According to the State of Childhood Obesity, Kentucky’s children between the ages of 10-17 have the next to highest obesity rate in nation with the obesity rate of 25.5%. According to www.countyhealthrankings.org Hart County adults have an obesity rate of 41%. The Hart County Extension Family Consumer Science Agent partnered with Hart County School’s Family Resource Youth Service Center Coordinators to provide the Literacy, Eating and Activity for Primary (LEAP) lessons in all five elementary schools.  The LEAP program and nutrition education was provided to 201 second graders throughout five elementary schools in the county. The Family Consumer Science agent visited each school providing health and nutrition to the youth. The students were exposed to various books, physical activities, and a variety of samples of healthy nutritious snacks. Each student was given a recipe for the nutritious snacks and a newsletter to be given to their parent. 100% of the children reported enjoying the program. 99% of the children were willing to try the nutritious snack.  91% of the students reported enjoying the healthy snacks.

Munfordville Elementary Teacher expressed to me that the students were talking about how healthy tomatoes are for you while on a field trip to a local market. (Dennison's Market) She stated the students were looking at the tomatoes in the field and discussing how you can make salsa from the tomatoes.

A parent from Memorial Elementary stated that her daughter was a picky eater and came home asking for Apple Butter because she had tried it at school (during the LEAP program) and wanted her to buy some.