Category: Families & Consumers

Shopping for Health: Snack Foods

Home made crispy kale chipsAt first glance, you might think that snacking should be avoided because of the extra calories they can add to your diet. However, studies have shown there may be benefits when healthy snack choices are made. Read this 4-page fact sheet to learn about the benefits of healthy snacks and to learn healthy snack shopping tips. Includes recipes for homemade crispy kale chips and peanut butter and jelly yogurt. Written by Carley Rusch and Wendy J. Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, January 2015. (Photo: iStock/Thinkstock.com)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs262

Shopping for Health: Seafood

grilled salmon on fresh greensSeafood is part of the protein foods group of MyPlate and also provides other nutrients needed for good health. Because of the many health benefits, adults should consume at least eight ounces of a variety of seafood every week. Still, it is important to consider your budget when shopping for seafood. This 4-page fact sheet explains the health benefits of seafood and offers some money-saving strategies for making seafood more affordable. Written by Michelle Brown and Wendy J. Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, April 2014. (Photo: Elena Gaak/iStock/Thinkstock)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs247

Facts about Protein

sources of proteinThere are many sources of dietary protein. This 3-page fact sheet covers protein basics, the role of proteins in the body, recommended intake, sources of protein and how to make healthier choices. Written by Nicole C. Agro and Wendy J. Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, January 2015.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs261

Seguridad Alimentaria: ¿Su cocina pasa la prueba?

fy1163Los adultos mayores corren un riesgo mayor de contraer enfermedades por alimentos. Para ayudar a reducir el riesgo, es importante tener prácticas de manipulación de alimentos sanas. ¿Cómo se mide su cocina?
This 2-page fact sheet is the Spanish language version of Food Safety: Does Your Kitchen Pass the Test?, written by Jennifer Hillan and Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, December 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1163

Reporting Domestic Violence in Florida

Figure 1. After contacting the police about an incident of domestic violence in Florida, there are laws in place to protect you. Credit: iStock/Thinkstock.comBeing in a violent relationship can be both a terrifying and hopeless experience. Likewise, the legal process can be both an extensive and complicated process. In this 2-page fact sheet, we address what to expect when reporting the violence to law enforcement. Written by Kathleen Beall and Heidi Radunovich, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, December 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1454

What Is Domestic Violence?

Figure 1. Emotional abuse does not leave physical scars but can injure a person’s self-worth. Credit: iStock/Thinkstock.comDomestic violence can come in many forms and can happen to anyone. It is found all across the world and has a long-standing history in nearly every society. Domestic violence can present itself in many different ways, including sexual violence, physical violence, and emotional violence. In this 3-page fact sheet, we break down each of these types of abuse further to better understand what they really mean. Written by Kathleen Beall and Heidi Radunovich, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, December 2014. (Photo: iStock/Thinkstock.com)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1453

Filing a Restraining Order in Florida

Figure 1. There are legal protections to keep you safe while you file for an injunction. Credit: iStock/Thinkstock.comAfter a charge or arrest for domestic violence, the abuser may still find ways to cause harm. One of the most common threats faced after ending a violent relationship is stalking. Stalking is when someone repeatedly follows, harasses, or makes threats against you. Fortunately, there are laws and legal protections that can work to keep you safe if you are stalked. The first and often most powerful of these protections is filing an injunction. In this 3-page fact sheet, Kathleen Beall and Heidi Radunovich explore what an injunction is, how it is filed, and what it protects you against. Published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, December 2014. Photo: (iStock/Thinkstock.com)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1455

Facts about Farm to School

Figure 1. School districts in all 50 states are purchasing from local farmers. Credit: iStock/Thinkstock.comFarm to school is a nationwide program that improves the supply of fresh, local produce to schools by building relationships between local farmers and schools. Over the past 20 years, school districts in all 50 states have joined the F2S program and are purchasing items from local farmers. Recent requirements for more fruit and vegetables in the National School Lunch Programs have made the F2S program more popular than ever. The University of Florida is committed to the Farm to School program and is working closely with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to connect farmers to schools. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Samantha Ward, Lauren Headrick, and Karla Shelnutt, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, December 2014. (Photo: iStock/Thinkstock.com)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1450

