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Author Archives: chris.coon
Start the Year Safe
Many of us made resolutions to start the New Year. While eating more fruits and vegetables and parking as far away from the supermarket as possible will help improve your health in 2019, here’s a resolution that can impact the lives of others — as well as your own life. Make a resolution in 2019 to focus on your driving and drive like you would want the person in front of you, behind you, and beside you to drive. Driving is one area where your actions can not… Read More →
Moving Beyond the Salt Shaker
Do you ever find yourself asking whether you should focus on reducing sodium or salt? We hear many different messages about reducing the amount of sodium, salt, and sodium containing ingredients in the foods we eat. Surprisingly, 70 percent of the sodium Americans consume comes from packaged and restaurant foods, not the salt shaker. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2015) recommends limiting daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams – or approximately 1 teaspoon. Eating too much sodium may lead to high blood pressure, which may increase… Read More →
A New Outlook on a New Year
As 2018 wraps up its final weeks and we start to look forward to 2019, many of us will begin thinking of our New Year’s Resolutions. Some of us will look to break bad habits, make positive changes, or even lose some of that seasonal weight gain. These are all wonderful plans; however, how many of us stick to these plans after a few weeks? How many of us give up after we make a mistake when trying to achieve our goals? I encourage you all, when making… Read More →
Food Handlers Course Offered
Statistics indicate that foodborne illness continues to be a health issue in the United States. Each year, 1 in 6 Americans will become sick, 128,000 will become hospitalized, and 3,000 will die due to a foodborne illness. Lost wages do to illness coupled with the loss of business, reputation, employees and the potential for litigation against the business that originated the foodborne illness can become a problem for our local economy. Fortunately, there are ways we can prevent foodborne illness that originate at the restaurant and at home…. Read More →
Water Conservation and You
The 40 Gallon Challenge is a nationwide call for residents and business to reduce water use by 40 gallons per person, per day. Drought conditions, increased water demands, and water wasting habits put strains on our region’s water supply and this can have negative impacts on our energy consumption, the local environment, and our wallets. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water delivery and treatment consumes a considerable amount of energy, about 56 billion kilowatt-hours per year or roughly enough energy to power 5 million homes for… Read More →
Impaired Driving: A Deadly Danger at Thanksgiving
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have joined forces this Thanksgiving holiday to remind drivers that whether under the influence of illegal drugs, prescription drugs, or alcohol, any form of impaired driving is deadly and dangerous — and illegal. Their message is clear: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive Sober During Thanksgiving. Drunk driving-related crashes spike during the Thanksgiving holiday. According to the NHTSA, from 2013 to 2017, more than 800 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes during the Thanksgiving… Read More →
Curbing Holiday Weight Gain
The holidays are a time to celebrate and spend time with family and friends alike. However, the holiday season and winter months often bring more high calorie “party” and “comfort” foods to the table and less physical activity which can result in weight gain. To help curb holiday weight gain, concentrate on family, friends, and reasons for celebrating the holidays, rather than what kind and how good the foods served will be. In other words, shift the focus of your holiday celebration away from food and more on… Read More →
Talk to Your Teen About Safe Driving Habits
Teen Driver Safety Week is October 21-27, 2018 This week is a great opportunity for parents to start – and hopefully, continue – having conversations with their teens about the importance of driving safely. No matter what we’re driving the rules stay the same, and no one should have the keys if they don’t know them. The greatest dangers for teen drivers are alcohol consumption, improper seat belt use, distracted or drowsy driving, speeding, and driving with passengers in the vehicle. Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the… Read More →
Fall Recipe Alterations
As the first days of fall are upon us already, I am sure many of us are ready for the hearty soups, sweet quick breads, and nap-inducing meals that are synonymous with this time of year. This excitement about food, for me at least, is paired with the dread of fall and winter weight gain. But fear no more! Here are some tips and tricks we can use to help us maintain a healthy diet while still enjoying our favorite seasonal dishes. Soups and stews are infamous… Read More →