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June 2009
Health, Home & Family
Development News
Health, Home & Family
anana istrict Development Agent
~ Cooperative Extension Service ~ Tanana District Office ~ P.O. Box 758155 ~
~ Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-8155 ~ 474-2450 ~
ear readers:
I just heard a report on the news that said that the services of a mother are worth far more than we have ever given our-
selves credit for. A website called Salary.com puts the value of a stay-at-home mother at over $122,000, and the working
mother’s services at hovering in at about $76,000. Can you believe it? All those late nights scrubbing the floor, help-
ing with those school projects, and chauffeuring the kids around actually caught someone’s attention. So even though
Mother’s Day is gone, pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Now if we could only figure out to cash in on what we
are worth, we’d be in good shape.
Happy June, Roxie
Here Comes the Bride! And the Gifts!
The traditional month for weddings is June, so When people have the right tools, they are
you might be faced with coming up with a great more likely to cook at home. Home-cooked
present for someone this month. Friends and family meals are usually less expensive and more nutritious
can help young newlyweds begin their lives together than eating out.
by stocking their kitchens with quality basics. Some of the basics include measuring cups for dry
When the economy is hurting, quality becomes and liquid needs, measuring spoons, mixing bowls,
increasingly important, even if it costs more. baking sheets, cooling racks and ceramic or glass bak-
Brides are becoming more selective and value- ing dishes. Additionally, skillets and sauce pans for
conscious. Quality items will last forever, and couples cooktops are helpful for beginners.
will be less likely to need to replace them. Just remem- A bimetallic-stemmed thermometer is an ideal gift
ber that you do not have to have everything at once. that can help ensure food is properly heated. Other
Get the basics first. small items that are must-haves include hand mixers,
Consider the cook’s personality when selecting whisks and spatulas.
wedding gifts. Knowing the couple’s tastes and stor- Ideal cookbooks include a section for substitution
age situation also can impact gift decisions. ideas that new cooks may not have learned. A gift sub-
Cookbooks are always popular. Most recipes call for scription to a cooking magazine is another good way
9-by-13 casserole dishes, so that is a popular, basic to provide cooking ideas.
size for gifts. All cooks need three basic, high-qual- Friends and family may want to consider purchas-
ity knives: a chef’s knife, a paring knife and a boning ing some food staples to help couples set up house-
knife. keeping.
Slow cookers remain popular, especially for two- Baking basics include salt, sugar, baking powder,
income families, and are available in many price baking soda and both self-rising and all pur-
ranges. New cooks need to establish a good pose flour. Spices will keep a long time, and
foundation of kitchen accessories and a spice rack also is a good gift idea.
equipment.
Source: Mississippi State University Extension
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service programs are available to all, without regard to race, color, age, sex, creed, national origin, or disability and in
accordance with all applicable federal laws. Provided in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Fred Schlutt, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Alaska Fairbanks. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is an affirmative action/equal opportunity
employer and educational institution.
Editor: Roxie Rodgers Dinstel Layout/Graphics: Debbie Tindell
June 2009 Tanana District HHFD News
Importance of Communication Keeping Children in the Loop
• When the family is facing tough times, family mem- • Let children know that the family is having tempo-
bers need to lean on each other more than usual. Talk rary difficulties and may have to reduce spending
to each other respectfully and listen to each other’s on some items for a while. Try to do this in a confi-
concerns. dent, calm and honest manner.
• Conflict and disagreements are normal, especially • Answer their questions as clearly as you can but
when family members are stressed. Give each person don’t burden them with too much information.
a chance to share his or her view of things, without • Remember that some children may be worried about
interrupting or judging. Keep an open mind and lis- what is going on and not show their feelings. Check
ten for new information and good ideas. in with your children to see how they are doing and
• In tough times, family schedules and routines some- reassure them that you will work things out as a
times fall apart. You need to keep each other up-to- family.
date on changes in daily routines and any unusual • Enlist their help and creativity in reducing expenses,
expenses. especially on family activities. Try to make this a
• Set aside a regular time for family meetings to share positive and rewarding experience by focusing on
information and concerns. Make sure that finances challenges instead of disappointments.
are not the only topic of discussion and consider end- • Try to use this time to teach them the difference
ing the meeting with a special family activity or treat. between wants (an electronic game) versus needs
(athletic shoes for P.E. class).
Luxuries vs. Necessities
Stuff—do we really need all the stuff we are surrounded with? Research shows that most of us want stuff and we
think we really need it. So what is a necessity and what is a luxury? To me, my husband’s snowmachine is a luxury, but
he might disagree with that assumption. He’ll tell you that it keeps him active and engaged during the cold part of the
year when many of us suffer from depression. He’s right.
Recently, the Pew Research Center surveyed Americans to see what are considered luxuries and what are necessities.
