In an effort to encourage healthy eating habits and to prevent youth and adult obesity, which is a major health concern in Lewis County, the Lewis County Extension Office conducted the Professor Popcorn program.  According to stateofobesity.org. Kentucky has the eighth highest adult obesity rate in the nation, and the 14th highest obesity rate for youth ages 10 to 17.  According to Kentuckyhealthfacts.org 80% percent of adults in Lewis County are overweight and of the 80%, 47% are considered obese. By teaching participants to make better meal and snack decisions, choosing food from the five food groups, eating the right portion size, and to exercise, participants would be healthier and less likely to be overweight.  

Five lessons were conducted with 149 second grade students using the Professor Popcorn curriculum.  Each lesson taught the importance of eating healthy by choosing foods from the five food groups, introducing different foods into what you eat, exercise, and safe food handling guidelines.  A tasting party was held at the end of each lesson where youth tasted foods from the food group studied that day.  

At the end of the program almost all participants said they had tried a new food and of the new food they tried over half said they would continue to eat it.   Of the 101 youth that tried rice cakes with peanut butter and bananas for the first time, 97 (96%) said they would continue to eat them. Eighty-five participants tried vegetable pizza for the first time and 60 (71%) said they would continue to eat them, 27 tried strawberries and 93% said they would continue to eat them.  Other foods tried for the first time by many students were blueberries, kiwi, yogurt, Colby and Monterey Jack cheese and 15 bean soup.   Of the 149 participants in the program 104 (70%) said they were more willing to try a new food.  Several students that participated in the program were considered picky eaters and would normally not try new foods.  These students agreed that they were more likely to try new foods.