(Distributed 12/14/07) Don't start the New Year with the newest fad diet. Instead, choose a plan that helps you make healthy lifestyle changes, advises LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/14/07) A New Year’s resolution for many people is to lose weight. The increasing rate of overweight and obesity tells us this pledge hasn’t been working, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/11/07) Have you ever searched the stores looking for the latest “must have” toy or gadget for the children in your life? A better idea is to give a financial-related gift, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed 12/11/07) Although holiday thoughts are typically happy, the hustle and bustle of holiday schedules can be challenging. The season can bring up many issues for families to deal with, according to LSU AgCenter youth development expert Dr. Janet Fox.

(Distributed 12/10/07) Christmas is a time to celebrate family, friends and traditions. For many, however, it is also a time of great stress and large credit card debt.

(Distributed 12/10/07) Most people face the holiday season with some fear of gaining weight. This is a good news, bad news situation, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/07/07) Although poinsettias are typically associated with the holidays, another group of plants to consider are the Thanksgiving and Christmas cactuses. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings recommends them for long-term enjoyment.

(Distributed 12/07/07) Food, decorations and rituals that make the holidays festive for people can be hazardous to pets. LSU AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Christine Navarre cautions pet owners to keep the season safe for their animals.

(Distributed 12/06/07) With the holidays in full swing, malls are popular not just for their stores but for their many restaurants and snack shops. Shoppers may be tempted to overeat as well as overspend, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/06/07) The holidays abound with tasty treats such as eggnog, cream pies and other dishes containing eggs. Eating raw or undercooked eggs is a risk for foodborne illness, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/05/07) The holidays bring a special time for individuals and their families to show others that they care. LSU AgCenter volunteer expert Dr. Janet Fox urges becoming part a growing force of volunteers who are making a difference in their communities.

(Distributed 12/04/07) Gift cards are great for holiday giving – recipients love the option to pick out the exact item, color and size that they want, and givers enjoy their one-size-fits-all convenience and easy availability.

(Distributed 12/04/07) Poinsettias are one of the most popular holiday plants in the United States. Louisiana has a number of poinsettia growers with an abundance of good, locally grown plants, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

(Distributed 11/20/07) An annual tradition in the South is the opening of most "choose-and-cut" Christmas tree farms on the Friday following Thanksgiving.

(Distributed 11/13/07) Pecans are nutritious, tasty treats that literally fall from trees. They should be handled properly to ensure that their flavor and quality remain until the next harvest, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. John Pyzner.

(Distributed 11/13/07) What are your fondest memories of Thanksgiving? What do you want your children and grandchildren to remember – Traditions? Giving? Togetherness?

(Distributed 11/09/07) If your Thanksgiving is steeped in family traditions, the occasion can be a difficult one should circumstances change and those traditions are lost.

(Distributed 11/09/07) “It’s not as unhealthy as it sounds,” says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames about fried turkey, “if you don't eat the skin of the bird.”

(Distributed 11/09/07) The holidays are time to enjoy special desserts you may only make once a year. To prevent getting foodborne illness, refrigerate pies containing eggs and milk, such as pumpkin, custard and cream pies, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 11/09/07) When Louisiana cooks shop for their Thanksgiving meal, they’ll find the cost of the basic dinner items will average $36.31 for 10 people, according to an LSU AgCenter survey of Baton Rouge-area prices. That’s down by $3.50 from last year’s average of $39.81 – a 9 percent drop.

(Distributed 11/09/07) If you’ve been confused in the past about the temperature you needed to cook your holiday turkey, you now need to remember only one temperature, 165 degrees. Past food safety guidelines recommended higher temperatures for some poultry products, including 170 degrees for chicken breasts and 180 degrees for whole birds.

(Distributed 11/06/07) Thanksgiving offers families an opportunity to reflect on their many blessings. Youth, however, often take their blessings for granted. How can parents and educators teach young people an attitude of gratitude?

(Distributed 11/05/07) LSU AgCenter volunteer expert Dr. Janet Fox encourages family members to volunteer together in community service on Nov. 18, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Each year, that Saturday is designated as Family Volunteer Day.

(Distributed 11/13/06) Oyster dressing and pecan pie – both made with Louisiana-grown products – may be a bit more difficult to get this holiday season and may cause consumers to dig a little deeper in their pockets when they find them.

(Distributed 12/11/2003) Sweet potatoes or yams are extremely versatile. They can be decorative, but they also are nutritious and offer many health benefits to consumers.

(Distributed 11/15/06) When Louisiana cooks shop for their Thanksgiving meal, they’ll find the cost of the basic dinner items will average $38.11 for 10 people, according to an LSU AgCenter survey. That’s up by $1.31 from last year’s national average of $36.80 as reported by the American Farm Bureau Foundation.

(Distributed 11/15/06) LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames offers detailed advice to make sure your Thanksgiving feast is delicious and safe.

(Distributed 11/15/06) Fried turkey has become a tradition for many people at Thanksgiving. Before envisioning your arteries hardening, consider that fried turkey is not as unhealthy as it might sound – if you don't eat the skin, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 10/24/2003) Consumers have a choice between fresh and frozen turkeys when planning for Thanksgiving. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames explains the safe options of thawing a frozen bird.