![a woman prepares sandwiches at a kitchen countertop. [credit: unsplash.com, hillshire farm]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/09/2024_FCS_lunchSandwichHomePrep_unsplashHillshireFarmEDITSCROP1650x470TINY.png)
It's that time of year again. Children are back to school, with homework, sports and after-school activities. And, many households have dropped into a familiar school-centered rhythm, including packing school lunches. School lunches should ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & Life![whole-grain cereals pour from a glass jar into a pile, with other piles nearby, on a flat, empty tabletop. [credit: pixabay.com, angelica vaihel]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/08/2024_FCS_grainsWholeJarCereals_pixabayAngelicaVaihelCROP1650x470.png)
Did you know that September is Whole Grains Month? And, did you know that the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans tell us that at least half our grains should be whole grains? And, do you know the parts of a whole grain? Or, the nutritional ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & Life![in a computer-generated image, a man holds his nose while standing in fron of an opened refrigerator. [credit: adobe firefly]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/08/2024_FCS_refrigeratorOdorsMan01_fireflyCROP1650x470TINY.png)
Have you ever opened your refrigerator only to be hit by an unpleasant odor? Sure, that might be the onions you forgot to cover the night before. But, it might be bacteria, mold, leaking containers or expired foods lurking somewhere in your ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Home Management, Work & Life
Summer is a beautiful time filled with sunshine, fun, and bountiful harvests of delicious fruits and veggies. But what if you could enjoy the flavors of summer even when the season is over? That's where canning, and freezing come in! But before ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS Extension![a digital meat thermometer reads 165.3 degrees fahrenheit while checking chicken on a barbecue grill. [credit: uf/ifas, tyle jones; edit: uf/ifas extension sarasota county]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/07/2017_FCS_foodsafetyGrillingThermometer01UPDATE165F_ifasJonesTyler_CROP1650x470.jpg)
Have you ever heard of the "Temperature Danger Zone"? If you're like many, the term might be new to you. So, let's take a closer look. I have written several blogs on food safety and how to avoid a foodborne illness. But, in this blog, ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Work & Life
Want to have a big impact on what you eat with only a little space in your garden? Grow herbs! Even just a few herb plants within your garden can deeply impact what you eat because of their distinct flavors. A simple pot can become a lush herb ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Join us at the UF/IFAS Brevard Extension office for some fun learning experiences! Make sure to follow us on Eventbrite to be notified by email whenever we post a new class: https://brevardextension.eventbrite.com Want this sent to your email? ... READ MORE
Category: Events![a refrigerator shelf lined with fresh and processed foods. [credit: unsplash.com darrien staton]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/06/2024_FCS_foodRefrigerator01_unsplashDarrienStatonEDITS1650x470TINY.jpg)
With hurricane season upon us, it's important to know how to prepare our perishable food supply if the power goes out. Knowing how to keep our food supply safe to eat is just as important as gathering your hurricane supplies and creating a ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & Life![fresh produce spills out from a reusable shopping bag laid on a tabletop. [credit: unsplash.com, ratul ghosh]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2024/07/2024_Ag_produceAssortedCarrybag_unsplashRatulGhoshCROP1650x470TINY.png)
Consumers spend billions of dollars at the grocery store annually on heavily marketed products that promise exciting health benefits. Of course, we want to eat healthy, protect the environment, and buy food that is safe for our children. We ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Health & Nutrition, Money Matters
June is Pollinator Month! Pollinators are crucial for the reproduction of all kinds of plants. You’ve thought about where a baby comes from, but have you ever thought where a peach comes from? Let's explore why June is dedicated to these ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension