In August, the President signed a proclamation declaring September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month to call attention to this national problem. In Louisiana, the LSU AgCenter has an educational program established called Smart Bodies, which points the way to a solution.

Are your meals at the end of the month as good as they are at the beginning? Or do your food dollars run out before the month is over? Learning to plan your menus and shop only for what you need will help you have good food throughout the month. You will also save both money and time!

Dietary fiber is called nature's little mermaid. This lesson explains why.

Dietary Guidelines provide science-based advice to promote health and reduce risk for chronic diseases through diet and physical activity. The guidelines target healthy people two years of age and older living in the United States.

Food science has led us to safer canning techniques and better quality canned goods. Home canning can be a cost-saving way to preserve food. If you have the time, canning home-grown food may save you half the cost of retail canned goods

Information about the importance of hand-washing and how to do it effectively.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 97% of foodborne illnesses could be prevented by simply washing hands and improving food handling practices. Everyone who handles food needs to know safe food-handling practices.

One in eight Americans is 65 years of age or older. This number is growing and will continue to do so with the aging of the baby boomers. The oldest old, people at least 85 years of age, is the fastest-growing segment of America's senior population.You will learn the importance of good nutrition in helping the elderly to remain independent, maintain their quality of life and avoid premature nursing home placement.

The phrase "you are what you eat" is sometimes hard for teenagers to keep in mind. This is probably because adolescents (teenagers) in America are faced every day with so many choices that can affect their health in the present and in the future.

In this lesson you will learn about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid and how they apply to young children. You will learn what to expect during each stage of the preschool years and tips to make these stages easier on both you and your child. You will also learn about issues such as fast food, healthy weights for young children and exercise.