Kentucky statistics show that 15.5% of 2-4 year olds from low-income families are obese (CDC, 2013). 42.6% of Kentuckians consume fruit less than one time a day, and 24.9% consume vegetables less than one time daily. Therefore, educational programs, which address the importance of healthy nutrition, are needed. The Campbell County Extension Service addressed healthy eating behaviors through the preschool program- Leap.

The Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service collaborated with the Campbell Ridge Preschool and Abby’s Child Enrichment Center on a nine-session curriculum called Leap (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Preschoolers) for Health to 57 children. Storybooks were used to teach children the importance of staying healthy, being physically active, and eating more fruits and vegetables. Each session included reading the story, tasting foods introduced in the story, and a reinforcement activity such as discussing how to brush one’s teeth. At the end of the ninth session, 97% of the children could identify spinach as a vegetable, 97% could identify blackberry as a fruit, 94% knew that there were 5 food groups, 94% thought that eating a variety of foods from all the food groups was important, and 97% knew that they were to brush their teeth at least two times every day. One preschool teacher stated, “My children have been exposed to new foods they probably wouldn’t have tried. One little one in my afternoon class eats spinach salad now because of this program.”