Editor: National 4-H Week is Oct. 2-8.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — When Jacob Shuman was little, he sometimes tore his homework into pieces in meltdowns of frustration.
Adopted as an infant from Guatemala, it took years for his fetal alcohol syndrome to be diagnosed, which explained his unusual learning disabilities: He could add, but not subtract. Multiply, but not divide. He’d understand a concept one day and forget it the next. It didn’t help that he was shy and had trouble speaking in front of others.
Fast forward a few years: Now a senior in high school, Shuman has developed his own outreach program, focused on the importance of honey bees and the plants they pollinate, that he has presented to more than 500 children and adults.
As a result, this past spring he...
So, I keep hearing different things about the five-second rule. Is it OK to pick up food and eat it after it has dropped to the floor?
Um, no. It’s not OK. At least not if you’re concerned about the potential for foodborne illness.
Your confusion is understandable, though. Just a few years ago, a researcher at Aston University in the United Kingdom announced that the five-second rule was really a thing. The professor led his final-year biology students in a study examining whether bacteria would contaminate different types of foods when they were dropped onto different floor types and left for different times — from three to 30 seconds. They found that time is a significant factor in the transfer of bacteria to a piece of food, and that the type of flooring also has a...
How can I get my grandchildren to eat more fruits and vegetables when they’re visiting? I am lucky that I get to have them over often, but I can’t seem to entice them to eat much produce.
You’re not alone. Most children (and teens and adults for that matter) don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
But for kids, you might try thinking small. That is, if you don’t already, try slicing fruits and vegetables into bite-size pieces. You might be surprised at the results.
Research by the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University indicates that slicing fruit could increase consumption, at least in school cafeterias. You might find similar success at home.
For the study, published in 2013 in the American...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — When it comes to the school cafeteria, it’s not often that “farm-fresh food” comes to mind.
But there’s no reason why it shouldn’t, said Carol Smathers, Ohio Farm to School coordinator for Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
The benefits stretch beyond fresh fare on the lunch plate, Smathers said. Farm to School programs, which connect local farms with educational institutions, provide opportunities for students to learn more about agriculture and local foods while also strengthening local food systems, she said.
To help spread the word and potentially expand Farm to School programs throughout the state, the...
I have a friend who no longer eats wheat products, onions, garlic or a lot of other foods. She said it’s because she has been experiencing stomach problems and a “low-FODMAP” diet was recommended. It sounds serious. What is it?
FODMAP is an acronym used for foods containing certain carbohydrates that aren’t absorbed well in the intestines and can be rapidly fermented in the gut. In some people, they cause gas, bloating, abdominal pain, excess fluid, constipation and diarrhea. The acronym stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols — a mouthful, which is why you will hear the term “FODMAPs” a lot more often than the actual words it stands for.
The low-FODMAP diet was developed in the last 10 years by...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A school garden can be a magical place for kids, says Sue Hogan.
“Especially if they don’t live in the best environment, it can be peaceful, interesting and exciting — an alternative to their everyday life.”
That’s one reason why Hogan, a 4-H educator for Ohio State University Extension, is coordinating the fourth annual Ohio School Garden Conference, whose theme is “Getting Back to Our Roots.”
The event will be held 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at The Ohio State University’s Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, on the Columbus campus.
The idea is to help teachers, administrators, after-school program personnel and interested community members start and maintain school gardens, which...
LONDON, Ohio — Visiting the McCormick Building at the annual Farm Science Review can provide eye-opening realizations on health and safety, say exhibit organizers.
While most of the anticipated 110,000-plus attendees at the Sept. 20-22 event come for the agricultural presentations and demonstrations, many make at least one stop in the McCormick Building, located about halfway down Friday Avenue, the main drag of the exhibit grounds.
One of the nation’s premier agricultural trade and education shows, the Farm Science Review is an annual three-day event sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. It takes place at the college’s Molly Caren Agricultural Center, about 25 miles west of Columbus. Admission is $7 in...
I understand that the recommendation for fiber intake is going up. When will we see that reflected on Nutrition Facts labels?
The new labels should be on foods by July 2018. And you’re right, the Daily Value — the number on Nutrition Facts labels that indicates the recommended intake for nutrients — is increasing from 25 grams of fiber a day to 28. As with any Daily Value number, this is the recommended level for someone eating a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet. The higher number is based on findings of the Institute of Medicine, which recommends that people consume 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed. Unfortunately, most people don’t get nearly that amount.
Along with Daily Value update, the Food and Drug Administration also actually provided a...
We are enjoying fresh vegetables from our garden, especially the tomatoes. But we have a disagreement about whether or not they are actually healthier than store-bought fresh or even canned tomatoes. We each think we’ve read information that contradicts the other. Who’s right?
You’re both right, depending on a few factors.
