Kent State Interns

  Feeding Children in Portage County  Food insecurity is a harrowing problem for many families and communities around the world. According to Feeding America, 9 million children are hungry. But, food insecurity hits even closer to home. The food insecurity rate in Portage, Stark and Summit county is around 20% of children. Programs such as School Lunch Program, WIC, SNAP and other government benefits are helpful to providing support to families, but at Kent State, we wanted to take it a step further. A graduate student focused their master's project on discovering the severity of food insecurity for children in Portage County. Since then, Mighty Pack was born. A food insecurity service for children in Portage County, this service provides a weekend bag of food for children. Two breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack items are provided each week to various school and child development centers around Kent. With the supervision of Dr. Natalie Caine-Bish; Graduate Assistants org...

  Have you heard of The Three Sisters of American agriculture? “ The Iroquois and the Cherokee called corn, bean, and squash “the three sisters” because they nurture each other like family when planted together” (Hill, 2016) Diohe’ko, “The Three Sisters,” is the practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together. The three sisters are said to be the physical and spiritual sustainers of life. It was the central food system of indigenous people in the North and Southeast of North America dating back as far as 1070 AD. Corn provided a stalk to support the beans. Beans provided a nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their roots. Squash gave ground cover which kept weeds from growing. The complementary nature of The Three Sisters allows them each to grow and flourish. When eaten together, The Three Sisters were highly nutritious: A source of meat-free complete protein (thanks to complementary amino acids) Complex carbohydrates A plethora of vitamins, minerals, and fiber Let the Thr...

 It can be difficult to put together a meal for someone with dietary preferences/restrictions. It can also be hard as a vegetarian on holidays too because there are not that many options for you to choose from. Holiday food tends to be meat-centric (ham, turkey, roasts, etc.) and don't offer a lot of variety when it comes to what someone who is vegetarian can eat. I have included some tips to consider whether you are vegetarian or hosting someone who is vegetarian. I have also included some fun recipes you can try on the Holidays.  Tips  1. Know where you are going- It's important to know where you are going or whether you are hosting so, that you can plan in advance.  2. Educate the host- A lot of people don't know what exactly vegetarians can and cannot eat, so it is important to educate them. It is important to educate them, so that they can make food that you can eat, or you can share some recipes with them! 3. Bring your own food - If all else fails you can just...

As we all know, Thanksgiving is a day where family, friends, and food take center stage. It involves celebration and various mouthwatering dishes. However, many find themselves dealing with guilt over indulging in a feast. But I think it's time to free ourselves from this unnecessary guilt surrounding food on this cherished holiday. The guilt about Thanksgiving feasting is often caused by society and the emphasis on health and diet. It's important to remember that this day isn't an everyday occurrence. It's a moment to celebrate the joys in life while enjoying food that could potentially have cultural significance to you and your family. Rather than obsessing over calorie counts or diet restrictions, focus on appreciation for the food and precious moments shared around the table. You should acknowledge that allowing yourself to enjoy this feast without guilt is an act of self-care and a celebration of gratitude and togetherness. So, this Thanksgiving, release the guilt ...

Did you know that only about 7% of Americans are meeting the recommendations for fiber intake. Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. Fiber plays a role in supporting regular bowel movements, lowering cholesterol levels, and controlling blood sugar levels. It also helps aid in satiety, which is the feeling of fullness. For individuals with diabetes, it is important to get enough fiber in your diet to decrease the risk of heart disease. How much fiber do I need per day? The recommended daily intake for males is 38 grams and 25 grams for females. To meet the recommendations, your diet should consist of a variety of whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables. The peels of fruits and vegetables is where you will find a larger amount of fiber.  Here is a list of a few high-fiber foods you can add to your diet to start hitting your goals: 1 cup of berries (8 grams) ½ cup oatmeal (4 grams) 1 medium banana (3 grams) ½ medium avocado (5 grams) ½ cup chickpeas (5 grams) 1 large pear ...

