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Department of Extension Home Economics
Bi-Monthly Newsletter
November-December, 2007 Volume 1 Issue 2
Table of Contents
Introduction
Large Meal Preparation and Storage
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles with Holiday Gifts
Gift Ideas for Older People
Flu and Pneumonia Vaccine
Pecans: A Healthful New Mexico-Grown Food
Holiday Charities—Be Sure Before You Give
Calendar of Events
Introduction
Hope you enjoy this second edition of the Extension Home Economics newsletter. It is
packed with articles for the holiday season and upcoming winter months. Please give us
feedback regarding what is most useful in the newsletter and anything you would like to see
added or changed.
The Extension Home Economics Advisory Team will be meeting next week. Your county
representative include: Shannon Wooten, Connie Moyers, Karim Martinez, Kelly Knight and
Desiree Jimenez. Please let them know of anything you would like for us to put on the
agenda. Also, we look forward to seeing you all at the district program planning meetings that
will be happening in December. In the meantime, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope
you all enjoy food and fellowship with family and friends.
Martha
Martha Archuleta, Department Head
P.S.
If you are in Las Cruces on November 30th, please stop by for the retirement dessert reception
for Connie Kratzer which will be held in the Social Living Center in Gerald Thomas Hall at 1:30
pm. Connie worked ahead before her August retirement to provide articles for the next few
months of our newsletter. So you will continue to see a few more articles from Connie as she
begins to enjoy retirement!
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Large Meal Preparation and and to use a sanitizing solution on washed
Storage equipment and utensils. A sanitizer solution
can be made with 1 tablespoon of
household bleach to 1 gallon fresh water.
Nancy C. Flores, Ph.D.; Extension However, this solution is not effective once it
Food Technology Specialist becomes dirty with organic matter.
Therefore it should be applied only to clean
As the Holidays approach we are all eager items.
to participate in pot luck dinners at work,
church or a community gathering. Along with There are various types of food thermometer
presentation of a delicious dish we should available in the market, so it is important to
consider any food safety issues with meal use the right one for your application or meal
preparation, transportation and serving to preparation. ―Oven safe‖ thermometers are
final consumers. Other consideration for commonly used in large meats such as roast
meal for large groups is the need for a beef, whole turkey or pork roast. These
contact person to handle donations, thermometers are inserted into the largest or
coordinate volunteers, and oversee food thickest part of the meat and remain with the
handling and cleanup after the event. If the meat through out the cooking process.
meal is held as a fund raiser, a special ―Dial‖ or ―digital- instant read‖ thermometers
permit may be required by the State are used for thinner foods like a burger patty
Environment department but must be inserted into the patty for the full
(http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/fod/Food_Pr 2 inches of the sensing area and kept in the
ogram/fieldoffices.html). Furthermore, if the food for at least ten seconds to record an
event is held outdoors, soap and water must accurate temperature.
be provide for hand washing and cleaning
utensils. Food thermometers must be used A few word of caution on cooking foods for
to monitor holding temperatures of food large meals:
during preparation and presentation. * Consider the risk nature of the food, i.e.,
cream pie vs. fruit pie (See table).
The basic food safety principles that we * Never partially cook foods to finish later.
follow for meal preparation for our families * Never serve dishes containing raw eggs;
are the same for large quantity meal substitute pasteurized eggs when possible.
preparation. These are ―Clean- hands and * Never cook foods in an oven set less than
surfaces often‖; ―Separate- don’t cross 325˚F.
contaminate‖; ―Cook- to proper temperature‖ * Reheat previously cooked foods to 165˚F.
and ―Chill- Refrigerate promptly‖ (Fight BAC! * Sauces, soups and gravies should be
Keep food safe from bacteria. brought to a boil.
www.fightbac.org). The two easiest ways to * Never use a slow cooker, steam table or
control food born illness are proper hand chaffing dish to reheat food. Thoroughly
washing with soap and water for 20 seconds heat food in oven or stove top before placing
and maintaining food temperatures out of in serving line.
the ―danger zone‖ between 40 and 140˚F. * Preheat serving line to maintain
Perishable foods, including meal leftovers, temperatures above 140˚F.
should be stored under refrigeration within * Keep cold foods cold (less than 40˚F)
two hours of preparation or within one hour if during service with pre-chilled serving trays
stored between 90 and 140˚F. Temperature or ice bathes.
should be checked with an appliance * Discard perishable foods left out at room
thermometer design for cold temperatures. temperature for more than 2 hours.
Refrigerators should be kept at 40˚F and * Meal leftovers should be transferred to
freezers at 0˚F. shallow dishes, labeled then refrigerated or
frozen.
