In the "good ole' summertime" schedules and challenges of working families can be quite different from those encountered during the more structured parts of the year.
In this issue of the Working Families newsletter you'll find ideas for dealing with many summertime issues: stain removal, visits to grandparents and helping your teen find the most beneficial activities to be involved in. You'll even find ways to conserve the earth's natural resources when buying food locally or when considering your consumption habits.
Have a great summer and don't hesitate to contact us with questions or ideas for future issues.
Sincerely, University of Illinois Extension Professionals
Buying Locally Grown Produce
When planning family meals and snacks, consider including nutritious fruits and vegetables on your shopping list. With modern farming, processing and delivery, grocery stores offer fresh produce soon after it is picked. But fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers often are fresher and tastier than those shipped further distances. Purchasing locally grown foods can also help your local economy.
More and more communities sponsor weekly farmers' markets to provide a central, in-town site for local producers to sell their products directly to consumers.
Check your local Extension office for information about local farmer's markets. In Illinois, the Department of Agriculture offers a listing of Farmer's Markets online at: www.agr.state.il.us/markets/farmers/.
Another option is to take a weekend drive into the country to look for roadside produce stands. Usually, farm families sell their produce, picked just hours before you buy it. Also, "U-pick" farms are available in almost every county. They allow you to pick your own berries, peaches and apples.
Visit University of Illinois Extension's "Illinois Fresh" site for Farmer's Markets, Roadside Stands and U-Pick locations at: www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/fresh/. This site includes links to other states' locations and includes harvesting suggestions for numerous fruits and vegetables.
When buying in season, you increase your chances for finding great tasting produce. The following guide from Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Center lists the season that certain fruits and vegetables are at their peak:
Summer: apricots, blueberries, cherries, eggplant, fresh herbs, green beans, hot peppers, melon, okra, peaches, plums, sweet corn, sweet peppers, tomatoes and zucchini.
Spring: asparagus, blackberries, green onions, leeks, lettuces, new potatoes, peas, red radishes, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries and watercress.
- Jananne Finck, Nutrition and Wellness Educator
Storage Times for Fruits and Vegetables
Food
Refrigerator
Freezer
Fruits
Apples
1 month
8-12 months
Apricots, avocados
3-5 days
8-12 months
Bananas
*
8-12 months
Berries, cherries
2-3 days
8-12 months
Grapes
3-5 days
8-12 months
Grapefruit
2 weeks
4-6 months
Guavas
1-2 days
8-12 months
Kiwis (Chinese Gooseberry)
3-5 days
4-6 months
Lemons/limes
2 weeks
4-6 months
Mangoes
*
8-12 months
Melons
1 week
8-12 months
Nectarines
3-5 days
8-12 months
Oranges
2 weeks
4-6 months
Papayas
1-2 days
8-12 months
Peaches
3-5 days
8-12 months
Pears
3-5 days
8-12 months
Pineapples
2-3 days
4-6 months
Plantains
*
8-12 months
Plums
3-5 days
8-12 months
Rhubarb
3-5 days
8-12 months
Fruit Juices
Concentrate
*
2 years
Fresh or reconstituted
5-7 days
8-12 months
Vegetables
Artichokes
1 week
*
Asparagus
2-3 days
8-12 months
Beets
2 weeks
8-12 months
Bok Choy
2-3 days
8-12 months
Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts
3-5 days
8-12 months
Cabbage
1-2 weeks
8-12 months
Carrots
2 weeks
8-12 months
Cauliflower
1 week
8-12 months
Celery
1 week
8-12 months
Chilies
1 week
8-12 months
Cilantro
2-3 days
8-12 months
Corn
use immediately for best flavor
8-12 months
Green Beans
1 week
8-12 months
Greens (spinach, collards, swiss chard, mustard, kale, etc.
3-5 days
8-12 months
Jicama
2-3 weeks
8-12 months
Kohlrabi (leaves)
2-3 days
8-12 months
Kohlrabi (stems)
1 week
8-12 months
Lettuce
1 week
*
Lima beans
3-5 days
8-12 months
Mushrooms
1-2 days
8-12 months
Onions, green
3-5 days
*
Okra
1-2 days
8-12 months
Parsley
2-3 days
*
Peas
3-5 days
8-12 months
Peppers
1 week
8-12 months
Radishes
Weeks
*
Squash, hard
*
8-12 months
Squash, summer
3-5 days
8-12 months
Tomatillos,
1 week
8-12 months
Tomatoes
1 week
8-12 months
Yuca (Cassava)
1-2 days
8-12 months
Zucchini
3-5 days
8-12 months
* Storage here not recommended due to safety or quality issues.
Sources: Minch, Daryl L. Home Storage of Foods, Part I: Refrigerator and Freezer. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service.
