Category: Health & Nutrition

Holiday table

Finding Balance: Eating Healthy During the Holiday Season Without Missing Out

by Lori Wiggins
November 5, 2025

The holiday season is a time for celebration, connection, and yes, plenty of delicious food. Between festive parties, family gatherings, and holiday baking, it’s easy to fall into the “all or nothing” mindset: either indulge in everything ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension,
Tags: #TaylorCounty, Cooking, Exercise, Family, Florida, Health, Healthy, Nutrition

Annual Peanut Butter Challenge: A Birthday Wish to End Hunger

by Jasi Romero
November 5, 2025

From Presents to Peanut Butter, A Gift That Gives Back In a world where small acts of kindness can ripple into big changes, one young girl in Polk County is proving that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact. Meet London Brandt, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Crops, Events, Farm Management, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, Work & Life
Tags: Charity, Donate, Featured, Featured Hot Topic, Florida Peanut Federation, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Food Banks, Food Pantries, PBChallenge, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Challenge, Polk County, PolkExtension, PolkPBChallenge, Spread The Love, Spread The Peanut Butter

Reassessing Meatless Monday: A Scientific Perspective on the Role of Meat in Sustainable Diets

by Bridget Stice
November 3, 2025

By Bridget Stice, UF/IFAS Extension Polk Meatless Monday campaigns urge the public to skip meat one day a week to "improve health and protect the planet". While reducing excessive consumption of any food can be beneficial, blanket campaigns ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm Management, Health & Nutrition, Livestock, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, Turf, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, , Water, Wildlife
Tags: Agriculture, Beef, Bstice, Featured, Livestock, Meat, Polk County, Polk County FL, Polkco, SFBF, Sustainability
Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli and onions in a fresh salad. Food, vegetables, healthy eating. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.

What’s New on Ask IFAS: Family, Youth and Community Sciences (Sept.–Oct.)

by Amanda Quintos
October 31, 2025

Healthy Harvest: Florida’s Warm-Season Vegetables Catherine Campbell, Julia Graddy, Jeanette Andrade, and Wendy Wilber. This publication is intended for individuals who are interested in knowing more about warm-season crops that are grown ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, Framework, Health, Healthy Harvest, Vegetables, Well-being
White garlic pile texture. Fresh garlic on market table closeup photo. Vitamin healthy food spice image. Spicy cooking ingredient picture. Pile of white garlic heads.

Garlic and Vampires: The Science Behind the Myth [Part 2]

by Suzanne Holloway
October 30, 2025

In part one, we explored garlic’s history and its remarkable ability to help protect against germs, health problems, insects, and even unwanted company. Now, in this post, we’ll take a deeper look into vampire lore, the creatures and conditions ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, Work & Life
Tags: Bats, Folklore, Garlic, Halloween, Health, Holiday, Leech, Leeches, Mosquitoes, Sanguivore, Spooky Season, Supernatural, Vampires

“Chili” Weather Ahead

by Hillary MacMichael
October 27, 2025

Are you feeling chili? No, I’m not talking about the chill in the Florida air, I’m talking about having a delicious bowl of chili! Chili is a staple cold-weather food that’s surprisingly versatile. Whether you’re a meat‑lover or a ... READ MORE

Category: , Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Cooking, Family And Consumer Sciences, Nutrition, Ocextension, Recipes, Spices, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County
White garlic pile texture. Fresh garlic on market table closeup photo. Vitamin healthy food spice image. Spicy cooking ingredient picture. Pile of white garlic heads.

Garlic and Vampires: The Science Behind the Myth [Part 1]

by Suzanne Holloway
October 23, 2025

You’ve probably heard the old myth that garlic repels vampires, but is there any truth behind this? There’s no scientific evidence to support the existence of vampires or their aversion to garlic. However, the myth likely has roots in garlic’s ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Work & Life
Tags: Allicin, Garlic, Halloween, Health, Holiday, Insect Repellent, Lentil Soup, Recipe, Repellent, Soup, Spooky Season, Vampire, Vampires, Wellness

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