MU Extension in the St. Louis area

Nutrition and health

Mary Wissmann, Nutrition Specialist, wins Priester Award

Mary Wissmann, Nutrition Specialist with the St. Louis Co. Extension Office, worked with a team of MU Extension faculty to develop and pilot the "Taking Care of You: Body-Mind-Spirit" Program. The team won the Jeanne M. Priester Award, which honors groups that develop and expand programs that postively impact heatlh. Read more about the program and the award.

Taking Care of You class

In MU Extension's Taking Care of You class, you can learn techniques to help you reduce stress and improve lifestyle behaviors. The class teaches concepts and practical strategies to incorporate into your everyday life to better deal with life’s challenges. Contacts: Damaris Karanja, Mary Wissmann

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy for older adults

Strength training class helps reduce falls, improves balance

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is a 10-week strength training program using light weights to increase strength and improve balance of middle-aged and older adults. Research shows strength training improves bone density, helps reduce falls, improves arthritis symptoms, increases flexibility and can lead to a healthier, more active lifestyle. This class involves 8 upper- and lower-body strengthening exercises in a safe, comfortable setting for aging adults. Exercises are low-impact and low-weight. All necessary equipment is provided. Exercises can be adapted for people who need to sit rather than stand. Contacts: Damaris Karanja, Mary Wissmann

Eat Well, Be Well with Diabetes

Eat Well, Be Well with Diabetes is a 4-session series that provides people who have type 2 diabetes, their family and friends with tools to manage their diabetes through practical information, small-group discussion and skill-building activities. Contacts: Damaris Karanja, Mary Wissmann

Video: Eat Well Be Well with Diabetes (MU Extension)

Food Power

Food Power is a fun K-5th grade program that teaches students the importance of healthy eating and physical activity in an exciting and interactive way. Food Power Adventure is an interactive exhibit experience that takes children to the farm to learn where food comes from, then into the human body to learn how it gives them energy to grow and play. The concepts taught in Food Power Adventure have been aligned with the Grade Level Expectations.

Video: Healthy Eating Equals Healthy Learners (MU Extension)

Packing healthy, affordable school lunches

Proper nutrition is key for school success. Check out 24 Tips for Packing a Healthy, Affordable School Lunch (PDF). Media: MU Extension Nutrition Specialist Damaris Karanja gives tips for Making healthy lunches for kids on a budget on KSDK-TV Today in St. Louis.

LifeTimes

LifeTimes is a newsletter for individuals and families. Although the newsletter recently ceased publication, more than 10 years of archived issues are available online.

MaryWissmanRD (Nutrition/health info): Twitter