According to the on-line source, Nutrition Source, “A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar, which can help keep appetite in check.”  Learning this early and using this information though out one’s life can have lifetime health benefits.  Knowing that nutrition education is important to teach youth, the Lewis County 4-H Extension agent taught the Professor Popcorn program to 116 second grade students.   The Professor Popcorn program teaches youth about the five food groups and the importance to eat from each food group. After each lesson a tasting party was held, and participants tasted a food from the food group they learned about that day.

A survey was done at the end of the school year with the second-grade students.   The results are as follows:

• 105 (91%) said they were more willing to try new foods.   
• 87 (75%) said they ate more of a variety of fruits
• 76 (66%) said they ate fruit more often
• 58 (50%) said they ate more of a variety of vegetables
• 45 (39%) said they ate vegetables more often.