An easy way to keep up with the mess of * Do not over load refrigerator or freezer.
large meal preparation is to clean as you
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Special note: Some consumers are sensitive mind. Following are some examples of gifts
to some food ingredients so providing for adults and kids that will delight and
recipes used for each dish is sometimes promote health.
helpful and will also be conversation
starters. Gift baskets with:
-Fresh or dried fruit
Low risk pre- High risk pre- -Nuts- especially New Mexico Pecans and
cooked food cooked food Peanuts!
Bread: yeast, quick Home canned fruit or -Unusual pastas, wild rice or dried beans
bread vegetables -Soups mixes
-Teas or coffee
Baked goods: cake, Cheesecake -Salsa, pickles or relishes
cookies, brownies, Pumpkin pie -Flavored vinegars
muffins, cupcakes, cream or custard -Fresh baked whole grain breads
whole fruit pies pies -Pots with herbs
Except cream filled -Planters with seeds such as cherry
or cheesecake tomatoes
Candy Pickles; Flavored -Gift certificates for cooking classes
oils -Cookbooks with a health eating focus.
Home made jam or Cream filled
jelly cupcakes or donuts, For kids, there are many great gifts that
cream cheese support being active. Some include: bikes,
frosting sports equipment, video games that get kids
Dried fruits, herbs, Home-made ice moving like Dance, Dance Revolution or Wii
nuts cream Sports. Smaller items include jump ropes,
balls, Frisbees, and anything that
References: encourages outside play. Think of creative
kid-friendly gift baskets. For example a fun
USDA Food Safety Inspection Service: gift basket could include a video about
Cooking for groups: A volunteer’s guide to sports (such as the Disney movie ―Jump In‖-
Food Safety. (Also available in Spanish) a movie about a jump rope competition), a
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Cooki jump rope and fun t-shirt. Also encourage
ng_For_Groups_Index/index.asp the budding chef in your household with gifts
of cookbooks, cooking utensils and cooking
University of California Food Safety classes. Finally, as you are doing your
Education- Cooking for Groups. holiday shopping, make sure you think of
http://groups.ucanr.org/foodsafetyvolunteer/ your own health and include a healthy
Make_it_Safe-_Keep_it_Safe/- lifestyle gift yourself.
Cooking_for_Groups.htm
Sources:
Christmas Gift Ideas to Fight Obesity,
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles with
Medical News Today
Holiday Gifts http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/printerfri
endlynews.php?newsid=87491
Martha Archuleta, Ph.D., RD
Department Head Healthy (and FUN) Holiday Gifts for YOU,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Extension in
Extension Home Economics
Lancaster County
http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/fto-n07.shtml
When thinking of gifts for family and friends
this year keep healthy eating and fitness in
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Gift Ideas for Older People Regular or large print books,
magazines, or audio books they can
listen to on their own. Take the time
Diana DelCampo, Ph.D. to think about their interests so that
Extension Child Development they will enjoy the printed material.
& Family Life Specialist For example, if they enjoy cooking,
take a new cookbook; if they like
When visiting family members or friends cars, take a new magazine about
who are older, do you usually take a plant or cars.
flowers? These are pretty to look at, but
cannot occupy an older person's time after Small usable items such as a
you leave. Here are some ideas for gifts that magnifying glass to help with small
older people can enjoy after you have left. print or a small portable radio so
they can listen to a favorite station
Stationery, note cards, and greeting or the local news. Remember to
cards with stamps and current take batteries if they’re needed.
addresses, if you have them, to
keep in touch with friends. Making a
year-long calendar with birthdays, Stories or cartoons clipped from
anniversaries, and other special newspapers or magazines to make
dates marked can help older people them laugh or smile. This shows you
keep track of when to send greeting were thinking about them and took the
cards to loved ones. You could also time to cut the story for them to read.
create this calendar with the older
person during one of your visits. It is Nicely scented lotion that you rub on
a good conversation starter to talk their hands for a quick massage.
about old times and future events. The aroma and touch therapy are
comforting.
Photos of family, vacation, your
current house or garden; a picture Take your wireless laptop computer
or story your child has written. and offer to look up something on
Create a special photo album with the computer for the older person
pictures and messages from loved such as a medical procedure or
ones to give to the older person. illness, places to visit, or an old
Use your visit with this older person friend’s address.
to create a special photo album for
someone else. Take the time to talk and listen to
the older person. This is often the
Home cooked treat, which has a greatest gift you can give. Maybe
special meaning, from the recipe file you can record the conversation so
of the person you are visiting such the older person can listen to at
as pumpkin bread or biscuits; fruits again.
or vegetables from your garden or
Farmer’s Market.
