Nutrition & Wellness

Understanding core health and wellness topics are an important 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. Have questions not addressed in the topics listed below or looking for an answer to a specific question?  Contact our nutrition & wellness educator, Diane Reinhold, to learn more about how Illinois Extension is prepared to help.

Nutrition and Wellness Trainings

Find a local course to help you

Food Preservation

Ever wonder what to do with all your garden produce or perhaps you bought too many items at the Farmers Market? Don't worry, University of Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator Diane Reinhold will guide you in how to safely preserve and store your fresh fruits and vegetables.

Food Safety

Food Safety is important. Staying up to date with your certification is even more important. Whether you are looking for the Certified Food Protection Manager's Course or the Non-Restaurant Food Handlers Course, you'll find the information here

Healthy Living, Healthy Lifestyles

Choosing the right path to living a healthy lifestyle can often be intimidating. Nutrition and Wellness Educator Diane Reinhold offers helpful ways for you to make the positive changes towards wellness.
Free 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.

Testing is offered at Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago County Extension Offices. To schedule an appointment to get your Pressure Canner Dial Gauge tested, call the office nearest to you:

  • Jo Daviess County - (815) 858-2273
  • Stephenson County - (815) 235-4125
  • Winnebago County - (815) 986-4357

Healthy Recipes

These mouth-watering dishes are not only easy to prepare in your kitchen, but are also good for you! Check back as more recipes get added to the website.

rows of vegetables canned for preservation
Food Preservation Resources

Food preservation doesn't have to be a mystery.

Canning methods have changed over the years to improve the safety of the foods we store. The art of food preservation is not as difficult as you might first believe. University of Illinois Extension has all the information you need to solve the mystery of food preservation.

More resources

Informational Blogs

Whether you're looking for inspiration to help you along your wellness journey or you're looking for helpful information for your health, these blogs will help you on your journey.

A Nutrition and Wellness Blog

Live Well-Eat Well

Information by our Nutrition and Wellness Extension Educators from across Illinois.

Visit the Live Well-Eat Well Blog
A Journey of Wellness Blog

Walking the Line

Through this blog, Diane Reinhold, MPH, MS, RDN, Nutrition and Wellness Educator, provides awareness and the power of knowledge to help you on your health and wellness journey.

Visit the Walking the Line Blog
Kids, Food, Money, and More

Around the Table

Sit around our table with University of Illinois Extension educators as we share our best tips and research based information from University of Illinois, for raising kids, eating healthier, and spending smart.

Around the Table on Instagram Around the Table on Facebook
A healthy lifestyle Blog

To Your Health

Information by our Nutrition and Wellness Educators and Family and Consumer Sciences Educators from across Illinois.

Visit the To Your Heath Blog