Cooperative Extension Service

Campbell County

3500 Alexandria Pike

Highland Heights, KY 41076

(859) 572-2600

Fax: (859) 572-2619

www.campbell.ca.uky.edu MAY 2020

What do Dates on Food Products Mean? Annhall Norris, Extension Specialist for Food Safety and Food Preservation

A lmost every product you pick up

in the grocery store has some

kind of date on it. Unfortunately, there

isn’t a universally accepted food-

dating system in the United States, so

there is tremendous confusion about

what these dates mean. What is the

difference between “use by,” “sell by,”

and “best by”? Is the food still safe to

eat if it is past the date listed?

The government does not require

food manufacturers to print use by

dates, sell by dates, and best by dates

on food labels. The only exception is

infant formula, which must have a

“Use by” date based on nutrient

content testing. Manufacturers

voluntarily print these dates on

packages of other foods because

consumers want to see them. They

are freshness and quality dates, not

food safety dates.

The Food and Drug Administration

supports “Best if Used By” dates,

which indicate the date the food will

retain top quality and flavor. It is a

freshness date. The food is not

necessarily spoiled or unsafe after this

date but may have lost some of its

freshness and nutritional value.

Packaged foods like cereals, snack

foods, canned foods, and frozen

entrees often have “Use By” or “Best

By” dates. You may safely eat foods

after these dates if they show no signs

of spoilage and you have stored,

handled, and prepared them properly.

A “Sell by” date indicates the last

recommended day of sale. Fresh

meats, dairy products, and breads

often have sell by dates. Retail stores

should pull products after the sell by

date; however, it is legal to sell food

after this date. Most food is safe to

eat after the sell by date as long as

there are no signs of spoilage and the

food has been stored, handled, and

prepared properly. You should cook

fresh meat, fish, and poultry within

one to two days after you buy and

refrigerate it. You could also freeze

the product because once frozen, the

date doesn’t matter.

Reference:

FDA https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-

voices-perspectives-fda-leadership-and-

experts/working-food-industry-reduce-

confusion-over-date-labels

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Effective immediately, our

building will not have access to

the public. We are still here to

answer your questions, feel free

to call us at (859) 572-2600 or

email us at

campbell.ext@uky.edu if you

have any questions. This

decision was made in response

to recommendations from the

University of Kentucky and the

CDC to keep our employees and

clientele safe.

Page 2 - May 2020 Family & Consumer Sciences

E very household has

expenses. What expenses

you have and how much you

spend on them will vary based

on your family’s needs and

wants. Some expenses are

fixed, or a set amount that

doesn’t change from month to

month, such as a loan payment

or television service

subscription. Other expenses

are flexible, or might change

based on how much you use it

or what season it is, such as water,

electric, or food.

When income is tight, it can help to

reduce expenses. You can look at

both fixed and flexible expenses to

determine where to trim. It can help

to prioritize before starting. Ask

yourself which expenses are for

things that are most important to

your family’s health and happiness.

Make a list, and those things that

don’t make the top of the list are

possible options to cut back or

eliminate.

There are some expenses you likely

must keep, such as housing costs,

heat, water, and food. But within

these expenses there may be ways to

save money. You might consider

turning down the thermostat or

conserving water. You could cut back

on restaurants or use meal planning

to make economical food choices.

One area where costs can vary widely

is communications. Your cellular

phone package can cost more if you

have multiple lines or unlimited

services such as data or text. Take out

your phone bill and look closely at

the services they are charging you for

to determine whether you need all of

them. You don’t need unlimited text

if you only send a few texts per

month. Perhaps you can temporarily

eliminate one phone line. If you have

strong internet at home, you could

use wi-fi and reduce data charges. Be

aware when changing your phone bill

that sometimes there could be a

contract in effect. However, it never

hurts to ask if your service can be

modified. Your carrier may be willing

to work with you to make the cost

more manageable.

Another area where costs vary is

entertainment. You might subscribe

to cable, satellite, or streaming

services — or a combination of these.

It may help to keep track of how

much each service is being used in

your household. Also, look at what

channels or brands are included with

each as there may be some overlap.

A different combination may provide

the channels you like at a lower price.

Or you may be able to suspend or

cancel some services temporarily.

You might be able to get local

channels free with a digital antenna if

you live near a metropolitan area.

There are many ways to configure

your needs for communication and

entertainment. Sometimes bundling

services such as Internet and cable TV

can cost less than subscribing for

things individually. Or if you have

unlimited data on your smartphone,

you might be able to skip a separate

charge for internet service in your

home — or vice versa using wi-fi

instead of data.

Watch out for shopping costs.