Visiting with Grandparents
Summer usually brings more free time, vacations and visits with relatives. Grandparents are often thought of as spoiling and indulging–bringing gifts to their grandchildren–as they could not do for their own children. But, grandparents, and sometimes other relatives, can play a very monumental role in the development of a child's life, influencing a child's lifelong values of family and relationships. They can offer more important gifts to a child–gifts that build character, stability and lifelong memories.
Love and Acceptance: Grandparents often provide a child with unconditional love and acceptance, whether or not the child makes the honor roll or wins awards. They have learned in later life that our relationships are what are most important and influence a grandchild in the right direction.
Self-Confidence:Most grandparents know that when they place that drawing on the refrigerator door or give praise for a job well done it makes a child gain confidence and feel important.
Good Example: Many grandparents understand that children are watching the way they interact with people and the way they approach life. They know having a positive attitude and providing a good example will give the child a positive view of life.
Experience and Wisdom:Grandparents often have practical skills and wisdom to share. By patiently sharing experiences, grandparents can model ways to deal with fears and resolve difficult situations.
Understanding Change: Grandparents have seen many changes in their lifetime. By sharing memories of these experiences, children are better able to understand that change is a part of life. This can help a child learn to cope with changes.
Happy Memories: Kind words, loving gestures and special times together can create memories for a child that will last a lifetime.
Stability and Security:Families often have to move from one community to another or face other changes. In these times, grandparents can provide a sense of continuity and a secure source of warmth and understanding.
Calmness and Peace: After years of maturing experiences, grandparents may be less ruffled by the ups and downs of daily living than younger generations. When a grandparent shares calmness and peace with a young child, it is a comforting experience.
Time: The best thing grandparents can offer grandchildren is time. Grandparents are more likely to have the time to give than busy parents. They offer individual time with grandchildren to have fun, get to know each other better and be there to really listen.
Take time to recognize the gifts grandparents are to your children and make those important connections in your family this summer.
Adapted from: The Joys and Challenges of Grandparenting, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky.
- Patti Faughn, Family Life Educator
Vegetable Kabobs
2 large green peppers cut into 1" squares 2 medium onions, quartered, separated into sections 4 small zucchini cut into 1" pieces 4 small yellow squash, cut into 1" pieces 12 cherry or grape tomatoes 12 fresh mushrooms 1 ½ cup lite Italian salad dressing Skewers
Place vegetables in a non-metal dish, pour Italian salad dressing over all and mix. Marinate vegetables in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Drain vegetables and thread alternately on skewers. Grill kabobs for 15-20 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Additional salad dressing can be used to brush over kabobs while cooking. Makes 8 servings.
The bathtub is dirty. There are dust balls the size of small dogs under the bed. The refrigerator is full of fuzzy, moldy leftovers from who-knows-when. When they are not at work, Rita and Dan constantly fight over the housework–who should do what and when?
For most people there is a "second shift" of work at home after the work day is over. Dual-earner families must decide how the work at home will get done since time is at a premium. "Household work" means different things to different people. Most agree that household work includes fixing meals, washing dishes, doing laundry, picking up, cleaning and doing food shopping. Others include jobs like minor repairs, errands and paying the bills. Whatever is included, there is a lot of work waiting when paid labor is done, and this burden is heaviest when both partners work outside the home.
Dissatisfaction with the division of household work is an important issue for many couples. Experts say that the repetitive, dreary nature of most household work is related to depression, especially for those who do it unwillingly or under the extreme time pressure that is often present in dual-earner families. One study found that the more hours people spent on the most dull, repetitive household jobs, the less satisfied they were with their marriages. Estimates differ, but most agree that, compared to men, women still do more of the least desirable work (for example, cooking and cleaning). In general, these women are unhappier with their share of the work and report lower marriage satisfaction. Many women dream of an ideal marriage where partners share housework equally, but not many report experiencing that ideal.
In spite of the often-heard complaint that many partners, especially men, are not doing their share, some women have a hard time permitting their partners to fully participate in the household work. "Gatekeeping" happens when women protect their housekeeping role even though they are often resentful of the burden. Here are some reasons that gatekeeping occurs.
"I have certain standards." Many women have been raised to see themselves as the manager of the household. They feel responsibility to maintain certain standards of cleanliness and tidiness, and this may lead them to micromanage, criticize or redo a partner's efforts. Careful examination of standards and serious efforts to adjust them to reality are necessary in most dual-earner families.
"Family roles should be different for men and women."It makes more sense to divide tasks by abilities, interests and needs than simply by "men's work" and "women's work." All of us have an image in our minds of how life used to be for families when mothers stayed at home and minded the hearth. Wiser division of tasks allows for balanced sharing and individual preference. Acknowledging this can help as we navigate our modern lives, where both partners must pitch in to run the household as well as to contribute income. In general, it seems that those who ignore household responsibilities have partners who are dissatisfied and angry. Likewise, those who do not allow their partners to pitch in are doing themselves and their relationships a disservice.
