Tag: Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez

A collage of children's lunches, featuring a colorful lunchbox, smiling children, a tasty sandwich with fruits, and a close-up of a child eating a blueberry.

Back-to-School Meals and Snacks: Part 1 – Keeping Nutrition in Mind

by Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez
August 13, 2026

Welcome to the Back-to-School Season!                 Back-to-school time can be an exciting time, as we jump back into our typical routine, but it can also be quite overwhelming. ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Family & Consumer Sciences, Food, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Miami-Dade, Nutrition, Parents, South Florida, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Miami-Dade Extension
Tres loncheras abiertas con alimentos variados y saludables sobre una mesa de madera. La primera contiene frutas, frutos secos, galletas, verduras y un wrap. La segunda incluye sándwiches de pan integral, uvas, arándanos, kiwi y un pretzel. La tercera contiene un sándwich integral decorado como un animal, verduras, tomates, fruta y un pequeño pastelito.

Más allá de los útiles escolares: una experta de UF/IFAS ofrece ideas de comidas saludables y económicas que puede preparar en minutos

by Luz Bahder
July 27, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Aunque el verano sigue en pleno apogeo, ya empiezan a verse las primeras señales del nuevo año escolar. Los anuncios ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Blog Community, Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS
Tags: Alimentacion Saludable, Español, Fibra, Inicio Del Año Escolar, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Saludable, Spanish
Un cerebro humano en el centro de una superficie azul, rodeado por piezas de rompecabezas de madera parcialmente desalineadas, simbolizando la idea de conexión mental, pensamiento o ensamblaje de ideas.

Cómo los hábitos saludables fortalecen el cerebro: experta de UF/IFAS destaca la prevención del Alzheimer

by Luz Bahder
June 2, 2026

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Se estima que 7,4 millones de estadounidenses mayores de 65 años viven con demencia tipo Alzheimer, una cifra que ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS
Tags: Actividad Cerebral, Actividad Fisica, Alimentacion Saludable, Alimentación Saludable Para El Corazón, Alimentos Integrales, Alzheimer, Azúcares Añadidos, Calidad Del Sueño, Cerebro, Control De Enfermedades, Corazon, DASH, Datos Y Cifras Sobre La Enfermedad De Alzheimer 2026, Demencia, Deterioro Cognitivo, Diabetes, Dieta Mediterranea, Ejercicio, Español, Estimulación Cerebral, Grasas Saturadas, Hábitos, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Manejo, Memoria, Mind, Pasatiempos, Presion Arterial, Salud Cardiovascular, Salud Cerebral, Sangre Rica En Oxígeno, Sodio, Spanish
Panoramic shot of senior man and woman holding purple ribbon representing Alzheimer's. By LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS Dimensions 6922 x 2148px File Type JPEG Category People License Type Education License Education License - Standard Image (Included in your plan) (Licensed)

How healthy habits promote stronger brains: UF/IFAS expert focuses on Alzheimer’s prevention

by Lourdes Mederos
June 2, 2026

An estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, highlighting the importance of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month this June, a time dedicated to increasing understanding of brain health ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Events, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Alzheimer, Blood Pressure, Brain, Brain Health, Chronic Diseases, Cognitive Health, DASH, Dementia, Diabetes, Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension, Family And Consumer Sciences, FCS, Food Is Medicine, Heart Health, High Blood Pressure, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Mediterranean Diet, Mediterranean-DASH Intervention For Neurodegenerative Delay, Miami-Dade Extension, Mind, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Risk
Adobe stock picture of people feet walking

Starting March 5, popular Let’s Walk Florida returns! Join the healthy lifestyle mobility movement

by Lourdes Mederos
February 17, 2026

People tend to move more when they have inviting, safe places to walk. Those kinds of surroundings also help people stay motivated and connected with others, promoting sustained healthy habits, according to research from the Centers for ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Clubs & Volunteers, Events, Health & Nutrition, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Work & Life
Tags: Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Coaching, Dietitian Nutritionist, Health Guides, Healthier Habits, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Let's Walk Florida, Movement, Movement Goals, News, Science-based Nutrition, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, Virtual Walking, Walking, Wellness Program
Adobe stock Collage of foods typically known as mediterranean meals

