The Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Kentucky has one of the highest prevalence for pediatric obesity in the nation.  Approximately 38% of Kentucky children ages 10-17 years are overweight or obese according to BMI-for-age standards. Half of Kentucky’s children in poor families are overweight or obese. According to the 2006 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System, 35.3% children ages 0-4 years in Kentucky are overweight or obese. 

The Rowan County Cooperative Extension FCS/4-H Agent collaborated together with the elementary schools in our county to provide nutritious programming materials and information for the parents during Literacy week programs. During Literacy weeknight, program Wally the Cat also added to the nutrition information for parents attending by giving out ChopChop magazines. When going into classrooms the Agent provides nutritious, pre-packaged snack of salsa to accompany the Count of Pablo lesson. Eating and Activity for Primary (LEAP) programming are also addressed in the elementary’s during the semester.   

The objective is to enhance the learning experience for the children and help parents engage in the teaching process with the children and encourage families to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Each students is asked to taste the salsa and whole grain chips.

80% of each class will at least sample the salsa

90% of those that sample love the flavor and texture of the salsa.