One of the challenges for busy dual-earner couples is to carve out enough time for getting the necessary household work done without losing sight of personal, couple and family time. This problem is a source of stress in many relationships. While one solution would be to hire someone to help clean the house, most couples cannot afford this. Here are some tips on managing the "second shift."
Prioritize.What really needs to be done and when? Some jobs are clearly more important than others. What must get done each day? What can wait until the weekend? What can children do?
Make a plan.A little planning can go a long way. Working out a plan of responsibility for household jobs can benefit both partners in terms of their personal well-being as well as the health of their relationship. Making a plan can also help clarify who is doing work that the other may not know about.
Ban micromanaging.Make a rule that whoever does the task can do it their way without criticism. In the case of different standards, partners can work to reach a compromise that both can live with.
Be flexible.Switch household jobs every now and then so that boredom is minimized. Also, letting someone fresh take responsibility for a household job might reveal some hidden talent or creativity.
- Angela Wiley, Ph.D., Family Life Specialist
Are you being spammed?
If you use a computer, chances are you have been spammed. According to Wikipedia, spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages, which are generally undesired. There are many types of spam media; however, the most widely referred to type of spam is e-mail spam, often called junk e-mail.
So, why do you receive spam e-mail? Spam is sent to promote products and services and is a way to reach a large number of consumers. Spam can be deceptive. Examples include pyramid schemes, credit card scams, credit repair scams and money-making chain letters. Spammers can get your e-mail from a variety of sources such as purchased database lists, on-line web pages, chat rooms or blogs that you have published your e-mail through.
How can you avoid receiving spam? Here are a few ideas offered by the Federal Trade Commission:
Read carefully before giving out your e-mail address online.
Use a separate e-mail account when signing up for things you are unsure about.
Check the privacy policy before submitting your e-mail address at a website.
Use spam filtering software. This software is often available for free and will cut down on the amount of e-mails that you receive.
If you receive a spam e-mail, do not respond; but, rather, send a copy of unwanted or deceptive messages to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. The FTC uses the unsolicited e-mails stored in this database to pursue law enforcement actions against people who send deceptive spam e-mail.
Spamming is such a "hot consumer topic" that the Federal Trade Commission will be holding a "Spam Summit: The Next Generation of Threats and Solutions," in Washington, DC on July 11 and 12, 2007. The summit will bring together experts from the business, government and technology sectors; consumer advocates; and academics to explore consumer protection issues surrounding spam, phishing and malware. The summit is open to the public and can be viewed via live Webcast. For more information on the summit, visit www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/04/spamsummit.shtm.
- Jennifer Hunt, Consumer and Family Economics Educator
Sustainable Living: Food for Thought
What is sustainable living? One definition is "A life that is deeply satisfying, fulfilling and appealing–and at the same time, environmentally responsible."
This does not mean that everyone should go and live in a forest. It does mean making practical and responsible choices in consumption of resources.
The following websites contain articles that discuss topics related to sustainable living and intelligent consumption. A person reading these articles may agree or disagree with the content; but, at the very least, the articles provide some attention to these subjects. These articles and others can be found on the Sustainable Living Project website from Oregon State University www.cof.orst.edu/cof/extended/sustain/educational.php.
Teens have much to gain from involvement in organized summer and out of school programs. These benefits are both unique from and an enhancement of the benefits gained in school, in a family or when just "hanging out." Research has identified the following ways adolescents can benefit from being involved with organized youth groups.
Expands their world. Out of school programs give adolescents a chance to learn things that they may not be exposed to in school. They might learn about model rocketry, photography or robotics in 4-H. Junior Achievement allows them to learn business and entrepreneurial skills and Scouts may teach camping and outdoor survival.
Opportunities for independence. Summer activities let teens be more independent than they usually can in a school classroom. In many cases teens plan, lead, teach and carry out a project with only coaching and mentoring from adults.
Opportunities to excel.For students who have average or below average grades in school, out of school and summer activities provide them with a chance to excel or express talents. These talents may have gone unnoticed or have no platform in a formal school setting.
Encourages teamwork. Whether it's practicing for a baseball game, completing a community service project or helping teach a Bible school class, extra-curricular activities require teens to work on a common goal. Skills learned while accomplishing a goal may help build the teamwork skills that many jobs require.
Expands social network. Out of school activities provide teens the opportunities to meet and become friends with others who may be in different grades, schools and communities. 4-H members, for instance, often meet and work with other teens from across their county or state.
Relationships with caring adults. Research tells us that youth who have a relationship with at least one additional caring adult, other than their parents, are more likely to successfully make the transition from childhood to a productive adult. Youth group leaders mentor, encourage and listen.
