Polk Small Farms: New and Revised Families and Consumers publications, November 2013

Highlights of November new publications include Heidi Liss Radunovich’s “Managing Stress During the Holidays” along with press release, video, and Solutions for Your Life page; facts about the Affordable Care Act; dealing with shellfish allergies; portion size, fiber, and how to wash garden produce.

Families and Consumers
Health & Nutrition
	Choose MyPlate: Enjoy Your Food But Eat Less Americans tend to select and consume larger portions than they need, and they don’t always make the best choices either. Part of the secret to maintaining a healthy diet is to know which foods to select and how to balance your intake with the amount of energy your body uses. This publication provides information about which foods make the healthiest contributions to our diets and which to limit. It also provides tips for making it easier to adjust your portions and to enjoy foods while making adjustments to your plate. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Ashley Hamm, Karla P. Shelnutt, and Gail P. A. Kauwell, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, November 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1400
	The Facts About Applying: Health Care Coverage and the Affordable Care Act President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in March 2010, putting in place a set of reforms to health coverage in the United States. For Americans who have health insurance, they do not have to change their current plan under the health care law. However, those who do not have coverage will have the chance to shop for health insurance starting October 1 using the new Health Insurance Marketplace. This publication reviews some common questions about the new health care law and how it will affect citizens. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Meg McAlpine and Martie Gillen, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1394
	Managing Stress During the Holidays When we think of the holidays, we often think about family, togetherness, giving, and celebrating. While the holiday season should be a time of enjoyment, there are many events associated with the season that can cause stress. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Heidi Radunovich, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, November 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1404
	Raising Healthy Children: Shellfish Allergies Learning that your child has a shellfish allergy can be scary. But having a plan and knowing how to treat and avoid a reaction to shellfish can ease this fear and keep your child safe. This publication explains shellfish allergies and provides information on the symptoms and how to respond if a reaction occurs. There are also tips to make it easier to manage your child’s shellfish allergy at home and away from home.This 4-page fact sheet was written by Kate Bennett, Karla P. Shelnutt, and Gail P. A. Kauwell, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, November 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1402
	Shopping for Health: Foods with Added Fiber Fiber in foods consists of carbohydrates that cannot be digested. Although many foods naturally contain fiber, high-fiber ingredients are commonly added to foods to increase their fiber content. Fiber ingredients may be added to foods for health or functional reasons. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Wendy Dahl, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, November 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs235
Food Safety
	Home Gardening Food Safety: Washing the Fruits (and Vegetables) of Your Labor Properly Having a home garden has become popular recently. It is a great way to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables—foods that are an important part of a healthy diet. However, just because you have your own garden and control how it is treated does not make the fruits and vegetables you grow safer than those you buy in the store. To reduce the chance of getting sick from foodborne illnesses, you must wash the fruits and vegetables you grow before eating them raw or cooked. This publication helps you learn the proper way to clean your fruits and vegetables so you can enjoy them safely. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Eshani Persaud, Amy Simonne, and Karla P. Shelnutt, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, November 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1401