Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Michele Moore
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services statistics indicate 28% of Americans age six and over are physically inactive, and spend more than 7 ½ hours in front of a screen daily. HHS.gov also indicates, “Empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to 40% of total daily calories for 2–18 year olds and half of these empty calories come from six sources: soda, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, grain desserts, pizza, and whole milk.” To address
Author: Michele Moore
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The 2019 Kentucky Annual Economic Report published by the University of Kentucky states, Kentucky falls below the national U.S. average with an average of only 40.06% of Kentucky students getting adequate physical activity. Also, “compared to the U.S., Kentucky students generally have poorer dietary practices.” In an effort to address these issues locally, the Butler County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with local agencies to provided nutrition education
Author: Danielle Fairchild
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) assistant partnered with Louisa East Elementary School to provide Professor Popcorn with all 3rd grade students. The youth obesity rate in the United States is 14% however the state of Kentucky youth obesity rate is at 20% (kentuckyhealthfacts.org). The SNAP-Ed assistant taught 6 classes in early spring 2019 to stress the importance of healthy eating and physical activity with a total of 89 students participated. As a r
Author: Danielle Fairchild
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) assistant has developed a partnership with The Job Readiness Activities (JRA) Group. With each new group the JRA instructor has, he contacts the SNAP-Ed assistant. The last group of participants consisted of 4 adults that enrolled and graduated the SNAP-Ed program with 7 lessons.Participants reported 100% improvement in using a meat thermometer, thawing frozen food at room temperature less often, and cleaning items and surfa
Author: Ruth Kirk
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, Kentucky is the least physically active state in the nation. The risk factors of poor nutrition and physical inactivity begin early in life. The Bogalusa Heart Study indicated that children as young as 2 years old were already consuming a high-fat, high-sodium, and low-fiber diet. Furthermore, the percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight has more than doubled in the past 30 years. The Lawrence County
Author: Kathleen "Happy" Raffaele
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) more than 1 in 4 Americans ages 50 and older get no exercise beyond their normal daily routine and Kentuckians get the second-least amount of exercise in the nation. Regular exercise is vital for healthy aging. It can reduce or delay many chronic diseases faced by adults age 50 and older. These include stroke, heart disease, arthritis and some types of cancer. Thirty minutes of physical activity is recommended, however getting any amount offers s
Author: Brad Stone
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Most recent statistical information provided by the CDC as well as The State of Obesity, Kentucky has a reported 34.3% adult obesity rate with 37.3% of adults aged 26-44 being classified as obese. The obesity rate amount Kentucky adults has been steadily increasing since 1990. Also frightening is that 39.4% of Kentucky residents suffer from hypertension with a steady increase in reported cases since 1990. Without some significant dietary and physical activity changes among Ke
Author: Anita Jones
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Physical activity is a problem not only in our schools but at home also. The obesity rate is 34% in Kentucky. Regular physical activity is vital to a healthy lifestyle. It can improve quality of life & health outcomes. The Carter County Nutrition Education Program Assistant (NEP) went to West Carter Middle School’s Summer Camp and met with 48 incoming 6th graders and taught a nutrition lesson, Get Up and Move, and played an exercise game using dice. One
Author: Anita Jones
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Carter County has the highest unemployment rate in Kentucky of 6.7%. The Carter County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with the Elliott County Jobs Readiness program to conduct nutrition education at the Elliott county Library.Ten Adults completed six or more lessons in the Healthy Choices for Every Body Curriculum. The lessons included nutrition, food safety, and food resource management. After completing the program, participants make food choices after readin
Author: Anita Jones
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Many students in Carter County schools do not get enough to eat. In KY the Child Poverty rate is 24.4%. For school lunches a child must choose between a slice of pizza or a salad for the main course. The Carter County Nutrition Education Program Assistant went to the 1st Grades in Carter County and taught Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary (LEAP). Each month the first graders would sample something different. One month students sampled a slice of cucumber, a grape
Author: Anita Jones
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Many families in KY purchase processed or fast food because of its convenience and comparison in price to fresh foods. The Carter County Nutrition Education Program Assistant (NEP) went to all six elementary schools in Carter County and taught lessons about fruit to 329 students. The NEP assistant took fresh pineapple for the students to sample, and one whole for them to see. Many had never seen one, let alone try it.
Author: Benita Wade
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Helping Kentucky Families Make Healthier Choices About 17% of Kentucky children and adolescents 2-19 years of age are obese according to the National Health and Examination Survey. This is about 12.5 million children. SNAP-Ed assistants from the University of Kentucky’s Nutritional Education Program work to help children develop healthier diet and physical activity habits.The Christian County SNAP-Ed assistant was asked to teach nutrition and cooking with an emphasis on hea
Author: Benita Wade
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Christian County Nutrition Education Program (NEP) SNAP-Ed assistant teaches classes from the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum at a men's veterans facility. Many of the men are older and have physical challenges in addition to health problems like heart disease and diabetes. Along with the nutritional information, the assistant encourages physical fitness and exercise and gives a physical activity tip with every lesson.Entry and exit tests show 88% of participants had improvemen
Author: Barbara Campbell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
With the help of speakers from local doctor offices, hospital, pharmacist and other health care providers the Fleming County Cooperative Extension Office is host to a monthly Diabetes Support Group. The number of participants vary from 6 to 14 attending each month.The Healthy Choices Curriculum is used quite often as a bases for the classes. The SNAP-Ed assistant is responsible for preparing a dish to go along with what lesson is being taught.One of the participants that had been diagnosed as pr
Author: Deborah Messenger
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Studies document that children and families have increased struggles with food insecurity during the summer months and that students actually lose academic ground throughout the summer. The "Family, Food and Fun" program was conducted through June and July at Burkesville Housing Authority. The goal of the program was to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in both youth and adults to help decrease food insecurity during the summer months. Families learned proper gardening ski
Author: Michele Moore
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The 2019 Kentucky Annual Economic Report states, “during the 2015-2017 period, there are no states with food insecurity rates that are statistically higher than Kentucky’s.” Food insecurity is characterized when one or more family member’s food intake is lessened due to lack of money and other food resources. Concurrently, 14.7% of Kentucky’s population received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds, with the rate ranking higher than the U.S. percent
Author: Michele Moore
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Journal of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states, “the most substantial health burden arising from drug addiction lies not in the direct effects of intoxication, but in the secondary effects on physical health.” (2018) Furthermore, research suggests nutrition education may reduce chronic disease, reduce health care burden, and improve long term recovery outcomes. The Butler County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with Andrea’s Mission for Men t
Author: Abigail Ewing
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to America’s Health Rankings by United Health Foundation in 2017, Kentucky ranked forty ninth for senior health. Out of fifty states, that is an alarming statistic, and it reinforces why programs like the Healthy Choices for Everybody is so important. The Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum was implemented at United Crescent Hill Ministries’ Senior Lunch Program by the Nutrition Education Program Assistant with the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. Throug
Author: Abigail Ewing
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky stated, “A report from the National League of cities estimates annual health care costs of obesity-related illness at $190.2 billion or nearly 21% of annual medical spending in the United States and childhood obesity alone is responsible for $14 billion in direct medical costs.” It is crucial to instill health and wellness behaviors in youth as early as possible. Kindergarten and first grade students at Eisenhower Elementary completed a six-
Author: Robin Thompson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Kentucky Health Facts states that Senior Citizens 65 years of age and above live below the poverty level, at 17% Martin County is higher than the Kentucky State average of 11%. To help combat hunger in this age group, Inez First Baptist Church has a monthly food distribution called Food Drop. Martin County Supplemental Nutrition Education Program partnered with Inez First Baptist Food Drop to offer a 7 week program to 12 participants to teach hands on, nutrition education to a limited resou
Author: Deborah Scaggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Pike County Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program Education (SNAP-Ed) has collaborated with the Pike County Board of Education for the last 3 years.The LEAP (Literacy, Eating and Activity for Preschoolers for Health Curriculum was used with students in grades K-2. The ‘LEAP for Health’ curriculum is a series of storybooks that help teach children about staying healthy by being physically active, eating more fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains.
Author: Deborah Scaggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The partnership between Pike County Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and Shelby Valley Veterans’ Home, a facility that serves homeless veterans in our area. Residents are provided housing and supportive services for up to 2 years while transitioning into permanent housing, is thriving in its third year!Healthy Choices curriculum was utilized as residents learned about MyPlate Dietary Guidelines, the limits of fat, sugar and sodium, meal planning, nutrition
Author: Amanda Howard
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Feeding Kentucky, a non-profit organization out of Berea, released a study, called Map the Meal Gap, that indicated 22.5 percent of Magoffin County’s population experiences food insecurity – or not knowing where their next meal will come from at some point during the year – compared to the state’s average of 15 percent. Children are the most susceptible to food insecurity, the study found, affecting 31.5 percent of children in Magoffin, according to the study, compared to
Author: Sarah Spears
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Proper hand washing is one of many subjects that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program emphasizes, especially with youth. Children come into contact with germs every day, so proper hand washing can help stop the spread of many illnesses. This summer, the Floyd County Cooperative Extension Office Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program partnered with Betsy Layne Elementary School to deliver nutrition education. Initially, it was clear that the second grade class did
Author: Christy Blevins
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Obesity now affects 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the U.S. according to the Center for Disease Control. The lack of physical activity and healthy food choices among the youth in Bell County has obesity on the rise.The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service SNAP-Ed program partnered with the family resource directors in the Bell County School system to educate kindergarten through second grade students on the importance of physical activity and healthier eating habits in their daily routi
Author: Relissa Torian
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Three years of gardening with the Trigg County Home Based Day Of Play families proves to provide quality family time, outdoor physical activities, knowledge, fresh produce and a number of other life enriching skills for their five households and 25 individuals; ”Every Body.” One hundred percent (100%) of the children and adults work together to prepare beds, plant the seeds and harvest the produce.One hundred percent (100%) of the parents reported, they have no picky eaters at
Author: Sarah Spears
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
This year, the Floyd County Cooperative Extension Office Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program partnered with the McDowell Senior Citizens Center. The Nutrition Education Program adult curriculum was used. Out of all the topics that were discussed, one particular lesson stood out to the attending adults. This lesson was “Eating Better on a Budget for Every Body: Save More at the Grocery Store”. This focuses on budgeting topics such as cooking dinner at home instead of going out,
Author: Deborah Scaggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
PMC Health and WellnessFast food and prepackaged foods are easily accessible in our country today; it is not surprising that we live with obesity and high cholesterol in our area of Kentucky. The convenience of these ‘easy’ foods and lack of knowledge about the preparation of healthy alternatives is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome when it comes to choosing what to feed families in what is a very fast-paced life.Healthy Choices is a curriculum that the Pike County Suppl
Author: Deborah Scaggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Nutrition CampOnce again the SNAP-Ed assistant and the Family and Consumer Science program assistant has collaborated with the Pike County Fiscal Court for the ‘Let’s Make Pizza’ Nutrition Camp using the Teen Cuisine curriculum. The site we used this year was Blackberry/McCarr Community Center since transportation can be an issue for some to travel to the Extension office in Pikeville. The three (3) day nutrition camp targeted children 9-12 years of age. Six c
Author: Brad Stone
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Drug abuse has become an epidemic within the US. According to the most recent data from the CDC, 10.6% of persons aged 12 and over have used illicit drugs within the past month. There were 70,237 overdose deaths within the US with the state of Kentucky being statistically higher than the US rate. With such frighteningly high abuse and mortality rates, it has become essential that there are effective treatment plans and centers in place in an effort to combat this epidemic. &nbs
Author: Rachel Wright
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, poor diet quality is a leading risk factor associated with death and disability in the United States. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet can help protect against a number of serious and costly chronic diseases. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Assistant in Rockcastle County, Kentucky provided a seven week program at the Rockcastle Extension Office using the He
Author: Rachel Wright
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, fruit and vegetable consumption among American youth is low; just 9% of students meet the fruit recommendation, and only 2% meet the vegetable recommendations. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Assistant in Rockcastle County, Kentucky provided a 6 week program at the Rockcastle County Middle School using the Teen Cuisine curriculum with 8th grade students. 22 students participated in the program. Each w
Author: Relissa Torian
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Twenty-three members of the Trigg County 4-H Cooking Club completed six lessons and a total of eighteen hours of participation in club business, nutrition and cooking. Twenty households in Trigg County are now being influenced by these impressive youth. &n
Author: Kenna Knight
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Access to local fruits and vegetables are limited in Pendleton County. Despite the health benefits, only 2% of Pendleton County adults get the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables compared to the state average 8.0% of adults meeting the daily fruit intake recommendation and only 6.3% of adults meet the daily vegetable intake. Nationwide, only 12.2% of adults meet the daily fruit recommendation and only 9.3% meet the vegetable recommendation.To help with this situation this past su
Author: Abigail Ewing
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association reported “Findings support the position that nutrition education is an essential component of substance abuse treatment programs and can enhance substance abuse treatment outcomes.” The Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum was implemented at The Healing Place women’s’ facility by a SNAP-Ed assistant with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Nutrition Education Program. Participants in the program are ab
Author: Abigail Ewing
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to America’s Health Rankings by United Health Foundation, Kentucky ranked forty nine in 2017 for senior health. In order to improve the health of Louisville seniors, the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum was implemented at Yorktown Senior House by a SNAP-Ed assistant with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Nutrition Education Program. Lessons included topics such as meal planning, eating better on a budget, food safety, and MyPlate. After completion of the pr
Author: Robin Thompson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to KyHealthFacts.org, approximately 3,889 drug arrests were made in Martin County in 2017 compared to 2,301 being the Kentucky state average. A significant number of these individuals will become a part of the Martin County Drug Court. According to the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, about 69 individuals per month enter the Drug Court Program in Martin County. Majority of these participants are beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Program, WIC, or both to re
Author: Amy Stooksbury
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Todd County Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistant taught the Healthy Choices for Everybody Curriculum to a group who met during lunch for 7 weeks. The program lessons; My Plate, Keep Foods Safe, Reading Labels, Breakfast Made Easy, Eating Better on a Budget, Planning Meals, and Know the Limits were taught. During each lesson, the program ended with an emphasis on increasing daily physical activity.The NEP Assistant had a healthy recipe ready when group arrived. While partic
Author: Ruth Kirk
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The drug epidemic in Eastern Kentucky has been on the steady rise in the last 10 years and the number of addiction recovery facilities in Lawrence County alone have doubled. Lawrence County Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Assistant has been working in the recovery centers for nine years. The EFNEP Assistant teaches residents how to make healthier food choices; prepare fresh produce; and follow food safety practices. Eight years ago, the residents built their first raised-
Author: Cindy Maggard
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Cooking 101 was developed and implemented by the Family and Consumer Science council. Cooking 101 began in late fall of 2018 and will continue through fall of 2019. This class is a hands-on monthly class where participants help prepare recipes. The program is a collaboration between the county FCS agents and the nutrition program assistants. The staff demonstrates cooking skills at each class and each teaches some related nutrition facts. Participants are divided in
Author: Cindy Maggard
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A growing problem in our community is drug addiction. They can have a serious impact on decisions and the ability to care for oneself. The Knott County Drug Court provides rehabilitation to clients by helping them maintain sobriety, find work and be well. In partnership with the Knott County Extension Office, drug court clients attended seven SNAP-Ed lessons. The goal was to re-establish positive relationships with food and regaining their appetites after addiction.  
