ISSUE 3
JULY, 2022
Family & Community Health X T , y t n Bell Cou
BEAT THE HEAT Hydration is key and water is essential when out in the sun.
RUNNING OUT OF GAS MONEY? Gas prices are putting work on the wallet. Find tips to work in savings.
NEED A STAY-CATION? We can have fun and stay close to home!
CONTENTS PAGE 4. BEAT THE HEAT Hydration is key and water is essential when out in the sun.
PAGE 5. RUNNING OUT OF GAS MONEY? Gas prices are putting work on the wallet. Find tips to work in savings.
PAGE 6. WHO NEEDS A STAYCATION? We can stay close to home and still have fun!
PAGE 7. KIDS ARE COOKING! What a great skill to learn at an early age!
PAGE 8. TRAINING SAFE SITTERS Book some of these youth to watch your children!
EDITOR'S NOTE Written By: Sheryl Austin
I REALLY love summer! I enjoy the outside and love going to new places with my family. There are things you can do in the summer that are just unmatched to other seasons. However in all of our fun, it is important to me to keep us safe in the heat. My daughters can stay in the pool, at the beach, or at a splash pad for hours. So, the tips on beating the heat are not taken lightly by me. I travel with a cooler of water and fruit for hydration. And speaking of travel, my gas budget has doubled in the last few months. As we all search for cheaper gas, keep hope alive!! Sometimes you just gotta stay at home, so I hope you enjoy the ideas for staycations. Happy summer!
Sher yl Austin
Extension Agent- Family & Community Health slaustin@pvamu.edu (254) 933-5305 https://www.facebook.com/pvcepbellcountyfcs
Summer is here and in full swing! Pools and water parks are open again. Beaches are full. The grills are fired up and families are outside more. Is there a way to have fun and stay safe too? You bet there is! The tips below will help you beat the heat.
Beat the Heat! Water is essential!! Water protects, helps the body get rid of wastes, and helps us keep a normal temperature. If asked how much do we need, most would probably say 8 cups per day. Fluid needs vary depending on age, sex, activity level, and overall health. Some good rules of thumb to follow are to pre-hydrate. Drink before you start feeling thirsty and before you start an activity. Drink water throughout the day. Check your urine. Urine should be colorless or a very pale yellow. Listen to your body. If you are thirsty, drink. If you are very thirsty, you might be dehydrated already. Carry water with you. It may help to keep a refillable bottle. Choose water when eating out.
Also: Schedule
outdoor
activities
and
errands in the morning or evening. Use
cooler
places
for
physical
activity. Park in shaded areas. Wear a cap or wide-brimmed hat in the sun. Use sunscreen with an SPF value of 15 or higher. Never leave a child or animal in a parked car on a hot day.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/water-andhealthier-drinks.html? CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fhealthywater% 2Fdrinking%2Fnutrition%2Findex.html https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/healthy-eating/howmuch-water-do-you-need https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/wellness/how-tocalculate-how-much-water-you-should-drink https://today.tamu.edu/2022/05/23/beat-the-summer-heat/
RUNNING OUT OF GAS MONEY? Plan out your driving: Can you combine trips and/or errands? Can you carpool with someone? Can you walk, use a bike or public transportation? Can you work from home? Whenever you get in the car ask yourself "is this trip necessary?" www.fueleconomy.gov gives some tips for improving fuel economy in hot weather: Roll down the windows at low speeds. Use the AC at highway speeds. Park in the shade or use a sunshade. Drive with windows open for a short time before using the AC. Letting out the hot air puts less demand on the AC and helps the car cool faster. Search cheap gas: https://www.gasbuddy.com/
WHO NEEDS A STAY-CATION? 1. Find a new local park to visit. Bring food and games to play with family. 2. Camp out in the backyard. Watch a movie while laying on the grass or deck. 3. Take advantage of free events through the parks and recreation department such as movies in the park or summer concert series. 4. See if movie theaters have reduced price days. 5. Check in to a local hotel or bed and breakfast. It gives the feeling of getting away without getting away. 6. Time for a spa day! If you can't afford to pay someone else, diy! 7. Seek out local festivals and celebrations in your area. 8. Get the blankets and popcorn and have your own movie night. 9. Take an art or cooking class (virtual or inperson. 10. Spend the day at a lake or pool swimming and/or fishing.
KIDS ARE COOKING! Last month I got the privilege to complete a week long healthy snacks cooking camp with A New Day Learning Academy in Temple June 6-10th. Thirty-three youth prepared easy recipes each day while receiving short lessons from the Choose Health: Food, Fun and Fitness curriculum. Ages ranged from 4-12. Some of the recipes included energy bites, fruit juice fizz, homemade salad dressing, and herbed popcorn and pretzels. The final day was a healthy snack food challenge. After learning about 4-H, they were able to create their own snack with several ingredients provided. The youth were given handouts to take home that listed activities they could do with their families. If they completed something from the list, they received a small prize the next day. Many youth were motivated to try the recipes at home.
Testimonies were also given each day of how they were drinking more water and milk versus sweetened drinks and reading food labels. I always enjoy partnering with Ms. Lela Butler and the school! https://anewdaylearningac ademy.org/ ____________________ June 11th was the final day of Teen Cuisine in partnership with Boys Matter 2 Men (BM2M) in Killeen. This was a 5 session series that began April 2nd. Twenty-four youth received lessons covering nutrition, food safety, physical activity, and food preparation. At each class they prepared a recipe including vegetable stir-fry, omelets, and quesadillas. Special thanks to Elizabeth Jennings and the adult mentors in this program. To hear more about what they do, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.co m/groups/259967980005 1192/
Training Safe Sitters June 1st at Cultivate Events and Enrichment with the Un-Included Club in Temple. 19 Youth received training in business and childcare skills, safety, and injury prevention/management. To find out more on what the UnIncluded Club is doing, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unincl udedclub
Sheryl Austin- Extension Agent Family & Community Health 1605 North Main Belton, TX 76513 slaustin@pvamu.edu https://www.facebook.com/pvcepbellcountyfcs https://www.pvamu.edu/cahs/cep/ YouTube: Bell County Cooperative Extension Program-PVAMU https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCygN79JXtYWPwI_BcWDjWvA Pinterest: Cooperative Extension Program-Sheryl Austin/Educator/Life Skills