If online shopping is a

temptation you don’t need, try

to stay offline. When you do

shop, stick to your list. Don’t

shop on impulse or buy things

just because they’re on sale.

Use coupons and shop sales

for items you do need to buy,

and make sure to comparison

shop for the best deal on big-

ticket items.

Pay bills on time to avoid fees and

finance charges. In difficult times, it’s

tempting to use credit cards more or

take out a loan. However, that will

cost you more in the long run. Try to

limit credit use as it is not a solution

to the problem, but simply delays the

date that you pay for the items, and

then adds interest. If you have a loan,

you may be able to take advantage

of deferred payments — basically

taking a break from paying. This can

help, but understand that interest

may still be building, so it could cost

you more later.

Ronda Rex

Campbell County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences

Kate Vaught Thompson Campbell County Extension Agent for

Family and Consumer Sciences

The Cooperative Extension Service prohibits discrimination in its programs and employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin. To file a complaint of discrimination, contact Tim West, UK College of Agriculture, 859-257-3879; Terry Allen or Martha Alexander, UK Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity, 859-257-8927; or the USDA, Director Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Bldg., 14th & Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, 202-720-5964.

Trimming Expenses When Income Is Tight Kelly May, Senior Extension Associate for Family Finance and Resource Management

Family & Consumer Sciences May 2020 - Page 3

W hen you are confined at

home, it can be hard to find

activities to do with your children.

This can be especially true with

younger children. It is easy to allow

your children to spend more time on

the computer or in front of the

television. However, these

activities can reduce the

amount of quality time you

spend together as a family. Too

much screen time can also be

connected to childhood

obesity. When you spend time

together in fun activities, you

create memories that last a

lifetime. Here are a few tips for

activities that families can do

that are free or very low cost.

Build a tent together in your

home.

There is nothing that you need to

purchase. Your family can simply use

items that are already there. Any

room of your home can be used.

Tents can transform even the smallest

spaces in your home into a whole

new world. They can open a door to

many hours of creative play together.

Have your child pick out materials to

really spark their creativity. You can

also find great ideas online.

Bake or cook with your children.

Cooking tasks such as stirring batter

and cracking eggs are great ways for

kids to have fun while learning new

skills. Tasks such as measuring liquids

and figuring proportions when

changing recipes can help teach

critical math skills. Make a homemade

pizza, bake some cookies, or make a

homemade salsa together and use it

with a family taco bar. Cooking with

your children can be so much fun. It

can also be free or very low cost. You

can find recipes online together for

free. You can even find recipes that

call for ingredients that you already

have in your home. It also teaches

your children important life skills they

will need in their future. Getting

messy is good for your child’s mental

health as well. If you are not a cook,

try making s’mores together.

Try some indoor water play.

Bath time does not have to be just for

cleaning our bodies. Many children

love to be in the water, but they live

in places where outdoor water play is

only possible during certain times of

the year. When swimming pools are

closed, splashing in a warm tub can

provide just as much fun. Fill a tub

with warm water and throw in bubble

bath and toys, and let the fun begin!

Even a large water basin or sink can

work. Play with the bubbles and toys.

Use fun things like color tablets for

the bath or tub crayons or paints. You

and your child can use all kinds of

home items to create your own world

in the water. You can then make up

stories together from the world you

have created. The bath tub is a great

place for creative imaginations and

relaxed time playing as parent and

child. You can also create your own

bath bombs or bath slimes together.

Get up and get moving together.

Your family can play Hide and Seek or

Hello Neighbor together. You can

plan out a family scavenger hunt or

obstacle course. You can play

together with a family pet. You can

do yoga, stretching, or meditation

together without having to buy a

single thing. Take a walk or play a

game of soccer together. Fresh air

can be a great way to deal with

boredom! No matter what time

of the year, being outdoors is

always good for your mental

health.

Plan for regular family game

nights.

Board games or card games are

a great way to bring the family

together for lots of fun and

laughs. There are many choices

and lots of games that are very

affordable. You can find all

kinds of great ideas on the

Internet that are free. Let each person

in the family pick out a favorite game

that you can all play together. Some

family favorites that are passed down

through generations are Monopoly,

Go Fish, Pictionary, and Yahtzee. Start

a tradition that your own children

may even continue with their children

someday.

Make a “bored box.”

This does not have to be fancy.

Include simple items like paper, paint

supplies, and crayons. Play dough

and clay are also great to have handy.

Adults and children alike love to color

or draw. Slime ingredients are always

a huge hit. Don’t be afraid to get

messy! Just stock up on a few items

your family loves to do together and

keep them stored in a box for an

instant activity anytime.

