Extension
It Starts With Us
McCracken County Family and Consumer Sciences and Supplemental Nutrition Education
Family and Consumer Science Education
Alsip, Anderson, Bell, Dodson, Hank, Stephanie Caldwell (SNAP)
Local Food Systems
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Health
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 food-borne 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.
•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
•USDA materials
•Plate It Up
•Food preparation programs
•Organwise (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
•PBPT Training (Adults) Produce Best Practices Training
•Discover MyPlate (Youth)
•Select LEAP books
Topic: Increase knowledge and behavior changes toward adopting the recommendations of the dietary guidelines
Curriculum/Education:
•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
•Fit Blue App & Challenge
•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: Lisa Dodson
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
The Kentucky 4-H Passport Kitchen program provided 426 young people from Kentucky the opportunity to experience the food cultures of different countries in a self-paced experience. As part of the 4-H Passport Kitchen program, young people received six country kits in the mail during a six-week window. These kits provided all the needed instructions to complete a recipe, a video explaining the recipe, one ingredient for the recipe, information about the country, and a worksheet to help them explo
Author: Kelly Alsip
Major Program: Super Star Chef
According to 2017 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, the obesity rate for children ages 9 to 12 in Kentucky is 20.2%. The McCracken County Extension Council identified childhood obesity as an important health issue facing the community. Recent research has indicated that teaching cooking skills to children encourage healthier food choices, which can lower obesity rates. To address this problem, last (2022) summer, the McCracken County Family Consumer Science agent
Author: Kelly Alsip
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Spring into Green has been a long-established area-wide program in the Purchase Area. This event brings participants from all eight counties to gain new information from educational workshops and demonstrations. The event was hosted virtually last year, and participants were excited to have the event back in person for 2022. Spring into Green: In the Garden edition, was hosted by the Purchase Area Family and Consumer Science agents at the Graves County Extension Office. Speakers at this year&rsq
Author: Kelly Alsip
Major Program: Super Star Chef
According to 2017 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, the obesity rate for children ages 9 to 12 in Kentucky is 20.2%. The McCracken County Extension Council identified childhood obesity as an important health issue facing the community. Recent research has indicated that teaching cooking skills to children encourages healthier food choices, which can lower obesity rates. To address this problem, on June 27-29th 2023, the McCracken County Family Consumer Science age
