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Reynolds Market, Sidney, and its customers raised an impressive $6,000 through the Feeding the Hungry donation drive held Jan. 17-31! The funds raised through this drive were divided equally among three organizations in Richland County. Members accepting a donation of $2,000 each are, (L to R): Leann Pelvit, Candy Markwald and Jared Troudt, Richland County Food Bank; Madison Miller, Boys & Girls Clubs of the MonDak Richland Unit; and Heather Nevins and Rita Jacobson, Richland County Chronic...
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It's finally summer, which means the sun is out, the grass is green, the days are long and your picnic supplies are begging to be utilized! You heard that right, it's picnic season! But what happens when food gets mixed with warm weather, bugs or a hot car? It becomes unsafe to eat, so we are going to help you make sure that your picnic experience is safe and without complications. There are several important steps one must take to ensure their food is safe for consumption especially when transp...
Why is it that the colder it gets outside, the more we crave indulgent comfort foods? According to Joyce McGarry, Michigan State University Extension, in the article Making Comfort Foods Healthier This Winter: eating more in the winter months has evolved from our ancestors who originally needed the extra calories to keep their bodies warm. However, with more heating options for our homes and workplaces, we do not need the extra calories in our diets during the winter months. With our cravings for more comfort food during the winter months, it...
Have you ever stood in the grocery store looking at yams and sweet potatoes and wondered what the difference is? Well, if this is the case, you are not alone. According to Susan M. Collins-Smith Mississippi State University Extension, in her article, Sweet potatoes vs. yams: What’s the difference? She explains that they are not the same; they look and taste different. Sweet potatoes are smoother, with thin skin, and varieties grown in the US can vary in colors. Yams are starchier with rougher, scaly skin and can range in size. Smith also explai...
There are many reasons to support local vendors and attend local farmers markets. Not only are you able to find fresh produce, but you might also find a unique handmade gift or your new favorite treat. Shopping at your local farmers market also provides benefits, including connecting with vendors, eating and supporting local, strengthening your local economy, and eating fresh. By taking trips to the local farmers markets, you are getting the opportunity to connect with vendors and visit with...
We've entered peak grilling season. After our typically brutal Montana winters, most of us long for these warmer and longer days. One of the best aspects is experiencing cooking outside on a grill. Unfortunately, grilled food doesn't have the best reputation of being a healthy way to cook. Some grilled foods, especially proteins, can add significant amounts of salt and fat to your meal. Over time, this can lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Don't be discouraged; there are...
When you live in a smaller household or by yourself, it can be challenging to plan healthy meals. How much should I make? How can I make something without eating it for a whole week or throwing away a bunch of food? These could be questions you have asked yourself before when cooking for yourself or a smaller household. Alice Henneman University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension Educator, has created a checklist of some items for “Planning Healthy Meals for One or Two” (2012). One of the general tips mentioned by Henneman is to cook once and eat...
With spring here, does anyone feel as though they do not have time to make a home-cooked meal, or would you like to be able to make something with what you already have on hand? Did you know that you can make your own casserole with what you already have in your home? Casseroles are fast and easy dinner options for a busy family or person as they usually take minimal time; you can use what you have on hand, throw them together, let them do their thing, then dinner is ready in a flash. Plus, if you have leftovers, you also have lunch for the...
Bringing your kids into the kitchen to make healthy meals and snacks is one way to support their learning and growth, plus have a little fun. Kids can learn safety around kitchen technology, the stove, oven and knives under adult supervision. Food preparation and safety are keys to healthy meals. Karen Fifield, Michigan State University Extension, writes in the article Kids in the Kitchen, “these topics can be discussed and be passed from generation to generation: where does it (food) come from, how do we prepare and cook it, what is safe a...
When winter hits we tend to stock up on non-perishable foods like canned soups, vegetables and fruits. If you are like me you often find it hard to come up with creative, delicious and nutritious meals featuring your canned favorites. So, the Richland County Nutrition Coalition is here to help you out with a handful of recipes that utilize canned vegetables and beans! It’s getting a little warmer, however the winter weather has not vanished completely, and these recipes will be sure to fill you up and warm you up in the coming months. In n...
As temperatures are dropping, it can be nice to come home to a home cooked meal that you put little effort into. This is where a slow cooker comes to the rescue. From dinners, desserts, breakfast, and more, the slow cooker can help you create delicious dishes that save you time to do other things throughout the day. Plus, some of your favorite recipes you bake in the oven or simmer on the stove might be able to be cooked in a slow cooker. According to Siew Guan Lee, Susan Ettesvold, and Cammie...
As October has officially come to an end, we begin to creep into November and the cold that comes along with it! Not only are we very quickly approaching winter, but Thanksgiving too! This can be an exciting time for people where family or friends get together, but it can also be a time of stress for others. 2020 and 2021 have been very different years that have brought difficulties to so many families and individuals, which then can make this holiday even more stressful. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity in the United States was...
