Extension
It Starts With Us
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Higginbotham, Potts, Boone
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Food Preservation
The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. In 2012, 28.8% of adults 18 years and older in Daviess County were classified as obese. In addition, over 25% of individuals in Daviess County reported no leisure-time physical activity or exercise as part of their normal routine. The Centers for Disease Control found in a nationally representative survey that only 29% of high school youth participated in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on each of the seven days before the survey. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and lack of physical activity are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic among adults and youth.
Decrease in the obesity rate and a decreased presence of various preventable diseases and health issues for the local community. Families and individuals will continuously make healthier choices regarding eating and physical activity in their daily lives resulting in bettering their overall health. Community members will be more engaged and aware of youth and adult health issues and the negative effects of poor health on the community as a whole. Participants will save money by preserving surplus fresh foods for winter-time consumption, allowing for healthier food options year round.
Daviess County residents will increase their ability to make healthy food choices, build healthy eating plans and patterns including eating more fruits and vegetables, and routinely participate in physical activity. Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life. Strengthen community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity, physical inactivity, and chronic disease. Increase purchase and consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Improve food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety, and nutrition habits. Youth will assess nutritional value of foods to consistently make the best choice for their health and nutritional needs.
Participants will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions regarding healthy lifestyle choices at all ages and the benefits of those healthy choices for their immediate and long term health. Youth will increase knowledge regarding food awareness, where food comes from, how it’s made, and nutritional value.
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Increased knowledge about making healthy choices regarding lifestyles, food, and physical activity.
Method: Post program evaluations and client testimonies
Timeline: Spring/Summer 2017
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, utilizing healthier recipes for meals and meal planning, and the number of people increasing daily or weekly physical activity.
Method: Program Surveys and Evaluations
Timeline: Spring Summer 2017, 2018, 2019
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Improved overall health conditions of families and individuals due to increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and healthier lifestyle choices.
Method: Observation and inquiry
Timeline: 2018-2020
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Healthy Cooking Classes; Farmers Market Sampling
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud; Better Bites/Snack Strong Program
Inputs: FCS Extension Agent; Local Media (radio); Healthy Horizons – Obesity Action Team
Date: 2016/2017
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Food Preservation & Safety Programs
Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation 101; Put It Up! Food Preservation for Youth, 4-H Cooking 101-401
Inputs: FCS Extension Agent; 4-H Agents
Date: Summer 2017; School year 17-18
Audience: Low Income Individuals and Families (eligible for SNAP)
Project or Activity: Healthy Meals on a Budget; Family Meal Planning
Content or Curriculum: NEP Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Extension agent, NEP Assistants
Date: 2017/2018
Audience: Preschool & Kindergarten Age Children; 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Introduction of various healthy food and snack choices
Content or Curriculum: LEAP (Literacy, Eating, Activity for Primary Youth Health); Healthy Choices monthly bulletin; MyPlate; Better Bites/Snack Strong Program; 4-H Choose Health; 4-H Teen Cuisine
Inputs: FCS Extension Agent and Homemaker Volunteers; 4-H Extension Agents & Assistant
Date: 2017/2018
Audience: General Public/Families
Project or activity: Kick-off to a Healthy & Safe Summer
Content or curriculum: Better Bites/Snack Strong Program; Physical Activity Materials
Inputs: Extension Agents, NEP Assistants, Program Assistants, Various Community Partners & Organizations
Date: June 2018
Audience: General Public
Project or activity: Diabetes Education & Support Group
Content or Curriculum: Resources and education provided by a Diabetes Educator; Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes (recipes)
Inputs: FCS Extension Agent, Licensed Diabetes Educator
Date: 2017/2018 (Monthly Program)
Audience: School Age Youth
Project or activity: Physical Fitness Activities and Education
Content or Curriculum: Choose Health, Spark, Take 10, Dance Fit
Inputs: 4-H, FCS Agent, NEP Assistants
Date: School Year, 2017/2018
Audience: 9th grade students
Project: Truth & Consequences
Curriculum: Truth & Consequences
Agents, Volunteers
Dates: School year 17-18
Author: Lindsey Dunn
Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
For years, food preservation has been offered to the Daviess County community through the Cooperative Extension Service. With over 54% of the Daviess County youth receiving Free and Reduced Lunch, there is a need to provide low-expense and nutritious meals year-round. Food preservation sessions have been offered to these youth over the last three years by Daviess County 4-H Agents in Afterschool, School Enrichment, and Summer Day Camp settings to help make this possible. These
Author: Mary Higginbotham
Major Program: Youth Fruit & Vegetable Access
In an effort to promote and increase fruit and vegetable consumption among local youth the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent partnered with the UK Nutrition Education Program to host the Super Star Chef program in August 2017. A total of 12 youth, 11 females and 1 male, ranging from 3rd grade to 7th grade participated in the program hosted at the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office. Over a three day period, youth were engaged in han
Author: Mary Higginbotham
Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
According to the Center for Disease Control adults in the state of Kentucky rank among the 10 highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables. Kentucky adult obesity rates also rank among the 10 highest in the United States with 33% of adults in Kentucky reporting a BMI in the obese category. In Daviess County specifically, 30% of adults are classified as obese according to their BMI. Obesity is one of the main factors associated with poor health and increased risk of health issues in the
Author: Lindsey Dunn
Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
In the 2016-2017 school year, Daviess County High School contacted the Daviess County Extension FCS and 4-H Agents requesting the Truth & Consequences program be shared at Daviess County High School with 9th grade health classes. Truth & Consequences is a program devoted to educating youth on substance abuse by placing them in a simulated series of steps one would go through in in the actual situation him/herself. A committee of school, Extension, and community partners was formed and th
Author: Lindsey Dunn
Major Program: Community Engagement
Owensboro puts on an event each Friday throughout the summer to engage and entertain the community. Families gather downtown to visit vendors at the street fair followed by music and entertainers through the night. In conjunction with this event, the Daviess County Cooperative Extension has coordinated the Kick-Off to a Healthy and Safe Summer for multiple years. This year, Daviess County 4-H Agent coordinated with thirteen street vendors for this Kick-off to a Healthy and Safe Summer street fai