There are few things better than biting into a fully ripe, meaty, juicy tomato fresh-picked from the garden. And as long as it doesn’t sit around on the kitchen counter very long, you will get the peak amount of nutrition that the tomato has to offer.
Homegrown vegetables have two things going in their favor over store-bought: They have a longer time on the vine, and they have a shorter time in storage and, of course, transport. Tomatoes sold...
When my children don’t like what’s offered for school lunch, I pack a sandwich and they carry it in a brown paper bag. My kids say most of their friends use insulated bags when they bring their lunch. Is that necessary?
It depends on the sandwich. If it contains anything perishable — lunchmeat, for example — then you’re taking a risk.
It may be hard to believe, but about 1 in 6 Americans gets food poisoning every year. While most cases aren’t severe enough to be reported, about 128,000 people end up hospitalized.
The most frequent cause of foodborne illness, Salmonella, is responsible for about 42,000 reported cases annually, and almost half are infants and school-age children. Young children are generally more at risk than adults, so keep that in...
My son, who is 11, says that since butter is made from milk, it should be counted as a dairy food. I know that it’s not dairy, but can you help me explain why?
The most important nutrient we get from dairy foods is calcium. Some foods made from milk, such as cheese and yogurt, retain their calcium content, and those foods are counted along with milk as part of the dairy group.
However, there are foods made from milk that have little or no calcium. That includes butter, as well as cream, cream cheese and sour cream. These are all very high in saturated fat, which should be limited in a healthy diet. That’s why they’re not considered dairy foods, and they don’t count toward the three cups of dairy foods that anyone who is 9 or older should eat each day. (Speaking...
PIKETON, Ohio — For the last quarter-century, a small southern Ohio village has hosted a center with university scientists conducting world-class agricultural research, and area entrepreneurs have thrived thanks to guidance from the center’s expert marketing and development specialists.
It was Oct. 1, 1991, when The Ohio State University South Centers first opened its doors. Then known as the Piketon Research and Extension Center, the facility was designed to help Ohio State expand its land-grant mission of providing science-based outreach and engagement in the area.
“Having the center here in southern Ohio brings ideas and opportunities to the local region,” said Tom Worley, who started at the center in 2000 and was named director in 2005. “And even though...
We tend to eat a lot of vegetables and fruit at home, not only during meals but for snacks too. But our daughter seems to be getting less interested in “good” food and is asking for more sweets and salty snacks. How can we steer her back to healthy eating?
First, good for you for being a good role model for healthful eating. That’s the first, and, some say, the most important step to influencing your daughter’s adoption of healthy habits to last a lifetime.
But as you’re finding out, you’re not the only influence on your daughter. It’s nothing new: Food and beverage advertisers spend nearly $15 billion each year targeting children and teens in the U.S. And, recent studies reveal that more than 80 percent of the food advertisements that adults...
LONDON, Ohio — Foods with labels indicating they were made with genetically modified ingredients are coming soon to a grocery store near you. But what are the implications of GMO labeling for the parts of the food industry that the public seldom sees?
“There has been a lot of discussion in the media about whether GMO labels are a good idea or a bad idea,” said Matt Roberts, agricultural economist for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
“But the truth is more complicated, because, as economists, we need to know the costs and benefits. And one of the things that really hasn’t been discussed well anywhere is what are the impacts of labeling on the food system?”
Roberts will oversee a panel...
Editor: The field where the image of Brutus Buckeye can be seen is off of Ohio 38, about 2 miles north of I-70. The coordinates for the center of the image are: latitude, 39 degrees, 57 minutes 58.76 seconds north; longitude, 83 degrees, 25 minutes, 59.14 seconds west. A video showing the field is online at go.osu.edu/brutusdronevideo.
LONDON, Ohio — Brutus Buckeye must love corn.
Since mid-June, The Ohio State University mascot has been seen (from the air) in a cornfield north of London, Ohio, and will remain there until harvest.
The image, made possible by prescription planting the field with two hybrids with different maturity dates, is a way to draw attention to Ohio State research of multi-hybrid planting technology, said Andrew Klopfenstein, project coordinator...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — School gardens have been called the ultimate hands-on outdoor classroom experience.
But despite their growing popularity, starting a school garden — and keeping one going year after year — can be a challenge, said Sue Hogan, 4-H educator for Ohio State University Extension.
That’s why she’s helping coordinate “Project Green Teacher,” a weekly school garden educational program from September through November in Columbus.
“Often, people don’t know how to start a school garden,” Hogan said. “This series will offer a combination of technical information and guidance about how to approach administrators, how to get buy-in and how to get the community involved. It’s all that ‘how-to’...
I occasionally like to make my own nut butter by grinding nuts in a food processor and adding some coconut oil until it becomes creamy. But I’m worried that I’m losing some of the fiber in the nuts when I grind them. Also, does eating nuts burn more calories than eating nut butter?
