Author: Natalie Green
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2022, 20.9% of children in Webster County were living in poverty. As of the 2022-2023 school year, 414 out of 676 students qualified for free and reduced lunch at WCHS (nces.ed.gov). The school is part of the free and reduced lunch program. The APEX 2.0 coordinator reached out to the FCS Agent to request programming for the enrichment hour of the program. APEX 2.0 at the Webster County High School is an after school program that is implemented for stu
Author: Lorie Adams
Issue or Situation Many seniors face challenges in cooking for themselves due to physical limitations, lack of confidence with kitchen tools, and difficulties in meal planning and portion control. These barriers can lead to poor nutrition, reduced independence, and an increased reliance on convenience foods.Outreach or Educational Program Response To address these issues, a two-day Senior Cooking School was developed with the support of KRADD, KRADD Senior Director, Quicksand Area FCS
Author: Megan Treadway
According to 2022 data from the State of Childhood Obesity website, 24.6% of Kentucky children ages 10 to 17 have obesity. This places Kentucky’s childhood obesity rates at second highest in the nation for this age group. Recent research has suggested that teaching cooking skills to children encourages healthier food choices, which can lower obesity rates. In an effort to address this, the Area Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences partnered with county agents to provide cooking
Author: Bethany Pratt
Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky residents have large disparities in health outcomes that are related to many social determinants of health such as race, socio-economic status, residential address, educational attainment, etc. The Center for Health Equity in Louisville releases a periodic Health Equity Report that captures both the challenges and the places for innovation in improving community health. The 2017 Health Equity Report identified food systems inequities as a major root cause of
Author: Dayna Fentress
In Hardin County, what started as a conversation between the Family and Consumer Sciences agent and the Farmers’ Market board president became a population kids activity that saw over 600 children over the course of the first summer. The "Power of Produce (POP) Club" was an interactive taste kitchen and activity center aimed to bring more youth and their parents to the market. With help from the UK School of Human Environmental sciences FCS mini-grant, POP Club was born. Our
Author: Nancy Owens
SNAP-Ed Success Story 2023-2024Nancy Owens-Sr. Nutrition Education Program/SNAP-Ed AssistantFarmers Market Vouchers for Seniors In Allen County, KY. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program was being discontinued, so the Allen County Cooperative Extension Service felt the need to step up and keep this wonderful program going for the citizens of our county. The first step to keeping this program alive was to work with the local United States Department of Agriculture Office to get i
SNAP-Ed Success Story 2023-2024Allen CountyNancy Owens-Sr. Nutrition Education Program/SNAP-Ed AssistantSenior Farmers Market Produce Box Program In Allen County 17% of the population are senior citizens. 9% are below income poverty level. The goal of this program is to assist Senior Citizens in receiving a monthly box of fresh produce, protein, grains, fruits, and dairy items that are provided by local producers and supplied from Need More Acres Farm. All items that are
Author: Laken Campbell
Describe the Issue or Situation.Many families in the community face challenges in accessing fresh, healthy ingredients and lack knowledge about preparing nutritious meals. Additionally, there is a need for greater engagement with local health and wellness resources to promote holistic well-being. The community expressed a desire for opportunities to learn about nutrition, connect with local farms, and access practical health information that could improve family health habits.Describe the Outrea
Author: Angela Baldauff
Research shows that when children are involved in the preparation of food, they are more likely to eat healthier (more fruits and vegetables), and they are more likely to try new foods. To increase knowledge and consumption of fruits and vegetables in children, the Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Senior Assistant from the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati to offer a summer cooking club for 13 students in grades 3-6 at Arnett Elementary in
Compared to the national average, Kentucky ranks near the top of the list in states with the number of individuals impacted by substance misuse, substance use disorder, and overdose. Percentage estimates for 2019-2020 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicate an average of 10.69% of Kentuckians aged 12 or older have used illicit drugs over the past month. Kenton County has established several substance-use recovery programs to support those seeking to o
Author: Jill Harris
Air fryers are one of the most popular kitchen appliances, owned by approximately 60% of American households in 2023. They are expected to continue to grow in popularity because they are innovative, convenient, a healthier cooking method than deep frying, relatively small and affordable, available in a variety of sizes, and many offer multiple cooking methods.To help consumer choose an air fryer that meets their needs, learn how to use the one they have, and the pros and cons of purchasing one,
Author: Deborah Messenger
Dietary choices are the number one risk factor for chronic disease. In the United States, 7 out of the 10 leading causes of death are directly related to diet. This is largely because risk factors like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol are connected to the foods we eat. Food insecurity, or not having access to or the ability to afford nutritious food, is largely contributing to the increased prevalence of diet-sensitive chronic conditions. Because of the known health ou
Author: Jay Hettmansperger
Describe the Issue or Situation.Camping has become more popular over the last few years and people are asking for meal ideas that are good to cook over a campfire. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).The agents at Garrard County Extension office combined efforts to present a program on campfire cooking. The program was advertised through multiple media sites and newsletters. The Family and Consumer Science(FCS) agent, the Ag and Natural Resource(AN
Author: Kayla Lunsford
This time of year, everyone is thinking about fall activities. Camping and cooking over a fire is a great option for families because of its affordability and ease to plan. However, one barrier that may inhibit people from getting outdoors is a lack of knowledge on how to cook over an open flame, or possibly even how to start a fire in the first place. The Garrard County Extension Office offered a program to educate on these topics. The goal was to educate participants on healthy outdoor r
Author: Stephanie Hestand
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, as people age over the age of sixty, they need certain unique needs in their diet such as getting special nutrients in their body to help maintain a healthy diet and ways to help lower the risk of developing chronic diseases.In the last three months, the Monroe County Family and Consumer Science Agent has started presenting the Cooking with the 2024 Calendar program to the Monroe County senior citizens at the facilities of Tompkinsville S
Author: Delaney Eubanks
Kentucky has high rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, not to mention food insecurity and access faced by many communities. Education related to healthy foods, food safety, and where to access healthy foods can help individuals make healtheir choices and understand the importance of nutrtion in health. Cooking Through the Calendar is a program through the Nutrition Education Program that uses NEP Recipe Calendars to teach heathy eating, cooking skills, and food safety for the adul
Author: Jacqueline Doucet
Research shows that people who prepare and cook meals at home are more likely to eat the recommended fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains needed in a balanced diet. Building cooking skills and knowledge increases the likelihood that people choose to prepare home-cooked meals. To encourage more home-prepared meals, the Boyd County Extension Office in partnership with UK King's Daughter's Department of Oncology presented the Savor the Flavor series to people currently in cancer