Author: Danielle Fairchild
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP-Ed) assistant has been working with recovery centers in Lawrence County for nine years. The SNAP-Ed assistant educates residents on making healthy food choices, how to prepare fresh produce, and food safety using the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum. Eight years ago, the residents from the first established recovery facility built raised- beds with the help from the SNAP-Ed Assistant and Lawrence County Agricu
Author: Mary Elaine Burton
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The SNAP-Ed Senior Assistant conducted a series of 7 classes with a school parent group that met once a month at 8:00a.m. During the lesson on Breakfast Made Easy for Everybody, they all discussed how hard it was to find time to eat breakfast. Seventy percent of the group skipped breakfast because they thought it would help them reduce their calorie intake for the day but found that they were still unable to lose weight despite skipping the meal.We talked about the disadvantages of missing
Author: Jhamicah Harbut
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Children are inquisitive and are eager to learn new information. Teaching children about nutrition is important because it will encourage them to choose healthy foods. In Fayette County, through the federally funded Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), the EFNEP program has been a factor in helping families to learn about nutrition education, meal planning, and food safety techniques to educate and change food pattern behaviors to low-income families. CIS (Community Inspired So
Author: Judy McGuire
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Making Family Meals a SnapBased on the 24 hour food recalls at entry and group discussion, only 50% of the participants at the Mountain Center for Recovery, practiced meal planning regularly. This was a major concern to participants because part of their responsibility while at the facility is to shop and help prepare daily meals. Participants expressed concern that meal planning takes too much time and they were only allowed a small amount of time each day to prepare meals. After tea
Author: Judy McGuire
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
While teaching a “Cooking is Healthy for Everybody” class at Hope in the Mountains, a local women’s rehabilitation center, the group expressed their need for recipes that everyone would like and enjoy, while also being nutritious and easy to prepare. The EFNEP Assistant suggested trying the recipes in the 2019 NEP Calendar. The group made plans to use the calendar recipes as a resource for their meal planning needs. In addition to the calendar, required NEP lessons,
Author: Lisa Dodson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Fresh vegetables are not easily accessible to all populations within Hickman County. Community gardens within low-income areas have been heralded as a way to increase the physical health and nutrition of residents. But through Supplemental Nutrition Education we are finding that when it comes to seniors, physical health benefits are just the beginning. The growing trend of community gardens that cater specifically to seniors also provides a more holistic approach to healthy living f
Author: Reda Fugate
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
We are a Small School in a small town in Eastern KY. Where statistics show health levels are lower than in other states. Our school partnered with The Perry County wellness Coalition and The University of KY Nutrition Education Program Assistant Senior in Perry County, KY. Implementing healthy Choices for every body and Farm 2 School program curriculum. A 6 week program was held where 8th grade student learn how to make healthier choices in Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, Dairy foods and Fo
Author: Danielle Fairchild
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP-Ed) assistant partnered with Blaine Elementary School to provide LEAP (Literacy, Eating and Activity for Preschool/Primary) to 54 Kindergarten through 2nd grade students. Six approved LEAP books were read to the students. A healthy snack, related to the book’s message, was provided to each student. The importance of being physically active each day was discussed and a reinforcement item was
Author: Joy Rose
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Wolfe County Lunchroom announced the dates for their summer lunch program, and asked for community partners who would be interested in serving the lunches. The lunch service was interested in providing the lunches to more locations in our county, as there is not a form of public transportation in our area and parents are challenged to find ways to bring children to the one school location that prepares the lunches,The Wolfe County SNAP Assistant asked to to a part of the summer lunch program
Author: Sherry Ragsdale
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2014,20 million Americans had substance abuse disorder. The National Association of Recovery Residences list Life Skills as a step to recovery. Life skill development and the knowledge of community resources shields families from food insecurity. Food security is also associated with food resource management skills such as managing bills and stretching your food dollar. The Nutrition Education Program Assistant with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Serv
Author: Lisa Dodson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the US National Library of Medicine, substance abuse hurts the body in multiple ways, including physically and mentally, having a particularly negative impact on lifestyle and nutrition. Drugs and alcohol not only affect a person’s outer appearance, but also their internal systems like metabolism, organ function, and mental well-being. Implementing proper nutrition can help someone recovering from addiction heal faster and more effectively. When the body is o
Author: Lisa Dodson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Food-insecure and SNAP recipients too often face challenging circumstances in trying to consume a healthful diet and maintain a healthy weight such as more sedentary lifestyles, increased portion sizes, and the ability to purchase fruits and vegetables. Those who are food-insecure or low-income may face unique challenges in adopting and maintaining healthful behavior changes. The Carlisle County Nutrition Education Program paraprofessional taught thirty-two limited resource families
Author: Lisa Dodson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Hickman County Nutrition Education Program paraprofessional taught forty-two limited resource families how to serve more nutritious meals, to keep foods safe, and to utilize local food resources effectively. 98% of Nutritional Education Program families experienced a positive change in the consumption of all food groups increasing overall nutritional quality of life.67% of the Nutrition Education Program graduated families improved their diet quality by consuming more fruits and vegetables,
Author: Andrea Munoz
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
An Inspired Career PathAccording to the CDC, empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents age 2–18 years—affecting the overall quality of their diets. Approximately half of these empty calories come from six sources: soda, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, grain desserts, pizza, and whole milk. Additionally, most youths do not consume the recommended amount of total water. Middle school students are part of the populatio
Author: Joel Worth
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A rehabilitation house for men in Jefferson County participated in the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program through the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. The program, Healthy Choices for Everybody, was offered, and one of the lessons taught was Budgeting for Everybody.The Nutrition Education Program Assistant stated that where and whenever someone can save money is always a plus, because the money saved on food shopping can go into savings or for an
Author: Joel Worth
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A rehabilitation house for men in Jefferson County participated in the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program through the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. The program, Healthy Choices for Everybody was offered and one of the lessons was Food Safety for Everybody. One of the topics in the lesson was the proper way to defrost frozen food. The Nutrition Education Program Assistant discussed with the group the main reasons for not defrosting fo
Author: Joel Worth
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A rehabilitation house for men in Jefferson County participated in the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program through the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. The program, Healthy Choices for Everybody, was offered. One of the lessons taught was Food Safety for Everybody and one of the topics focused on using a meat thermometer. The majority of clients did not own or know how to use a thermometer.The Nutrition Education Program Assistant explained t
Author: Joel Worth
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A rehabilitation house for men in Jefferson County participated in the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program through the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. According to the 2018 STATE INDICATOR REPORT on Fruits and Vegetables from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 12.2% of Americans eat enough fruit and 9.3% Americans eat enough vegetables to meet the daily requirements. The program, Healthy Choices for Everybody was offered. M
Author: Nan Montgomery
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Substance abuse generally leads to a lack of improper nutrition. Dr. Barbara Stitt, PhD and PO stated, “individuals who suffer from substance abuse often, skip breakfast, eat foods high in sugar, consume high amounts of processed foods, and have little to no consumption of fruits and vegetables.” Kentucky is ranked 21 out of 50 states for drug related deaths. Because of this the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, urges nutrition professionals to take aggressive action to ensure invo
Author: Nan Montgomery
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In Kentucky, 1 out 5 children are obese. Kentucky has the 3rd highest youth obesity rate in the nation according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In addition, excess calorie intake and lack of physical activity has been linked to obesity in Warren County. According to the CDC only 22% of Kentucky teens are physically active 60 minutes a day for seven days a week.The SNAP Education Assistant in Warren County collaborated with a local elementary school to teach a series of nutrition ed
Author: Nan Montgomery
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Center for Disease Control, Kentucky has the 3rd highest rate of obesity in the nation. In an effort to improve the quality of life for residents in Warren County the SNAP Education Assistant held many workshops on the following topics Meal Planning, How to Read Food Labels, Understanding MyPlate, Food Safety and Limiting Solids Fats, Added Sugars and Sodium. The workshops were taught to improve the overall health of people in Warren County.The Warren County NEP (Nutrition
Author: Lora Gullett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Rowan County Report 2019, by 2025 the Rowan County population 65 and over are projected to increase by 44.1% as baby boomers are entering retirement. In this age group, malnutrition and poor eating habits decreases the immune system increasing the risk of infections, poor wound healing, muscle weakness and decreased bone mass, which can lead to falls and fractures. Healthy people 2020 projects heart disease, cancer, chronic bro
Author: Dorisa Johnson-Hickman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Sometimes seniors are not easy to convince to try positive health behavior changes. The Kenton County Cooperative Extension Services Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Assistant partnered with National Church Residences to provide nutrition education at two senior living facilities; Colony Senior Apartments and Highpoint Senior Apartments. The SNAP-Ed Assistant worked with two groups teaching a seven part series from the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum, along with additiona
Author: Dorisa Johnson-Hickman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Over 80% of the students at Glenn O’ Swing Elementary receive free and reduced lunch. The Kenton County Cooperative Extension Services Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with the Community Learning Coordinator at Glenn O’ Swing Elementary using Professor Popcorn Nutrition curriculum to teach students the importance of healthy food choices. With more than 100 students in the afterschool program, the Nutrition Education Program Assistant worked with 26 students in th
Author: Rachel Price
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Substance abuse increases the risk of malnutrition because users only rely on their drug of choice in replacement of food, drugs and other substances can cause the body to lose the ability to absorb the nutrients from food, and they often lose the sensation of hunger from prolong abuse causing them to not feel hungry. As people recover from addiction they start to replace drugs with food causing weight
Author: Dorisa Johnson-Hickman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In Kenton County the percentage of adults with diabetes is 10.5% and hypertension is 33%. With diabetes and hypertension poorly affecting American adult’s health, the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Services Nutrition Education Program Assistant worked with the Facilities Service Coordinator to provide nutrition classes for adults at a local elementary school. The focus was to get their attention on healthy eating by limiting salt and sugar intake. The group also learned how to interpr
Author: Teresa King
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The majority of children are busy with their video games or using social media for hours each day instead of getting the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity. Days of children playing outside until dark is diminishing. The amount of physical activity for the average child is becoming less and less each year.In an effort to educate youth on the importance of physical activity and nutrition, the Meade County Cooperative Extension EFNEP (Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program
Author: Angela Baldauff
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Diabetes Support GroupAngela BaldauffAccording to the Kentucky Health Facts as recorded in the Kenton County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, almost 12% of adults in Kenton County are living with diabetes. To help them to know they are not alone, a Diabetes Educator from the Northern Kentucky Health Department leads a monthly support group. In Kenton County the Diabetes Educator contacted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistant from
Author: Angela Baldauff
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
LEAP to Try New FoodsAngela BaldauffAccording to the 2019 County Health Rankings as reported by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, 14% of children in Kenton County live in poverty. The director of Elsmere Head Start contacted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) Nutrition Education Program Assistant from the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service to present a program to the preschoolers to teach them about healthy eating and the importance of p
Author: Angela Baldauff
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Becoming Wise in Prime YearsAngela BaldauffApproximately 20,000 adults in Kenton County are age 65 and over. St Elizabeth Healthcare’s Primewise Coordinator contacted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) Nutrition Education Program Assistant from the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service to teach a nutrition series for the members of Primewise. Primewise is a free program of St. Elizabeth Healthcare dedicated to linking adults 50+ to health and wellness
Author: Kelsey Zalac
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the National Education Association (NEA), the Hispanic population in America of 41.8 million is estimated to grow by 20% by the year 2050. Kentucky is one of the states listed as “experiencing a 100 percent growth rate in Hispanic population in the last decade.” Kenton County, KY is home to nearly 5,000 Hispanics mostly located in the city of Covington. The NEA also states, “According to the U.S. census, 22 percent of Hispanics are living in poverty, nearly double
Author: Kelsey Zalac
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents age 2–18 years—affecting the overall quality of their diets.” Adolescents in this age range going to high school start to have more responsibility or lack thereof in different areas of life including choosing their diets, which makes nutrition education even more vital.The Expanded Food Nutrition Edu
Author: Kelsey Zalac
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
When thinking about what the food trays look like in detention centers, one usually pictures brown bread and beans. This doesn’t leave a lot of room for vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients. However, it’s hard to make healthier choices when the options just aren’t there. Wendy Sawyer, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Prison Policy Initiative, commented that, “Besides the menu, the only other choices incarcerated people have are the products available through the co
Author: Kelsey Zalac
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, “Hispanic children were 1.8 times more likely to be overweight as non- Hispanic white children.” The University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service Nutrition Education Program (NEP) partnered with Esperanza Latino Center, a new organization focused on advocating and providing recourses to the Hispanic families of the Northern Kentucky and surrounding areas, Northern Kentucky U
Author: Christy Blevins
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Due to poor diets and lack of physical activity in daily routines, diabetes is on the rise in Bell County. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Kentucky Department for Health report that 25% of adults in Bell County have been diagnosed with diabetes.The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service SNAP-Ed Program through the University of Kentucky offered a series of nutrition lessons to citizens of Bell County. The SNAP-Ed Assistant educated a group of 5 women on the benefits of eatin
Author: Stephanie Caldwell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The McCracken County SNAP-Ed assistant partnered with Victory Through Grace Ministries by offering The Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum. During the eight week sessions participants were able to improve 100% of their diet qualities, food safety practices & food resource management skills with lessons on 1.MY Plate2.Menu Planning 3.Label Reading 4.BreakfastParticipants were able to utilize skills learned from the classroom into the kitchen by preparing healthy nu
Author: Stephanie Caldwell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The McCracken County Snap-Ed assistant partnered with Clark Elementary School from October 2018- May 2019. One hundred and three third graders participated in the Literacy, Eating and Activities for Primary for Health curriculum. Storybooks and activities are used to teach children about nutritious foods, healthy eating habits, handwashing, food safety and being physically active. One of the books used was “My Food Your Food,” which promotes trying new foods and diversity. Durin
Author: Stephanie Caldwell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Throughout summer break some kids take a "break" from making the healthiest choices when it comes to what they eat, drink and do for physical activity. As a reminder to stay moving and make healthy choices the Blender Bike when on a road tour. The family and Consumer Science Agent and SNAP-Ed assistant toured this summer to 9 different summer camp groups and made learning about healthy drink choices more fun! The Blender Bike is a fun and interactive teaching tool that almost 350
Author: Stephanie Caldwell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The McCracken County SNAP-Ed Nutrition Assistantpartnered together with Paducah Cooperative Ministry (PCM) and Feeding Kentucky Farms to Food Banks program. This promotes the consumption of fruits and vegetables for families who are serviced through PCM. Feeding Kentucky was able to supply PCM with fresh produce throughout the summer that would otherwise not be sold because of cosmetic imperfections or overproduction. Providing fresh produce from Feeding Kentucky was a key part in figh
Author: Valerie Robinette
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Partnering with WestCare Rehabilitation for the seventh year is a natural fit for Pike County Cooperative Extension Service and The Expanded Food Nutrition Educational Program.The Healthy Choices For Everybody Curriculum was taught. Clients were taught the five food groups, how to read recipes, measure, proper food portions, how to make a menu, compare prices at the grocery store, and food safety .Eleven Clients ages 18-65 entered the program with 100 % graduating. Sixty-Two percent showed impro
Author: Valerie Robinette
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Pike County Cooperative Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Pike County Schools, continued our partnership to provide healthy eating exercise and food safety education so students can make better nutritional and physical activity choices. The Professor Popcorn Curriculum was used as students were taught why we should choose healthy fruits and vegetables over fast food and prepackaged snacks. The students learned about food safety, along with hand wash
Author: Stacy Trent
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention children under the age of 5 eat fewer fruits and vegetables than the daily recommended, poor nutrition and physical inactivity have been linked to obesity. To address this issue the Wolfe County Cooperative Extension Service, Nutrition Assistant partnered with Middle Kentucky Community Action-Wolfe County Head Start and offered six lessons using the Literacy, Eating and Activity for Preschool/Primary curriculum for youth ages three-five.
Author: Stacy Trent
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Many older adults are either living alone or with one other person which provides different challenges when shopping for and cooking healthy meals. It can be hard to have a desire to cook for one or two people. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 12% of seniors in Wolfe County are low-income, living alone or with one other person. To help address this issue the Wolfe County Cooperative Extension Service, SNAP-Ed assistant partnered with the Campton Methodist Housing Authority. The 7 l
Author: Juanita Herron
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Expanded Food and Nutrition program offered a freezer meal class. With the freezer meal class there were seven ladies that were in attendance. I taught how freezer meal planning is done and why we should freeze meals. I also taught how to prepare a one week freezer meal plan.I started out by using ground beef to make a Meat Sauce Mix. After making the Meat Sauce Mix I showed them how to use the mix to make several other recipes. Those were Easy, Cheesy Pasta; Sloppy Joes; Spaghetti and Chili
Author: Juanita Herron
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Marion County Cooperative Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition assistant partnered with one of our local elementary schools to do hand washing classes. The local elementary school was having an issue with too many children missing school due to sickness that probably could have been prevented. I went into the school and taught proper hand washing techniques. I talked about how germs can make us sick, even if we can’t see them. I went to each classroom and we practiced the proper
Author: Juanita Herron
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Expanded Food and Nutrition program assistant partnered with our local Library this spring. I started a seven week nutrition and cooking class. The class was to get parents and children to cook and eat together. If the parents were working with the child this was more bonding time for them. During the seven week program, we always had a game to play before our lesson. I taught each required lesson from Healthy Choices for Everybody. With each lesson we always cooked or made one of our r
Author: Juanita Herron
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Marion County Expanded Food and Nutrition program assistant partnered with the local public housing. They were in need of acquiring knowledge about being healthy for themselves and their families.I had a seven week series of Healthy Choices Curriculum. I had the classes after school was out in the afternoon. So that more individuals could attend.I started out with the lesson on My Plate. I told them to think of using the My Plate like a road map. Throughout the lessons, the participants were
Author: Amy Stooksbury
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Todd County, KY has a population estimate of 12,311, 18% poverty level and a median household income of $38,248.00 per United States Census Bureau. The Todd County Nutrition Education Program goal is to help participants make nutritious food choices within a limited budget.The “Healthy Choices for Everybody” Curriculum is utilized by the Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistant to teach all adult programs. Classes may be promoted using different names, to appeal to dif
Author: Connie Downey
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that one in six Americans get sick from contaminated foods or beverages each year and 3,000 die. The Clay County Cooperative Extension Service Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education assistant for SNAP eligible individuals partnered with the Big Creek Readiness Bus parent group to provide the Healthy Choice program to their senior citizen residents. The Healthy Choices curriculum teaches participants to make healthier foo
Author: Connie Downey
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to Kentucky Health Facts only nine (9) percent of the population in Clay County eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables and seventy–two (72) percent are overweight. The Clay County Cooperative Extension Service Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education assistant for SNAP eligible individuals partnered with Oneida Readiness Bus parent group to educate their participants about the importance of a eating healthier and being physically activate. Using the Healt
Author: Jennifer Burgess
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Fighting Obesity in Eastern KYThe Center for Disease Control, CDC, reports that only 22.5% of adolescents in Kentucky are being physically active for at least 60 minutes per day each week. Of these adolescents, 18% are obese. This leads to a total of 35.1% of Kentucky adults being overweight, while 31.6 Kentucky adults are obese. In October of 2018, a six lesson program was completed that focused on children aged 4-10 years old by Lee County Extension Service’s SNAP-Ed As
Author: Kati Noble
