more... > Parishes > St. Charles > Family & Consumer Sciences > Make Food Safety Part of Summer Meal Planning Families across Louisiana are now making their grocery lists in preparation for those summer outdoor meals. Food safety should be high on the list while those preparations are being made. Great ingredients and recipes are some of the concerns in planning for your BBQ menus, but food safety should be equally important. Some of the biggest concerns are keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, avoiding "cross contamination" of raw and cooked foods and storing food appropriately. Blueberries Are Tasty Disease Fighters Enjoy Louisiana blueberries. They can help protect against diseases, including certain cancers and heart disease. Chinese Drywall Alert Sulfur compounds, including sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide, can form and be released into the air from some imported wallboard installed across the humid south between 2004 and 2008, causing corrosion of copper, silver and other metals in home components such as air conditioners, exposed wiring, plumbing and electronics, thus raising serious safety, economic and health issues. Easter eggs not to ‘dye’ for (Distributed 04/02/09) Although dyed Easter eggs may look like decorations, they are a food, and they are perishable. In fact, hard-cooked eggs spoil faster than fresh eggs because their protective coating is washed away in the cooking process, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.  more articles... Managing on a Suddenly Reduced Income A sudden reduction in family income can be traumatic. Many Louisiana citizens are experiencing this strain due to displacement caused by Hurricane Katrina. Reduce this hardship by taking positive action. St. Charles Parish Volunteers for Family & Community March Newsletter 2009 This newsletter highlights upcoming events and meetings, St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Day. Prepare safe Thanksgiving foods (Distributed 11/13/08) The color of cooked poultry is not always a sure sign of its safety. Turkey can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. The meat of smoked turkey is always pink. Make holiday desserts safe to eat (Distributed 11/13/08) The holidays are time to enjoy special desserts that you might make only once a year. Some of these foods require special care to prevent foodborne illnesses, warns LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. New activity guidelines good for everyone (Distributed 10/21/08) New Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are designed “so people can easily fit physical activity into their daily plan and incorporate activities they enjoy,” said LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. How lower Fed rates affect consumers (Distributed 10/10/08) What impact does a Federal Reserve rate cut have on you, the consumer? We hear and read about rate changes, but we don’t always understand how they affect us as consumers, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Gloria Nye. Maintain perspective in troubled times (Distributed 10/10/08) As our country endures economic crisis, consumers are worried about the safety and security of their jobs, homes, retirement and financial futures. The current stock market plunge has triggered a dramatic chapter in Wall Street’s history. Manage post-hurricane stress (Distributed 09/07/08) You probably can’t avoid the stress coming in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, but you can manage it, says LSU AgCenter family and consumer sciences specialist Becky White. How Can I Strengthen My Home Against Wind? Wind is the most common and most costly cause of damage to homes and other “light frame structures” in the United States. The 75-mile-per-hour-plus winds experienced in hurricanes put tremendous pressure on the roof, walls and foundation, and windblown debris can significantly increase the damage. Don't Forget a Few Easier Steps to Protect Your Home The 2009 hurricane season is approaching very quickly here are some relatively easy steps you can take to protect your home from hurricane damage.