Enhanced self-esteem. Adolescents who develop skills, sometimes viewed as "experts" in a particular subject, boost their self concept and self esteem. Activities that are highly visible to others, such as sports teams, often elevate teens' status among their peers, which can also give rise to greater self esteem.
To increase the chances that your adolescents will gain many of these benefits, help them examine the youth groups they are thinking about getting involved with. Youth groups that are built around the critical elements of Positive Youth Development (PYD) are more likely to be successful in delivering the benefits described above. Youth groups that include those elements
build healthy relationships with a caring adult,
provide a safe and appropriately structured environment,
have a welcoming atmosphere,
offer opportunities for members to practice and master skills,
offer opportunities for teens to determine much of the direction of the program,
offer opportunities to provide service to others and
allow teens to participate in activities that affect their future.
For more explanation on PYD visit:
www.4-h.uiuc.edu/opps/pyd-club.html. The materials you'll find here were developed to help 4-H leaders understand PYD and strengthen their youth groups.
- Judy Taylor, Youth Development
Who Has Time to Cook?
In a study of the same name, the United States Department of Agriculture recently provided insight into how gender, income, family size and employment affect food preparation at home. Despite the long term trend toward eating away from home, Americans still spend over 50 percent of their food dollars on home prepared foods. Here are a few of the key findings from the USDA research.
Gender matters! Although men have assumed more responsibility for domestic chores in the last couple decades, they are still way behind women in the amount of time spent in the kitchen. Women spend on average about 47 minutes a day on food preparation and cleanup chores compared to only 15 minutes for men. The gap is even wider in households with children. Only about 40 percent of men have any involvement in meal planning or preparing family meals.
Work cuts into kitchen time. Full time working women spent only about one-half as much time preparing food as nonworking women, a difference of about 30 minutes. The average nonworking female spent 70 minutes a day in the kitchen, compared to about 40 minutes for working women.
More mouths to feed means more time in the kitchen. Women already spend twice as much time as men in child care activities. In households with children, women also devote a larger proportion of time, about 20 minutes a day, to preparing food. The presence of children has little influence on how much time men spend preparing food.
Income is a substitute for time. Higher income households spend less time preparing foods. This is likely the result of being able to afford commercially prepared food products.
Barbeque sauce on that new white polo, ice cream dripped down the front of your sundress and grass stains covering your jeans...what to do? It is so easy if you know how. Follow the instructions given here; or, if you need additional information on stain removal, visit The Solutions website at: www.solutions.uiuc.edu.
Barbeque and Other Tomato Based Sauces
Soak in cool water, ½ teaspoon liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon vinegar for thirty minutes. Rinse. If stain remains, pre-treat area with a pre-wash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or a paste of powdered detergent and water. Then wash in warm water. Air dry. If stain remains, soak in an enzyme product for at least one hour or overnight. Some detergents contain enzymes. Launder in warm water. Do not use hot water, hot air drying or iron until the stain is gone. Heat will set it.
Ice Cream and Other Dairy Products
Fresh stains should be soaked and agitated in cold water before washing. If the stain is dried, scrape or brush off any crusted matter. Soak for several hours in cold water with a detergent or an enzyme presoak. Launder in warm water. If stain remains, soak an additional 30 minutes and rewash. If the stain still remains, launder with bleach that is safe for the fabric.
Fruit and Fruit Juices
Launder with detergent in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Do not use soap (bar, flake or detergents containing natural soap), since soap could make stain permanent. Soak tough stains for 30 minutes in one quart of warm water and one teaspoon of enzyme presoak product. To remove old or set stains may require washing with bleach that is safe for the fabric. If all the sugars are not removed, a brown stain will appear when the fabric is heated in the dryer or is ironed, as the sugar is caramelized.
Grass Stains
Soak in a solution of cool water and a laundry product containing enzymes for at least 30 minutes (several hours for aged stains.) Do not use hot water as it will coagulate protein and make stain more difficult to remove. If stains remain, soak an additional 30 minutes, then re-wash. Follow product instructions. After soaking, launder in warm water as usual.
Mud
Let mud stains dry. Brush to remove the soil. Soak in a solution of one quart warm water, one teaspoon liquid dish detergent and one tablespoon white vinegar for 15 minutes. Rinse with water. Let stand for several minutes. If the stain remains, sponge with rubbing alcohol, rinse with clear water and launder. You may also soak the stain for 30 minutes in an enzyme presoak. Add chlorine bleach to laundry if it is safe for the fabric.
No endorsement of companies or their products mentioned is criticism implied of similar companies or their products not mentioned.
- Susan Taylor, Consumer and Family Economics Educator
Quick Tip
When you get a splinter, reach for the clear tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the tape over the splinter, and then pull the tape. The tape removes splinters painlessly and easily.
