According to the Centers for Disease Control obesity and excess weight increase risk of severe illness. The Laurel County Expanded Food and Nutrition Assistant worked with nine kindergarten classes in Laurel County to promote health and wellness.  The assistant conducted nutrition classes and used the Literacy, Eating And Activity for Preschool/Primary curriculum to teach healthy lifelong lifestyles.  The assistant read books and did activities to promote good health and physical fitness to 180 students.  They learned about hand washing, where their food comes from, eating fruits and vegetables and other topics including physical activity. The students tried new foods such as mango and humus.

96 per cent of the children improved their abilities to choose healthy foods.  68 per cent increased their knowledge about hand washing. 65 per cent of the youth gained knowledge about physical activity.  The youth learned to make better choices to promote health and wellness.