According to The Northern Kentucky Health department, in 2018 there were 190 deaths due to overdose.(2)  The Gateway Foundation states “It’s important for every person to develop healthy eating habits, but it’s crucial for people who are recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction. Even short-term addiction can take a huge toll on the body as it is forced to work overtime to eliminate toxic substances and defend itself against the damage they do. Achieving nutritional balance is essential in repairing the harm addiction does to the body.”(1)

The Boone County Cooperative Extension Service’s Nutrition Education Program Assistant and Horticulture Agent collaborated to present a series educating 16 female residents at the Brighton Recovery Center for Women (BRC) in Florence, KY. The Nutrition Education Program Assistant conducted a 7-week nutrition series that focused on simple ways to eat healthy on a limited income by incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables. Along with these nutrition classes, the horticulture agent provided soil, seeds, and worked side by side with the female residents, offering hands on demonstrations on implementing a garden. 

Over the course of the summer, the female residents researched the types of plants to grow and in which season to grow them. In addition, they learned how to plant seeds and properly care for the fruit and vegetables that they planted in the raised bed gardens at the BRC. At the end of the summer, they reaped the benefits of their hard work, learning ways to incorporate the foods that they had grown and harvested into a nutritious meal. One of the lessons presented was about ways to prepare salads. The participants gathered fresh produce they had grown in the garden for the salads and then used additional basic ingredients to discover simple ways to create various salad dressings. One participant commented, “You mean I could have made this salad dressing anytime? I have all the ingredients at home. I do not usually like salad, but this is delicious!”

Eating healthy can improve a person’s health, and their attitude in life. These healthy behaviors are favorable for a person’s journey in long-term substance recovery. This partnership between Boone County Extension’s Nutrition Education Program and the Horticulture Department proved to be beneficial and taught valuable skills that can help a person live a healthier lifestyle.

References:

1. Foundation, G. (2020, May 9). Nutrition to Help Your Body Heal in Addiction Recovery. Gateway. https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/addiction-blog/nutrition-for-substance-abuse-recovery/

1. Story Map Journal. (n.d.). Nkhd.maps.arcgis.com. https://nkhd.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=8c219fce29124c2182fa1e2a58c9bf61

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