Adapted from: Ohio State University
Items which might stimulate good Extension Service Strengthening Families
memories and conversations such Resources http://ohioline.ag.ohio-state.edu
as foreign coins or postcards of
places either you or the person
you’re visiting have visited in years
past.
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Flu and Pneumonia Vaccine
A pneumonia shot is recommended for
anyone 2 years and older who has a chronic
Karen Halderson, MPH, RD, LD health problem such as diabetes. A
CDE Extension Diabetes pneumonia shot can also protect against
Coordinator other infections caused by the same
bacteria. Pneumonia vaccine is about 60%
Flu is a disease that is caused by viruses. It effective
causes fever, cough, chills, head ache, sore in preventing the most serious pneumonias.
throat, and muscle pain. It usually lasts from A pneumonia shot can be given anytime
three to seven days. Each year about during the year. For most people one
36,000 people in the U.S., most of them pneumonia shot is enough protection for a
over the age of 65, die from the flu. More lifetime.
than 114,000 people are hospitalized with
the flu each year. People under 65 who have a chronic health
problem such as diabetes should ask their
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and health care provider about getting another
Prevention recommends flu shots for pneumonia shot 5-10 years after their first
everyone 50 years of age and over, health one.
workers, caregivers and people of any age .
with chronic health problems such as kidney For more information on flu vaccine and
disease, heart or lung disease, or diabetes. other vaccines go to:
People with weakened immune systems www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm
should also get a flu shot. Flu shots are
required each year, because the viruses that adapted from www.diabetes.org
cause the flu change each year.
The American Diabetes Association Pecans: A Healthful New
recommends that all people with diabetes
have a flu shot each fall. September Mexico-Grown Food
through November is the best time to get a
flu shot. It takes about two weeks for the Bruce Jacobs, Ph. D.
shot to take effect. But getting a flu shot later Extension Health Specialist
will still help. Don’t get a flu shot if you have
a cold or other respiratory illness. Wait until
By Richard Heerema, Wanda Eastman and
you are healthy again before getting a flu 1
Bruce Jacobs
shot.
[This article can also be found in its entirety
Pregnant women in their first trimester
as one of our Extension How-To-
should talk to their health care provider
Publications: Guide E – 138.]
before getting a flu shot.
Pecan nuts are one of only a handful of
common modern foods that originated in
Flu vaccine is grown in eggs. People who
North America. For centuries, pecan nuts
are allergic to chicken eggs should not
were enjoyed by Native Americans across
receive flu vaccine. People who are allergic
to other components of the vaccine should
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not receive it either. The authors are, respectively, Extension Pecan
Specialist, Department of Extension Plant
Family members of people with diabetes Sciences; Associate Professor of Human
should also get a flu shot, so they are less Nutrition and Food Science, Department of
likely to get the flu and infect the person with Family & Consumer Sciences; Extension Health
diabetes. Specialist, Department of Extension Home
Economics.
5
what is now the south-central region of the eight weeks helped lower volunteers’
United States. American settlers in the LDL-cholesterol (sometimes called ―bad‖
1800s brought pecan trees westward to New cholesterol) by 6%.
Mexico and quickly recognized the Mesilla Pecans are a good food source of other
Valley’s soils and climate as ideally suited to nutrients that contribute to a heart
production of top quality pecans. As a result, healthy diet. These include dietary fiber,
southern New Mexico is now one of the vitamin E, copper, and magnesium. Ac-
world’s premier pecan growing areas, and cording to United States Department of
pecan nuts have come to be featured Agriculture figures, pecans are also
prominently in New Mexico’s distinctive among the best food sources of
cuisine. phytochemicals that are antioxidants.
Nutrition scientists recommend these
In the 1980s and 1990s, nutritionists usually substances because they may reduce
discouraged people from regularly eating the risk of cancers and cardiovascular
pecans because of their high fat and calorie disease.
content. More recently, however, pecans What you eat influences your chances
have received much more positive attention of getting high blood pressure
because of a shift in how nutritionists think (hypertension). As part of an overall
about including fats in the diet. Furthermore, dietary approach to reducing blood
recent research, some of which was pressure, the National Institutes of
conducted here at New Mexico State Health suggests incorporating nuts into
University, has shown that regular pecan nut your weekly diet. Of course, for keeping
consumption may in fact have a number of your blood pressure down, it is also
important health benefits. important to maintain a healthy weight;
to be moderately physically active most
Some health related benefits of pecans days of the week; if you drink alcohol, to
include: drink moderately; and to take prescribed
medication for high blood pressure as
Pecans are an excellent source of the directed.
