more... > St. Charles Parish > Family & Consumer Sciences > Have you ever said to yourself, “What are Flavonoids?” Flavonoids are plant-based compounds with powerful antioxidant properties; they reduce inflammation, promote healthy arteries, and help fight aging by preventing and repairing cellular damage. Add Walking to Your Afternoon Routine [Image: Family on Beach] Try going for a 10-minute walk around the corner and add a few more minutes each day until you are walking at least 30 minutes a day for at least five days a week. Keep Calories Down During the Holidays Do you have any idea how many calories can be consumed during the holidays? Here are some examples of party food items and the calories each has. Successful Food Celebrations Start with a Holiday Food Safety Checklist This article provides holiday food safety information.  more articles... Halloween Health and Safety Tips Here are some practical Halloween health and safety tips from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Family and Consumer Sciences Advisory Committee Minutes [Image: FCS Advisory Members 2011] Minutes from the St. Charles Parish Advisory Committee meeting held on May 26, 2011. Louisiana Figs This article gives the nutritional value of figs, fig facts and tips on how to store figs. USDA changes safe pork cooking temperatures (Distributed 05/25/11) Just in time for Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial kickoff to the summer grilling season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated its recommendation for safely cooking solid cuts of pork. Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet and FEMA Information [Image: USDA Fact Sheet: Programs that assist individuals and small nusiness] These links will take you to fact sheets that delineate flood-event disaster assistance available through FEMA and USDA. This may be of value as you continue to provide stakeholders with flood-related updates. We will continue to update everyone as more information is available. Holidays Can Be Hazardous to Pets Food, decorations and rituals that make the holidays festive for people can be hazardous to pets. This is what pet owners need to do to keep the season safe for their animals. Grilled Cauliflower [Image: Grilled Cauliflower] Grilled cauliflower recipe, history and nutritional value information. Ten Ways Consumers Can Protect Themselves Recommendations on how consumers can protect themselves from recession-related scams and others. 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.