The Bourbon County Preschool Head Starts performed a Community Assessment in Bourbon County for 2015-2016.  The assessment showed 18.9% of preschoolers entering kindergarten have a body mass index at or above the 95th percentile.  In an effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and increase their activity level LEAP (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary) was performed in 7 classrooms within Bourbon County and Paris Independent Schools.  At each lesson a book was read to the students.  The books focus on preparing and eating healthy foods and being more physically active to help motivate children to adopt positive food and physical activity behaviors that last a lifetime.

There were a total of 128 kindergarten students who participated in 22 sessions.  Pre and Post test were conducted in class with the students.  57% of the children improved their identification of healthy snacks, 87% improved their responses of identifying dairy foods, and 55% improved their responses of identifying vegetables.  A little over half of the students improved their knowledge of when they should wash hands before eating.  Many of the students try new foods in the class that they have never tasted before.  A parent commented to the teacher that her daughter was “much more willing to try new foods at home” and the she “asked for spinach for a salad.”