According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system only 40% of Bourbon Countians eat the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables and 36% of the population is considered obese.  The SNAP-Ed assistant in Bourbon County used the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum to help those that are struggling with these risk factors.  The 7-week series had 9 participants that completed the program.  The lessons focused on My Plate, Food Safety, Eating a Better Breakfast, Planning Meals, Knowing the Limits, Eating Better on a Budget and Reading Food Labels.  During the lessons the group learned how to make healthier choices at the grocery store, how to use their food dollars more wisely, how to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed, and how to use the information to prepare healthy and tasty meals at home.

100% (9 of 9) of participants showed improvement in one or more diet quality indicators (i.e., eating fruits, vegetables, red and orange vegetables, dark green vegetables, drinking less regular soda (not diet), drinking less fruit punch, fruit drinks, sweet tea, or sports drinks, and cooking dinner at home).  89% of those who completed the program eat dark green vegetables more often each week and 78% eat red and orange vegetables more often each week.  Overall, 78% Eat vegetables more often each day.  One participant stated “I never would have tried these different foods on my own.  I am so glad that I got to try them to make sure I like them before I spent my money on them.”