Heart Healthy Lunch and Learn Program 

60% of Martin County’s population have been diagnosed with heart disease. The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Supplemental Nutrition Education Program Assistant and the Martin County Public Libraries to host a healthy lunch and learn series to offer several free educational series once a month to the general public.
One of the education series topics covered heart disease. Both the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and Supplemental Nutrition Education Program Assistant offered a 45-minute educational session then the participants got to sample heart healthy recipes. There were 15 individuals who participated in the heart healthy lunch and learn. Participants were surveyed the following month – the survey indicated that 100% of participants learned something new about heart disease and ways to prolong the onset. 73% indicated they have tried cooking with less salt, 61% stated they made the recipes at home that were sampled at the lunch and learn. Due to interest in the lunch and learns, the Cooperative Extension Service and SNAP Ed-Program will continue the learn and learns monthly.