Category: Families & Consumers

Facts about Zinc

Figure 1. Zinc is critical for children’s proper growth and development. Credit: iStockphotoZinc deficiency can affect the immune system, cognitive function, and growth in children. Severe zinc deficiency can cause diarrhea, hair loss, poor appetite, skin disorders, impotence, and changes in taste. People who drink alcohol in excess are at high risk for zinc deficiency (and other health problems). This 2-page fact sheet was written by Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, July 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy218

Florida Foliage House Plant Care: Spathiphyllum

Figure 1. Spathiphyllum 'Sweet Pablo' in a 2-gallon container. Credit: Gary HennenMost Spathiphyllum are seen in flower when at market. The attractive white blooms, called spathes, are long lasting. With proper plant care, Spathiphyllum may produce blooms year after year. Spathiphyllum is a very attractive house plant even when not in bloom and adapts well to home and patio environments. This 2-page fact sheet was written by R. J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, June 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep477

Living with Diabetes: Keeping Track of Your Blood Glucose

Figure 1. Today's blood glucose meters use only a tiny amount of blood.Living with diabetes involves setting goals, adjusting your lifestyle to meet your treatment goals, evaluating your progress, and changing practices as needed. One key goal of diabetes management is to attain glycemic (blood glucose) control to reduce the risk of health complications. Healthy lifestyle practices, such as eating well, engaging in physical activity, and using medications as prescribed, contribute to glycemic control and to an overall healthy life. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, June 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1144

Food Safety: Play it Safe with Eggs

Figure 1. Purchase eggs before the date on the carton. Store them in the carton in the coldest part of the refrigerator for no more than five weeks.Fresh eggs may contain bacteria that can cause salmonellosis. This foodborne illness causes vomiting and diarrhea. It can be severe and even fatal in older adults. Reduce your risk for this foodborne illness by following these guidelines. This 1-page fact sheet was written by Linda B. Bobroff and Jennifer Hillan, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, June 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy193

Melons: Safe Handling Practices for Consumers

melon in the fieldSince most of us buy melons at the store or farmers market, it is easy to forget that most melons are grown on the ground. Watermelons, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon are the most popular varieties of melons in the United States. Because they are exposed to pests and microorganisms from dirt, it is very important to apply the best food safety practices before enjoying them.This 3-page fact sheet was written by Amy Simonne, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, June 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy488

Improving Savings, Health, and Happiness by Re-examining Your Practices and Surroundings series

kids townThis series of EDIS publications introduces readers to the concept of overall community performance and suggests minor modifications to neighborhoods, public schools, and public services that could help citizens improve their communities. This publication is for a general audience and provides a list of changes to public schools that, if enacted, may help improve a community’s performance.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_series_improving_savings_health_and_happiness

Love and Acceptance Are Crucial to Development Worldwide

Valentine tree of heart shape, loveIf you’ve ever traveled to another country, perhaps one far across the world, you may have been struck by the universal nature of the tender and sometimes tricky relationship between parent and child. Now a new analysis of 36 studies from 18 countries, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Review, confirms some important truths about how parents can affect their children for a lifetime. This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Carol Church, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, August 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm1135

Healthy Eating: Calcium / Alimentación Saludable: Calcio

Broccoli is rich in calciumCalcium is the major mineral found in your bones and teeth. Many older adults don’t get enough calcium from the foods they eat. This can lead to bone loss and the bone disease osteoporosis. Osteoporosis puts people at high risk for bone fractures. These 1-page, large print fact sheets were written by Linda B. Bobroff, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, June 2013.

English: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy057

Spanish: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy058

Conservation Subdivision: Post-construction Phase–Engaging Residents (WEC334/UW379)

Figure 1. A white ibis on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. Credit: Daniel FeinbergAs urban communities grow, design and management strategies for new developments become critical factors that determine impacts on natural resources. How can we accommodate growth yet conserve natural resources, such as biodiversity, water, and energy? In this document, we focus on conserving biodiversity when land is subdivided, constructed, and occupied. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Daniel Feinberg and Mark Hostetler, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, June 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw379

Infant Botulism and Honey (ENY128/AA142)

bottle of honeySince honey is a potential and avoidable source of Clostridium botulinum spores, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatricsm and the National Honey Board recommend that honey not be given to infants younger than 12 months of age. Honey should not be added to water, food, or formula fed to infants under 12 months of age. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Malcolm T. Sanford, Eddie Atkinson, Jeanette Klopchin, and Jamie Ellis, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa142

La Seguridad en la Produccion de Alimentos en la Granja – Resumen de Buenas Practicas Agricolas (FSHN0601S/FS230)

rbww_13Las Buenas Prácticas Agrícolas (BPA) y Buenas Prácticas de Manejo (BPM) cubren los procedimientos generales que los productores, empacadores y procesadores de frutas y verduras frescas deben seguir para garantizar la seguridad de sus productos. Las BPA son usadas antes de la cosecha (es decir, en el campo), mientras que las BPM se utilizan luego de la cosecha, incluyendo el embalaje y envío. El objetivo de este panfleto es revisar los principios generalmente reconocidos como BPA en la producción de frutas y verduras frescas, sobre todo a nivel de fincas o granjas. Otros panfletos de la Extensián Cooperativa de la Florida sobre la Inocuidad de los Alimentos cubren los principios individuales en detalle, con énfasis especial en los cultivos y el manejo apropiado de los mismos en la Florida.
This 3-page fact sheet was written by Federico G. Caro, Renee Goodrich Schneider, Keith R. Schneider, y Douglas L. Archer, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, May 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs230