The holidays are a the most wonderful time of the year! They are filled with family, friends, and a lot of delicious foods. Sometimes it can feel like you can't indulge in all the foods you want or you feel guilty after eating that cookie! But don't stress, you don't have to feel guilty about eating your favorite cookie or your favorite dessert. You can have everything in moderation! Making smart food choices can help you enjoy the holidays in the best way you can! Always remember to  1.  Eat a breakfast everyday! Regardless of what you ate the day before, always get up and start your day fresh. 2. Add fruits and vegetables to your plate everyday! Adding fruits and vegetables will help you feel fuller longer and lower your chance to over eating! 3. Choose smaller portion sizes! Start out with small portions and then go back for seconds if you are still hungry.  4. Eat your food slower! It takes a few minutes to signal your brain that "I'm getting full", so tak...

The holidays are right around the corner! Only 11 days away from Thanksgiving and 43 days from Christmas to be exact. My favorite thing about the holidays is spending time with my family and friends, and what better way to do that than by getting together and sharing our favorite dishes? During the holidays there is always more food being served. This makes it easy to overeat, and temptations are everywhere.   Here are 3 Healthy Tips to get you Through the Holidays:   1.   Make Fruits and Vegetables Part of Your Plate   Your typical holiday dinner consists of casseroles, mac and cheese, rolls, and mashed potatoes, right? Why not add fruit and veggies to your plate? Some of my favorites are baked sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts, a fall harvest salad, and a fruit and cheese board. Fruit and veggie dishes are not only packed with nutrients but can be extremely flavorful! Bring one of these dishes to your next holiday party and I promise you won’t disappoint!  ...

Ginger has long been beloved for its pleasantly spicy flavor. Commonly used in many sweet seasonal dishes like pumpkin pie and gingerbread, you can also spot the spicy root in everyday food items like ginger ale, tea, and candies. But did you know that aside from ginger’s pleasantly spicy flavor, it also has been proven to have a variety of health benefits? Namely, ginger has been utilized heavily for treating diseases in Traditional Chinese, Indian, and Ayurvedic medicine (6).   Here are (just a few!) examples of potential health benefits that have been reported for ginger: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties (3,5,6,7,8). Reducing cholesterol (2,6,8,9). Reducing nausea and aiding digestion (4,6,8).  Blood sugar control (6,8). May control  menstrual pain (1). The health benefits of ginger have been tied to specific bioactive compounds within the root such as  gingerols and shogaols, volatile oils, and diarylheptanoids (6,8). Many studies...

  Exploring the Benefits of Kefir Dairy products are the forefront of staple snacks or added to dishes in many households. Milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice cream and…. kefir; wait kefir? What is that? Kefir is a dairy product that came from Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. Originating from the word “keyif”, a Turkish word, meaning feeling good after eating. Kefir is a fermented drink made from cows or goat’s milk. The process begins when a starter culture called kefir and lactic acid are added to milk for ferment. A mix between yogurt and smoothie, kefir is a tangy drink that is filling and has many flavors such as strawberry, blueberry and mixed berry. Such as other dairy products, Kefir has an impressive nutrient profile with a range of B-vitamins, probiotics, calcium, phosphorous, and sufficient protein. A 1 cup serving size of Kefir is approximately: ·          Calories: 212 ·       ...

With it becoming colder outside that means it is becoming soup season. I don’t know about you guys , but I hate the cold and love foods that will keep me warm. In Ohio the weather is so unpredictable and unreliable, but this soup is the complete opposite. You can rely on it to get you warm and is delicious. This soup is packed with vitamins that help with eye health, the immune system, blood clotting, and inflammation. Fiber is also found in the soup which aides in cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The chickpeas in the recipe are a great source of protein and fiber. You can customize the soup and add whatever you want to meet your dietary needs such as using gluten free or vegan noodles. Enjoy this recipe as you watch your favorite football team play on a cold Sunday and hopefully pull off a win.       Ingredients:   1 tablespoon olive oil   1 yellow onion (chopped)   2 large carrots (chopped)   2 celery ribs (chopped)   3 cloves garlic (m...