Cooperative Extension Service Ohio County P O Box 66 1337 Clay Street Hartford KY 42347 270-298-7441 Fax: 270-298-4660 Email:tiffany.calvert@uky.edu

http://ces2.ca.uky.edu/ohio/

Ohio County Living Well – Raising Kids, Eating Right,

Spending Smart

Volume 5, Issue 1 January 1

Nifty Ideas…to spice up your

hot chocolate this winter

Health & Wealth Inspiration

Resolution Restart- Small Steps to Health and Wealth Online Challenge Begins January 25th

Are you trying to rescue a failed New Year’s resolution? It has been well documented that, when people monitor their behavior and measure how they are doing, they are often inspired to do better!

Start your 6 week journey to improving your health and wealth on Feb. 6th.

Challenge ends March 17th on St. Patrick’s Day!

I have a whole pot of PRIZES to be given away just for your participation! Register by Friday, Feb. 3rd for a FREE lunch box full of healthy recipes!

To register, go to http://rutgers.ancc.net/. Create a user name and password, and download the simple one-page user’s guide with instructions on how to enter a challenge. Enroll in the challenge titled “Resolution Restart.” Resolution Restart will challenge you to:

Eat at least 4 cups of fruits and vegetables a day

Exercise at least 30 min. a day

Drink water or unsweetened beverages

Save $1.00 or more a day

Track money spent and food eaten throughout the day

Eat Dinner prepared at home Learn something new related to personal finance and health and/or nutrition

…These fun little toppers start with homemade whipped cream that’s frozen and punched with a cookie cutter! Recipe found at: http://thecakeblog.com/2015/12/whipped-cream-cubes.html

Here’s a picture of a marshmallow snowman relaxing in a hot chocolate hot tub and it’s adorable!

The incredible flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom spice up this

wonderfully creamy and rich Slow Cooker Spiced White Hot Chocolate. And it’s gluten free! Pinned from Trish-Mom on Timeout..visit for the recipe!

EXERCISING ON A BUDGET Regular exercise has the potential to save you thousands of dollars in health care costs. According to the World Health Organization, physically active people save an average of $500 annually on health care. However, these savings can quickly disappear if you spend hundreds of dollars on gym memberships and the latest and greatest workout equipment and clothing. There are many ways that you can save on exercise related costs, some of which are discussed below.

• Find free ways to exercise. The great news is that exercise does not require any financial investment! There are a number of physical activities that you can do in your home and community that do not cost a penny. Walking around your neighborhood, dancing at home, or even activities like gardening are all great options. If you are more interested in getting outside of your home, many local churches

and organizations offer exercise classes at little or no cost.

• Be wary of gym memberships. You should invest in a gym membership only if you plan to use it. Many people fall into the trap of paying for a monthly gym membership without actually using the facility. If you are interested in a gym membership, be on the lookout for specials – many gyms offer reduced rates when you sign up with a family member or friend. Also, do not be afraid to negotiate. Most gyms would rather have you as a customer than watch you walk away over the cost.

• Use the Internet. There are a number of free exercise classes offered online. If it is difficult to get out of your home for some reason such as finding child care, online classes are a great option. Online classes are also a great way to vary your usual workout routine and introduce yourself to new exercises.

• Fitness apps. If you are a smartphone user, be on the lookout for free fitness apps. There are a number of free apps designed to help you keep track of your fitness or that offer free exercise routines.

• Buy inexpensive workout equipment. There is no reason to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on workout equipment. Jump ropes, dumbbells, exercise balls, and resistance bands are all cheap and effective workout equipment. If you are interested in a more costly piece of workout equipment such as a treadmill, look at your local newspaper or the Internet for used equipment. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the used equipment that you can buy.

• Shop at discount retailers for workout apparel. Discount retailers will be your best bet for buying workout apparel and shoes at the best price. If there is a specific brand that you like, consider signing up for email alerts about sales.

• Join a local intramural team. If you are interested in playing an intramural sport such as soccer, basketball, or softball, be on the lookout for a local intramural team. Joining a team is a great way to exercise while meeting other people.

Exercise is essential to good health. Fortunately, there is no reason to break the bank when you are planning your exercise routine. Use the tips mentioned above and be mindful of other ways that you can save money while doing activities that you enjoy both at home and in your community.

