March 2025 Edition

Family & Consumer Sciences
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FCS Newsletter March 2025

Dates
March 9
Spring Forward!
March 10
Burger Program
March 17
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
March 17
Tune into WBKR
March 18
Homemaker Lesson Training - Daviess County
March 19
Homemaker Lesson Training - Henderson County
March 28
Lesson Ballots Due
April 12
Farmers’ Market Opening Day
April 20
Happy Easter
April 21
TUNE IN TO WBKR
April 23
Beginner Sourdough Class
April 26
Oh Baby Community Shower
April 29
Cooking Class 5:30 pm
April 30
Beginner Sourdough Class

WBKR
Be sure to tune in to WBKR 92.5 FM to hear about the monthly SNAP recipe and hear reviews from the on-air taste testing.
March 17^th - Crunchy Air Fryer Fish
April 21^st - Lemon Broccoli Pasta

BEGINNER SOURDOUGH CLASS
Wednesday, April 23^rd 1-3 pm or Wednesday, April 30^th 5-7 pm
At Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office
Sign-ups begin Friday, April 4
Class size is limited.

COOK ONCE, EAT TWICE COOKING CLASS
Special thanks to Beth Cecil and team from the Owensboro Healthpark for sharing their tasty recipes and informative tips!

GET THE TEA ON CANCER
Our speakers, Caroline Rodgers and Dr. Pavlik, shared great information as part of a lovely afternoon.

BURGER BASICS PROGRAM
Come celebrate Owensboro Burger Week with us and our special guests:
George Bittel - Bittel Heritage Meats, and Jim Gilles - Hill View Farms Meats
March 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office
Tips and tasting. Cooking demo.
Space is limited, call 270-685-8480 to RSVP.

Spring Cleaning for your Mental Health!
Source:  Dr. Natese Dockery, Clinical Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist for Mental Health and Well-Being  

Beyond the physical benefits of a clean and organized home, spring cleaning can offer mental health advantages. Clutter can contribute to feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, and even depression, while a tidy space can promote mental clarity and a sense of calm.

To maximize the benefits of spring cleaning, consider the following strategies:

· Prioritize tasks: Begin with smaller, manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. This could involve decluttering a drawer, organizing a bookshelf, or washing windows.

· Focus on one room at a time: Instead of getting bogged down, concentrate on one area at a time. This can help prevent burnout and provide a sense of accomplishment as you complete each space.

· Use a timer: Set time limits to maintain focus and prevent procrastination. This can also help you break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.

· Spread out the cleaning: Don't try to do everything at once. Spread out the cleaning process over several days or weeks to avoid feeling overwhelmed and to allow for rest and recovery.

· Ask for help: Don't hesitate to ask friends or family for help, especially with heavy or time-consuming tasks. This can make the process more enjoyable and efficient.

· Mindful cleaning: Practice mindfulness while cleaning by focusing on the present moment and the sensations of your body. This can help reduce stress and promote relaxation.

· Celebrate your progress: Acknowledge and reward yourself for your accomplishments along the way. This can help boost your motivation and maintain a positive outlook.

By incorporating these approaches, spring cleaning can become a refreshing and calming experience. Remember, the goal is not just to clean your space but also to improve your mental well-being.

References:
https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/03/18/spring-cleaning-for-your-mental-health
https://acendahealth.org/4-ways-spring-cleaning-impacts-your-mental-health/

Planning Family Dinners on a Budget
Source:  Shelley Crawford, Trigg County FCS/4-H Agent, and Nichole Huff, Extension Specialist for Family Resource Management

Family dinners represent a time to come together, share a meal, and engage in meaningful conversations. When planning a family meal, creating a budget can ensure the dinner is affordable and enjoyable for everyone. Consider preparing nutritious, budget-friendly meals as “capital investments” in your family.

Planning budget-friendly dinners can be a fun and creative exercise for the whole family. By working together to plan and cook meals, families can use problem-solving skills and find creative solutions like learning affordable alternatives to expensive ingredients and experimenting with new recipes. Here are a few ways to plan cost-effective meals:

· Set a budget. Consider how much money you want to spend for the week and the number of people who will be eating each meal you plan to prepare.

· Plan a menu. Think about what type of food you want to cook and any dietary restrictions your family might have. Do you have picky eaters? Choose recipes with affordable ingredients that you can use in more than one recipe. Also select meals your family enjoys, which reduces food waste and increases the likelihood that they will eat the leftovers. (Uneaten food means the money that you spent on food is going in the trash!)

· Shop for ingredients. Compare prices and look for sales at your local grocery, discount, or bulk stores. Search for coupons and look for generic alternatives. Brand names often cost more but offer similar taste and quality to the store brand.

· Plan ahead. This gives you time to look for sale items and “shop” your pantry, fridge, and freezer before you make your grocery list. When you find good deals for items that are shelf stable or you can freeze, buy extra for future use.

Family dinners are important for strengthening bonds, encouraging healthy habits, and providing time for conversation. Meals can be both affordable and healthy. Visit https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/piukp-recipes for Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Recipes.

OH BABY! CELEBRATION
April 26, 2025 at 1 p.m. at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital
Register at OwensboroHealth.org/OhBaby or call 270-417-5303
See .pdf version for flyer with events and times.

TYPE 2 DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP
Meetings are the third Tuesday of the month at noon. Healthpark Classroom B. See .pdf for flyer for topics.

THE RIGHT STUFF…LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES
Do you have prediabetes or have you been told you’re at risk for developing diabetes? Would you like to reduce that risk and turn your health around? Join The Right Stuff class to learn how healthy diet and activity principles can improve your health.
Each class lasts one hour and is FREE! You must call 2700-688-4804 to register.
See .pdf for dates and times.

HOMEMAKER HAPPENINGS
Lesson for the Month
How to Get Out of a Mealtime Rut - A Food, Nutrition, and Health Lesson
Roll Call
What do you like to do for fun in the spring?
Thought of the Month
“But you can come along with me ‘Cause we gotta lot of fun things to do now.”
—(Fun, Fun, Fun), The Beach Boys - 1964

LESSON LEADER TRAINING
March 18, 2025 Daviess County Office
March 19, 2025 Henderson County Office
10:00 April lesson:
Communication Essentials for Good Impressions
(Leadership Development)
11:00 May lesson: 
Strong Bones for Life: Prevent Osteoporosis
(Family and Individual Development)

FOYER DECORATIONS
Trinity spread the love this February. March’s foyer will be decorated by South Hampton Homemakers.

LESSON BALLOT
Ballots are due Friday, March 28^th 
Be sure ballots are turned in by 4:30 pm for your vote to be counted.

DISCOVER KEHA - A HIDDEN TREASURE
Make plans to attend the 2025 State Meeting at Hyatt Regency Lexington from May 6-8, 2025.

Room blocks are now open for reservations! Make reservations by
April 7, 2025 to secure the conference rate of $149.
For more information go to keha.ca.uky.edu/content/state-meeting-information