Better Food, Better Mood

Published: 2020
By Haley Barker

As a new agent in Stillwater County MSU Extension, it has been an interesting ride. I began teaching monthly culinary education classes featuring different topics, including meals in minutes (featuring the Instant Pot); cooking with herbs (taught twice); and pies and cobblers. Once the pandemic halted our in-person courses, I participated in teaching statewide virtual courses held throughout April and May. The meal planning course featured a new online app designed to allow individuals to choose a specific diet (including low carbohydrate, paleo, keto, and a number of others), as well as a feature to eliminate foods they dislike. The video was recorded and put online, where it received 49 likes, 6 shares, 229 views and numerous comments. In September I offered an in-person ServSafe training to 15 participants and have another course planned for December. ServSafe protection manager certification is a nationally-acclaimed program sponsored by the National Restaurant Association, American National Standards Institute (ANSI), & Conference for Food Protection (CFP). This course includes eight hours of intensive hands-on and classroom instruction of safe food preparation and handling. This workshop offers the opportunity for participants to become officially certified in ServSafe by attending the full day's workshop and passing an exam. ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification is valid for five years and meets the most urgent food safety training challenges in the industry. ServSafe food safety managers training has not been offered in our county for a couple years and it has been found to be a large need in the county.