Barren County's
HOME AND HEALTH IN THIS ISSUE
NEWSLETTER : September/October 2020 Reaping the benefits of Physical Activity
Before going out? Bring the benefits of family meals to your table
PIUKP Featured Recipe Kentucky Zucchini SMART TIP
LaToya's Comments:
Picky Eater???
As the weather starts to cool down some, this time of year is the perfect time to spend outdoors with family. It's also a good time to get moving. I encourage you to get active with your family this fall. Spending time outdoors and in motion allows us to take into consideration physical distancing guidelines. 1 in 3 Barren County residents are obese or overweight; a high Body Mass Index is often a risk factor for other illnesses. Obesity has even been identified by the CDC as a risk factor for Covid-19. Get moving, get healthy, and keep yourself and your family safe this fall.
LaToya Drake, MS Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences
As communities and businesses start to open up, you may be looking for ways to resume some daily activities as safely as possible. Currently, there will always be a risk of infection, but it is important to understand those potential risks and how to adopt different prevention measures to protect yourself and to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
What to consider before you go out
Before you go out, it is important for you to consider your own personal situation and the risk for you, your family, and your community. Ask yourself these questions to determine your level of risk: • Is COVID-19 spreading in my community? • Will I have close contact with someone who is sick or anyone who is not wearing a face covering? • Am I at increased risk of illness? Items to take with you, if you decide it is safe to venture out: 1. A cloth face covering 2. Tissues 3. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol Avoid the “Three C’s”: 1. Closed spaces with poor ventilation. 2. Crowded places with many people nearby. 3. Close-contact settings such as close-range conversations.
One of the ways we can prevent the spread of COVID-19 is by avoiding the occurrence of clusters. A cluster occurs when the “Three C’s” overlap in daily life. Activities are safer if you can maintain at least 6 feet of space between you and others. We want to avoid closed, crowded, and close-contact spaces. In addition to the “Three C’s” you should also focus on the “Three W’s”: 1. Wear a mask. 2. Watch your distance. Stay 6 feet apart from those not in your household. 3. Wash your hands. Example of when to wear a mask and when not to wear a face covering: NECESSARY to wear a face covering • Grocery store • Pharmacy • Doctor’s office • Visiting with neighbors and friends from a 6 foot distance • Riding the bus, taxi, or ride share • Hiking, biking, or walking on a street that is crowded
Wear a cloth face covering in public.
UNNECESSARY to wear a face covering • Inside your house *if no family members or roommates are showing symptoms • Spending time in your own yard *if you have a private porch or lawn to maintain distance • Going for a walk in your neighborhood *if you can keep a 6 foot distance • Hiking or biking on an uncrowded path
Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-lifecoping/ deciding-to-go-out.html?deliveryName=USCDC_2067DM31064 Source: Natalie Jones, Family Health Extension Specialist
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Help! My child only wants to eat chicken nuggets — What should I do?
References: • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2014). Feeding “Picky Eater” Preschoolers. Kids Eat Right. https://eatrightfoundation.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/10/FeedingPickyPreschoolers.pdf • United States Department of Agriculture. (2012). Picky Eaters. WIC Works Resource System. https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/resources/picky-eaters Sources: Haley Adams, Dietetics and Human Nutrition student and Courtney Luecking, Extension Specialist for Nutrition and Health
Dinnertime is here, and your child refuses to eat anything but that one food they have been stuck on for what feels like months. Sound familiar? You may be feeling frustrated, annoyed, or even worried. Rest assured; this is normal behavior. The tips below can help you and your child work through this temporary situation. What is going on? Children may go through phases where they only want to eat one food or a few foods. These picky phases are called food jags. Food jags are a normal part of child development. Young children have a growing desire to feel independent. Children practice control over their day by choosing what to eat, how much to eat, or whether to eat at all. Should I be worried? When kids only want one or a few foods, parents and other caregivers might worry about the lack of variety. Food jags typically do not last long; therefore, it is unlikely to affect a child’s development. However, if you have tried the tips below or feel like things aren’t improving, call your local registered dietitian or your child’s pediatrician. They are available to help you and your child navigate challenging times.
Tips for working through food jags • Continue to provide healthy food and drink. Children may need to taste a food up to 15 times before they eat it. Serving new or previously rejected foods on the plate with their favorite food can make them more willing to try a new or different food. • Create colorful plates. The more colors of fruit and vegetables on the plate, the more likely your child is to try or eat larger amounts of these nutritious foods. • Keep or create mealtime routines. It is normal for children to eat a lot one day and less the next. It is also normal for them to eat a lot at one meal and pick at the next meal. Having consistent meal and snack times each day, while avoiding random snacking in between, can encourage your child to come hungry and more willing to eat the healthy foods served. • Give children a choice. Once you have decided when and where meals occur and what types of food and drink are being served, the child gets to choose whether to eat and how much to eat. • Set an example. Children pay attention to what you eat. They are also likely to mimic your behavior. If the parents and family members eat a well-balanced meal then the child will be more likely to eat this way, too. • Make mealtime fun. Bribing or pressuring children to eat something can have negative longer-term consequences. Instead of focusing on what a child is not eating or trying to get a child to eat, get a conversation going about the best or funniest part of your day. Skip the stress and trust that your child will eat when they are hungry. • Give it time. If a child has been on a food jag with no end in sight, try not to get discouraged that they are not reaching for new foods. Continuing to offer nutritious foods that you and the rest of the family enjoy is key as the child moves at their own pace in trying new foods. Allowing your child to choose what, how much, or even whether or not they eat will encourage healthy eating patterns and behavior for the rest of your child’s life. Following the simple guidelines listed above will likely lead to more adventurous eating soon.
Homemaker Highlights The Extension Office Auditorium is open for club meetings. A club representative must sign the agreement and ensure members follow UK policies (including social distancing guidelines, masks, and limited participants). Please reach out to LaToya with questions. Please remember to submit your 20-21 Enrollment form so that we make sure we have your most current information. Submit your 20-21 program ideas or volunteer to serve on a program planning committee by contacting County President, Cynthia Rowland. Follow us on Facebook @BarrenCountyCES or @SokyHomeandHealth to stay up to date about distance learning opportunities and staying healthy at home. Join our new Barren County Extension Homemakers Facebook group! Upcoming large Homemaker Events are cancelled until further notice (Contact Cynthia with questions). - This includes Area Annual Day and the Holiday Bazaar. There are still a few Homemaker shirts for sale! Be ready for Homemaker events and purchase your Caligraphy Creations in KY (Kaleigh Gibson) produced shirt! ($14, S-XL; $15, XXL) Mark your calendars, the State KEHA meeting is planned for April 27th - 29th in Bowling Green! Prepare for our Annual Homemaker Week Celebration! Activities are planned for each day including: M-Cards of Appreciation to Past Members; T-Phone a Friend; W- Send a little Sunshine via card or postcard to a friend; ThShare/deliver a meal to a friend; F- Goody-bag drive thru at BCEO for current Homemakers!