We really enjoyed having corn on the cob on July Fourth. One of my children asked why we don’t have it more often. I explained that corn is a starchy vegetable and we shouldn’t eat too much of it. But it got me thinking, how much is reasonable?
Yes, corn is a starchy vegetable. But it’s perfectly fine to enjoy it as part of a balanced diet.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, anyone 9 years or older should aim to eat 2 to 3 cups of vegetables a day. That equals 14 to 21 cups a week, and the guidelines recommend that 4 to 6 cups a week, or a bit more than one-quarter of all vegetables, be starchy. Besides corn, starchy vegetables include:
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Green peas
Lima beans
Cassava
Plantains
Jicama
Parsnips
Water chestnuts...
WAUSEON, Ohio — Large-scale pesticide application takes skill. Farmers, retailers and crop consultants can increase their know-how by attending the Northwest Ohio Precision Ag Sprayer Day at the Fulton County Fairgrounds on Aug. 9.
“They have to make sure their sprayers are calibrated, rates are correct, drift is reduced as much as possible, and application coverage is the best it can be,” said Eric Richer, agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension and organizer of the event.
OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
“There will be a wide variety of precision spray equipment demonstrated that day, all the way from the most advanced self-...
This year, I greatly enlarged my vegetable garden. I enjoy it, but it’s a lot more work than I realized. People tell me that gardening provides a lot of health benefits. Like what?
The health benefits associated with gardening are well documented.
First, growing your own fruits and vegetables increases the chance that you’ll eat the amount of produce recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: 2-3 cups of vegetables and 1.5-2 cups of fruit each day. People who garden at home or at community gardens sometimes even report that they base their weekly menus around the produce they are able to harvest. There’s a large body of research that indicates adopting a largely plant-based diet, which encourages consumption of plant foods in their whole form (especially...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — More than two dozen Ohio 4-H members who plan to attend The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences are receiving $1,000 scholarships from the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
“Twenty-seven $1,000 scholarships for incoming freshmen — that’s huge,” said Pat Whittington, assistant dean for Student Development in the college. “It takes care of 10 percent of their tuition for the first year. For some of them, that could make the difference in deciding to come to Ohio State, or even whether to go to college at all.”
The association, whose members are horse owners and trainers who race thoroughbreds in Ohio, started the scholarship program last year,...
We are in our 50s and our only child is in her 30s. There’s a lot of tension in our relationship, and recently she seems to be avoiding almost all contact with us. Is there anything we can do to develop a closer relationship with her?
It’s not unusual for adult children and their parents to experience tension, irritation and aggravation with each other. Sometimes it’s caused by issues that parents or adult children might have with the other’s choices and circumstances related to finances, lifestyle, education, job or health. Sometimes it’s more related to the dynamics of the relationship — issues related to frequency of contact, personality differences or past relationship issues, for example. Sometimes it’s a combination of both.
A 2009 study...
I know my kids eat too many cookies and chips. What are some healthier snack options for kids?
Thirty years ago, children ate, on average, one snack a day. Today, they average three snacks a day, and some experts point to that increase as being at least partly responsible for the rise in childhood obesity rates over the years. Cutting back on snacking could be a good idea for both children and adults alike.
But eliminating children’s snacking altogether can be an impossible task for parents. Your idea to emphasize healthful snacks is a good one. And it could have huge nutritional payoffs.
As you think about what might be satisfactory replacements (in your children’s eyes) for chips and baked goods, you might consider providing options — sort of a combo plate. That...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Something will be bugging about a dozen kids next week as they attend the first-ever “Engaging with Insects” summer day camp at The Ohio State University.
During the week, the kids will learn about termites, mealworms and honeybees; dissect grasshoppers; and trap, identify and mount insects to build their own collection.
The camp’s base will be in and around the university’s Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus.
Field trips to other locations on campus are planned on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to observe honey bees, explore a greenhouse insectary and visit the insect collection at the university’s Museum of Biological Diversity.
Leading the camp will be Norman Johnson, professor with joint...
WOOSTER, Ohio — Lower income and higher expenses are putting a financial squeeze on some farmers this year.
“Financial stress is definitely happening in the farm community,” said Rory Lewandowski, agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
“Some farms that haven’t had to take out an operating loan for short-term credit in years are having to do so this year,” he said. “We’re seeing the dairy sector suffering the most right now, but some crop farmers as well. There are definitely signs of tougher financial times and struggle.”
In times like these, open communication with...
We are planning to go camping for a long weekend this summer and I want to be sure we’re smart about the food we bring and prepare. What should we keep in mind regarding food safety?
