Despite a 2% decline in Jefferson County’s food insecurity rate over the last 5 years, local and national sources still identify high food insecurity issues in west Louisville. This national data shows a direct correlation between food insecurity and diet-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity. These same diseases afflict the residents of west Louisville area of Jefferson County. In west Louisville, 37% of the residents report having high blood pressure, 74% report being overweight, and 12% report having diabetes. The lack of having access to a grocery store is why west Louisville residents have inadequate access to food in general, let alone healthy, fresh or local food. Over the past 10 years, a strong partnership to address these issues has been developed between the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service and Dare to Care Food Bank. The Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service has provided nutrition education classes to recipients of the food bank in west Louisville. Classes included basic cooking skills, meal planning, recipe makeovers, and shopping strategies for eating fresh and local food. 

These classes helped 112 families make healthy choices related to their food insecurity over a 12-month period. 

A written evaluation showed: 
 • 100% have made recipes from class at home 
 • 65% continue to read food labels 
 • 80% learned new food preparation techniques 
 • 53% are serving appropriate food portions 
 • 44% are making healthier food choices when eating out 
 • 48% spent time planning meals

Over the 12-month period, emphasis was put on serving a “colorful” plate of food to increase their fresh and local food intake. One participant commented that she now plans and prepares “colorful” attractive and healthy meals for her family….something she had never done before.