As far as the fiber content goes, don’t worry, unless you blanch or otherwise remove the outer layer of the nuts before you process them. Some of the fiber in nuts comes from the skin, so be sure to include the outer layer (not the shell, of course, but the skin around the nut) when processing. It’s true that eating nut butter is a totally different, less crunchy experience than eating nuts, but you won’t lose any of the nut’s fiber by grinding it into a powder, paste or...
KENTON, Ohio — No-till farming sounds simple. Just don’t till the soil, right?
Farmers know better.
Adopting no-till requires understanding how it affects drainage, soil structure, organic matter, weed control, and the application of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, all of which influence both yields and environmental impacts, said Randall Reeder, retired agricultural engineering specialist with Ohio State University Extension and executive director of the Ohio No-Till Council.
That’s why the council offers a series of events throughout the year to support farmers interested in adopting no-till for its ability to control erosion, conserve soil moisture, minimize fuel and labor costs, and build soil structure and health. Done properly, no-till systems can meet or...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans are fortunate to be able to enjoy many different types of locally produced foods, and Ohio State University Extension is providing the opportunity for people to celebrate that fact during the second annual Ohio Local Foods Week, Aug. 7-13.
“We are blessed here in Ohio with an abundance of locally grown and produced items,” said Heather Neikirk, OSU Extension educator and co-leader of Extension’s Local Foods Signature Program. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
“We have peaches and apples and sweet corn, and of course milk and yogurt and ice cream, and even craft beers and Ohio wines. There’s so much available now and throughout the...
LONDON, Ohio — Organizers of the Small Farm Center programs at the 2016 Farm Science Review are thinking big this year, with more than two dozen presentations planned during the three-day annual farm show.
“They’re always popular,” said Mike Hogan, Ohio State University Extension educator and one of the leaders of the OSU Extension Sustainable Agriculture Team, the sponsor of the programs.
But he hopes the “small farms” moniker doesn’t fool anyone.
“We’re really focused on alternative enterprises, alternative production systems and alternative marketing systems,” he said. “We have farmers of very large operations come to these presentations. People are looking for ways to increase profitability no matter their size or...
My blood pressure has been inching up recently, and although I don’t yet have high blood pressure, I’m on the lookout for ways to reduce it. Recently I came across some information about flaxseed and how it can help. Can you tell me more about it?
There is some evidence that flaxseed may help reduce blood pressure, but it doesn’t appear to be a silver bullet.
First, good for you for taking steps to prevent high blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is 119/79 or lower. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is 140/90 or higher. It sounds like you are in the middle — somewhere between 120 and 139 for the top number and 80 to 89 for the bottom number — which is classified as “prehypertension.” This is the perfect time for you to take steps to...
My wife was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and so we are both watching what we eat much more carefully. I was surprised to learn that she needs to be more careful about foodborne illness now. We think we do pretty good at following guidelines at home, but how can we find out about food recalls?
Good for you for being aware that you need to be, well, more aware.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 6 of us will suffer from foodborne illness every year, at-risk groups of people are more likely to get sick from contaminated food, and the illnesses can be much more severe. People with diabetes are 25 to 30 times more likely to get sick with listeriosis, for example, than a healthy adult.
Anyone with a chronic health condition, such as diabetes...
Most people feel guilty about discarding food, but say it would be hard to stop
Editor: This news release is also being distributed today by University Communications.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Even though American consumers throw away about 80 billion pounds of food a year, only about half of them are aware that food waste is a problem. Even more, researchers have identified that most people perceive benefits to throwing food away, some of which have only limited basis in fact.
A study published today in PLOS ONE is just the second peer-reviewed large-scale consumer survey about food waste and is the first in the U.S. to identify patterns regarding how Americans form attitudes on food waste.
The results provide the data required to develop targeted efforts to reduce the...
I’ve never been a fan of Nutrition Facts labels, but a friend recently mentioned that she reads them all the time, using something called the “520 rule.” What is the 520 rule?
Ah, she was talking about what is known as the ”5-20 rule,” and it applies to the Daily Value percentages that are listed on the label.
Basically, it’s just a quick guideline to use when you look at those percentages to determine how a food might fit into your daily dietary goals.
Any nutrient listed as 5 percent or less of the Daily Value is considered low. Any listed as 20 percent or more of the Daily Value is considered high.
For nutrients you want to limit, such as saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, try to choose foods with low Daily Value percentages. Foods with 5...
KENTON, Ohio — It’s not quite Silicon Valley, but for rural Hardin County, Ohio (population 31,641), it comes close.
Thanks to $72,000 in grant funding in the last 15 months, a large portion of the Hardin County office of Ohio State University Extension is now the Spark Lab Innovation Center, a space designed to inspire creativity and innovation in young people and local entrepreneurs alike.
OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. County offices are funded through cooperative agreements between the university and county commissioners.
Among other technologies, Hardin County’s Spark Lab is home to a 3-D printer (the county’s first), a handful of drones, a smart board, a...
