Better Living for Texans

The “Three Sisters” refers to the Native American process of planting corn, beans, and squash together. Each has an important role in helping the others grow. Although they can grow individually, they grow better together. This is the same for us humans as we think about food: it’s not just what we eat that is important. Why we eat and how we eat are just as important when we consider food’s role in “feeding” our happiness and quality of life.  https://blt.tamu.edu/2024/11/01/grow-better-together/#more-3337

How we eat and who we eat with has a powerful influence on what we eat. Eating with friends and loved ones can have benefits that lead to making healthier food choices. Connect With Each Other and With Yourself Mealtimes are a good time to connect, talk about your day, or take a moment to relax and reflect. Put away phones, turn off the TV and minimize other distractions to help focus on the present moment and the meal. Being in the moment can also allow you to listen to hunger and fullness cues better and can help avoid overeating. Family Friendly Meals and Snacks Make healthy food choices an everyday pattern for all. Offer a variety of foods or ingredients at meals and snack time, and highlight new and different foods as an exciting addition to the meal. If children are present, include them in the food preparation process. Knowing how to prepare food is a wonderful skill to have, and children can start learning by helping with simple tasks! Some easy jobs children can do include choosing recipes, helping with grocery shopping, washing fruits and vegetables, stirring pots, throwing away trash and scraps, and putting food on the table or back in the refrigerator. By being included in the cooking process, children are more likely to want to eat the food they helped make. Mealtimes Are Better Together Making an effort to eat most of your meals with others may be a challenge with busy schedules or if you live alone. Research shows that sharing meals with others may reduce the risk of poor nutrition and health-related illnesses, help to reduce skipped meals and increased snacking by allowing for accountability, and provide a more enjoyable meal experience. Have fun with meals together and try adding interesting twists with ideas like meal themes and “ingredient highlights”. Connect with those around you and make healthier choices together! Recipe of the month: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzcWzU6UrS0&t=15s

A healthy, balanced lunch is important to help us focus and perform our best at school, work, and throughout the day. Sometimes it can be a tricky meal to plan. It is all too easy to forget to make lunch and instead reach for snacks, eat out or simply not eat until dinner. Eating a healthy lunch can also help us avoid cravings and low-energy crashes. Nutritionally balanced, energizing lunches that are easy to take on the go can make all the difference! https://blt.tamu.edu/2024/08/01/low-maintenance-lunches-to-go/

July marks the beginning of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Not only are the Olympics fun to watch, but they can inspire some great physical activity. However, you don’t have to be an athlete or join a gym to participate in them. Have fun and do what moves you!

Food safety is an important part of the cooking process, and safe cleaning practices can help prevent foodborne illness. Cleaning up as you prepare and cook food not only reduces the chance of bacteria spreading from one food to another (known as cross-contamination), but also means you will have less to clean up when you are done cooking! During this episode, we break down the Core Four Practices to learn more check out these great resources: https://www.fightbac.org/food-safety-basics/the-core-four-practices/ https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep-food-safe/4-steps-to-food-safety

Join us as we discuss some helpful “secrets” for creating tasty, flavorful dishes using herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients. Salt is commonly used to enhance the flavor in foods; however, reducing sodium intake can decrease the risk of chronic disease. Check out the recipe of the month for Elote (Mexican Seasoned Corn).

Learning how to save and store seeds from fruits and vegetables can be very useful in starting or continuing to grow a flourishing produce garden. It can also save money on seeds and transplants for the following planting season! For more information: https://blt.tamu.edu/2024/04/02/seeds-and-harvest-saving-the-right-way/ Aggie Horticulture reference: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2013/09/EHT-075.pdf

