WSU Extension Q&A: Here’s how to feast for the holidays but be a Scrooge on calories

Q. I love the holidays, but how do I make it healthier so I don’t gain unwanted weight?

A. Be the life of the party! Laugh, dance, mingle and play games. Make exercise a part of the fun by making being active a part of your holiday tradition. Enjoy leftovers by creating delicious new meals with them. Add turkey to soup or salads, use extra veggies in omelets, sandwiches or stews. Bake healthier by using recipes with unsweetened applesauce or mashed ripe bananas instead of butter. Source: choosemyplate.gov.

Q. Why do I find adult insects in my home during the fall and winter when I did not find them here during the summer months?

A. Insects use many strategies to survive the cold winter months. Some adult insects lay eggs and then expire, counting on the eggs they laid to hatch the following spring to carry on the population next season. Avoiding the extreme temperatures is a common strategy that can be accomplished in many ways. Some insects migrate to warmer climates. Many insects burrow into protected areas to find shelter from the extremes of winter. These protected areas are normally cracks in trees, or leaf litter and other debris on the soil surface. In areas with human dwellings, insects will seek shelter under siding or other cracks in the home, while others find their way into homes through open doors or windows to survive the winter months.

Q. My pine tree is turning red and needles are falling off. Is this normal?

A. It is not normal. Pines are an evergreen and should not have large discoloration like deciduous trees. If the trees are turning red, it may be an indication of a new pest that has arrived in the area. The California Fivespined Ips is an invasive beetle that can cause reddening and death in pine trees. The discoloration starts at the top of the tree and then moves down. Healthy stands of trees can often overcome mild infestations. However, slash (or fallen limbs) and wood chips under the tree can serve as a reservoir for the beetle. Infected trees and limbs should be removed. Wood should be burned or undergo sterilization through solarization, which is completely covering wood in dark plastic for a summer to kill all the beetles. If you notice red needles on the top of your pine, contact your local extension office. For more information, WSU has a fact sheet on the California Fivespined Ips beetle at cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS085E/FS085E.pdf.

This story was originally published December 16, 2017 at 1:28 PM with the headline "WSU Extension Q&A: Here’s how to feast for the holidays but be a Scrooge on calories."