Accessing Nutritious FoodPlan of Work

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Knott County CES

Title:
Accessing Nutritious Food
MAP:
Family Wellness
Agents Involved:
Linda Combs
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Situation:

In Knott County 27.5% of children live in poverty. 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:

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

•County residents will improve food management skills and healthy eating habits

•Youth will be food secure when school is not in session

•People accessing emergency food sources will select from nutrient dense items

Intermediate Outcomes:

County residents will:

•Access more local foods

•Plant, harvest and preserve produce

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

•Youth who access other food sources when not in school will be able to find resources.

•Households accessing emergency food sources will decrease.

Initial Outcomes:

County residents will:

•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: Eat more fruits and vegetables

Indicator: observation, program evaluation tools

Method: pre and post tests, follow up evaluations, observations

Timeline: on-going


Intermediate Outcome: food management skills will improve

Indicator: less use of food banks, healthy eating, food safety is a priority

Method: pre and post tests, follow up evaluation, observation

Timeline: on-going


Long-term Outcome: less obesity and chronic diseases

Indicator: less use of food bank, county data health reports

Method: pre and post tests, evaluation, observation

Timeline: on-going

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: families

Project or Activity:Economical Entrees

Content or Curriculum: UK extension materials

Inputs: Brittany Bowling

Date: Oct 2019


Audience: families

Project or Activity: Meal Kits: Are they worth it?

Content or Curriculum: UK extension materials

Inputs:  Brittany Bowling, Leslie Co FCS

Date: Feb 2020


Audience: Families

Project or Activity: nutrition/food classes

Content or Curriculum: UK extension materials

Inputs: FCS agent

Date: on-going


Audience: families

Project or Activity: food safety/food preservation

Content or Curriculum: UK extension materials

Inputs: FCS agent

Date: on-going



Success Stories

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Author: Linda Combs

Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation

The Covid-19 Pandemic caused many world-wide problems.  The community of Lotts Creek in Knott County Kentucky was especially affected by the pandemic.  Senior citizens could no longer safely shop for groceries and every day necessities.  Daily essentials were in short supply.  Community members were laid off from jobs and many close to retirement permanently lost jobs.  They became isolated from neighbors, family and friends.  Not only loneliness but a feeling of de

Full Story

Extension Helps Meet Fresh Food Needs During Pandemic

Author: Chadwick Conway

Major Program: Local Food Systems

In the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, accessing fresh local produce is very important for families. Many of them work hard at gardening in order for them to have fresh produce during the summer and to make sure that they have enough to preserve for the winter months, and even sell some of their produce along the way for an additional source of income when needed to help support their families. The Knott County Agriculture Agent strives to assist these gardeners throughout the county by help

Full Story
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