Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Water Filling Stations Coming to New School Buildings in Ohio!

“NO WATER FOUNTAIN DUE TO COVID-19” “DRINKING FOUNTAIN HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR YOUR SAFETY” “WATER BOTTLE FILLING ONLY – DO NOT DRINK FROM WATER FOUNTAIN” Signs like these went up everywhere in 2020. Drinking fountains were closed because they have “high touch”, moist surfaces that potentially allow the COVID-19 virus to survive and spread. […]

WRITTEN BY: Carol A Smathers, Associate Professor and Extension Field Specialist, OSU Extension

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

SOURCES:

  • Bright, KR, Boone, SA, and Gerba, CP. Occurrence of Bacteria and Viruses on Elementary Classroom Surfaces and the Potential Role of Classroom Hygiene in the Spread of Infectious Diseases. Journal of School Nursing. Volume:26; issue:1, pgs: 33-41, https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840509354383
  • Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH. Water, hydration, and health. Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458.
  • Kempton MJ, Ettinger U, Foster R, et al. Dehydration affects brain structure and function in healthy adolescents. Hum Brain Mapp. 2011;32:71-79.
  • Wang Y C, Ludwig DS, Sonneville K, Gortmaker SL. Impact of change in sweetened caloric beverage consumption on energy intake among children and adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009; 163(4):336-343.
  • Zheng M, Rangan A, Olsen NJ, Andersen LB, Wedderkopp N, Kristensen P, Grøntved A, Ried-Larsen M, Lempert SM, Allman-Farinelli M, Heitmann BL. Substituting sugar-sweetened beverages with water or milk is inversely associated with body fatness development from childhood to adolescence. Nutrition. 2015 Jan;31(1):38-44. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2014.04.017. Epub 2014 May 9. PMID: 25441586.
  • Community Services Task Force. Preventing Dental Caries: Community Water Fluoridation. http://www.thecommunityguide.org/oral/fluoridation.html.
  • National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, 7 CFR § 210.10(a)(1). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-06-28/pdf/2013-15249.pdf.

REFERENCES:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—Increasing Access to Drinking Water in Schools. Atlanta GA: US Dept. of Health and Human Services; 2014. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/npao/pdf/water_access_in_schools_508.pdf
  • Voices for Healthy Kids—Water Access in Schools Toolkit, https://waterinschools.voicesforhealthykids.org/
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—Water in Schools and Childcare Facilities http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/drinkingwater/schools/guidance.cfm
  • USDA—Memorandum on Water Availability During Meal Service.https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/clarification-milk-and-water-requirements-school-meal-program
  • Ohio Senate Bill 259—Fiscal Note, https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=15395&format=pdf

LOL-Laugh Out Loud… for your heart!

I have been reading a lot about the benefits of laughter. One surprising benefit of laughter is a healthier heart! Laughter affects your nervous system, boosting your serotonin, dopamine, and endorphin levels,  but also it can be a great workout for the immune, lymph, and cardiovascular systems. When you laugh, your heart rate increases and […]

WRITTEN BY: Dr. Roseanne Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County, Scammahorn.5@osu.edu

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

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Photo by Silvia Cosimini from FreeImages

REFERENCES:

  • Abram, T. (2018). Laughter has serious benefits. Michigan State University - https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/laughter_has_serious_benefits
  • Edmonds, M. (2019, June 16). What is laughter therapy? https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/laughter-therapy.htm
  • Henry Ford LiveWell. (2019). How Laughter Benefits your Heart Health. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2019/03/how-laughter-benefits-heart-health#:~:text=When%20you%20laugh%2C%20your%20heart,of%20a%20heart%20disease%20diagnosis.
  • University of California San Francisco. (n.d.). Laughter Yoga. https://osher.ucsf.edu/public-classes/laughter-yoga
  • The University of St. Augustine. (2019). How laughter can relieve stress and Ideas to laugh it off. https://www.usa.edu/blog/how-laughter-can-relieve-stress/

Create “New” Family Traditions in 2021

If you are reading this message, I am successful in attracting your attention in today’s world of constant change and distractions.  Perhaps the word that attracted you was “new”, family or traditions.  I used this oxymoron to produce a special effect that highlights our ability to make planned changes.   As we move into 2021 let […]

WRITTEN BY: Margaret Jenkins

REVIEWED BY: Marie Economos

SOURCES:

  • https://u.osu.edu/extensionclermont/2021/01/04/turn-your-resolutions-into-real-solutions/
  • https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5242 Stress Coping Strategies
  • https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5809 Aging

REFERENCES:

