Family and Consumer Sciences

The goal of family and consumer sciences education is to improve the quality of life for youth, adults and families.

Health, Nutrition and Food Safety

Classes

The following classes are routinely offered by the UI Extension, Bingham County office. Check the calendar for upcoming classes or contact the office at 208-785-8060.

• 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 of healthy foods. Intended for people with diabetes, pre-diabetes and their care givers.
• 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.

Youth Nutrition Classes are taught in elementary schools and to a variety of youth groups. Call to schedule this class for a school or other youth group.

Nutrition classes are also offered monthly at the Blackfoot Senior Citizens’ Center. A variety of topics relative to seniors are discussed.

Interested in a topic not listed? Contact the UI Extension office.

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.

Classes

Eastern District Food Preservation Workshops, held each spring in a variety of locations cover the following topics:

• Food Preservation Basics
• Canning High-Acid Foods
• Canning Low-Acid Foods
• Canning and Freezing Jams and Jellies
• Drying Foods
• Freezing Foods

Dial Gauge Pressure Canner 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.

Ask Questions

Ask food safety or preservation questions by calling 208-785-8060, emailing bingham@uidaho.edu or visiting the office.

Financial Management

UI Extension offers resources and programming to improve the financial literacy and money management practices of Idahoans.

Youth Financial Literacy

Welcome to the Real World guides high school students through a simulation of getting a job, opening a savings and checking account and budgeting money for a month’s worth of expenses. Call to schedule this class for a school or other youth group.