According to recent studies, 85% of consumers say that they have altered their eating habits as a result of the COVID pandemic. A report by Acosta found that nearly 2/3 of shoppers cooked at home more during the pandemic, eating far more meals at home all the time. 40% said they’re challenged in having to plan different meals on a daily basis while 35% of consumers said they’ve discovered a new passion for cooking.

The Snap-Ed assistant in Christian County partnered with a local community center to provide recipes and nutritional information to community members during the COVID pandemic. The community center was closed to normal business but the manager wanted to keep the center as engaged as possible and also draw interest in future Healthy Choices for Every Body classes planned when pandemic conditions improved.

The manager and assistant made a ‘Recipe Corner’ and placed weather proof containers on the outside of the door and the assistant filled them regularly with healthy Nutrition Education Program recipes. The project was advertised on the community center and assistant’s social media pages.

 The Recipe Corner was later moved indoors when the community center reopened to the public. Not only were more recipes added, but the community members brought extra produce and items to share as well.

The Recipe Corner was successful with the assistant sharing 2,000 recipes and 400 other items such as COVID related materials and youth activities. Several community members expressed interest in taking future Healthy Choices classes.