Eating more fruits and vegetables is a critical behavior for health promotion and disease prevention.  Despite the importance of eating more produce, it is also one of the most difficult eating behaviors to change.  It has been reported that cooking more meals at home is related to increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

A social marketing program to promote healthier, home-cooked family meals, Cook Together, Eat Together, was offered at the Laurel County Cooperative Extension Office with 10 adults and 5 youth participants.

As a result of the program, 100% of participants reported eating more healthy foods such as whole fruits and/or brightly colored vegetables, while 87% prepared more healthy home-cooked meals.  In addition, 100% adopted one or more practices to reduce food shopping costs associated with home-cooked meals such as comparing prices, planning meals, and making shipping lists.  

Over the long term, these cooking and eating behavior changes may lead to sustainable changes in cooking and eating norms in a community.  As demonstrated by Cook Together, Eat Together, social marketing is a powerful tool to promote changes for the public good. The Laurel County Extension Office was able to partner with the Laurel Harvest Project, in which provided each family with food each week to take home to prepare a meal at home with their families, as well as incentive items.

Participants stated:

“We have made Tuesdays our cooking together evenings!”

“I am so thankful that I was able to come to this program and receive these items that will help me prepare more meals at home for my family.”