Improving Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles
Health and Wellness
Elizabeth Coots, Ryan Farley, Faye Kuosman, Adam Probst
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Health
Family and Consumer Science
Local stakeholders have listed healthy lifestyles as an issue facing Woodford County today. It is important to address the issues of overall well-being of individuals and families throughout the county. According to the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, approximately 32% of Woodford County adults are classified as obese. In addition, approximately 11% of adults suffer from diabetes. Other lifestyle challenges facing Woodford County include cardiovascular disease, breast and prostate cancer. Within all of these areas of focus, financial stability arises as access to health care is an added area of concern.
Consumption of nutritious foods and healthier cooking practices will be increased. Rates of youth and adult obesity will decrease. Participation in life skills workshops such as cooking and food preservation will increase.
Farmer's Market and local food purchases will increase, as well as the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Clientele will increase their currrent level of physical activity.
Clientele will identify the benefits of buying local, seasonal foods and will develop skills for healthier food selection, cooking and preservation. Clientele will also be able to explain why physical activity is important to their daily life.
Long-Term Outcome: Consumption of nutritious foods and healthier cooking practices will be increased. Rates of youth and adult obesity will decrease. Participation in life skills workshops such as cooking and food preservation will increase.
Indicator: Reduced rates of youth and adult obesity in Woodford County
Method: Data review from Foundation for a Healthy KY, Woodford Co Health Department
Timeline: Annually
Intermediate Outcome: Farmer's Market and local food purchases will increase, as well as the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Clientele will increase their currrent level of physical activity.
Indicator: Sales data from Woodford County Farmer's Market
Method: Collection of data from vendors, market review summary from Market Manager
Timeline: Annually
Initial Outcome: Clientele will identify the benefits of buying local, seasonal foods and will develop skills for healthier food selection, cooking and preservation. Clientele will also be able to explain why physical activity is important to their daily life.
Indicator: Workshop participation and participant feedback
Method: Post workshop interviews with participants, written evaluations
Timeline: Monthly
Project or Activity: Hands-on cooking workshops
Content or Curriculum: Cook Together, Eat Together
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Health Department, Schools
Date: Fall
Audience: 5th grade youth
Project or Activity: Hands-on cooking program
Content or Curriculum: Recipes for Life
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Schools, SNAP-Ed
Date: Fall
Audience: Community Residents
Project or Activity: Canning Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation Curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant/Intern Time, CES Publications, Commercial Kitchen
Date: Summer
Audience: Residents 65+
Project or Activity: Matter of Balance
Content or Curriculum: Matter of Balance Curriculum
Inputs: Agent Time, Senior Citizens Centers/Homes, MOB Curriculum
Date: Fall
Audience: 8th and 10th grade students
Project or Activity: Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Content or Curriculum: Truth & Consequences: The Choice is Yours Curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteers, Community Sponsors, School Sponsors
Audience: Woodford County Residents
Audience: Farmer's Market Promotion events and articles
Content: per agent, UK materials
Inputs: County Office Staff and Agents
Date: spring, summer, fall, annually
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Cooking Club
Content or Curriculum: Cooking curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Materials
Date: September - Fall
Author: Ryan Farley
Major Program: Health
As the past year has shown, developing healthy habits within youth is more vital than ever. Whether it is healthy nutrition, mindfulness, emotional intelligence or physical activity, youth need to start early developing healthy lifestyle habits that they can carry on throughout their entire life. In an effort to address healthy habits within Woodford County youth, Woodford County 4-H developed a two-part series of workshops to expose and educate youth on choices they could make that would benefi
Author: M. Elizabeth Coots
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Annually, Family and Consumer Sciences Agents and staff see an increased interest from clients in health-behavior?choices around the new year.??This year,?to?reach both current and new clientele with?timely?and?research-based?information, FCS Extension rolled out a new program just in time for January 2021- Big Blue Goals.??The program was designed to allow for participation through either?an online platform?(Goalify app)?that could be?operated?on?a smartphone, computer, or tablet,?or throu
Author: M. Elizabeth Coots
Major Program: Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Substance use and substance use disorder (SUD) are pervasive public health problems in the United States, and specifically, in the state of Kentucky. In the year since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the United States suffered a record 88,000 overdose deaths (CDC, 2021). More specifically, Kentucky counties have seen increases in hospitalizations, infectious diseases, non-fatal overdoses, and other complications related to drug use, all while leading the nation