Edmonson County is a rural county in south central Kentucky. Due to the lack of public transportation in a rural county, limited number of program facilities, and residents leaving the county for work, the Healthy Choices for Every Body Live was developed to overcome those barriers in Edmonson County. The Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum was taught via Facebook live videos in a private Facebook group since October of 2016.

The Edmonson County FCS Agent and SNAP-Ed Assistant worked together to create a scheduled for Facebook live lessons.  Participants were encouraged to watch live but they did have the option to watch later at their own convenience. Each lesson consisted of the lesson materials, online visuals, and a food demonstration. They were also given the opportunity to ask the SNAP- Ed Assistant questions live, and were able to provide feedback. At the end of the series they attended a meet and greet in person, had a recipe tasting, and received their reinforcement items, such as cooking utensils for completing the program.

The FCS Agent took care of the live streaming and technology needed to conduct the live lesson.The SNAP-Ed Assistant developed partnerships with community agencies including Food from the Heart, Health and Family Services, Community Action and the Great Onyx Job Corps to advertise the Facebook Live program.

The SNAP-Ed assistant utilized intake and exit surveys provided by the Kentucky Nutrition Education Program to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

Healthy Choices for Every Body LIVE phase 1 consisted of 11 graduates. The 11 graduates showed 100% positive change in any food group upon exit, 66% showed improvement in one or more resource management practices, 50% showed improvement in one or more of their food safety practices, and 70% improved in one or more of their diet quality and overall nutrition practices.

Healthy Choices for Every Body LIVE phase 2 consisted of 11 graduates. The 11 graduates showed 91% positive change in any food group upon exit, 71% showed improvement in one or more resource management practices, 60% showed improvement in one or more of their food safety practices, and 55% improved in one or more of their diet quality and overall nutrition practices.

Healthy Choices for Every Body Live phase 3 consisted of 13 graduates. The 13 graduates showed a 98.4% positive change in any food group. They also showed a 73% positive change in their Diet Quality with 83% of them reporting that they eat red, orange and dark green vegetables more often each week. They reported an 88% positive change in the food safety area, with 97% of them reporting they thaw frozen food at room temperature less often. In the area of Food Resource Management, they showed a 70% improvement, with 75% reporting they check the cupboard before shopping more often. 

All three phases had a 100% graduation rate. The program was cost effective for both the SNAP-Ed Assistant and participants. Participants did not have to travel to a class and the SNAP-Ed Assistant only had to make one recipe for demonstration verses several for samples.

Client testimonies about the program:

“I was thankful for being able to utilize this program at my own convenience. I am not able to attend in person classes due to battling cancer, but I was able to watch the videos during my chemo treatments. I learned a lot from these classes, and a now have a better understanding for my food choices during my battle with cancer.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to attend these classes in person due to lack of transportation, so I was very excited to see that I could watch the videos during my morning walk.”

“I never felt comfortable in the kitchen, until I began these classes. I now feel that I can make a healthy dinner for my family.”

"I bought all the ingredients for the recipe. That night my family and I made the recipe along with the video. We loved being able to cook along”

Additionally The SNAP-Ed assistant invited a participant who had attended in person and graduated from the NEP program to partake in the Facebook live program. This participant was not enrolled and did not count toward graduation numbers. The participant said, “It was nice to see all of the participants in the group, as it is hard to get them to show up in person. The SNAP-Ed Assistant was very consistent and taught the programs as if you were sitting there in person. It was nice to be able to watch the videos while I was winding down for bed.”

With guidance from the Kentucky Nutrition Education Program Office and state staff the Healthy Choices for Everybody LIVE program is now being piloted in seven Kentucky Counties by SNAP and EFNEP Assistants.

** Awarded 2nd Place from KEAFCS in SNAP Education Category**