As Paige began teaching lessons at the workshop Lou one of the CSA workers had discussed clients were always at the vending machines. Lou’s concern was that clients were drinking too many soft drinks, consuming too many high calorie and high fat foods. Lou had asked Paige to discuss with clients about high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity because of the high percentage rates of those diseases in Kentucky. The next lesson to be taught was the “Knowing the Limits”. This lesson breaks down how much sugar, fat, oils and sodium a person should have in one day.

The day Paige was presenting the program she brought her test tubes to show how much sugar, fat and sodium is in foods that people consume a lot of. When Paige began class she conducted a verbal survey to ask how many soft drinks a day do clients usually consume. To Paige’s shock in an eight hour workday at the workshop some individuals had six diet sodas. Even though the drink machine has all diet drinks the clients did not need that many soft drinks.

Paige showed clients how much sugar they would be consuming by drinking a regular soda. Clients were shocked with how much sugar was in the cookie, brownie, and other sugary drinks. When Paige discussed with clients about sodium intake she showed them salt test tubes showing how much sodium in hot dogs, deluxe cheeseburger and lunch meat. Paige discussed how clients could bring their own nutritious snacks instead of going to the vending machine to buy nutrient dense foods such as chips, cookies, honey buns and candy bars. Paige talked with clients about the recipes that they do for food demonstrations and samples on how those would be nutritious foods for them to make at home and bring to work with them everyday.

After the class Paige had a challenge for the entire workshop to drink at least six to eight cups of water a day. Clients received twenty ounces water bottles to complete the month challenge. When the challenge was over Ralph one of the clients talked about how he quit drinking so many soft drinks and was drinking three to four water bottles a day. He also quit buying as many honey buns for breakfast and started making his own breakfast to bring to work. Over fifty percent of clients improved their consumption of water by drinking from water bottles that were supplied by the University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.