The 2019 Kentucky Annual Economic Report by the University of Kentucky reveals Kentucky falls below the national U.S. average with only 40% of Kentucky youth getting sufficient physical activity. To address these issues, the Wolfe County Senior Nutrition Education Program Assistant provided nutrition education to twelve youth. The goal of the program was for youth to learn and implement healthy habits while also learning ways to make healthy food preparation pleasurable.

              The Wolfe County Senior Nutrition Education Program Assistant created a cooking club called “Camp Chop.” Youth met for three days during the summer at the Wolfe County Extension to participate in nutrition lessons and hands-on cooking activities utilizing the Teen Cuisine curriculum. Evaluation data showed the cooking camp shared a 92% improvement of physical activity practices, a 67% increase in safe food handling practices, and a 73% improvement in their ability to prepare simple, nutritious, affordable food. One youth stated, “I love that I can wake up and prepare a healthy breakfast and not rely on eating sugary food items like pop tarts.”