Food, Nutrition and Health Information

Local News

IowaProduce.org Website and Newsletter
(Posted on 1/20/2012)
IowaProduce.org is a website focusing on Iowa's commercial fruit and vegetable industry. You can also sign up for a monthly newsletter that addresses in-season production issues, coming events, and other stories of interest.

"Learning with Lunch" Series Continues Through April 2012
(Posted on 12/29/2011)
Would you like to fit some quality education into your lunch break? Click on the title above to find out what's coming up.

Weather-related Announcements
(Posted on 12/5/2011)
If you question the status of a scheduled event or program, please listen to KCHE Radio (92.1 FM) for weather-related announcements. We will also try to post announcements on our web site. You may also call our office at 712-225-6196. In the event our office is closed due to weather conditions, please refer to our web site or listen to KCHE.

Flavors of Northwest Iowa - Locally Grown Food & Culture
(Posted on 11/7/2011)
Flavors of Northwest Iowa is a regional network for local food producers and consumers. Check out this online community for anyone hungry for homegrown.

It's Food Preservation Season!
(Posted on 7/28/2011)
Are there special concerns in canning tomatoes? Where can I get replacement parts for my pressure canner? What kind of vinegar is best for making pickles? Why is open kettle canning not safe? Here are some resources you can use for answers to your questions about home food preservation.

Just in Time Parenting: A Reliable Resource for Raising Children
(Posted on 4/6/2010)
A 24/7 FREE resource for parents that is continually updated with research-based information about raising kids from infants through the teenage years.

Spend Smart. Eat Smart.
(Posted on 2/1/2010)
Extension's Spend Smart Eat Smart website features dollar-saving tips, interactive activities, recipe videos and more.

Staff

Renee Sweers - Family Nutrition and Health Program Specialist
Phone: (712) 276-2157
Fax: (712) 276-6211
Email: rsweers@iastate.edu

News From Iowa State University Extension

Morel Mushroom Certification Workshops Scheduled for March and April
(Posted on 2/9/2012)
Individuals who would like to be able to sell morel mushrooms legally within the state of Iowa can take a three-hour certification workshop in March or April. Workshops are being offered at several locations across the state.

Use MyPlate to Make a Better Pizza
(Posted on 1/31/2012)
One food with the potential to include all the food groups is pizza. But can this well-loved entree that is notoriously high in fat, sodium and carbohydrates fit on MyPlate? Yes it can, with a few modifications,says an ISU Extension and Outreach nutrition specialist.

Forget ‘Forbidden’ – Focus on Foods to Eat More Often
(Posted on 1/3/2012)
Many people make New Year’s resolutions to slim down. Their plans often involve rigid diet regimens that make them feel deprived. So instead of avoiding "forbidden" foods, focus on foods you can eat more often, says an ISU Extension and Outreach nutrition specialist.

Healthy Choices Don’t Have to be on Hold during Holidays
(Posted on 12/19/2011)
Make smarter choices during food-filled holiday festivities, says Sarah Francis, an ISU Extension and Outreach nutrition specialist. Control portion size, exercise and join the Live Healthy Iowa Challenge.

Poverty and Food Needs Profiles Offer County Data
(Posted on 12/16/2011)
Poverty statistics have climbed during the past decade, and food insecurity rates have increased across Iowa and the nation as a whole. Researchers from Iowa State University have assembled the latest data on these issues in a series of publications, now available online.

Eat Simpler, Healthier with New Healthy & Homemade Cookbook
(Posted on 12/6/2011)
Need a holiday gift or an addition to a personal cookbook collection? The Healthy & Homemade cookbook from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is a great resource for any family.

Videos Demonstrate Internet Supply/Demand Tool for Farmers, Markets and Consumers
(Posted on 11/30/2011)
Take a tour of the MarketMaker website by viewing recently released videos highlighting everything MarketMaker has available. MarketMaker is an online tool connecting family shoppers with farmers and everyone in between – including restaurants and grocery stores.

Get Answers to Holiday Food, Stain Removal Questions from ISU Extension’s Answer Line
(Posted on 11/15/2011)
What’s the best way to thaw a frozen turkey? Is it safe to make pies and vegetable dishes a couple days before the big family gathering? And what’s the best way to deal with the leftovers? To get answers to these and other holiday food questions, call Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Answer Line, 800-262-3804.

Extension Food Safety Specialist to Conduct Seminar on New Federal Law
(Posted on 11/7/2011)
Angela Laury will work with Iowa producers and manufacturers to promote food safety as the new food safety specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. One of her first assignments is introducing food producers to the Food Safety Modernization Act, a new federal law designed to encourage food safety through preventive measures.

Third Group of Iowa Volunteers Visits Uganda
(Posted on 10/12/2011)
A third group of volunteers traveled to Uganda in August this year as part of the rural development program, Bridging the Gap: Increasing Competitiveness of Ugandan Women Farmers in the Marketplace. This farmer-to-farmer program pairs Iowa women farmers with eight groups of women farmers in the Kamuli District of Uganda.