{"id":20613,"date":"2025-03-27T11:04:42","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T17:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/?page_id=20613"},"modified":"2025-07-14T16:13:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T22:13:28","slug":"age-authors-melissa-cook","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-authors-melissa-cook\/","title":{"rendered":"Melissa Cook | UW Extension Educator &#038; AGE Blog Author"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"20613\" class=\"elementor elementor-20613\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f7b8ae e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5f7b8ae\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-893709c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"893709c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3858ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b3858ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-home\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"934\" src=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/version-2-AGE-logo-dark.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-20984\" alt=\"AGE logo with heart and two figures icon, linking to the Adapt, Grow, Empower homepage\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/version-2-AGE-logo-dark.png 2000w, https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/version-2-AGE-logo-dark-768x359.png 768w, https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/version-2-AGE-logo-dark-1536x717.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93bc7d5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"93bc7d5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f44285a elementor-nav-menu__align-center elementor-nav-menu--stretch elementor-nav-menu__text-align-center elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-tablet elementor-nav-menu--toggle elementor-nav-menu--burger elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"f44285a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;full_width&quot;:&quot;stretch&quot;,&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;horizontal&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i class=\\&quot;fas fa-caret-down\\&quot; aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;toggle&quot;:&quot;burger&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"AGE Main menu\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-horizontal e--pointer-underline e--animation-fade\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-f44285a\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-21603\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-home\/age-blog-category\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">The AGE Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-21602\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-meet-our-authors\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Meet our AGE experts<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-22018\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-resources\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">AGE Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-toggle\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Menu Toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--open eicon-menu-bar\"><\/i><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--close eicon-close\"><\/i>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-f44285a\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-21603\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-home\/age-blog-category\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">The AGE Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-21602\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-meet-our-authors\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Meet our AGE experts<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-22018\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-resources\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">AGE Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-212b948 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"212b948\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85b5052 elementor-align-right elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"85b5052\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/newsletter\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Subscribe to the AGE Newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64eaca64 e-con-full elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"64eaca64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-679b2fee e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"679b2fee\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f0197fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4f0197fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025_AGE-Blog_authors-450x-6-Melissa-Cooke.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-21280\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025_AGE-Blog_authors-450x-6-Melissa-Cooke.png 450w, https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025_AGE-Blog_authors-450x-6-Melissa-Cooke-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/elementor\/thumbs\/2025_AGE-Blog_authors-450x-6-Melissa-Cooke-r4js91pq497zxxdeg0tb7325tj37jzfbu4j6vp9ves.png 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1786fb8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1786fb8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f7bc42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3f7bc42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Melissa Cook<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41cfcf71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"41cfcf71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">University of Wyoming Extension<br>\nCommunity, Vitality, and Health Educator<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6214824b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6214824b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253b7054 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"253b7054\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">My topics of expertise: <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70de130f elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"70de130f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-heartbeat\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Rural health<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-mountain\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Aging in Wyoming<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-hamburger\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Food Preservation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-hiking\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Health &amp; Wellness<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5baad998 e-con-full elementor-hidden-desktop e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5baad998\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b70b3e0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3b70b3e0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-556fd7f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"556fd7f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025_AGE-Blog_authors-450x-6-Melissa-Cooke.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-21280\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025_AGE-Blog_authors-450x-6-Melissa-Cooke.png 450w, https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025_AGE-Blog_authors-450x-6-Melissa-Cooke-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/elementor\/thumbs\/2025_AGE-Blog_authors-450x-6-Melissa-Cooke-r4js91pq497zxxdeg0tb7325tj37jzfbu4j6vp9ves.png 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6492a4d2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6492a4d2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-624baf4b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"624baf4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Melissa Cook<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ce04140 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ce04140\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">University of Wyoming Extension<br>\nCommunity, Vitality, and Health Educator<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f8c8b30 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f8c8b30\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1478b6fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1478b6fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">My topics of expertise: <\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-453b3a52 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"453b3a52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-heartbeat\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Rural health<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-mountain\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Aging in Wyoming<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-hamburger\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Food Preservation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-hiking\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Health &amp; Wellness<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4146986f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4146986f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d4479b8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2d4479b8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-790a9bda e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"790a9bda\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c8e9114 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4c8e9114\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7456e8c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7456e8c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">I'm here to help! Email me your