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to 2015-2017 Kentucky Health Facts, 21% of the adult population in Breathitt County have diabetes. Managing this disease can be difficult unless adults learn basic skills related to healthy food choices.The Breathitt County SNAP-Ed Assistant taught Breathitt County adults the Healthy Choices Curriculum during the program Cooking with Kati. As a part of these classes, participants learned about planning meals, reading labels, and limiting their sugar intake.Entry and exit forms were use
Author: Kati Noble
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Kentucky ranks fifth in the nation for high obesity rates. One way to fight high obesity rates engaging in daily physical activity.The Breathitt County SNAP-Ed Assistant, in partnership with the Breathitt County Public School System, taught the LEAP (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary) Curriculum. During one visit with a first-grade class, the book, Exercise, was read to 18 students.As a part of the lesson, students participat
Author: Kati Noble
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to 2018 Kentucky Kids Count Data, 74% of children in Breathitt County are in low income families. With such a high rate of low -income households, it is important for families to grow vegetables at home to save on grocery expenses.The Breathitt County SNAP-Ed Assistant, in partnership with the Breathitt County Public School System, taught the LEAP (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary) Curriculum. During one visit with a Kindergarten class, the book, The Surprise Garden, was read
Author: Kati Noble
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to Kentucky Health Facts, 67% of adults in Breathitt County are overweight. Because weight is a factor to one’s over-all health, it is important for adults to learn how to make healthier food and physical activity choices.The Breathitt County SNAP-Ed Assistant, in partnership with the Breathitt County Senior Citizens Center, taught adults the Healthy Choices Curriculum. As a part of these classes, participants learned the importance of; meal planning, physical activity, and eatin
Author: Cathy Fellows
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Practical living classes are dwindling in our schools today. Some youth, are unaware of how to cook asimple healthy meal for themselves. They often make microwavable prepackaged quick fix meals. Most prepackaged meals are filled with high sodium, fats and many calories, which can be unhealthy.The Boone County Snap-Ed Nutrition Education Program Assistant collaborated with the BrightonCenters Youth Leadership Group at RA Jones Middle School to present the Teen Cuisine nutrition series.F
Author: Tonya Gilbert
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to recent data reported by kentuckyhealthfacts.org, over one third of adults in Leslie County reported that they did not participate in any physical activity. A whopping 94% of them did not meet the USDA’s standards for daily intake of fruits and vegetables. This could explain why more than three quarters of the population are classified as overweight. In an effort to combat this, the Leslie County Cooperative Extension Service’s SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutr
Author: Brenda Williamson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Sky Hope Recovery Center in Pulaski County is a Center that houses females that have an addition to drugs and/or alcohol. Often as the results of their additions, the girls made poor dietary choices and their health is affected. The Recovery Center is there to help the girls come clean of their additions and improve on their quality of life.The Director from Sky Hope allowed the Nutrition Education Program Assistant from Pulaski County Extension Office to come and present a series of nutritional
Author: Jessica Reed
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Passing the Skills Americans on the go consume more hidden calories and sodium by eating out than if they were cooking at home. By cooking at home, it becomes easier to control fats, sodium, and hidden calories as you are controlling exactly what is going into your meal. Montgomery County Senior Citizen began classes w
Author: Dianne Hayward
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Cumberland County drug court appointed rehabilitation program has been operating for approximately 3 years, participants have to attend the program as required gaining levels of accomplishment over several years before they are finished with the program.The program director is a retired school principal and schools super attendant who knows many of the adults. The participant’s main issues have been staying clean and out of jail. They have to attend classes twice a week for first four
Author: Breanna Williams
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Through a partnership with the Calvin A. Perry Community Center and the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service Supplemental Nutrition Education Program, seven Campbell County residents attended a 7-session weekly series of the Healthy Choices for Every Body program. Most of the participants signed up for the program with the goals of learning new, healthy recipes that they can make easily and affordably at home, with the goals of increasing their intake of certain fresh fruits and vegetab
Author: Breanna Williams
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A newfound partnership between Body Dynamics Fitness Center in Alexandria, KY and a Campbell County Cooperative Extension Supplemental Nutrition Education program assistant resulted in a free nutrition education series available to the public. Ten fitness center members, in conjunction with the Silver Sneakers program, understood the importance of 30 minutes of daily physical activity; however, many expressed the value of learning more about nutrition and, particularly, food safety. Product reca
Author: Breanna Williams
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not only do children and adolescents not meet their fruit and vegetables recommendations found in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, but “empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents age 2-18 years” (2019). Nine first-graders and eleven second-graders at the Donald E. Cline Elementary School in Campbell County, KY participated in Professor Popcorn, a nut
Author: Breanna Williams
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Highland Village senior living apartments and the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Services worked together to provide a valuable program, Healthy Choices for Every Body, to the Highland Village residents. According to the 2019 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Campbell County report, of the top priority issues reported by Campbell County residents, is prioritizing fewer chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc). The Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum, based o
Author: Angela Baldauff
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
TransitionsAngela BaldauffAccording to Kenton County’s Data Profile, provided by the Kentucky: By The Numbers program in the Department of Community and Leadership Development for the Community Assessments conducted by the University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service, the number of fatal and nonfatal overdoses in Kenton County have more than doubled from 2010 until 2017. Since the summer of 2018, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) Nutrition Education Pr
Author: Stacey Stephens
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the position of The American Dietetic Association on the National Institutes of Health website. Nutrition has a positive impact on the rate and quality of physical recovery. This prepares individuals to function at a higher level in treatment. Improved nutritional status can make treatment more effective, while reducing drug and alcohol cravings; thereby preventing relapse. The American Dietetic Association state those individuals entering addiction recovery have irregu
Author: Stacey Stephens
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Youth obesity is a growing problem in Kentucky. According the the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's 2018 "The State of Obesity" report, the rate of obesity for the Kentucky youth, ages 10 to 17 is 19.3%. Kentucky is ranked third out of 51 states in the category of childhood obesity. Using the updated 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guidelines, a CDC study showed that 4% of youth between ages 12 and 19 have hypertension, while 10% have elevated bloo
Author: Crystal Beitler
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the CDC, in 2017, there were 1,566 reported overdose deaths in Kentucky. That is an increase from 1,419 in 2016 and 1,273 in 2015. In response to this growing trend, Scott County Cooperative Extension has teamed up with Drug Court to offer the Beyond program. The Nutrition Education Program Assistant taught seven biweekly lessons on cooking, nutrition, stretching food dollars, and food safety to eight participants as part of this comprehensive program designed to help participants g
Author: Crystal Beitler
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The CDC estimates that each year 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die. The Scott County Nutrition Education Program has partnered with Family Resource Coordinators for two Scott County elementary schools to educate four at-risk families in cooking and nutrition with an emphasis on safe food preparation and storage practices. During the three weekly sessions, parents would have class, and then learn a new healthy recipe while cooki
Author: Crystal Beitler
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Many studies credit proper nutrition as a factor in successful in addiction recovery. “If you give the brain the nutrients it needs to get past biochemical and genetic deficiencies, inefficiencies, and blockages, people treated for addiction have a better chance of staying sober,” said William Billica, MD, at Inner Balance Health Center for alcohol and drug addiction treatment in Loveland, Colorado. In consideration to these studies, The Scott County Cooperative Extens
Author: Crystal Beitler
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Scott County Extension Program Assistant for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP-Ed) identified that clients struggle to access healthy food due to financial issues. Extension partnered with local organizations including Transform Scott County and the Georgetown Housing Authority to conduct a series of 8 classes. Even though the 14 adults that completed the program were employed, they still required assistance to meet basic needs. The SNAP-Ed Healthy Ch
Author: Joni Phelps
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Caldwell County SNAP-ED Senior paraprofessional taught 57 limited resource families how to serve more nutritious meals, to keep foods safe, and to utilize local food resources effectively. 96.5% of SNAP-ED families made a positive change. 53% of SNAP-ED graduate families reported eating more vegetables each day, eating more fruit each day, eating red and orange vegetables each day, eating more dark green vegetables, drinking regular soda less often, drinking fruit p
Author: Joni Phelps
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Caldwell County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent and SNAP-Ed Senior Assistant combined the idea of families reading together and cooking together to form Little Books, Little Cooks. Thirteen families with preschool age children attended the program. Program topics included: Hand Washing, Safety in the Kitchen, and MyPlate. Participants read a story together and then prepared a healthy snack with their families. Participants practiced hand washing, following safety rules
Author: Kacy Wiley
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2017 Kentucky’s adult obesity rate was 34.3%, making it the 8th highest in the United States. Almost 50% of Bourbon Countians suffer from hypertension and 21% reported poor or fair health. In an effort to make residents of Bourbon County healthier a partnership was created between The Bourbon County Cooperative Extension Service and Accutran, a non-profit agency that employees low-resource individuals that may have job barriers and/or disabilities. The employees attend
Author: Joni Phelps
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Caldwell County SNAP-ED Senior Assistant paraprofessional taught fifteen limited resource families MyPlate, Know the Limits, Planning Meals, Reading Food Labels, Eating Better on a Budget, and Keeping Food Safe. These classes included a cooking demonstration of a healthy recipe from the Nutrition Education Program 2018-2019 calendar and participant tasting. Following the program, 53% of participants eat fruit more often each day. 13% eat vegetables more often each day. 20% eat red and o
Author: Kacy Wiley
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In an effort to get kids moving and eating healthy this summer North Middletown Elementary School hosted a summer camp for students. Over the course of the 4 weeks campers learned healthy recipes and used them to prepare their own snacks, Professor Popcorn curriculum was used for this group. Healthy foods such as Fruit Smoothies, trail mix, and fruit salad were prepared. Exercise was a big part of the day. The kids also participated in My Plate relay games, in which the
Author: Kacy Wiley
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Bourbon County Preschool Head Starts performed a Community Assessment in Bourbon County for 2015-2016. The assessment showed 18.9% of preschoolers entering kindergarten have a body mass index at or above the 95th percentile. In an effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and increase their activity level LEAP (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary) was performed in 7 classrooms within Bourbon County and Paris Independent Schools. At each lesson a book was rea
Author: Janie Oliver
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Just Say YES… to Healthiness Drug abuse and poor eating habits go hand in hand. Research shows a link with addiction and nutritional deficiencies of key vitamins and minerals and the ability to absorb nutrients effectively. The United States National Library of Medicine states a person suffering from substance abuse is more likely to relapse when they have poor eating habits. Drug abuse unfortunately is prevalent across the nation with Knott County, Kentucky being ranked at the top o
Author: Janie Oliver
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Small Victories The Nutrition Education Assistant was asked by the Knott County Housing Authority to participate in their Building Stronger Families event. The NEP assistant talked with families about the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Parents were provided with informative handouts about MyPlate, the United States Dietary Guidelines serving recommendations along with information on Nutrition Facts Labels. After talking with the families, The NEP assistant de
Author: Janie Oliver
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Cook Together About half of all Americans have one or more chronic disease often related to poor diet such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Nearly forty percent of the adult population in Knott County, Kentucky are obese and at risk for these diseases. Understanding a need for awareness on healthy eating habits, The Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program and Nutrition Education Program collaborated with The Knott County Cooperative Extension Service and Family a
Author: Janie Oliver
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Knott County families are making Healthy Choices The Knott County NEP paraprofessional taught 66 families how to serve more nutritious meals, keep food safe and use local food resources effectively. As a result 98% of those families improved the nutritional quality of their diet and 84% ate a higher quality diet because they planned meals using MyPlate, considered healthy choices and used the Nutrition Facts label. The families made a number of other improvements; 70% increased the frequenc
Author: Tonya Gilbert
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1 in 6 Americans get sick every year from food-borne illness. One of the demographics who pose a greater risk of becoming ill from contaminated food are adults ages 65 and older. In an effort to combat this, the Leslie County Cooperative Extension Office’s SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education) program assistant partnered with the Leslie County Senior Citizen&r
Author: Christy Blevins
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Due to children not knowing how to properly wash their hands sickness and disease spreads quickly in classrooms causing high absenteeism. The Bell County Schools and the FRYSC Directors came to the SNAP-Ed Assistant looking for solutions to minimize the passing of germs in their classrooms. Students in Kindergarten through second grade were taught the importance of hand washing.Using the LEAP Curriculum and reading Germs, Germs, Germs and using glow germ power and a black light to show students
Author: Viola Wood
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Muhlenberg by the NumbersThe Muhlenberg County Cooperative Extension Service provides practical education by helping individuals, families, and communities solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future. Muhlenberg County, KY is a county in the Western Kentucky Coalfield. The population of the county is 30,816. The adult poverty rate is 19.6%, and the child poverty rate is 35%. The Muhlenberg County SNAP-Ed paraprofessional taught sixty six limited resource fam
Author: Viola Wood
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the most recent studies 33.5% of Kentucky youth ages 2-17 are considered obese. Muhlenberg County has a youth obesity rate of 37%, slightly higher than the state average. Obesity often results in an even higher risk of developing serious chronic diseases.In collaboration with the Muhlenberg County Public School system the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and the SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered together to address the childhood obesity problem in
Author: Tonya Gilbert
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute released test results indicating a high number of chronic diseases and deaths linked to poor diet choices. They concluded that in 2012, 45% of deaths that were determined to be from heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes were all associated with poor nutrition habits. Recognizing this issue, the Leslie County Cooperative Extension Office’s SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutriti
Author: Melissa Pilcher
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to Kentucky State Vital Statistics, when rating their health on a scale ranging from excellent, to poor, 18% of adults in Campbell County indicated “less than good”. The statistics also indicate that 8-11% of adults have diabetes and 37% suffer from hypertension. It is also worth noting that 19% of the population of Campbell County are over the age of 65. To combat those statistics, St. Elizabeth Hospital created a program called PrimeWise. Their website states t
Author: Melissa Pilcher
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A team of National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) volunteers worked in conjunction with the Brighton Center in Newport Kentucky on a project to build beds for children in need. While skilled in helping others these 10 young adults, ranging from 18 to 26 years of age, needed some education in taking care of themselves. Most had never lived alone and had little to no experience in grocery shopping, planning and preparing meals. They came together from all over the United States, to live in a comm
Author: Melissa Pilcher
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Dehydration is a health concern for many seniors. It can lead to serious health complications ranging in severity from mild cramps to blood pressure variations and even to kidney failure. They often fail to recognize the signs of dehydration and the connection between drinking water and their health. The Supplemental Nutrition Education Assistant from Campbell County Cooperative Extension had offered the Healthy Choices for Every Body series to residents at Two Rivers senior apartments annually
Author: Melissa Pilcher
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The United Way and Newport Primary school worked together to present Born Learning Academy. The program was designed to promote early childhood development with the goal of helping caregivers turn everyday moment into learning opportunities. One of the areas of focus was childhood nutrition. With 18% of families with children in Campbell County being below the poverty line, increasing food security was a major goal. According to the Urban Child Institute, a recent study found that compared
Author: Dianne Hayward
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In the past our county residents had limited access to fresh produce and then we had another farmers market commence we now have two. However, that alone was not enough to increase access to the fresh produce as a 27% of our families with children are below the poverty line and 15.7% of 65 and over below poverty line this means they can’t afford them.The other problems were our community health and wellness 23.2% in poor health , 35.9% with hypertension,42%obesity, and 8% with diabetes. 1,
Author: Margie Hernandez
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Seniors and Food SafetyAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48 million persons get sick and 128,000 are hospitalized from food borne infection and illness in the United States each year. Many of these people are older adults who have weakened immune systems and are at an increased risk for contracting a food borne illness.In an effort to educate senior adults on nutrition and the importance of food safety, a Healthy Choices for Every Body program was conducted b
Author: Omar Miralles
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A new group of women that belong to a Jefferson County church network were having problems trying to teach their kids to eat more vegetables and were perplexed by the amount of junk food that their kids were demanding from them. They joined the Healthy Choices for Every Body program led by the Nutrition Education Program Assistant with the University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service and realized that they were the ones that needed to start the change by replacing going out to ea
Author: Omar Miralles
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A group of women that attended a local church group in Jefferson County were concerned about the risks associated with the amount of sugar consumed by their kids and sought help within the church network. They were advised to join the Healthy Choices for Every Body program to find out how to improve their health condition. In the classes led by the Nutrition Education Program Assistant with the University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service, they were taught how to reduce the amoun
Author: Omar Miralles
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A resident at a local Jefferson County apartment complex contacted the Nutrition Education Program Assistant about beginning a nutrition education program with other residents. The group began meeting regularly and the Nutrition Education Program Assistant with the University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service noticed that the group was having problems with the way they spent their resources and that they were missing some important cooking measures. They were also in constant str
Author: Omar Miralles
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A former Nutrition Education Program participant advised a group of friends about the benefits of the Healthy Choices for Every Body program and they decided to create a small group at a local apartment complex. The participants were concerned about their weight increase and how difficult for them shopping for food while working so many hours can be. They began the Healthy Choices for Every Body program, led by the Nutrition Education Program Assistant with the University of Kentucky’s Coo
Author: Patsy Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In collaboration with the Daniel Boone Community Action Agency the Jackson County Cooperative Extension SNAP-Ed program offered a five part series of classes focusing on healthier choices, ways to reduce food cost and money management. This class consisted of various age groups from limited resource families. Through the Nutrition Education Program’s Healthy Choices for Every Body series, participants focused on building a healthier plate, preparing easy meals that taste great and sa
Author: Patsy Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In collaboration with the “Save the Children Grandparents Program,” the SNAP-Ed Assistant from the Jackson County Cooperative Extension office taught a six week program on nutrition using the Healthy Choices Curriculum and recipes from the 2018 Calendar. The goal of the group was to teach grandparents the importance of good nutrition, food safety and how to prepare easy meals on a budget. The people in this group serve children from Kindergarten through sixth grade. It is
Author: Laykin Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Many Americans don't get enough calcium in their diets leading to: confusion or memory loss, muscle spasms, numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, and face, depression, hallucinations, muscle cramps, weak and brittle nails and easy fracturing of the bones. Calcium has been identified as a nutrient of concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for AmericansIn Kentucky there are approximately 600 dairy farms and 6 commercial milk processing plants. Each dairy cow in Kentucky provides an average
Author: Brittany Thomas
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
An adult Nutrition Education Program group with 31 participants was held at Southwest Center in Jefferson County. Lessons were presented by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator (SNAP-Ed) with the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service using the “Healthy Choices for Every Body” curriculum, which focused around seven core lessons. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adu
Author: Brittany Thomas
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
An adult Nutrition Education Program group with 7 participants was held at Shawnee Christian Health Care Center in Jefferson County. Lessons were presented by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator (SNAP-Ed) with the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service using the “Healthy Choices for Every Body” curriculum, which focused around seven core lessons. When reviewing the entry paperwork, the SNAP-Ed Assistant noticed none of the participants (0%) were consuming w
Author: Brittany Thomas
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
An adult Nutrition Education Program group with 17 participants was held at the Family Health Centers in Jefferson County. Lessons were presented by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator (SNAP-Ed) with the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service using the “Healthy Choices for Every Body” curriculum, which focused around seven core lessons. Before the courses were taught, the assistant noticed 57% of
Author: Brittany Thomas
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Twelve youth groups, with 224 children total, at Dawson Orman Headstart were taught by a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator (SNAP-Ed) through the Nutrition Education Program in Jefferson County. Children around the preschool age should be introduced the most basic information about food groups, so the SNAP-Ed Assistant focused solely on each of the five food groups throughout each of the six lessons, which is known as MyPlate.  