It seems that there are a lot more products that we consider luxuries than ever before. Items such as the microwave and
air conditioning that once were considered luxuries are things we can’t live without any more. In fact, the more of these
goods you have and the more available they are, the more you feel you need.
People were asked to rate 14 consumer products as either a luxury or necessity. So what were the 14 items? Car,
clothes washer, clothes dryer, home air conditioning, microwave, TV set, car air conditioning, home computer, cell
phone, dishwasher, cable or satellite, high-speed Internet, flat screen TV and iPod.
The number one item considered as a necessity by 91 percent of those surveyed was a car. Only 3 percent said an iPod
was necessary and a flat screen television was chosen by 5 percent.
But new products that have come into popularity have made the biggest impact on the survey. Ten years ago, only
26 percent considered the computer as a necessity, now that number has risen to 51 percent. The last survey didn’t even
mention a cell phone. New technology, such as exists in cell phones, gives us products that we feel we can’t live without
since it fundamentally changes the way our life is organized.
The higher someone’s income, the more likely they are to view goods as necessities rather than luxuries. About 45
percent of adults with incomes over $100,000 rated at least10 of the 14 items as necessities, though 15 percent of adults
with incomes below $30,000 thought the same. In the same vein, the more years of schooling that the respondent had,
the more likely they are to view the computer and high speed Internet as a necessity.
So what does this have to do with our individual budgets? Only you can define what is a luxury and what is a necessity
in your budget. If money isn’t a problem, then the designation of luxury or necessity isn’t important. But if you are mak-
ing choices on your budget, make sure you spend on those things that are most important to you. Include the necessities
in your budget, and go sparingly on the luxuries.
2
Tanana District HHFD News June 2009
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Tanana District HHFD News June 2009
SHOPPING: BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER
Before Shopping During Shopping After Shopping
MAKE A SHOPPING LIST. THIS DON’T SHOP WHEN YOU ARE STORE FOOD RIGHT AWAY TO
HELPS YOU STICK TO YOUR BUD- HUNGRY. IT IS EASIER TO STICK PRESERVE FRESHNESS.
GET. TO YOUR SHOPPING LIST.
PLAN YOUR MEALS. PLANNING TRY STORE BRANDS. THEY USU- FREEZE FOOD TO PREVENT
HELPS PUT LEFTOVERS TO GOOD ALLY COST LESS. SPOILING.
USE.
LOOK FOR COUPONS, SALES AND COMPARE PRODUCTS FOR THE DIVIDE FOODS INTO SMALL
STORE SPECIALS. BEST DEAL. PORTIONS FOR CHILDREN AND
ELDERLY TO PREVENT WASTE.
FOR ADDED SAVINGS, SIGN UP CHECK SELL BY DATES. BUY USE FOODS WITH THE EARLI-
FOR THE STORE DISCOUNT CARD. THE FRESHEST FOOD POSSIBLE, EST EXPIRATION DATES FIRST.
IT WILL LAST LONGER
Tips: Best Buys for Cost and Nutrition
Do n’t Fo rge t Yo u r B 6
Breads and Grains
• Looks for bargains on day-old bread. It costs less What water-soluble vitamin plays an important
but is still nutritious. role in helping make amino acids the body needs?
• Buy regular rice, oatmeal and grits instead of in- Vitamin B6. It also assists in making red blood cells
stant to save on money, sugar and calories. and key neurotransmitters.
Vegetables and Salad Vitamin B6 has many roles and it’s important
• Buy large bags of frozen vegetables. Seal tightly in for everyone to get enough in their diet. Rich food
the freezer between uses. sources of vitamin B6 are found in meats, chicken,
• Avoid bagged salad mixes. They are usually more fish, beans, nuts, potatoes, non-citrus fruits and
expensive and spoil faster. fortified cereals.
Fruits Foods can lose vitamin B6 due to heat in prepa-
• Buy fresh fruits in season, when they generally ration and cooking.
cost less. To keep from losing the vitamin, cook foods in a
• Frozen and canned fruits are a smart choice all minimal amount of water and cook for the shortest
year-round. time possible.
Low-Fat Milk Products Daily recommended intakes for vitamin B6 are
• Buy fresh, low-fat milk in the largest size that can 1.3 milligrams for men 19 years to 50 years, 1.7
be used before spoiling. Larger containers cost less milligrams for men 50 years and above, 1.3 mil-
than smaller sizes. ligrams for women ages 19-50 years, and 1.5 mil-
• Ultra-pasteurized milk has a longer expiration date ligrams for women 50 years and above. Women
and won’t spoil fast. who are pregnant should receive 1.9 milligrams and
Meat and Beans women who are breastfeeding should receive 2 mil-
• Chuck or bottom round roast has less fat and is ligrams per day.
cheaper than sirloin. Too much vitamin B6 can cause fatigue, head-
• Dried beans and peas are a good source of protein aches, irritability and nerve damage, while too little
and fiber. They last a long time without spoiling. of the vitamin can result in anemia, depression,
• Look for specials at the meat counter. Buy meat on mental confusion and skin problems.
sale for big savings. Consuming the recommended amount of foods
• Buy meat in large bulk packages to save money. from each of the MyPyramid food groups is the best
Freeze portions you might not use right away to way to ensure getting enough vitamin B6 in the diet.
prevent spoiling.
