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The Family Matters newsletters from ISU Extension offer parenting tips, nutrition advice, and other ideas from ISU Extension Families Field Specialists. In this issue: The ABCs of Love, Online Home Buyer Education, High-Risk Loans: Tax Refund Anticipation in November, Talking Turkey, Easy Ways to Downsize Portions, Lighten Up Iowa, Iowa's Food Deserts

Current Issue: November/December 2007

Previous Issues

September/October 2007

  • Reading Readiness Starts Early
  • Make Coupons Work for You
  • Protect Your Home
  • Save on Legal Fees
  • 100 Calorie Snacks
  • Tailgating
  • Healthy Brown Bag Lunches
  • Breakfast Breaks the Fast

July/August 2007

  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Cooking and playing with kids
  • Avoiding money order scams
  • Raising kids with love and limits

May/June 2007

  • Are You Getting Ahead?
  • Retirement Readiness
  • Myths of Hand Washing
  • Does USDA Organic Seal on Food Packages Mean More Nutritional Food?
  • Energy Drinks: Gain or Lose?
  • Geriatric Assessment Tool Valuable for Well-being of Elderly
  • Negotiating the Step-parent Role
  • Power Struggles Take Two

March/April 2007

  • Live 100% Fad Free
  • Measure Your Health Risk
  • Fill Easter Baskets with Activity
  • Using Your Credit Cards More?
  • Cancelling Credit Cards?
  • Credit Score Update
  • Lifelong Patterns of Relating Influence Decision-Making
  • Is it Grief, Physical Illness or Depression?
  • Talk to Your Teen about Driving

January/February 2007

  • Approaches to Raising Children
  • Team Up to Lighten Up
  • What are Trans Fats?
  • Specifics about E.coli 0157:H7
  • Hand Washing Makes a Difference
  • New Year is Time to Start Something New - Financially

November/December 2006

  • November-December Financial Traditions
  • Making Food Ahead
  • Steps to a Healthier You
  • Slow Cooker Dressing
  • Help Children Deal with Stress
  • Say "Yes" to Family Mealtime

September/October 2006

  • Eat to Compete
  • An Apple a Day...
  • Breakfast - Why and How
  • Marriage Burn Out or Burn On?
  • Start Positive Communication with Your Child's Teacher
  • How Much Should You Save?
  • PowerPay(R) Debt Analysis

July/August 2006

  • Video Games: Parents Beware!
  • Repair or Replace?
  • Sales Tax Holiday
  • Summertime C
  • Rasberry Smoothie
  • High Potassium Foods
  • Outdoor Summer Grilling

May/June 2006

  • Conquer Family Over-scheduling
  • Teens Benefit from Parents' "follow through"
  • Finding Extra Money
  • Safe Food Preservation
  • 100 Calorie packs
  • Do Salads Help You Lose Weight?

March/April 2006

  • March is National Nutrition Month
  • Crackers
  • Counting Calories?
  • Wine is Good - Grape Juice even Better
  • Consumer Lessons from Natural Disasters
  • Child Act Fast...So do Poisons!
  • Family First
  • Create Peace: Stop Yelling

January/February 2006

  • Join Lighten Up Iowa
  • Finding Calories on Food Product Labels
  • What Should I Order?
  • Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund
  • Let the Kids Paint
  • Caregivers Must Take Care of Themselves

November/December 2005
  • MyPyramid for Kids
  • Food Safety for Power Outages
  • Gaining Muscle
  • Tis the Season to Give
  • What is Your Child Learning this Holiday?
  • Holiday Tips for Caregivers
  • Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
  • Holiday Spending Motto

September/October 2005
  • Television: Who has the "Controls"?
  • Credit Card Minimum Payments: Good News and Bad News
  • Guard Your Home Equity
  • What's for Lunch?
  • Personalized Food Pyramid
  • Apples, Apples, Apples!
  • ISU Extension Needs Your Help

July/August 2005
  • Lower Cancer Risks
  • Join in SHARE Iowa
  • Take Your Burgers' Temperature
  • Food Preservation/Canning Web sites
  • Financial Tips for Travelers
  • Watch Your Mail - New Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Information Coming
  • Reclaim Family Time
  • Create Special Couple Time
  • Help Older Iowans Age in Place

May/June 2005
  • The New Food Guide Pyramid
  • Dealing with Rising Gasoline Costs
  • Kid's Summer Money School
  • Avoid the Great Escape when Traveling with Children
  • Helping Children Apologize in a Meaningful Way
  • Summer Bubble Fun

March/April 2005
  • Coaching Kids Towards Emotional Intelligence
  • America Saves
  • Plan for Family Summer Fun
  • When Working Teens Save
  • Iowa Concern Web site
  • New Dietary Guidelines
  • Serve Eggs Safely at Easter

January/February 2005
  • Making Memories
  • Dealing with Disappointment
  • Strive for Five in 2005
  • Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School
  • Which Soaps to Use
  • Antiviral Tissues
  • Time for a New Furnace
  • Earned Income Tax Credit

