Small Victories 

The Nutrition Education Assistant was asked by the Knott County Housing Authority to participate in their Building Stronger Families event.  The NEP assistant talked with families about the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Parents were provided with informative handouts about MyPlate, the United States Dietary Guidelines serving recommendations along with information on Nutrition Facts Labels. After talking with the families, The NEP assistant demonstrated a quick and easy recipe for the families involving different fruits perfect for hot summer days.  The Watermelon Refresher recipe was a huge hit among adults and children alike. One autistic child was reluctant to try the recipe. The mother stated she could not get him to try new foods and worried about his health because of being a picky eater.  The NEP assistant talked with the boy and eventually got him to take a bite of the watermelon refresher.  He loved it!! He ate the entire thing and asked for more.  His mother was shocked but extremely happy that he tried something new and healthy.  She expressed her gratitude over and over for the NEP assistant’s time and patience with her child. The NEP assistant asked her along with the other families if they would be interested in learning more about nutrition and receiving more healthy recipes.  The NEP assistant was able to reach a new low-income audience and make a difference by attending a community sponsored event.  It was an overall successful day.