Kid Chef - LSU AgCenter Rapides Extension

The Culinary Club is open for registration! Meeting dates are 9/16, 11/11, 1/13, & 2/17. Cost to Join is $40. Join through 4honline, Events. You need to be an enrolled member for the 26-27 year to register.

Cyclospora cases are still increasing in Louisiana, and the Louisiana Department of Health has launched a public dashboard (shown here) showing cases by parish. As of August 5, Louisiana has reported 125 cases of cyclosporiasis. Six individuals have been hospitalized, and East Baton Rouge and Lafayette parishes currently report the highest number of cases.

The illness is often linked to contaminated fresh produce that is consumed raw, including leafy greens, herbs, berries, and other fruits and vegetables.

Symptoms typically appear about one week after exposure. Seek medical attention if you experience:
- Severe diarrhea lasting more than 3 days
- Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, dizziness, decreased urination)
- High fever
- Persistent vomiting
- Young children, older adults, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems may be at greater risk for severe illness

While there is no way to completely eliminate the risk, these food safety practices can help reduce your chances of becoming ill:
- For produce that can be cooked, cooking to 158°F (70°C) or higher provides the greatest protection.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling fresh produce.
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking.
- Scrub firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush.
- Remove damaged or bruised areas from fruits and vegetables.
- Clean and sanitize cutting boards, knives, countertops, and other food-contact surfaces.
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables within two hours.
- Stay hydrated and contact your healthcare provider if you experience persistent diarrhea or other symptoms.

You can read more about cyclospora here: https://tinyurl.com/27rwcm9c
View the Department of Health's dashboard and map: https://tinyurl.com/4hjvhyzc

Come work with us!! The Rapides Parish Extension office has a 4-H Agent position open 🍀

Assistant/Associate Extension Agent (4-H Youth Development) All Job Postings will close at 12:01a.m. CST (1:01a.m. EST) on the specified Closing Date (if designated). If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application progress will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through “My D...

Teen Chef was Amazing!! These teens really know how to cook. Glad to have yall join us for South of the Border 🌮🇲🇽

Check out these fun, easy to follow cooking videos to help get your kids in the kitchen! 

Parents: You can help set healthy eating patterns for your child by choosing healthy foods for yourself. Check out these tips for introducing young children to healthy food: https://bit.ly/3Z5aKSl

LSU AgCenter has a "Build a Healthy Meal" series which features kid-friendly recipes and demos! Click this link to view inspiration for healthy meal building with kids. 🥗🍎🍽️

https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/food_health/food/build-a-healthy-meal/kid-friendly-meals

We love getting to spend time with these kiddos!! Teaching all about nutrition, culinary skills and physical activity is our jam 🍓
We traveled Around the World again with Caprese Salad 🇮🇹, Hummus 🇪🇬, Thai peanut noodles 🇹🇭, and Greek yogurt parfaits 🇬🇷. What a day!

Kid Chef Around the World 🌎 was a world of fun today!!
We are excited for round ✌🏼tomorrow!