Author: Patricia Holbert
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
LaRue County Kentucky has an obesity rate of 34.7% . LaRue County Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Program Assistant Conducted a series of classes with 43 LaRue County High School Agriculture Students. The goal of this program was improving their consumption of fresh vegetables and increasing awareness food preparation and safety. Students grew lettuce and
Author: Patricia Holbert
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
LaRue County Kentucky has an obesity rate of 34.7% resulting in a sedentary lifestyle rate of 28.9%. LaRue County Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Program Assistant Conducted a series of 12 classes with 11 LaRue County High School Functionally Mentally Disabled Students with a goal of improving their eating habits and increasing their activity level. Participants in this
Author: Patricia Holbert
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Larue County Kentucky has an obesity rate of 33% with 74% considered overweight., 59% offamilies are low income. LaRue County Farmers Market was held weekly for eight weeks. LaRue County Cooperative Extension Service participated in a Senior Farmers Market Voucher program. 80 sets of Vouchers worth 28.00 each were distributed to low income seniors over 60 in LaRue County
Author: Patricia Holbert
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Cool School is a week long summer school program coordinated by LaRue County Family Resource Youth Service Center. LaRue County Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant Conducted a series of classes with 120 LaRue County Elementary School Students in grades 1 through 5. The goal was to improve their eating habits and increasing awareness of Food Safety. Classes on My plate, Food Safety and Hand Washing were taught to encourag
Author: Sandra Kennedy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Getting the news that you are expecting will change your life when it comes to proper nutrition. Things you consumed before may not be the choice for you or the baby.Working with New Beginnings Help Center young mothers attended a seven week Healthy Choices for Every Pregnant Body Series. The expecting mothers were introduced to Meal Planning, Budgeting, Breakfast, and controlling Portion sizes using the series.At the end of the series eight out of the ten participants returned to express the ch
Author: Shelby Sipes
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In Jessamine County, nutritious, affordable, and high quality food is out of reach for some—particularly in low-income senior citizen neighborhoods. With the help of several community partners, a community garden has flourished and nutrition education is in demand at Beacon Apartment Complex for seniors. By combining resources, Blue Grass Community Action, Kentucky AgrAbility, Jessamine County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Supplemental Nutrition Education P
Author: Reda Fugate
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Reda E. FugateOct. 2018Diversity is what makes our county great.The Perry County Extension Service SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program Assistant Senior partnered with a local business to conduct a series of 7 nutrition education classes using Healthy Choices for Every Body. The SNAP-ED assistant senior recognized the need to reach a diverse audience that included an individual who was blind. The SNAP-Ed assistant senior contacted the University of Kentucky in an effort to receive course m
Author: Holly Watters
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Knowledge is PowerfulIn 2005-2010, U.S. adults drank an average of 39 ounces of water on a given day. We all know that getting enough water is important for your health. Among U.S. adults, plain water intake is lower in older adults, lower income adults, and those with lower education. Healthy people meet their fluid needs by drinking when thirsty and drinking with meals. Most of your fluid needs are met through the water and beverages you drink. To address this issue, the Boon
Author: Holly Watters
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Healthy Choices Series Better Than Expensive Weight Loss ProgramOver 32% of Boone County residents are obese. To address this issue, the Boone County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Assistant (SNAP-Ed) offered a Healthy Choices for Every Body series to 9 low income participants. The series included sessions on A Healthier You with My Plate, Know the Limits of Fats, Sugars and Salt, Eating Better on a Budget, Read the Label, and Keeping Foods Safe. Each session began with nutrition educ
Author: Stephen Lewis
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Success Story.Having access to healthy foods has always been an issue in underserved neighborhoods, especially West Louisville. Another issue that many residents face is a lack of variety in their produce options, compound that with the fact that many people lack the knowledge of how to prepare unfamiliar vegetables and you will understand why many people choose fast food and processed foods more than cooking at home. To help combat this Kentucky State University has supported neighborhood organ
Author: Stacy Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Obesity among young people is on the rise. In 2017, Kentucky was ranked as the 3rd highest state in the nation for youth obesity rates at 19.3%.[1] The Nutrition Education Program (NEP) through the University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service is working to help reduce those percentages. The Clinton County Cooperative Extension NEP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ED) Assistant partnered with the local school district and the 21st Century
Author: Stacy Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Head Start began in 1965 as a program to fight poverty for children 3 and 4 years old. To be eligible to attend Head Start or Early Head Start a family must, typically, fall under 100% of the federal poverty limit. In Clinton County, the Lake Cumberland Head Start services a total of 20 families per school year. To help these families better understand their nutritional needs, the Clinton County Nutrition Education Program Assistant Senior partnered with Lake Cumberland Head Start Pr
Author: Stacy Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
There is a wealth of research on the importance of eating meals at home for health and child development reasons. Planning meals can help save time and money while providing proper nutrition for the entire family. The Clinton County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with the Clinton County Middle School to offer an after school cooking program to a group of students. A group of 10 sixth graders were taught 6 lessons from the 4 H Teen Cuisine Curriculum. T
Author: Stacy Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Planning meals is one of the best ways to save money and eat healthy meals. The Clinton County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with Adanta Behavioral Services to offer a “Let’s Cook Together” program. This program consisted of four adult participants and at times their family members. Participants were taught basic nutrition and resource management using the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum. Partici
Author: Whitney Paige Alexander
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Kentucky is one of the ten states that has the highest obesity rates in the United States. It is ranked sixth place with obesity rates in pre-kindergarten; it is ranked first in obesity rates in adolescents. According to these rates the average that children are ingesting is twenty-one to twenty-three teaspoons of sugar daily. With this being an epidemic leading into childhood, adolescent and adulthood obesity the Logan County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator (SNAP ED Ass
Author: Whitney Paige Alexander
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Kentucky Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education 2018 Annual Report 39% of Kentuckians suffer from hypertension. In today’s society many families or individuals are busy with extracurricular activities or do not want to cook for just one or two people. This creates an epidemic of individuals developing unhealthy eating habits due to buying processed foods, eating out, and not consuming the correct foods for proper nutrition and overall heal
Author: Whitney Paige Alexander
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education 2018 Annual Report 39% of Kentuckians suffer from hypertension. The poverty level in Kentucky is 17.2 %. Many families in Kentucky resort to food that may be less nutritious due to the cost which results in buying less expensive processed foods. To address the issue of families buying processed foods the Logan County Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ED) Assistant, partnered with a local
Author: Whitney Paige Alexander
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The nation has a homeschool percentage rate of 3.3 %; while the Kentucky homeschool rate has raised above the national average to a 3.6 percent. It is believed that the percentage will likely become higher due to enrollment rising in the state. The issue at hand is that most home school groups do not get the opportunity to have guest speakers come into their classrooms which can make them an unreached audience to the Nutrition Education Program. In Logan County the Supplement Nutrition Ass
Author: Tracey Turner
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health. The prevalence of obesity was 18.5 percent and affected about 13.7 million children and adolescents. With hand held devices and computer learning being the norm for most in today’s school systems, children aren’t getting enough physical activity.Through a partnership between the Owsley County Schools and the Owsley County Extension Service, a series of les
Author: Tracey Turner
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the prevalence of obesity is 41.0% among older adults aged 60 and older. Obesity is common, serious, and costly. Approximately 72.5 million U.S. adults are obese. Obesity is a factor contributing to several leading causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Through a collaboration between the Owsley County Extension service and the Owsley County commodities program nutrition lessons are provided to seni
Author: Tracey Turner
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Obesity prevalence was 18.4% among 6- to 11-year-olds, and 20.6% among 12- to 19-year-olds. Childhood obesity is also more common among certain populations. Through the collaboration between the Owsley County Board of Education, the Owsley County Extension Service and SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) assistant. A series of nutrition and physical activity lessons were taught during the 2018-2019 school year, the Professor Popcorn curriculum was taught at
Author: Tracey Turner
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In children under 5 years old, E.coli infections are more likely to lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication that can cause chronic kidney disease, kidney failure and death. During the 2018-19 school year a series of LEAP (Literacy, eating and activity for pre-school/primary) lessons were taught.Through the collaboration of the Ows
Author: Sherry Becknell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
How often do you wash your hands with soap and running water before preparing food? After cutting meat or seafood, how often do you wash all items and surfaces that came in contact with these foods or how often do you thaw frozen food on the counter or in the sink at room temperature? When ask these questions most adults will answer with, “always”. But do we really? How many people reach for sanitizer when running water and soap is not available? After cutting meat or seafood do we w
Author: Sherry Becknell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Healthy Choice Curriculum lessons range from, My Plate, Meal Planning, Keeping Foods Safe, Grains, Fruits, Eating Better on a Budget and so on. Here in Owsley County money is an ongoing issue with each and every family, most families are on a fixed monthly income. How to budget seemed to be a popular interest for the program families. After the completion of each Healthy Choice lesson, extra time was spent on how to budget. The budgeting lesson included meal planning, couponing, shopping sal
Author: Vanessa Harris
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In Menifee County, 26% of the population are Senior Citizens. The Menifee County SNAP-ED Assistant partnered with the Senior Center-Trimble House to present eight lessons from the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum. Sixteen seniors participated in the lesson. After completing the required lessons, 82 % of the participants showed an improvement in one or more food safety practices and 81 % in one or more food resources management.
Author: Vanessa Harris
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Centers for Disease Control in (2017), only 1 in 10 adults met the federal fruit and vegetable recommendation. The Menifee County SNAP-ED Assistant taught seven required lessons from the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum to fourteen recipients of senior commodities distributed at the Clark Energy Community Center. After completing the seven required lessons 57 % of the participants reported an improvement in eating more fruits, 79 % eat more vegetable
Author: Cathy Fellows
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In the fall of 2018, The University of Kentucky's Cooperative Extension Services conducted a survey of Boone Countyresidents. The study revealed an obesity rate of 35%, along with 11.1% of residents having diabetes, and 33.5% havinghypertension. These alarming rates sparked a partnership between The Boone County's Snap-Ed Nutrition EducationProgram Assistant and St. Elizabeth's HealthCare's Primewise 50+years and older group.A 5-part nutrition series was conducted, with 26 PrimeW
Author: Cathy Fellows
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Statics show the state of Kentucky's Diabetes rate is 13%. According to Boone County's Cooperative Extension 2018 Survey in Boone County Kentucky it is 10% and rising. The Nutrition Education program partnered with Boone County Diabetes Support Group and conducted a series of lessons on nutrition geared for diabetics. The group would meet once a month for 7 month. They learned about ways to eat healthier. They sampled low cost diabetic friendly recipes and learned ways&nbs
Author: Cathy Fellows
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Helping Hearts is a non-profit organization. Its mission is to help Northern Kentucky residents financially struggling to secure assistance for their family's immediate needs including food, hygiene items, cleaning products, household items, clothing, and baby items.Helping Hearts hosts a weekly free fresh produce distribution to Northern Kentucky residents. The founder of the organization mentioned to me, "that the people who attend, often comment that they do not know how to use
Author: Lisa Lamb
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Show me the MovementIn six separate classes given throughout January 2019 through to September of 2019, in Garrard County KY Sixty percent of all reporting clients reported exercising for thirty minutes or more per day. Twenty Nine percent of fifty five participants achieved this goal.
Author: Lisa Lamb
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Focus on the FruitIn working with the Garrard County Elementary schools. 22 % of 81 enrolled 3rd and 5th graders report on entry eating fruit as a snack. After working with the classes throughout the year and introducing them to fruits they may not have eaten before i.e.… Star Fruit, Dragon Fruit, Plums, and Apricots. After giving the exit evaluations an increase of 35% of 81 enrolled students reported eating fruit as a snack this is an increase of 13% after 6 hours of classes. By i
Author: Lisa Lamb
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Picky EatersAs a group children can be very picky eaters, a lot of this can be traced back to the parents like or dislike of certain foods. If given the opportunity to taste new foods children can prove to be very adventurous eaters. I did classes with 213 children during the 2018-19 school year in Garrard County KY. Only 81 youth could be evaluated, we as NEP do not evaluate preschool children. Out of the 81 students in the 3rd and 5th grades on entry only 20% reported a willingness to try new
Author: Lisa Lamb
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Picky EatersAs a group children can be very picky eaters, a lot of this can be traced back to the parents like or dislike of certain foods. If given the opportunity to taste new foods children can prove to be very adventurous eaters. I did classes with 213 children during the 2018-19 school year in Garrard County KY. Only 81 youth could be evaluated, we as NEP do not evaluate preschool children. Out of the 81 students in the 3rd and 5th grades on entry only 20% reported a willingness to try new
Author: Cheryl Owens
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Department of Health and Human Services, through the use of illicit and prescription drugs and Alcohol, each year these substances contribute to the death of more than 90,00 Americans, while tobacco is linked to an estimated 480,000 deaths per year. With that being said, the Whitley County Expanded Food and Nutrition Assistant along with one of the local rehabs that treat (mostly pregnant) women, decided that while the
Author: Cheryl Owens
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
With youth and families in mind, many don’t choose healthier alternatives when it comes to food. This is due to limited resources unhealthy eating habits, and lack of proper nutritional education. Through the collaborative efforts between the Whitley County Expanded Food and Nutrition assistant, and the Comprehensive Care Youth Program Counselors, the summer youth program addressed these issues using the LEAP, Healthy Choices for Every Body, and Teen Cuisine Curriculum. A
Author: Cheryl Owens
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Whitley County School system along with other community partners, one being the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Office through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Assistant (EFNEP), was conducting the Family Fitness Nights at one of their primary Schools, that the EFNEP Assistant partners with, throughout the year. This particular “Family Night” is done once a year in hopes of promoting physical activity and healthy snack alternatives. The EFNEP Assistant chose
Author: Kayla Lunsford
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Boneyville Baptist is a predominantly African American church located in the outskirts of Stanford. Many of the members are faithful participants to programs provided by the Extension Office. Lunch and Learn, which is now one of the Lincoln County Extension Office’s most popular programs held monthly by the FCS agent, Rita, had its beginnings with some of the core members of Boneyville. The congregation is also welcoming and kind every year, when the office, along with st
Author: Kayla Lunsford
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In the spring of 2019, a program was held by the NEP Assistant from the Lincoln County Extension Office at the Christian Life Center at Stanford Baptist Church to help improve nutrition and resource management. Advertisement was conducted at Fort Logan Cooperative Ministries, which is a food bank right next to the church. Many of the participants of the program were those recruited from advertising at the food bank. The class was 7 lessons long, meeting every week at the church and u
Author: Kayla Lunsford
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A program using the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum was implemented at the Lincoln County Senior Citizens Center. This is a very large group which meets several times a week for different activities at the center. The Healthy Choices class provided not only good nutrition information, but also provided another opportunity for the seniors to interact and socialize, which they greatly enjoy doing with each other. Most of the folks in this group are on a fixed income and expre
Author: Kayla Lunsford
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In late summer of 2019, a class was started at Just Family Adult Day Care using the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum. This group was truly a joy to work with and showed wonderful improvements throughout their time in the class. Although not everyone that attends Just Family does their own shopping, many of the participants do, or at least work with a caregiver which assists them with shopping. This program was geared toward the participants who have autonomy over their food
Author: Marian Stacy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Madison Tower Apartments is a low income housing facility geared toward single adults with physical or mental challenges. The activities director periodically invites community partners to provide relevant information to the residents on health, wellness, finances and insurance. As a large number of the residents are limited in transportation, this is the only way they may otherwise obtain information needed to make important life decisions.The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education
Author: Marian Stacy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Life skills classes in middle school have proven to be very beneficial to students as they move into high school and eventually to independent life. One middle school in Madison County KY takes this to the next level offering an after school cooking club to the students who don’t have the opportunity to take a life skills class during the school year. The cooking club is a partnership between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (Snap-Ed) Assistant and the Family Resourc
Author: Marian Stacy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
For several years now the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (Snap-Ed) Assistant has partnered with “Upward Bound”. This is a program that is offered to Eastern Kentucky high school students who are the first in their families to go to college. They are selected by the family resource center director of their high school and sent to Eastern Kentucky University for part of the summer. While in attendance, they select and attend classes, live in the dorms and eat in th
Author: Velma Mullins
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Nutrition plays an important role in recovery from substance abuse. It is a fact that drugs and alcohol can affect metabolism, organ function, mental well-being, and can prevent the body from absorbing, digesting, and using nutrients. This can lead to vitamin deficiencies and poor nutrition overall. The Laurel County Expanded Food and Nutrition assistant and Family and Consumer Science Assistant worked with Crossroads inpatient facility for men struggling with drug addict
Author: Velma Mullins
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the United States Census, Kentucky is above the child poverty rate and food insecurity percentages. Laurel County has over twenty percent increase in total poverty and eleven percent total poverty increase since 2008. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Program Assistant worked with the Laurel County Family Resource Centers and did a series of seven lessons using the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum. Hands on nutrition education provided during the year with em
Author: Bobbie Hancock
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Mercer County Program Assistant for Nutrition Education Program partnered with the local public high school to educate students in the Day Treatment Program. The NEP met once a month, for nine months, to instruct on implementing more fruits and vegetables into their daily diet. 100% of the youth adopted the practice of consuming 3 or more healthy selections after learning methods to grow and prepare food safely. The Mercer County NEP is also involved in improving the students&rsq
Author: Karen Grant
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Richmond Teen Center is an after school program for middle and high school students. The Madison County Cooperative Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant taught student’s nutrition classes. In class students became more aware of healthier meal and snack choices, food safety practices and preparation, basic measuring and reading recipes. As part of a lean protein lesson participants prepared and enjoyed their own omelets.As a result, of one hundred perc
Author: Karen Grant
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Madison County Cooperative Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant in collaboration with the B. Michael Caudill Middle School Resource Center Director offered an afterschool cooking club. Nutrition lessons were taught with an emphasis on trying new foods such as humus with fresh vegetables which was a huge hit. A whole grain lesson was taught allowing each student to make their own loaf of whole wheat bread. As a result eighty three percent of students
Author: Karen Grant
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The ALM Center is a day center for challenged adults. With a new group sometimes it is difficult to see changes in a short period of time. These clients are a small group that is willing and eager to learn and try new things. A lesson in hand washing was taught using a lotion that glows under a black light showing where dirt and germs are left behind as a part of safe hood handling practices. Clients also learned what a healthy snack is and prepared their own delicious yogurt parfait
Author: Bobbie Hancock
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Mercer County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with Mercer County Intermediate School Family Resource Center in encouraging students in 3rd through 5th grade to eat more fruits and vegetables. The NEP had received several requests from parents of this age group for suggestions on how to foster healthier food choices by their children. A cooking class was planned for children to attend after school, 2hrs/day for 4 days, and prepare an after school snack for themselves. The NEP
Author: Diane Mason
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2010 a shift was seen by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS)* of more meals being eaten away from home. The trend continued, and continued to increase through the latest data release in 2017. An article in a 2014 Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior** indicates a “lack of cooking skills and food preparation knowledge as barriers to preparing home-cooked meals.” To help combat the issue, a three-part hands-on cooking prog
Author: Kayla Walton
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
After being awarded a grant for farmer’s market use, the Menifee County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences program hosted a Kid’s Day at the local farmer’s market in conjunction with Customer Appreciation day. Each family with children under 18 years of age were given 10 one-dollar market vouchers to spend on fruits and vegetables at the market. Each child was given a goody bag including a MyPlate activity booklet, crayons and a pencil, a water bottle, stickers, recipe card
Author: Nancy Owens
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Snap-Ed Success Story 2018-2019Nancy F. Owens. NEP/SNAP-Ed AssistantA Healthier YouWork with families to help them feel more self-sufficient. To make small changes in their life style that would make a big difference and have a long term outcome. The Allen County NEP/SNAP-ED paraprofessional taught 64 limited resourcefamilies how to serve more nutritious meals, to keep foods safe, and to utilize local food resources effectively. 98.4% of NEP/SNAP-Ed families made an improvement i
Author: Sarah Congleton
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
It is estimated that 20 percent of adults in the United States have tried at least one meal kit delivery service. With the demand for convenience in our society, meal kits seem to be the answer for grocery shopping, meal planning, and meal preparation. Anyone who has not tried meal kits might be interested in learning how meal kits work and whether they are worth the investment for preparing and consuming more meals at home. In response to this, the Martin County Extension Agent hosted the
Author: Joan Bowling
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program provides eligible low-income seniors with redeemable vouchers for fresh, unprocessed local fruits, vegetables, hone, and herbs at approved Farmer’s Markets, The program helps improve nutrition for low-income families, by providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The program also increases local farm sales and encourages individuals to shop at the local Farmers Market. The voucher syste
Author: Nancy Owens
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In Allen County, youth are not eating the recommended daily fruits and vegetables like they should be. As recommended by my plate. The Allen County Cooperative Extension Office, Allen County Health Dept., Need More Acres, Allen County School System, Core of Scottsville, and Dugas Park have joined together to create C.H.A.T. (Community Hunger Action Team). Our focus was to work with the children of the community to introduce a new vegetable every week and to take a hello bite even if
Author: Shannon Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Bracken County FCS Agent collaborated with the local school, Bracken County Middle School and their 21st century grant program to offer some lessons on nutrition.The lesson came from WIN (Wellness in Kentucky) curriculum on the B.O.N.E.S lesson with the milk challenge.A pre and posttest was given.There were 50 students and 5 adults participating. Bracken is a rural area with just 2 local grocery stores so access to different sources of food is limited. Many of these students are
Author: Nancy Owens