Reference:

Beyer, M. (2017). Fun Family Night Activities

That Take Bonding to a Whole New

Level.Retrieved November 2019 from https://

www.sheknows.com/parenting/

articles/842477/50-family-fun-night-ideas-for-

families

Fun Indoor Activities for Your Children Dr. Kerri Ashurst, Senior Extension Specialist for Family and Relationship Development

Page 4 - May 2020 Family & Consumer Sciences

FABRIC

Chicken Scratch is a type of

embroidery worked on gingham

fabric. It is a variation of gingham

embroidery. Using certain stitches,

thread or floss creates a lacelike

design on gingham fabric when

finished. Gingham fabric usually

comes in 4, 8 or 16 squares to the

square inch. If possible, use gingham

fabric with a true square check. Fabric

that comes in ⅛-inch checks or ¼-

inch checks is most often used for

Chicken Scratch.

STITCHING

There are three stitches used in

Chicken Scratch embroidery. The

double cross stitch, the straight

running stitch and the woven circle

stitch can create a wide variety of

looks, depending on color and

number of strands of embroidery

floss used in the design. Stitch with

one, two or many colors of floss.

When using just two colors, one is

usually white and the other a darker

version of the darkest gingham check.

For ⅛-inch checked or ¼-inch

checked gingham, use 2, 3 or 4

strands of 6-strand embroidery floss.

Experimenting before you start the

final project will let you judge the

best look for your design. Use an

embroidery crewel needle size 6 or 7

for stitching. An embroidery hoop is

needed to keep the fabric smooth

and the stitches even.

To create the laciest effects, use dark

floss on the white squares for the

double cross-stitch or white floss on

the darker squares. Use the running

stitches on the shaded squares.

To create Chicken Scratch

embroidery, you have many choices.

You can outline the total design in

one color and use another color to fill

in or use all one color in a design to

create a totally different look with the

same design.

GETTING STARTED

Count the number of squares in your

design, and then count the squares in

the fabric. Add to this figure at least 2

inches beyond the design and then

consider the finishing technique. Add

more inches if you need to have more

room around your design for

completing the project.

If the fabric ravels, then finish the

edges with a machine zigzag stitch or

a hand-overcast stitch.

Find the center of your design and

the center of the fabric. Place the

fabric in the embroidery hoop. Begin

with the double cross-stitches that

outline the design, followed by any

that fall within the design.

The second set of stitches will be the

running stitches that go back and

forth across the design, and then go

from top to bottom. The woven circle

stitches are the last set of stitches to

complete to the design.

While working on the design, it may

be necessary to loosen and reposition

your work many times. Never leave

your work in a tight hoop when you

are not working on the project. This

can cause creases impossible to

remove when the project is

completed.

TO BEGIN STITCHING

Cut a 20 to 25-inch length of

embroidery floss. Separate the

strands by carefully holding one end

and pulling your fingers gently

through the floss to separate the

strands. You may use 2, 3 or 4

strands. Separate the floss as

required, thread your needle and

stitch.

If the project is going to be washed

frequently, it is recommended that

the floss be knotted at the end. Knots

are hidden on the wrong side of the

work.

Using the center of the fabric as a

reference point, start at an upper

corner, embroidering the outline of

the design first. If floss is not knotted,

leave a 1-inch tail on the backside of

the fabric. You can catch the floss tail

in the first few stitches on the wrong

side of the project.

Be sure to cross all stitches in the

same direction. Do the double cross

stitches in the same sequence each

time.

After the outline stitch, start to fill in

the design with stitches. Do all the

double cross stitches first, and then

do the straight running stitches.

Stitch the running stitches on the

shaded squares so that the ends of

the stitch always point to a white

square. Work all of the running

stitches by passing the needle over a

shaded square and under a white

square, then back over the next

shaded square, etc. Do all the running

stitches in one direction, and then

complete the running stitches in the

remaining direction. For example, if

you start going across the design

from right to left, complete all the

running stitches in that direction

before going up and down the

design. It may be necessary to turn

the design upside down to work

stitches.

The woven circle stitch is the last

stitch to be completed. A circle is

formed by using white floss and

weaving the needle underneath the

four running stitches that surround a

white square. Bring needle up at the

end of a running stitch, and after

weaving under the four running

Chicken Scratch Embroidery (Snowflake Embroidery, Depression Lace or Gingham Lace)

Family & Consumer Sciences May 2020 - Page 5

stitches, end by inserting needle at

the starting point (see diagram). Do

not pull the circle too tightly, as this

will prevent the white square from

showing inside the circle.

Keep the tension of the floss even,

making smooth stitches. To prevent

shadow-through (the shadow of the

thread showing through to the right

side), do not carry floss across a large

unworked area on the back of the

design.

If a mistake is made, use the needle to

pull stitches out one stitch at a time,

taking care not to disturb other

stitches.