Food safety rules don’t change just because you’re experiencing the great outdoors. You want to make sure that you keep perishable foods cold enough, separate foods to prevent cross-contamination, keep your hands clean as you’re preparing food, and cook foods thoroughly.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service provides detailed guidelines for Food Safety While Hiking, Camping and Boating online at go.osu.edu/outdoorfdsafe. Recommendations include:
Bring nonperishable foods: canned tuna, ham, chicken or beef; dried meat or jerky; dry...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For 20 years, the Leeds Farm in Delaware County has opened its gates to thousands of visitors on autumn weekends for hayrides, zip lines, pig races, and other activities including a petting zoo with goats and a mother-daughter pair of donkeys.
“We kind of naturally evolved into agritourism,” said Rob Leeds, who is also the local agriculture and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension. “As development started happening and things changed around us, we adapted.”
If nothing else, new Ohio legislation gives Leeds peace of mind, he said.
On May 17, Gov. John Kasich signed Senate Bill 75, which defines agritourism, offers protections for agritourism operators, and addresses issues including civil liability risks, property...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Food quality tests that traditionally take hours — or days — to perform in the lab now can be completed in just minutes, without the need to even step away from the production line.
“This is a game-changer for the industry. It allows you to get out of the lab and test in the production line or even in the field,” said Luis Rodriguez-Saona, professor of food science and technology at The Ohio State University.
For the last 16 years, the food scientist with Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences has been examining the use of infrared technology to determine the quality of food products. Rodriguez-Saona also is a scientist with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the research arm of the...
I know I should be eating more fresh fruit, but I have type 2 diabetes. Last weekend I enjoyed a few slices of watermelon, and I was surprised when I tested my blood sugar and saw that it spiked over 200. Should I forget about eating more fresh fruit?
No! Fresh fruit should be included in every diet, even if you have diabetes. Aim for 1.5-2 cups a day.
Fresh fruit contains all sorts of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber. As you probably experienced with the watermelon, fruit can also satisfy your sweet tooth while providing huge nutritional benefits that cake and candy simply don’t offer.
But you should be aware that, as with any carbohydrate-containing foods, portion size matters to your blood sugar. And, different fruits have different levels of...
I know I should be eating more vegetables, but I need inspiration. What are some easy ways to fit more vegetables into my diet?
You’ve already conquered the first hurdle: Making the decision to actually eat more vegetables. Now you need to get into the habit. Knowing how good they are for you should be just the motivation you need.
Vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants in a nice little package with relatively few calories or other pitfalls. Eating enough of them as part of an overall healthful diet can help prevent heart disease and some types of cancer.
Make sure you get a wide range of vegetables, such as dark green leafy greens and broccoli; red and orange vegetables, such as tomatoes, carrots and winter squash; legumes, including beans, edamame...
I heard something on the news about the Nutrition Facts labels changing. What are the details?
The new Nutrition Facts information won’t be on food labels for awhile, but you may like what you see when they do appear.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the updated design on May 20. Large manufacturers have until July 26, 2018, to start using the new label. Smaller companies will get an extra year. This is the first update to the Nutrition Facts label in 20 years.
One of the most sought-after changes will be the inclusion of “Added Sugars” on the label. Currently, the label just includes “sugars” as a category under carbohydrates, but it’s impossible to tell how much of that is naturally occurring, from fruit- or milk-based ingredients,...
I am approaching 30 and don’t have any retirement savings. I work retail and my job doesn’t offer a retirement plan. I don’t have much money to invest month to month, but I know I need to start doing something. Where do I start?
It sounds like the myRA savings plan was tailor-made for you.
MyRA, a government-sponsored individual retirement account, was designed to help people get started with long-term retirement savings.
You can read more about myRA and sign up at myra.gov, but here are the basics:
It’s totally free to set up the account, and you can deposit as little as $2 at a time. If you want, you can set up automatic deposits from your paycheck (if your employer allows) or your bank account.
There are no fees or contribution requirements.
Your...
My teenage daughter has a sudden affinity for smoothies. She is making them all the time. Is this something I should encourage?
Smoothies can be a great way for anyone to consume more produce, and even additional calcium if milk, yogurt or calcium-fortified juice is part of the mix.
And most teens need more fruits, vegetables and calcium in their diets. A 2006 study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that less than 1 percent of boys and less than 4 percent of girls aged 14 to 18 years ate the recommended amount of produce. (For girls 14-18, the recommended amount is 1.5 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables per day. Boys that age need an extra half-cup of each.)
Both boys and girls from 14 to 18 years need 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day — about the...
Why are pregnant women at greater risk of foodborne illness?
When a woman becomes pregnant, she undergoes all sorts of physical changes that are necessary for her body to accept and nurture the growing baby in her womb.
One of those changes involves part of the mother’s immune system called “cell-mediated immunity.” When it’s working normally, cell-mediated immunity helps fight the kinds of pathogens that move from cell to cell. This doesn’t affect the part of the immune system that involves antibodies, which remains fully functioning during pregnancy.
