According to the Center for Disease Control, the state indicator report on fruit and vegetable consumption for the state of Kentucky reveals that 60% of adolescents only ate on average one fruit or vegetable per day.

     During the school year, a nutrition curriculum was taught through the Owsley County Extension Service, in conjunction with the Owsley County School System.  Professor Popcorn was the curriculum taught to grades one through fifth.  The course includes My Plate, food safety lessons as well as proper amounts of physical activity needed per day.

     Throughout the school year, students were given pre-tests before each lesson. Lessons consists of grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy and protein.  Included in these lessons are the amount of food from each group that the child needs daily, along with the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables daily in order to be healthy.  After each lesson a healthy snack is prepared for each student and a post-test is given also.

     When asked of the students, nearly 60% of 3rd graders, they said that after learning about the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables that they would try to consume more than one fruit or vegetable each day and also vowed to try at least one new fruit or vegetable each week.  One student shared “I want to eat right so I will be healthy for years to come”.