Success StoryGolden Years NEP Classes



Golden Years NEP Classes

Author: Heather Shaw

Planning Unit: CES District 6 Office

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Metcalfe County has an obesity rate of 34% according to the latest data from the CDC.  The county also has a number of people with diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease with about 20% have diabetes and about 27% having cardiovascular disease.  Golden Years is a senior citizen day program facility that accommodates about 20 people each day.  The director wanted to focus on health and nutrition as well as get some healthier recipes in rotation there.  He also wanted the participants to learn ways to save money and budget their food dollars. The Metcalfe County Cooperative Extension Service SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education) assistant agreed to conduct monthly classes at that location.  The classes cover the 7 core lessons in the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum, plus 4 supplemental lessons chosen by the participants.  The last visit of the year consisted of a graduation celebration to celebrate successes.  This program worked to improve diet quality by offering a healthy recipe tasting with each month's lesson.  People enjoyed getting to try new foods and showed good improvement in their diet qualities.  In fact, 63% now eat fruit more often each day and 63% drink fruit drinks or sweet tea less often now.  Furthermore, 75% drink soda less often now than they did upon beginning the Healthy Choices Program.  The other area that showed meaningful success was in food resource management where the numbers really tell the story.  88% of participants now compare food prices more often, check the pantry before going grocery shopping and make a list before shopping.  People at Golden Years are making better food choices, feeling better and saving money at the grocery store! One shared, "I might be an old dog but I always learn something new when you come to teach us!"  The director has asked that this program continue as more people begin.






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