Osceola County MSU Extension wants to remind families how to pack a safe lunch.
Make sure before you begin to pack a lunch, your hands, all surfaces and utensils to be used are clean. Wash fruits and vegetables before packing them in the lunch sack.
Keep hot foods hot such as soup or chili by using an insulated bottle. Fill the bottle with boiling water and let it stand for a few minutes. Empty the bottle and then fill it with piping hot food. Keep the bottle closed until lunchtime.
Keep cold foods cold by investing in a freezer gel pack and an insulated lunch box. Freezer gel packs will keep foods cold until lunchtime, but are not recommended for all-day storage. Any perishable food (i.e. meat, poultry or egg sandwiches) not eaten at lunch should be thrown out.
Freeze single-sized juice packs overnight and place the frozen drink in the lunch box or bag. The juice will thaw by lunch and keep the rest of the lunch cold.
If you use a brown paper bag to carry lunch, it’s especially important to include a cold source. A freezer gel pack works well, but tends to make the bag soggy as it warms up. Use an extra paper bag to create a double layer.
Keep lunches out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, baseboards and other heat sources found in classrooms.
If you make sandwiches the night before, keep them refrigerated until packing up to go in the morning.
For more information about food safety please call MSU Extension at 231-832-6145 Monday through Friday 8:00am– 5:00pm. Websites to visit www.fightbac.org and www.foodsafety.gov.
When in Doubt, Throw it Out!
New Booster Seat Law
Children must be in a booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4'9" tall.
Children must be in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first. For example:
If your child is 8 years or older, but under 4'9" tall, the law does not apply.
If your child is under 8 years old, but over 4'9" tall, the law does not apply.
Remember: In both of these cases, your child may be safer in a booster seat but it is not required by law.
Types of booster seats
A booster is a seat that boosts a child up so that the seat belt fits properly. There are two types of booster seats, no-back and high-back.
A no-back booster can be used when the vehicle seat/head rest supports the child's head.
A high-back provides head and neck support and can be used on vehicle seats with or without head restraints.
All booster seats MUST be used with a lap/shoulder safety belt.
More information
Best practice is to keep your child in a car seat with a "5-point" harness until they are at least 40 lbs. before using a booster seat. Some car seats have higher forward-facing harness weight limits of 40-65 lbs. Some forward-facing seats also convert to a high-back booster. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions and choose a seat that is right for your child and fits in your vehicle.
Booster seats are readily available in many retail stores. A no-back booster costs about $15 and a high-back ranges from $20-$100 or more depending on the style.
MSU Evaluation Project - Child Care - Researchers at MichiganStateUniversity are conducting a study about children ages birth through five who are having problems in child care
Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate is a curriculum that was developed by the University of Minnesota in 1998 to help families make decisions about non-titled, personal assets. Learning experiences examine assumptions and beliefs, and help people determine what is fair. It looks at the meaning of objects, considers distribution topic, helps families manage conflicts, etc.
Are You Prepared?
Take our quick quiz! Assess how prepared you are and learn what to do next.
Quiz for Property Owners
For those considering how their own personal belongings will be transferred
Quiz for Educators and Caring Professionals
For senior housing managers, funeral directors, elderlaw attorneys, estate planners, community educators, grief counselors, social workers, members of the clergy and others assisting a property owner or family
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
