According to http://www.foodpyramid.com/myplate/, the goal of ChooseMyPlate, an evidence based program, is to help Americans make smarter food choices from every food group represented and promote overall health.  69% of children in Gallatin County are living in high poverty areas, which is 1 in 120 people in the county (Kids Count).  Gallatin County Schools offered “Blessing in a Backpack” in which children take home for the weekend to make sure children do not go hungry for grades K-5.  144 children participated every week throughout the 2018-19 school year as compared to 127 in the 2017-18 school year, according to the Gallatin County Family Resource Coordinator.  A similar program is offered for the higher grades.  The entire school system offer free breakfast, second chance breakfast, lunch, and supper.  Gallatin County  is   considered a “desert”  when it comes to food as there is only one small grocery store in the entire county.  The Gallatin County School Administration asked Gallatin County 4-H to offer health related enrichment for both the lower and upper elementary schools. Approximately 600 students received hands on information on MyPlate, how to properly wash their hands and made and tried new recipes.  Because of this program in the schools, approximately 150 children reported making simple nutritious after school snacks, 85% can name the various food groups and the need to have a balanced meal based on an end of course survey.

An after school cooking club was offered at the Gallatin County Extension office for twenty children. This gave children an opportunity to work on their recipe reading skills, knife skills, and how to use the stove/oven.  The end result is 4-H members putting their food that they created in the county fair.

 Cookies Around the World day camp was offered to middle and high school students to show them how to make easy desserts that they could recreate at home. These desserts originated from America, Europe and Mexico. Cultures of these areas were also discussed.  Over 200 cookies were delivered to the Gallatin County Nursing Home.

By popular demand, both the cooking club and cookies around the world have become an annual event.