November/December 2004
  • Surviving the Holiday Roller Coaster
  • The Big Thaw
  • How Many Apples
  • Ten Ways to Survive Post Holiday Financial Stress

September/October 2004
  • Kids and Allowances
  • Easing Bedtime Battles
  • Pack a Safe Wholesome Lunch
  • How to Parent a College Student
  • Caring for a Late Summers Bounty
  • The Peel Deal

July/August 2004
  • What's So Great About Family Dinner
  • It's All in the Scrubbing
  • Burger Facts
  • Quick Fit
  • Sun Screen - What to Buy
  • Medicare Prescription Cards - Review of Key Points
  • Pre-college Insurance Check-up
  • Retirement Savings - Are You Over Confident

May/June 2004
  • Child Care Lasts a Lifetime - Make Sure it is Quality Care
  • Managing Feelings
  • Make Quick Foods Healthy
  • Time-saving Tips for Quick Meals
  • Eat Your Colors Every Day
  • Medicare Changes

March/April 2004
  • Thinking of Buying a Home
  • Protect Yourself in Rental Agreements
  • Why all the Concern about Brain Development
  • Plan Ahead for Successful Travel with Children
  • Making the Most of Your Relationship
  • March is National Nutrition Month
  • Breakfast the Most Important Meal of the Day
  • Web sites for Current Nutritional Information

January/February 2004
  • Life Stories - Connect with Future Generations
  • Quick Refund - A High Cost and High Risk Loan
  • Web Search Results
  • Points to Ponder before buying Supplements
  • Keep Kids Active

November/December 2003
  • Let's Talk Turkey
  • Helpings & Servings - What is the Difference
  • Comparison Shopping Pays Off
  • Important Holiday Paperwork
  • Family Traditions - Holiday Help or Hindrance
  • Water Needs Vary with Size

September/October 2003
  • Six Steps to Reducing Marketing Contacts
  • September is National Food Safety Month
  • Tips for the College Student
  • Tips for Parenting in Step Families
  • Temper Tantrums - What is a Parent to Do
  • Key Skills Open the Door to Marital Success

July/August 2003
  • Summer Stress: Diffuse Your Anger when the Kids Overload Your Circuit
  • Involve Children In Community Service
  • Probiotics - "Good" Bacteria
  • Have the New Blood Pressure Guidelines Raised Your Blood Pressure?
  • Mosquito Repellents
  • Vacation Time: Credit Card Blocking
  • Financial Fraud: Test Your Knowledge

May/June 2003
  • Prepare Now for Sudden Emergencies
  • Make Menu Planning for Spring Events Easier
  • Surgeon General Says Physical Inactivity is Hazardous to Your Health
  • New Project Can Help You Save
  • When Working Teens Save...
  • Families: Plan for Summer Fun
  • Iowa Concern Launches New Web Site
  • Learn, Have Fun, and make Happy Memories During Family Vacations
  • How to Pick Walking Shoes
  • Help Keep Kids Safe on Home Playground Equipment

March/April 2003
  • Helping Children Say "I'm Sorry"
  • Activities for Infants
  • Remodeling? Think Long-term!
  • When Not to Use a Debit Card
  • New Federal Health Privacy Regulation
  • March is National Nutrition Month
  • New Pyramid to debut in 2005
  • Healthy Eating on the Run

January/February 2003
  • What's Your Wealth?
  • Keep Your Cool
  • 2003 New Year's Resolution
  • Holiday Bills?
  • Save Today for Future Gift Giving
  • Stretching a Dollar
  • Family Mealtime
  • Keep Children Buckled Up
  • What's Taking the Place of Physical Activity?
  • Family First in 2003

November/December 2002
  • Holiday Credit
  • Co-signing a Loan
  • Learning to Read
  • Establishing New Relationships: Step-Grandparents
  • Fostering a Positive Body Image in Girls
  • Lighten Up Iowa
  • Useful Website: http://www.students.gov
  • Turkey Basics: The Big Thaw

September/October 2002
  • Sizing Up Group Participation
  • Financial Security in Later Life
  • Finding Dollars to Invest
  • 2001 Credit Card Usage Analysis
  • Healthy Teen Training in October
  • A Serving of Food
  • Ten Mistakes to Avoid When Walking
  • East Smart When Eating Out

July/August 2002
  • Water: The Forgotten Nutrient
  • New Farm Bill
  • Is Celery Nutritious Calorie Burner?
  • Supplements to Burn Fat
  • Organizing Documents: A Key to Family Communication
  • Farmer's Markets - Everyone Wins!
  • Consolidating Student Loans
  • Summer Financial Skill-Building
  • Financial Website for Kids: http://www.themint.org
  • Avoid the "Great Escape" when Traveling with Children
  • Play is a Child's Work

    Deb; Meridith 1/22/2008