In May, 2018, the Scott County Cooperative Extension’s SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Education Program Assistant formed a partnership with Recovery Works, an inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, to offer nutrition education and healthy cooking demonstrations to patients. According to Drugs and Alcohol Today, Volume 9, Issue 2, “…a well-nourished brain means fewer withdrawal symptoms during the early stages of detoxification and higher possibility of achieving long-term recovery.” The article claims, “Whatever the addiction, nutrition should be considered a powerful ally in the process of recovery, particularly during the initial stages of detoxification.”

During the four-week cooking and nutrition series, participants focused on the importance of eating a variety of foods, meal planning, reading nutrition labels, food safety, limiting sodium, sugar, and fats, and why they should be eating breakfast. Since the beginning the Healthy Choices series, 15 participants have graduated from the program. According to the national reporting system data, upon completion all participants have improved their diet quality in at least one area. Over half (71%) have increased physical activity, and 86% have shown improvement in food safety practices as well as food resource management.