Become heart healthy this February; enjoy chocolate, too

Has heart disease affected someone in your family? Has it been you?

Carroll County Extension Homemakers recently met to make cloth dolls to be taken to the military lounge at the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati Airport. Military personnel may pick up a doll or two to take with them for children in countries abroad where they are serving or take home to their own children. This is a service project that all Extension Homemaker members in Northern Kentucky are involved. In Carroll County members made 22 dolls. Pictured above are: Mary Anne Kunselman, Marie Van Diver, Gloria Lindsay and Martha Moorman.

Feb-ruary is National Heart Health Month. The Northern Kent-ucky Area Exten-sion Homemakers will sponsor a special heart health workshop and luncheon Friday, Feb. 3 from 10:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Boone County Extension office.

Friday is “National Wear Red Day,” as millions of Americans join the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red as a reminder of the importance of stopping heart disease in our lifetime.

Guest speaker, Toni Schklar, RN, MSN, of St. Elizabeth Hospital Healthcare, will speak on ensuring healthy hearts, inspiring women to take care of their health to prevent heart disease.

A survivors panel and discussion will feature heart attack survivors sharing their stories and answering questions. One of the panel members is Alice Long Burke of Carroll County.

A heart-friendly lunch will be provided by the Northern Kentucky Extension Homemakers. All interested are invited and to “wear red.” There is no cost, but pre-registration is preferred by calling (502) 732-7030 or (859) 586-6101, or online at www.ca.uky.edu/boone. Call the Carroll County Extension office if you are attending and need a ride.

You and your personality

Kate Vaught, Campbell County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent, will teach a session, “Personality Perks” Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m. at our office.

Vaught will use a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which is the most widely used personality instrument in the world. The instrument usually costs $10 but will be free to all participants.

Understanding your personality can help improve your relationships, zone in on your strengths, discover potential areas where you can grow and advance your leadership skills. This workshop will help you understand the type of person you are, how you relate to others and your own interpersonal skills

Anyone interested is invited to attend. For Extension Homemaker members. this is your February “Learn with Us!” session. Invite husbands and friends to attend.

A sweetheart of a candy

With Valentine’s Day not too far away, let’s look at a favorite – chocolate.

Eating a small amount of rich, dark chocolate provides instant enjoyment. Cocoa, used to make chocolate, is one of the richest food sources of healthful antioxidants.

Consumers can look for new products designed to enhance chocolate’s health benefits and reduce the sugar content. The higher the cocoa content, the more antioxidants the candy contains.

The human love affair with chocolate began more than 3,000 years ago when it was served as a frothy, spicy, cocoa-like drink in Central America. While chocolate will never be as healthy as fruits and vegetables, it is a way to be sweet to your Valentine in a healthy way.

This tidbit of sweet information was shared by Janet Mullins, Food and Nutrition Extension Specialist with the  UK College of Agriculture.

Dates of interest

Feb. 7: Learn with Us! “Personality Perks,” 1:30 p.m., Carroll County Extension Office

Feb. 9: Knitting group, 6-8 p.m., second and fourth Thursday, Carroll County Extension Office.

Feb. 13: Winter Walks and Chili, 4-5:30 p.m., (new session starts) Carroll County Extension Office, $5 fee.

Feb. 15: Healthy Weight Group, 5-6:30 p.m. Topic: “Sodium – What’s in it for Me?” Carroll County Extension Office.

Grace Angotti is Carroll Co. Extension agent for family and consumer sciences. Call her at (502) 732-7030 or send e-mail to gangotti@uky.edu.