Driven by the previous success of the partnership between Pike County Cooperative Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and WestCare in Ashcamp, we were excited to extend it into its fifth year ! WestCare is a non-profit organization whose services include substance abuse and addiction treatment and programs that treat issues such as mental health and domestic violence. Most new residents at WestCare have never had access to information regarding good nutritional practices.

The My Plate Curriculum was utilized as WestCare residents learned cooking skills, including portion control, how to prep foods, and healthier alternatives to fast and prepackaged foods. Residents became proficient in measuring, mixing ingredients, and cutting foods while learning what foods will help them healthily maintain correct calorie and vitamin levels.  

Forty-four residents entered the program with 100 % graduation rate. Ninety-three percent showed improvement in food resource management practices, 98 % showed improvement in nutrition practices, and 82 % showed improvement in food safety practices.

Residents wrote, "I was a soda drinker for years but after these classes I have cut down to a single soda twice a week," and : I have learned a lot about budgeting, portion sizes, recipes and proper intake of carbs and proteins. I learned how bad sugar is and what it does to the body, making me tired and very sluggish.I have upped my water intake and cut way down on sugar."