Data from the US census Bureau shows 19.4% of Kentuckians live in poverty.  The Healthy Choices for

Every Body series of classes was taught to the residents at a local transitional housing shelter.  

The majority of the residents were not using their food dollars wisely and had to depend on local food

Banks for food supplies to last the rest of the month.  A budgeting lesson was taught emphasizing

The importance of using coupons, adding potatoes, rice, or pasta to stretch meat dishes, checking

supplies on hand before shopping, and additional shopping tips to maintain their budget and stretch

food dollars.

A husband and wife attended the series of classes to learn to prepare healthier meals and how to spend

their food dollars more effectively.  They both later obtained jobs and moved into their own apartment.  

Follow-up was easy as the gentleman was seen out in the community in December 2017 and a

conversation took place about how  they continued using the tips they had learned in class to maintain

their food budget. He also commented on how they also still used the recipes from class to prepare

their meals and that the sloppy garden joes recipe was among their favorite even having it for dinner the

night prior to our conversation.  He stated that they previously ran out of food prior to the end of the

month, but by using the grocery shopping list to purchase only what was needed and comparing unit

prices, they are now making their food dollars stretch the entire month.  By attending the classes and

applying the knowledge they learned, this couple has made long term  lifestyle changes.