In-Person Programs Resume At Extension Service
LIVING WELL IN YALOBUSHA COUNTY By Pamela Redwine
County Coordinator
MSU Extension Agent III
Fall is here and October is tomorrow! The Extension office is going to start back having some face to face programs this month. We are still asking that our clients help us observe safety precautions and wear your mask, wash/sanitize your hands and keep your distance.
October 4-H Schedule
• The Water Valley 4-H Community Club will meet on Saturday, October 10. A location will be announced soon.
• The 4-H Cloverbuds (for youth ages 5-7) will meet on Thursday, October 15. A location will be announced soon.
• The Yalobusha Bots Robotics 4-H Club will meet on Tuesday, October 20, at 4 p.m. at the Extension Office. We will also have a zoom link available if you can’t make the meeting and would like to join us virtually.
• The FCS Club will not meet in October –However, we will continue with the 4-H Cooking Kits. This month’s kit registration will end on Friday, October 16, and kits can be picked up Thursday, October 22. The cost of the kit is $5 or you can pay and sign up for the rest of the year for $15.
• All 4-H Clubs are open to the public. If you have questions please contact the Extension office at 675-2730 or p.redwine@msstate.edu
Don’t forget we have a new Yalobusha County 4-H Facebook Page. Find us on Facebook and Like us to keep up with all of the upcoming 4-H Events.
Reading Food Labels: Whole Grain Spotlight
Most of us know that eating more whole grain, higher fiber foods is important for health. But how do we determine which bread, cereal, or crackers contain whole grains? It’s a confusing world out there: wheat, multi-grain, made with whole grain, 12-grain.
A recent study asked over 1,000 consumers to identify the healthiest food based on whole grain content from a choice of two options. One option had a whole grains claim on the front of the package but actually contained fewer whole grains (and often more sugar, saturated fat, or sodium) as identified by the information in the nutrition facts panel and ingredients list on the back of the package. The other product did not have a whole grains label on the front, and you guessed it – it contained more whole grains.
29-47% of the respondents incorrectly identified the healthier food: the one without the whole grains label on the front!
What are the regulations around whole grains?
It’s hard to believe that there are no firm federal guidelines that regulate the description of whole grains. Draft guidance was issued in 2006, but no firm guidelines have yet been issued. That’s a major reason why there is much confusion over the various descriptions of grains on bread, cracker, and cereal packaging.
For example, there is no definition about the amount of whole grains contained in foods labeled “whole grain.” Food manufacturers would like us to believe that ‘wheat’ is the same as ‘100% whole wheat’ but there are no regulations around these terms. The best way for consumers to determine if a food contains 100% whole grains is to look at the ingredients list on the food label. The first ingredient should include the word ‘whole’ such as “whole oats” or “whole wheat.
Whole grain shopping tips :
• Always look for “100% whole grains” to be absolutely sure that the food you’re purchasing is made from only whole grains and is not a mixture of refined and whole grains.
• The first ingredient should include the word “whole” such as ‘“whole oats” or “whole wheat.”
• Look for foods with the 100% Whole Grains Stamp. In our opinion, the other stamps are just as confusing as other front of packaging food labels.
Find references at: https://foodandhealth.com/food-labels-whole-grain/
Article Source: Communicating Food for Health October 2020 Newsletter
Extension Office Notes:
• A ServSafe food certification class will be taught on Friday, October 30 beginning at 7:30 a.m. The certification exam will begin around 4 p.m. and should be completed by 6 p.m. The class will be held at the Yalobusha County Extension Office in Coffeeville. The cost of the course is $140 and the deadline to register is October 15. Call Pamela Redwine at the Extension Office at 662-675-2730 for additional details and to register.
• The next virtual Walk A Weigh group starts on October 5 and will be conducted in a private group each week on Facebook or as a recorded program. Tips, recipes, challenges and other fun activities will be posted in the Facebook group. Classes will meet through November 9 and will be led by various agents in the Northeast Region. You can schedule a time to come by the Extension office to register for the program until October 2. The class focuses on physical activity and healthy eating as well as chronic disease control and prevention. For more information call Yalobusha Extension Office at (662) 675-2730.
