Consuming the recommended number of vegetables each day is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity. This equals 2 to 3 cups of vegetables a day, depending on age and gender. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 6.3 percent of adults in Kentucky meet the daily vegetable intake recommendations.

To increase vegetable consumption in Kentucky adults, the Carroll County Extension office hosted the workshop Sensational Salads for adults. Emphasis was placed on learning several types of salad greens and how to add other nutritious foods to turn a salad into a complete meal. Seventeen individuals sixty-five and older participated in the workshop.

Of those surveyed, 53 percent indicated they better understood the nutritional value of salad greens, and 59 percent stated they better understood how to select, prepare, and/or store salad greens. Fifty-three percent indicated they could identify ways to add color, texture, crunch, and/or more nutrition to a salad. Further, 94 percent expressed the intention to try a new type of salad green or salad component to add more nutrition to the diet, and 82 percent planned to incorporate more salads into meal planning and food preparation to increase vegetables in the diet.

One participant stated they may use more couscous and quinoa in their meal planning. Another participant testified they plan to eat more health-conscious salads. In addition, another participant indicated they plan to add more healthy items to their salads. And lastly, one individual exclaimed they had never eaten couscous before, and they loved it! Overall, many of the participants learned several new facts about salads and planned to implement them at home.