Ecofamily

You are invited to our Open House on Monday, March 25, 4-6 pm! Tour our new location at 383 Collins Road NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Win really cool gifts like low flow shower heads, faucet aerators, meet our red wigglers, and see all of the programs Iowa State University Extension & Outreach offers in Linn County!

We invite you to come and tour our new office space, meet staff, and learn about some of these programs including
♦ Parenting Education Consortium
♦ 4-H (K-12 Youth Outreach)
♦ Eco Family
♦ Master Gardeners
♦ Play and Learn
♦ Nonprofit Management Academy
♦ Family Finance
♦ Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program
♦ and so much more!

Stop by on your way home from work or bring the kids – we’ll have a fun hands-on Science activity for youth to try.  You’ll be be able to visit with a Master Gardener about any of your plant questions, learn tips on how you can live a more eco-friendly life,  gets tips for balancing your finances, hear about many of our upcoming classes and events  and much more! 

Questions?  Email benesh1@iastate.edu  or call Linn County Extension at 319.377.9839. 

Please note: The handicapped entrance is at the back of the building and you may use the lift at the bottom of the stairs to reach the second floor.  If you need any special accommodations to attend or have any questions, please let us know in advance.

Hope to see you live and in person!!

Kristi

Connection with Nature, Energy, Environment, Food, Health, Public policy, Waste Prevention, Water quality & conservation 4-H, Eco family, Family Finance, faucet aerators, Health, Linn County Iowa, low flow shower heads, Master Gardeners, nutrition, open house, Parent Education Consortium, red wigglers

Are you a juicer? Do you liquify fruit and vegies for intense nutrition? I got a centrifugal juicer about a year ago.  I saved my Christmas, birthday money and allowance and I have enjoyed creating lots of concoctions! My latest favorite is “creamscicle” that I learned about from the b organic show.  I used 2 peeled oranges, 2 ripe pears, 3 small sweet potatoes.  It is delicious and loaded with lots of vitamins and minerals for my body and brain!

I saved the orange peels  for an experiment.  I am soaking  them in vineagar to use as a ‘green’ enzyme cleaning product later. I will let you know in a month or so how this comes out.

I have my green smoothie (spinach, kale, cucumber, apple, and green tea) for my afternoon snack! I first heard about juicing decades ago when my father had cancer and intensive nutrition was considered a ‘new alternative’ treatment. I have since learned that juicing is helpful to maximize the nutrition for our brain cells and mitochondria (the energy producing part of the cell).  I like it because it helps me meet the USDA My Plate http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ recommendations for fruits and vegetables. I feel better and think better when I have my dark green and orange foods.  Not only are they attractive on the plate, they are very pretty in a drink!

A friend of mine always reminds me that we are to live  “juicy”!  Being positive, putting our best effort forward, choosing what is good for our bodies, mind and environment is also good for our spirit and considered “best practice” when it comes to overall health.  One of the things learned in the Mind Body Medicine training a few years ago, is to be mindful of how food affects your mood.  Every body is different and you need to see what YOUR body really needs. I discovered that some of my comfort foods were actually making me sick.  When I started juicing, I experienced a whole new appreciation for really good nutrition. Whole foods - whole fruit and vegies, whole grains, local meat & dairy in moderation. I go VERY easy on processed foods – any food that is no longer in it’s original form is processed and usually found in a box or can in the frozen and canned goods sections of the grocery store.

My nutrition colleagues are always touting the benefits of exercise and good foods.  If you want a variety of ideas for meals check out their webpage http://www.extension.iastate.edu/families/healthy-living-and-eating-families  My favorites are the “Words on Wellness” newsletter and the “Spend Smart, Eat Smart” sites.

What do YOU do to live a juicy life?

Kristi Cooper

Environment, Food, Health nutrition, USDA My Plate, whole foods