Volunteers from our Fairfax group of Master Food Volunteers were recently showcased through the Fairfax County Extension website to share more about their experiences with this program and to highlight their many talents.

Following is a direct link to this site and more information about their testimonials:  http://offices.ext.vt.edu/fairfax/programs/fcs/MFV_testimonials_ffx_arl.html

We salute these great volunteers and to all of our Family and Consumer Sciences Agents and MFV’s around the state that make this program a success!  Thank you!  We couldn’t do this without you.

Anne, a Master Food Volunteer from Fairfax is giving out back-to-school healthy breakfast packets (oatmeal, raisins, nuts, etc, from Share food pantry in McLean) and talking to clients about the importance of a healthy breakfast. She was featured in Connections Newspapers:  http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/photos/2013/aug/20/41802/ Great job, Anne!

According to Katie Strong, our Family and Consumer Sciences Agent working with the Fairfax volunteers, Anne also handed out “Break the Fast” article  from Living Well v.8. by Deb Chappell, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent from Roanoke.  This article can be found at the following URL:  http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/FCS/FCS-15/FCS-15.html

More Fairfax Master Food Volunteers have been involved with a series of Chef at Market” food demos for preparing healthy fruits and vegetables.  Check out the following URL for more info:  http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/wp-farm-mkt.htm.  Another volunteer was recently mentioned in the Washington Post Fairfax County wellness calendar.

Check this out… The Arlington/Alexandra Extension blog site for more blog entries about the exciting programs their Master Food Volunteers have recently been involved, including food demonstrations and samples as part of the Virginia Cooperative Extension exhibit at the Arlington County Fair.  Volunteers also help lead a life skills class at Carpenter’s Shelter in Old Town Alexandria by working with participants to cook healthy meals:  http://blogs.ext.vt.edu/arl-alexvce/.

We appreciate all of our volunteers’ great work and talents!

More than 60 exhibitors took part in the Green Living Expo and Arlington Earth Week Community Fair, sponsored by Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) and George Mason University, and held at the university’s Arlington campus.  Visit the VCE Arlington blog for more interesting information about this event featuring our Master Food Volunteers:

http://blogs.ext.vt.edu/arl-alexvce/

Following is a link to a great article written by Master Food Volunteer, Lisa Metzger, from Arlington/Alexandra about a recent program, FAN (Food and Nutrition) Camp held for children enrolled at Barcroft Elementary School in Arlington.  Master Food Volunteers work with FCS Agent, Katie Strong, to teach  nutrition using some fun games and hands-on cooking experiences to make banana pudding in a bag, salsa, and apple wraps.

This is a great example of some wonderful programs our FCS Agents and Master Food Volunteers facilitate with all age groups and provides inspiration to think of new ways to teach these important skills that promote a healthy lifestyle.

Please keep sending us these great stories to share!  Email your stories to Melissa Chase, mechase@vt.edu.

Click here to read the entire article:  https://blogs.ext.vt.edu/arl-alexvce/

It seems as though many of us are continually searching for ideas to de-clutter our homes and re-organize our kitchens.  With spring rapidly approaching, you may already be looking for ideas for prepare for your annual “spring cleaning.”   According to Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach “Spend Smart. East Smart.” blog, http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/ …kitchen re-organization can also help consumers save money.    The blog  suggests three common themes for kitchen organization:  1) Create “centers” in your kitchen around common activities; 2) Get rid of items you are not using; and 3) Store the items you use the most between your shoulders and knees and in the front where you can most see it.  Tips and ideas for kitchen reorganization can easily be incorporated into your Master Food Volunteer trainings and community classes.  You might even consider having a cooking utensil “swap” activity with your Master Food Volunteers and add needed utensils and tools to your classroom cooking/teaching kits while helping each other get rid of items not being used at home.   Stay tuned to the Spend Smart. Eat Smart blog weekly entries for the month of January 2013.  The blog will feature a new entry each week to focus on kitchen organization.