Menifee After-School Program Features Literacy Eating and Activity for Primary (LEAP) 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that only 9% of students eat the required amount of fruits, and only 2% eat the required amount of vegetables needed for healthy living.  Having access to fruits and vegetables is one of the limiting factors for consumption.  To promote making healthier food choices and overall good health, the Menifee County SNAP-ED Assistant taught six (6) LEAP (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary) lessons to students in grades K- 2 at Botts Elementary after-school program.  LEAP lessons involve reading a book to students and providing a food sample related to the book’s theme. Physical activity is also incorporated into the lesson to promote good health. Pre and post evaluations showed student improvements as follows:  60% hand washing skills; 57% vegetable identification; 44% choosing healthy snacks and 32% physical activity.  During one of the lessons, the SNAP-Ed assistant provided mangos as a fruit snack for students to taste. All the students said that they were going home and ask their parents to buy mango for them.  However, one of the students went home and ask his/her parent to buy some “flamingo” (mango) like he had eaten during a LEAP lesson. The parent later contacted the school and ask what “flamingo” the student had eaten during the after-school program.