Health is a lot more than how one looks and feels. Conversations about health should include all eight dimensions or areas of wellness—that is mental, social, emotional, spiritual, financial, occupational, environmental, and intellectual. That’s the focus of Living Well Month, a national event in March promoting overall wellness and the education provided by Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) professionals to improve the lives of people, families, and communities. The Person & Granville Cooperative Extension Service works to offer information that will help families achieve a positive, healthy lifestyle. Whether you are trying to manage your diabetes through meal planning and exercise, make decisions about health care and insurance, or get tips on effective parenting techniques, the N.C. Cooperative Extension FCS program has a research-based answer.

The theme for National Nutrition Month is to “Celebrate A World of Flavors” and you have several different chances to learn how to enjoy different flavors, cook with different cooking methods, and use fresh vegetables. Our in-person Lunch N’ Learn will be at the Person County Office Building on Tuesday, March 15^th at 12:00pm. It costs $5 to attend and must be paid by this Friday. A lot of good information, handouts and lunch will be provided. Or you can join us virtually for the same workshop on Tuesday, March 22^nd at 12:00pm for free. Register online at go.ncsu.edu/fcsregistration. Or you can join us on Tuesday, March 29^th at 10:00am at the North Granville Senior Center in Stovall. We will also have information on how to “Cook Fresh Veggies” at a workshop on Thursday, March 31^st at 5:30pm at the Berea Branch of the Granville County Library.

Here is a recipe is from Oldways Cultural Food Traditions website at oldwayspt.org For more information, follow us on a variety of social media sites: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @persongranvillefcs

Healthy Hoppin’ John - serves 4

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 small onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup dried black-eyed peas

1 cup uncooked brown rice

4 cups water

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp pepper

Heat oil in a deep sauce pot over medium heat. Cook the onions and garlic for 2-3 minutes, until translucent. Add the dried black-eyed peas, salt, brown rice, and 4 cups of fresh water to the pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to simmer, and add the cayenne and black pepper. Cook for 45 minutes, covered, adding water as needed, until beans and rice are tender and cooked through.

Nutrition Information: 248 calories, 5g fat, 5mg sodium, 47g carbohydrates, 6g protein