Sound Living

A group of Kansas State University faculty members is working to improve food access across urban areas in Kansas. The 1-point-2-million-dollar project, "Development of Resilient Urban Food Systems That Ensure Food Security in the Face of Climate Change," is funded through the university's Game-Changing Research Initiation Program. K-State assistant professor of landscape architecture and regional...

Food preservation is a way to preserve the freshness of homegrown food. When done properly and safely, home preserved foods can reduce food costs and food waste and allow seasonal produce to be enjoyed throughout the year. Kansas State University food scientist and coordinator of the Rapid Response Center, Karen Blakeslee, discusses some of the common food preservation methods. Sound Living is a w...

With an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables now available, it's the perfect time to add something we rarely get enough of in our daily diet. We can also fight the summer heat by using alternative methods to prepare meals and reduce the heat in the kitchen. And, we can combat the boredom that's setting in for kids by getting them involved in preparing healthy meals and snacks. K-State Research...

More people are investing time, energy and resources into expanding local food systems and supporting local food system growth. The Kansas Local Food Summit, July 29th and 30th in Salina, provides an opportunity to learn about bolstering local food systems through workshops, tours and presentations. Kansas State Local Food System program coordinator, Amanda Lindahl, says the summit covers a wide r...

Neighborhood parks are more than a place for kids to play. They provide kids and adults a place to make new friends, appreciate nature and be physically active. A K-State Research and Extension family and child development agent in the Wildcat District is involved with a project to renovate two Kiwanis pocket parks in Pittsburg. Michelle Broxterman says the goal is to encourage intergenerational p...

The Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program offered by K-State Research and Extension is designed to improve health and quality of life for older adults. The hour-long sessions meet twice each week and over the course of eight weeks, participants learn exercises to improve their strength and balance. Northeast area family and consumer sciences specialist, Sharolyn Jackson, and Northwest area family and...

When summer boredom sets in and kids start getting restless, it's time to find something new for them to do or try. K-State Research and Extension has a series of publications, Suddenly in Charge , that family and consumer sciences agents created as a resource to help parents and caregivers. The series includes 11 publications. Tristen Cope, family and consumer sciences agent for the Chisholm Trai...

You've probably heard the phrase 'you are what you eat' and according to K-State Research and Extension nutrition and wellness specialist Priscilla Brenes (bren-us) says there i's a connection between diet and mental health. She also says there are specific nutrients that relate to mental well-being. Brenes discusses two diets, the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet , which can help prevent ment...

According to the 2024 March of Dimes Report Card, the preterm birth rate in Kansas was 10.5% in 2023, slightly above the U.S. rate of 10.4%. The infant mortality rate was 5.8 per 1,000 live births, compared to the U.S. rate of 5.6. Both ratings put Kansas in the bottom half of U.S. states. K-State Research and Extension family and community wellness agent, Monique Koerner, (kerr-ner) has been offe...

A Kansas State University publication, When Your Income Drops: Making Ends Meet , discusses five "C's" – Control, Claim, Communicate, Confer, and Change – that can help when income decreases, or becomes uncertain, but the bills remain the same. K-State professor and Extension family resource management specialist, Elizabeth Kiss, (kish) author of the updated publication, says making ends meet unde...

While anyone can get skin cancer, some people should be extra careful. This includes those with fair skin, natural blond or red hair, freckles, those who spend a lot of time outdoors, have had multiple sunburns, and a family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma. The American Cancer Society reports more than five million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States – that's more...

According to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Estimating the Cost of Food Waste to American Consumers , over one-third of food in the United States is never eaten. The report also estimates the annual cost of food waste for each U.S. consumer is $728. K-State Research and Extension northeast area specialist, Sharolyn Jackson, says planning your meals and shopping list, storing...

Picnic and barbecue season offers lot of opportunities for outdoor fun with family and friends. However, these events also present opportunities for foodborne bacteria to thrive. As food heats up in warmer temperatures, bacteria multiply rapidly. Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says keeping food at proper temperatures – indoors and out – is critical in preventing the growth...

According to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, equal shares of men and women say they're lonely. The survey, Men, Women and Social Connections , also found women are more likely to reach out to a wider network for emotional support. Elaine Johannes, the Kansas Health Foundation's Distinguished Professor of Community Health at Kansas State University, says 16% of those surveyed reported feel...

Extreme weather-related events often do more than damage homes and property – they also cause financial hardship for families, especially for disadvantaged households with limited resources. K-State Research and Extension family resource management specialist, Elizabeth Kiss, (kish) worked with colleagues across the country to develop "52 Ways to Climate-Proof Your Finances" – a document that make...

Kansas State University Extension adult development and aging specialist, Erin Martinez, says retirement is one of life's most stressful events – and it's not all tied to how much you've saved. Researchers have been focusing on more than just managing retirement accounts and are exploring retirees' life experiences. What they've found are several distinct stages of retirement that many retirees fa...

The Double Up Food Bucks program in Kansas and Missouri, coordinated through the Double Up Heartland Collaborative and K-State Research and Extension, aims to reduce food insecurity and provide an opportunity for low-income Kansans to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Erin Bishop, Double Up Food Bucks program manager, says they work with local farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets and g...

A variety of factors have combined to elevate grocery prices. Data from the USDA shows that a family of four can expect to spend anywhere from $567 to $1,296 per month on groceries – or about $130 to $300 per week. The recommendation is to spend no more than 15% of your take-home pay on food and groceries. So, what can we do to stretch our food budget? For the March Living Well Wednesday webinar s...

March is National Nutrition Month. This year's theme – Food Connects Us – focuses on the role food plays in bringing people together, helping to establish family traditions and the emotional connection certain foods can provide. K-State Research and Extension nutrition and wellness educator, Priscilla Brenes, discusses the connection we have to food and why MyPlate serves as a good guide for eatin...

Now in its 25th year, K-State Research and Extension's Walk Kansas program continues to help thousands of participants meet or exceed the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommendations. This year's event runs from March 30th to May 24th. Registration starts on March 4th. Walk Kansas state leader and northeast area family and consumer sciences specialist, Sharolyn Jackson, discusses how...

A Kansas State University child development specialist says children benefit both physically and mentally from spending time outdoors with parents and other children. Bradford Wiles says children learn through play and that being outdoors, in nature, offers children the opportunity to play and learn in a variety of fun and creative ways. Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing i...

February is National Heart Month. This year's theme is "Know Your Numbers, Own Your Heart" which emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing key cardiovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Cardiovascular disease, or heart disease, is the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world. K-State Research and Extension aging s...

Kansas State University and the Kansas Health Foundation are combining efforts to drive meaningful change in Kansas through anti-hunger and other initiatives to promote health, well-being and economic prosperity for Kansans. A key piece of the partnership involves collaborative efforts to ignite innovative and experimental projects at the local level, guided by K-State Research and Extension agent...

Community members in Southwind Extension District in southeast Kansas are working to improve access to rural health care. Tara Solomon-Smith, a family and community wellness agent in the Southwind Extension District – which includes Allen, Bourbon, Neosho and Woodson counties – applied for and received support to establish a rural community health worker through the Rural Ag Health Community Healt...

Walk Kansas, an eight-week health and wellness program from K-State Research and Extension, celebrates its 25th year as a statewide program this spring. It begins March 30th and continues through May 24th. Walk Kansas State Leader and Northeast Area Family and Consumer Sciences specialist, Sharolyn Jackson, says each year, Walk Kansas brings a renewed focus on helping participants meet the Physica...