Health and wellbeing in Bingham County

Health and wellbeing

Family and consumer sciences programs work to improve the quality of life of adults, children and families — specifically through healthy lifestyles, nutrition, food safety and financial management. Contact the UI Extension, Bingham County office at bingham@uidaho.edu or 208-785-8060 for information on current classes and programs.

Classes

The following classes are routinely offered by UI Extension, Bingham County. Youth nutrition and financial literacy classes are taught in elementary schools and to a variety of youth groups. Call 208-785-8060 to schedule a class for a school or other youth group.  

• Dining with Diabetes is a four-class series to teach participants the basics of diabetes, suggested medical tests, meal planning using the plate concept, and cooking demonstrations with tasting healthy foods. Intended for people with diabetes, prediabetes and their caregivers.
• Cooking Under Pressure is a class to learn how to cook using an electronic pressure cooker.
• Mealtime Inspirations is an eastern district event held each autumn. Past themes have included Holiday Edition, Harvest Edition, Entertaining Edition, Home Edition and Family Edition.
• Food preservation courses, including water bath, pressure canning, dehydration, preserves and pickling, are taught as needed for both adults and youth.
• Lifestyle classes cover financial, health and family topics, such as Who Gets Grandmas Yellow Pie Plate?, Dining on a Dime, Cooking for 1 or 2, Gluten Free Living, Freezer Meals and Picky Eater classes.

Food safety and preservation

Food safety education maintains the health of Idaho residents by limiting outbreaks of foodborne illness. UI Extension provides food safety training classes and in-person and telephone consultations. Topics include:

• Food preservation basics
• Canning high-acid foods
• Canning low-acid foods
• Canning and freezing jams and jellies
• Drying foods
• Freezing foods

Dial pressure gauge checks

Dial gauges on pressure canners need to be checked yearly before canning. An inaccurate gauge will lead to incorrectly processed food.

The UI Extension office checks gauges by appointment or on scheduled dates for $2 per gauge, with fee waivers available for financial need.