Food and Health
Food is a daily need that all Mississippians have in common—we all need to eat, and most of us love to eat! But food choices also have a significant impact on health, from getting a breakfast boost that powers up our brains for a successful day to fighting heart disease. The MSU Extension Service strives to make sound, science-based information available and understandable to help Mississippians of all ages make positive decisions about their health and wellness.
Extension is the home of the Office of Nutrition Education, which administers two federally funded nutrition education programs—the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Family Nutrition Program (FNP), known nationally as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-ED).
Extension also offers the ServSafe training for personnel working in our state’s restaurants, school cafeterias, and food businesses. We also provide the TummySafe training for those working in child-care centers.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of infirmity.” — World Health Organization, 1948
Publications
News
Pumpkins are the star of fall. And so is pumpkin spice. If you love lattes and this quintessential fall flavor that has become all the rage, this recipe is for you!
Whether you are having a Halloween party with friends, sending treats to school, or trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, with a little creativity, you can find ways to add some healthy options into the mix.
Video by Jonathan Parrish
Sweet potatoes are a staple for many people during the holiday season. But sweet potatoes are great any time of year. Depending on your recipe, sweet potato dishes can be sweet or savory.
Packed with fiber and vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin B-6 and potassium, sweet potatoes are a good way to add variety to your meals if you want to increase your vegetable intake.
This mashed sweet potato recipe is one of my favorite ways to prepare this vegetable. I like to serve it as a main dish with a side salad and a whole grain roll.
These slow cooker barbecue chicken sliders are perfect for tailgating parties or a Monday night dinner.
Food safety when cooking and serving food at a tailgate is a lot like serving food at home. The same basic rules apply. You just need a little more planning and a few extra supplies.
Keep hands and surfaces clean
Success Stories
Extension Brown Bags flying off shelves in DeSoto County
Mississippi State University Extension agents in DeSoto County are partnering with public librarians throughout the county to distribute Extension Brown Bags to members of the community. Extension has offered a range of educational programs at these libraries, so joining with them to expand the giveaways was a natural choice.
Mississippi fresh chef
4-H’er’s recipe appears in national cookbook
When Sydnee Thompson found out the National 4-H Council was putting together a cookbook, she decided to submit one of her family’s favorite recipes.
Extension distributes 78,000 masks in Mississippi
When a federal agency made mass shipments of thousands of masks available nationally, the Extension health director in Washington, D.C., Dr. Roger Rennekamp, reached out to his longtime colleague Dr. David Buys, an associate professor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Rural Medical & Science Scholars program provides insight, courage for careers
Zoe Fokakis is on her way to realizing her dream of becoming a physician scientist. That dream was partly fueled by her participation in the Rural Medical & Science Scholars program.
Extension program keeps Wiggins residents moving
People know they can maintain healthy, active lifestyles with regular movement, and women in Stone County have been following that advice for years. When Barbara O’Hara moved to Wiggins from the Gulf Coast, she wanted to continue participating in an exercise class. She was delighted to find an announcement for the Strong Bones, Strong Women program in the local newspaper.
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