Tanana District HHFD News June 2009
ays to
taken from:
mart W
E AT R I G H T M O N TA N A
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A Coalition promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles
Reuse, Unclutter, and Simplify Your Life
If we want a healthy environment for our families and our earth, we must learn smart waste management
skills. The second most efficient way to manage waste (after REDUCING) is to REUSE items for as long as
possible before discarding them. As the economy has gotten tougher, reusing – in all its various forms – has
become cool again. All those things that our parents and grandparents did to save money are suddenly a
sassier shade of green. No need to feel bad about not having the latest, greatest stuff. Save money, save the
environment, and be cool - REUSE!
1. RE-think before you toss it.
As you stand over the trash with an unwanted item, think: Is there any way to reuse or repair this
so that it can be useful to our family? If it really has completely outlived its usefulness for us, is
there anyone else who might be able to use it for a while longer? If you have trouble being creative
with your trash, no worries! There are tons of innovative ideas online, like on Purdue University’s
searchable Use It Again site at www.purdue/edu/envirosoft/housewaste/src/reuse2.htm.
2. RE-use it to organize your stuff.
Clutter is a not-so-pretty problem in many homes. Reusing containers to organize your stuff
is a WIN-WIN plan. You win as your house slowly gets uncluttered – and the environment wins
because you throw less stuff into landfills. While we all secretly long for those perfectly organized
closet and drawer inserts, many reused items work just as well: large plastic salad boxes for shoes;
egg cartons for earrings or buttons; and jars for nuts, bolts, screws and other workbench stuff.
3. RE-invent it for a totally new purpose.
Let your creativity go wild and encourage your kids to help (they are often better at re-imagining
than adults). Low on creative juices? No problem, do an online search! For example, here are four
fun ways to reuse kitchen boxes: (1) Make a pretend store for children to play shopping; (2) Create
blocks (stuff with newspaper and tape closed); (3) Turn them into musical instruments (filled with
dried beans or with rubber band strings); and (4) Glue them together to make robots.
4. RE-pair it for a longer life.
Before you throw something out, think about fixing it up (or giving it to someone who can).
Some fixes are simple – a few minutes with a glue gun or a needle and thread can make many
things like new again. Minor repairs that require expert help – such as resoling shoes – are usually
well worth the minimal expense. For major, more expensive repairs (appliances, furniture, etc.), do
some online research and talk to a local shop to see if the investment is worth your while.
5. RE-gift it to someone who can use it.
There are dozens of wonderful ways to donate items that you no longer use. Charities are the ob-
vious place to start – both for resale items and donations to be used in their day-to-day operations.
School and community groups may take things that others refuse, such as electronics, to be safely
disassembled for education purposes. Now, even plain regifting (passing along a new, unwanted
gift) has taken on a “green” sheen – with several websites, a national day of celebration (the Thurs-
day before Christmas), and rules of etiquette. Actually, a white elephant party can be great fun any
time of the year.
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
PERMIT No. 2
PO BOX 756180
FAIRBANKS AK 99775-6180
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Canning season will be upon us before we know it. They are al-
ready getting ready to go fishing at my house. When my bunch starts
getting their gear ready, I need to get mine ready as well. Fishing sea-
CHE son at my house means my canner needs to be clean and ready to go to
can the catch. I just checked the dial gauge on my canner to be ready
CK for the season. When is the last time you had yours checked?
For anyone with a dial pressure canner, it is recommended it be
YOU tested every year for accuracy. According the U.S. Department of Ag-
riculture, inaccurate dial gauges on canners can lead to under process-
R ing or over processing of food resulting in unsafe home canned food.
Weighted gauge pressure canners do not vary in accuracy and do not
need to be tested.
We check the gauges in the office free of charge. If you haven’t
CAN had yours checked within the last year, bring it by the office. I will be
NER checking gauges on Friday mornings, so drop it by and I’ll check it,
or you can wait while I do it. It only takes a few minutes and will give
you the peace of mind that tells you it is working correctly.
Then when you get that canner home, can all those fish that are left
from last year’s fishing trip. If it has a little freezer burn on it, just trim
it off and can the rest. It will give you one more year of shelf life on
those fish.
