Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

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

Safely Using Your Slow Cooker

Coming home on a cold evening to inviting smells of food from your slow cooker or “crock pot” makes us all feel so good. Slow cookers help less expensive, leaner cuts of meat become tender and shrink less, helping you have economical, healthy meals. With food cooking at lower temperatures, though, it is important to […]

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

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

SOURCES:

  • Driessen, S. and Peterson-Vangsness, G. (2016). Slow cookers and food safety. University of Minnesota Extension. http://www.extension.umn.edu/food/food-safety/preserving/safe-meals/slow-cooker-safety/
  • Jeffers, M.K. (2017). Cook Slow to Save Time: Four Important Slow Cooker Food Safety Tips. https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/2017/10/cook-slow-to-save-time.html
  • USDA. (2013). Slow Cookers and Food Safety. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/appliances-and-thermometers/slow-cookers-and-food-safety/

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

Share the Harvest, Feed the Hungry

It’s that time of year – the neighbors are busy harvesting and sharing the bounty of their gardens. There are times that gardens produce much more produce than is possible for a family, or even a neighborhood, to use. Donating wholesome foods to local food banks and food pantries reduces food waste, prevents foods from […]

WRITTEN BY: Christine Kendle, MS, RDN, LD, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Tuscarawas County, kendle.4@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Emily Adams, MS, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Coshocton County

5 kitchen spots most people forget to clean

In general, most people do a pretty good job of keeping the kitchen clean.  They clean and sanitize counter tops and clean the insides of the refrigerator, oven and microwave when needed. But when was the last time you cleaned these areas? Exhaust fan/vent hood. This area, directly over the stovetop, can collect all kinds […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Melinda Hill, Extension Educator Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension, Wayne County, hill.14@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/en/kitchen-counter-stove-oven-2174577/

Don’t Wing It! The Do’s and Don’ts of Safe Poultry Handling

While many consumers are aware of the risks of consuming raw or undercooked poultry, fewer realize that the steps they’re taking when handling poultry in the grocery store and at home could be putting them at risk for contracting a foodborne illness. Contaminated food sickens nearly 48 million people in the United States every year—that’s […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Christine Kendle, MS, RDN, LD, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Tuscarawas County, kendle.4@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • www.fightbac.org

REFERENCES:

  • 1 "Estimates of Foodborne Illness in the United States." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 15 July 2016.
  • 2. CDC. Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet): FoodNet Surveillance Report for 2012 (Final Report). Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. 2014.
  • 3. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "People at Risk of Foodborne Illness - Food Safety for Older Adults." U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Sept. 2011.
  • 4. Donelan, A., Chambers, D.H., Chambers, E IV, Godwin, S., and Cates, S. 2016. Consumer poultry handling behaviors in the grocery store and in-home storage. Journal of Food Protection 79(4):584-588.

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.
Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!

Follow us!