Hancock County Cooperative Extension Expanded Food Nutrition Education Assistant (EFNEP) partnered with a lady’s rehab facility, Amethyst.  Once we got to the lesson, healthy affordable meals for every body, the ladies discussed how not many of them cook meals at home.  Only 13% of them cooked meals at home at least 5 days a week.  

When asked why the ladies weren’t cooking more meals at home there were several different responses. Not having the time, not being prepared with ingredients, not knowing easy recipes to make, kids not liking what was made, and when shopping, not getting what was needed. Only 47% of the group met the recommended number of meals to be made at home.

The class jumped into the lesson and was surprised to learn all the helpful tips to help someone be prepared to cook at home.  Just a few steps that were discussed were making a food budget, and making a list for the week of meals, drinks, snacks.  After making this list, a person should walk through the home seeing want ingredients you need and already have.   The lesson went on to help a person be prepared for shopping at the store, ways to buy in bulk, how to pick fresh veggies as well as fruit and to buy store brands we able.  The EFNEP gave out some of the NEP food recipes cards, along with pointing them to all the online availability of recipes affiliated with NEP.

After more helpful information and lots of discussion with the group, the ladies felt much more confident in being ready to start cooking more meals at home.  When the exit survey was given 93% of the group met the recommendation of cooking dinner at home more times a week.