Health and Nutrition          

general>groceriesKansans increasingly seek information about their food and nutrition needs, about how to prepare easy and nutritious meals, and about physical activity. Helping Kansans eat healthier and increase physical activity can improve their quality of life now and in the future and reduce health care costs. Learning to eat healthfully can also stretch food budgets. In order to prevent foodborne illnesses, K-State University scientists and educators present information on safe food handling practices for the benefit of Kansans.

Click here for the Health and Nutrition page on the K-State Research and Extension site.

 

Available Health and Nutrition Programs          

The following programs are available for pick up at the County Extension Office.

EVERYONE TO THE TABLE – FAMILY MEALS SERVE US WELL
The lesson will look at the positive effects of family meals on a child's nutritional, social, cognitive and developmental growth. Not only important for young children, family meals play a big role in lives of adolescents and teens. Research supports the importance of meals eaten together, and the lesson will conclude with ideas to help make family meals a reality.

EATING OUT HEALTHY
Eating out is a special treat. But it can also be a challenge for making healthy choices. How can you limit calories, fat, sodium and sugar without giving up your favorite foods? How can you read the menus to learn more about how a food is prepared? How can you include more fruits and vegetables? What about fast food restaurants, what are the best choices?
Healthy Choices when Eating Out will discuss portion sizes, menu selections, healthier side dishes and beverages that consumers can choose for a healthier meal.

KANSANS MOVE INTO HEALTH

The purpose of the lesson will be to develop awareness of healthy lifestyle choices. The participants would become familiar with physical activity guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine, My Pyramid Education Framework, and heart disease risk factors.

THINK PINK AND TELL A FRIEND
October is “Breast Cancer Awareness” month, and is a great reason to get friends, co-workers, mothers, sisters and daughters together for a program to discuss the devastating disease that concerns every woman; breast cancer. The “Think Pink” program is a program designed to encourage and enlighten...not scare. The program discusses risk factors, family history and age related risks...but FOCUSES on the positives that are happening at a rapid pace to encourage women to pay attention to their health and their bodies and to empower themselves with knowledge. We also “pledge” to encourage, support and celebrate as we make advances in treatment and succeed in overcoming the odds.

WALKING KANSAS FITNESS CHALLENGE 
Everyone is in need of more physical activity in their life. Some of us need motivation in order to accomplish that. This fitness challenge does just that. It encourages people to exercise and work toward a goal. The Spring Walking Kansas Fitness Challenge will start on March 3, 2008, and ends on May 18, 2008. For more information about this program contact the Extension Office.