Tic Toc it’s Tick Time

Perfect timing! Check out this tick info graphic! Be tick aware!!!!

GRO Big Red

PDF Version for Printing: Tic Toc Ticks

   Featured image courtesy of Jim Kalisch; UNL Entomology Department

View original post

Sorting Food Facts and Myths…

by Alice Henneman, MS, RDN, Extension Educator, Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County, “Sorting Food Facts and Myths: Foods Marketed as Being Free of Certain Substances”, February 2017 NEBLINE

---

Current food trends suggest there is confusion about the safety of the food system (production, processing distribution, consumption and waste management) leading to skepticism and decreased consumer confidence in our food supply.

For example: Foods Marketed as Hormone Free

Did you know? A food may claim to be “free of hormones” — however, it may never have contained hormones. For example, federal law prohibits the use of hormones in poultry production. Today’s birds are larger due to advances in breeding, animal nutrition and animal care. Likewise, federal law prohibits the use of hormones in pig production. The amount of lean meat produced per pig has increased due to animal selection and nutrition. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Hormones are not allowed in raising hogs or poultry. Therefore, the claim ‘no hormones added’ cannot be used on the labels of pork or poultry unless it is followed by a statement that says ‘Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones.’” Be aware, the claim may be in much larger letters than the statement saying the use of hormones is prohibited.

Read the entire article and find a recipe for “Berry Good Pancakes” in the February issue of the NEBLINE Newsletter. Available free online.

If you don’t live in Lancaster County, Nebraska, please make sure to check out your local extension office too. Your extension office has resources for you, your family and community. To find your local office, visit http://lancaster.unl.edu/office/locate.shtml (nationwide listing).

Have a great day!!

Soni

Responsive. Innovative. Trusted.
Nebraska Extension provides research-based information to help you make informed decisions any time, any place, anywhere –

It’s Cold Out There!

Many of us are waking up this morning to ice, snow and dangerous wind chills. Taking preventative steps is your best defense when dealing with extreme cold weather. Prepare your home and vehicles in advance of weather emergencies. Keep abreast of changing weather and road conditions. Practice safety during these times of bitter cold and you’ll reduce your risk for weather-related health problems or injury.

If you absolutely have to venture outdoors, make sure you are dressed for extreme cold weather conditions.

Learn to recognize the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia is a more serious medical condition and requires immediate emergency medical assistance. Check on neighbors, family and friends who may be susceptible to the cold. Learn more:

7 Super Things Parents & Caregivers Can Do

1. Talk often with your children from the day they are born.

2. Hug them, hold them and respond to their needs and interests.

3. Listen carefully as your children communicate with you.

4. Read aloud to your children every day, even when they are babies. Play and sing with them often.

5. Say “yes” and “I love you” as much as you say “no” and “don’t.”

6. Ensure a safe, orderly and predictable environment, wherever they are.

7. Set limits on their behavior and discipline them calmly, not harshly.

Source: The NEBLINE Newsletter (Nov/Dec14 issue) Early Development Network Babies Can’t Wait 

Here’s to keeping families first … until next time,

Soni Cochran

Responsive. Innovative. Trusted.
Nebraska Extension provides research-based information to help you make informed decisions any time, any place, anywhere – http://lancaster.unl.edu

If you live outside of Lancaster County, Nebraska, be sure to check out the university extension resources in your community. To find your local office, visit http://lancaster.unl.edu/office/locate.shtml

Grilling Fruits and Vegetables

I love using my grill especially in the fall! Enjoy these tips on grilling fruits and vegetables from the Nebraska Extension Cook it Quick blog!

Have a great day!!

Soni

Responsive. Innovative. Trusted.
Nebraska Extension provides research-based information to help you make informed decisions any time, any place, anywhere –

Cook It Quick!

Want to get your family to eat more fruits and vegetables? Try grilling them!

The heat from the grill caramelizes the natural sugars in fruits and vegetables, giving them a tasty and sweeter flavor.

I had the opportunity to visit with a representative from Weber grills who is coming to my hometown — Lincoln, Nebraska — to show their new Husker-themed grills at the Nebraska-Oregon football game. Their Chef and Grill Specialist Tyler Selhorst will be on hand to talk about grilling and tailgating tips.

Grilled meat is the first food that usually comes to mind for tailgating and grilling. To round out the meal with more foods from the grill, I asked Weber for some tips for grilling fruits and vegetables.

Grilling Fruit

Grilling fruit (Image courtesy of Weber grills)

Here are some general tips for grilling fruits from Weber.

1. First preheat your grill for 10-15 minutes and then brush…

View original post 210 more words

Happy Wife, Happy Life? UNL Study Findings

According to a recent study, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) sociologists found older married men with disabilities may do better when their wives become more demanding. Researchers found married men faced with long-term physical limitations feel less lonely if their wives engage in more demanding and critical behavior. If wives were more supportive to their husbands, the study showed it did not matter at all.

“Among current cohorts of older married men, there is an expectation that their wives are going to manage their health, that she’s going to be the one who makes sure he’s going to the doctor, eating correctly, doing his physical therapy,” Warner said. “For men, this ‘nagging,’ in a long-running marriage, is a signal that your spouse is invested in you, in your health, in maintaining your independence.”

Your vehicle gets HOT! Leave them at home, not in the car!

Never leave children, the elderly, persons with disabilities or pets in a parked vehicle on hot days! What’s hot? …

Did you know that even on an 80 deg F day, temperatures in a vehicle can raise to unsafe levels in just a couple of minutes. In studies, cracking the windows makes very little difference.

From the National Weather Service:

A vehicle heats up quicker than you might imagine. A dark dashboard or seat can easily reach temperatures in the range of 180 to over 200°F. These objects (e.g., dashboard, steering wheel, child seat) heat the adjacent air adjacent air by conduction and convection and also give off longwave radiation (red in the images below) which is very efficient at warming the air trapped inside a vehicle.

Shown below are time lapse photos of thermometer readings in a car over a period of less than an hour. These photos demonstrate just how quickly a vehicle can become a death trap.

A car sitting in a parking lot on an 80 degree day.

80 Deg Day Outside. Temperature of car after 10 minutes = 99 deg.

80 Deg Day Outside. Temperature of car after 20 minutes = 109 deg.

80 Deg Day Outside. Temperature of car after 30 minutes = 114 deg.

80 Deg Day Outside. Temperature of car after 40 minutes = 118 deg.

80 Deg Day Outside. Temperature of car after 50 minutes = 120 deg.

80 Deg Day Outside. Temperature of car after 60 minutes = 123 deg.