Author: Whitney Paige Alexander
Planning Unit: Logan County CES
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
According to the Barren River District Health Department, based on the 2016-2018 data gathered, Kentucky has an obesity rate of thirty-five percent; whereas Logan County’s obesity rate is thirty-eight percent. Logan County Family Consumer Science Agent and Logan County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator partnered together to offer a program at the Logan County Cooperative Extension Wellness Center. The Family Consumer Science Agent and Nutrition Assistant partnered together to reach limited resource clients by offering physical activity rotations and nutrition education programs at the same time.
Participants came in twice a week on Monday’s and Wednesday’s for four weeks for an hour wellness program involving nutrition education program and physical activity. Participants would weigh in on Mondays, start their physical activity rotations while the Nutrition Assistant would teach a nutrition lesson from the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum supplied by the University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program. Participants gained knowledge on MyPlate, serving sizes, calorie recommendations, meal planning and budgeting, reading labels and food safety practices. Each week the Family Consumer Science Agent and Nutrition Assistant would have information in the participant’s folders with nutrition handouts, recipes and physical activity tips. Each program the SNAP ED assistant would go over the recipes to discuss how to utilize them at home for their families. She even discussed with one client that was having knee issues chair exercises that are on the NEP Physical Activity DVD and gave the client a copy.
The program was successful by showing increase percentages in the following areas. One hundred percent increased diet quality by eating more fruits and vegetables, and by drinking dairy every day. One hundred percent increased physical activity by making small changes. One hundred percent increase their food safety practices. One hundred percent increased their behaviors in meal planning, making shopping list, cooking at home more often and looking in their pantry. Participants loved gaining knowledge while utilizing the wellness center and encouraged the SNAP ED assistant about upcoming classes that they would be interested in and share the information with their families.
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