The most recent KY by the Numbers report states, Greenup County is one of many counties in Kentucky dealing with a high precedence of chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes. Research has shown there is a natural link between nutrition and making behavior changes that lead to healthier lifestyle choices. The Greenup County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent along with the Greenup County Public Library System collaborated to hold a workshop once a month to provide education to the community at each of the three branch library locations in Greenup County.

This partnership was that helped introduce community members to the Extension Service in different pockets of our community.  The program being held at all three branch library locations gave us the ability to reach a much broader audience.  In Greenup County there is no public transit system for transportation, which often makes it difficult for community members to attend programing.  This was an opportunity for the Family and Consumer Sciences program area to take the program out into our community.  

Each month between 60-70 participants attended a session at one of the three library locations. “Cooking through the Calendar”, a series that meets on the first Tuesday at the Flatwoods Branch, fourth Tuesday at the Greenup Branch and the fourth Wednesday at the McKell Branch  of every month. The series is focused on skill building related to cooking, nutrition, and budgeting along with giving participants resources to learn avenues for making healthy lifestyle choices. The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent utilized the Weight the Reality Series Curriculum, Where does your Money Go? Curriculum and the 2019 Food & Nutrition Calendar. The focus is for participants to gain knowledge and skills related to portion control, meal planning/budgeting, having a balanced diet, and skills required to prepare meals safely at home. 

The participants work in small groups with instruction by the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent on how to prepare the recipe for the month. Each month we cover a new skill related to kitchen safety from knife skills to proper food handling. After the meal is prepared the participants sample their product and the Family & Consumer Sciences Agent leads a lesson from the curriculum. 95% of participants have reported an increase of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. 90% of participants have reported using meal planning and budgeting strategies from the course to help maintain a balanced budget in their home.

The recipes were overall a huge success.  Many participants had never tried some of the food items or never experienced them prepared in the proper manner.  Overall the most successful recipe was Not your Momma’s Brussel Sprouts.  One participant stated “My Christmas meal is going to be made up of items you have taught me to cook over the year! We are have the Country Morning Casserole for breakfast and the Autumn Apple Pork with Not your Momma’s Brussel Sprouts for our dinner.”