Food, Nutrition and Health Information

Local News

Chef Charles Says...Newsletter
(Posted on 2/8/2012)
February 2012 Newsletter NOW Posted! "Chef Charles Says..." is a fun way to help older adults know more about nutrition and food selection. Each issue contains interesting articles, puzzles and a recipe.

Words On Wellness: Your extension connection to nutrition and fitness

Words on Wellness Newsletter
(Posted on 1/27/2012)
"Words on Wellness" is a monthly newsletter that promotes a healthy lifestyle for Iowans. In each issue, you'll gain reliable, research-based information about nutrition, exercise, food safety, and explore the power of incorporating healthy practices into daily living for you and your family.

Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program

EFNEP - Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
(Posted on 11/22/2011)
Iowa State University Extension - Polk County offers FREE nutrition education to low-resource families. Families with children up to 10 years of age or expecting parents can receive eight nutrition lessons in their home.

ServSafe
(Posted on 6/1/2011)
The reputation of your foodservice establishment is only as good as the quality - and safety - of the food you serve. Research has shown that training employees in safe food a handling significantly improves food safety practices.

4-H Offers Nutrition Education for Schools and Community Agencies
(Posted on 8/30/2010)
Polk County Extension is now taking requests for its community nutrition program for youth in grades K-8.

News from Iowa State University Extension

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.

Project Recovery Iowa to End Crisis Counseling Services Sept. 19
(Posted on 9/6/2011)
On Sept. 19 Project Recovery Iowa will end its crisis counseling and outreach services for Iowans impacted by the 2010 natural disasters. However, the Iowa Concern hotline, which answered calls for Project Recovery Iowa, will continue to operate at 800-447-1985.

Events

Nutrition: Choices for Health

02/14/2012 Dining with Diabetes
02/14/2012 Dining with Diabetes
02/15/2012 ServSafe (AD)
02/15/2012 EFNEP Group Meeting: Carver Elementary Site
02/15/2012 EFNEP Group Meeting

More Nutrition: Choices for Health events

View the complete ISU Extension events Calendar

Staff

Jody Gatewood - Nutrition and Health Program Specialist
Phone: (515) 382-6551 or (515) 669-7825
Fax: (515) 382-2696
Email: jodyg@iastate.edu

Marshelle Smith - Nutrition Program Assistant
Phone: (515) 957-5792
Fax: (515) 967-6164
Email: marshell@iastate.edu

Star Scott - EFNEP Program Assistant
Phone: (515) 957-5784
Fax: (515) 967-6164
Email: star01@iastate.edu

Raquel Juarez - EFNEP Program Assistant
Phone: (515) 957-5791
Fax: (515) 967-6164
Email: rjuarez@iastate.edu

Maria Regalado - EFNEP Program Assistant
Phone: (515) 957-5788
Fax: (515) 967-6164
Email: regalado@iastate.edu

Karen Grimes - EFNEP Program Assistant
Phone: (515) 957-5794
Fax: (515) 967-6164
Email: grimesk@iastate.edu

Stacia Sanny - EFNEP Program Specialist
Phone: (515) 957-5786 or (515) 681-0070
Fax: (515) 967-6164
Email: ssanny@iastate.edu

Christa Hanson - Nutrition Educator
Phone: (515) 957-5787
Fax: (515) 967-6164
Email: christah@iastate.edu

Amy Marek - 4-H & Nutrition Internal Program Coordinator
Phone: (515) 957-5763
Fax: (515) 967-6164
Email: amarek@iastate.edu