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News Filed Under Food and Health

July 15, 2020 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Health, AIM for CHangE, Nutrition

David Buys, associate professor in MSU’s Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion and state health specialist with the MSU Extension Service, is being honored as a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.

A wooden spoon is used to stir mint leaves in a pitcher of lemonad.
July 14, 2020 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Food

Hot summer weather is here, and this mint lemonade is just the thing for cooling off! If you’re not already growing your own mint, I recommend trying it. Be sure to plant mint in a pot, because it thrives in Mississippi and will spread like wildfire if you put it in the ground!

A woman looks on while a young boy writes on a piece of paper.
July 7, 2020 - Filed Under: Family, Children and Parenting, Coronavirus

Parents dealing with COVID-19 closings are working daily to find safe child care for young children when most of the traditional summer options are gone.

A woman sits in a chair outside.
July 6, 2020 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Food, Nutrition and Wellness, Nutrition

Video by Jonathan Parrish

There’s no better time than now to use food to build your body’s natural defenses to boost and help protect your immune system. A healthy immune system helps your body fight illness.

Merriam-Webster defines nutrition as the act or process of nourishing or being nourished. Nourishment focuses on using many nutrients from a variety of foods to give you what you need to be healthy.

A family eats at a picnic table in the park.
July 2, 2020 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Food, Food Safety, Health

During your outdoor outings, you'll want to take some steps to ensure your food doesn't spoil in the cooler.

fruit salad with whipped topping in a clear glass bowl
June 29, 2020 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Food

Fresh, cold fruit and creamy, fat-free topping make this Red, White, & Blue Salad the perfect treat to beat the heat at your next summer gathering. A little bit of lime juice will keep the bananas from browning and adds that zesty citrus flavor I love so much!

Water poured over brown eggs in an electric pressure cooker.
June 25, 2020 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Food

Hard-boiled eggs are a quick, affordable, and protein-filled snack. They are the foundation for egg salad and deviled eggs and are tasty in a variety of salads. So use your electric pressure cooker to make easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs!

A poison ivy vine.
June 18, 2020 - Filed Under: Health, Plants and Wildlife

With many summer attractions closed or limited due to COVID-19, people are heading into the great outdoors. As you’re exploring nature, you don’t want to have a run-in with the dreaded poison ivy.  

A bar graph showing data on coronavirus cases.
June 16, 2020 - Filed Under: Coronavirus

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Knowing the difference between quarantining and isolating is critical in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

On June 15, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported the COVID-19 case total exceeded 20,000, with more than 900 deaths. Rising along with those numbers is the seven-day average of cases by date when the patients became sick. MSDH data indicate an average of around 300 cases per day through the first half of June compared to approximately 250 daily at the beginning of May.

A mixture of spices and salt in a clear glass bowl
June 15, 2020 - Filed Under: Food

Making your own mixes is a favorite topic here on The Food Factor. We’ve shared recipes for Ranch Dressing Mix, Taco Seasoning Mix, and Magic Meat Mixes. Today we’ve got a recipe for Italian Dressing Mix!

True confession: I don’t usually make this dressing mix for salads. I put it in the slow cooker with roast beef, onions, and peppers for a delicious alternative to traditional pot roast.

A person off-camera pours water into a glass.
June 9, 2020 - Filed Under: Food, Health, Nutrition

Staying hydrated plays a key role in keeping our body systems working. How much water should you drink daily?

June 5, 2020 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, The PROMISE Initiative

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A health leadership team led by the Mississippi State University Extension Service has received a national award for its work to address mental health challenges in the state’s agricultural community.

Directors of the PROMISE Initiative will receive the Southern Distinguished Team award from Epsilon Sigma Phi, during the organization’s annual national conference in October. PROMISE stands for “PReventing Opioid Misuse in the SouthEast.” Epsilon Sigma Phi is a nationwide organization for Extension professionals.

A gloved hand holds a credit card above a keyboard.
June 4, 2020 - Filed Under: Family Financial Management, Fraud and Identity Theft, Coronavirus

Adding insult to injury, attempts at fraud always increase during times of crisis, a reality many Mississippians are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frozen yogurt-dipped grapes sit on a baking sheet.
June 2, 2020 - Filed Under: Food, Health, Nutrition

Do you need some quick and healthy snack ideas for the office or to pack the pantry and fridge for the kids this summer?

A group of 4-H’ers make silly gestures.
June 1, 2020 - Filed Under: 4-H, Coronavirus

With social distancing measures still in place, Mississippi 4-H’ers will participate in the state’s first-ever Virtual State 4-H Congress in 2020 instead of the traditional in-person gathering.

A basket of catfish hovers above a pond and against a sunset background.
May 28, 2020 - Filed Under: Agricultural Economics, Catfish, Catfish Marketing, Agri-business, Coronavirus

Catfish producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic have the opportunity to provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture information on why they should be eligible for economic assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

Clear glass parfait cups with lemon pudding layered with graham cracker crumbs topped with manadarin orange slices
May 26, 2020 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Food

Lemon Velvet Supreme is very low in fat and relies on fruit as a primary ingredient. Be sure to choose fresh fruit, such as blueberries, or canned fruit packed in natural juices, not in heavy syrup! To keep the graham crackers crispy, put this together right before you’re going to serve it. The original recipe serves six and calls for assembling the ingredients in a serving dish. If you go this route, I’d use an 8”x8” square pan.

For fun, we decided to make individual servings in pretty dishes! Note: we used 8 whole graham crackers, and that was quite a bit for our individual dishes, but would make a good bottom layer in a serving dish. Also, the graham crackers do not form a crust, so this is not a dessert you cut into squares. You just spoon it into small bowls and enjoy!

An assortment of food items in a box.
May 22, 2020 - Filed Under: Community, Family, Food and Health, Coronavirus

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- More than 19% of Mississippians were food insecure before COVID-19 prevention measures shut down much of the state’s commerce. Now, layoffs and missing paychecks make it even more difficult for many to access proper nutrition.

May 21, 2020 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Coronavirus

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi producers affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic can now access a guide on applying for monetary relief through a new federal program.

Spicy tuna on top of mixed greens, in a bowl as a dip, and in a wrap on a plate.
May 18, 2020 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Food

Do you ever get tired of eating the same old healthy salad? I do! That’s why I was excited to find this recipe for Spicy Tuna that can be used three different ways: as a dip with baked tortilla chips, as a wrap with lettuce leaves or tortillas, or as a topping for a green salad made with lettuce, mixed greens or fresh spinach.

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