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Healthy food choices lead to healthier lives.

As your friends and neighbors, Extension educators are here to help guide your food preparation, safety, and nutrition questions. Many of our workshops are offered in your local community. Several workshops are featured as live online webinars and videos. Join our mailing list to be notified of upcoming workshops.

Close-up of a honeycomb filled with golden honey, with a wooden honey dipper drizzling a thick stream of honey across the surface.

Honey: More Than Just Sweet!

From Hive to Honey: Taste, Learn, Enjoy
County: Monroe

Join us for an evening exploring the sweet world of honey! Learn about how honey is made, discover different varieties, and explore its nutritional and traditional uses. Enjoy a honey tasting…

A smiling woman in workout clothing holds a green dumbbell while surrounded by fresh fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and other healthy foods.

Wellness Wednesday

What's in My Food: Decoding Chemicals and Food Safety
County: Monroe

Join University of Illinois Extension for Wellness Wednesday, a monthly series designed to inspire and empower individuals to make healthy choices and support their overall well-being. 
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Loaf of Sourdough Bread

Sourdough Made Simple

County: Piatt, Macon, DeWitt

What does it really take to make sourdough bread? Find out at this engaging workshop and learn the basics of sourdough. Everyone will have the opportunity to mix up a jar of starter to take home…

Pumpkin Smash

Pumpkin Smash

"Don't Trash It Smash It"
County: McLean

Fall is the pumpkin’s time to shine, but what happens when it is time to say goodbye to the short-lived Jack-o-lanterns? Green your Halloween by recycling pumpkins into compost at a free…

2 people talking

Beyond the Stigma: Conversations and Care in the Opioid Crisis

Community Seminar Series: Autumn Health Picks 2026
Discover practical ways to address opioid-related stigma.

Opioid use disorder affects communities across Illinois and beyond. This session explores how stigma shapes conversations about substance…

Diverse group of seniors preparing food

Diabetes in a Modern World

County: Macon, Piatt, DeWitt

Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been managing diabetes for decades, let Decatur Memorial and Illinois Extension support your health journey. Join an educational session on food choices to…

A person sitting at a wooden desk filled with fresh healthy food, measuring tape, and meal-planning charts.

Cooking with Diabetes

Meal Planning
County: Jersey

November is National Diabetes Month! Eating well is a powerful tool for managing diabetes, but a common question asked by people diagnosed with diabetes is, "What can I eat?" A diet to manage…

An active sourdough starter in a glass jar next to a wooden scoop resting in a wooden bowl filled with white flour.

Starting a Sourdough Starter

County: Jersey, Macoupin

Ready to dive into the world of sourdough? Join us for a fun, hands-on class where you’ll learn how to create and care for your own sourdough starter from scratch! We’ll break down the science…

a bunch of bowls with various loose leaf tea in them and a bundle of lavender

Gifts from the Garden

2026 Garden Learning Series
County: Lake

The University of Illinois Extension Lake County Master Gardeners, SWALCO, and the Lake County Forest Preserve District present the 2026 Garden Learning Series.

Many of us consider the act…

Veggies on a cutting board

Diabetes and the Heart

Wellness Wednesday at the DISC
County: DeWitt, Macon, Piatt

After finishing your workout, stick around for educational sessions to build understanding and confidence in caring for your nutrition needs. Recipe demonstrations and tastings will be offered at…