READING THE CHART

Chicken Scratch is worked by

following a chart (see attached

example). Each square on the chart

represents one square or check of the

gingham fabric. Most charts are

shaded to look like gingham fabric.

Symbols are placed in the squares to

represent the stitches and sometimes

are colored to represent different

color embroidery floss. If not in color,

then symbols may sometimes

represent different colors of the floss

to be used. A charted design will

always have a “key.” The key will tell

you what each symbol represents.

Mary Hixson, M.S.

County Extension Agent for Family and

Consumer Sciences

Revised by Marjorie M. Baker, M.S.

Extension Associate for Textiles and Clothing

October 2004; revised April 2005; revised

September 2016

Copyright ©2017 for materials developed by

University of Kentucky Cooperative

Extension1This publication may be reproduced

in portions or its entirety for educational or

nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall

give credit to the author(s) and include this

copyright notice. Publications are also available

on the World Wide Web at www.ca.uky.edu

How to do the Stitches

Page 6 - May 2020 Family & Consumer Sciences

C ongratulations to Pam Fields for

receiving the Outstanding

Extension Volunteer of the Year

Award for 2019. Thank you Pam for

all of your hard work with the

Homemakers Organization, Cooking

Oils Class, Lunch and Learn Classes,

the Lunch Bunch Club and all of the

other ways that you have worked to

contribute to our Homemaker

membership and community

involvement.

Pam grew up in KY, graduated from

Morehead State Univ. with a degree

in Vocational Home Economics, and

began teaching in Olive Hill, KY, in

1972. That same year, she married her

husband Billy.

They later moved to Ohio and are

proud parents of a daughter, Emily,

who now works at NKU. They both

finished their careers with 40+ years

in education in one capacity or

another after receiving Master

Degrees at Xavier University.

After seeing her mother’s

involvement in KY Homemakers as a

child, Pam was always determined to

one day join the group herself—

which she did when they moved back

to Ky in 2005.

Since then, she has been an active

member of various Homemaker clubs

and the Campbell County

Homemaker Advisory Council.

This past year she began the Lunch

Bunch Club so that members could

learn about different cultures and

enjoy their cuisines.

She also organized Lunch and Learn

classes, offering information on

various topics to the general public in

hopes of gaining new membership

and involvement in Homemakers—

and it worked!

Campbell County Extension FCS Volunteer of the Year

Family & Consumer Sciences May 2020 - Page 7

How to Support Your

Immune System

Everyone seems to be

asking what foods are best

to “boost” the immune

system. Are there foods that

will help your body fight

sickness better than others?

Our immune system is

complex so there isn’t a

specific food or a certain

amount of food you can eat

to boost it.

Instead, we want to focus on a

balanced diet that includes at least

five servings of fruits and vegetables

each day. Some nutritionists even

encourage seven servings a day.

Adding fruits and vegetables of any

kind will help ensure your body

receives the nutrients — vitamins,

minerals, and fiber — it needs to

work properly. Vitamins A, C, E, and

zinc are nutrients that will help

support the immune system when it

needs to work hard. Choosing a

variety of fruits and vegetables that

match the rainbow will be the best

source of these nutrients. By getting

enough nutrients, you improve your

body’s ability to fight sickness.

In reality, we don’t want to “boost”

our immune system because it will

overreact. This can actually put more

stress on the body. Instead, we want

to choose foods and healthy lifestyle

behaviors that support the immune

system to respond appropriately

when under stress. As we

age, our immune system

function declines. However,

there are steps you can take

to support a healthy immune

system so that it can respond

appropriately when faced

with seasonal illness. Keys to

staying healthy for people of

any age are much broader

than nutrition and include:

• Choose brightly colored

plant-based foods, such as

fruits and vegetables.

• Choose lean proteins.

• Stay hydrated with water.

• Be physically active on a regular

basis.

• Get an adequate amount of sleep.

• Find ways to reduce stress.

• Practice good hygiene, and wash

hands often.

Reference:

https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/

preventing-illness/support-your-health-with-

nutrition#:~:text=Get%20this%20immune-

boosting%20vitamin,of%20antibodies%

20and%20boosting%20immunity.

How to Support Your Immune System Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Extension Specialist for Nutrition and Health

; Emily DeWitt, Extension Associate for FCS Extension

April 23—Mommy and me hosted

their first online video meeting as a

result of the Covid-19 shutdown of

public gatherings. The attendees were

given some simple gardening

techniques by Terri Turner,

Horticulture Technician and

Ronda Rex, FCS

Agent, reviewed

some “cooking tools”

for the kids to

explore at their

homes. Afterwards,

they made an omelet

together to kick off

their first session.

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