questions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-713204d9 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"713204d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42c4b5df elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"42c4b5df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"mailto:%20mcook@uwyo.edu\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-envelope\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Email Melissa<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74035922 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"74035922\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35f43769 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"35f43769\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d283b0f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3d283b0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">It's a pleasure to meet you,<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fe6843e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5fe6843e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41b986d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41b986d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Melissa Cook is a UW Extension Community Vitality and Health educator in <a style=\"color: blue; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/wyoextension.org\/bighorncounty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Big Horn County<\/a>. She specializes in food safety, health and wellness, and healthy aging. <br \/>Her programs include Wyoming Walks for Seniors, <a style=\"color: blue; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Wyoming-Walks-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wyoming Walks<\/a> with an Expert, Keys to Embracing Aging, Winter Survival Skills for Seniors, and canning workshops with occasional classes on other health and wellness topics. <br \/>Melissa holds dual master\u2019s degrees in education, with an emphasis on technology and school administration from the University of Alaska. She is a lifelong learner who enjoys people and the great outdoors.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1b7747 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f1b7747\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"#age-mcook-articles\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42ce8bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"42ce8bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Check out my articles<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfae92d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dfae92d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d721e29 elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"d721e29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;classic_columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.classic\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-classic elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-24231 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-age-blog category-mental-health tag-melissa-cook\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-the-healing-power-of-gratitude-for-senior-well-being\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Age_Quat-3.14-500x360.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-24233\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-the-healing-power-of-gratitude-for-senior-well-being\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tAGE | The Healing Power of Gratitude for Senior Well-Being\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-author\">\n\t\t\tMelissa Cook\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>In recent years, gratitude has gained attention not just as a feel-good practice but as a powerful tool for improving mental health, especially among older adults. Research supports that gratitude has the power to heal.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-the-healing-power-of-gratitude-for-senior-well-being\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about AGE | The Healing Power of Gratitude for Senior Well-Being\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-24203 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-age-blog category-mental-health tag-melissa-cook\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-the-friendship-factor-in-healthy-aging\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Age_Quat-3.10-500x360.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-24205\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-the-friendship-factor-in-healthy-aging\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tAGE | The Friendship Factor in Healthy Aging\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-author\">\n\t\t\tMelissa Cook\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Discussions on healthy aging often focus on eating right and staying active, but equally important is staying socially connected. Strong social ties improve mental health, reduce the risk of depression, ease loneliness, and even extend life.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/age-the-friendship-factor-in-healthy-aging\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about AGE | The Friendship Factor in Healthy Aging\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-23127 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-age-blog category-mental-health tag-melissa-cook\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/art-for-better-living-a-creative-approach-to-aging-well\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Age_Quarter-2_7-500x360.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-23132\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/art-for-better-living-a-creative-approach-to-aging-well\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tAGE | Art for Better Living: A Creative Approach to Aging Well\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-author\">\n\t\t\tMelissa Cook\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Staying healthy as we age goes beyond physical checkups. Mental and emotional well-being are critical to quality of life, especially for older adults who may face challenges like isolation, chronic illness, or grief.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/art-for-better-living-a-creative-approach-to-aging-well\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about AGE | Art for Better Living: A Creative Approach to Aging Well\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c957525 e-con-full elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7c957525\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-644ef3b8 e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"644ef3b8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-156dbc5c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"156dbc5c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5795d2c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5795d2c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7be0e1c6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7be0e1c6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71757b2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"71757b2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwyo.edu\/uwe\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"95\" src=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/UWtwoline_H_Extension_white.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-20170\" alt=\"University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension logo with Bucking Horse and Rider emblem\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-334ba306 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"334ba306\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9 March 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ded9700 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3ded9700\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-404b323 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"404b323\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1eb86368 e-con-full elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1eb86368\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e7fb13f e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7e7fb13f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ebddb56 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ebddb56\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b19f2f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3b19f2f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwyo.edu\/uwe\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"95\" src=\"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/UWtwoline_H_Extension_white.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-20170\" alt=\"University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension logo with Bucking Horse and Rider emblem\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ac9c9af elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ac9c9af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9 March 2025\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Melissa Cooke is a UW Extension educator dedicated to enhancing community vitality and supporting older adults in Wyoming.<br \/>\nOn the AGE blog, Melissa writes about aging with dignity, connection, and resilience\u2014covering topics such as lifelong learning, community engagement, and rural well-being. Her work provides readers and caregivers with tools and inspiration to build stronger intergenerational communities and promote healthy aging across the state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":22734,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-20613","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20613"}],"version-history":[{"count":59,"href":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23398,"href":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20613\/revisions\/23398"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}