Extension
It Starts With Us
Accessing Nutritious Foods in Breathitt County
Accessing Nutritious Foods
Kayla Watts, Reed Graham
Food Preservation
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Farmer's Markets
Super Star Chef
Nutrition Education Programs help families gain access to food and stretch food dollars; communities to decrease hunger; and local food assistance programs to educate recipients on healthy and safe food preparation methods. Agents, paraprofessionals and volunteers are pivotal in influencing policies, systems, and environments and in training consumers and producers to maximize local access to food products from farm to table.
Kentucky population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day
Kentuckians improve food management skills and healthy eating habits
Youth will be food secure when school is not in session
People accessing emergency food sources will select from nutrient dense items
Increase number who:
Access more local foods
Redeem Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program benefits
Plant, harvest, and preserve produce
Apply improved food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety and healthy eating habits
Increase number of:
Youth who access other food sources when not in school
Households accessing emergency food sources
Understand the importance of sustainable, local agriculture to individual health and financial well-being
Learn to grow, prepare, and preserve food
Learn to incorporate unfamiliar foods or foods not currently eaten into a healthy diet
Increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety and food resource management
Learn about community support services to increase food security
Initial Outcome: Community members learn how to grow and preserve fruits and vegetables; Community members/youth learn the importance of eating healthier foods and how to prepare them
Indicator: Participation in programming, implementing best practices
Method: Observation, Program evaluations
Timeline: 2019-2020
Intermediate Outcome: Community members grow produce for consumption, Participants Indicate increase in fruit and vegetable consumption, children indicate they choose/prepare healthier foods
Indicator: Pounds of vegetables produced, students that demonstrate healthy eating practices, participants list/identify healthy food choices and preparation methods
Method: Record Logs, Observation, Follow-UP Evaluation
Timeline: 2019-2020
Long-term Outcome: Families preserve and consume said foods after the growing season; Increase in local vendors at Farmers Market; Youth prepare healthy foods regularly for themselves and family
Indicator: Items preserved and consumed; Increase in vendors and sales at Farmers Market; Youth overall health increases due to healthy food consumption
Method: Follow-Up Evaluation; Observation; Farmers Market Logs/Vendor records
Timeline: 2019-2020
Audience: All Ages/Community Members
Project or Activity: Lunch at the Market
Content or Curriculum: Farmer's Market, Food Preparation
Inputs: Agents, Office Staff, Volunteers, Farmers Market Vendors, Local Advertising Mediums
Date: Summer 2019
Audience: All Ages/Community Members
Project or Activity: Family Gardening Program
Content or Curriculum: Home Gardening, Selling at the Farmers Market, Food Preservation, Farm visits
Inputs: Agents, RCARS, Volunteers
Date: 2019-2020
Audience: Youth - Age 9 and above
Project or Activity: Super Star Chef Program
Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef
Inputs: Agents, SNAP-Ed Assistant, Volunteers
Date: Summer, 2019
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Super Star Chef
According to Kentucky by the Numbers data from 2016, 44.2% of the youth population in Breathitt County is living in poverty, and 1,756 youth under the age of 18 are living in households that receive supplemental security income, cash public assistance, or food stamps/SNAP. Because a high percentage of Breathitt County youth live in households where food insecurity and food safety are issues, it is important for them to learn how to prepare healthy, safe, foods for themselves and their fami
Author: Reed Graham
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
According to the USDA, fruit and vegetable consumption has fallen from 299 pounds per person in 2003 to 272 pounds per person in 2013. Although community members understand the importance of consuming more fruits and vegetables, access can be difficult. The Breathitt County Farmers Market is an excellent resource for attaining fresh local produce.Breathitt County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, in partnership with county Extension Agents and staff, Robinson Center for Appa
Author: Reed Graham
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Over the past decade, people have taken more interest in where their food comes from and what is in their food. In Breathitt and surrounding counties, interest in heritage skills has increased as a way to preserve skills of grandparents as well as extending their food dollar and taking pride in creating food for their family. This can be seen by the popularity of country ham programs for youth and adults in Kentucky.The Breathitt County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent Reed Gr
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: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Food Preservation
According to Kentucky County Health Rankings from 2019, 20% of the population of Breathitt County is food insecure; meaning that 20% of the people in Breathitt County lack adequate access to food. Health care rankings also state that Breathitt County adult citizens have one of the highest diabetic rates in Kentucky. It is imperative that the Breathitt County population have access to foods and optimally, nutritious foods, that will benefit their overall health. Breathitt County
Author: Ryan Spicer
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
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, especially in Eastern Kentucky. Breathitt County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, in partnership with county Extension Agents and staff, Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability
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: Reed Graham
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
According to the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, (CEDIK), the percentage of adults in Breathitt County who are obese is 39.8% with the state average being 32.9%. Research shows that eating fresh vegetables and exercising can reduce obesity rates. Gardening increases both physical activity, as well as, access to fresh vegetables. As a way to combat obesity rates, Breathitt County Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent Reed Graham conducted a gardening program
