Success StoryCook Together, Eat Together Helps Individuals Prepare More Nutritious, Home-Cooked Meals



Cook Together, Eat Together Helps Individuals Prepare More Nutritious, Home-Cooked Meals

Author: Heather Norman-Burgdolf

Planning Unit: Dietetics and Human Nutrition

Major Program: Cook Together, Eat Together

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

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 correlates with increased fruit and vegetable consumption. To address identified barriers for preparing meals at home, the social marketing and direct education program to promote more nutritious, home-cooked family meals, Cook Together, Eat Together, was offered statewide in 25 counties.

As a result of the program, 1,062 participants reported eating more nutritious foods such as whole fruits and/or brightly colored vegetables, while 1,206 participants reported preparing more nutritious home-cooked meals. In addition, 994 individuals reported adopting one or more practices to reduce food shopping costs associated with home-cooked meals such as comparing prices, planning meals, and making shopping lists.

Over the long-term, these cooking and eating behavior changes may lead to sustainable changes in cooking and eating norms in communities. As demonstrated by Cook Together, Eat Together, social marketing can be a powerful tool to promote changes for public good.






Stories by Heather Norman-Burgdolf


Faithful Families - Agent In-Service

about 6 years ago by Heather Norman-Burgdolf

Faith-based communities are some of the most established and trusted organizations within Kentucky c... Read More


Mastering Food Choices – Agent In-Service

about 6 years ago by Heather Norman-Burgdolf

Consumers are inundated with food decisions daily and it isnt always clear what the healthier food c... Read More


Stories by Dietetics and Human Nutrition


Fresh Kentucky Produce for Farms to Food Banks

Fresh Kentucky Produce for Farms to Food Banks

about 6 years ago by Janet Mullins

An annual study by Feeding America, reports that one in six Kentuckians – including one in five chil... Read More


Healthy Eating and Active Living Reduces Rural Obesity

Healthy Eating and Active Living Reduces Rural Obesity

about 6 years ago by Janet Mullins

Rural communities face greater barriers to healthy eating and being physically active, which contrib... Read More