June Calendar

• 5th - Mediterranean Diet - West Ouachita Library, West Monroe - 11 am
• 7th - Summer Reading Kickoff - Carver McDonald Library, Monroe - 10 am to 12 pm
• 9th - TeenChef Workshop - First Methodist Church, Winnsboro - 2 pm to 4 pm
• 9th-13th - CHEF & Fitness Camp - Delhi Civic Center, Delhi - 9 am to 2 pm
• 10th - Blender Bike - Children's Museum, Monroe - 10 am to 12 pm
• 10th-12th - Concordia Parish Community Camp - Ferriday Youth Center, Ferriday - 9 am to 1 pm
• 12th - Taste of Herb and Spice - Louise Williams Library, Monroe - 1 pm
• 13th - Spin Art Bike - Juneteenth Festival Kids' Night - Stewart-Clark Park, Jonesville - 4 pm
• 14th - LIVE FOOD Demonstration - Downtown Farmer's Market, Columbia - 9 am to 12 pm
• 23rd - Art of Making Summer Salad - Louise Williams Library, Monroe - 1 pm
• 24th-25th - KidChef Camp - First Baptist Church, Crowville - 9 am to 12 pm
• 27th - Exercise Education - Delhi Library, Delhi - 10 am
• 28th - LIVE FOOD Demonstration - Downtown Farmer's Market, Columbia - 9 am to 12 pm

Kids Corner

By Ana Gouge

Screen Time to Active Time

In today's digital age, screen time can be creatively leveraged to promote physical activity among children. By integrating interactive fitness apps, active video games, and educational content, parents can turn screen time into an opportunity for kids to stay active and healthy. Check out these helpful tips!

• Plan a walk to the shops or local playground using a digital map. You and your child could also use a smart watch or wearable fitness tracker to count your steps, measure your speed, challenge each other and so on.
• Video your child learning a new skill like dancing, hopping, riding a bike or doing a new skateboard trick. You can replay the footage so your child can see how they’re learning.
• Technology can be a fun and effective tool for learning new dances or engaging in exercise routines, helping to reduce passive screen time. By using dance tutorial videos or interactive fitness games, kids can stay active while enjoying their favorite digital activities.

* Adapted from Raising Children Network

Summer is the Season

By Cathy Agan

How did May get here so fast? We live in a fast-paced world that can sometimes make it more difficult to make healthy choices. No matter where we live, our environment affects us. We build habits based on the choices we make every day. We may then pass those habits on to our children.

Healthy nutrition and adequate physical activity are two behaviors that can greatly impact our physical and mental health. Did you know that in Northeast Louisiana only 8.6% of adults meet the recommendations for eating vegetables? For fruits, the number is 12.4% of adults meeting the recommendations. How do you fare in filling your plate with nutrient rich fruits and vegetables? Based on the statistics, it looks like most of us could add more of them to our diets.

Roasting, sautéing, or grilling vegetables makes for fast, easy preparation with little cleanup. All you need is your favorite vegetables, a little olive oil, and the seasoning of your choice to make a delicious vegetable dish to accompany any meal. Try enjoying fruit for dessert or a snack.

We are about to hit summer when fresh produce will be available abundantly in season. This is the perfect time of year to start building the healthy habit of adding fruits and vegetables to your plate for meals and snacks. Your body will thank you for it, and you just might feel better and have more energy! For easy to prepare recipes, visit our website at www.lsuagcenter.com. Our “Build a Healthy Meal” series features videos as well as recipes. Let’s add some color to our summer with a rainbow of fruits and vegetables!

Recipe of the Month

By Brittney Newsome

Mediterranean Chopped Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, quartered
• 1 cup cucumbers, chopped
• 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

For the Dressing:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove, pressed
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano, salt, and black pepper

Assemble salad in a large bowl by placing the chopped lettuce first, then add the remaining ingredients on top of chopped lettuce. Whisk the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and pour on top of salad when ready to serve. Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

LSU AgCenter Introduces Nutrition & Community Health Agent: Concordia & Catahoula Parishes

Summer Broadway, a dedicated professional with a background in Addiction Studies, is excited to announce her new role at the LSU AgCenter. With a strong commitment to community development, Summer is eager to work with the communities of Concordia and Catahoula parishes.

Summer graduated from Northwestern State University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Addiction Studies. She began her career with the state just over two years ago, initially working for the Louisiana Department of Transportation Development at their District 04 Headquarters in Bossier City, LA from September 2022 until September 2024. Following her move to the Vidalia area, Summer joined the Central Louisiana Human Services District.

Growing up in rural Sabine parish, Summer has always had a tender spot in her heart for small towns and the sense of community that comes along with them. She looks forward to embarking on the next chapter of her life with the LSU AgCenter and is enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of Concordia and Catahoula parishes.

For more information, please contact Summer Broadway by telephone at (318)414-6055 or by email.