The Front Burner

the front burner Hardin County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension

Winter is a Great Time for Families / Upcoming Events / Make Exercise a Habit Skillet Enchiladas / Sewing Classes! / 4-H Summer Camp

no. 3

Winter is a Great Time for Families David Weisenhorn, Senior Specialist for Parenting and Child Development Education

The winter months are a great time to catch up on much needed family time.

Yes, it’s cold. Yes, you cannot get outdoors as much, but around your home you have plenty of indoor activities to do with your children that can create a meaningful family experience and lots of wonderful memories.

Time with their parents is extremely important to the well-being of children. Studies have shown families who spend time together have happier, healthier kids who do better in school. Family time promotes emotional health in kids, which is linked to a greater likelihood that they will avoid risky behaviors, such as drug use, and have lower risks for depression.

The possibilities for meaningful indoor family time are as limitless as your imagination. Here are some ideas to get you thinking about activities to do with your kids.

Story time: While you can and should spend time reading to your children, there is so much more you can do with story time. Let your imaginations run wild as you make up stories together. Make up a silly story to tell your kids or involve them in the creation of a silly story. You can also take turns sharing your favorite family stories or memories.

Dance party: Dancing to music is a great way to improve everyone’s mood and get your hearts pumping when outside physical activities are limited. Let everyone have a turn selecting a song.

Remember to keep the music age appropriate, especially with younger children.

Kitchen time: Especially around the holidays, you can spend so much family time cooking in the kitchen. Whip up something sweet to share for an after-dinner treat. Have your children help you prepare food items that will be gifts for friends and family members. Not only will you be spending time together but you’ll be teaching them valuable math and life skills that are central to food preparation.

Scavenger hunts: The premise of this game is to send a child or children with a list of objects to go find and retrieve. It is simple to create and can be as long or short as you wish. Start by making a list of items commonly found in or around your home. Continue to add items to the list that require creativity and/or adventure, such as “buried treasure” which you can define however you chose.

upcoming events Lots of Sewing Classes, CrossStitch, and sewing days at our office! See page 7 for the full list!

Air Fryers, Electric

Parenting Class

Pressure Cookers,

For Any Parent!

and Slow Cookers: Oh My!

February 12 February 7

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

Free to Attend

$5.00 to attend Design on a Dime: Furnish a Room on a Limited Budget

March 6 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. @ HC Public Library Cooking through the

Laugh & Learn

Calendar

PlayDates

Last Monday of month 11:00 a.m. @ HC Public Library January 28

3rd Friday of each month 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

February 25

February 15

March 25

March 15

RSVP for classes by calling 270-765-4121

Time is what we want most, but we use worst.

William Penn

Make Exercise a Habit Natalie Jones, Physical Activity Program Coordinator

We all know we should exercise every day

That’s why it is so important for us to make

for better health. But fitting it in can be

exercise a daily habit. Research suggests

tricky with the demands of home, family

it takes 21 days of doing an activity before

and career. If you have fallen off the

it becomes a habit. Actually, if the habit is

exercise wagon before you know how

a new or a harder one (like exercise), it

easy it is once you miss one day to skip

can take the average person up to 66

the next one.

days to form a strong habit.

Here are some tips to work exercise into your daily routine.

• Set daily workout reminders on your phone or keep a daily activity log.

• Exercise around the same time each day. Try to exercise first thing in the morning or right after work. It is really hard to stay motivated if you go home before hitting the gym.

• Make your gym clothes visible. Lay your gym clothes out the night before. You may even want to sleep in them if you plan to work out first thing in the morning. If you prefer evening workouts, put them by the door or in your car the night before so you don’t forget them before going to work.

Even if we regularly exercise, many of us sit for long periods of time at work, at home and while traveling. Research has linked this sedentary behavior with several health concerns including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Regardless of your current activity level, studies have found that standing up and walking for five minutes every hour during the workday can improve your mood, make you more relaxed and increase your concentration.

• Choose goals that are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely), and track your progress.

• Post your goals. Decide what your fitness goals are, and post them in a place where you’ll see them to keep you focused. Reward yourself when you achieve your goal.

• Pick some activities you enjoy and switch up your routine to make it interesting. Being active does not always mean going to the gym. You can always walk or run outside or play a sport.

• Exercise around others. Work out with a friend, sign up for a class or meet with a trainer to help you stick to your goal.

This is one of my go-to's on a

Skillet

busy night now.

My family loves

Enchiladas

it!"

Class Participant, 2018

8 corn tortillas

1. Cut tortillas into bite sized pieces. Heat 2 tsp oil

3 tsp olive oil, divided

in skillet over medium heat. Add tortilla pieces and

1/2 medium onion, chopped

cook for 5 minutes. Remove.

1/2 tsp salt

2. Add remaining tsp olive oil to pan, along with

1 zucchini, chopped

onion and salt. Cook 2 minutes.

1 yellow squash, chopped

3. Add chopped zucchini, squash, red pepper,

1 red bell pepper, chopped

garlic, corn, black beans, pepper and paprika.

1 clove garlic, peeled and minced

4. Stir to combine and cook for 10 minutes.

3/4 cup fresh or canned corn

5. Return crispy tortillas to skillet and 3/4 cup

1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

cheese. Stir for 2 minutes.

1/2 tsp pepper

6. Add enchilada sauce, stir until combined, and

1/2 tsp paprika

then sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

7. Cover with foil for 5 minutes or until cheese is

1 cup enchilada sauce

melted.

2018 Food and Nutrition Calendar, UK Nutrition Education Program

Recipe from the 2018 UK NEP Food and Nutrition Calendar

Sew Crazy?

We've Got a Class for You! SCRAP BUSTER QUILT CLASS Thursday January 31 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. $15.00 Taught by Patty Pruitt RSVP by January 25

BEGINNER'S QUILT CLASS Thursday February 14 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. $20.00 Taught by Patty Pruitt

270-765-4121 Or ONLINE! TWISTED TABLE RUNNER QUILT CLASS Tuesday February 26 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. $15.00 Taught by Patty Pruitt RSVP by February 19

NO NEED TO RSVP FOR THESE TWO!

Sewing Work Days Every Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Bring a project you're working on and work on it in the company of others!

Cross Stitch Work Days Last Saturday of Each Month 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Bring a project you're working on and work on it in the company of others!

RSVP by February 7