LSU AgCenter Beauregard Parish Healthy Living

11/03/2026

🍲 Soup Mix in a Jar Workshop 🍲

Join the LSU AgCenter and Beauregard Health System for a fun, hands-on class on December 8 at 12:00 PM in the Same Day Surgery Conference Room at the hospital!

In this free class, you'll:
✅ Learn the nutritional benefits of preparing homemade meals
✅ Practice reading and following a recipe
✅ Create your own soup mix in a jar to take home or give as a gift
✅ Enjoy a sample of the soup during class

Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

📞 Call the Vernon Parish LSU AgCenter at 337-239-3231 to RSVP.

We hope you'll join us for this tasty and practical holiday-inspired workshop! 🍲🎁✨

10/23/2026

🌟 Yesterday, I had a great time representing the LSU AgCenter Nutrition & Community Health Program at the DeRidder Junior High Health Fair, hosted by the Beauregard Parish Health Unit!

Approximately 345 seventh and eighth grade students participated and had the opportunity to visit with a variety of community organizations and learn about a wide range of health topics.

At my table, students put their nutrition knowledge to the test! 🥦🍎 Using food models and Nutrition Facts labels, they compared foods and identified the healthier choices before earning a prize. We talked about:
✅ Reading Nutrition Facts labels
✅ Making small swaps for healthier meals and snacks

I was impressed by how much many of the students already knew about making healthy food choices and reading food labels! 👏

A Nutrition Facts label can be a powerful tool for making informed choices. Taking a few extra seconds to compare products can help you find options that are lower in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars while providing more of the nutrients your body needs.

Thank you to the Beauregard Parish Health Unit for hosting such a great event and bringing together so many community partners to invest in the health of our youth! 💙

10/20/2026

Last week, Justine Ramsey, Nutrition and Community Health Extension Agent with the LSU AgCenter, partnered with Beauregard Health System to present a Break Up with Salt class focused on reducing sodium and supporting heart health.

Participants learned:
🧂 How sodium affects blood pressure and overall health
🥫 Common sources of hidden sodium in canned, packaged, and restaurant foods
🔍 How to read Nutrition Facts labels and compare products
🌿 Ways to add flavor without salt using herbs, spices, and other seasonings
❤️ Simple strategies to reduce sodium intake while still enjoying favorite meals
🍲 How to modify recipes to reduce sodium without sacrificing taste

Participants also enjoyed tasting a lower-sodium chicken stew made with an oil-free roux, demonstrating how traditional recipes can be adapted to support heart health while still being flavorful and satisfying.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion! It was great to see participants engaged and learning practical ways to make healthier choices.

We're excited to continue our quarterly nutrition classes with Beauregard Health System. Our next class will be held on December 8 at noon in the Day Surgery Conference Room at Beauregard Health System. Participants will create a Soup Mix in a Jar, a delicious, budget-friendly meal and holiday gift idea.

📞 Limited seating available. To RSVP, call the Vernon Parish LSU AgCenter at 337-239-3231.

10/14/2026

🍎 October is National Farm to School Month!

Including more fruits and vegetables in your meals can help support overall health. Seasonal produce, such as apples and sweet potatoes, can be a nutritious and budget-friendly option for families this fall.

This month, challenge yourself to add one seasonal item, like apples, sweet potatoes, or pumpkin, to your family's menu each week.

Need a quick idea? Try these Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes: https://www.skinnytaste.com/loaded-baked-sweet-potato/

10/13/2026

On behalf of the Office of the Louisiana Surgeon General, help us better understand healthcare access and community health needs in Louisiana. Share your feedback by completing the Louisiana Community Health Survey: https://bit.ly/LAHealth2026

10/12/2026

AgMagic CENLA Registration is still open and time slots are limited. Don’t Delay! Sign up your school today!!

Sign-up using this link: https://lsuagcenter.ticketspice.com/2026-agmagic-cenla

10/07/2026

🧂 It's Time to Break Up with Salt! ❤️

Did you know that too much sodium can increase your risk for high blood pressure? Join us for a free educational class to learn simple, research-based strategies to reduce sodium intake and support heart health.

During this class, you'll:
✅ Learn how salt affects your body
✅ Discover practical ways to cut back on sodium
✅ Enjoy a healthy recipe tasting
✅ Connect with others interested in healthy living

📅 October 13, 2026
🕛 12:00 - 1:00 PM
📍 Same Day Surgery Conference Room, Beauregard Health System Hospital

This class is free to attend, but registration is encouraged.

📞 RSVP: 337-239-3231

Small changes can make a big difference for your heart health. We hope to see you there! ❤️🩺

10/05/2026

We had a wonderful time partnering with Beauregard Health System for the second annual Dining with Diabetes series!

Participants completed a four-session program focused on diabetes self-management, healthy eating, meal planning, and cooking skills. Thank you to everyone who attended and actively participated in the discussions and recipe demonstrations. Your commitment to your health is inspiring!

We look forward to offering more nutrition education programs in the future. 💜💛

BHS's Second Annual Dining with Diabetes Series is Complete!

Congratulations to all of our participants who successfully completed this year's Dining with Diabetes educational series! Your commitment to learning healthy lifestyle habits and diabetes self-management is an important step toward better health.

A special thank you to our partners at LSU AgCenter for helping make this program a success.

Together, we are building a healthier community, one healthy choice at a time.

09/23/2026

👩‍🍳🍆 I’m excited to be partnering with Beauregard 4-H Chef Club this year! We had a great first meeting last Friday as we kicked off Louisiana’s Farm to School Harvest of the Month program.

This month’s featured food was eggplant, and our young chefs made and tasted Eggplant Parmesan. Many were surprised by how much they enjoyed it! Looking forward to a year of cooking, learning, and trying new Louisiana-grown foods together. 💜🍴

09/10/2026

The LSU AgCenter is conducting a study to better understand how homeowners make decisions about resilient home improvements, particularly roofing upgrades. The information collected will help us identify the costs, barriers, information needs, and incentives that influence these decisions and improve the resources available to homeowners. We need your help. Would you be willing to take a survey to contribute to the study?

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. At the end of the survey, you may choose to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card.

Take the survey: https://lsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Jsr81XkBsZlqCy

You do not need to be familiar with FORTIFIED Roof™ standards or programs to participate. This study has been reviewed and approved by the LSU AgCenter Institutional Review Board. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].