Food, health and nutrition

University of Minnesota Extension improves food literacy, physical activity, food safety and healthy food access for Minnesotans and the food service industry.

Food safety

Preserving and preparing

Canning, freezing, drying, pickling, safe meals, food storage

For food entrepreneurs

Make and sell food from home, safe food sampling

For food processors

Becoming licensed acidified food processor, especially of acidified foods, on-site education

Sanitation and illness

Washing fruits and vegetables, food allergens, preventing food poisoning

Health care

Health insurance literacy

Select a workshop to build your staff's knowledge and confidence to teach about health insurance literacy, or partner with us to offer workshops directly to the people you serve.

Health insurance literacy toolkit

Extension helps individuals acquire the knowledge, ability, and confidence to find and evaluate information about health plans, select the best plan for their circumstances, and use the plan once enrolled.

Protecting health for older adults

Get tips for eating healthy and staying active to help you live a longer, healthier life.

Health care directive workshop

Arrange for us to come and teach on this important topic. Excellent resource for employee groups, community organizations, and more.

Making long term care decisions

Follow these strategies and tips to help your family cope when faced with problems and decisions related to long term care.

Minnesota Health Care Directive Planning Toolkit

Write down your wishes for your care in a health care directive.

Local foods

Farmers markets

Get tips for shopping at farmers markets on a budget.

Farmers market recipes

Quick, simple recipes using seasonal ingredients that work in even the tightest budget.

Supporting farmers markets in accepting SNAP benefits

Get an overview of all the steps necessary to accept SNAP benefits at a farmers market in Minnesota.

Power of Produce (PoP) club

Get all the materials and resources you need to successfully start a PoP Club at your local farmers market.

Mental health and well-being

Stress and change

Tips, online courses and resources for understanding and coping with stress.

Mental health

Mental health information that goes beyond illness.

Nutrition and healthy eating

Teaching nutrition education

Find face-to-face and online training for school foodservice professionals, school districts, and other professionals who work with families.

Save money on food

Learn about nutrition assistance, food budgeting and more.

Making good food choices

Helping Minnesotans with limited financial resources make the healthy choice the easy choice, including better food shelves and healthy inexpensive recipes.

Systems and food networks

Find a map and directory of food networks in Minnesota and get more details about recent and upcoming events.

Building better food shelves

Training, print materials, and videos are available free of charge to food shelf directors, volunteers, and others working to improve healthy food access.

Physical activity

Energizers for nutrition education

Short group activity ideas for educators to get participants of all ages moving in a class, conference, or business meeting environment.

Classroom energizers

Use these classroom-based activities that integrate physical activity (PA) with academic concepts.