Every Thanksgiving celebration seems to be complete with way too many leftovers, usually the turkey, pies, and dinner rolls. And really, how many leftover turkey sandwiches can you eat!? This holiday season, mix things up with some new recipes using your dinner leftovers and extra ingredients. But...

Often a day of candy, treats, and sugar, a healthy Halloween might be an oxymoron. By focusing more on getting dressed up and the fun of playing games and tricks, you can focus less on food and celebrate the festivities with healthier options. Giving Out (Tricks or) Treats If you are...

September is Healthy Aging Month, and a great time to highlight nutrition needs of older adults. With advancing age, nutrient requirements change. Primarily, older adults need fewer calories but actually need more of many nutrients. Read on for a "Top 5" list of nutrition topics older adults need...

Summertime equals vacation time, and we want to enjoy it! But enjoying your vacation does not mean you have to forget about your health. Whether traveling by car or eating for days at the beach's hotel restaurant, try these tips to keep your health on track. Tips for Travel (car...

One tiny berry packs a nutritious and versatile punch as we celebrate the blueberry during National Blueberry Month. Starting in June and throughout the summer, look for subtly sweet blueberries growing locally in Illinois. Nutritionally, blueberries are like many fruits: low in calories,...

It's that time of year where fresh garden produce is more readily available. Whether from your own garden or the farmer's market down the street, that garden fresh taste is hard to beat. Unfortunately, most produce we find in the grocery store is harvested before it is ripe and transported many...

School is ending for the year and kids everywhere are excited to start their summers. Whatever the kids are doing, make sure they eat healthy lunches this summer. For kids who will be staying home alone or with siblings, will they need to make their own lunches? If so, be sure to stock kitchens...

Whenever I teach on food groups – to youth and adults – there are always a few foods I mention that overlap into two food groups. Not that we cannot put them into just one, but because foods have a lot of different nutrients, they might fit into more than one group. The current guide describing...

This March, Nutrition & Wellness Extension Educators across Illinois are excited to celebrate the start of the "Illinois Nutrition Edition" blog. We write this collaborative blog to be your source for information on issues and trends related to food, nutrition, and health. Nutrition is an ever...

Recently, the sweet potato (but not the regular potato) has been touting the sought after "super food" status that all foods strive to bear...and all health and fitness buffs swear by. But what about the sweet potato's pale, pasty brother, the regular potato? He's become nothing but a...

Farmers market season is almost upon us, a sure sign that spring is finally here. After a seemingly endless winter, many are ready to get outside and browse the stalls filled with colorful, fresh produce.And if you don't already frequent farmers markets, you might want to consider a trip. But why...

Apple donuts - the quintessential fall-time treat. But donuts, no matter what their flavor (even if they have fruit!), are typically high in fat, sugar, and calories. Fried and smothered in sugar or glaze sure makes them delicious, but you can get your donut fix without all the extras. No need to...

It's state fair season! If you can't make it out to the fairgrounds and need a funnel cake fix, you can have it any time of year with this healthier alternative. (Scroll to the bottom of the post for a printable PDF version of the recipe!) Basic Funnel Cake...

As we've posted before, canning is a great way to use the foods you have grown in your garden or have purchased from your local farmers' market. Canning allows us to enjoy the wonderful tastes of summer all year long, but to keep your food safe, you have to know which method of canning to use....

In case you were curious, the maximum monthly allowance for SNAP (aka Food Stamps) participants is this: Family of 1: $189.00 = $47.25/week Family of 2: $ 347.00 = $86.75 Family of 3: $ 497.00 = $124.25 Family of 4: $ 632.00 = $...

March is National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign created by the American Dietetic Association. T

When you think of yogurt, what comes to mind? Words like, fruity, smooth, creamy, and sweet. Perhaps visions of smoothies or parfaits dance through you head. Some of us health minded folks might think the health benefit of probiotics, as mentioned in...

Leia- I have a recipe that everyone in our family LOVES - but it has to be the most fattening dish ever invented. Is there anything you can do with it to make it healthier? It is yummy, and there's never a smidge left over. However, I'd rather not kill everyone in the family by bringing it to...

They say that sex sells, and ain't that the truth? Yet so many people shy away from discussing it in public. And seeking help when there's trouble in the bedroom? Yeah right. Like any other aspect of health, we're quick to look for cure-alls. The idea of aphrodisiacs is nothing new. Throughout...