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
[email protected] 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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