, test the water at least once a year […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Abigail Snyder, Field Specialist, Food Safety & Management, OSU Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences

SOURCES:

  • Bolton, J., Bushway, A., Crowe, K., and El-Begearmi, M. (2013) University of Maine Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and Cooperative Extension https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/4336e/
  • Bunning, M. and Newby, M. (2010) Colorado State University Extension http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/nutrition-food-safety-health/safe-food-facts-for-community-gardens-9-381/
  • Chaifetz, A., Alnajjar, K., Ammerman, A., Driscoll, E., Gunter, C., Chapman, B. (2015), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Fight bac! Partnership for Food Safety Education http://www.fightbac.org/food-safety-basics/the-core-four-practices/
  • Goard, L. (2015) Ohioline https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-5338
  • Ilic, S. and Lewis Ivey, M. (2017) Ohio State University https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1153
  • Jarvie, M. (2015), Michigan State University Extension http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/food_safety_and_composting
  • Mancl, K. (2016) Ohioline https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-314
  • Private Drinking Water Wells (2018), United States Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.gov/privatewells
  • Universities of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont and funded by NIFA/USDA https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/manual/five-steps-food-safe-fruit-vegetable-gardening/
  • Water Quality (2016), Ohio Department of Health, http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/eh/water/PrivateWaterSystems/quality.aspx
  • Wright Hirsch, D. (2014) University of Connecticut Extension https://blog.extension.uconn.edu/2014/08/06/should-i-eat-that/

SUMMER FOOD SAFETY DANGERS

Don’t accidentally invite an unwanted guest to your summer picnic or barbecue.  With warmer temperatures, the risk for foodborne illnesses such as listeriosis increase.  Listeriosis can produce flu-like symptoms and for normal healthy people is usually not much of a concern.  However, it can be very dangerous for the elderly, newborns, pregnant women, or people […]

WRITTEN BY: Pat Brinkman, Ohio State University Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator, Fayette County

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

SOURCES:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). Listeria Prevention. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/prevention.html
  • Food Safety.Gov (2018). See Recent Recalls. Available at https://www.foodsafety.gov/recalls/recent/index.html
  • Mediros, L. (2015). Listeria Monocytogenes: A Concern for Pregnant Women and Older Adults. Ohio State University Extension Ohioline. Available at https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-5562

Veggie Rice 101

How many vegetables have you eaten today? Myplate recommends that adults eat at least 1 ½-2 cups of fruit and 2-3 cups of vegetables a day, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 1 out of 10 adults meet those recommendations. Clearly, it can be challenging to incorporate fruits and vegetables […]

WRITTEN BY: Lindsay Bean, Dietetic Intern, Marshall University

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

SOURCES:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). Only 1 in 10 Adults Get Enough Fruits or Vegetables. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1116-fruit-vegetable-consumption.html
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. Make Quick Work of Mashing Sweet Potatoes with a Potato Ricer. https://food.unl.edu/make-quick-work-mashing-sweet-potatoes-potato-ricer
  • USDA ChooseMyPlate.gov (2017). All About the Vegetable Group. choosemyplate.gov/vegetables

Veggies with a Twist

How many vegetables did you eat yesterday? MyPlate recommends that adults consume at least 2-3 cups of vegetables each day, making half your plate fruits and vegetables at each meal. However, finding new ways to put vegetables on our plates can be difficult and monotonous.  Luckily, there are revolutionary kitchen tools on the market that can […]

WRITTEN BY: Lauren McCabe, Dietetic Intern, The Ohio State University

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

SOURCES:

  • Colorado State University (2017). How to Use a Spiralizer (a healthy cooking video). http://liveeatplay.colostate.edu/eat/healthy-kitchen/videos/spiralizer.php.
  • USDA ChooseMyPlate.gov (2017). All About the Vegetable Group. choosemyplate.gov/vegetables.

What’s in Your Easter Basket?

Easter is the second biggest candy holiday in the United States, as 87% of Americans will buy or create an Easter basket.  Total annual spending on Easter candy has been $2.1 billion with over 120 million pounds of Easter candy purchased.  Over 70% of the candy purchased is chocolate and 16 billion jelly beans are […]

Safe Snacks for Traveling

Are you trying to eat healthy, but struggling with snacks? During my baby-steps to a healthier me, I’ve been struggling with snacks, especially when I travel. I think of all these great snacks that I can take with me, but then food safety realization sets in and suddenly I find myself at a loss. You […]

WRITTEN BY: Amanda Bohlen, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Washington County.

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Perry County.

SOURCES:

  • Bohlen, A. (2018). Healthy Snacks. Live Healthy, Live Well. https://livehealthyosu.com/2018/03/01/healthy-snacks/
  • The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (2018). Patient Education. https://patienteducation.osumc.edu/Pages/Home.aspx

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