According to the 2012 Kentucky Parent Survey, about 1 in 7 parents (14%) said their child got enough fruits and vegetables on 5 or 6 days during the week. A new KIDS COUNT Data Snapshot finds that about two-thirds (64 percent) of Kentucky children are not meeting an important benchmark: reading at grade level at the start of fourth grade. In addition, Kentucky is one of only 12 states where the reading proficiency gap between students from higher- and lower-income families widened by more than 30 percent from 2003 to 2013. Because the need for healthy reinforcements is so great for our Kentucky children, the LEAP for Health program was implemented in Taylor County. The LEAP for Health curriculum is a series of lessons using storybooks to teach children about eating more fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, being physically active, and staying healthy. The curriculum targets children ages pre-school through third grade and their families. Each lesson includes reading a story, tasting new foods, a family newsletter with additional information, and a recipe with suggested activities to reinforce the lesson. The program was taught by the FCS agent and NEP assistant to Taylor County/Campbellsville preschool and school age children. Classroom teachers continue to be highly impressed with the curriculum and children’s reactions. Post lesson observations and surveys provided by the teachers concluded by the end of the 9 month program, 95% of children demonstrated proper hand washing; 100% of children sampled a variety of foods which included fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, or whole grains at least one time throughout the program year;  91% of children were physically active for 30 minutes or more; 90% of children could identify a new fruit or vegetable during the program; 85% of children would choose a healthy snack; and 100% of children left the program knowing at least one good health habit and benefit of exercise and fruit/vegetable consumption.