Family and Consumer Sciences 

UF/IFAS Extension in Lake County offers Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) programs that help people live healthier and safer lives. These programs are based on research and are designed to support our community.

Health and wellness programs teach people how to eat healthy foods and make simple lifestyle changes that can improve their overall health.

Food systems programs show people how to safely handle and store food, including skills like food preservation and farm‑to‑table learning. These lessons help reduce food waste, keep families safe, and explain how nutrients help our bodies stay healthy.

• Health, Wellness and Food Systems

  Keeping It Healthy

  • A 3-part program about planning meals, cooking for one or two people, and staying hydrated.
  • Classes teach healthy eating using MyPlate, food labels, safe food handling, shopping on a budget, and the importance of being active.

  Your Health Matters

  • Programs focus on preventing and managing diabetes.
  • This 3-part series teaches how to read food labels, use the Plate Method for diabetes, and care for feet and eyes. Physical activity is also discussed.
    The program is available online at:
    https://ifas-lake.catalog.instructure.com/courses/your-health-matters-focus-on-diabetes

   

  Dining with Diabetes

  • A 4-part program that teaches healthy cooking and ways to manage pre-diabetes and diabetes. Designed for people with diabetes and their caregivers.
    Includes hands-on cooking activities.

  Med instead of Meds

  • A 6-part program about the Mediterranean Diet.
    Participants learn simple tips, recipes, and how this eating style can help prevent and manage chronic diseases. Includes hands-on cooking activities.

  Bone Health

  • A 7-part program about keeping bones strong at every age.
    Topics include osteoporosis, medication, healthy eating, key nutrients, fall prevention, and physical activity. Includes a recipe demonstration.

  Let’s Walk Florida

  • A virtual program that helps people become more active.
  • This 6-week online program encourages walking and other physical activity to improve health.

  Food Preservation

  • Hands-on classes that teach safe food preservation.
    Participants practice water bath canning and pressure canning.
    Each class focuses on preparing a item and food safety.

  Timeless Tastes

  • Offered in the fall and spring at Great Scott Farms.
    Each class highlights a local vegetable.
    Participants learn about gardening, food history, nutrition, food safety, and cooking.
    Includes a recipe demo and food tasting.

  Taste of Cultures

  • A 4-part program about foods from different cultures.
    Participants learn food history, spice health benefits, and healthier ways to prepare traditional dishes. Includes hands-on cooking.

  Growing, Cooking and Preserving with Herbs

  • This program teaches how to grow, store, and use fresh herbs.
    Participants learn about health benefits and make spice and tea blends to take home. Each person plants seeds to take home.

  Additional Resources

  • • • Health and Nutrition
      • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
      • Healthfinder--National Health Information Center
      • MyPlate--USDA
      • National Institutes of Health
      • American Diabetes Association
      • American Heart Association
      • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
      • Importance of Family Meals
      • Preparing for a Hurricane: Food & Supplies
      • After the Storm: Food Safety
      • Eating on a Budget
      • Managing Your Health: High Blood Pressure
      • Managing Your Health: High Cholesterol
      • Meal Planning Senior Nutrition

   

• Family Resource Management

  Money Matters UF/IFAS information:

  • • • Personal Finance
      • Banking and Saving
      • Budgeting, Planning and Recordkeeping
      • Credit and Debt Management
      • Estate Planning
      • Finance and Family
      • Life Skills Development
      • Home Ownership
      • Insurance

  Additional Resources

  • • • Florida Saves
      • Managing Your Finances
      • Consumer Action (FCIC)
      • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
      • Florida Department of Financial Services
      • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
      • My Money
      • Choose to Save

   

• Blogs

  Blogs Page for Lori Johnson