Page 44 - Harnett Life Spring 2019

By Janice Fields &
All Things Food at Christy Strickland

Cooperative Extension

We love food, and we love being healthy. That can appear cal activity and tips for environmental changes to support
to be an oxymoron, but it’s all about perspective. For the community-wide improved health. Participants will learn
most part, the last 15 years, for both of us, have been spent how to plan, shop for, and prepare healthy meals for their
trying to get healthy, or stay healthy, and teach others to be families. The first class begins Wednesday, February 13, at
healthy. We love teaching others about all things related to 6 p.m., at Mount Pleasant AME Church (921 Echo Road,
food, nutrition, and food safety. Rowland, N.C). Let us know if you want to catch a ride in
our van from the Extension Center.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson Coun-
ty Center, is excited to share several of our 2019 work- Beginning March 28, we will offer a new series in the Max-
shops and series being offered. We are really excited to ton area called “Take Control.” Some factors that affect our
offer “Safe Plates for Food Handlers,” our newest training health are out of our control. There are lifestyle choices
that covers basic information on safe food handling. This that you can control, such as physical activity, food choic-
program covers topics, such as temperature control, per- es, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, stress, and amount
sonal hygiene and health, preventing cross-contamination, of sleep. During this program, we will focus on building a
cleaning and sanitizing, and allergens. Safe Plates for Food healthy lifestyle through physical activity and food choic-
Handlers is ideal for anyone working in restaurants, hospi- es. Let our office know if you are interested in this daytime
tals, nursing homes, schools, and any other food establish- class.
ments. It is also appropriate for volunteer and temporary
food handlers, such as those working in soup kitchens or Are you intimidated by knives in the kitchen or do you
fundraising events. This training provides good basic food feel challenged to figure out which knife to use for which
safety that we all should know. By the time this is printed, cutting job? Then we have the class for you! In the spring,
our first Food Handlers Training will be finished, but we we will offer a “Kitchen Knife Skills” class. This training
plan to offer it every other month. will offer hands-on opportunities to practice safe cutting
techniques. Come learn a few knife skills with us, then we
We will soon be in the Rowland area offering a 9-class will taste the results. Yummy! Let us know if you are in-
series called “Faithful Families, Thriving Communities.” terested and if you would prefer a day or an evening class.
This series offers education on healthy eating and physi-

Page 44 Harnett Life ~ Spring 2019