The Family Room and Demonstration Kitchen

Where: Main Street between West 8th and 9th St

Healthy eating, physical activity, keeping food safe and understanding how to take care of ourselves, are all part of both good physical and mental health. Exhibits in the Family Room focusing on health and well-being include Naturally Flavored Water, LIFT or Lifelong Improvements with Fitness Together, and Understanding Alzheimer's Disease: Know the Warning Signs. The crowd favorite Cooking Demonstrations return with family friendly recipes prepared before your eyes with a chance to taste test before making at home. Additionally, you can learn about a new program, Let's Cook With Extension, aimed at expanding your cooking and eating horizons. When it comes to safety, Food Safety and Home Preservation in the home will be featured as well as Pest Control in Your Home. If you are looking for a way to stay active in your community, be sure to visit and learn about our Master Health and Wellness Volunteer Activities.

The following College of Agriculture Penn State Extension program teams sponsor the exhibits: Food, Families and Health, Food Safety and Quality, Nutrition Links, Pesticide Education and Penn State University Police Community Education Program.

Displays and Activities

• Naturally Flavored Water - Visitors can taste water flavored with fruit and learn the importance of water in their daily diet. Get ideas to easily and inexpensively make your own flavored water.
• Cooking Demonstrations - Watch as recipes are prepared each hour to learn new recipes, nutrition tips for preparing healthy meals, and food safety facts. Sample the resulting fare and receive a copy of the featured recipe.
• Home Food Preservation and Consumer Food Safety - In celebration of National Food Safety Month in September, Penn State Food Safety Specialists and Master Food Preservation Volunteers will provide research-based information and fun children and adult hands-on activities demonstrating how to safely store foods in the refrigerator and preserve foods at home.
• Master Health and Wellness Volunteers - Our volunteers have a desire to help others while extending the efforts of our Educators within local communities. Through training, volunteers are prepared to work in the community giving presentations, food demonstrations, assisting at health fairs, meetings and other outreach events. Visit the Family Room to learn more about this opportunity.
• Let's Cook with Extension! - From a Pennsylvania Dutch kitchen to Southeast Asia and all points in between, we're talking meals that stick to your ribs and engage the mind and adventurous spirit of everyone at your table. Stop by to learn more about this fun and educational program that will help you cook with confidence!
• Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: Know the 10 Signs - Do you know how to recognize possible dementia, including Alzheimer's disease as compared to the normal signs of aging? In partnership with the Alzheimer's Association, Penn State Extension can help you with new ideas and ways to keep your brain and body healthy to prevent dementia. Be sure to visit the Family Room to learn more about brain health!
• People, Pests and Pest Management - Many common pests can be found inside and outside your home. Learn how to safely control these pests using integrated pest management strategies. Visit the Pesticide Education Program in the Family Room to learn more!
• Mealtime Conversations - Spark up your family mealtime with fun conversation starters geared for a variety of age groups. Enjoy testing out a few with the conversation cards at the exhibit.