According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) US students receive less than 8 hours of required nutrition education each school year, far below the 40-50 hours that is needed to affect behavior change. Data from the CDC’s School Health Policies and Practices Study from 2014 shows elementary students only received 4.6 hours of nutrition education.

The Bell County Supplemental Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) Assistant partnered with the Bell County Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent to educate students about the importance of healthy eating behaviors and physical activity for summer camp at Yellow Creek Elementary School. Working with Kindergarten through 4^th grade 100 students were reached. Stressing the importance of fruits and vegetables in their diets and discussing other food groups as well, the students were able to learn how much of each food group they should eat daily. The students also learned how to read a recipe and the parts of a recipe. Focusing more on fruits, the students were given a recipe from the Wally Cat Soar Like A Superhero Collection, Superhero Fruit or Veggie Kabobs with Fuel Dip. Then, on a plate they were given different fruits: bananas, blueberries, and strawberries. Each student constructed their own kabob using different patterns. Several students had said they had never tried either the blueberries or strawberries. After making and eating their fruit kabobs about 75% had tried and liked the fruit for the first time. The students participated in hands on activities that included identifying the parts of a recipe (recipe name, directions, nutritional analysis, servings, and ingredients) and matching each part to the title/header on an index card. The second activity was kitchen tool relay. Each student got a tool used in the kitchen (sheet pan, rolling pin, mixing bowl, liquid measuring cup, potato masher, etc.). The name of each kitchen tool was on a sign taped to the wall all around the room. The students had to race to find the sign that was related to their kitchen tool they had. Then we went around the room and ask each student what tool they had and what it was used for. 

One student mentioned” I’ve never ate blueberries. This is my first time trying them and I love them! I’m going to ask my Mom to buy me some for home.”