Cell-mediated immunity is the type of immunity involved when a person has an organ transplant and the body rejects the new organ, thinking it’s a foreign invader. When a woman becomes pregnant, the...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Taxpayer investment in Ohio’s school choice programs — reaching more than $1.5 billion in 2014-15 — deserves a much wider public discussion than it’s currently getting, says an analyst with the C. William Swank Program in Rural-Urban Policy at The Ohio State University.
“As school choice programs grow in size, an increasing share of locally generated tax revenues are being used to fund these programs,” said Mark Rembert, a doctoral student in Ohio State’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. The Swank program, housed in the department, conducts research, teaching and outreach within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
In 2014-15, one in four urban Ohio...
I recently heard some discouraging news about the prospects of losing weight and keeping it off. What is the best course for people like me, who had a lifelong battle with weight?
You’re likely talking about the study that followed 14 “Biggest Loser” contestants six years after they competed on the TV show. The study, in the journal Obesity, has received wide media coverage.
One of the participants actually weighs less than she did at the end of the competition, but the other 13 regained some or all of the weight they had lost. While more than half retained at least a 10 percent weight loss six years later, five now weigh as much or more as they did before the Biggest Loser. Their level of physical activity had not changed significantly since the end of the competition...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Some things just don’t get covered in the classroom.
That’s one reason why Gonul Kaletunc created a mentoring program for women engineering students at The Ohio State University.
Although women make up 20 percent of engineering graduates, only 11 percent of the engineering workforce is female, said Kaletunc, professor of food engineering in Ohio State’s colleges of Engineering and Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Reasons for leaving the profession include workplace climate and perception of the workplace, while reasons for staying include having key supportive people in place.
“It happens very quickly,” Kaletunc said. “About 40 percent of the women leave engineering jobs very early in their career. The culture...
• 10,000 students in eight states to take Honey Bee Challenge this spring, summer
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Honeybees don’t just buzz. They dance.
And thousands of students in Ohio and seven other states will learn why that’s a vital aspect of honeybee pollination as they participate in this year’s 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, the Honey Bee Challenge.
The challenge was developed by specialists with Ohio State University Extension.
It’s the third consecutive year that OSU Extension has developed the challenge used for the annual innovators experience, sponsored by the National 4-H Council and Monsanto Company.
“There’s a lot of interest and concern about honeybees,” said Beth Hecht, grant manager for the National 4-H Council. “This topic...
Our toddler has a sweet tooth. Should we let him indulge, or is it time to start restricting snacks?
Guidance from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says establishing healthy food habits early in life, along with a good dose of daily exercise, is key in helping children become healthy, active adults. So, yes. Just like the rest of us (adults), your toddler should be learning to eat small portions of sweets every once in a while, not all the time.
If you believe your child is already overweight, you should discuss your concerns with your son’s doctor. The academy suggests letting children “grow into” their weight without a special calorie-restricting diet. Children’s bodies are growing and developing, so you don’t want to put them on a weight-loss diet...
I’m confused about fatty acids. I know to avoid saturated and trans fats, and I’ve heard good things about omega-3s and unsaturated fats. But there are also oleic, linoleic and other types of fats. What does all this mean for the type of oil I should be using?
You’re right. If you start digging down into the nitty gritty, information about fatty acids can get very complex very quickly.
First, know that all oils (liquid at room temperature) and fats (solid at room temperature) are really composed of a broad range of fatty acids, including saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. That said, here’s some basic information.
Any fatty acid with the word “omega” in its name — omega-3 or omega-6, for example — is unsaturated....
I have seen “white whole wheat” bread and high-fiber white pasta products for years now, but I’ve always been a little suspect. Aren’t true whole-grain products darker in color because of the bran?
Yes and no. Not all darker-colored breads are whole grain. Not all white breads are refined grain. And not all white pastas are low in fiber. You just can’t judge a grain product by its color — you need to look at the label.
This is important because if you’re like most Americans, you’re not consuming nearly enough whole grains or fiber. According to a 2014 study in the journal Nutrition Research, only 8 percent of adults eat the recommended amount of three servings of whole grains each day. And a 2014 U.S. Department of Agriculture study...
I used to hear a lot about food irradiation, but I haven’t heard very much recently. Are foods being irradiated in the U.S.? Is it safe?
Many foods are approved for irradiation, but you likely won’t see them in the grocery store. Most of the reason, many experts say, is because of negative consumer perceptions about the process: Who wants to eat anything that sounds like it has something to do with radiation?
Of course, irradiation doesn’t make food radioactive. At lower doses, irradiation kills pests such as fruit flies. At higher levels, it breaks chemical bonds in bacterial and mold cells so they die or can no longer multiply, which could prevent foodborne illness and make food last longer before spoiling.
Food is irradiated by going through a chamber on a conveyor...