Source: MoneyWi$e, Jennifer Hunter, Ph.D., Associate Extension Professor Family Financial Management, Jan. 2017

January 2017 National Get Organized Month!

Book Corner DIY T-Shirt Crafts: From Braided Bracelets to Floor Pillows, 50 Unexpected Ways to Recycle Your Old T-Shirts by Adrianne Surian. In need of winter craft ideas? Transform old T-shirts into trendy accessories—in 60 minutes or fewer.

February 9 Bingo @ 10 am Bunco @ 5 pm

Cost: $5.00

This event is a membership drive and a fundraiser for our county homemaker’s

organization. Please bring a friend! Sponsored by the Family and Friends

Homemaker Club.

Roll Call: What is your “New Year’s Resolution” and

how do you plan on accomplishing it?

Thought For the Month: Believe in yourself and

you are halfway there. – Theodore Roosevelt

Jan Lesson: Savvy Sellers and Bargain Hunters

Dates to Remember:

10 Jan – County Fair Committee Meeting, 1 p.m. 16 Jan – Office Closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day 17 Jan – Lesson Training, Owensboro, 10:30 & noon 18 Jan - Lesson Training, Henderson, 10:30 & noon 21 Jan – Beginning Beekeepers Class, 8 a.m. 25 Jan – Ag Expo, Owensboro 2 Feb – Homemaker Council Meeting, 9:30 a.m. 9 Feb – Membership Drive Fundraiser, 10 a.m. AND 5 p.m.

**Note - In the event of inclement weather, the policy of the

Extension Office is to cancel and re-schedule, if possible, any

meeting or event WHENEVER school is cancelled or lets out

early.

Individuals who help with the county fair are

invited to attend a meeting on January 10,

2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Extension Office

conference room to revise categories and

discuss improvements for 2017.

A Beginning Beekeeper’s Class is being offered by the Ohio County Beekeepers at the Extension Office

on January 21, 2017

8 am to 4 pm It is FREE! and all are welcome!

RSVP at 270-298-7441

Protect yourself from weight-loss health fraud scams

Source: Nicole Peritore, UK extension specialist for family health, American College of Sports Medicine and U.S Food and Drug Administration

With nearly two-thirds of Americans considered overweight or obese, many of us would love a magic bullet to help us instantly shed a couple of pounds so we can look and feel better. Unfortunately, that magic potion or pill doesn’t exist, despite the various marketing efforts you see online or on television that promote products as weight loss cure-alls.

These types of cure-all products have been around for hundreds of years and continue to attract people looking for an easy way to improve their overall health. The Food and Drug Administration considers any product to be fraudulent if it is misleadingly promoted as being effective against a disease or health condition but has not been scientifically proven safe and effective.

Not only do many of these products not work and are financially draining, but they also could cause serious health problems. Recently, the FDA found more than 100 weight-loss products, illegally marketed as dietary supplements, containing the ingredient sibutramine. This was the active ingredient in the prescription weight-loss drug Meridia, which was pulled from pharmacies in 2010 after studies showed it was associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

While it can be difficult to understand tricky marketing ploys, common marketing schemes or phrases that tend to send off warning signals include:

1. Personal testimonies 2. Products that offer quick fixes, such as “Lose 30

pounds in 30 days” 3. All natural 4. Products that claim to be miracle cures as a result

of a scientific breakthrough, secret ingredient or new discovery. If these claims were true, they would be widely reported by the media and not in a paid-for advertisement.

The American College of Sports Medicine details the four best ways to improve your nutrition. These include:

1. Make small dietary changes to help you reach a healthy body weight.

2. Reduce your intake of saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and sodium.

3. Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and dairy products.

4. Be a conscientious diner when eating out. Always consult your physician before starting a weight

loss program. More information on safe ways to lose weight is available at the Ohio Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

~ Recipe Corner ~

Sincerely, Tiffany Calvert County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences Education – Ohio County

Tiffany’s Healthy Snacks to achieve Healthy Resolutions

Raw veggies dipped in Hummus

Mix your own tail mix – my favorite is slivered

almonds, dried cranberries, toasted coconut, salted

pumpkin seeds, and dark chocolate

Frozen fruit – My favorite is frozen grapes and

pineapple chunks

Chip dips like salsa and guacamole

Popcorn – Pop it yourself to decrease sodium and

preservatives

Apples & almond/ peanut butter