Obesity and health are a top concern for the state of Kentucky. In Fayette County, through the federally funded Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), the EFNEP program has been a factor in helping families to change food pattern behaviors to low-income families. The Kentucky State University, Cooperative Extension Program, SKY Families program offers parent education groups to reduce child abuse and neglect. EFNEP has collaborated with the SKY Families group to offer nutrition education to families to help change food pattern behaviors.

The SKY Families parent group is a free six-week parent education group and the Fayette County EFNEP assistant teaches seven lessons to participants. Using the approved EFNEP curriculum, the parents learn about the benefits of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, salt alternatives, calcium and vitamin D, and sugar alternatives. The goal of this program is to promote better eating habits.

In one of the SKY Families groups from January to February 2020 one participant opened up about her experience in the EFNEP program. She shared how she now reads the back of the food labels. Through reading on the back of the food labels, she is able to know what ingredients are in the foods she consumes. The goal of the class is to encourage adults to know the nutrition of the basic five food groups and make healthy choices for themselves and their children.