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Checking the temperature of chicken with a thermometer placed in the chicken breast.
What thermometers do you use in your kitchen?
Well, as you think about them, here are some quick ones to put on the list if you do not have any. Refrigerator thermometers, freezer thermometers,...
Pouring milk from a glass bottle into a glass cup
Before you serve raw unpasteurized milk or sell it to others
Milk is a perishable food with high nutritional value and moisture content, which makes it conducive for spoilage and harmful microorganisms to...
Two apples and two bananas on a wood table with a gray brick background. Sugar cubes sit in front of fruit
Fruit isn't too much sugar
"Bananas are too high in sugar, right?" asked a class participant last week. A few years before, a class participant asked if her teenager could have...
An image of a person's hands using a phone while preparing food
Using your phone while preparing food could be a food safety concern
Electronic devices such as cell phones, smart phones, tablets, computers etc. have become a necessary part of our day-to-day life. We carry them...
two women, one Hispanic, the other African American walking on a sidewalk carrying hand weights in the spring
Step Into Spring: Embracing Movement for a Healthier You
As the earth awakens from its winter rest, with longer days and warmer temperatures, spring offers the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and...
White bowl with salad, salad containing boiled egg, chicken, tomatoes, avocado and salad greens.
Embracing Nutrition and New Beginnings This March
March ushers in the arrival of spring, bringing with it new growth and fresh starts. It also marks...
A cartoon image of a sad stomach with Norovirus infection
Protect your customers and loved ones from Norovirus
Norovirus is the number one cause of foodborne disease outbreaks in the United States...
image of heart and stethoscope with the word diabetes
Protecting Your Heart When You Have Diabetes
Heart Disease in AmericaHeart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 1 in 5 deaths...
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Live Well. Eat Well.

Wicker basket filled with live grass, flowers, and dyed eggs
Create earthy eggs with plant dyes for spring
Yes, the flowers and grass in the basket in this blog's cover photo are real! Our horticulture...
Women filling a blue pot with water at kitchen sink
Save water while cooking in a drought
Many areas of Illinois are experiencing effects of little...
Red nonstick skillet cooking two venison steaks
Flavorful venison recipes for winter
Partnerships are a big part of Illinois Extension programs. This one started more than five years ago with a conversation about deer hunting and...
Vegetables in storage containers
How long do holiday leftovers really last?
“How long has this turkey been in the fridge?” “Are these mashed potatoes still good?” “Will this stuffing last until Christmas?”These are common...
Repeating pattern of walnuts, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, almonds, and macadamia nuts
Nuts need food safety too
What are your favorite nuts and seeds? Maybe pecans or walnuts? Sunflower or pumpkin seeds? Fortunately, no matter your favorites, nuts are a...
Bowl of red pepper flakes next to 3 red chilis on dark gray background
Make your own red pepper flakes
Although National Pepper Month is celebrated in November, sweet and hot peppers are...
Lunchbox and backpack
Back-to-school fuel: Tips for simple meals kids will love
It’s back-to-school time, and we all want the same thing: healthy, happy children who are learning and on their way to becoming productive members of...
Man grilling burgers outdoors
Grill Safely This Summer: Food Safety Tips for Memorial Day and Beyond
Memorial Day is often seen as the unofficial kickoff to summer. And what better way to celebrate than pulling out the grill and inviting friends and...
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Community Health

Woman completing a plank exercise
Is isometric exercise beneficial?
Have you ever wondered why someone may take on the challenge of a plank hold? Or do a prolonged wall sit? Well, these are called isometric exercises...
Bunch of strawberries
Boost your mood with healthy food
With all the uncertainty happening in our world, it can feel challenging to maintain our mental health. Whether it’s concerns about the economy,...
child drawing hearts with sidewalk chalk
Three approaches to befriend your inner critic
You might be familiar with the inner critic, that not-so-nice voice in your head that can be critical and judgmental and tell us we are not enough....
A woman completing a sit-up or abdominal crunch
Tabata: A fun and effective workout style!
A tabata workout, while rhyming with ciabatta and sounding like...
healthy dish of vegetables
Three natural ways to boost immunity
September is traditionally the month when we begin to think about all things related to fall: kids returning to school, sweater weather, pumpkin...
metal bins with art supplies
Stress the arts to promote health
The arts play an important part in our lives and health. Creative expression and art appreciation connect us to the world and help us learn, teach,...
Multiple ambulances
Xylazine: Approved for Animals, not Humans
Substances, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl are all ones that the public may know can be bought and consumed illicitly....
plate with a colorful vegetable salad
Spring Forward with a Plant-Based Diet!
As New Year’s resolutions start to fade and the approach of summer suddenly comes into view, it is easy to get discouraged with trying to eat...
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Refill Your Cup with Self-Care

Finding freedom in the every day
There are as many different types of freedom as there are ways to experience freedom. Many can relate to the feeling of freedom a day off work brings...
Seeing beyond duality
How often do you find yourself caught up in “either/or” thinking? You might notice yourself thinking everything in life is either a success or...
Five ways to speak your truth
Truth be told, how often do you honestly respond to the question “How are you?” For many of us, the response “fine” or “good” might simply come out...
Four ways to treat yourself compassionately
It is not uncommon to treat your friends and loved ones gentler than you treat yourself. In fact, research demonstrates 84% of people are kinder to...
Light your fire of transformation
As we experience warmer temperatures, the sounds of birds singing, and the first spring blooms, we may also feel the desire for our own inner and/or...
Nourishing yourself
The oxford dictionary defines nourishment as “the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.” Have you given much...
Finding your base of support
When it comes to support, everyone experiences it in different ways. You may feel professionally supported by your supervisor or colleagues,...
Taking care of your energy body
On a daily basis, you are probably pretty aware of your levels of energy. We often comment on having a lot of energy, or feeling like we could use...
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Health Insights Illinois

individuals, couples, families, and friends ice skating at an outdoor ice rink
Deck the halls with healthy habits: Add physical activity to your holiday traditions
Across Illinois many of us recently saw the season’s first snow fall. While it can be tempting to hunker down as the evenings grow darker and colder...
A lit candle on a table
Holidays during stressful times: Finding joy in the middle of chaos
The holiday season is often depicted as a time of joy, laughter, and togetherness. However, for many, it can also be a period filled with stress and...
Parent reading a bedtime story to child in bed.
The power of a good night’s sleep: helping kids thrive
After a restful summer, you may find there's one thing your children are not happy about: waking up early for school again! Did you know that...
Hand holding smaller hands
Healing Generational Wounds: The Importance of Addressing Mental Health in Parenting
The profound impact of intergenerational trauma on parenting cannot be overstated. The legacy of unresolved trauma resonates through families,...
Dr. Key in the water providing a swim lesson to four young Black girls.
Representation in the water: Why swim lessons matter for every child
It’s summertime! The days are hot, and the local swimming pool is jam packed with kids and adults alike making a splash and staying cool. While the...
HPV vaccine vials
HPV vaccine: not just for teens?
Many people have heard of the HPV vaccine or have been vaccinated, but may not know what it does and why it is important. Parents and adults can make...
Two people walk on a dirt path through a prairie landscape
Move for the Mind: Use physical activity to support mental health
May is Mental Health Awareness MonthYou probably know that physical activity is important for improving your physical health and preventing or...
An older woman performs a dumbbell bicep curl exercise
A Game-Changer for Women’s Health: Discovering the benefits of strength training for aging women
Strength training boasts an impressive list of health benefits, yet the group that stands to benefit the most – older women – is participating in...
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