Success StoryTeaching Health & Nutrition to the Next Generation through Storytelling



Teaching Health & Nutrition to the Next Generation through Storytelling

Author: Rachael Price

Planning Unit: Grant County CES

Major Program: LEAP

Plan of Work: Becoming Fit Physically

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 13.2 percent of Kentucky youth eat fruits and vegetables five or more times a day. The national average is 21.4 percent.  In order to combat this the Grant County Extension Office planned to teach monthly lessons to 250 Head Start and preschool children for the 2019-2020 School Year.  

The Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Preschool (LEAP) program was developed specifically to target preschool age children to teach them the importance of nutrition, physical activity, and other health related topics through story telling.  Lessons included topics such as dental hygiene, trying new nutritious foods, and focusing on the importance of being physically active.  

During each lesson, the preschoolers were read a story about that month’s topic and then participated in an activity. The accompanying lessons often featured a tasting of an uncommon healthy food or physical activity related to the story. Throughout the course of the year, students tried turnips, kiwi, and carrots.  Once completing the program over 95% of the students tasted the healthy snacks and 100% learned the importance of hand washing and oral hygiene.

To encourage continued education, students also went home with parent newsletters that featured nutrition information and recipes with new foods for the students to try at home with their families.  By sharing newsletters such as these it helps encourage not only the students to maintain healthy habits, it also shows the importance of health to parents!






Stories by Rachael Price


Teaching nutrition and healthy habits through storytelling

about 6 years ago by Rachael Price

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 13.2 percent of Kentucky youth eat... Read More


Aging Gracefully

about 6 years ago by Rachael Price

Grant County Family and Consumer Sciences program presented Keys to Embracing Agingto thirteen parti... Read More


Stories by Grant County CES


Weight the Reality Series

Weight the Reality Series

about 6 years ago by Lorie Dunn

Grant County KY has an Adult obesity rate of 35.6% and a physical activity rate of 30.2%. The Gr... Read More


Journey to Self-Sustainability

Journey to Self-Sustainability

about 6 years ago by Lorie Dunn

Grant County averaged 2408 families receiving SNAP Benefits of $304 per month. The Grant County Supp... Read More