Positive things can happen when children are introduced to healthy eating and lifestyle changes at an early age. An Early Education Center in Jefferson County participated in the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program through the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Services. The program: LEAP (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary) uses storybooks to teach children about staying healthy, being physically active, and eating more fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains.

 The book Rodeo Ron and His Milk Shake Cows was read to a group of pre-school children. The book is about the health benefits of drinking milk verses soda. The SNAP-Education Assistant discussed with students why the calcium in milk is important for healthy bones and teeth and why drinking too many sugary beverages, like sodas, is not healthy for teeth and overall health. 

The SNAP-Education Assistant made banana milk with low fat milk and frozen bananas for the students to try and all of the students and teachers enjoyed the milkshake-like beverage. A student came up to the Snap-Education Assistant and told the Assistant that “This Shake is better than McDonald’s and I am going to get my mom to make this at home.” Newsletters were sent home to the parents/ caregivers with information on why drinking low fat milk is important in the diet, as well as the recipe for Banana Milk.