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.”

Franklin County extension began a collaboration with the Elkhorn Middle School and Bondurant Middle nutrition program and cafeteria during the spring/fall of 2019. At both schools,  50 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced 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 healthy foods is another matter. The County Extension Agent for FCS provided the school cafeteria with marketing items designed to increase the 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 the collaboration of the Franklin in County Extension and the school nutrition program. This was the first opportunity to work with our schools food service directors. I have a better understanding of the school system nutrition program.