  • Jordan, Joelle D. The Evolution of the American Family, http://hdl.handle.net/2148/58, 2006
  • https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5243 Mindfulness Practice
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, (2020) Your Money Your Goals. https://consumerfinance.gov/practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goal

Lessons from a Flopped Pie

Usually, we can anticipate certain life events and traditions every year like celebrating at birthday parties, or joining cookouts in the summer, or hosting gatherings for holidays. Because of Covid-19, this year has not followed typical expectations. When families experience significant unexpected events, they are called nonnormative transitions or unanticipated transitions.  Examples include job loss, […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Warren County and Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Perry County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Patrice Powers-Barker

SOURCES:

  • Brinkman, P. (2016). Eating Healthy During Stressful Times. Ohio State University. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5244
  • Eva, A. (2017). Why we should embrace mistakes in school. Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_we_should_embrace_mistakes_in_school
  • Heer, C. & Rini, J. (2016). Stress Coping Methods. Ohio State University. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5242
  • Leonard, J. & Cofer, J., (2020). Pumpkins: Not Just for Jack-O-Lanterns and Pies. NC Cooperative Extension. https://randolph.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/pumpkins-not-just-for-jack-o-lanterns-and-pies/
  • Lindberg, E. (2019). Practicing gratitude can have profound health benefits, USC experts say. University of Southern California. https://news.usc.edu/163123/gratitude-health-research-thanksgiving-usc-experts/
  • McGinnis, D. (2018). Resilience, Life Events, and Well-Being During Midlife: Examining Resilience Subgroups. Journal of Adult Development. 25(3): 198–221. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6105201/
  • Mindfulness Practices. Wexner Medical Center. Ohio State University. https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/integrative-complementary-medicine/resources/mindfulness-practices
  • Myers-Walls, J. & Willis Hepp, B.(2019). Overview and Introduction. NCFR Report: Nonnormative Transitions. Winter 2019. https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/winter-2019
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2015). Spilt Milk – To Cry or Not to Cry. Live Smart Ohio. Ohio State University. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/powers-barker-1osu-edu/spilt-milk-to-cry-or-not-to-cry/
  • Tonseth, C. (2018), Anticipated and Unanticipated Transitions as Triggers for Adult Learning. Creative Education. 9(2). https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=82379

Healthy Sleep Habits for Teens

With the start of a new school year, it is important to be intentional about the need our teens have for restful sleep. Over the past several months, without a school routine, our family grew lackadaisical regarding bedtime and sleep routines. Now that our teens are back to school and alarms are going off at […]

WRITTEN BY: Laura Stanton, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County.

REVIEWED BY: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County.

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Image from rawpixel.

SOURCES:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics (2018). Healthy sleep habits: How many hours does your child need? Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-How-Many-Hours-Does-Your-Child-Need.aspx
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (2016). Where we stand: Screen time. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Where-We-Stand-TV-Viewing-Time.aspx
  • Hass, S. B. (2018, April 17). 6 ways that night-time phone use destroys your sleep. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prescriptions-life/201804/6-ways-night-time-phone-use-destroys-your-sleep
  • National Sleep Foundation (2020, July 28). Why electronics may stimulate you before bed. Retrieved from https://www.thensf.org/10-sleep-tips-sleep-quality/
  • Robb, M. B. (2019). The new normal: Parents, teens, screens, and sleep in the United States. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media.

Food Allergies and Halloween Can Be a Scary Combination

As a parent of a child with several life-threatening food allergies, Halloween has always been an especially scary holiday. Considering the fact that 1 in every 13 children have a food allergy, there are three challenges that make Halloween extra tricky to navigate. Trick #1: Halloween candy has many common allergens. Many of the most […]

WRITTEN BY: Laura Stanton, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County.

REVIEWED BY: Laura Halladay, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Greene County.

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Halloween image by rawpixel.
  • Teal Pumpkin Project from Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE).

SOURCES:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019, September 24). Avoid a Food Allergy Scare on Halloween. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Avoid-Food-Allergy-Scare-on-Halloween.aspx
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, June 8). Food Allergies. Retreived from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/foodallergies/index.htm
  • Davis, C. Q. (2012, October 30) Fun-size candies aren’t so fun anymore. Retrieved from https://scienceline.org/2012/10/fun-size-candies-arent-so-fun-anymore/
  • Kleiner, R. (2019, October 28). 7 Ways to Make Halloween Safer for Kids with Food Allergies. Retrieved from https://www.eatright.org/health/lifestyle/holidays/7-ways-to-make-halloween-safer-for-kids-with-food-allergies

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