Nutrition & Wellness: Serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin and Montgomery Counties: University of Illinois Extension

Understanding core health and wellness topics are an essential aspect of your family's overall well-being.

From food safety to nutrition to chronic disease prevention and management, Illinois Extension is committed to helping families across the state and beyond live the best versions of their lives. Learning more about heart-healthy eating, managing diabetes, or how long to keep food, freeze or dry food, and safely store it can lead to healthier living. Are you interested in providing worksite wellness classes in your local business, school foodservice training, bringing nutrition or food safety education into a high school classroom, or need your Certified Food Protection Manager Certification? Contact Lisa Peterson, nutrition & wellness educator, about upcoming programs, scheduling programs, and any nutrition or food safety-related questions, or check out a non-exhaustive list of potential program offerings.

It's Canning Season! Dial Gauge Pressure Canner Testing

Dial pressure canner gauges need to be tested once a year. Over time, a dial gauge’s calibration can become inaccurate and show an incorrect pressure. If the pressure is even slightly lower than recommended, the internal temperature of the food will not be high enough to kill all the bacteria, and harmful toxins can build up and cause illness or death.

To get your pressure canner dial gauge tested, drop off your lid with a name and phone number at the Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, or Montgomery County Extension office. Once the lid is tested, you will be contacted about the results and for pick up. Testing is offered at no cost.

Healthy Recipes, Keeping Food from the Garden Longer, and More

Follow us on Social Media

Dash of Wellness

Follow @DashofWellness on Instagram for easy step-by-step photo recipes focused around diabetes, heart healthy, and/or celiac-friendly recipes! Find University of Illinois Extension classic recipes as well as new ones the Nutrition & Wellness team has developed!

Around the Table

Stop by our table on Instagram @family.finances.food for practical, research-based information for your family from University of Illinois Family and Consumer Science Extension Educators.

Around the Table also has a facebook page! Sit around our table with University of Illinois Extension educators as we share our best tips for raising kids, eating healthier, and spending smart.

Putting Wellness to Work Program Brochure
Putting WELLNESS to WORK is a University of Illinois Extension program. This workplace wellness series will help you: * Gain understanding in topics that affect your health * Achieve confidence to make positive health choices * Improve health behaviors for a better quality of life

Countywide Food Pantries: Locate your food pantries in Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties

Farmers Market Guide: Learn more about farmers markets in Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties

What's In Season in Illinois: Find out "What's in season" throughout the year

Storing Your Summer Harvest

Who knew going to the breakroom could be so educational? The Breakroom Buzz, developed by three Family and Consumer Science Extension Educators, was created to provide interesting nutrition facts, fun food-related and lifestyle facts, a calendar of upcoming food-related holidays, and additional research-based tips for leading a healthy lifestyle. These colorful flyers are great for the back of in the break rooms at work or in the bathroom stalls and are a quick way to improve wellness in the workplace.

January 2022
Breakroom Buzz
Bathroom Buzz (Spanish)

February 2022
Breakroom Buzz
Breakroom Buzz (Spanish)

March 2022
Breakroom Buzz
Breakroom Buzz (Spanish)

April 2022
Breakroom Buzz
Breakroom Buzz (Spanish)

May 2022
Breakroom Buzz
Breakroom Buzz (Spanish)

June 2022
Breakroom Buzz
Breakroom Buzz (Spanish)

July 2022
Breakroom Buzz
Breakroom Buzz (Spanish)

August 2022
Breakroom Buzz
Breakroom Buzz (Spanish)

September 2022
Breakroom Buzz
Breakroom Buzz (Spanish)