Grant County averaged 2408 families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits of $304 per month. Grant County SNAP Education Program, partnered with the Williamstown Independent School System and the Twenty First Century Grant Program to offer nutrition based programs for both Elementary students and their families.    Elementary students and their parents qualified for 100% free lunches. The students are continuing to participate in after school programs offering the Youth nutrition education curriculum.  In order to gain parent participation in the nutrition lessons, the SNAP Education assistant offered classes using the Healthy Choices Curriculum to the adults who had children in the Twenty First Century after school program.  Classes were offered in the evening when parents were picking up their children.  

Parents participated in classes on meal planning, budgeting, my plate, breakfast, know the limits, how to read nutrition labels, and food safety.  The classes were interactive and the adults had the opportunity to prepare and taste a new recipe each class.  The parents were challenged to increase their physical activity and include their families.  As a result, 71% of the adults increased their physical activity.     Families were also encouraged to vary their consumption of fruits and vegetables.  The group had a 100% positive change in any food group at their exit from the program.  Food security is an issue as evidenced by the 100% free lunch program.  The adults worked on meal planning and food budgeting.   One parent stated “We are planning our meals as a family now and the kids are eating much better.”  Another stated, “I’m making at least two meals ahead on the weekends to help us out during the week and our food spending has gone down.”  The group had a 51% improvement in resource management skills of cooking meals at home comparing food prices, and planning meals before grocery shopping.  

The Twenty First Century after school staff have been pleased with the parental participation.  One professional stated “It’s so much easier when the parents are participating and reinforcing the lessons being taught to the youth”.