Increasing Knowledge about and Access to Fruits and VegetablesPlan of Work

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Lyon County CES

Title:
Increasing Knowledge about and Access to Fruits and Vegetables
MAP:
Accessing Nutritious Foods
Agents Involved:
Angie York, Susan Fox
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Food Preparation and Preservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Lyon County population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day.

-Lyon County Citizens improve food management skills and healthy eating habits.

-Lyon County youth will be food secure when school is not in session.

-People accessing emergency food sources will select from nutrient dense items.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Increase number of Lyon County citizens who:


-Access more local foods.

-Use the Farmer’s Market.

-Plant, harvest and preserve produce.

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


Initial Outcomes:

-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.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:Increase knowledge and understanding of healthy eating, food safety and food resource management.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting improved knowledge, opinions, skills, or aspirations regarding the safe storage, handling, and preparation of food.

Method:Pre/Post Test Evaluations

Timeline:FY 2022-2023


Intermediate Outcome:Apply improved food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety and healthy eating habits.

Indicator:Number of individuals who report preparing more healthy home cooked meals.

Method:Follow-up Evaluations

Timeline:FY 2022-2023


Intermediate Outcome: Individuals successfully growing their own fruits and vegetables and increasing the variety of produce grown.

Indicator: Number of individuals reporting success growing fruits and vegetables. Number trying a new fruit or vegetable.

Method:Follow-up Evaluations

Timeline:FY 2022-2023


Long-term Outcome:Lyon County population will increase average fruit and vegetable consumption by 1 or more servings per day.

Indicator:Lower rates of obesity and healthier lifestyles in Lyon County residents.

Method:Observation of individuals and decreased obesity rates in public reporting.

Timeline: FY 2022-2023

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Families and individuals in Lyon County

Project or Activity: Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum:Food Preservation Curriculum

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

eXtension resources

Date:Summer 2022


Audience: Farmer's Market attendees

Project or Activity: Taste Testing and Food Demonstrations

Content or Curriculum:Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

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

Date:Summer 2022-2023


Audience: Families and Individuals in Lyon County

Project or Activity: Extension Food Programs

Content or Curriculum: Food for Thought: Extension Food Programs

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

Date: FY 2022-2023


Audience: Youth in Lyon County

Project or Activity:The Culinary Challenge

Content or Curriculum:Kentucky 4-H Culinary Challenge

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

Date:Spring 2023


Audience: Home Fruit and Vegetable Producers

Project or Activity: Victory Gardens

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Victory Garden materials, fall transplants

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

Date:Fall/Spring 


Audience: Families and Individuals in Lyon County

Project or Activity: Extension Food Program Grab Bags

Content or Curriculum: Extension Food Programs

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

Date: FY 2022-2023





Success Stories

Fall Fun with Apples

Author: Angie York

Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation

Fall in Kentucky means one thing, time for apple picking, hay rides, corn mazes and more at many of our local orchards.  That fall fun was overshadowed this year by as much as an 11% increase in the cost of food that families are buying at the grocery, at restaurants, and even at our local orchards.  In order to help participants learn how to save money on fall treats, a class “Fall Fun with Apples” was taught.  Stressed in this program was the importance of buying foo

Full Story

New Technologies and Research Makes Home Food Preservation Easy "Peas"y

Author: Angie York

Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation

Preserving our own food is an essential practice for many reasons. In a world shaped by fast-paced lifestyles and industrial food systems, preserving food at home offers unparalleled benefits. Firstly, it empowers us to take control of our nutrition and make informed choices about what we consume. By preserving our own food, we can ensure the use of high-quality ingredients, limit additives and preservatives, and tailor recipes to suit our dietary needs and preferences.Moreover, preserving food

Full Story

Preschoolers Jump for Joy after Trying New Vegetables.

Author: Angie York

Major Program: LEAP

Good nutrition plays a pivotal role in the healthy development of preschool-age children. During these formative years, proper nutrition is essential for their physical growth, cognitive function, and overall well-being.Preschoolers require a balanced diet that provides them with the necessary nutrients to support their rapid growth and development. Adequate intake of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals is crucial for building strong muscles and bones, promoting brain de

Full Story
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