Nutrition and Food SystemsPlan of Work

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Edmonson County CES

Title:
Nutrition and Food Systems
MAP:
Improve Physical and Mental Health
Agents Involved:
Julia Wilson
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Food Preparation and Preservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Cook Wild Kentucky
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Situation:

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky adult obesity rates rank among the 10 highest in the US; and, Kentucky youth rank among the 10 highest for obesity in the US. In Edmonson County 33.6% of adults are considered obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30). In Edmonson county 29% of adults report not participating in any physical activity. The CDC also reports Kentucky adults rank in the 10 highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables in the US. In addition to these health indicators, according to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Data Book (2015) 21.2% of Edmonson County families live below poverty and there were 2,191 SNAP recipients; and, approximately 29.3% percent of children and youth under the age of 18 live in poverty in Edmonson County. Almost 300 seniors receive the monthly benefits from Commodity Supplemental Food Program and during the school year, over 100 school-aged children receive weekly Backpacks for Hunger. 


A foundation of nutrition knowledge, skills and competencies in topics such as food safety, handling and preparation, cooking methods and techniques, feeding practices, food science, and food systems are essential to changing dietary behaviors. With the increased trend of chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky, individuals, families, and communities need tools and environments that support healthful dietary decisions. CES agents are encouraged to reach diverse audiences to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities.


SNAP-Education programs help limited resource families increase access to affordable nutritious food, stretch food dollars, develop food preparation skills and improve food safety practices. SNAP-Education efforts also help communities address nutrition and obesity prevention issues related to the social, environmental, and policy work which supports limited resource individuals in making healthy lifestyle changes. 

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Outcome:  Nutrition knowledge, skills, and competencies

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: use knowledge and skills to improve food-shopping management; utilize the food label to make healthy food choices; choosing smaller portions; increased food preservation knowledge; demonstrated recommended food preservation practices

Method: Self-report surveys; specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program


Outcome: Preparing and preserving food 

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: preparing more home-cooked meals; modifying ingredients and/or preparation techniques to improve nutrition

Method: Self-report survey; specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program


Outcome:  Dietary intake 

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: eating 4-6 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily

Method: Self-report surveys about fruit and vegetable intake or other dietary improvements; specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program


Outcome:  Availability and access to healthy food 

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: utilizing delivery systems/access points (e.g., farmers’ markets, CSAs, WIC, food pantries) that offer healthy foods; supplementing diets with healthy foods grown or preserved (e.g., community or backyard gardens, fishing, hunting, farmers markets); dollar value of vendor-reported sales or EBT, WIC, or Senior benefits redeemed at farmers’ markets; number of pints of foods preserved through water bath canning, pressure canning, freezing, or drying. 

Method: Self-report survey

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program






Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Communities


Project or Activity:  Farmers Market Outreach

Content or Curriculum: Cooking programs, marketing, increased access (e.g. location, hours, EBT), Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud resources, Farmers Market Toolkit, Super Star Chef

Inputs: County Agents, Nutrition Education Program (NEP), paid staff, grant funds, facilities, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Date: April – October/Growing seasons


Project or Activity:  Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches- Edmonson County Enrichment Coalition 

Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families, Kentucky Farm to School Task Force Resources, Health Coalitions, resources for early care and education settings

Inputs: Volunteers, grant funds, faith-based organizations, community partners, key stakeholders, SNAP-Ed Toolkit 

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year


Project or Activity: Family Lifestyles Television Show

Content or Curriculum: Various Nutrition & Food Preparation Publications, SNAP Recipes, Plate it Up Proud Recipes 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, SNAP Education, program assistants, Kentucky CES publications and resources    

Date: Ongoing throughout the year


Audience: Families and Individuals


Project or Activity:  Food Preparation for Better Health

Content or Curriculum: Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Dining with Diabetes, Super Star Chef, Champion Food Volunteer, Faithful Families, Body Balance, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, plans for prenatal- and infant/toddler-specific curriculum, resources for early care and education settings

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, faith-based organizations, health coalitions

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year


Project or Activity:  Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Trainings, Home-Based Micro-Processing Training, Champion Food Volunteers

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, programmatic materials, NEP

Date: July – September for adults and youth


Project or Activity: LEAP 

Content or Curriculum: LEAP Curriculum (youth) 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, SNAP Ed Assistants, volunteers, program assistants, Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date: 21-22 Academic School Year 


Project or Activity: Teen Cuisine 

Content or Curriculum: Teen Cuisine 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, Kentucky CES publications and resources 

Date:  Summer 2022


Project or Activity: SOKY Food Preservation Facebook Group 

Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation Publications 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, SNAP Education, program assistants, Kentucky CES publications and resources    

Date: Monthly


Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers

Project or Activity: Leader Lesson-Meal Kits: Are They Worth It? , Sweet Enough without all the Sugar, Cast Iron Cooking 

Content or Curriculum: Various Nutrition & Food Preparation Publications, SNAP Recipes, Plate it Up Proud Recipes 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, SNAP Education, program assistants, Kentucky CES publications and resources    

Date: July 2021, February & April 2022


Project or Activity: Cook Together, Eat Together 

Content or Curriculum: Various Nutrition & Food Preparation Publications, SNAP Recipes, Cook Together, Eat Together Curriculum 

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, SNAP Education, program assistants, Kentucky CES publications and resources    

Date: Summer 2022



Success Stories

Head Start Farmer's Market

Author: Julia Wilson

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

Head Start Farmer's Market

In 2018, an estimated 17.4% of Edmonson County residents lived in poverty, and an estimated 22.1% were children younger than 18. Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is a concern for many Edmonson County Families. The FCS Agent partnered with the Farmer's Market, and Edmonson County Head Start to bring a Farmer's Market to Edmonson County Head Start students enrolled in their summer program in July of 2021 and again in October of 2021The FCS Agent had been working with Head Start and yo

Full Story

Cook Wild in Edmonson County

Author: Julia Wilson

Major Program: Cook Wild Kentucky

In South Central Kentucky there are numerous types of wild game that can be harvested. However many families struggle to know how to prepare wild game. Game meats are naturally low in fat and cholesterol but traditional cooking methods such as frying are often resorted to due to a lack of knowledge about alternative ways to cook and use the meat. University of Kentucky SNAP education identified this issue and created a series of Cook Wild Kentucky recipe cardsThe Edmonson County FCS Agent set up

Full Story
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