Benefits of Family Meals (FCS2324/FY1362)

Figure 1. Busy schedules may keep many families from eating regular meals together, but they will benefit from coming together and sharing meals regularly.Over the past 30 years obesity among children has increased. One way to help youth make healthy food choices is by creating healthy eating choices and habits at home, starting with family meals. When parents value family dinners, children are likely to view family dinners as important. Family meals can provide important examples to show children what foods are good to eat and how much of the good foods they should eat. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Varnessa McCray, Victor W. Harris, and Martie Gillen, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, April 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1362

Beans, Peas, and Lentils: Health Benefits (FSHN1306/FS229)

beans, peas, and lentilsBean, peas, and lentils are known collectively as legumes or pulses. Beans are great sources of many nutrients, including protein, fiber, and potassium. They can be placed either in the vegetable group or the protein group of MyPlate. If you have consumed enough protein choices, then you can count them in the vegetable group, and vice versa. This 2-page fact sheet was written by Lakshmi Mahan, Lauren Foster, and Wendy J. Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, May 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs229

Promoting Healthy Relationship Development in Teens, Part II: Three Key Qualities to Foster Better Relationships (FCS2326/FY1364)

Figure 1. Relationships and marriages where both partners are kind, nurturing, affectionate, sympathetic, and caring tend to be more satisfying.Getting married and staying married require a complicated calculus of factors that must come together to produce healthy and satisfying relationships. While couple interactional processes tend to be the most predictive of whether or not they will stay together and find happiness, background and contextual factors and individual traits also factor heavily into the equation. Finding two socks that match (and don’t wear out) is much more likely to occur when the relationship is based upon a deep and enduring friendship. Asking the question, “Will this choice enhance or diminish my marital friendship?” and then choosing to make the choices that will enhance the marital friendship more often than not are healthy strategies for success. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Victor W. Harris, Gilon Marts, and Muthusami Kumaran, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, March 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1364

El sobrepeso y el mantenimiento de la perdida de peso (FSHN1304S/FS228)

Figure 1. Exercising and staying active will help increase your metabolism throughout the day.Para muchas personas, la pérdida de peso es una batalla crónica. Las dietas populares a menudo son poco exitosas porque no se pueden seguir de forma permanente. No hay una dieta mágica que le pueda hacer bajar de peso inmediatamente, pero a continuación se enumeran algunos buenos consejos para la pérdida de peso de una manera estable y de largo plazo. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Anne Mathews, Lauren Foster, and Wendy Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, April 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs228

Developmental Coordination Disorder (FAR1816/FM1076)

children runningIn any classroom, you’ll find a wide range of physical skills. Some children are amazing artists but just average at kickball. Others excel at sports but struggle with handwriting. But a few children seem to have a hard time with most physical tasks. They may be affected by developmental coordination disorder, or DCD, a neurodevelopmental condition that causes difficulties with physical coordination. This 2-page Family Album Radio transcript was written by Carol Church, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, April 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fm1076

De compras para la salud: Vegetales (FSHN1305/FS227)

Bag of vegetablesEscoger los vegetales correctos le ayudará a obtener los nutrientes que su cuerpo necesita cada día. Con tantas opciones, ir a comprar vegetales puede parecer una tarea difícil, pero no lo tiene que ser. Este artículo le ayudará a volverse un comprador inteligente de vegetales. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Ashley R. Kendall y Wendy Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, April 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs227

MiPlato para los problemas de deglucion: Disfagia (FSHN1214S/FS223)

Figure 3. Hamburguesa (carne y pan ambos en puré) con salsa de tomate y mostaza. Puré de maíz en forma de mazorca y rodajas de piña como acompañantes y como postre natilla de coco.MiPlato es el ícono de los lineamientos alimentarios del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos basado en las Guías Alimentarias del 2010 para los Estadounidenses. Es una imagen fácil de entender que se enfoca en la creación de un plato con alimentos saludables. Los recursos y herramientas en ChooseMyPlate.gov ofrece información clara y factible acerca de cómo escoger mejor alimentos que se pueden adaptar a personas con dificultades de deglución (disfagia) que requieren de alimentos con textura modificada. Aunque los alimentos magros y los alimentos bajos en grasa son recomendados, aquellos con dificultades de deglución pueden necesitar añadir la grasa a algunos alimentos para mejorar la aceptabilidad, la facilidad de deglución y también para ayudarlos a satisfacer sus necesidades de energía. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Jamila R. Lepore, Nancy J. Gal, and Wendy Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, April 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs223

Overweight and Weight Loss Maintenance (FSHN1304/FS226)

Figure 1. Exercising and staying active will help increase your metabolism throughout the day.For many people, weight loss is a chronic battle. Popular diets are often unsuccessful because they cannot be followed permanently. There is no magic diet to make you instantly shed pounds, but some good tips for steady, long-term weight loss are listed in this 2-page fact sheet written by Anne Mathews, Lauren Foster, and Wendy Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, February 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs226

Shopping for Health: Herbs and Spices (FSHN1303/FS225)

set of wooden bowls with different spicesHerbs and spices have been used for hundreds of years in cooking and medicine. They add a wide range of flavors to food and may also provide health benefits. For some people, using herbs and spices in cooking may be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be that way! The information below will get you on track to enjoying zesty, flavorful, healthy cooking.This 4-page fact sheet was written by Jenna A. Norris and Wendy Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, April 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs225