Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

local foods

Delicious Foods: Brought to You By Pollinators

How can you enjoy National Pollinator Week, June 20- 26, 2016?  Eat some great food! National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them.  The Pollinator Partnership has great information about Pollinator Week, “a celebration of the valuable ecosystem service provided by bees, […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Donna Green, Family and Consumer Science Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County

SOURCES:

  • Bees Create a Buzz with Annual 4-H Challenge http://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/bees-create-buzz-with-annual-4-h-challenge
  • USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/NIFA%20Infographic%20008_March%202016%20FINAL_0.pdf
  • North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Pollinator Friendly Meal Ideas http://pollinator.org/Resources/Pollinator%20Recipes%204%206%2007%20AZ.pdf
  • The Pollinator Partnership http://pollinator.org/pollinatorweek/

CSA – What, How and Why

There may not be many local fruits and vegetables available in your county this time of year, but it’s not too early to start thinking about the summer! Community supported agriculture (CSA) sign-ups typically take place in the winter and spring, before local farmers are busy planting and harvesting their crops. Taking part in CSA […]

WRITTEN BY: Jennifer Lobb, MPH, RD, LD, Research Associate, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension

REVIEWED BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, MA, CFLE, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County, Ohio State University Extension

REFERENCES:

  • Let's Move. Try a New Fruit or Vegetable. http://www.letsmove.gov/try-new-fruit-or-veggie
  • Local Harvest. Community Supported Agriculture. http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
  • Ohio Farm Bureau. What's In Season? https://ofbf.org/whats-in-season/
  • USDA National Agricultural Library. Community Supported Agriculture. http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/community-supported-agriculture-3

The Best Winter Foods

As winter arrives, temperatures drop and daylight hours are shorter. Mood and energy levels are also known to decline during these cold winter months as many tend to hibernate. It’s a perfect time to focus on adequate nutrition and enjoy foods of fiber, color and flavor. These foods will help keep you healthy this winter. […]

WRITTEN BY: Beth Stefura M Ed, RD,LD. Ohio State University Extension Educator, Mahoning County, Crossroads EERA, stefura.2@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Donna Green, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County, Erie Basin EERA, green.308@osu.edu

REFERENCES:

  • http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/healthy-winter-foods
  • http://www.eatright.org/resource/food/planning-and-prep/cooking-tips-and-trends/the-best-winter-foods

Celebrate Farm to School This Month

October is National Farm to School Month! That means celebrating the work of schools and food service staff that serve local foods in their cafeterias, the local farmers who make it possible for kids to eat healthfully, and educators who use school gardens to teach about ecology or health. In light of this ongoing celebration, […]

WRITTEN BY: Carol Smathers, MS, MPH, Ohio Farm to School Program Director and Laura Kington, Program Assistant, Farm to School

REVIEWED BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE, OSU Extension Educator, Lucas County

REFERENCES:

  • 1. Joshi A, Azuma AM, Feenstra G. Do Farm-to-School Programs Make a Difference? Findings and Future Research Needs. J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2008;3(2/3):229–46.
  • 2. Howerton MW, Sue Bell B, Dodd KW, Berrigan D, Stolzenberg-Solomon R, Nebelling L. School-based Nutrition Programs Produced a Moderate Increase in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: Meta and Pooling Analyses from 7 Studies. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2007;39(4):186–96.
  • 3. Schmidt MC, Kolodinsky J, Symans C. The Burlington School Food Project, Final Evaluation Report. Burlington, VT: A Report for the Center for Rural Studies; 2006.
  • 4. Joshi A, Kalb M, Beery M. Going Local: Paths to success for farm to school programs. Los Angeles, CA: Center for Food and Justice, UEPI, Occidental College; 2006.
  • 5. Murphy JM. Education for Sustainability. Findings from the Evaluation Study of the Edible Schoolyard; 2003. [http://74-220-222-140.hostmonster.com/publications/pdf/ESYFindings-DrMurphy.pdf]
  • 6. Gottlieb R. Evaluation of the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Salad Bar Program. Los Angeles, CA: Center for Food and Justice, Occidental College; 2001.
  • 7. School Food Plus Evaluation, Interim Evaluation, Phase 2 Report. New York, NY: A Report of School Food Plus; 2005.
  • 8. Dirks AE, Orvis K. An evaluation of the Junior Master Gardener Program in third grade classrooms. HortTechnology. 2005;15(3):443-447.
  • 9. Waliczek TM. The effect of school gardens on children’s interpersonal relationships and attitudes toward school. HortTechnology. 2001;11(3):466-468.

How to Eat Healthy on a Low-Cost Budget

“I want to eat healthy, but it’s so expensive…” have you ever said or heard this phrase? Too often our intentions to eat healthy are halted by this dilemma. We especially feel pressure as average overall food prices have risen 1.6% from 2014-2015, and meat and egg prices have risen by over 8%. While there […]

WRITTEN BY: Shawna Hite, Healthy People Program Specialist, OSU Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences

REVIEWED BY: Pat Holmes, OSU Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences

SOURCES:

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietitians: Eat Right
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer food prices rise 1.6% from May 2014 to May 2015
  • Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Water and Nutrition
  • CDC: A Guide to Water Filters
  • Environmental Protection Agency: Reducing Wasted Food Basics
  • Iowa State University Extension: Can a Vegetable Garden Save You Money?
  • Iowa State University Extension: Reducing Food Waste
  • Iowa State University Extension: What’s in Season
  • MyPlate.gov: Eating Better on a Budget
  • MyPlate.gov: Healthy Eating on a Budget
  • Penn State Extension: Growing Herbs Indoors
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Grocery Store Food Prices Up 1% from a Year Ago
  • USDA: Seasonal Produce Guide

Could Local Produce Be More Nutritious?

Guest author, Kendal Shaffer, a Masters of Food & Nutrition graduate student at Bowling Green State University shares variables to answer the question, “could local produce be more nutritious?” Buying local produce helps support your community, economy, local farmers and possibly even your health! While there are many factors that determine the nutritional content(PDF)Links to […]

WRITTEN BY: Kendal Shaffer, Bowling Green State University Dietetics Intern

REVIEWED BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • OARDC

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