Success StoryHealthy Choices
Healthy Choices
Author: Teresa King
Planning Unit: Meade County CES
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
Diet-related chronic diseases are prevalent in Kentucky. According to countyhealthranking.org, the obesity rate of Meade County residents is 34%. Unhealthy food choices and lack of physical activity are contributors to this problem.
As part of a solution, the Meade County EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) Assistant partnered with Ekron Elementary and conducted a six-week Healthy Choices for Every Body Program which seven adults attended. By participating in the program they learned how to plan and prepare healthy meals with hands-on demonstrations at each lesson. They also learn to practice food safety and how to budget their food dollars. Throughout the program participants were encouraged to be physically active as a family at least 150 minutes a week.
By the end of the program 66% of participants improved their diet quality. As a group, their food resource management improved by 70%. Each week participants would share what physical activities they were involved in, 62% increased their activity.
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