Climate-proofing our finances, saving money on groceries, and thinking about our habits and attitudes toward money, highlight K-State Research and Extension’s Living Well Wednesday spring webinar series. The series, which begins February 12th, is hosted by Extension specialists and agents. Sharolyn Jackson, the family and consumer sciences specialist for the northeast region, previews the spring series and discusses how the series is helping people of all ages live better.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

Surveys continue to show that the top benefits employees want from employers are health insurance, paid time off, retirement, vision, dental and life insurance, parental leave and health savings accounts. The three primary employee benefits are vacation or paid time off, health insurance and retirement. K-State Research and Extension family resource management specialist Elizabeth Kiss (kish) discusses how employees can maximize these benefits.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

Wyandotte County residents and K-State Research and Extension staff are working to secure funding for improvements that benefit the community. This includes cleaning up rundown neighborhoods, building walking trails and establishing community gardens. Denise Dias (die-us), director of the Extension office in Wyandotte County, and Elaine Johannes, the Kansas Health Foundation’s Distinguished Professor of Health at Kansas State University, discuss the efforts underway in Wyandotte County to help residents learn how to write grants and applications to fund projects that promote community health.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

Getting together for the holidays can be more than exchanging gifts and eating a lot of food. K-State Research and Extension aging specialist Erin Martinez says it can be a time for building memories, strengthening relationships, learning about family traditions and setting the foundation for new traditions. She says a successful multi-generational holiday includes communicating plans with the entire family, playing games, scheduling some down time and having a positive attitude about spending time with family.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. 

A program that helps reduce food insecurity and encourage low-income Kansans to purchase and consume more fresh fruits and vegetables from farmer’s markets and local grocery stores topped 1-point-1 million dollars last year. Erin Bishop, manager of the Double Up Food Bucks program coordinated through K-State Research and Extension, and Extension nutrition and wellness specialist, Priscilla Brenes (bren-us), explain how the program benefits food assistance recipients and local economies.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

Christmas, while officially just a one day holiday, often becomes much longer, especially if you have travel to be with friends and relatives. Christmas is an exciting time for children as well as an opportunity for adults to help them learn about family traditions, understand the importance of giving and receiving gifts, and reassure them that this mythical Santa will find them no matter where they are Christmas Day. K-State Research and Extension child development specialist Bradford Wiles discusses how Christmas brings families together and helps build memories that will last a lifetime.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. 

Family gatherings sometimes take the joy out of the holidays. Elaine Johannes, the Kansas Health Foundation’s Distinguished Professor of Health Kansas State University, says that family get-togethers often become exercises in patience, particularly when family members have differing opinions on various topics. However, at this time of the year, she says there’s reason to hope which can help us develop resilience and even resistance to future adverse events in our lives.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. 

For many, the holidays aren’t the holidays without homemade fudge and peanut brittle. However, making those holiday treats can be challenging. A Kansas State University food scientist says that’s because making candy is a science. Karen Blakeslee says the ingredients, temperature and even humidity can impact how well fudge and peanut brittle turn out. She discusses the steps involved in making old-fashioned holiday candy.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. 

As we get deeper into fall and winter, the foods we eat and crave are often comfort foods, such as soups, stews and casseroles. While a little comfort food is known to improve or sustain our mood in the short term, eating too many foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt can increase the risk for health problems over time. It’s also the holiday season, a time to celebrate with friends, family and lots of food. Unfortunately, this often results in a few extra pounds heading into spring. However, Sara Sawer, a registered dietitian and K-State Research and Extension nutrition, health and wellness agent for Sedgwick County, says we can modify some recipes to make comfort foods healthier and there are things we can do to help avoid holiday weight gain. 

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

November is National Diabetes Month and K-State Research and Extension has a program designed to help those with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, caregivers and family members manage diabetes through nutrition and physical activity. Christina Holmes, coordinator of the Dining with Diabetes program and the family and consumer sciences specialist in the Southeast Research Extension Office, along with family and consumer sciences agents and trained diabetes educators, Chelsea Richmond with the Frontier Extension District and Franny Eastwood with the Marais des Cygnes Extension District, talk about the online course and how it helps participants learn skills needed to promote good health.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to [email protected].

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.