Food and the Environment

Sprouts in a person's hands.

Sprout Safety

— Caitlyn Winn, Dietetic Intern University of Maine Cooperative Extension While small in size, sprouts pack a nutritional punch! Sprouts contain many beneficial vitamins and minerals which support our overall health and well-being. Unfortunately, sprouts are considered a high-risk food when it comes to food borne illness. This is because sprouts are grown in a […]

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Red and yellow petals.

Growing Peppers, Mild to Hot!

— By Kayla Parsons, RDN, PhD Student, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Peppers are a wonderful flavor booster for any recipe, especially the Homemade Salsa Recipe and Vegetarian Chili that can be found on EFNEP’s recipe website. As the weather starts getting warmer, I love to spend evenings grilling kabobs with green peppers, mushrooms, and […]

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Top View of Omelette on Iron Cast Pans.

Cast Iron Basics: How to Clean, Season, and Maintain Your Cast Iron Pan

— By Alex Bosse, Nutrition Education Professional for UMaine Cooperative Extension Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) For most of my life, I avoided using cast iron pans. Why use a cast iron pan, when you could just use stainless-steel, non-stick, or any other pan where the steps are so much simpler: cook, clean, […]

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Collage of three photos: hands holding compost, a family looking at items in a grocery store, and a plate with the words “Meal Plan”.

5 Practical Tips to Reduce Food Waste

— By Kate Yerxa, MS, RD, Extension Professor, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Food waste is a significant concern, with an estimated one-third of all food produced in the United States ending up in landfills. That’s 33% of the food produced! In the United States, food is plentiful, but many people lack financial resources and this […]

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silhouette of 2 people standing on beach during sunset

Hooked On Health: Food Safety Tips for Ice Fishing Season

 — By Kayla Parsons, RDN, PhD Student, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Ask any avid fisherman about their favorite winter activity and you’re guaranteed to hear, “There’s nothing like spending a day out on the ice.” Ice fishing can be an active and rewarding way to embrace Maine’s chilly weather, not to mention the proud […]

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Food pantry staff member helps client.

7 Ways to Support Local Food Pantries

— Kate Yerxa, Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Food pantries and community organizations play a role in improving the food and nutrition security of Mainers. Donating to these organizations through individual and group efforts is a way to help make a positive impact in the areas where you live. Before you donate or […]

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Collage of fiddleheads in colander and fiddlehead ferns in the ground.

Fiddleheads and Food Safety

— By Kathy Savoie, Extension Professor, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Fiddleheads—you either love them or don’t want them anywhere near your plate! My family loves them, so we’ve had many spring adventures along riverbanks, streams, and brooks during early May in pursuit of these delicacies. Like all enthusiasts, I can’t reveal my secret place. […]

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Collage of cabbage, tomatoes, and conning jars.

How to Plan Your Garden for Canning and Preserving

— By Kate McCarty, Food Systems Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Planting a Preserving Garden Early spring is a great time to plan your garden for the upcoming season. This year, plan to grow a little extra so you can preserve fresh vegetables for later use. Plan ahead and plant vegetables that are easy […]

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Cutting Costs on Food Using the Unit Price Label

This blog post is a part of our “Ask EFNEP” series where members of UMaine Cooperative Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) answer questions they are asked when delivering food and nutrition programs. This question was answered by Brenda Bracy and is part two of a two part series going over how to […]

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