The role of crop production practices and weather conditions in microbiological safety of tomatoes and peppers

Figure 1. Tomato plants in the field at the UF/IFAS Research and Education Center in Citra, Florida, are subjected to different irrigation and fertilization regimens.Salmonella and other human pathogens can contaminate produce at any stage from “farm to fork.” If we can better understand how production practices may make crops more or less susceptible to human pathogens we may be able to significantly reduce the number and severity of the produce-associated outbreaks. This 3-page fact sheet provides up-to-date information about tomato production practices and their relationships with Salmonella. Written by Massimiliano Marvasi, George Hochmuth, and Max Teplitski, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, December 2014. (Photo: Max Teplitski, UF/IFAS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss628

Impact of Tomato Varieties and Maturity State on Susceptibility of Tomatoes to Salmonella

Figure 1. Tomatoes of different varieties at different maturity stages are cued for testing for their resistance to SalmonellaNon-typhoidal Salmonella has emerged as one of the problematic human pathogens associated with fresh produce, nuts, and complex foods containing them. Recent research shows that some varieties of plants are more “resistant” to colonization by the pathogens than others. This raises the intriguing possibility that cultivar selection could be used to identify crop varieties that may be less conducive to proliferation of human pathogens. This 3-page fact sheet provides up-to-date information about tomato production practices and their relationships with Salmonella. Written by Massimiliano Marvasi, George Hochmuth, and Max Teplitski, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, December 2014. (Photo: Max Teplitski, UF/IFAS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss627

Food Safety for the Holiday Season

portrait of a young woman and her daughter (10-12) preparing a thanksgiving mealFood is always an important part of holiday festivities, but holiday meals can take a turn for the worse if food safety is not properly practiced when preparing and cooking the food. The food you serve your family and friends can be very harmful if your turkey, ham, or home-prepared meat products are not appropriately handled. The good news is that by practicing four basic food safety measures you can help prevent foodborne illness over the holiday season. This 6-page fact sheet provides information about safe food practices for the holidays. Written by Soohyoun Ahn and Keith R. Schneider, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, December 2014. (Photo: Stockbyte/Thinkstock)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs260

Preventing Foodborne Illness: Clostridium botulinum

photomicrographic view of a gentian violet-stained culture specimen revealing the presence of numerous Gram-positive Clostridium botulinum, formerly known as Bacillus botulinus, bacteria and bacterial endospores.Clostridium botulinum is ubiquitous in nature, often found in soil and water. The bacteria and spores alone do not cause disease, but they produce the botulinum toxin that causes botulism, a serious paralytic condition that can lead to death. Although it is one of the least common of the foodborne diseases, anyone is susceptible even with the ingestion of only a small amount of toxin present in contaminated food. Immunocompromised individuals, young children, and elderly individuals may suffer from more serious symptoms. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Keith R. Schneider, Rachael Silverberg, Alexandra Chang and Renée Goodrich Schneider, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, December 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs104

How to Start a Food Business: Writing a Business Plan

business plan words on a chalkboardBefore starting a new food business, you should set a goal and have detailed plans to accomplish that goal. But writing a good business plan is often a challenge and it requires a great amount of effort. This 3-page fact sheet provides guidance on how to write a good food-business plan. Written by Soohyoun Ahn, Lisa House, and Renée Goodrich-Schneider, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, December 2014. (Photo: iStock/Thinkstock)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs259

Prueba de la cuchara para alimentos en pure

Figure 1. Just Right ("spoon thick")Los alimentos en puré preparados para personas con problemas al tragar deben satisfacer las guías de textura recomendadas. La textura apropiada es la prioridad cuando se crean purés. Un puré debe tener textura uniforme que es un “espesor en la cuchara” y no requiere masticar. No debe ser seco, pegajoso, grumoso o delgado. Los ajustes de espesor pueden hacerse de acuerdo a las necesidades específicas del individuo.This 1-page fact sheet is the Spanish language version of Spoon Test for Pur&#233ed Food. Written by Wendy Dahl and Jamila Frazier, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, November 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs257