monounsaturated fat oleic acid, which is Pecan nuts contain few carbohydrates
also found in olives and olive oil. and are a very low glycemic index food,
Saturated fats (found in meats, whole which means that eating pecans has
milk, butter and lard) and trans fats little impact on one’s short-term blood
(found in shortening and stick glucose levels. As such, eating pecans
margarines) are usually solid at room in moderation is consistent with a
temperature and are associated with healthy diet for people with diabetes or
increased cardiovascular disease risk. those at risk of getting diabetes. Again,
On the other hand, unsaturated fats, like it must be emphasized that maintaining
oleic acid in pecans, are usually liquid at a healthy weight and taking medication
room temperature and may actually as directed by your doctor are critical for
have cardiovascular health benefits. The managing or preventing diabetes.
American Heart Association and the
Expert Panel of the National Cholesterol Adding Pecans to Your Diet
Education Program both recommend
that unsaturated fats replace saturated Pecans are a high calorie food and are often
fat in the American diet. included as part of sugary recipes such as
Pecans are a healthful food also pecan pies, pralines or cookies; families
because of what they do not contain. As should take this into account in weight
a plant food, pecans contain no dietary management. However, pecans also contain
cholesterol. In fact, eating pecans can many desirable nutrients and help lower bad
help to lower blood cholesterol levels. In cholesterol, so pecans may be included in
one New Mexico State University modest amounts as a healthy part of a
experiment, eating pecans every day for family’s usual diet. Pecans can be eaten
6
plain as a healthy snack instead of chips or
sweets, and also make an excellent addition
to salads, breakfast cereals, breads,
entrees, and side dishes. The delicious taste
of pecans enhances the flavor of many
recipes that are family favorites.
Pecans and Allergies
For most people, pecans can be eaten as
part of a healthy diet. However, it is possible
to be allergic to pecans. Tree nuts – such as
almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts,
macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts,
pistachios and walnuts – have been
implicated in allergic reactions in both
children and adults. Allergic reactions to tree
nuts can range from mild to severe
(including life-threatening).
One research study, using a random survey
of about 13,500 people in the U.S. (adults,
adolescents and children), found that about
1 out of 250 people had an allergy to tree
nuts. A person can be allergic to only one
specific nut and not allergic to others; or,
they can have an allergy to more than one
nut. Most experts advise patients who are
allergic to a specific tree nut to avoid all tree
nuts (as well as the peanut, which is not a
tree nut but a legume).
Holiday Charities—Be Sure
Before You Give
Connie Kratzer Ph.D.
Extension Family Resource
Specialist
This is the season for giving—and there are
lots of charities out there hoping that you will
choose to give to them.
Giving to charity should be planned just like
you plan for the gifts you will give. Make a
budget for your charity giving and stick to
it—otherwise you may find yourself
contributing much more than you intended.
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Calendar of Events
Here are a few things that the National
Charities Information Bureau recommends
January 17-19, 2008
that you know about a charity before you
Artisan Mexican Cheese making workshop
give them part of your hard earned money:
Las Cruces, NM
The exact name of the organization
March 25-28, 2008
(some sound-alike groups can be
Better Process Control School for acidified
confusing).
and low acid canned food processors
presented in Spanish at the NMSU
The organization’s purpose (finding
Albuquerque Center
a cure for a disease, or caring for
people who suffer from the disease,
April 7-11
for example).
Extension In Service
Las Cruces
How the group attempts to achieve
its goals (does its own research,
makes grants, etc.).
How much of your money is used
for true charitable purposes and
how much goes for ―administration‖
(NCIB Standards call for a minimum
of 60 cents out of each dollar spent).
When you are considering giving to a
charity, don’t let high pressure calls or a tear
jerking mail solicitation sway you. Ask for
more information if you are not sure about
the purpose of the effectiveness of the
charity. If they won’t send you written
information to answer your questions, it may
not be a group you want to contribute to.
If the charity is offering you a prize or a
chance to win a prize, you may want to think
twice about donating to it. And, if the caller
asks if they can send someone over to pick
up your contribution, tell them you prefer to
send your contribution by mail—that way, if
the appeal is a scam, they can be
prosecuted.
Finally, don’t ever send cash through the
mail or make your check out to a person.
Always make out the check with the full
name of the charity. And, don’t give out
your credit card number to a solicitor unless
you are absolutely sure the charity is
legitimate.
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