A PUBLICATION OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES AGENTS

COOPERATIVE

EXTENSION

OFFICES

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BOONE

859/586-6101

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CAMPBELL

859/572-2600

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CARROLL

502/732-7030

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GALLATIN

859/567-5481

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GRANT

859/824-3355

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KENTON

859/356-3155

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OWEN

502/484-5703

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PENDLETON

859/654-3395

“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” -- Mother Teresa

OCTOBER 2016

Raising Kids, Eating Right, Spending Smart, Living

Cooperative Extension Service Gallatin County 395 US Hwy. 42 West P.O. Box 805 Warsaw, KY 41095-0805 (859) 567-5481 Fax: (859) 567-5432 gallatin.ca.uky.edu

SPOTTING, AVOIDING & REPORTING SCAMS

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a government agency that protects peo-ple from frauds and scams. Here are some warning signs of a scam. When you see a warning sign, stop. Talk about it. And report scams to the Federal Trade Commission: ftc.gov/complaint or 1-877-382-4357 Warning Signs of a Scam

► Did someone promise you a job – if you pay them? Never pay anyone who promis-es you a job, a certificate that will get you a job, or secret access to jobs. Those are scams.

► Did the IRS call saying you owe money? The IRS never calls to ask for money. ► Did someone else from the government call, threatening you and demanding mon-

ey? The government doesn’t call to threaten you or ask for money. ► Entering the Diversity Visa Lottery to get a Green Card? It’s free to apply and the

choice is random. No one can increase your chance of winning. ► Looking for legal help with immigration? Use a lawyer or an accredited representa-

tive. ► Did you get a call or email saying you won something? Except there’s a fee? Never

pay for a prize. That’s a scam. You’ll lose your money. ► Did a caller offer to help you get back some money you lost? No government agen-

cy or legitimate business will call and demand money to help you get money back. ► Did you get a check from someone who asked you to give them part of the money

back? Never give someone money in return for a check. Fake checks can look real and fool the bank. You’ll have to pay back all the money.

► Did you get an email, text, or call asking for your credit card, bank account, or So-cial Security number? Never give that information to anyone who asks over email, text or phone.

Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Information ► Don’t carry all of your important papers or ID cards

with you. ► Don’t click on links in emails unless you’re sure you

know what it is. Clicking can put bad programs on your device..

► Shopping or applying for a job online, make sure the website starts with https. The ‘s’ means the site is secure.

► If you think someone stole your identity, visit identi-tytheft.gov for help.

► Sign up for the Do Not Call Registry: donotcall.gov.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TIMELY TIPS .................. 1

EATING RIGHT ............... 2

SPENDING SMART ........... 2

RAISING KIDS ................ 3

LIVING WELL ................. 3

WHAT’S COOKING ........... 3

COUNTY INFORMATION .... 4

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HEALTHY EATING IN A HURRY

Spend Less Time Cooking ► Cook in large batches and freeze for later. It

saves time and money to cook once and eat it multiple times. Soups, stew, casseroles, enchiladas, and lasagna are good options.

► Seek out “one pot” meals. “One pot” or skillet dishes save on both preparation and clean up time by preparing the entire meal in one dish. They are easy to make and usually freeze and reheat well.

► Use a slow cooker. A slow cooker is a great way to have a meal waiting at the end of the day. Put together ingredients in the morning, turn it on, and it will be ready to eat at dinnertime. A slow cooker can make soups, stews, baked pasta dishes, roasts, or even oatmeal.

► Microwave to speed things up. The microwave makes it easier and quicker to cook foods than in the oven or stovetop. It can do more than just heat up leftovers. Use the microwave; to scramble eggs, quickly bake potatoes or sweet potatoes or steam vegetables.

