Juggling parenting, work, and school can be challenging. In addition to those challenge, ten students at the Center for Employment Training gave up their lunch break once a week to invest in themselves. By participating in a nutrition series led by the Campbell County nutrition education assistant, they enjoyed a multi-faceted approach to learning. 

Participants were able to sample a healthy recipe each week to demonstrate that nutritious food can be delicious and easy. Recipes were chosen and shared using affordable ingredients that could be purchased with SNAP benefits or obtained through food pantries or the USDA commodities program. The recipes were child-friendly and incorporated whole grains and vegetables. Many were reluctant to try new foods, stating that their children were choosy eaters and it was easier and less wasteful to provide fast food or prepackaged meals to their families. Once they sampled the healthy recipes, they agreed that these were dishes that they could easily replicate at home. Through sampling they were able to taste how delicious healthy cooking could be, which gave them the confidence to make these new dishes for their families at home.

Using the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum, participants learned their own nutritional needs as well as those of their children. They learned the health risk of some of their food choices as well as the long-term effects that eating a diet high in fat, sugar and sodium could lead to. 

According to data obtained using beginning and ending results from a national reporting system, six out of ten came to the realization that by increasing physical activity and making small changes to be more active, they had more energy and were able to meet the challenges of their demanding schedules. Three of the participants stopped relying on sugary drinks and caffeine for energy.

The series resulted in a 67% increase in food management skills. By comparing prices, planning meals, using ingredients on hand and making lists, they were able to save time and money which are both valuable commodities to these hard working parents.