In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, families find themselves facing an array of issues - some familiar, some less so. Illinois Extension educators have cultivated a set of materials that will help you navigate these unchartered waters. Make the most of your time together as a family by helping those you love develop the skills and attitudes that will help them thrive during uncertain times.
Cooking and Meals
- One Pan Meals, Illinois Extension
- Use Microwaves Safely, Illinois Extension
- Cooking For One or Two, Illinois Extension
- Healthy Snacks to Make as a Family, Illinois Extension
- Cooking with Children, Illinois Extension
- Substitutions for Common Ingredients, Illinois Extension
- Creative Ways to Use Leftovers, Illinois Extension
- How to Build an Emergency Food Supply, (Spanish) Illinois Extension
- Stocking Up on Food? Check Your Food Waste Habits, Illinois Extension
- Easy Meals Using Foods From Your Pantry, Illinois Extension
- 5 Ways to Prepare Everyday Foods, Illinois Extension
- How to Prep and Cook a Whole Chicken
- How to Prep and Cook Brown Rice
- How to Prep and Cook Canned Pumpkin
- How to Prep and Cook Chickpeas-Garbanzo Beans
- How to Prep and Cook Sweet Potatoes
- How to Prep and Cook with Lentils
- How to Prep and Cook Yellow Split Peas
- How to Prep and Use Bananas
- How to Prep and Use Chicken Broth
- How to Prep and Use Dry Beans
- How to Use and Cook with Dried Fruit
- Food Rescue at Home: Reducing Waste and Reusing Leftovers (Recorded webinar)
Food Safety
- Home Food Preservation, Illinois Extension
- Food Preservation Tips, Illinois Extension
- How Safe is My Food in a COVID world?, Illinois Extension
- Safely Receiving, Storing, and Reheating Carryout Meals, Illinois Extension
- Know How Long Frozen Foods Keep, Illinois Extension
- Have Extra? Follow These Tips for Freezing Food, (Spanish) Illinois Extension
- Is It Safe: Understanding Food Package Dates (Also available in Spanish), Illinois Extension
- Food Safety and Pet Safety Q&A (Website), U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Food Bank Best Practices During COVID-19, Illinois Extension and NC State Extension
- Food Bank Receiving and Cleaning Practices During COVID-19, Illinois Extension and NC State Extension
- Grocery Retail Packaging During COVID-19, Illinois Extension and NC State Extension
- Cleaning and Disinfecting Grocery Stores during COVID-19, Illinois Extension and NC State Extension
- Facts for Grocery Stores during COVID-19, Illinois Extension and NC State Extension
- Retail Cleaning during COVID-19, Illinois Extension and NC State Extension
- Facts for Retailers during COVID-19, Illinois Extension and NC State Extension
- Retail Packaging during COVID-19, Illinois Extension and NC State Extension
Personal and Family Wellbeing
- Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Illinois Extension
- Importance of Rituals and Routine During Trying Times, Illinois Extension
- Helping Teens Deal with Stress, (Spanish) Illinois Extension
- Coping with Disaster or Trauma, CDC
- Building Your Resilience: How High Do You Bounce (Recorded Webinar), Illinois Extension
- Learning at Home During Trying Times, Illinois Extension
- Communicating with Children During Stressful Times (Also available in Spanish and Video), Illinois Extension
- Helping Children Cope in Times of Stress (Video) (Spanish), Illinois Extension
- How to Take Care of Yourself While Taking Care of Others (Blog) (Spanish) Illinois Extension
- Improving Your Health at Home: Sign Up For Online Webinars, Illinois Extension
- Journal Your Way to a Grateful Heart, Illinois Extension
- Staying Connected in Our New Normal, Illinois Extension
- Helping Children Cope with Emergencies, Center for Disease Control
- Helping Children Cope, Ready.gov
