The Jefferson County Nutrition Education Program (NEP) assistant partnered with Jefferson County Public School for pregnant teens. The pregnant teens completed a 7 Lesson in person nutrition class using the Healthy Choices for Everybody Curriculum.

The program aims to provide nutrition education as well as diet quality which focuses on whole fruits, vary the veggies, making half your grains whole grains, vary your protein routine, moving to low fat or fat free, including oils as part of your healthy lifestyle, and limiting extra calories as well. The NEP Assistant made these sessions as interactive as possible by engaging the pregnant teens in the lessons. The lesson on Meal Planning is taught to participants. The NEP Assistant shared with the group on how meal planning can help your family with energy and the nutrients, provide appealing meals, help you save money at the grocery store and how you can involve the family on creating a menu as well as getting their 30 minutes of physical activity in for the day.

At the conclusion of the program, three pregnant teens completed the class. The exit survey shows that three out of three in the group, had a 100% success rate, showing improvements in eating fruits, vegetables, red and orange vegetables, dark green vegetables, drinking less regular soda, and fruit juices and cooking dinner at home. One client shared with the NEP Assistant, "After the lesson on Meal Planning, I started meal prepping on Sundays for the week ahead using the MYPLATE model to ensure that each meal has a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein. I have saved money, time and even my child, helps choose different fruits and vegetables for us to eat. I also have cut down on fast food and buying frozen foods.”