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Allen County Cooperative Extension Office teamed up with Life skills Industries. Through this partnership the focus was not only to teach nutrition but to also get the clients with special needs to do more physical activity and have less screen time after returning home in the afternoon. And some of the focus was on things that the clients would like to accomplish themselves to better their health and lifestyle.10 clients sign a simple contract with me. The contract would state that the clie
Author: Danielle Barrett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Fresh local produce was not easily accessible for many Knox County residents before the implementation of the Knox County Farmers’ Market in 2014. However, with the opening of the Farmers’ Market, fresh, local produce is now more readily available for the residents of Knox County. The Knox County Cooperative Extension Service Family and Consumer Sciences Program worked with the Knox County Farmers’ Market to set up a booth at the farmers’ market to offer Plate It Up! Kent
Author: Nicole Gwishiri
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Kentucky Kids Project report from 2016, 24.2 percent of youth in Bath County lived in food insecure homes. Also, Kentucky is currently the 12th highest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. 15.6 percent of adolescents were overweight, whereas 17.6 percent were obese. In addition to this information, the study conducted a survey to see how much fruit and vegetable children consumed the previous seve
Author: Brenda Cockerham
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Johnson County Extension Homemakers prioritized the environment as being a priority for the next four years. They selected the former "Outdoor Classroom" (which is located on the back side of Paintsville Lake) as a major project. The International program also has a strong environmental component, so the two projects would be equally promoted and developed throughout the year. Thus far, the steering committee, has met with the Army Corp of Engineers and we have successfully planned
Author: Amanda Hardy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 2018 Annual SNAP-Ed Report for Kentucky, at least one out of 3 Kentucky children are overweight or obese. Nearly half of Kentucky children consume fruits less than once daily, well below the 1½ to 2 cups daily recommended by USDA MyPlate. Children who consume low amounts of fruits and vegetables are at greater risk for many nutrition related health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control,” eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables daily ca
Author: Robert Amburgey
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Power of Produce At the Bath County Farmers MarketAccording to the Kentucky Kids Project report from 2016, 24.2 percent of youth in Bath County lived in food insecure homes. Also, Kentucky is currently the 12th highest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. 15.6 percent of adolescents were overweight, whereas 17.6 percent were obese. In addition to this information, the study conducted a survey to see how much fruit
Author: Terence Clemons
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Kentucky Kids Project report from 2016, 24.2 percent of youth in Bath County lived in food insecure homes. Also, Kentucky is currently the 12th highest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. 15.6 percent of adolescents were overweight, whereas 17.6 percent were obese. In addition to this information, the study conducted a survey to see how much fruit and vegetable children consumed the previous seve
Author: Bobbie Hancock
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Mercer County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with the Family Resource and Community Tutoring Initiative group to serve at-risk children in 1st and 2nd grade. The NEP met once a week, for 13 weeks, with this group of children teaching them ways to stay healthy by hand washing, getting physical activity, Identifying food groups, and choosing healthy snacks. The Exploring My Plate with Professor Popcorn curriculum was used, with the school providing the snack. After reviewing t
Author: Denise Wooley
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 2018 Annual SNAP-Ed Report for Kentucky, at least one out of 3 Kentucky children are overweight or obese. Nearly half of Kentucky children consume fruits less than once daily, well below the 1½ to 2 cups daily recommended by USDA MyPlate.Children who consume low amounts of fruits and vegetables are at greater risk for many nutrition related health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, ”eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables daily can help redu
Author: Mimi Quiroz
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Obesity and Cavity in Owen County.This summer at the Nutrition Education Program lessons at the Owen County Cooperative Extension Office, two of the eight women, that attended the Nutrition Education Program lessons came to the first and second lesson with large drinks from a local fast-food restaurant, I directed the lesson towards drinks and made emphasis on calories from sugary drinks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky has the fifth-highest rate o
Author: Mimi Quiroz
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Kids Safe at Home With Super Star Chef ProgramIn the summer, the Carroll County Extension Office hosted the Super Star Chef Program, a group of four dynamic and enthusiastic UK and Eastern Kentucky University students conducted this program for four days, all the kids wanted to enroll in this amazing and instructional program. The mission of Super Star Chef is to provide a fun and educational environment for youth to gain knowledge and learn skills leading to successful preparations in the
Author: Lynn Blankenship
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Metcalfe County Farmers Market and Metcalfe County Schools Family Resource Youth Service Center address local food insecurity with a locally funded Farmers Market voucher program.The goal of the 2019/2020 MCS and MCFM partnership, facilitated by the Farmer's Market Board, Metcalfe County FCS Extension and Metcalfe County School Administration, was to provide locally grown fresh produce to families in Metcalfe County whose children are enrolled in the Metcalfe County school system. 2019 was t
Author: Glen Roberts
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Collaborators: Pre-school and kindergarten students, teachers, teaching assistants, school principal, extension ANR agent Glen Roberts, ANR assistant, Terry Bertram, FCS assistant, Cassie Munsey, VoAg students and Master Gardener volunteers.The Principal at Walker Early Learning Center was interested in applying for a grant from Lowe`s to obtain supplies to construct 16 raised beds (one per classroom) for pre-school and kindergarten. She asked the Wayne County Extension office for ad
Author: Kathleen "Happy" Raffaele
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Fresh Produce a Family Favorite According to the Center for Disease Control 90% of Americans are not eating enough fruits and vegetables. The proper amount of fruits and vegetables that should be eaten is based on age, gender and amount of physical activity a person does. Not reaching the recommended amount puts people at risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. In an effort to increase the fruit and vegetable consumption the Anderson County SNAP Education Assis
Author: Rachael Price
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Grant County, KY has an obesity rate of 35.6% and a physical activity rate of 30.2%. The Grant County Cooperative Extension Service Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Program in collaboration with Williamstown Independent and Grant County Schools offered Recipe for Life.A total of 56 5th grade students participated it the program. Over 40% of Williamstown Independent elementary students and over 50% of Grant County elementary students scored at the novice or apprentice level in math. Food p
Author: Kendyl Redding
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 2018 Annual SNAP-Ed Report for Kentucky, at least one out of 3 Kentucky children are overweight or obese. Nearly half of Kentucky children consume fruits less than once daily, well below the 1½ to 2 cups daily recommended by USDA MyPlate. Children who consume low amounts of fruits and vegetables are at greater risk for many nutrition related health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables daily can help red
Author: Meagan Klee
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Smarter Lunchrooms Success Story TemplateThis success story uses 5 components:SituationEducational ResponseTarget AudiencePartner or ResourcesOutcomesAccording to the 2018 Annual SNAP-Ed Report for Kentucky, at least one out of 3 Kentucky children are overweight or obese. Nearly half of Kentucky children consume fruits less than once daily, well below the 1½ to 2 cups daily recommended by USDA MyPlate. Children who consume low amounts of fruits and vegetables are at greater risk for
Author: Judith O'Bryan
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 2018 census conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, Laurel County’s population now exceeds 60,000 individuals. The census also revealed that Laurel County has a poverty rate of 23.2%, which is higher than Kentucky’s overall poverty rate of 18.2%. Additionally, studies conducted by Feeding America indicated that 15.9% of Laurel County residents are food insecure, with 11.7% of the population being over age 65 and living below the poverty rate. To addres
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In years past, a local meat processor has heard over and over again, please find something to do with the meat, I want to donate it. With that, this past deer season (fall 2018) was a huge success for the Hunters for Hunger program. This program was made possible by the Cumberland County Extension Office, SNAP-ED department, Jones Ridge Meats, Lake Cumberland Community Action, KDA, and USDA. It allows hunters to harvest deer and take them to Jones Ridge Meats for processing and the meat be donat
Author: Jhamicah Harbut
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
2019 is the year the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) will be celebrating its 50th anniversary of programming nationwide. In Fayette County, through the federally funded Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), the EFNEP program has been a factor in helping families to change food pattern behaviors to low-income families. Booker T Washington Elementary school is a predominantly minority and free and reduced lunch school. Promoting better eating habits is import
Author: Laykin Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can lower blood pressure, risk of heart disease and stoke, prevent certain types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect on blood sugar. Across the country only 21.6% of children and adolescents consume the daily recommended amount of fruits and veggies. (2018 State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, published by CDC)In partnership with Bath County Cooperative Extension’s FCS Agent, "TryDay Friday'
Author: Diana Doggett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Fayette County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences agent and the Nutrition Education Program assistants delivered a monthly workshop based upon the 2019 Food & Nutrition Calendar recipes. ‘Cooking through the Calendar’ featured exploration, discussion, demonstration and sampling of seasonal food. Ten workshops were presented with 187 participating and 75% with limited income. This series’ audience consisted of 10% African American, 1% Asian and 89% Cauc
Author: Lora Gullett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Kentucky has a population of approximately 4.4 million people. Close to 4.7% of adults in Kentucky live with serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA). While rates of obesity are increasing globally, with 39% of adults overweight or obese, there appears to be a link between mental illness and obesity. According to the World Health Organization, patients with a history of
Author: Lora Howard
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to state health data, Clay County has a high prevalence of diabetes, cancer, heart disease and obesity. Research shows that a healthy diet reducing fat, sodium, and sugar lowers the risk of developing diabetes, decreases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and may protect from some cancers. To address these concerns Family and Consumer Science Agents in the Wilderness Trail Area organized and conducted a Wilderness Trail Area Holiday Cooking School focused on mod
Author: Rachel Price
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Partnering with Edgewater Recovery for Better Nutrition for Adults Kentucky State University set up a partnership with Edgewater Recovery to increase access to at-risk adults for better nutrition and health. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19.7 million American Adults battle a substance use disorder. Edgewater allows SNAP ED classes 2 times a week to better educate the men about Nutrition. Although Edgewater made the class a
Author: Jennifer Bridge
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
After the local farmers' market vendors noted the decreasing percentage of young consumers at thier market, they contacted the extension FCS agent about the possibility of presenting the Power of Produce during market hours. The national program had been successful in many markets so the hope was to encourage the sale and consumption of fruits and vegetables not only for children but individuals as well. The FCS agent took on the project then worked with the summer intern to ass
Author: Linda Brown-Price
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Centers for Disease Control estimates 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from food-borne diseases each year in the United States. (https://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/estimates-overview.html)Food- borne illness symptoms can occur anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks after a contaminated foods is consumed. The most common “cause” of food-borne illness is attributed to people mishandling food, abusing the time/temperature rule and not washing th
Author: Teresa King
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to 2017-2018 State of Childhood Obesity in Kentucky 20.8% of youth ages 10 to 17 have obesity, Kentucky ranks third highest for this age group. Additionally, 36.6% of adults in Kentucky are considered obese. Changing eating habits and increasing physical activity can help reduce these numbers.In an effort to combat these issues, Meade County Cooperative Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with David T. Wilson Elementary to conduct a six w
Author: Jessica Reed
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Successful Challenge with Recovery CenterAcross most generations, genders, and demographics in the United States, the use of the substance has increased. There are many different types of drugs being used for substance abuse and affect the body in many ways. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2017 Kentucky had a higher rate than the national rate of deaths due to substance abuse. Many substance abuse rehabs have opened up across Kentucky. In Montgomery County, there is all-mal
Author: William Crawford
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Kentucky is among of the most impoverished states in the nation and subsequently also possesses some of the most startling hunger statistics. A poverty rate of 18.1% contributes to one in six Kentuckians struggling with hunger. That means nearly 700,000 people in the Bluegrass, including approximately 200,000 children struggle with hunger. With 22% of Kentucky children being food insecure and eleven counties having childhood insecurity rates of greater than 30%, there is much n
Author: William Crawford
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The local food movement is essential to addressing food insecurity issues in Kentucky. One innovative method of integrating a real world issue into the realm of agricultural education lies in the use of Aquaponics. To that end, a $10,000 demonstration grant was secured to place two aquaculture systems that include hydroponics attachments at the Kentucky FFA Leadership Training Center in Hardinsburg. The scope of this demonstration project is multi-faceted. Phase I will in
Author: Linda Combs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
During the 2018-2019 program year the Knott County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program assistants (SNAP assistants) taught 162 limited resource families how to serve more nutritious meals, to keep foods safe, and to utilize local food resources efficiently. Of these 162 families 131 completed the program while 96 are continuing in the program. 66% of graduating families made an improvement in the nutritional quality of their diet. 65% of families demonstrated an improvement in safe f
Author: Karli Giles
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Research is starting to show a clear link between increased sugar consumption and poor health outcomes such as being overweight, obesity, and developing diabetes. The recommendation is that no more than 10 percent of daily calories should come from sugar. On average, almost 20 percent of the calories in a typical American adult’s diet comes from sugar and sweeteners, with the most common sources being beverages, snacks, and sweets. In addition, the arrival of several non-nutritive sweetene
Author: Barbara Campbell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
After delivering a class at the Senior Center in Fleming County on carbohydrates and how to avoid consuming more than we need for our daily food intake the SNAP assistant was approached by one of the participants wanting to know more on the subject as she recently found out she was pre-diabetic. The assistant invited the client to come to the Extension Office later that day for a one on one lesson and to pick-up some reading info on the subject.A couple of months later the assistant w
Author: Leslie Workman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Pike County Nutrition Education Program works with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients to plan nutritious meals on a limited budget. Our entire staff commits thousands of hours annually to engaging our community in nutrition and health education to improve the quality of life in Pike County. Our two federally funded nutrition assistants graduated 225 families from their USDA curriculum “Healthy Choices for Every Body” this year. Its 12 le
Author: Samantha Saunders
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Robertson County has many underserved audiences, one of which is the senior citizens. We have a senior center in our community that is an essential part to their everyday lives. They serve 3 meals a week there, and the number of attendance averages 25 people. Our senior program provides Farmer’s Market vouchers that allow some of them to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, but some would like to opportunity to grow their own. In the summer of 2019, I reached out to the local senior c
Author: Janey Cline
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Hart County FCS Advisory Council, in 2009, identified hunger in children and food insecurity as being a large problem in Hart County schools. From this meeting a steering committee was established under the leadership of Extension FCS to address this issue. In 2020 this program continues to thrive under the leadership of FCS Extension. Children identified by teachers and FRC staff as at risk for hunger, received a bag of food each Friday, with 10 to 12 easy to eat and prepare items for
Author: Lora Pullin
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The most recent KY by the Numbers report states, Greenup County is one of many counties in Kentucky dealing with a high precedence of chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes. Research has shown there is a natural link between nutrition and making behavior changes that lead to healthier lifestyle choices. The Greenup County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent along with the Greenup County Public Library System collaborated to hold a workshop once a month to provide education t
Author: Kathy Byrnes
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to research from a variety of reputable medical sources, a diet rich in whole grains has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some forms of cancer. The average American, however, eats less than one serving per day and over 40% never eat whole grains at all. The reasons for this are many, according to WebMD, including confusion on what is actually a “whole grain”, as well as the per
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 5-A-Day program developed and promoted by the USDA, citizens are encouraged to increase fruit and vegetable consumption to 5-9 servings daily. Although community members may understand the importance of consuming more fruits and vegetables, access to these foods can be difficult. Breathitt County residents have minimal access to healthy foods, thus making it even harder to combat health epidemics such as diabetes and heart disease using a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables
Author: Laken Campbell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Food Safety Practices Keeps People Healthy The Center for Disease Control reports that around 48 million Americans are sickened by foodborne illnesses every year. Reports indicate that some forms of foodborne infections have increased over the last few years. Recently, some members of a local church became ill after a church potluck held on the church lawn, during a very warm Sunday afternoon. Four elderly members required hospitalization. The Lee County Agent used this unfortunate in
Author: Heather Cheek
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2018, the State of Obesity Organization stated the combined rate for overweight and obese adolescents is 33.5% making Kentucky fall among the highest 15 states for overweight and obese children. Kentucky Health Facts stated that 40% of adults in Mason County are obese compared to the 35% in Kentucky as a whole. According to the CDC, around 49.7% and 43.2% of adolescents in Kentucky report consuming fruits and vegetables, respectively, less than one time a day. In an effort to increase the fru
Author: Vanessa Harris
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2011-2014, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated 6 in 10 youth (63%) and 5 in 10 adults (49%) drank a sugar-sweetened beverage on any given day. On average, U.S. youth consume 143 calories from sugar-sweetened beverages and U.S. adults consume 145 calories from sugar-sweetened beverages on any given day. The Menifee County SNAP-ED Assistant partnered with the Project Worth Food Pantry to present seven Healthy Choices for Every Body Lessons. The audience consisted of families with
Author: Ralph Hance
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Farmers markets are used by Kentucky growers of all farm sizes and scales. “Market gardeners” often tend less than an acre of land to sell produce only at the lo­cal farmers market. Larger farms, including Kentucky orchards, may use farmers markets as a secondary seasonal retail outlet to reach more local customers. Farmers markets are often viewed not only as impor­tant local food marketing locations, but also as gather­ing places that benefit the local community.Kentuck
Author: Tiffany Bolinger
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Try it once, try it twice, trying new foods is nice! Getting preschoolers to try new foods is hard…but it is worth the challenge! According to the CDC, the preschool years (ages 2-5) set the stage for the development of healthy habits and play an essential role in how children think, eat, and behave as they grow into adults. The Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) partnered with the Pembroke Elementary Preschool to provide monthly “Stories and Snacks&rd
Author: Tiffany Bolinger
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Over the past several years eating out has become a way of life and cooking at home almost seems to be a lost art. It is well known that eating out; particularly fast food; on a regular basis can increase risk for weight gain and obesity as well as limits access to nutrient rich foods such as fruits and vegetables. According to Kentucky Health Facts (BRFSS), 71% of Christian County residents have a BMI score placing them in either the overweight or obese categories and only 9% of Christian
Author: Lorie Dunn
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According for Feed America, Kentucky has a food insecurity rate of 18% for children and 15% for the overall population. Grant County has a 37% population that are below the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program threshold of 130% of poverty. The county had a strong need for gardening and food preservation. The Grant County Nutrition Education Program in conjunction with Grant County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences, Grant County Community Action Agency and Grant County
Author: Lorie Dunn
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Fall Comfort Foods and Nutrition In Grant County 2408 Families receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits. Grant County Nutrition Education Program, Grant County Public Library, and Grant County Community Action Agency identified families who needed assistance to make their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits stretch throughout the month. Using the Healthy Choices curriculum, a series of seven classes we
Author: Lorie Dunn
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Grant County has an obesity rate of 35.6% and Sherman Elementary School has 100% of families receiving free lunches. Grant County’s Nutrition Education Program cooperated with the Sherman Family Resource Center, Sherman Advisory Council, the Grant County Community Action Agency, and a Spanish translator provided by the University of Kentucky, to offer 7 classes in the Healthy Choices Curriculum. Low income parents, relativ
Author: Stacy Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The cost of raising a family is higher than ever before. The Consumer Expenditure Survey produced by the United States Department of Agriculture states that the average cost of raising a child is $12,980 per year. In 2018, 19% of all Kentuckians lived in poverty. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, 25% of all children in Kentucky lived in poor families in 2016. There are many organizations and programs available to assist families in financial cris
Author: Jill Harris
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the State of Obesity report, the current obesity rate (2017) for Kentucky is 34.3%. For obesity-related health issues, Kentucky ranks seventh in the country for diabetes and fifth for hypertension. Furthermore, the Todd County Extension Council has identified obesity as a grassroots issue facing this community. Healthy eating habits are a key factor for a healthy weight. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recognizes the role that communities and environments provide in s
Author: Robin Thompson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to KYHealthFacts.org, the prevalence of overweight (83% vs. 68%) and obesity (65% vs. 35%) is a much larger percentage than the KY average. Due to these rates, the Center for Disease Control awarded Martin County a grant to help combat these growing issues. To help educate the community, the Supplemental Nutrition Education Program Assistant and the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with Vineyard United Baptist Church to offer a 7 topic series called Healthy Choices for Ever
Author: Robin Thompson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The drug epidemic in Eastern Kentucky has been on a steady rise the last 10 years and as a result, the number of addiction recovery facilitates in Martin County have grown. The Martin County Supplemental Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistant partnered with the Agricultural Agent, program assistant, and Mountain Comprehensive Care, Serenity House to offer a 7 topic series to four (4) residents to teach them how to assemble a raised garden bed, grow and maintain plants, harvest and prepare f
Author: Kathleen "Happy" Raffaele
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Physical Activity, A ”Wonder Drug” According to the Center for Disease Control, the rates of obesity and high blood pressure in Kentucky are well above the national average. For Kentuckians with a disability, especially those with cognitive or mobility limitations the numbers are even higher. Adults with disabilities are three times more likely to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. Physical activity helps to reduce the impact of chronic disease. Only ½ of ad
Author: Susan Grimmett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Go Bananas!Fresh fruits donated to a local transitional housing shelter were being thrown away due to the fruit spoiling faster than the residents could consume the produce.In addition to the Budgeting Lesson and class information sheets given to the shelter residents, the SNAP-Ed Assistant also gave class participants a cooking magazine supplied by the State Nutrition Education Program. One article addressed how to make bananas last longer by wrapping the stems in plastic
Author: Susan Grimmett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
“Lettuce” Eat HealthyAccording to the Center for Disease Control, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Obese children are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease with 70% showing at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Obesity also increases the risk for diabetes, stroke, cancer, and osteoarthritis.During the Organ Annie and the Organ Wise Guys series of lessons with a local school system grades Head Start through first
