Nutrition Education and Food AvailabilityPlan of Work

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Carter County CES

Title:
Nutrition Education and Food Availability
MAP:
Accessing Nutritious Foods
Agents Involved:
Myron Evans, Rebecca Konopka, and Whitney Morrow
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Farmer's Markets
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Youth Fruit & Vegetable Access
Situation:
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. In Carter County 17.6% of seniors and 27.1% of families with children are below the poverty level. With limited grocery stores in Carter County, many families have little access to nutritious foods.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Carter County population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day

Carter Countians improve food management skills and healthy eating habits

People accessing emergency food sources will select from nutrient dense items
Intermediate Outcomes:
Access more local foods


Redeem Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program benefit.


Plant, harvest and preserve produce


Apply improved food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety and healthy eating habits

Number of:

Youth who access other food sources when not in school


Households accessing emergency food sources
Initial Outcomes:
Understand the importance of sustainable local agriculture to individual health and financial well-being

Understand the importance of consuming 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day

Learn to grow, prepare and preserve food


Increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety and food resource management


Learn about community support services to increase food security
Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Understand the importance of consuming 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day
Indicator: Number of children who can identify fruits and vegetables
Method: pre and post test
Timeline: Monthly

Intermediate Outcome: Redeem Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program benefit.
Indicator: Number of Vouchers redeemed
Method: Report from KDA
Timeline: June-Sept.

Long-term Outcome: Carter County population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported eating more healthy foods
Method: Formal Evaluation
Timeline: 4 years
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Limited resource individuals, families, and farmers markets

Project or Activity: Increase access to fruits and vegetables, Home Gardening Program

Content or Curriculum: Farmers Market, NEP program, Plate It Up KY proud, FMNP certification, Food Preservation publications

Inputs: Agents, NEP Paraprofessional, volunteers, UK resources, KDA, USDA, NEP, local food banks

Date: Summer, ongoing


Audience: Seniors and WIC recipients

Project or Activity: FMNP Vendor Training and Senior Voucher Distribution

Content or Curriculum: State Health Department and KY Department of Agriculture

Inputs: Agents, State and Federal Partners, Health Department, Northeast Community Action, Senior Centers

Date: Summer


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Playdate Program, School Programs

Content or Curriculum: LEAP and Professor Popcorn

Inputs: Agents, NEP paraprofessionals, Schools

Date: Ongoing





Success Stories

Kids Can Cook Camp

Author: Whitney Morrow

Major Program: Food Preparation

Kids Can Cook Camp

Kentucky Youth rank among the 10 highest for obesity in the US.  In fact, in 2010 21.1% of children ages 2-4 were identified as obese in Carter County. Involving children in food preparation has been proven to successfully increase the consumption of nutritious food in children.  The Carter County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4H Agents had multiple requests for cooking classes for children.  To address this need they developed “Kids Can Cook Camp” for you

Full Story

Kids Can Cook Camp

Author: Rebecca Konopka

Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum

Kentucky Youth rank among the 10 highest for obesity in the US.  In fact, in 2010 21.1% of children ages 2-4 were identified as obese in Carter County. Involving children in food preparation has been proven to successfully increase the consumption of nutritious food in children.The Carter County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Agents had multiple requests for cooking classes for children.  To address this need they developed “Kids Can Cook Camp” for yout

Full Story
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