“CELERY SMELLS LIKE DEATH”

May 19, 2017

PATARA STRUNK

EFNEP ASSISTANT

PERRY COUNTY, KY

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in October 31, 2016 approximately 17 percent (12.5 million) of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese.  Obesity is a huge problem within our population in eastern KY.Sources (Kentucky healthfacts.org) state that 40% of adults in Perry county KY have a BMI of greater than 30.0.

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Cooperative Extension, Service along with the Perry county school system, offered a series of classes covering good nutrition practices as well as food safety to every 8^th grade class in the school system.  Youth received nutrition education during the school day weekly for six weeks.  The five food groups were taught and students were encouraged to try a new food each week, the teacher asked students to write something they had learned and enjoyed about the nutrition class.  Below is an excerpt, unedited, from one youth’s response.

“Because I always thought starfruit smelled so bad so it was gross.  Then I always thought celery smelled like death and it still does.  But I don’t like coconuts so I thought I wouldn’t like coconut milk.  But it turns out I actually do!  My next step of trying things is to find ways that I like celery and to try coconut or try to find ways that I like it because I’ve been told that I’m definitely missing out on it.  I learned what to eat and what not to eat and I’ve brought this into my home and have started cooking healthier foods with my mom, who knew cooking would be so fun?