According to the 2018 Annual SNAP-Ed Report for Kentucky, at least one out of 3 Kentucky children are overweight or obese. Nearly half of Kentucky children consume fruits less than once daily, well below the 1½ to 2 cups daily recommended by USDA MyPlate. Children who consume low amounts of fruits and vegetables are at greater risk for many nutrition related health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, ”eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables daily can help reduce the risk of many leading causes of illness and death, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity.”

Fleming County extension began a collaboration with the Simons Middle School nutrition program and cafeteria during the spring of 2019. At SMS all students receive free school meals. Working with the school cafeteria offers an opportunity for Policy, Systems and Environment changes that directly impact students. While the National School Lunch program already has regulations in place to ensure that schools are serving nutritious foods, getting students to select and consume the healthy foods is another matter. The County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences provided the school cafeteria with marketing items designed to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables by middle school students. The banners, aprons, and other signage were used in the cafeteria for a 6 week period.

Although the quantitative analysis was inconclusive in determining if students consumed more fruits and vegetables as a result of the marketing intervention, there have been positive qualitative changes in collaboration of Fleming County Extension and the school nutrition program. During this program, the school nutrition staff requested ideas for nutritious recipes to prepare for the students for taste testing opportunities.   The FCS agent set up three taste testing sessions during the lunch periods to share nutrition information with the students and to encourage them to taste new fruits.   One session involved using the smoothie bike for eh students to make their own strawberry smoothie.   This had excellent participation among the students and staff. Because of this partnership the School district acknowledges the Cooperative Extension Service as a necessary partner. They welcome the Extension Service to set up displays and activities anytime during the year.