In the spring of 2022 the Fayette County Nutrition Education Program assistant partnered with Beaumont Middle School to bring nutrition programming to 7th grade students. Over a series of 8 sessions spanning a two month period, the students were instructed on following My Plate guidelines, reading nutrition labels, how to plan and prepare healthy meals, and the importance that a healthy lifestyle plays in their overall wellbeing. During the first session the students filled out an evaluation to get a baseline for their current food habits and lifestyle choices. This same evaluation was then administered to the students during their last session to mark any habit change that has occurred during the course of the class.

Upon completing the course, 100% of students showed improvement in one or more metrics of diet quality. 80% of the students reported increasing their vegetable consumption, along with 60% of students reporting increased fruit consumption. In addition to incorporating more produce into their diets, another 60% of respondents reporting choosing more low-fat beverage options than was reported on the first survey. These changes are crucial for teenagers. At this age their body needs increased nutrients to aid in their growth and development.  Many of these students are beginning to be responsible for their diets for the first time in their lives and having the tools given to them by the Nutrition Education Program has set them up for a lifetime of healthy choices.