Starting March 6, learn to cook healthy Mediterranean meals with UF/IFAS lunch and learn series

by Lourdes Mederos
February 17, 2026

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is committed to providing research-backed nutrition education to the community. As part of this effort, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County is offering a ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, , Events, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Chronic Diseases, Eating, Flavorful Recipes, Food Is Medicine, Food Labels, Food Strategies, Healthy Eating Habits, Healthy Meals, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Lunch And Learn, March, Meal Planning, Med Instead Of Meds, Mediterranean Diet, Mediterranean Meals, Mindful Eating, National Nutrition Month, Nutrient-dense Ingredients, Physical Activity, Reading Food Labels, Reduce Risks, Registered Dietitian, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County

Meet the UF/IFAS Extension FCS Agent for Miami Dade County

by Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez
December 22, 2025

About Me I'm happy to introduce myself as your new UF/IFAS Extension Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent in Miami-Dade County. If you're not familiar with FCS, it is a field of study that combines the science and art of living well ... READ MORE

Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Money Matters, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: FCS, Financial Literacy, Food Entrepreneurship, Health, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Miami-Dade, Nutrition, South Florida, UF/IFAS Miami-Dade Extension, Wellness
Adults Playing Board Game with Christmas Tree in Background

Intentional hosting: The key to a good, stress-free gathering

by Lourdes Mederos
December 18, 2025

Gatherings don’t have to feel overwhelming or revolve entirely around food. The key to a meaningful celebration is intentional hosting, a practice that Jessica Alfonso-Rodriguez experienced and developed while growing up in South Florida. ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Board Games, Celebration, Connect, Family An D Consumer Sciences, Gatherings, Healthy Appetizers, Holiday, Holiday Gatherings, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Intentional Hosting, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Menu, Mindful Moment, Mindfullness, Mocktails, News, Planning Activities, South Florida, Stress-free, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, University Of Florida, Yearlong
Manos escribiendo una lista de “propósitos de Año Nuevo” en un cuaderno sobre una mesa de madera rústica, rodeada de ramas de pino, piñas, regalos envueltos, guirnaldas de estrellas rojas y luces navideñas.

¿Tiene propósitos para este 2026? Aquí le explicamos cómo mantenerlos

by Luz Bahder
December 16, 2025

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Cada enero, millones de personas se plantean ambiciosos propósitos de bienestar, solo para abandonarlos en cuestión ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Blog Community, Health & Nutrition, Home Management, Money Matters, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 2026, Agente De Extensión De UF/IFAS, Año Nuevo, Bienestar, Bienestar General, Ciencias De La Familia Y Del Consumidor, Consejos, Economia, Ejercicio, Español, Estilo De Vida, Estres, Finanzas, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Metas SMART, Objetivos SMART, Relajacion, Resoluciones De Ano Nuevo, Respiracion, Respiración Cuadrada, Rutinas De Bienestar, Salud, SMART, SMART Goal, Spanish, UF-IFAS
Imagen en vista superior de un cuaderno espiral y un bolígrafo negro, rodeado de adornos navideños plateados y rojos, cinta de color roja y blanca, ramas de pino y un regalo envuelto sobre una superficie de madera.

Have 2026 resolutions? Here is how to make them stick

by Lourdes Mederos
December 16, 2025

Every January, millions set ambitious wellness resolutions only to abandon them within weeks. In fact, the second Friday of January is known as Quitter’s Day, a reminder of how quickly good intentions fade. For 2026, we turn to Jessica ... READ MORE

Category: , Conservation, Health & Nutrition, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Box Breathing, Consistency, Family And Consumer Sciences, Goals, Habit, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Jessica Alfonso- Rodriguez, Mindful Moment, Mindfullness, Plan, Progress, Quitter's Day, Resolutions, Routine, SMART Objectives, Sustainability, Track, UF IFAS Family And Consumer Sciences, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, University Of Florida, Wellness Resolutions

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