According to the Trust for America’s Health Survey , Kentucky’s obesity rate for children ages 10-17 has increased to 33.5%. (Trust for Americas Health, 2016). Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is vital to help combat the youth obesity rate.

In the fall of 2018 the Edmonson County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Edmonson County 4-H Program Assistant and a 4-H Club leader to offer nutrition education and a healthy snack to members of the Kyrock 4-H Club. The club consist of 17 youth, 9 males and 8 females. At their first meeting parents filled out 4-H enrollment forms where one mother stated “Picky eater. Refuses to try new things.”  The FCS Agent prepared a healthy snack for each lesson using SNAP and UK provided recipes that included fruit and or vegetables. . Post surveys showed that 100% of the youth tried the new snack and 100% said they would prepare the snack at home. Recipe cards were provided to youth and their parents so recipes could be prepared at home. Healthy snacks were provided at 6 of the 7 club meetings.

Parent surveys indicated that 94% of youth participants did prepare the recipe at home after trying the recipe at the club meeting.  One parent reported “My child has never eaten fruit before, now she ask to make the recipes all the time.”  The parent who reported their child was a picky eater stated “They'll try new things now and  they love all of the recipes provided by the Extension Office.”