The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health. Obesity prevalence is 20.6% among 12- to 19-year-olds but the prevalence of obesity decreased with increasing the level of education.  To address this issue, the Mason County Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) assistant and the Mason County Practical Living teacher conducted a Teen Cuisine class for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.  Each week during the semester, the teens were taught nutrition, food safety, hands-on cooking skills and the importance of physical activity. 

Only thirty-four percent (34%) of the students reported being physically active at least one hour per day; however, by the end of the semester, seventy-three percent (73%) had improved their physical activity practices.  In addition, fifty-four percent (54%) of the youth reported using safe food handling practices more often and/or gained knowledge of food safety practices.
One student thanked us for taking the time to teach them about their health and how to cook; and, another student thanked us for showing him/her the proper way to use cooking utensils.