Extension
It Starts With Us
Nutrition Education
Nutrition, Physical Activity, Food Security and Obesity Prevention
Moses (Fine Arts), Burgard (FCS), Jones (4-H), White (ANR), Prewitt (Horticulture)
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Food Preparation and Preservation
Situation:
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.
In Whitley County, 26.3% of the population is below the poverty line. According to the Commonwealth of Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, there are 11,684 recipients of Food Stamps in the county and the average amount of benefit received is $253.14.
SNAP-Education programs help limited resource families increase access to affordable nutritious food, stretch food dollars, develop food preparation skills and improve food safety practices. SNAP-Education efforts also help communities address nutrition and obesity prevention issues related to the social, environmental, and policy work which supports limited resource individuals in making healthy lifestyle changes.
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 foodborne 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.
Mothers will know the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding.
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 nutrition-related health problems.
Indicator: Individuals will report reduced nutrition-related health problems as a result of making healthy eating choices.
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Change in health/disease data from Kentucky County Healthcare Profile Data (CEDIK).
Timeline: 2020
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals engage in good food safety practices.
Indicator: Number of individuals who implemented the recommended practices for safe storage, handling, or preparation of food.
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports.
Timeline: 2017
Initial Outcome: Individuals will be able to identify the components of a healthy diet as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting an increase in knowledge related to the components of a healthy diet.
Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports.
Timeline: 2016
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Increase access to affordable and healthy food
Content or Curriculum:
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, Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes, Guide to Kentucky Fresh Vegetables, Nutrition Education Radio Educational Message, Chop Chop Magazine (Virtual classes and program bags)
Inputs: NEP Assistant, Cornelius, 4H, ANR, Moses
Date: Continuous
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Obesity prevention (nutrition and physical activity)
Content or Curriculum:
Get Moving Kentucky, Home Vegetable Gardening/Production, Food Preservation, Weight the Reality Series Curriculum, UK NEP Adult Curriculum, Money Wise, Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes, Wildcat Way to Wellness, USDA materials, Organwise (youth), Professor Popcorn (youth), Nutrition Education Radio Educational Message, Chop Chop Magazine (Virtual Classes and program bags)
Inputs: NEP Assistant, 4H, FCS, ANR, Moses
Date: Continuous
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Increase food preparation skills
Content or Curriculum:
Home-based food processing, Plate It Up, Food preparation programs, UK NEP Adult Curriculum, Area Holiday Cooking School, USDA materials, Weight the Reality Series Curriculum, Community Event Fairs, Newsletter Distribution, Website/Social Media Educational Message, NEP Calendar Distribution (Virtual Classes and program bags)
Inputs: NEP Assistant, Cornelius, Area FCS Agents
Date: Continuous
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Increase adoption of appropriate food safety behaviors
Content or Curriculum:
UK NEP Adult Curriculum, Glow Germ (Youth), UK FCS Extension food safety publications, GAP Training, Nutrition Education Radio Educational Message, Chop Chop Magazine, Community Event Fairs, Newsletter Distribution, Website/Social Media Educational Message, NEP Calendar Distribution (virtual classes and program bags)
Inputs: NEP Assistant, Cornelius
Date: Continuous
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Increase knowledge and behavior changes toward adopting the recommendations of the dietary guidelines
Content or Curriculum:
Professor Popcorn curriculum (youth), OrganWise curriculum (youth), Wellness in Kentucky (WIN), LEAP curriculum (youth), Weight the Reality Series curriculum, UK NEP Adult Curriculum, Food Preservation, USDA materials, Dining with Diabetes, Wildcat Way to Wellness, Get Moving Kentucky, Nutrition Education Radio Educational Message, Chop Chop Magazine, Community Event Fairs, Newsletter Distribution, Website/Social Media Educational Message, NEP Calendar Distribution (Virtual classes and program bags)
Inputs: NEP Assistant, All agents
Date: Continuous
Audience: Residence
Project or Activity: Hike and Sketch
Content or Curriculum: UK, books
Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, FCS Agent
Date: Summer
Audience: Hikers
Project or Activity: Hiking for Health
Content or Curriculum: Going on hikes to promote healthy living and to get people interested in exercise
Inputs: Forested areas, FCS, and woodland experts, State parks and their officials
Date: 2020 – 2024
Audience: Farmer’s Market shoppers
Project or Activity: Cooking demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: Healthy recipes using local fruits and vegetables
Inputs: FCS Agent, NEP, FCS Program Assistant
Date: 2020-2024
Audience: Regional residents
Project or Activity: Hort/Art Hiking program
Content or Curriculum: Local and regional environments, state parks, state resources
Inputs: Horticulture Agent, Fine Arts agent
Date: Summer-Fall 2022