Try Time-Saving Ingredients ► Save time by purchasing ready to eat produce; frozen or canned fruits and vegetables pre-cut broccoli and cauliflower florets baby spinach pre-washed salad mixes shredded carrots or cabbage, baby carrots cherry or grape tomatoes ► Try healthy pre-cooked or quick cooking

proteins and grains; pre-cooked chicken or beef strips instant brown rice or microwavable rice packets frozen turkey meatballs, shrimp, or un-breaded fish

fillets whole wheat couscous canned tuna (in water) frozen pre-cooked rice, grains, or steel cut oats Bulgur rotisserie chicken canned low-sodium beans

Although summer may not seem that far behind us, the holiday season will soon be here! Holidays are often an exciting time of the year. Spending time with family, enjoying time off work, and celebrating with family traditions are enjoyable activities. However, the holidays also can represent added stress due to the crunch on your wallet. Decorations, gifts, and food expenses add up quickly. The months of October, November, and December can be very expensive, in terms of holiday spending. Holiday shopping can be both a rewarding and stressful experience. Every year, millions of Americans flock to retail and online stores to buy gifts for their family and friends. Unfortunately, poor planning and the pressure to buy the perfect gift often leave many families in debt in the months following the shopping season. If you are worried about overspending this year, the following tips will help you to develop a plan for buying gifts for everyone on your list without breaking the bank. Establish a budget. Use cash. Do not open department store credit cards Do your research Start shopping early Track your spending Think about what is important to your family. Free gift wrap Do it yourself For more

information go

online to

www.ag/moneywise

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THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY MEALS

Why are family meals important for kids? Eating meals together as a family helps kids in many ways . ► Families make better food choices when food is

eaten together. ► Kids are more likely to try new foods. ► Allows time for parents to bond with their kids.

TIPS FOR PLANNING FAMILY MEALS: Keep it simple

Get the kids involved

Avoid interruptions

Take your time

Relax your expectations

Be creative

MAKE MEALTIMES HAPPY Mealtimes should be a time for families to relax. Keep the conversation upbeat and happy. Don’t battle over foods not eaten. Save serious conversations for another time. When family meals are pleasant, kids do their best job of eating well.

CINNAMON SUGARED PUMPKIN PECAN MUFFINS Makes 12 Servings

8 tbsp. sugar (divided) 2 tsp. cinnamon (divided) 1 cup bran flakes 1 cup skim milk 1 cup flour 1 tbsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda 1 cup canned pumpkin 1 egg 1 tbsp. vanilla ¼ cup finely chopped pecans Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 12 muffin

cups with cooking spray. Combine 2 tbsp. sugar and ½ tsp. cinnamon in a

small bowl; set aside. In a large bowl, combine cereal and milk and set

aside for 5 minutes. Combine 6 tbsp. sugar; 1½ tsp. cinnamon, flour,

baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Whisk pumpkin , egg and vanilla into cereal.

Fold in dry mixture; being careful not to over mix. Spoon into prepared pan and sprinkle with pecans and sugar-cinnamon mixture

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Studies show that at least half of the educational achievement gaps between poor and non-poor children already exist at kindergarten entry. Children from low-income families are more likely to start school with limited language skills, health problems, and social and emotional problems that interfere with learning. The larger the gap at school entry, the harder it is to close. If we want all children to read proficiently by fourth grade—and to grow into healthy teens and productive adults—then we must make wise investments in the early years. (Findings from the National School Readiness Indicators Initiative, February, 2005)

In a study led by economist Greg J. Duncan, PhD, of Northwestern University, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of the results of six large-scale longitudinal studies. The findings suggest that an early understanding math concepts is the most powerful predictor of later school success. Other predictors of later success included language, reading and attention skills. (Duncan, G.J, et. Al. (2007). School Readiness and Later Achievement. Developmental Psychology, Vol. 43, No. 6.)

Building a large oral vocabulary will prepare young children for learning to read and write more than any other school readiness exercises. Parents play a larger role in this language development, too, than do preschool teachers. (Building Oral Language Skills in PreK-K: Dozens of Easy, Research-Based Ideas That Develop Children's Listening, Speaking, and Vocabulary Skills and Lay the Foundation for Reading Success. New York: Scholastic, 2009.)

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HERE IS WHAT’S HAPPENING AT

THE GALLATIN COUNTY EXTENSION

OFFICE...