Success StoryNutrition with Disabled Teens



Nutrition with Disabled Teens

Author: Whitney Paige Alexander

Planning Unit: Logan County CES

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Logan County is one of six counties in Kentucky with an obesity rate which exceeds 40%. The percentage of adolescents considered overweight is 15.4 % and 18 % of adolescents are considered obese. To address this issue the Logan County High School moderate severe disabilities unit teachers partnered with the Logan County Cooperative Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ED) Assistant, to provide nutrition education to students with varying abilities. 

The Logan County SNAP-ED Assistant utilized the Teen Cuisine curriculum to teach students about nutrition and healthy eating choices. Students were engaged in learning through the use of visual aids from the Teen Cuisine curriculum workbook, in addition the teachers created recipes using pictures to help modify the learning materials for students with difficulty reading. During each class the Logan County SNAP-Ed Assistant taught the nutrition lesson and the students would complete a hands-on food demonstration of a healthy recipe for their group to sample. 

Students gained knowledge in the areas of MyPlate, food safety, measuring and knife cutting skills. Students showed improvements by 73% in food safety, improved 64% increasing daily physical activity, and 45 % increased consumption of vegetables and whole grains. All improvements contributed to the success of this program. 






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