Welcome back to the Better Living for Texans Podcast! March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme is “Beyond the Table”. There is a lot more that goes into food than just eating it. Many of us get food from the grocery store. But how did it get there? On today’s episode we spend some time talking about where to learn about where our food comes from. Episode highlights include farmers’ markets or community gardens, starting your garden, a favorite vegetable (OKRA!), and a delicious gumbo! To learn more about National Nutrition Month, visit https://www.eatright.org/national-nutrition-month! Celebrate healthy eating at the table and beyond! For gardening resources mentioned in the podcast, visit Aggie Horticulture at https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/. For more information on the Better Living for Texans program, visit us at https://blt.tamu.edu/ #betterlivingfortexans #txextension #celebratebetterlivingtx #SNAPEDworks

We are back! The Better Living for Texans program is excited to be back, and on today's episode, we share tips for healthy eating habits and how healthy eating can be easier with a plan! For more information and to view this month's recipe visit: https://blt.tamu.edu/2024/01/03/making-healthier-choices-with-a-plan/

Getting children to eat healthy can be challenging; however, gardening can be a fun and inexpensive way to spark children’s curiosity in trying vegetables and fruits. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is available to help and teach you about what grows best in your area and make your family’s experience a positive one. Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can use their food assistance benefits to purchase food-producing seeds and plants to grow their own food. Let us dig-in to find out more! https://counties.agrilife.org/ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/ https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator

Social media and television constantly have advertisements that highlight ‘nutrition gurus’ or sell magic pills for better health. It can be overwhelming trying to decide what advice to follow; however, finding accurate information can be easier if you focus on trusted sources with information based on scientific research. One trusted source for nutrition and physical activity recommendations is MyPlate.gov and today on the podcast we have with us Ingrid to teach us more about what MyPlate is!

Summertime is near which often brings a sigh of relief as schedules become less hectic. Take advantage of this extra time with family mealtime! Researchers have discovered when families eat together, adults and children eat more fruits and vegetables, have a balanced diet, and eat less fast food. With us on the podcast is Tracie who is here to share more about family mealtime!

There are a variety of energy boosting snacks available; however, when we are hungry it is easy to reach for less healthy snacks like chips, candy bars, and sodas. Today on the podcast we have Sarah with us to talk about energy boosting snacks!

Every year during the month of March the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme is “Celebrate a World of Flavors,” and focuses on celebrating foods and flavors from different cultures all around the world. Today on the podcast we have with us Christina who is here to share more about this month and how we can celebrate our culture through food!

During the month of February, store isles are filled with a variety of Valentine colors, and many heart-shaped cards, snacks, and sweets. While all these items are focused towards one day, the entire month is American Heart Month which is dedicated to our heart health. The heart plays an essential role in our body. With each beat, the heart pumps blood throughout our body supplying it with oxygen and nutrients. It is no wonder why we need to take care of our heart! Here to help celebrate with us is Julie is here to share tips from the heart for the heart! For more information about visit: https://www.heart.org/en/

We cannot see or smell bacteria that can make us sick. To help keep your family safe and reduce your risk of a foodborne illness use the four principles of Fight BAC! Join us as Wendy teaches us about Fight BAC! is all about!

Many popular New Year's resolutions focus on health and wellness. If you are looking towards a healthier 2022 one step you can do is increase your fruit and vegetable intake. These two food groups are packed with nutrients that help our body preform at its best. On the podcast we have Heather who will be sharing with us some tips to increase fruit and vegetable intake.

Ending the year on a healthy note can be a challenge for many. From the continuous chocolate advertisements on television to the delicious aromas of baked goods at your local grocery store, temptation to overindulge is around every corner. Today on the podcast we have Natalie here to share some simple ideas to maintain a balanced diet and still celebrate with flavor.

The holiday season is HERE which often means a busier schedule. From planning family meals to cleaning or decorating, when our schedules pick up, it is easy to skip one thing that we all need, physical activity! Our episode guest, Daisy Castillo is here to share four ways to move more during this holiday season.

Often, life gets busy and cooking a meal can feel like a chore. On those kinds of days, have you considered microwave cooking, rather than heading to a drive through? This can save money and often results in a more nutritious meal than going out to eat. Our episode guest, Christy Curran is here to share some helpful tips on microwave cooking.