Many studies credit proper nutrition as a factor in successful in addiction recovery. “If you give the brain the nutrients it needs to get past biochemical and genetic deficiencies, inefficiencies, and blockages, people treated for addiction have a better chance of staying sober,” said William Billica, MD, at Inner Balance Health Center for alcohol and drug addiction treatment in Loveland, Colorado. 

In consideration to these studies, The Scott County Cooperative Extension Program Assistant for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP-Ed) taught Healthy Choices at Recovery Works, an inpatient addiction rehabilitation center. Through the weekly classes, participants learned about nutrition through MyPlate. Participants also learned to read nutrition labels and choose foods with less salt, fat, and sugar. They were taught how safely prepare new recipes that would help them accomplish nutrition goals while stretching food budgets farther.

The results of the pre and post surveys showed that 98% of the participants improved in one or more diet quality indicators, while 78% increased physical activity.  89% improved in food safety and 83% improved in food resource management.

One participant thought that she had been eating healthy before taking the class but has learned that she did not make very good choices. She states that she now knows to read the nutrition labels when making food choices. Another participant did not realize that soda has so much sugar. She says she quit drinking soda the day of her second class and is trying to go without soda for 30 days.

Impacts made by the Healthy Choices class are expected to grow as the class recently expanded to the outpatient facility.