Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Food

Rethink Your Holiday Drink (Part 1 of 3)

It’s that time of year when all of the festive holiday drinks are coming back to your favorite coffee shops, from Pumpkin Spice to Gingerbread to Eggnog. While these drinks sure can be tasty, they can also be loaded with fat and sugar. For instance, a 16 oz. eggnog latte at Starbucks is estimated to […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods, Healthy Finances Program Specialist

SOURCES:

  • The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Ways to Shave Calories." http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/weight-loss/tips-for-weight-loss/ways-to-shave-calories.
  • The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Benefits of Java." http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/wellness/preventing-illness/benefits-of-java.
  • The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Nutrition Info About Beverages." http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/weight-loss/tips-for-weight-loss/rethink-your-drinks.

Use The Plate Method for Holiday Meal Planning

As we near the end of November, you’re likely thinking about preparing or attending at least one holiday meal. Did you know that in addition to marking the start of the holiday season, November is Diabetes Awareness month? The holiday season is a wonderful time to catch up with friends and family and enjoy good […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Amy Meehan, MPH, Healthy People Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension

SOURCES:

  • Create Your Plate. The American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/create-your-plate/#seven
  • Holiday Meal Planning. The American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/holiday-meal-planning/

Consider the Health of Others this Holiday Season

Sharing is caring. This is a mantra you probably first heard at a young age, and it tends to come up often during the holiday season. Is sharing always caring, though? In the case of food gifts, I’m not so sure that it is. While there are many things I love about the holiday season, […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Amy Meehan, MPH Healthy People Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension

SOURCES:

  • 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.
  • 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/.

Navigating the Sugar-Coated Holiday Road.

The holidays start with Trick-or-Trick, meander past Happy Thanksgiving, sugar-plum skip by Christmas and drop heavily with a Happy New Year feast.  We send our children on a sixty day sugar high with family get togethers, school functions and community events.  According to the National Confectioners’ Association, Americans eat nearly four billion dollars in candy […]

WRITTEN BY: Yvette Graham, MSW, LISW-S, Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program, Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension, Stark,

REVIEWED BY: Amy Habig, MPH, RDN, LD, Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program, Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension, Green County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • www.meals.com

SOURCES:

  • https://choosemyplate-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/tentips/DGTipsheet32MakeHealthierHolidayChoices.pdf
  • http://U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition. December 2015. Available at https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/

REFERENCES:

  • Mitka M. New Dietary Guidelines Place Added Sugars in the Crosshairs. JAMA. 2016;315(14):1440–1441. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.1321
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition. December 2015. Available at tps://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/.
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition. December 2015. Available at https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/.
  • https://www.candyusa.com/
  • www.choosemyplate.com

Prevent Food Poisoning

Anybody can get food poisoning, but some people are more likely to get seriously ill. Every year, an estimated 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. However, certain groups of people are more likely to get a foodborne illness (also called food poisoning) […]

WRITTEN BY: Kate Shumaker, MS RD, LD, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Holmes County, shumaker.68@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Amy Meehan, MPH Healthy People Program Specialist

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

SOURCES:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/education-month.html on 9/14/17
  • Partnership for Food Safety Education, retrieved from http://www.fightbac.org/ on 9/14/17

Oodles of Zoodles

Have you ever heard of zoodles? They are noodles made from zucchini, and they serve as a great low-carb substitute for regular pasta noodles. Zucchini isn’t the only vegetable that you can turn into noodles; summer squash and spaghetti squash also make great “noodles.” Squash are low in calories and high in nutrition. It is […]

WRITTEN BY: Amy Meehan, MPH Healthy People Program Specialist

REVIEWED BY: Amanda Woods, M.Ed Healthy Finances Program Specialist

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay.com

SOURCES:

  • Gourd, L., and Oliveri, C. “Putting MyPlate on Your Table: Vegetables,” The Ohio State University Extension. (2015). Available at: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/SS-152-15
  • Larsen, H. “9 Fall Produce Picks to Add to Your Plate.” Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2016). Available at: http://www.eatright.org/resource/food/nutrition/healthy-eating/fall-produce-picks
  • USDA, Snap-Ed Connection: Winter Squash. (2017). Available at: https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/seasonal-produce-guide/winter-squash
  • USDA, Mixing Bowl: Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes, Basil, and Parmesan. Available at: https://whatscooking.fns.usda.gov/recipes/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/spaghetti-squash-tomatoes-basil-and-parmesan.

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