Mushrooms are often celebrated for their unique flavors and textures, but their versatility extends far beyond the kitchen. These fascinating fungi offer numerous health benefits and serve as sustainable alternatives in various dishes. In this ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & Life![a tangle of fishing line, plastic beads and other plastic waste on a beach. [credit: unsplash.com, soren funk]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2025/03/2025_Water_microplasticsBeach01_unsplashSorenFunk_CROP1650x470TINY.png)
We're hearing a lot about microplastics in the news, but what exactly are they and what can I do to reduce the impact of microplastics in our environment? Well, first, what are they? Microplastics are defined as plastic particles no larger ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Health & Nutrition, Water
Though the goal is to conserve water in the home, we can be conscious of the water used in the production of our favorite foods and beverages, even if the local footprint doesn't have a direct impact on the water resources in our region. When ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Natural Resources, Water![carving a turkey on a cutting board. [credit: unsplash.com, claudio schwarz]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/12/2024_FCS_turkeyCarving01_unsplashClaudioSchwarzCROP1650x470TINY.png)
Perhaps you’ve spent time entertaining and had food left over. Or, you attended a holiday event where the food supplies outpaced the people's demand. So, how do you handle those leftover foods so that uninvited guests, such as a foodborne ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Health & Nutrition, Work & Life![assorted fresh fruits and vegetables for sale in a farmers market display. [credit: unsplash.com, alexandr podvalny]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/10/2024_FCS_produceAisleFresh_unsplashAlexandrPodvalnyCROP1650x470TINY.png)
Many Florida families and farmers are struggling to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Feeding Florida’s Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) wants to ensure that individuals and families shopping with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Money Matters, Work & Life![a young girl sits at a glass-top table with a man and woman, smiling as she hand-feeds the woman. [credit: unsplash, national cancer institute]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/10/2024_FCS_mealFamily_unsplashNatlCancerInstCROP1650x470TINY.png)
When was the last time you sat down as a family and enjoyed a meal together? Connecting with your family over a meal has many things going for it, with research indicating educational gains, health bonuses, social and behavioral benefits, ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, Work & Life![Children smile as they share peanut butter and snacks at a dining table. [CREDIT: UF/IFAS, Tyler Jones]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/files/2024/09/2020_Comms_childrenPeanutButterLunch01_ifasTylerJonesCROP1650x470TINY.png)
Whether you favor crunchy or creamy, the challenge is on. The annual University of Florida Peanut Butter Challenge, that is. Launched in 2012 in Florida's Panhandle region as a way to raise awareness of peanut farming in the area, the challenge ... READ MORE
Category: Health & Nutrition, Work & Life
Did you know the air inside your home can cause health issues? Sometimes our indoor air can affect our health more than the air outside. Especially because Americans spend an average of 90% of their days inside. We’ve created a list of ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Health & Nutrition, Home Management, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life![a woman prepares sandwiches at a kitchen countertop. [credit: unsplash.com, hillshire farm]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/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/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