Breast Cancer: Making Sense of the Numbers

Figure 1. Whether or not you take an active role in choosing treatment options, it is important to communicate with your doctor after a breast cancer diagnosis.A breast cancer diagnosis is always a challenge to the patient and her family.* People react in different ways to a breast cancer diagnosis. Some breast cancer patients want to take an active role in understanding and choosing their treatment, and others prefer to leave decisions to their health care providers. This 5-page fact sheet, first in a 12-part series on breast cancer, provides information that will help persons who want to understand and be actively involved in treatment decisions. Was written by Martha C. Monroe, Barbara F. Shea, and Linda Bobroff, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, December 2014. (Photo: iStock/Thinkstock)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy895

Genetically Modified Food

Closeup of cornA food is considered genetically modified when its genetic makeup is altered in some way as a result of the use of recombinant DNA biotechnological procedures. These changes result in the expression of attributes not found in the original. Examples include delayed-ripening tomatoes and pest-resistant or herbicide-tolerant crops. Genetic modification can be used to improve crop yields, reduce insecticide use, or increase the nutritional value of foods. This 5-page fact sheet answers questions consumers might have about genetically modified food. Written by Keith R. Schneider, Renée Goodrich Schneider, and Susanna Richardson, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, November 2014. (Photo: iStock/Thinkstock.com)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs084

Spousal Individual Retirement Accounts

Figure 1. Identify areas in your finances where you may incur unexpected costs, such as medical emergencies, car accidents, or other events. By having a plan to deal with these situations, you can save money in the long run. Credit: HuntstockA spouse who stays at home to take care of children or other dependents is likely to have reduced Social Security benefits and will not have access to a workplace retirement plan. So a spousal Individual Retirement Account (IRA) can be an important step to enabling retirement security. An IRA is a tax-advantaged way to accumulate money for retirement. In order to contribute to an IRA you must have taxable compensation. But if your spouse has taxable compensation and you file a joint return, then you can fund an IRA. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Lisa Leslie, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, November 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1456

Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness Associated with Melons

food worker cutting watermelonDespite the manner in which they are prepared, melons are commonly consumed raw without a processing step which would eliminate pathogenic bacteria. For those concerned about the safety of melons, including cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon, this 6-page fact sheet lists outbreaks associated with melons in the United States, Canada, and Europe, along with information about the location, pathogen, and incidence of illness. Written by Michelle D. Danyluk, Rachel McEgan, Ashley N. Turner, and Keith R. Schneider, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, November 2014. (UF/IFAS Photo by Thomas Wright)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs258

4-H Pizza Garden: An Agricultural Adventure

4-H cloverThis curriculum was designed for educators to teach young people about where their food originates by using something children love to eat…PIZZA! According to a recent Gallup poll, kids between the ages of 3 and 11 prefer pizza to all other foods for lunch and dinner. Americans eat about 100 acres of pizza each day, or 350 slices per second!This 4-H in the Classroom project, originating in Pinellas County, Florida, was designed for grades 3–5, but can be adapted to serve other grade levels. The lessons cover subject areas such as mathematics, social studies, language arts, and science. It has been used in Pinellas County very successfully since 2000 by the 4-H Program in collaboration with their Florida Ag in the Classroom Initiative. This 89-page fact sheet was written by Janet Golden, Joy Jordan, Nan Jensen, Betty Lipe, Millie Ferrer, Anne Fugate, Erin Karkheck, Linda Bobroff, Karla Shelnutt, and Tracy Tesdall, and published by the UF Department of 4-H Youth Development, November 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/4h356

The Risks of Obesity, Weight Control Behaviors, and Disordered Eating on (to) Adolescents

UF student gets ready to eat fudge topped with toasted crickets and mealworms.Over the past 15 years, unhealthy weight-loss behaviors among U.S. adolescents are becoming more widespread. This 5-page fact sheet addresses the consequences and risks associated with risky weight-control practices and discusses the prevalence of eating disorders and the role of body image in weight practices. The publication also provides references that can be used to help practitioners educate youth on the importance of setting realistic goals and enhancing body satisfaction. Written by Emily Johnson and Kate Fogarty, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, September 2014. (AP Photo/University of Florida/IFAS/Josh Wickham)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1452