According to Kentucky Health News, “Kentucky ranks 3^rd in child obesity, a disease tied to a long list of other health issues; treatments require changes in family lifestyle”. (Kentucky Health news 2019).

During the 2022-2023 school year, The University of Kentucky’s Boone County’s Cooperative Extension 4-H Agent collaborated with Ryle High School’s Spanish department. Both agencies co-instructed an in-person, six-part nutrition series with twenty-nine high school students, to promote positive changes in students’ healthy eating lifestyles. 

The students were introduced to the Teen Cuisine curriculum, which was used to teach various nutrition lessons, along with preparing and sampling healthy and diverse foods. The lessons were adapted to meet the needs of the students and were taught in both English and in Spanish. 

After the nutrition lesson, students would prepare and sample a healthy Latin-inspired recipe. One student commented, “I can’t believe how easy it is to cook such a tasty dish, I can’t wait to go home and make it for my family.”

The students learned the importance of diversity in their nutrition. Not only were they eating healthy but were able to relate it to lessons in their Spanish class. The skills learned enabled them to better understand diverse cultures, which can help youth be more culturally diverse in today’s world.

 References:

Cross, A. (2019, October 18). Kentucky ranks 3rd in child obesity, a disease tied to a long list of other health issues; treatment requires changes in family lifestyle – Kentucky Health News. Uky.edu. https://cidev.uky.edu/kentuckyhealthnews/2019/10/18/kentucky-ranks-3rd-in-child-obesity-a-disease-tied-to-a-long-list-of-other-health-issues-treatment-requires-changes-in-family-lifestyle/