Tell your grandchildren to check this out! U of I is pleased to launch the new Illinois Water Resources Center website. To visit the site, go to: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/iwrc/

The site has a special section for watershed scientists as well as a section for kids to learn more about water science.

We are pleased to introduce "Fresh From the World...Where Your Food Comes From" – a new website for third through fifth graders. This exciting site looks at 15 different popular foods and explores their histories and origins. It helps youth understand that the food they find in the grocery store comes from all over the world. In addition, it discusses food festivals and the food distribution process. The site was developed by Greg Stack, Extension Educator, Horticulture, and Russ Higgins, Extension Educator, Integrated Pest Management. You can visit this fun site at: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/food/

• One ripe medium size mashed banana substituted for each egg.
• 2 tablespoons of applesauce substituted for each egg works quite well in cookies.

Thanks to Phyllis King!

• Oatmeal is a good source of fiber which promotes heart health and good digestion.
• Oats are a whole grain and whole grains as a part of a low fat diet help protect against chronic diseases and may help maintain a healthy weight.
• Oats were the first grain recognized by the Food and Drug Administration to help reduce blood cholesterol levels.
• Oats contain protein and antioxidants as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals.
• Oats add flavor and texture to favorite baked goods and to toppings for fruit crisps.
• Oats are quick and easy. Oats are available in a variety of forms including steel cut, old fashion oats, quick oats and instant oats and take from one minute to five minutes to cook. The nutritional value is the same, the only difference is the way the oat has been cut and/or rolled.
• Oats are versatile. In addition to being good for breakfast they can be used in many other ways. Added to meatloaf/meatballs, as a coating for chicken and fish, and as a partial flour replacement when baking. Quick or old fashioned oats can be substituted for up to 1/3 of the flour called for in recipes for muffins, biscuits, pancakes, quick breads, coffeecakes, yeast breads, cookies and bars.

- Barbara Farner, U of I Educator

Research has made it clear that eating together as a family has many benefits. Consider the following:

• Meals cooked at home generally are more nutritious than those bought ready-made or when eating out. Families who eat together have been found to eat more nutritiously, and children learn to make healthier food choices.
• Mealtime provides a great time for families to listen to one another, talk about their day and reconnect with each other. A feeling of support and connection to one another is made available.
• Mealtime is a great occasion to create family traditions. Eating provides an optimal time to engage all of the senses and build unforgettable memories.
• Mealtime provides an opportunity to teach our children important life skills like learning the five food groups, passing down recipes, setting a table and cleaning up afterwards.
• Eating together regularly helps children feel more positive about themselves and their family. Teens have been found to do better in school, have stronger relationships with peers and are less likely to smoke, use drugs or alcohol or become depressed.

Consider these ideas to strengthen family mealtime:

• Make and keep family meals a priority for your family. Establish family meal times, whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner—at least five times a week.
• Keep it a positive time where you enjoy each other. Avoid dealing with family conflicts or issues that will turn into complaining and fault-finding.
• Ban distractions like TV and phone calls. Consider putting on music that still allows easy communication and listening to one another.
• Look for ways to involve everyone—from planning the menus and shopping for ingredients to preparing the meal and cleaning the kitchen.

The earlier you start making family mealtime a priority, the earlier your family will reap the benefits and know that this is a habit they will not want to break.

- Katie Zuber, Family Life Educator

• Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas.
• According to the US EPA, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
• Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium and enters homes, schools and other buildings from the soil.
• Elevated indoor levels are found in every state in the US, and in every county in Illinois.
• Radon is by far the greatest single source of radiation exposure to the general public.

You can test the home you reside in. Everyone needs to test their home. And testing is easy usually taking between 2-7 days. You need to allow a minimum of 48 hours for a radon test. Test for radon in each of the lowest structural areas of the home. If your house has one or more foundation types, a test should be placed in or above each area. For example, in the basement, test in the basement. If the home has a crawl space, place a radon detector in the room above the crawl space. If the house has a room with a cement floor, (referred to as "slab-on-grade") place a radon detector in that room also. So, if a house has all three foundation types, all three areas should be tested for radon. There are different types of short-term radon detectors. Follow the package directions for the detector you choose. Radon detectors are available at hardware stores, etc.

Twelve hours before you test and during the test:

· Keep all windows and doors closed except for normal entry and exit.

Do not operate fans or other machines which bring air in from outside.
For more information go to: http://www.takeactiononradon.uiuc.edu