According to the Center for Disease Control, the prevalence of obesity in Kentucky youth is 20.7% among 6- to 11-year-olds, which could lead to obesity-related conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea and joint problems.    

The Menifee County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Assistant was asked to present nutrition programs to first graders at a local school. When asking the students to identify various fruits, most students did not recognize a pear or stated that they had never tasted a pear. The Assistant taught a series of lessons using the LEAP curriculum. (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Preschool/Primary). During one of the lessons in the series, the assistant brought in pears for the children to taste. Upon completion of the program, 61% of the children showed an increase of being able to recognize pears as a fruit and incorporating this fruit into their diets.