Author: Susan Grimmett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Recipe 4 RecoveryAccording to the US Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration, 19.7 million Americans battle with substance abuse including alcohol, opioids, and other illicit drugs while Kentucky ranks 5th in the nation in overdose deaths. Due to years of drug/alcohol abuse, the physical condition of an addict’s body becomes neglected.Sanibel House, Addiction Recovery Care, is a long term residential men’s recovery c
Author: Amanda Hardy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
With many individuals with health concerns, many Americans want to learn to cook and eat healthier. Offering cooking classes monthly allows participants to practice and learn how easy cooking in the kitchen can be. Our target audience is adults that have little to no cooking experience. We do have some participants that come to learn how to cook for one or two people. We address basic cooking skills and easy recipes that they can adapt at home. Marketing efforts included monthly newsletters, rad
Author: Barbara Campbell
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Building a strong volunteer base throughout Fleming County has always been elusive. Recently this need has been fulfilled by the recent collaboration of Fleming County Snap-Ed Assistant. By initiating a meeting with the local recovery facility, the Snap-Ed Assistant successfully joined the Snap-Ed Nutrition Education Curriculum with the local, Belle Grove Rehabilitation Facility, joining with the Fleming County Food Pantry. The Snap-Ed Assistant began by offering the “Healthy Ch
Author: Gidgett Sweazy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Teach One, Reach One Gidgett Sweazy Success Story, March 2, 2020 This proverbial saying has been used in many scenarios across the globe for centuries. Today, I want to use it in context of a recent program conducted at a local public high
Author: Jhamicah Harbut
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Children are our future and need to understand the importance of nutrition. In Fayette County, through the federally funded Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), the EFNEP program has been a factor in helping families to learn about nutrition education, meal planning, and food safety techniques to educate and change food pattern behaviors to low-income families. CIS (Community Inspired Solutions) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Their mission is to help decrease viole
Author: Sandra Kennedy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Using the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum, Budgeting your Monies, 17 parents and their children made shopping lists of the items they needed using a simple method only purchasing what was on the list, including healthy snacks. After examining the cupboards, they proceeded to make their list, adding in store ads, sale items, and digital coupons. After reviewing their list, 10 out of the 17 saved $20 dollars on their grocery purchases by using their shopping list,
Author: Marcia Moss
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Bullitt County Extension Office and the Mount Washington Branch of the Bullitt County Public Library partnered to bring Healthy Choices for Everybody./Nutrition 101 to the branch.One of the lessons presented was Know your Limits. Using test tubes with fat, sugar, salt and a power point the class was given a visual of the amounts that are in our every day foods.The week after presenting Know your Limits one of the woman came up and said that after hearing and seeing how much salt, fat and sug
Author: Viola Wood
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Say Hello to Garden Fresh VeggiesMay 2019 – September 2019 The Opportunity Center, located in Greenville, KY is an organization that provides basic life skills and support to individuals that are intellectually and or physically challenged in Muhlenberg and surrounding counties. Adults with mobility limitations and intellectual disabilities are at a disproportionately higher risk for obesity. Statistically, according to the Center for Disease Control adults w
Author: Teresa King
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 2017 – 2018 State of Obesity, Kentucky is ranked third in the country for children. With the world of electronics, children’s physical activity levels have dropped. Therefore, children are not burning the calories needed to maintain a healthy weight.In an effort to modify this, the EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) assistant partnered with Ekron Elementary to conduct a six-week Professor Popcorn Program with two classrooms of second graders totali
Author: Shannon Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Four years ago, the Bracken County Extension Service along with the Bracken County Wildlife Officer developed a program that encouraged hunters to harvest doe and bring them to the extension facility where volunteers could process them and send the meat to the UK Meat Lab. There is would be inspected and process and packaged with the meat then returned to the county and distributed to needy families through our two food banks. Each year the program has grown with the understanding of
Author: Valerie Robinette
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Through the Pike County Cooperative Extension Service’s The Expanded Food Nutritional Education Program, thirteen ladies at the Pike County West Care Rehabilitation were provided with nutritional classes from The Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum.These ladies were taught how to plan meals with portion control in mind, read nutrition labels, and how to eat better balanced meals on a budget. They were able to demonstrate knowledge gained on food safety, knowing the limits on empty ca
Author: Valerie Robinette
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
With previous successful partnerships between Pike County Cooperative Extension Service Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program and the Pike County Jail and Detention Center West Care Rehabilitation Group, an opportunity for ongoing programming has emerged. We collaborated to provide programs residents with The Healthy Choice for Everybody Curriculum Recently in 2020, the program graduated 100 percent of the group of sixteen men.The Healthy Choice for Everybody Curriculum was used to teach cli
Author: Valerie Robinette
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Pike County Cooperative Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program partnered with the Pike County West Care Rehabilitation for an eighth year to provide the Healthy Choices for Every Body Curriculum.Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum educated clients to make better nutritional choices and improve their food-budgeting skills. Clients learned that eating from My Plate will provide vitamins and minerals to their bodies to keep them healthy. Lessons taught t
Author: Laykin Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Millennial's are now the largest, most diverse living generation in the United States. Market analysis has shown that this generation is demanding healthier, fresher food and while spending less on food at home. However, millennial's spend less time on food prep, presentation, and clean-up. Millennial's purchase more ready-to-eat foods, many Millennial's reported buying some form of prepared food within the last 7 days.SNAP Education Program Assistant began nutrition classes at P
Author: Jessica Reed
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to The Journals of Gerontology we are living in an aging society. One in every eight Americans are 65 years old or older, and the fastest growing age group is 85 years or older. The projected growth of these age groups are to more than triple over the next 10 years. With the aging process it’s best to continue the importance of a healthy lifestyle. As a person ages the increase of multiple chronic conditions happen and then can lead into the need for assistance. There are many fa
Author: Andrea Munoz
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Office of Administration of Children and Families (2014-2018), 25.5% of the population of Whitley County is below the poverty level. The SNAP-Ed program assistant reaches out too many of these children and families through school programming. This year, Corbin Independent Schools, Berea College Promise Neighborhood Initiative, and SNAP-Ed partnered to bring nutrition education to the 4th and 5th graders every Friday during the school time, using My Plate Yummy Curriculum.
Author: Lora Gullett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the CDC the best way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to social isolate and wash your hands frequently especially when being out in a public place. The Kentucky State University SNAP-Ed Nutrition Program has been teaching this concept in our classes since the inception of the program in 2017, and our classes for both adults and children has a class on hand washing in each curriculum. Before we started classes at Edgewater Recovery Centers in Rowan County, the o
Author: Dianne Hayward
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In Cumberland County all our students are on free and reduced meal programs. School meals even though they are healthy were not very highly recommended by students. Culinary classes at the high school were usually chosen as an easy option for students where they thought they would not to have to work to hard to complete.The extension family and consumer science agent and the SNAP-ED Assistant partnered with the high school culinary teacher to revamp the culinary challenge and teen cuisine curric
Author: Judy McGuire
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A local Rehabilitation Center “Grace Place” and the Expanded Nutrition Education Program teamed up to work with clients on improving their nutritional habits and building a better life style. There was a average of eleven women that attended this class. Based on class discussion and the information gathered from the participant food recall, low fat options were not part of their daily dietary intake because the grocery shopping was an assigned chore, not a personal option.
Author: Judy McGuire
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Keeping Families SafeFood Safety was a concern after observing the kitchen at a local rehabilitation center, “Hope in the Mountains” Meat was being thawed on the counter that was to be served for dinner. After discussing why this was happing with the group of 20 women that attended this class they thought it was ok way to thaw meat because, they always do at home, and no one had gotten sick or their mother did it that way. The “Keeping Food Safe for Everybody” lesson was
Author: Cindy Maggard
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) the state of Kentucky is 31.6% obese. The Nutrition Education Program in Knott County teaches low income families about nutrition and how to budget their money. Teaching these families how to eat properly and budget for it can lower the obesity rate in Kentucky.The CDC reports that 46.2% of Kentuckians eat less than one time daily the recommended amount of fruit. It also reports that 24.9% eat less than one time daily of the rec
Author: Valerie Robinette
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Pike County Cooperative Extension Service’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program collaborated with WestCare, a residental substance and addiction treatment center to offer the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum. The center specializes in helping people traditionally considered difficult to treat. Many of these clients haven’t been taught about nutrition. Many have abused their bodies with drug or alcohol use and want to improve their lives.The Healthy Choices for E
Author: Catherine Jansen
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Centers for Disease Control estimates 48 million people get sick from food borne diseases each year in the United States. Food borne illness symptoms can occur anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks after a contaminate foods is consumed. This often makes it difficult to identify the cause. The most common cause of food borne illness is attributed to people mishandling food, abusing the time/temperature rule, not washing their hands, and engaging in other behaviors that put themselves and
Author: Lora Pullin
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Extension programming has been suddenly required to shift from face-to-face contact with clientele to a mostly digital communication platform due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Greenup County office has made significant changes to the way in which we connect with our community. While we have embraced the technology that allows us to connect with people using the internet, we recognize that not all of our Extension program consumers have the capability or the desire to use technology every
Author: Joan Bowling
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According the the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research the "The State of Senior Hunger in America 2016: An Annual Report," identified in 2016 13.6% of persons age 60 and older were marginally food insecure, 7.7% were food insecure, and 2.9% were very low food secure, which translates into 8.6 million, 4.9 million, and 1.8 million seniors, respectively. As depicted in the figure, this is an increase of 45% since 2001 in the fraction food insecure, and a doubling of t
Author: Leslie Workman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Many people consider the beginning of the year as the time to begin a path of self-improvement. People are also looking for things to do indoors due to the short days and unpredictable weather. The Pike County Family & Consumer Sciences program offered Weight the Reality Series on Tuesdays at 1:00pm and 5:30pm over an 8 week period beginning on January 14th. The program had 40 people enrolled in the program.
Author: Alivia Faris
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
67% of adults in Lawrence County reported a diagnosis of Hypertension, meaning that over half the population reported having a high blood pressure diagnosis (kentuckyhealthfacts.org). With this information in mind the Lawrence County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) collaborated with the Lawrence County Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) to present a program that promoted the use of herbs and spices, rather that the us
Author: Nellie Buchanan
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 2018 Annual SNAP-Ed Report for Kentucky, at least one out of 3 Kentucky children are overweight or obese. Nearly half of Kentucky children consume fruits less than once daily, well below the 1½ to 2 cups daily recommended by USDA MyPlate. Children who consume low amounts of fruits and vegetables are at greater risk for many nutrition related health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables daily can hel
Author: Vanessa Harris
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 eat between 1 ½ cups and 4 cups of vegetables each day. That might not sound difficult, but just 2% of American teens reach that recommendation. The Menifee County SNAP-ED Assistant taught Teen Cuisine Cooking and Nutrition Education Curriculum at the Frenchburg Group Home to a group of five resident teens. After six lessons with the residents, a pretest and posttest evaluation of th
Author: Kenna Knight
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Kohl’s National Giving Award is a purpose-led organization that strives to make a difference in communities nationwide and partner with organizations that help families lead fulfilled lives. The Pendleton County Extension Office was honored to receive the Kohl’s National Giving award for 2019. Pendleton County Extension is excited to be one of five organizations to receive a $10,000 grant to focus on addressing vital community needs. Due to the Covid 19 restrictions; unem
Author: Jane Proctor
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Diet quality indicators for Kentucky reflect low intake of fruit and vegetables among both adults and adolescents – 37% if adolescents consume fruit less than once daily, and 38.5% consume vegetables less than once daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also reported a 19.7 percent obesity rate for Kentucky youth ages 10 to 17 years old, which is eighth highest in the nation. The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) reports a positive correlati
Author: Sarah Spears
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
This year, the Floyd County Cooperative Extension Office Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program partnered with the Mud Creek Senior Citizens Center. The Nutrition Education Program adult curriculum was used. Out of all the topics that had been previously done here, one particular lesson stood out to the attending adults. This lesson was “My Plate for Every Body”. This lesson focuses on the importance of eating from all five food groups. It also serves as a guide to help one learn
Author: Sarah Spears
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Consuming enough fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet reduces the risk of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity. However, according to a 2015 study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of the adult population meeting fruit and vegetable intake recommendation is relatively low (CDC: 2015).This year, the Floyd County Cooperative Extension Office Supplemental Nutrition Assis
Author: Christy Stearns
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 2019 County Health Rankings, Clinton County has a 16% food insecurity rate. When high poverty, unemployment, and other risk factors related to the coronavirus pandemic combine, the stress of limited food access is overwhelming for many families. Clinton County Extension staff have helped facilitate the monthly commodities food distribution program during the pandemic. A drive through format has been utilized for health and safety purposes. During March and April, a total of 1,28
Author: Anita Boyd
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The term “food resource management” is defined as managing food dollars wisely in order to provide healthy food for an individual or family for the entire month. Running out of food before the end of the month, before one’s next paycheck, or the next deposit of SNAP benefits, is a major problem for many families with limited resources. The Mason County Nutrition Education Program Assistant worked with a group of twenty (20) adults to help alleviate this problem. Us
Author: Sandra Kennedy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
With recent events due to COVID-19 one mother lost her job and her financial status changed but she knew that she had to find other resources to provide better nutrition for her children instead of the junk food they were eating so she contacted the Nutrition Education Program Assistant in search of healthy snacks, easy meals and learning activities they could do together. Super Star Chef recipes were shared on making Mini Fruit Squares, and English Muffin Pizzas along with lesson materials on W
Author: Danielle Fairchild
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) assistant partnered with the Family Resource Center at Fallsburg Elementary School to provide the Healthy Choices for Every Body nutrition program for parents and/or guardians of the children in the angel tree program. The participants engaged in the classes in order for the children to receive gifts and food baskets for the Holidays. The seven required lessons were taught during the 2019 fall season. Recipes from the NEP ca
Author: Danielle Fairchild
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) assistant partnered with the Family Resource Center at Blaine Elementary School to provide the Healthy Choices for Every Body nutrition program for parents and/ or guardians of the children in the angel tree program. The participants engage in the classes in order for the children to receive gifts and food baskets for the Holidays. The seven required lessons were taught and recipes from the NEP calendar were sampl
Author: Sherry Ragsdale
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
For Individuals in recovery from addiction, maintaining a healthy diet and being physically active can play an important role in the recovery process. Nutrition education has been positively associated with substance abuse treatment outcomes(Journal of American Dietetic Association, 2004) In an effort to improve nutrition and physical activity practices with the Substance Abuse Program (SAP) in Oldham County, the Oldham County Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered with the
Author: Joel Worth
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The University of Kentucky Health News states: “Drinking a can of sugar-sweetened beverage a day increases your risk of developing pre-diabetes by 46 percent, according to a recent study.“As many as one in three Kentucky adults, about 1.1 million people, are estimated to have pre-diabetes, but only 8.6 percent, more than 248,000 people, have reported being diagnosed, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the CDC,” Darla Carter of The Courier-Journal&nb
Author: Joel Worth
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Back in the day, people used to take the turkey or roast out of the freezer and defrost it in the sink or on the counter with the belief that it would be safe after cooking. However, according to the USDA, “As soon as raw or cooked meat, poultry or egg products begin to thaw and become warmer than 40°F, bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to multiply” (Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 2013). A lack of food safety knowledge can lead to improper f
Author: Joel Worth
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the USDA, “Using a food thermometer is the only reliable way to ensure safety and to determine desired "doneness" of meat, poultry, and egg products. To be safe, these foods must be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy any harmful microorganisms that may be in the food” (Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 2015). It is important to understand how to safely handle food in order to prevent foodborne illness.A substance use recovery house
Author: Joel Worth
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The MyPlate website states “Before making a grocery list, write down meals you want to make this week. Buying for the week means you’ll make fewer shopping trips and buy only the items you need” (choosemyplate.gov). Proper food resource management is an important skill for limited resource individuals and an aim of the Nutrition Education Program. A substance use recovery program for men in Jefferson County participated in the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Educa
Author: Anita Boyd
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new illness that was first identified in December 2019, with patients reporting cases of fever and acute respiratory illness. Since that time, other countries, including the U.S., have seen cases of the illness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mason County EFNEP set-up "Brown Bag Projects" for community members in Mason County. These brown bags are free and champion at-home learning for youth, adults, and families to help during the crisis. The
Author: Relissa Torian
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
DifferentTrigg County in 2018 reported 6,956 limited resource residents participating in nutrition education lessons. March 2020 when COVID-19 reached this rural community, 100% (one-hundred percent) of that population was joined by another 50% (fifty percent) of the county’s residents needing healthy, nutritious foods. Having connections with the local Helping Hands Food Bank, the SNAP-Ed Assistant provided COVID-19 materials to the Bank for distribution to limited resource families
Author: Lorie Dunn
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
During this current Covid-19 crisis, we faced the challenge of reaching out to our fellow Grant County residents while still remaining socially distant. Many families are now struggling to change the way they remain healthy and physically active. Currently, Grant County KY has an Adult obesity rate of 35.6% and a physical activity rate of 30.2%. . Due to these concerns, the Grant County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP) took the opportunity to start a F
Author: Kathleen "Happy" Raffaele
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Suitcases for KidsAccording to the US Department of Health and Human Resources Administration for Children and Families, there were over 400,000 children in Foster Care in 2018. In Anderson County, Kentucky, the number reported by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in September of 2019 was more than 50. Children ente
Author: Angela Freeman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A Pew research study surveyed 4,594 Americans in 2018 found that 51 % of YouTube users say they rely on the video service to learn how to do new things, about 35 percent of all U.S. adults. (Half of YouTube Viewers Use It to Learn How to do Things They’ve Never Done, Patricia Hernandez@xpatriciah Nov 7, 2018, 12:36pm EST, theverge.com).In a survey released in 2018 of people ages 14 to 23 (Generation Z), YouTube ranked as the highest preferred learning tool. 59% picked YouTube as a learning
Author: Angela Freeman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Early Extension professionals focused on community-based education to enhance the universities’ outreach in agriculture, youth development, and family and consumer sciences — then called home economics. The focus grew to include community resource development. Extension also now plays a significant role in disaster and emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. (Cooperative Extension as a Public Health Partner in Covid19 Outreach, David R. Buys, PhD, MSPH, CPH, March 30, 20
Author: Anita Jones
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Fast food is something that is not always the healthiest food choice. The Carter County Nutrition Education Program Assistant Senior taught 7 lessons from the Healthy Choices for Every Body Curriculum to each of the participants enrolled in the program. When participants enter the program and complete Entry papers 44% said they cook dinner at home. After the 7 lessons, and the exit papers, 56% now say they are preparing dinner at home more times a week. That is 12% change
Author: Anita Jones
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In March 2020, Kentucky was hit with the dreaded COVID-19 virus. March 13 was the last day that students in Kentucky went to public schools. The Nutrition Education Program Assistant Senior in Carter County partnered with the Olive Hill Family Resource Youth Service Center that was already sending home food to 60 youth through the Backpack program. The Nutrition Education Program Assistant Senior created a Program in a Bag to distribute with the backpacks. The Program c
Author: Lora Gullett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Rowan County SNAP-Ed had lots of plans for after spring break 2020, our program assistant would soon be returning from maternity leave and classes were planned to help her meet her SNAP-Ed goals for the year for both adults and youths. Classes at D&S Services and piloting the new senior curriculum at Boodry Place were planned for adults and youths at Tilden Hogge Elementary School and completing the one class at McBrayer Elementary to achieve the goals, but we never returned from sprin
Author: Ruth Chowning
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Bullitt County Food Service program found themselves preparing and delivering over 6,000 meals to children qualified for the free and reduced lunches throughout the county. As they began the process, the Food Service Director identified the need for a fun but educational flyer to be include with the meals. Since the foodservice employees were focused on preparing the food, the Bullitt County Extension Service offered to provide that educational flyer. For
Author: Sherry Ragsdale
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In today’s fast paced society, parents are choosing convenience foods as an easy answer to mealtime. Microwavable foods, pizza, and fast food now take the place of a healthy home cooked meal.Working with the Oldham County 4-H Youth Development Agent and the 4-H assistant, the Oldham County Nutrition Education Program Assistant offered a 4-H Chef’s Club to 28 middle school students. The 4-H Teen Cuisine Curriculum, provided by the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service was
Author: Jhamicah Harbut
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Obesity and health are a top concern for the state of Kentucky. In Fayette County, through the federally funded Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), the EFNEP program has been a factor in helping families to change food pattern behaviors to low-income families. The Kentucky State University, Cooperative Extension Program, SKY Families program offers parent education groups to reduce child abuse and neglect. EFNEP has collaborated with the SKY Families group to offer nutrition e
Author: Ashley Board
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The demand for locally grown fresh produce has increased exponentially over the last few years. With the success of the KY Proud initiative, local Farmers Markets have become the catalyst to provide safe, fresh and nutritious produce to communities across the state. The Caldwell County Extension Service in collaboration with multiple partners including the Caldwell county Farmers Market, County government, City government, and Farmers Market supporters hosted two Farm to Table Dinner
Author: Deborah Messenger
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
After many discussions with the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, it was decided that we needed to offer some educational programming on an online platform. Currently the Family and Consumer agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources agent, and SNAP-ED assistant were organizing take out bags for folks to pick up once a week with activities in them, but this would be for a different group of clientele. With that, it was determined that we would do two online series through Google Classroom.
