According to the State of Obesity Report, more than 20% of Kentucky teens are obese, the third worst rate in the country. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Assistant in Anderson County KY met a group of enterprising 4th and 5th grade students at Emma B Ward Elementary School in Anderson County who had started a garden club at their school. They planted, harvested, and sold their vegetables at the Anderson County Farmers Market. The students were taking the first steps in learning to feed themselves for life and help in the fight to decrease obesity.

 The students did not, however, know how to prepare any of the vegetables that had been grown. The SNAP Education Program Assistant led the students through a Rookie Cooking Camp where they learned food and kitchen safety, healthy snack and meal choices, as well as the importance of physical activity. Along with the lessons, the Rookie Cooking attendees participated in fun food inspired games, preparing a healthy snack and preparing a meal complete with salad and a dessert. Each student had the opportunity to try a new food and was awarded with an "I tried it" sticker along with their certificate of completion.

 As the students were eating the meal they had prepared, one of the girls was overheard saying, "Can you believe this whole meal was made by kids?"  After completing the classes the students showed a 57% increase in eating vegetables at lunch as well as a 43% increase in eating vegetables as a snack. Learning to grow and prepare their own food will give these young people the tools and experience to eat healthy for a lifetime and decrease their chance of obesity in adulthood.