- Resources for Mental Health During COVID-19, University of Illinois Department of Psychology
- Caring for Older Adults During COVID-19
Health and Safety
- Keeping Nourished When You're Not Feeling Well, Illinois Extension
- Work Smart from Home, (Blog), Illinois Extension
- Ten Tips for Staying Active at Home, Illinois Extension
- Know Who to Trust for Health Information (Also available in Spanish), Illinois Extension
- What to Do If You Are Sick, Center for Disease Control
- Ten Tips for Staying Active at Home, (Also available in Spanish and Video) Illinois Extension
- Is Outdoor Recreation Safe During COVID-19, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
- Lessons in Hand Washing Video, Illinois Extension
- How to Make Your Own Bleach Sanitizer (Also available in Spanish and Video), Illinois Extension
- Importance of Handwashing: A Tale of Two Diseases, Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)
- Guidelines If You Need to Quarantine, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
- Information for Travelers (Website), Center for Disease Control
- Emergency Supply List (Website), Ready.gov by FEMA
Financial Wellbeing
- Shopping to Save, Illinois Extension
- For Farmers: What to Do If You've Lost Health Insurance Due to COVID-19, Illinois Extension and Delaware Extension
- What to Do If You've Lost Health Insurance Due to COVID-19, Illinois Extension and Delaware Extension
- Which Bills To Pay First, Illinois Extension
- Build Your Savings Account: What to Do with $1,200, (Spanish) Illinois Extension
- COVID Unemployment Benefit Information, Illinois Department of Employment Securities
- Coping With Finances During Difficult Times (Also available in Spanish and Blog), Illinois Extension
Upcoming Webinars & Podcasts
Family Health and Safety
- May 28, 2 PM: Two Heads are Better than One: Discover Brain Health
- June 4, 2 PM: Understanding Alzheimer’s: Discover Brain Health
- June 11, 2 PM: Communication Strategies for Dementia: Discover Brain Health
Personal Finances
- June 4, 6:30 PM: Let’s Talk Money: Begin with a Plan
- June 11, 6:30 PM: Let's Talk Money: Borrowing: How Much is Too Much
- June 18, 6:30 PM: Let’s Talk Money: Unequal Access to Credit
- June 25, 6:30 PM: Let’s Talk Money: Best Debt Repayment Strategies
- July 9, 6:30 PM: Let's Talk Money: Credit Scores Revealed
- July 16, 6:30 PM: Let's Talk Money: The Best Kept Secret for Financial Success
- July 23, 6:30 PM: Let’s Talk Money: Facing Financial Fears
- July 30, 6:30 PM: Let's Talk Money: Make Your Savings Grow
Webinars & Podcasts
Personal and Family Wellbeing
- Staying Active While at Home, Illinois Extension
- Simplify Your Life by Decluttering, Illinois Extension
- Caregiver Self-Care, Illinois Extension
- Building Your Resilience: How High Do You Bounce, Illinois Extension
- Discover Wellness: Who Gets Grandma’s Pie Plate, Illinois Extension
Nutrition
- Take your Kitchen appliances for a spin (Recorded webinar)
- Health at Home: Emotional Eating: Understanding how Stress Impacts Hunger & Appetite Webinar, Illinois Extension
- Health at Home: The Science Behind Popular Eating Trends Webinar, Illinois Extension
- Health at Home: Food Rescue At Home Webinar, Illinois Extension
- Eat Move Save: Tortilla Cups with Eggs, Illinois Extension
- Eat. Move. Save: Crunchy Chickpea Snacks, Illinois Extension
- Eat. Move. Save: Zesty Tortilla Chips, Illinois Extension
- Eat. Move. Save: Fish Tacos, Illinois Extension
Health and Safety
- Loss of senses of smell, taste could identify COVID-19 carriers, University of Illinois
- Health at Home: Every Steps Counts: Getting the Most out of your Activity Trackers Webinar, Illinois Extension
Pets
- Coronavirus: Is It Safe to Leave the House, The Round Barn Podcast, UI Vet Med
- Zoonotic Disease and the Coronavirus, The Round Barn Podcast, UI Vet Med