Artwork for Water 

According to the Center for Disease Control, 34% of Kentucky adults are considered obese. The director of an adult rehabilitation/therapy center for traumatic brain injuries contacted the Boyd County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) assistant expressing concern regarding poor dietary habits of patients attending the daily rehabilitation program. Of particular concern was that patients had found it easiest to “grab a can of pop” instead of thinking about their beverage choices.   Research shows that this type of behavior can lead to diseases such as obesity, diabetes, kidney, and heart disease. 

The SNAP-Ed assistant partnered with the rehabilitation/therapy facility and taught weekly classes with the participants using the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum.   During the lesson on “Making Better Beverage Choices,” the participants were given a reusable water bottle with a paper insert.   The participants were asked to design their own water bottle.   The insert was then laminated to protect against moisture and the participants were asked to use these bottles during the next weeks.   Some participants stated that water did not have any flavor.   So, the SNAP-Ed assistants taught assistants how to add fresh and/or mashed fruit to their water for flavor.   Using fresh/mashed fruit to water also added to their physical rehabilitation.    By the end of the seven-lesson series, the participants were drinking more water!    And as a result, the center purchases less sugar-sweetened cola products.   The participants were proud to be using their custom-designed water bottles.   Of the participants surveyed, 57% have reduced consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by making water the beverage of choice.