Author: Whitney Paige Alexander
Planning Unit: Logan County CES
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
According to State of Childhood Obesity the national average of childhood obesity in 2022 for 10–17-year-olds is 17%. Kentucky is ranked 50th in the United States for childhood obesity rates with a percentage of 24%. With Logan County being a rural agriculture farming community childhood obesity is a major concern that keeps arising. With heart disease, hypertension and diabetes being chronic diseases with high percentages of the state for adults; there needs to be a focus on childhood obesity.
The Logan County Extension Office hosts a program to promote the local Farmers Market and children nutrition. This event has been going on for the past five years. The idea for the event was for children ages 0-12 years old to tour the Farmers Market to see what was offered there. Children receive Farmers Market bucks to pay for fresh produce to be able to use at home with their families for nutritious snacks and meals.
At the event participants get a goodie bag that has various activities for parents to do with their children while at home. Family bags were given to each family to the adult. The family bags had cooking reinforcement items for families to use for food preparation for their fresh produce. This year the Logan County had 169 individuals to come to the event; with 129 of them being youth. Families were allowed to use their Farmers Market bucks throughout the entire Farmers Market Season and not just the day of the event.
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