LaRue County Kentucky has an obesity rate of 34.7% .

              LaRue County Extension Service Expanded Food and Nutrition Program Assistant Conducted a series of  classes with 43 LaRue County High School Agriculture Students. The goal of this program was 

improving their consumption of fresh vegetables and increasing awareness food preparation and safety. 

 Students grew lettuce and fresh herbs through an aquaponics class. Students were not aware of how to properly prepare the fresh produce for consumption.

 The Expanded Food and Nutrition Assistant taught hands on classes demonstrating food safety, knife skills and correct measuring techniques. The skills they learned gave the students the confidence to prepare fresh salads and dressings. As a result 100% of the students sampled fresh salads with healthy dressing they prepared, 97% showed improved diet quality and 79% indicated that they washed their fruits and vegetables more often before preparing them.

 One student stated that  he “ had no idea he really liked salads”.