Category: Work & Life

How Much Water Can a Rain Barrel Really Save You in Florida?

by Lorna Bravo
September 11, 2026

One good South Florida downpour can fill a 55-gallon rain barrel from just a small slice of your roof. Rain barrels are an easy, inexpensive way to catch that "free" water and use it on your yard — trimming your irrigation bill and keeping ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Home Management, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water, Work & Life

Cauliflower: A White Vegetable

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
September 11, 2026

Fall is a great time to enjoy cauliflower! This versatile vegetable is a nutritious addition to meals and can be prepared in many different ways. Cauliflower is most commonly white, but did you know it can also be orange, green, and purple? What ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life
Tags: Antioxidants, Benefits Of Dietary Fiber, Cauliflower, Cauliflower Can Be Orange Or Purple, Cauliflower Rice, Cruciferous, Dietary Fiber, Eat Fiber Rich Foods, Eating Pattern, Enjoy Vegetables, Food Safety, Variety Of Vegetables, Vegetables, Ways To Prepare Cauliflower, Your Eating Pattern Over Time Matters

Asparagus: A Fresh and Nutritious Vegetable

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
September 10, 2026

It is the perfect time to enjoy fresh asparagus! I just ordered a side dish of grilled asparagus last week, at a restaurant, and it was wonderful. These bright green spears are not only delicious but also provide important nutrients that can ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life
Tags: Asparagus, Balanced Nutrition, Broward, Broward County, Cook, Diet, Dietary Fiber, Eating For Good Health, Extension, Fiber, Florida, Food Safety, Good Nutrition, Health, Nutrition, Vegetables

Pulses: Small Foods with Big Health Benefits

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
September 9, 2026

Have you heard the word “pulses” used when talking about food? You may already be eating pulses without realizing it! But what exactly are pulses, and how are they different from legumes? What Are Pulses? Pulses are the edible, dried seeds ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life
Tags: Add Pulses To Your Plate, Balanced Diet, Beans, Broward, Broward County, Chickpeas, Diet, Dry Beans, Dry Peas, Eating For Good Health, Edible Seeds, Extension, Fiber, Florida, Health, Healthy, Legumes, Lentils, Nutrition, Pods, Protein, Pulses, Pulses Provide Fiber, Pulses Provide Protein, Traditional Diets, Uf Ifas Extension Solutions, Well-balanced Diet

Chickpeas – A healthy legume

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
July 27, 2026

Do you like hummus or falafels? If yes, then you enjoy chickpeas, which continue to grow in popularity as a food and snack choice. A program participant told me this week that she loves to snack on crisp chickpeas made in her air fryer. What ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: A Healthy Diet, Broward County, Chickpeas, Eating For Good Health, Focus On Your Health, Food Is Medicine, Garbanzo Beans, Healthy Diet, Hummus, Legumes, Nutrition

Fire Safety: Kitchen and Cooking Safety

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
July 22, 2026

With wildfires making headlines across the country, it's a good time to revisit an important topic: kitchen and cooking safety. While wildfires are a significant concern, the kitchen remains one of the most common places for fires to start in ... READ MORE

Category: Disaster Preparation, Food Safety, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: 10 Kitchen Fire Safety Tips, Call 911 In The Event Of An Emergency, Dangers Of The Risk Of Fire, Fire Preparedness, Fire Preparedness Plan; Wildfires; Stove Safety; Supervise Children; Supervise Young Children When Cooking; Film And Photograph Contents Of Home, Fire Safety, Kitchen And Cooking Safety, Kitchen Safety, Prevent Kitchen Fires, What Can I Do For Fire Safety?

Papaya: A Tropical Nutrition Powerhouse

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
June 3, 2026

This tropical fruit has bright orange-pink flesh, small black seeds in the center, and a naturally sweet flavor. Ripe papaya is typically enjoyed fresh, peeled, seeded, and sliced into cubes or wedges. Papaya is packed with nutrients while ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Eating Fruit And Vegetables May Reduce Your Risk Of Chronic Disease, Fruit, Fruit As A Treat, Fruit In Salads, Fruit Salad, Fruit Smoothies, Papaya, Tropical Fruit

What’s on the Menu? A Fresh Look at the New Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
June 3, 2026

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, developed by the USDA and HHS, are the nation’s science-based recommendations for healthy eating. At their core, the message stays consistent: build your diet around whole, nutrient-dense foods and limit ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life
Tags: Balanced Nutrition, Choose More Whole Foods, Chronic Disease Prevention, DGA, Eat Real Food, Food Is Medicine, Health, Healthy Diet, Limit Added Sugar, Limit Sugar, Limit Ultra Processed Foods, Nutrition, Obesity, Overall Eating Pattern, Recommendations For Healthy Eating, Sodium And Excess Fat Intake, US Dietary Guidelines 2025-2030, US Dietary Guidelines For Americans, What Is New About The Dietary Guidelines?

From Wasteland to Wonderland: A Food Forest Journey Part 4 – Iguanas: A Challenge, A Question, A Lesson.

by Giuseppe Di Giacinto
May 12, 2026

The challenge with iguanas has been, without a doubt, the toughest part of working on this food forest. At times, it felt like they made my life almost impossible. But somewhere along the way, a different mindset was necessary. ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Extension, Food Forest, Iguanas, Plants Damage, Uf Ifas Extension Solutions

Paws, Breathe, Relax: Stress Management for You and Your Pet

by Brenda Marty-Jimenez
May 11, 2026

By: Giselle Navarro, UF/IFAS Extension, Broward County, Family and Consumer Sciences Intern Brenda Marty Jimenez, UF/IFAS Extension, Broward County, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent IV Stress is a part of everyday life—for ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life
Tags: Avoid Stress, Community Health, Control Stress, Decrease Stress Level, Families And Consumers Managing Stress, Feel Less Stressed, Fostering Positive Interactions, Health, Human-animal Bond, Lower Stress, Pet Therapy, Recognizing Stress, Stress, Stress And Coping, Stress Management, Ways To Handle Stress, Work And Life

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