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Health Blog Posts

Several browned bone-in chicken thighs on top of halved baby potatoes and green beans on a foil-covered sheet pan.

October 12, 2018

If you like one-pot meals but want a little more variety in your dinnertime favorites, sheet pan suppers are the way to go! If you line your pan with foil, you’ll spend less time at the stove top AND the kitchen sink. (Photo by Jonathan Parrish/Cindy Callahan)

A close-up of a large brown Russet potato on a green plate with a white rim inside a microwave oven.

September 25, 2018

When the weather begins to cool down, I start thinking of wintery foods. But let’s face it: in Mississippi, it’s not going to be cold for a while! Instead of heating up the oven, you can save time by making a “baked” potato in the microwave! (Photo by Jonathan Parrish)

Three young people drive ATVs on a marked course in a field during a safety training.

September 18, 2018

Abbye Buchanan, of Florence, is the 2018 winner of the Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H ATV Safety PSA Contest. Buchanan is 11 years old and has been a member of 4-H for 3 years. (File photo/MSU Extension Service)

Four browned, seasoned catfish fillets on a white plate garnished with lime wedges.

August 15, 2018

August is Catfish Month and when you need a quick meal on the table in no time, catfish is your friend! With some cornmeal, spices, and some olive or vegetable oil, you can pan fry some Mississippi farm-raised catfish to have supper ready in 20 minutes or less. (Photo by Jonathan Parrish/Cindy Callahan)

Stirring corn salad in a glass bowl

July 27, 2018

If you’re looking for a fresh and low-fat summertime potluck food that features locally grown produce, this fresh corn salad is quick to make and is a crowd pleaser. (Photo by Jonathan Parrish/Art Shirley)

A pitcher of iced, flavored water sits in the center of a halved watermelon, bowls of cubed watermelon, limes and jalapenos.

July 24, 2018

It’s hard to stay hydrated in the heat and humidity of summer if you aren’t a fan of water. Sodas and other caffeinated and sugary drinks can contribute to dehydration, so what should you do if you just can’t drink another glass of plain old water? (Photo by Jonathan Parrish)

A brown tick is pictured next to a penny on a gray background.

July 10, 2018

Whether you work or play outdoors in the summertime, you are a prime target for mosquitos and ticks.

Aside from being irritating, insect pests can carry bacteria, parasites and viruses, such as West Nile virus, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which could make humans sick. It’s important to protect yourself. (File photo by MSU Extension Service)

Two ears of seasoned grilled corn on a platter.

July 6, 2018

Sweet corn is a popular crop in Mississippi, and different varieties grow throughout the warm months. It’s an affordable, fresh, and locally grown treat. Whether you like to cook it in the microwave  or cream it like your grandma taught you, corn is one of those foods that sings summertime! (Photo by Jonathan Parrish/Cindy Callahan)

A pint glass jar filled with homemade taco seasoning sits on a kitchen countertop.

July 3, 2018

It’s TACO TUESDAY! Don’t you hate reaching into the cabinet for that little packet of taco seasoning, only to find you forgot to buy any? 

Save yourself an extra trip to the store, and mix up your own taco seasoning! (Photo by Jonathan Parrish/Cindy Callahan)

Fireworks explode against a dark sky and above a large body of water.

June 29, 2018

Many people celebrate Independence Day with fireworks. However, it pays to be cautious with these beautiful explosives. (Photo by Kevin Hudson)

A graphic depicts a woman preparing to clean a refrigerator after storing a recalled food item.

June 15, 2018

June is National Healthy Homes Month! Do you know all the steps to take to ensure your home is safe and healthy for your family?

A regular cleaning regime can keep your home free of dust, dirt, mold and pests. But did you know your refrigerator should be in this regular lineup? (Graphic by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

A can of Broad Spectrum SPF 70 sunscreen.

June 12, 2018

As a redhead, I am familiar with the consequences of not paying attention to sun safety. I still remember having blistered shoulders as a young child from a trip to the beach. OUCH! Sunburns are not only painful, but also dangerous: each incidence of sunburn increases my risk of developing skin cancer. (Photo by Brian Utley)

A parfait made of seasonal, locally grown blueberries, strawberries, granola, and yogurt.

June 8, 2018

June is National Dairy Month, and what better way to enjoy a healthy dairy treat than a fast, easy fruit and yogurt parfait? (Photo by Jonathan Parrish)

A teenage boy in a blue and white long-sleeved shirt and protective gear, including a red and black helmet and black gloves, rides a red ATV around orange cones during a safety class. (Kevin Hudson)

June 5, 2018

It's ATV Safety Week! (Photo by Kevin Hudson)

An African American woman with braided hair and wearing a white sweater shares a board book with her infant daughter who wears a coral shirt.

May 29, 2018

Most parents are too busy for a college course in child development, but want to help their babies grow into children who are successful in learning and ultimately successful in life. (Photo by Canstock)

Natasha Haynes, an African American female wearing a plaid dress shirt stands in a kitchen and uses tongs to mix food ingredients in a stainless steel bowl. A tall bottle of olive oil is on the table.

May 25, 2018

If you want an inexpensive vegetable, this time of year you can find zucchini *everywhere.* If you have friends with big gardens, they might even give it away. Some of my Extension agent friends in other states joke about locking their car doors to keep people from putting bags of this versatile squash in there when no one is looking! 

The Food Factor Logo

May 4, 2018

I love cooking eggs for breakfast. However, my omelets end up being more scrambled than the fancy folded-over works of art served in restaurants. With that in mind, I’m usually looking for quick and creative scrambled eggs ideas. (Photo by Zac Ashmore and Jonathan Parrish)

A pan of prepared Italian sausages with onions and green and red peppers.

May 1, 2018

Everybody loves to save time in the kitchen. Sheet pan suppers have become a very trendy topic lately – Pinterest is LOADED with recipes and ideas. For me, a sheet pan meal is a surefire way to clean up in a hurry, because I line the pan with foil.

The Food Factor logo is a light green pear with a chemistry beaker in the place of the A in the title, The Food Factor, on a peach-colored background.

April 27, 2018

I never knew how much I learned about cooking from my mother and her mother, whom we called Mou, until I grew up and started cooking on my own. With today’s busy lifestyles, many families no longer have the advantage of experienced home cooks passing their skills to the next generation. (Photo by Zac Ashmore and Jonathan Parrish)

MSU Extension Agent Natasha Haynes, an African American woman with chin-length straight black hair stands behind a kitchen table displaying a crock of kitchen utensils, a red pot, and assorted home-canned and fresh fruits and vegetables.

April 17, 2018

We’ve been working on a Top Secret Project for several months! Whether you are already a fan of our TV show, The Food Factor, or you are just hearing about it for the first time, we are excited to announce all new, fresh digital content will launch in May. More tips, recipes, and the how-to content you’ve been asking for! (Photo by Kevin Hudson)

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About Extension for Real Life

Extension for Real Life is a product of the MSU Extension Service’s Office of Agricultural Communications.

That’s a long way of saying we are professional communicators who get to talk about food, families, 4-H, flowers, and farming for a living. Pretty good gig, right?

The three main writers for the blog are Ellen Graves (Seamstress of Social Media Strategy), Susan Collins-Smith (Content Connector) and Keri Lewis (Captain Cat Herder). But we get by with a lot of help from our friends in Ag Comm and Extension!

You can reach us at 662-325-2262 or extreallife@msstate.edu

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