In 2019, fruit and vegetable intake among United States adults remained low, with approximately one in ten adults meeting the recommendations.  The Expanded Food and Nutrition Program Assistant and the Supplemental Nutrition Program Assistant partnered with the New Hope counseling center to provide nutrition classes to the drug recovery program participants.  The assistants gave nutrition lessons to help empower the success of the clients to make lifelong decisions to help better their quality of life.  Each nutrition lesson was also served with a sample of healthy recipes.  Budgeting, Meal Planning and Food Safety were taught along with other lessons in the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum.  

The recipes usually always include fruits and vegetables.  One client stated that he made the " Sheet Pan Chicken" at least twice a week. His young son loves the recipe.  One participant remarked that the sweet potato chili was awesome.  The sampling of the recipes helps encourage more fruits and vegetable consumption and in turn results in healthier adults and children.

 The Nutrition Program assistants encourage healthy eating which in turn can help their recovery in addiction.  One participant said her husband was in a bad mood and realized he would be coming to the nutrition class and was excited to come to class..  Good nutrition improves health and mood and reduces the risk of relapses in recovery.  Fruits and vegetables play an important role in good nutrition.