The CDC estimates that each year 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die. The Scott County Nutrition Education Program has partnered with Family Resource Coordinators for two Scott County elementary schools to educate four at-risk families in cooking and nutrition with an emphasis on safe food preparation and storage practices. 

During the three weekly sessions, parents would have class, and then learn a new healthy recipe while cooking dinner for the group.  Children participated in lessons on Myplate and handwashing and then got to make a healthy dessert to share with the group. When everyone finished in their groups, families united to eat the featured dinner together. 

Upon conclusion of this program, 75% of participants reported an improvement in behavior to stretch food dollars and 100% of participants reported an improvement in diet quality (nutrition), and safe food handling practices. One mother shared, “I have always been a ‘germaphobe’ but before I took this class, I always set meat and chicken on the counter to thaw. That is how my mother did it so that’s what I learned to do. Not only have I stopped thawing meat on the counter, I shared this information with my mother and she has stopped as well!”