For many, the holidays aren’t the holidays without homemade fudge and peanut brittle. However, making those holiday treats can be challenging. A Kansas State University food scientist says that’s because making candy is a science. Karen Blakeslee says the ingredients, temperature and even humidity can impact how well fudge and peanut brittle turn out. She discusses the steps involved in making old-fashioned holiday candy.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

As we get deeper into fall and winter, the foods we eat and crave are often comfort foods, such as soups, stews and casseroles. While a little comfort food is known to improve or sustain our mood in the short term, eating too many foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt can increase the risk for health problems over time. It’s also the holiday season, a time to celebrate with friends, family and lots of food. Unfortunately, this often results in a few extra pounds heading into spring. However, Sara Sawer, a registered dietitian and K-State Research and Extension nutrition, health and wellness agent for Sedgwick County, says we can modify some recipes to make comfort foods healthier and there are things we can do to help avoid holiday weight gain.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

November is National Diabetes Month and K-State Research and Extension has a program designed to help those with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, caregivers and family members manage diabetes through nutrition and physical activity. Christina Holmes, coordinator of the Dining with Diabetes program and the family and consumer sciences specialist in the Southeast Research Extension Office, along with family and consumer sciences agents and trained diabetes educators, Chelsea Richmond with the Frontier Extension District and Franny Eastwood with the Marais des Cygnes Extension District, talk about the online course and how it helps participants learn skills needed to promote good health.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

Improving access to health care information and services is the driving force behind the Rural Ag Health Community Worker project being piloted by the state’s Extension system in more than a dozen counties in northeast and southeast Kansas. Financial support from K-State 105, which was established to support economic growth and workforce advancement in Kansas, enabled Marshall County to hire Arlene Wessel, a retired nurse and adult care home administrator as a community health worker. She discusses her role as a community health worker and Elaine Johannes, Kansas Health Foundation’s Distinguished Professor of Health at Kansas State University, explains how this program can benefit rural Kansans and the entire health care system.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

K-State Research and Extension is involved in a K-State 105 project to improve agriculture-connected health access the state. Elaine Johannes, the Kansas Health Foundation’s Distinguished Professor of Community Health and a state specialist with K-State Research and Extension, and Susie Latta, family and consumer sciences agent for Marshall County Extension, discuss the Rural Ag Health Community Health Worker project being piloted in several Extension districts in Kansas. They explain the goals of the program and what they’re discovering as important health needs for Kansans.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

The K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences specialist for the northeast region, Sharolyn Jackson, says Halloween marks the beginning of what some refer to as a food and party marathon that won’t end until after the Super Bowl. While many may gain just a pound or two, some will gain five pounds or more. According to Jackson, for many that weight gain is often still there when the next holiday season rolls around. However, she says eating in moderation, being physically active and identifying things you struggle with during the holiday season will help you maintain your current weight.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

Kansas State University Extension adult development and aging specialist, Erin Martinez, says retirement is one of life’s most stressful events – and it’s not all tied to how much you’ve saved. Researchers have been focusing on more than just managing retirement accounts and are exploring retiree’s life experiences and they’ve found several distinct stages of retirement that many retirees face. Martinez discusses those stages and why it’s important to have a plan for your retirement years.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

The fall K-State Research and Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Living Well Wednesday webinar series will cover how to distribute personal possessions without harming relationships, reducing the risk of falls, and ways to declutter and downsize. Sharolyn Jackson, the family and consumer sciences specialist for the northeast region, has an overview of the fall series and how these webinars can help make our lives better.

Sound Living is a weekly public affairs program addressing issues related to families and consumers. It is hosted by Jeff Wichman. Each episode shares the expertise of K-State specialists in fields such as child nutrition, food safety, adult development and aging, youth development, family resource management, physical fitness and more.

Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.

K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.