Whitley County School system along with other community partners, one being the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Office through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Assistant (EFNEP), was conducting the Family Fitness Nights at one of their primary Schools, that the EFNEP Assistant partners with, throughout the year.  This particular “Family Night” is done once a year in hopes of promoting physical activity and healthy snack alternatives.  The EFNEP Assistant chose to promote this through the LEAP (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary, “Youth Health”) curriculum this particular night, using the activities and book:  Golden Delicious:  A Cinderella Apple Story,  to the youth and their families, exposing them to the literacy and physical activity components while tying in the importance of good nutrition in a different way.  

A few weeks later, the EFNEP Assistant was conducting a presentation at one of the other schools Family Reading Night program.  One of the parents came to the area the EFNEP Assistant was conducting with their youth and parents.  After the presentation was over, the mother said, “I just want you to know my daughter hasn’t looked at apples the same way since your class a few weeks ago during the Family Fitness Night at our school.  After you did the story and the other activities with the youth, especially the hands-on apple smiles with them, she has had me keep apples and cream cheese ever since.”  The mom said her daughter stated, “I am going to eat apples like this from now on”.  

According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, Kentucky is the least active state in the nation.  On any given day, less than 15% of school age children eat the recommended servings of fruit; less than 20% eat the recommended servings of vegetables. The reason the LEAP curriculum uses children’s books is because there is a natural link between nutrition, physical activity, and reading.  Any time you have a positive impact like this, it becomes a “win-win” situation.