August Calendar

• 3rd - Community Health and Wellness Expo - Monroe Civic Center from 10am - 2pm
• 12th - TeenChef's Cook - Baskin 10am - Call Franklin Extension Office for more info: (318) 435-7551
• 14th - Dining with Diabetes - West Carroll Extension Office 10:30am - Noon
• 19th - Taste of Herb and Spice using Thyme - Union General Hospital
• 21st - Dining with Diabetes - West Carroll Extension Office 10:30am - Noon

Kids Corner

by Quincy Vidrine

What's the meal you can never eat for breakfast?

Just a fun riddle to start the day with your kiddos with back-to-school fast approaching. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it looks different all around the world, all around the state, even all around your community/neighborhood. Talk with your kids about how your family eats breakfast and ways to make it healthy and wholesome family time!

Oh - here's the answer you've been waiting for: LUNCH OR DINNER!

Managing Your Food Dollars

by Brittney Newsome

As food costs are steadily increasing, it is important to learn how to effectively manage your food dollars throughout the year. By planning ahead and sticking to your plan, you will gradually see a positive difference with your food budget, all while selecting nutritious and well-balanced meals for you and your family. We all can attest to how challenging grocery shopping can be these days, so let’s discuss a few of the best strategies that we can take in order to stretch those food dollars in an effort to shop smarter not harder!

"Plan Ahead": Planning ahead starts at home.

1. Start by checking your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry for your most used items to see if any of those products will need replacing.
2. Be sure to select recipes ahead of time so you'll know what ingredients you'll need and add them to your shopping list right away, so you don't omit anything.
3. Check your local newspaper or store sales paper, and coupons/online marketing to help make your shopping day a thrifty one.

"Shop Smart": Stick to your set budget and to your planned list.

1. Compare all brands to get the best price to create your nutritious meals.
2. Don't limit yourself to only one store, shop around at the dollar store or even the farmers markets for the best deal and seasonal items.
3. Check for in-store coupons, rewards, and other savings that may take place.
4. Keep an emergency food supply of non-perishable food items (crackers, canned goods, cereal, water) and stock up on them as often as needed and especially when those products are on sale.

Recipe of the Month

by Ana Gouge

Tropical Chicken Wrap

Ingredients

• 3 cups chopped, cold, cooked chicken
• 1 cup diced mango
• 1/2 cup diced scallions
• 1/2 cup finely diced, red bell pepper
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup Balsamic Vinegar + a squeeze of lime
• 12 small butter lettuce leaves
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts, optional

Instructions

1. Place chicken, mango, scallions, and bell pepper in a medium bowl; season with a little salt and pepper. Drizzle with dressing and toss lightly to coat.
2. Spoon mixture into lettuce leaves.
3. Serve with a sprinkle of chopped macadamia nuts, if desired.

Success Story

by Markaye Russell

Flavors of Health is a nutrition and health program with a community focus that provides classes and workshops on a variety of topics that empower individuals and families to make healthy food and fitness choices and to live healthful lives. Flavors of Health is a dynamic Nutrition program utilizing the latest science and evidence-based practices to support and encourage healthy food and fitness choices among all Louisianians. We provide virtual and on-site classes, presentations, workshops, and educational materials on a variety of topics to encourage healthier food and fitness behaviors. This includes cooking skills, grocery shopping strategies, small goal setting, healthy habit development, exercise and physical activity guidance, weight management, and diet-disease links. This summer has been busy for Markaye Russell, Flavors of Health Agent and her intern, Alexis Funderburk in Ouachita and Union Parishes. Summer is a time when youth and adults are looking for fun and engaging activities. Youth have participated in cardio drumming and yoga, learning ways to incorporate fruits and veggies into their diet by making pineapple spinach smoothies, handwashing using the blacklight and play streets activities. Group of young teens participated in learning lab where they made waffle omelets, no bake cookies, and tasted food demonstrated from small appliances. Adults had fun at an adult bread baking workshop, learning about the herb’s cilantro, basil, and dill by sampling recipes and a class on diabetes and nutrition. The LSU AgCenter offers a variety of programs all year round. For more information about upcoming programs, call your local LSU AgCenter in your parish.