Extension
It Starts With Us
Nutrition, Physical Activity, Food Security and Obesity Prevention
Nutrition and Physical Education
Baysinger, Wooley, Henderson, Wimberley, Tashjian, ANR
Local Food Systems
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Health 4-H Core Curriculum
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. Thirty percent of Kentucky 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. The Partnership for a Fit Kentucky reports that one in every five Kentucky adults have difficulty getting adequate fresh produce where they live. They also report that in Kentucky, there are approximately 158 farmers markets with more than 2,500 vendors in at least 105 counties, yet only 23 accept SNAP benefits, 75 accept WIC, and 69 accept Senior Farmers Market vouchers. `
In addition to these health and environmental indicators, according to the US Census, approximately 19% of Kentucky’s total population is living in poverty; and, approximately 27% percent of children and youth under the age of 18 live in poverty. Further, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services reports approximately 18% of the Kentucky population receive SNAP benefits, while the Partnership for a Fit Kentucky reports approximately 85% of households in Kentucky are food insecure.
According to kentuckyhealthfacts.org web site, in McCracken County, 20% of the adults surveyed reported their health status as either “fair” or “poor.”
Individuals will reduce their risk for nutrition-related health problems.
• Individuals will maintain a healthy weight.
• Individuals will prepare meals at home 5 or more times a week.
• Fewer foodborne illnesses will be reported by healthcare providers.
The instance of food insecurity will decline in the community.
• Individuals will increase their physical stamina.
• Individuals will increase food availability by accessing additional healthy foods via community systems and personal productivity.
• Community social, environmental, and policy systems will reinforce healthy lifestyle behaviors.
•Individuals will adopt one recommendation from the dietary guidelines.
•Individuals demonstrate food preparation skills.
•Individuals engage in good food safety practices.
•Individuals adopt one food resource management practice.
•Individuals engage in regular physical activity.
•Individuals utilize community support systems (farmers market, community gardens, WIC, food pantry, etc.) that provide access to healthy foods.
•Individuals will grow, care for, produce and preserve foods from personal gardens and orchards to gain access to healthy foods.
•Community social, environmental, and policy systems will design opportunities to support individuals toward living a healthier lifestyle
•Individuals will be able to identify the components of a healthy diet as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
•Individuals will describe food preparation techniques.
•Individuals will be able to describe food safety practices.
•Individuals will identify food resource management practices.
•Mothers will know the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding.
•Individuals will recognize the importance of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.
•Individuals will locate community support systems (farmers market, WIC, food pantry, etc.) that provide access to healthy foods.
•Individuals will develop skills and knowledge to grow their own garden and/or orchard.
•Partners will recognize the need for community social, environmental, and policy systems to address efforts toward improving healthier lifestyles.
Long-term Outcome: Individuals will reduce their risk for health problems.
Indicator: Individuals will report reduced health problems as a result of making healthy eating choices and increasing physical activity.
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Change in health/disease data from Kentucky County Healthcare Profile Data (CEDIK).
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Individuals will maintain a healthy weight.
Indicator: Individuals will report sustained weight loss or healthy weight maintenance as a result of making healthy eating choices and physical activity.
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Change in BMI data from Kentucky County Healthcare Profile Data (CEDIK).
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Individuals will prepare meals at home 5 or more times a week.
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting preparing meals 5 more times a week.
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation.
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Fewer foodborne illnesses will be reported by healthcare providers.
Indicator: A decrease in the number of foodborne illness reported.
Method: Reports from the Department of Public Health.
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Individuals will have improved food security.
Indicator: A decrease in the number of individuals reporting hunger.
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports. Change in food security data from the Kentucky County Agriculture and Food Profiles (CEDIK).
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Individuals will increase their physical stamina.
Indicator: Increase in the number of individuals reporting the ability to engage in physical activity for a sustained period of time.
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS. Changes in physical activity data from the Kentucky County Healthcare Profile Data (CEDIK).
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Individuals will increase food availability by accessing additional healthy foods via community systems (community gardens, WIC, food pantry, etc.).
Indicator: Food insecurity decreases. .
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports. Change in food security data from the Kentucky County Agriculture and Food Profiles (CEDIK).
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Individuals will increase consumption of fruits and vegetables through home gardens and orchards.
Indicator: Changes in food security. Yields of produce grown. Quantity of food preserved.
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports. Garden Survey. Change in food security data from the Kentucky County Agriculture and Food Profiles (CEDIK).
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Community social, environmental, and policy systems will promote a healthier lifestyle.
Indicator: Increase in the number of social, environmental, and policy changes implemented to support healthier lifestyles.