Author: Ruth Kirk
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program Assistant Senior (EFNEP) has not let the Nutrition Education Program, and those the program serve, slip through the cracks since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being unable to have face-to-face classes, the EFNEP Assistant Senior was able to adapt the delivery of the nutrition curriculum in order to ensure clients were still receiving vital information to live healthier lives. A new Facebook account was created (Lawre
Author: Ruth Kirk
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Assistant Senior partnered with Fallsburg Elementary Family Resource Youth Service Coordinator to conduct educational classes for families served by the Family Resource Center. The classes were designed to provide families with nutritional information and resources to help them make healthier food choices. A total of nine (9) parents participated in program using the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum.
Author: Ruth Kirk
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Expanded Foods and Nutrition Program Assistant Senior (EFNEP) partnered with the Louisa Elementary Family Resource Youth Service Center coordinators to provide nutrition education for limited resource families. Seven (7) required lessons from The Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum was taught to parents that qualified for Thanksgiving baskets (baskets of food given to limited-resource families in the community). The EFNEP Assistant Senior organized this collaboration and
Author: Kristi Shive
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Warren County is home to one of the three refugee resettlement agencies in the state of Kentucky. Over 500 refugees resettle to Warren County each year. Over half of refugees are children under 18. Many refugees relocate with little knowledge of where to purchase food items or how to prepare them, usage of kitchen equipment, and proper food safety. In collaboration with the Warren County Fiscal Court and SOKY Marketplace, Kristi and Nan were included in a specialty crop grant to teach the commun
Author: Edith Lovett
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Pulaski County Farmers report that this has been one of their most profitable years for selling fresh strawberries. Clients from Pulaski County and other counties in Kentucky have been shopping at local farmers sites to purchase the best strawberries in Kentucky. The two local farmers markets were not opened in May for the farmers to use these sites, so they had to rely on other social media to get the word out about the strawberrie
Author: Cecelia Hostilo
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Social media outlets seem to be the growing way to communicate with people in our fast paced society. With 78% of the population of Trigg County being under the age of 65, social media outlets such as Facebook is an important communication tool. In Trigg County the FCS agent has maintained the Trigg County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences program Facebook page for several years, but its reach has been limited. Two weeks into working from home, the FCS agent be
Author: Abigail Ewing
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Centers for Disease Control reported “The increasing weight gain and obesity of American men, women and children has been widely publicized…[with] less attention given to the fact that persons with physical, emotional and sensory disabilities are nearly twice as likely to be obese as the general population.” The Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum was implemented at The Harbor House, whose motto is to “light the way for people with disabilities” by a SNAP-
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to Kentucky by the Numbers: COVID-19 At Risk County Profiles, 34.3% (+/- 12.9%) of Breathitt County residents are grandparents still in the labor force and living with/responsible for grandchildren. Also, according to Breathitt County Schools Food Service Coordinators, all schools within the Breathitt County system are 100% Free and Reduced lunch schools; meaning all 100% of their student population has access to free breakfast and lunch and snacks within the regular school
Author: Viola Wood
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Through a community partnership with the Muhlenberg County Job Corps the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Assistant from Muhlenberg County, KY presented the Healthy Choices for Every Body Curriculum to Job Corp students finishing their training at the site. Eight Job Corp students completed eight lessons in the Nutrition Education Program.Through the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum the group was taught how to identify healthy foods through My Plate, plan meals wit
Author: Viola Wood
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
LEAPing into Healthy FuturesChildhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control’s website the prevalence of obesity among youth ages 2-19 is 18.5%. Kentucky’s childhood obesity rates is slightly higher at 20.8% as reported by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. In an effort to combat this rising trend, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistant in Muhlenberg County Kentucky partnered
Author: Dianne Hayward
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Kentucky Hunters for Hunger, Kentucky department of fish and wildlife, Feed My Sheep Food Pantry and UK Nutrition Education Program.I hear you say “What do all these have in Common”?Well, they are all concerned with providing healthy food and advice on cooking that food . Cumberland County is a rural low income community. There is a big need for supplemental food for quite a lot of households. The extension agriculture and natural resource agent and the family and consumer scie
Author: Andrea Munoz
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the USDA 800,000 seniors benefit from the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, known as SFMNP. The Whitley County SNAP-Ed Program Assistant has worked with this program to provide with services for seniors, for many years. Senior citizens are among the most vulnerable population for food security, food availability, malnutrition, isolation, and victims of abuse. While collaborating with Williamsburg Senior Center for a few years now, this year has been particularly ch
Author: Vanessa Harris
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Centers for Disease Control in 2017, nearly 500,000 deaths in the United States include hypertension as a primary or contributing cause. That is equivalent to about 1,300 deaths each day. Almost half of adults in the United States ( 108 million, or 45% ) have hypertension or are taking medication for hypertension. Only 1 in 4 adults ( 24% ) with hypertension have their condition under control. &n
Author: Lorin Fawns
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to Kentucky Health Facts in Mason County 80% of adults are overweight and only 8% eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables. At the Buffalo Trace Health Department, a community herb garden was planted by the Mason County Master Gardener Association. Debra Wallingford is a Master Gardener who worked with the health department and other Master Gardeners to ensure this project's success. Wallingford partnered with Bridget Lykins (BTHD Dietitian) to create a plan where t
Author: Lorin Fawns
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
During the pandemic, many nursing homes and rehab centers have limited to no access for residents to have visitors; this can be a depressing time. Gardening can provide a positive outcome for residents as it can decrease stress, encourage healthy eating, and be a source of exercise. The Kenton Pointe Assistated Living Community contact the Mason County Extension Office, asking for assistance starting a container garden for residents to care for and maintain. The horticulture agent encouraged the
Author: Rachel Price
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Partnering with McBrayer Elementary for Youth Nutrition Education Kentucky State University set up a partnership with McBrayer Elementary School 4th grade class in January to increase nutrition and health information access for at-risk children. According to CDC.GOV, obesity affects one in five children in the United States. In Rowan County, kentuckyhealthfacts.org reports an adult obesity rate of 36%. Obesity puts children and adolescents at r
Author: Emma Robinson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Volunteers of America Freedom HouseVolunteers of America Mid-States creates positive change in the lives of individuals and communities through a ministry of service. Different communities have different needs. From housing solutions that keep homeless families together to helping displaced veterans get back on their feet, Volunteers of America Mid-States serves more than 21,000 people
Author: Jessica Reed
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to samhsa.gov, The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data showed that nearly 21.7 million people the age of 12 years old or older needed substance use treatment with in the past year. Substance abuse use is a particular impairment of an individual using alcohol or illicit drugs, and in some cases, the individual uses both substances. The use of the substance causes health issues, disabilities, lack of responsibilities within a workforce, home, or in school. The substa
Author: Kristopher Grimes
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Kentucky State University Center for Family Nutrition Goes Virtual!Over the past 100 years, Cooperative Extension has made strides with farmers, families, and communities through direct, research-based education. In fact, much of the success of Extension programming is due, in part, through the strong relationships developed between Extension professionals and stakeholders. Whether it’s agricultural, environmental, nutritional, or health education, the cornerstone of Extension
Author: Brad Stone
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
With the COVID-19 pandemic having effectively shut down the school district in Lewis County to in- person classes, concerns arose over students receiving healthy meals during this time period. The school district made a decision to distribute healthy lunch and breakfast meals to all students in the county during the closure of the schools. This monumental effort required a significant amount of logistical work to ensure its success. The SNAP-Ed Program Assistant for the Lewis C
Author: Gidgett Sweazy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Over the last three years, the Kentucky State University SNAP-Ed team has grown and achieved many goals. One theme I try to continually instill in this team is to always keep looking for additional ways to serve and reach. We’ve developed more than 100 community partner relationships, taught 1000’s of face to face programs with youth and adults, and volunteered many hours within our communities as a KSU employee, but also as a member of the community that wants to be involved.Our fir
Author: Luke Fries
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In March of 2019, Nelson County FCS Extension, with the support of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the state Nutrition Education Program Office, was able to hire a SNAPEd Assistant to serve one of the greatest needs of the county; nutrition and access to healthy and local foods. Under the supervision of the FCS Agent, the SNAPEd Assistant in Nelson County has hit the ground running, enrolling new members in the program and marketing the NEP Curriculum throughout.  
Author: Laykin Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Kentucky has the highest rate (9%) in the nation of children living with "other relatives" due to substance abuse, incarceration, military deployment, death of a parent, or maltreatment.A community partner reached out to the Bath County SNAP-Education Program Assistant to provide nutrition education to a family whom had lost custody of their child due to maltreatment. The child's parents readily agreed to taking a nutrition course in order to obtain knowledge on properly feeding a
Author: Luke Fries
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The COVID-19 pandemic revolutionized the way Nelson County Extension is able to reach the community with research-based information. In April of 2020, Extension Agents in the county collaborated to provide daily outreach to the public, providing updates on program availability via ZOOM and other social media outlets. By May, Agents had discovered a new way to encompass all program areas with a weekly program that was coined "Grow, Eat, Live". Agents have covered how t
Author: Terri Spriggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
I finally was able to have my first class with a new group from a low income housing community after two reschedules due to high Flu season. I was excited to finally get to my home town area! Three people showed up, which I was kind of disappointed at but given the rampant flu season, I was excited to at least get started. One gentleman, Charles, was very excited to be there along with a senior lady, Margaret, was super nice and they were very talkative and engaging. Another younger w
Author: Terri Spriggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Covid 19 hit in and all in person groups came to a halt. Looking for ways to reach my participants via online or Facebook became a challenge as many didn't have access or smart devices and the age barrier was also a factor. Many other counties had NEP facebook pages so I set about setting up a Facebook Nutrition Education Program page for Nelson County. Within the first 4 weeks alone, I had 513 followers like my page and I had a whopping reach of anywhere from 70 people a day
Author: Andrea Munoz
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
For the last eight months, the Whitley County SNAP-Ed Program Assistant has been working with Anchor Ministries to enroll their participants in a wellness program that complimented their current program and addressed the need for nutrition education. Anchor Ministries is a local church that serves women with a faith-based program for recovery support after drug or alcohol addiction. Just as progress was being made to confirm a plan, The SNAP-Ed program assistant introduced the idea of online pro
Author: Gidgett Sweazy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Many may recognize this verse from Proverbs. However, this message can be applied across many areas of life. Children should be taught at an early age to stop for a stop sign, never touch the stove as a burner may be hot, follow the law to stay out of trouble, etc. But what about nutrition? When it is too soon to talk about vitamins and nutrients? Nutrition.gov explains that children as young as two can begin comprehending reinforced messages and goes on to say that we should actually begin &ldq
Author: Chandra DeRamus
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Chandra DeRamusSuccess Story June 30, 2020“Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension Teams up with Non-Profit Organization to Provide Family Resource Kits in Hardin County”Our nation is currently facing the challenge of a virus outbreak named Corona virus, COVID-19. The virus has forced several retail stores, manufacturers, libraries, and schools to close due to the amount of people being impacted from the disease. In Kentucky the impact from the COVID-19 ou
Author: Linda Combs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 2018 Annual SNAP-Ed Report for Kentucky, at least one out of 3 Kentucky children are overweight or obese. Nearly half of Kentucky children consume fruits less than once daily, well below the 1½ to 2 cups daily recommended by USDA MyPlate.Children who consume low amounts of fruits and vegetables are at greater risk for many nutrition related health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, ”eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables daily can help redu
Author: Marcia Moss
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Due to the corona virus all classes were cancelled towards the end of March 2020. The Bullitt County Nutrition Education Program started a FaceBook page the first of April to reach out to the community and current clients.The goal was to post recipes and helpful tips that could be taken and used in every day life just as if regular classes were being taught. Since April till the end of June 2020 there have been 10,040 indirect contacts with 1,907 of those being SNAP-ED eligible. The page wi
Author: Mary Elaine Burton
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
School Lunch ProgramDuring the month of April 2020 the Johnson County Senior SNAP-Ed Assistant contacted the Family Resource Center Director at one of the 5 elementary schools in Johnson County. This center for providing lunches for 2 of the elementary schools within the district of the county. They were serving up to 500 students and family on a daily basis.After learning the numbers that were being met daily the SNAP-Ed Asst. started delivering Covid19 related and educational material, Ch
Author: Mary Elaine Burton
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Life SkillsThe Johnson County SNAP-Ed Senior Assistant started working with the Johnson County Middle Schools Practical Living class for the 2019-2020 school year. We covered six lessons from the Teen Cuisine curriculum and combined some recipes for the Heathy Choices Adult curriculum. The four classes per day were excited to learn about basic kitchen skills. This will provide the students with much needed information and experience to further their high school career with culinary if
Author: Cindy Maggard
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Due to COVID-19 schools were dismissed for the rest of the year in mid-March 2020. Knott County has a poverty rate of 56%, therefore all students get free lunch in Knott County. After school was dismissed the county school system still provided lunch to each student via their bus route.The Knott County Cooperative Extension Service in collaboration with the Knott County School System provided bags for each child that picked up a lunch. The SNAP-Ed assistant provided in th
Author: Martha Yount
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
During the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, the Nutrition Education Program worked to continue providing quality education in new ways. According to data from the organization Feeding America, In Kentucky, 662,660 people are struggling with hunger - and of them 190,600 are children. Those numbers reflect one out of seven Kentucky adults and one out of five Kentucky children. With school meal service interrupted and rising unemployment rates due the pandemic, more Kentucky families relied on food pa
Author: Audrey Myers
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A Pew research study surveyed 4,594 Americans in 2018 found that 51 % of YouTube users say they rely on the video service to learn how to do new things, about 35 percent of all U.S. adults. (Half of YouTube Viewers Use It to Learn How to do Things They’ve Never Done, Patricia Hernandez@xpatriciah Nov 7, 2018, 12:36pm EST, theverge.com).In a survey released in 2018 of people ages 14 to 23 (Generation Z), YouTube ranked as the highest preferred learning tool. 59% picked YouTube as a learning
Author: Nola Janeen Tramble
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Situation:Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, the Crittenden County Extension Office was forced to rethink the way we deliver programming to our clientele. The week prior to the agents being asked to work remotely, we met and planned the best way to continue to offer quality programming without face to face contact. Educational response:One thing we decided to do was offer “Grab and Go” bags with projects from all three program areas during the months of March and April.
