Extension
It Starts With Us
Accessing Nutritious Food
Family Wellness
Linda Combs
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Nutrition and Food Systems General
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.
•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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