Method: Community surveillance. Changes in Kentucky County Healthcare Profile Data related to recreational facilities in the physical environment (CEDIK).
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Youth and Adults
Project or Activity: Education Activities
Topic: Increase access to affordable and healthy food
Curriculum/Education:
•Guide to Kentucky Fresh Vegetables
•Home & Garden Vegetable Publications
•Food Preservation
•Farm to School Curriculum (youth)
•LEAP Curriculum (youth)
•Weight the Reality Series Curriculum
•UK NEP Adult Curriculum
•Money Wise
•Super Star Chef Goes to the Farmers Market
•Culinary Challenge
•Lunch from the Land
•Grow It, Try It, Like It (Youth)
Topic: Obesity prevention (nutrition and physical activity)
Curriculum/Education:
•Get Moving Kentucky/Walk and Talk
•4-H Health Curriculum
•Home Vegetable Gardening/Production
•Food Preservation
•Weight the Reality Series Curriculum
•UK NEP Adult Curriculum
•Money Wise
•Living Well Support Group
•USDA materials
•Plate It Up
•Food preparation programs
•Organwise (youth)
•Professor Popcorn (youth)
Topic: Increase food preparation skills
Curriculum/Education:
•Home-based food processing
•Plate It Up
•Food preparation programs
•UK NEP Adult Curriculum
•USDA materials
•Weight the Reality Series Curriculum
•SuperStar Chef
•Lunch from the Land
Topic: Increase adoption of appropriate food safety behaviors
Possible Curriculum/Education:
•UK NEP Adult Curriculum
•Glow Germ (Youth)
•Fight BAC & Thermy
•UK FCS Extension food safety publications
•Super Star Chef food safety
•GAP Training
•Discover MyPlate (Youth)
•Tosha’s Day
•Select LEAP books
Topic: Increase knowledge and behavior changes toward adopting the recommendations of the dietary guidelines
Curriculum/Education:
•Professor Popcorn curriculum (youth)
•OrganWise curriculum (youth)
•Super Star Chef curriculum (youth/adults)
•LEAP curriculum (youth)
•Weight the Reality Series curriculum
•Master Food Volunteers
•UK NEP Adult Curriculum
•Food Preservation
•Farm to School Curriculum (youth)
•USDA materials
•Get Moving Kentucky/Walk and Talk
•Teen Cuisine (youth)
•Grow It, Try It, Like It (Youth)
•Discover MyPlate (Youth)
Policy, System & Environment Examples
All sectors of society, including individuals and families, communities, organizations, businesses, and policymakers, contribute to the food and physical activity environments in which people live. Community and public health approaches help create conditions where the healthy choice becomes the easy and preferred choice, which is facilitated through changes in policy, systems, and the environment. These approaches can reach large numbers of low-income Kentuckians and possibly produce meaningful impact. Inclusion on coalitions and committees, as well as facilitating and implementing policies and programs are approaches County Agents can use to affect change in their communities that benefit SNAP and SNAP eligible citizens.
Topic: Food Systems
•Farmers Market
•Produce Best Practices Training (PBPT)
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
•Farm to School
•Farm to Food Bank
•Local Food Brokers
•Sustainable Community Food Systems
•School or Community Gardens
•Food Deserts
•Faith and Community Partnerships
•Grocery and Food Retailing Promoting SNAP Benefit Acceptance/SFMNP
•Field Days
Topic: Schools & Youth Programs
•School Gardens
•Farm to School
•Backpack Programs
•Faith and Community Partnerships
Topic: Physical Activity
•Faith and Community Partnerships
Indirect Education Examples
•Chop Chop Magazine
•Community Event Fairs
•Newsletter Distribution
•Website/Social Media Educational Message
•NEP Calendar Distribution
Author: Denise Wooley
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Throughout the United States there has been an increased interest in local food. This interest has helped farmers find new opportunities to market directly to the consumer or put a “face with the food.”Kentucky has 85,260 farms with an average 164 acres.Local food systems further small agricultural businesses and allow consumers to know the producer and how the products have been grown/ raised or processed.Locally grown produce is a nutrient-rich product because produce allowed to ri
Author: Amanda Wilson
Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
Eating healthy, and saving money are two major topics in society. With “unhealthy” options more affordable, people are searching for ways to eat healthy and still be frugal. The McCracken County Cooperative Extension office offered a class under the umbrella of our “#Adulting” series entitled “Cooking on a Budget”. Chef Guy Brown spent the evening preparing meals that were not only healthy, but inexpensive. In fa
Author: Denise Wooley
Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (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 Blender Bike 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 kids got to utilize to peddle their way to
