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College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

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From frightening faces to tasty treats

As you carve frightening or charming faces in your jack-o-lanterns this Halloween, be sure to keep the seeds for a nutritious snack. Pumpkin seeds are truly one of the greatest rewards to this fall activity.  Saving the seeds is easy. Once cutting out the stem of the pumpkin, the fun part...
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Limiting scary amounts of sugar

If you have children at home, you're probably all too familiar with the loads of candy your child receives in the month of October. While we all know that overloading our children with sugary treats isn't the healthiest, how can we lessen the temptations, but still not deprive our children of the...
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Bitter melon: A unique superfood

What’s green, oblong and appears to have warts?  No, it’s not a Wicked Witch of the West costume, it’s bitter melon. Bitter melon looks more like a bumpy cucumber, which is like a cousin in the squash family. This fruit bears it’s name and is quite bitter. While it can be eaten raw, it’s...
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Sustainable seafood

Fish and seafood are such healthy additions to one’s diet, delivering important nutrients such as iron, choline, vitamin D, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults eat at least eight ounces every week. However, many people have questions...
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The flavors of France

The summer 2024 Olympic games recently concluded and took place in Paris, France, the culinary capital of the world. Athletes from around the world had the opportunity to choose traditional French cuisine and in fact, the Olympic Village included a bakery where athletes can shape their own French...
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Find more fiber in your foods

Consuming a diet adequate in dietary fiber has a multitude of health benefits. It can help lower cholesterol, improve blood glucose control, promote a healthy weight, and prevent constipation and diverticulosis. Yet an estimated 95% of Americans do not meet the recommended amount of fiber. The...
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Summer treat showdown: Ice cream, sorbet, gelato, and more

A hot summer day often calls for a cool frozen treat. Ice cream has become a common staple in many households, but freezers are being stocked with more than just ice cream; sorbet, sherbet, gelato, frozen yogurt and even Greek frozen yogurt are competing with ice cream’s hungry audience. ...
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Eggplant: A versatile veggie beyond its quirky name

Eggplants are more than a funny name with an odd shape. They are versatile, nutritious, and tasty.  There are different varieties of eggplant, some of which are white rather than the more common purple color, and some of which are round or oval rather than elongated. Like many vegetables,...
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Navigating the farmers' market like a pro

The farmers’ market is a place where healthy, fresh, and local meet. Who wouldn’t feel good about spending their hard-earned money here? Not only are you supporting local agricultural businesses, which means a lower carbon footprint, but you get to take home the most incredibly fresh produce. Plus...
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Legumes, pulses, and beans, oh my!

Legumes, pulses and beans are terms used interchangeably, but they each have a specific meaning. The easiest way to understand the difference is to think of them in a hierarchy. Legumes are at the top. It’s an umbrella name that includes all types of beans, peas and lentils, even...
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College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

101 Mumford Hall (MC-710)

1301 W. Gregory Dr.

Urbana, IL 61801

Email: extension@illinois.edu

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