Through a partnership with the new Highland Village apartments in Highland Heights and the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service Nutrition Education Program, ten seniors attended a 7 session series of the Healthy Choices for Every Body program. When asked by the Nutrition program assistant why participants signed up for the program, many participants expressed the newfound or ongoing difficulty of planning and cooking for one or two and instead resorted to convenience meals or eating out. According to the USDA, the number of calories and size of food portions in the marketplace have increased dramatically over the last 40 years, including a significant association between fast food intake and higher weight in adults, along with many other chronic health conditions.

In addition to learning more about reading labels, food safety and planning meals, the seniors were able to experience cooking and tasting seven new recipes that always included a fruit and/or vegetable. Many were impressed with the recipes’ ease and delicious taste.

By the end of the program, nine out of ten participants planned their meals before shopping more often and seven out of ten participants began cooking at home more often than they did before attending.