A group of us were watching a football game last week, and someone claimed that the tortilla chips we were eating counted as a “whole-grain” food. I find that hard to believe. Is that right?
It could be. To determine whether a food is “whole grain,” take a look at the ingredients on the food label. You’ll find that many types of tortilla chips and other corn-based snack chips list “whole-grain corn” as the primary ingredient. Whole-grain corn, like whole wheat or other whole grains, is indeed, well, a whole grain.
While this could mean the chips are a better choice than a snack made entirely of refined grains, don’t take that as permission to down a family-size package. While the U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that at least half the...
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Apparently, it's hard to beat a burger made of beets.
On Oct. 1, the "UnBeetable Burger" with a soft gourmet pretzel bun won the Student Product Development Competition of AACC International, a professional association specializing in cereal grain science.
The product was created by a team of Ohio State University students in the Department of Food Science and Technology. The UnBeetable Burger also took third place earlier this year in the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association and Mars Product Development Competition.
"We wanted to create the first frozen microwavable ready-to-heat vegetarian burger with a bun," said Liz Green, a third-year undergraduate and captain of the 16-member team. "We looked at what is already on the...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s school lunchrooms provide a great opportunity for Ohio farmers and other food producers looking to tap into the growing demand for local foods. And farmers and schools working together creates a great opportunity for Ohio’s students to gain access to fresh, healthy, local foods, an Ohio State University expert said.
Thanks to the national Farm to School program, which in Ohio is led by Ohio State University Extension and operates in school districts throughout Ohio, students pre-K through college have increased access to nutritious food.
In addition to providing young people with fresh, local food, Farm to School also helps them understand where their food comes from and how food choices affect their health, environment and community, said Julie...
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University Extension has announced its annual schedule of OSU Income Tax Schools, which last year drew more than 800 participants.
The schools are offered at eight locations around Ohio, are designed for people who prepare income tax returns, and cost $335.
The teaching team for the schools includes three OSU Extension faculty and two current and two retired employees of the Internal Revenue Service. Three of the seven will be at each location.
“We’re in our 49th year of offering these schools,” said OSU Extension’s David Marrison, the interim director and one of the instructors for the schools. “Our blend of Ohio State faculty and IRS professionals allows us to offer one of the highest-rated income tax continuing education...
My dad is approaching 70 and seems to be getting more confused and forgetful. We don’t think it’s anything serious right now, but should we be worried about dementia?
Occasional lapses of memory are nothing to worry about, whether you’re age 40 or 80. But forgetfulness does become more common as we age. It takes longer for the brain to process new information, and it’s harder to recall things we’ve known in the past.
In addition, distractions are more disruptive as we get older and can cause us to lose focus on what we’re doing.
According to the National Institute on Aging, stress, anxiety or depression can cause more problems with confusion and forgetfulness. If your father is dealing with loneliness, boredom or other emotional problems, be...
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Now there’s a new tool for fighting alien invasions.
Your smart phone.
Ohio State University Extension has released a new app for spotting and tracking invasive species -- non-native organisms such as Asian carps, purple loosestrife and Asian longhorned beetle -- to try to keep them from setting up beachheads and hurting the economy and environment.
By using the free Great Lakes Early Detection Network app, a person can take pictures of suspected invasive species -- whether of farm, forest or water -- and upload the pictures and locations for verification.
Based on this early warning, scientists can send out alerts, map the spread and figure out a battle plan.
Early detection gives us a greater chance of being able to handle infestations before they become...
PIKETON, Ohio – Looking for a new way to add value to your calf crop? Try raising someone else’s calves instead of your own, an Ohio State University Extension beef expert said.
Producers interested in maximizing income from their calf crop while controlling input costs can consider using their commercial cows as surrogate mothers to raise calves for other producers, said John Grimes, beef coordinator for OSU Extension.
The process, which is called serving as a “cooperator herd,” allows a herd of commercial cows to function as surrogate mothers for another herd whose owner wants to produce additional calves from a desirable female through embryo transfer, he said.
The concept can be profitable to all parties involved.
“It’s one of the easiest ways...
WOOSTER, Ohio – Consumers may find that while the apple pickings in Ohio may be slimmer this year, the apple crop’s overall quality will be more flavorful, an Ohio State University Extension expert said.
As a result of the extreme weather that the Buckeye state has experienced this year, including spring frosts, summer drought, extreme heat, high winds and hailstorms, the state’s apple crop this year is expected to be much smaller than in a typical year, said Diane Miller, an OSU Extension fruit-tree specialist.
That means that while Ohio apples are available at markets and grocery stores, consumer will likely find a higher price tag on the shelves, she said.
“Apple crops in Indiana, Michigan and northern Ohio are smaller this year,” Miller said. “No...
WOOSTER, Ohio -- Wind farms. Solar power. Biogas. Ohio is starting to embrace renewable energy. And you will have a chance to learn more about the opportunities and challenges of green energy generation Nov. 8 on the Wooster campus of Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC).
The 2012 Renewable Energy Workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at OARDC's Fisher Auditorium, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Afternoon activities include tours of Wooster area green energy companies and projects.
Registration (including lunch and materials) costs $40 before Nov. 2 and $50 after that date. The cost for college students is $20. To register, fill out the form available on the workshop's...
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio -- Ohio State University Extension is hosting a community education workshop on shale energy development on Nov. 10.
"Shale and You: A Workshop for Landowners and Communities" will be held at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center, 7033 Glenn Highway, Cambridge, 1-6 p.m. Registration is $10 and must be received by Monday, Nov. 5, by the Guernsey County office of OSU Extension in Old Washington, Ohio. Registration forms with the office's address and other details can be downloaded (PDF) at http://go.osu.edu/shaleandyouPDF or by going to http://shalegas.osu.edu and clicking on the "Shale and You" event under "Upcoming Extension Events."
"What we hope to do is help landowners and community leaders make the best decisions possible,"...