When asked what one food item reminds you of fall, what would you say? It's easy to imagine the vast majority of folks would say pumpkin, pumpkin spice, or some other variation of this fall favorite. Besides being just a symbol of the season, pumpkins also are a nutrient-dense, low-calorie food. Pumpkin has about 50 calories, 1.8 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbohydrates, and 2.7 grams of dietary fiber according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pumpkins are also full of vitamins and...
Whole grains are a combination of words that are heard and talked about quite a bit. However, there is more to whole grains than one might think. For starters, did you know there is more than just wheat in the whole grain category? Barley, buckwheat, farro, oats, quinoa, rye, and popcorn (to name a few) are also considered whole grains. According to MyPlate, it is recommended that half of the grains that you eat during the day should be whole grain, and with so many options, it helps make this task easier. However, you might be wondering what...
Sometimes trying to make healthy family meals can seem overbearing or expensive at times. What should I make? What do I have at home? What will my family eat? The list goes on and on. According to Clemson Cooperative Extension in the article Planning Meals for a Family (2020), there are even benefits to eating meals at home. 1. meals usually are healthier and can taste better as the person preparing them has control over the meal being prepared at home, 2. there is more control over the portion sizes being served, 3. it makes for more family...
What is a great way to add some flare or flavor to your cooking? If you started thinking about adding a spice or herb, you would be correct! Spices and herbs are an excellent way to add flavor to a dish, take you on a trip, or mix things up. Additionally, herbs and spices are great additions to dishes to help cut down on salt if you’re watching your salt intake. You can also get spices/ herbs in different forms from fresh, frozen, and dried. However, spices and herbs can sometimes be a bit spendy, especially when a recipe calls for something t...
What is one food that makes a great breakfast and is also considered an excellent source of protein? Ding, Ding, Ding, if you were thinking eggs, you were correct! According to the Egg Nutrition Center (ENC) article on Protein, a large egg has around six grams of protein and contains all nine essential amino acids. The ENC also noted that protein is important in an overall diet and that this macronutrient can help maintain and build muscle tissue. However, about half of an egg’s protein is actually located in the yolk of the egg, so to get a...
With spring and the summer months rapidly approaching, sometimes spending a lot of time in the kitchen making dinner and cleaning up the mess is the last thing we want to do. However, one-pot, skillet, or sheet pan meals might make this task fast, easy, and clean up a breeze. Many meals that we eat might already fit within the category of one-dish meals from soups and stews, one-pot casserole, crockpot or Insta pot dinners, skillet meals, and any dish that is made using only one-pot, pan, skillet, you get the picture. Have you been thinking...
Salt is one of our most important cooking ingredients, and plays an important role in the human body. We can’t live without it. There are many varieties of salt on today’s market, each with its own niche and purported health benefits. But which is which, and is one really better than the others? Generally, salt is a crystal mineral made of molecules of sodium and chlorine, both of which are essential for the human body, aiding your brain and nerves in sending electrical impulses throughout the body. Salt is most commonly used to flavor and pre...
In today’s world, it can be hard to find the time to stay connected to your family. Parents and kids are always on different schedules, playing sports, attending classes, running errands, or, in some cases, just too tired to make the effort. With all the hustle and bustle of modern life, more than half of American parents say that they share less family dinners than they did as kids, even though 78% agree that family meal time should be a high priority in their family. Well, they are absolutely right! Family meal time should be one of the t...
When it comes to reaching weight loss or muscle gain goals, the first step in most people’s plan is to address what they are doing from an exercise standpoint – sorting out what they can do to burn extra calories to lose a few pounds or what resistance training program they can follow to build muscle. Many people overlook the nutrition component of these goals, but the truth is that you can’t out-train a bad diet. I often tell my clients that diet is at least 70% of the picture when it comes to reaching your fitness goals. Here are a few helpf...
With days starting to get warmer, you might find yourself wanting to get outside more, and the possibility of starting a garden might have crossed your mind. However, there are some things that you should consider before starting your garden. In the MontGuide, Planting a Successful Home Vegetable Garden (2009), written by Cheryl Moore-Gough and R.E Gough, it mentions that having a successful garden is not only dependent on how you garden but also planting the right vegetables at the right time....
Your alarm goes off in the morning after hitting snooze a couple of times. Now you need to get moving, or you will be late! Whether you live by yourself or you have a family; in the midst of a busy morning, breakfast can be the last thing on our minds, or you find yourself falling into the same breakfast routine. However, even in the heat of a busy morning, eating breakfast is a great way to jumpstart your day and provides many benefits to your health. In the article “Break the Fast with Breakfast” (2020), written by Melissa Wdowik, ass...
With the gathering of friends and families for holiday celebrations, we sometimes find ourselves faced with the challenges of eating too much food or more food than we might normally eat. Even through the holiday season portion controlling our food that we eat at home and gatherings can add up! The article Five Tips to Help You Manage Portion Control (2018), written by Andrea Aguilar, from Michigan State University Extension Services, talks how portion control is an important key to helping maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet, however, it...