In Kenton County the percentage of adults with diabetes is 10.5% and hypertension is 33%. With diabetes and hypertension poorly affecting American adult’s health, the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Services Nutrition Education Program Assistant worked with the Facilities Service Coordinator to provide nutrition classes for adults at a local elementary school. The focus was to get their attention on healthy eating by limiting salt and sugar intake. The group also learned how to interpret nutrition facts labels to identify sodium, sugars, fats, carbohydrates and cholesterol, so they could limit the unhealthy ingredients. 

Working with these adults, the Nutrition Education Program Assistant helped them to understand how reading nutrition facts labels can help with lowering their sodium and sugar intake. One participant wrote, “I am using what I learned in class to focus on making healthier choices for me and my family.” 

As a result, eight of the ten participants improved their diet in one or more diet quality indicators such as drinking less regular sodas and fruit drinks and adding more vegetables into their diet.