Author: Natalie Taul
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Nutrition and obesity are two of the top health challenges facing Grayson County residents. The low rankings nationally and statewide in diabetes, adult obesity, and limited access to healthy food, are all problems that need attention in the community. The Population Health Committee out of the local hospital reached out to collaborate with the Master Gardener Association and Extension Service to address the above needs through a community garden project. With much planning, preparation, and gen
Author: Sara Jenkins
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A California Department of Education survey indicated that 87 percent of fourth to eighth graders said that they cook and make some of their meals or snacks. However, youth who lack healthy cooking knowledge may rely on packaged foods or prepared foods containing questionable nutrition value. Teaching youth food preparation skills promote important life skills development. Research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics noted that children who engaged in handlin
Author: Turquoise Brown
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Fostering healthy eating patterns and developing good cooking practices in school age children can potentially increase their health and well-being resulting in a better quality of life. At a young age, children acquire and practice eating habits taught by their parents, caregivers, and/or peers. With childhood obesity rates across the nation on a rise and the decline in Family and Consumer Science educators in schools, nutrition education programs are vital in filling the learning gap.The Kentu
Author: Audrey Myers
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
“Children whom eat together with their families are 35% less likely to engage in disordered eating, 24% more likely to eat healthier foods and 12% less likely to be overweight.” (Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics) Moreover, children also have less delinquency, have greater academic achievement, have improved psychological well-being and more likely have positive family interactions when they eat together with their families. There is no doubt that family
Author: Lora Pullin
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Greenup County Extension and Soil and Water Conservation held Woods and Wildlife for Your Wallet in conjunction with Kentucky Department of Forestry, University of Kentucky Forestry, KY Department of Fish and Wildlife, KY Woodland Owners Association and many local volunteers. Woods and Wildlife for Your Wallet is a program that offers concurrent sessions such as: Beekeeping, wildlife management, growing shiitake mushrooms, Master Logger Program, encouraging and managing a healthy fores
Author: Deborah Scaggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, I, SNAP-Ed Assistant, have continued to work with the Shelby Valley Veterans’ Transitional Home. The men who live there are an amazing group. They have such wonderful stories to tell of how they come to live there, some, heartbreaking.However, listening to them, you still hear the pride in their voices when it comes to servanthood. Whether it is serving our country or the community in which they live. I have continued to corresp
Author: Deborah Scaggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Before COVID-10 I, SNAP-Ed Assistant, was working with Johns Creek Kindergarten (3classes), first grade (3 classes) and second grades (3 classes), Mullins first grade (4 classes), and Bevins Elementary kindergarten (2 classes). I was also working with two Christian schools, Valley Christian Academy and Christ Central Training Academy (all grades in both schools). I lacked three classes finishing with the schools when the quarantine started.I also was working with Senior Citizen
Author: Deborah Scaggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Senior LadiesThis year I, SNAP-Ed Assistant, taught Cooking thru the Calendar using Healthy Choices for EveryBody Curriculum to a group of Senior ladies and boy did we have fun! We also learned a lot from each other.The ‘Ladies’ learned how to plan and prepare fresh, healthy meals based on the MyPlate eating style. They also learned grocery budgeting, meal planning, how to read labels, and food safety.Sixteen senior ‘ladies’ entered the program and thir
Author: Sarah Congleton
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
People are facing numerous challenges because the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across Kentucky so quickly. The Governor has restricted access to various locations throughout Kentucky that are labeled nonessential and has issued a stay at home order. The result of the stay at home order means that people have shuffled their schedules and daily tasks immensely and are now either working remotely or not working at all. As weeks pass, one of the challenges that people are seeing is how to entertain
Author: Karen Denniston
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Recipe for Life program is offered to every 5th grader in the Bourbon County, Paris Independent and St. Mary elementary schools. Two hundred and ninety-seven 5th graders participated in the 2019 program. Each year the Bourbon County Extension Homemakers and community leaders volunteer to aid, teach and support this program.Upon arrival at the event, students were divided into 10 groups and each group has two adult volunteer leaders. The leaders at each of the 10 tables ass
Author: Melissa Goodman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Extension Day Camp in a BoxOn March 16, 2020, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service began a quick transition to remote working conditions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Hickman County Cooperative Extension Service quickly looked for ways to continue programming and reaching youth and families in our community. One of these ways was to create two-day camp boxes; one titled “Extension Explorers” and the other “Extension Day Camp in a Box.”
Author: Deborah Scaggs
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Summer Feeding ProgramSince COVID-19 started and the schools dismissed early. We were at a loss as what to do for children and families. How do we reach them? How do we stay in contact with them? How do we know they are being fed? So many questions and no answers. Then, I made contact with the director of the FRYSC, Family Resource Youth Service Center at Johns Creek Elementary and was told that ‘unless you were an employee of the school system the princ
Author: Mary Hixson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Garrard County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent worked toward providing materials and resources to the community of Garrard County during the coronavirus pandemic. The FCS Agent used multiple outlets to give support to the community. Those outlets include the Garrard County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Facebook page, a weekly article in the local paper, Central Record, pick-up kits for youth, resource packets for the Senior Citizen Center, Garrard County Food Pantry, Senior
Author: Rachel Hance
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Youth need opportunities to develop social skills, civic and leadership skills, create strong connections with caring adults, have access to safe places to interact with their peers, and support services to allow them to become more independent adults (Blank, M.J., 2017). The Olmstead Rambassador 4-H Leadership Club members were able to develop and advance their leadership skills by doing. They designed and implemented a new program called Lead to Read within their school. They organized th
Author: Rachel Hance
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Children are our future. They, like everyone else, need access to health care, education and nutrition essential for appropriate growth and development. Unfortunately, not all children have these benefits. Many children go to school every day hungry and return home to face the same circumstances.In the United States, nearly 13 million children face hunger every day. According to “Map the Meal Gap Study” released by Feeding America in 2018, there are over 6,00
Author: Steven Musen
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
It has been projected in the Kentucky by the Numbers document produced by U.K.’s Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK) that by the year 2025, 18% of Jessamine County’s population will aged 65 and over. As community members age, they often loose access to fresh, healthy foods because of fixed incomes, lack of transportation and “food desserts” in low-income housing neighborhoods where many senior citizens live.The Jessamine County Senior Center
Author: Mary Hixson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
At the beginning of the Covid-19 shut-down, the Garrard County School District decided to offer school lunches for students every day until school was officially ended in May. 1100 students were receiving lunches at 5 sites. The daily lunches also included a breakfast meal for the following morning. Our fairly new Food Service Director was pleased and surprised when offered assistance by the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent and the Nutrition Education Program Assistant in the form of
Author: Julia Wilson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Due to current events many families found themselves faced with empty store shelves in 2020. As a result many families had a new or renewed interest in home gardening. The Edmonson County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and the Agriculture and Natural Resouces Agent partnered together to create a home gardening kit for families in Edmonson County. The kits contained 21 varieties of seed, seed starting trays, soil, SNAP publications on gardening, Plate it Up KY Proud Recipes, and t
Author: Gregory Comer
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The onset of COVID-19 created a new paradigm for many across the U.S and Kentucky. Access to nutritious foods was more limited than it has been since the last World War. Since many people were off work, raising vegetables in a garden became more popular. To assist local citizens, the Agriculture agents and FCS program Assistant prepared to-go kits on gardening & composting, for local people to pick up at the office, distributed to Food Pantry participants and
Author: Bonnie Sigmon
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Extension Meets a Need During CoronavirusAs coronavirus emerged into our state, many people’s world fell apart seemingly overnight. Jobs were lost and many lost all means of income in a blink of an eye. Many, found themselves unable to provide the basic necessities for their families like food, and had no idea where to call for help because they had never needed assistance before. After recognizing this need in the community the Laurel County Extension Office teamed toge
Author: Victor Williams
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Extension Meets a Need During CoronavirusAs coronavirus emerged into our state, many people’s world fell apart seemingly overnight. Jobs were lost and many lost all means of income in a blink of an eye. Many, found themselves unable to provide the basic necessities for their families like food, and had no idea where to call for help because they had never needed assistance before. After recognizing this need in the community the Laurel County Extension Office teamed toge
Author: Sarah Spears
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Over these past few months, most (if not all) aspects of our lives have somewhat been uprooted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Social distancing and strict guidelines have taken a toll on the psychological well-being of staff, students, kids, and adults everywhere. In an extraordinarily short period of time, most of our day-to-day routines have drastically changed. Luckily, during this hectic time, the Floyd County Cooperative Extension Office Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program has fi
Author: Tamera Magee
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the 2018 Annual SNAP-Ed Report for Kentucky, at least one out of 3 Kentucky children are overweight or obese. Nearly half of Kentucky children consume fruits less than once daily, well below the 1½ to 2 cups daily recommended by USDA MyPlate. Children who consume low amounts of fruits and vegetables are at greater risk for many nutrition-related health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, ”eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables daily can help red
Author: Leann Martin
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Children are our future. They, like everyone else, need access to health care, education and nutrition essential for appropriate growth and development. Unfortunately, not all children have these benefits. Many children go to school every day hungry and return home to face the same circumstances.In the United States, nearly 13 million children face hunger every day. According to “Map the Meal Gap Study” released by Feeding America in 2018, there are over 6,000 child
Author: Clinton Hardy
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Over the past thirty years, US citizens have undergone a paradigm shift in how food is consumed. Restaurant style food consumption was once enjoyed by most as an infrequent, special occasion dining experience, while dinner prepared and enjoyed at home was typical. Today, obtaining food prepared at a restaurant has become typical for many while a dinner prepared and enjoyed at home has become a special occasion dining experience. With opportunity provided by the supplement
Author: Nan Montgomery
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Warren County, Kentucky is the home to many refugees because we have the International Center for placement. Due to the climate and other factors many Congolese and Burmese refugees have crops that differ from those that are grown in Kentucky. Therefore, they did not know how to cook specially crops like, strawberries, kale, watermelon, sweet potatoes and peppers.The Warren County SNAP Education Assistant provided educational programming by teaching the Healthy Choices for Every Body curri
Author: Turquoise Brown
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program (KSUCEP) provide low-income families in Kentucky with hands-on nutrition education to combat food insecurity and nutrition-related health challenges. Through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) grant we serve families in Jefferson, Fayette and Franklin County. EFNEP programing in these counties has shown great strides in helping families to gain knowledge on nutrition topics such as meal planning and food safety te
Author: Karli Giles
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Jessamine County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent offered a two day virtual 4-H Foods Class in conjunction with Jessamine County 4-H’s Virtual Camp. Participants picked up to-go bags from the Jessamine County Extension with recipe ingredients, SNAP-ED cooking utensils, UK Wally Cat handwashing poster, and Zoom Link to class. The FCS Agent demonstrated proper handwashing, how to read a recipe and lead participants in a virtual cook-a-long. The initial outcomes were participa
Author: Judith O'Bryan
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
As coronavirus emerged into our state, many people’s world fell apart seemingly overnight. Jobs were lost and many lost all means of income in a blink of an eye. Many, found themselves unable to provide the basic necessities for their families like food, and had no idea where to call for help because they had never needed assistance before. After recognizing this need in the community the Laurel County Extension Office teamed together with other agencies in the county to
Author: William Adkins
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
As coronavirus emerged in our state, many people’s world fell apart seemingly overnight. Jobs were lost and many lost all means of income in a blink of an eye. Many, found themselves unable to provide the basic necessities for their families like food and had no idea where to call for help because they had never needed assistance before. After recognizing this need in the community the Laurel County Extension Office teamed together with other agencies in the county to of
Author: Benjamin Conner
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Scott County extension agent, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the UK Animal & Food Sciences Department, held a Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training on November 7th. This training was developed as a way to fulfill the educational requirement stated in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Produce growers must complete the training if they meet certain thresholds. During that training we had 15 producers attend from several counties. It was a ful
Author: Leslie Workman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
During the spring and early summer of 2020, the Pike County Extension Service Family & Consumer Sciences program altered delivery of educational programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because schools, businesses and offices were closed, the state of Kentucky was under order to minimize person-to-person contact. This order meant that traditional FCS programs had to be offered in new and innovative ways. It also meant that families and children were often home in quarantine-l
Author: Tracy Cowles
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Often limited resource families want to “do better” but don’t know how. The Family Resource Center reached out the Butler County FCS Agent and wanted to partner in a three-part series on food preparations, eating healthy, and incorporating kids in the kitchen.Each participant received incentives provided by the FRC. A slow cooker, electric skillet and electric pressure cookers were among the items they received. Average attendance was 35 at each section.Oral evaluation was cond
Author: Katie Wallace
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2019 Cooking through the Calendar began as a monthly cooking program that focused on the NEP/FCS calendar and its feature recipe of the month. Participants would gather at the Elliott County Extension Office and participate in the cooking demonstration, receive cooking reinforcement items, and have the opportunity to sample that months recipe. Beginning in 2020 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent, Katie Wallace, decided to take this program a step further. During the January session, Katie
Author: Margie Hernandez
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to 2018 data from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 32.1 million adult women had a mental and/or substance use disorder. Much research has been done to show a link to drug abuse and poor nutrition, and how proper nutrition habits play an important role in the rehabilitation process. While in recovery, many people neglect their diet and may have developed nutritional deficiencies by not eating regular meals, not eating enough due to loss of appet
Author: Teresa King
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 families throughout Kentucky and the nation have found themselves in the situation of having to cook more often at home. This pandemic has put an end to going through a drive-thru or sitting down at a restaurant three to four times a week. New skills such as planning, using what is in your pantry, and feeding your family a healthy, well rounded meal has become the new normal for families.In an attempt to help some of these families, the Meade County Cooperative Exp
Author: Stephanie Derifield
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Nutrition Education Program (NEP) assistants in District 1 counties continue to develop and strengthen new partnerships with addiction recovery care centers within the region. In September, 2019, NEP Area Nutrition Agent, along with four (4) NEP assistants, met with the CEO, directors and peer support workers (approximately 40 present) from Addiction Recovery Care Centers to develop and strengthen KYNEP’s reach in inpatient and outpatient facilities. Area Nutrition Agent pres
Author: Cathy Sparks
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Food security in Magoffin County is a big issue for many of our citizens. The county suffers from the highest unemployment rate in the state. In addition to unemployment, there is a shortage of food sources because of the closing of 4 of the 6 major food stores in the county. The food insecurity rate is 23.9% compared to the state's average of 15.5%. Many children in the county rely on the food that they are served at school, as their main food source. Covid-19
Author: Luciana Hockersmith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
An estimated 20% of adults in the United States have tried at least one meal kit delivery service. With the demand for convenience in our society, meal kits seem to be the answer for grocery shopping, meal planning, and meal preparation. For those who have not tried meal kits, consumers are interested in learning about how meal kits work and whether or not they are worth the investment for preparing and consuming more meals at home.In response to this, the Mercer County Extension Agent for Famil
Author: Kelly Mackey
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According the to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 36.6% of adults over 18 are obese and 31.9% have an overweight classification. In addition, 42.7% of adults reported consuming fruit less than one time daily and 17% of adults reported consuming vegetables less than one time daily. In an attempt to improve these percentages and showcase healthy and affordable recipes, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Calloway County Public Library to provide a program called Coo
Author: Jennifer Burgess
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2013, Lee County had 2,042 residents who were considered obese, representing one-third of the population. Approximately, 20% of Kentucky youth from ages 10-17 are obese. New research indicates that when kids are involved in prepping and cooking their own meals, they are more likely to choose better foods. In January 2019, Laken Campbell, Agent for Family and Consumer Science Education and Jennifer Burgess, SNAP Assistant started “Cooking through the Calendar” in Lee County. A
Author: Caroline Durr
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the most recent data from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Service’s Report from December 2015, there were 110,516 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in Jefferson County (Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Data Book, December 2015). To bridge the gap between providing access to nutritious foods and a lack of knowledge regarding healthy food preparation, nutrition education programs have been designed and implemented. The Kentuck
Author: Amy Stooksbury
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Census reporter.org shows Todd County has a 19% poverty rate for seniors over the age of 65. To help meet the needs of seniors, the Pennyrile Allied Community Services (PACS) Todd County Senior Center provides meals and services free to individuals 60 years and older on a daily basis. Seniors enjoy the fellowship with other seniors, but for most seniors, the lunch meal is the main source of nutrition for the day. The outbreak of Covid-19 closed the Todd County Senior Citizens Center
Author: M. Elizabeth Coots
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development and to prevent various health conditions. Consuming the recommended amount of vegetables each day is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity. This equals 2 to 3 cups of vegetables a day, depending on age and gender. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 6.3% of adults in Kentucky meet the daily vegetable intake recommendations and mo
Author: Alivia Faris
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The Lawrence County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences conducted a program through the online tool “Google Classroom.” This platform assisted the agent in addressing the need for nutrition classes, as indicated by the county’s higher then state average chronic diseases statistics, while marinating “social distancing.” Using Google classroom also allowed individuals who had never been to an extension program before to access Extension’s resea
Author: M. Elizabeth Coots
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Preparing and cooking wild game is an important skill that hunters need to know about, and more than just “how to cook”, but also about food safety. In partnership with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, a two-day workshop was held to educate hunters on laws and regulations, hunting tactics and safety, proper wild game butchering, meat handling safety, freezing, jerky-making, and home-canning. Day one of the workshop involved new hunters learning all about t
Author: M. Elizabeth Coots
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
The COVID-19 Pandemic demonstrates the fragility of our food system. Although plenty of food is being produced, there is a bottleneck in distribution. As a result, Kentuckians are coming together to not only support local agriculture but also have an increased interest in growing their own food in home or community gardens. As a response to this interest, the Woodford County Horticulture and Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered to distribute Family Garden Kits, Container Garden Kits, and
Author: Lora Davidson
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
In 2020 the Pandemic of the COVID-19 has threatened the lives and livelihood throughout the world. In Harlan County we rank 115 out of 120 counties in the overall health outcome. 32% obesity rate5.7% food environment index7.4% unemployment44% of children living in poverty. These numbers show the poverty rate and the impact that food insecurities can have on the members of the community. Harlan food insecurity rate is ranked at 28.3% with 11% likely ineligible according to
