Matagorda County FCH - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

🌟 Sports aren't the only way for kids to stay active! Discover ideas to help children find physical activities they enjoy, plus resources to keep them moving and motivated every day. 🚴

How to Encourage Exercise When Kids Don't Like Sports It's important for kids to exercise, even if they don't like sports! Read to find out why and ideas to help encourage it.

🧠 Did you know your gut health is connected to more than digestion? Learn how the foods you eat can support your gut microbiome and play a role in immune function, metabolism, and brain health. 🥦

Why Gut Health Depends on What’s on Your Plate Explore how fruits and vegetables support gut health, from fiber and microbiome balance to digestion, immunity, and disease prevention.

🥪 A healthy lunch can help kids stay focused, energized, and ready to learn! Discover tips for packing balanced meals with foods your child enjoys, from whole grains and proteins to fruits and veggies. 🥕

Healthy back-to-school lunches Get tips for packing a healthy back-to-school lunch kids will like and improve their ability to learn.

🌞 Resetting as summer winds down? Settling into a new routine? Help your body adjust with simple habits that support your natural sleep-wake cycle, including morning sunlight, consistent bedtimes, and smart screen habits. 🍃

How to Reset Your Circadian Rhythm Learn how to reset your circadian rhythm with proven strategies like light exposure, a consistent sleep schedule, and healthy daily habits.

Reducing Your Risk for Cyclospora

The Cyclospora outbreak has many people wondering what they should do with lettuce and other types of fresh produce. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), investigation of the current nation-wide outbreak is ongoing. Iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico is believed to be a primary source of the outbreak. Another outbreak in North Carolina has recently been reported but source of the contaminated produce has yet to be confirmed.
What is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a parasite spread by consuming food or water contaminated with human f***s. According to the CDC, if someone consumes food or water contaminated with Cyclospora, illness (called cyclosporiasis) can appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days or even longer. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis vary from person to person and can include stomach cramps, watery diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, loss of appetite, low-grade fever, and headache. People infected with Cyclospora may experience symptoms, begin to feel better, then often experience symptoms again. Cyclosporiasis is treatable with the correct antibiotics.
Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis are not uncommon and often peak during the summer months. They typically involve fresh produce such as lettuce, basil, cilantro, parsley, and berries.
Preventing Cyclospora at home
How can consumers reduce their risk for becoming infected with Cyclospora? Jenna Anding, PhD, RDN, Professor and Extension Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offers the following tips:
• Do not eat any produce that has been recalled. A current list of recalled items can be found on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website: https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-9-state-outbreak-cyclospora-illnesses-iceberg-lettuce-july-2026
• Consider avoiding the use of bagged salads and other leafy greens until the source of the outbreak is confirmed. Instead, select whole heads of lettuce, peel off the outer leaves, and wash thoroughly.
• Always begin food preparation with clean hands. Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water. It is especially important to wash hands after using the restroom.
• Wash produce under cool, running water before peeling, cutting, or eating. For produce with a firm and/or textured peel, use a clean vegetable brush and scrub under running water. Cut away any damaged areas on the produce before eating or cooking. This includes leafy greens, herbs such as cilantro or parsley, and other fresh produce.
• Prevent cross-contamination by separating fresh produce from other raw foods; use clean utensils, cutting boards.
• Individuals who are very young, elderly, pregnant, or have a weakened immune system may want to consider avoiding raw fruits, vegetables, and herbs for the time being. However, cooking produce to a minimum temperature of 158 degrees can kill the parasite.
Washing can remove some, but not all of the Cyclospora that might contaminate fresh produce. The CDC cautions that Cyclospora parasites are resistant to chlorine-based sanitizers; the use of bleach or soap to rinse produce is not advised.
For more information about Cyclospora, visit the Food and Drug Administration at https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/cyclospora or the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/07-26/index.html.

Cyclospora Cyclospora is a parasite that is so small it can only be seen under a microscope.

✅ Back-to-school prep goes beyond the backpack. Get tips on safe travel, healthy lunches, homework habits, bullying prevention and other ways to help your child thrive this year. 🎒

Back-to-School Tips for Families ​There are many things you and your child can do to prepare for school that will make it an enjoyable experience for the whole family.

🌅 Summer isn't over yet! Ease into the new season with realistic wellness tips that support healthy eating, better sleep, stress management, and simple routines you can actually stick with. 🍉

End-of-Summer Wellness That Feels Good - DishWithDina Ease into fall with realistic wellness tips from a Registered Dietitian. No diets, no guilt. Fuel your body, sleep better, and stress less this season.

Looking for easy meal ideas to fit your busy family routine? 🥪 Find practical tips for balanced breakfasts, lunchboxes, healthy snacks, and quick family dinners. 🍎

Healthy Meals for Busy Families: Easy Back-to-School Nutrition Tips Back-to-school season can feel hectic, but it’s still possible to help your child eat healthy meals each day. Here are a pediatric dietitian’s top tips.

Your brain health is shaped by the choices you make every day 🧠 From your teens through older adulthood, simple habits like staying active, managing blood pressure, and staying connected can help protect cognitive health for years to come 🚶

Brain health at every age | Family Doctor Long-term cognitive conditions like dementia aren't inevitable. Learn how to keep your brain healthy at every age.

📚 Help your child head back to school with confidence! Learn simple ways to reset routines, ease first-day worries, practice healthy habits and make the transition smoother for the whole family. 🍎

How To Prepare Kids for School Some kids count down the days till school starts. Others, not so much. Here’s how to help them ease back into the routines and calm any nerves.