The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Assistant from Fayette County has been working for many years with the women from the HOPE Center, a residential drug rehabilitation center in Lexington Kentucky. Proper nutrition is key to the substance abuse healing process. It can help restore physical and mental health and improve the chance of recovery, furthermore, nutrient deficiencies can lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low energy, all of which can trigger a relapse. Working in 7-11 week sessions using the Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum participants learned how to shop for and prepare balanced meals a well as learning food safety procedures and the importance of physical activity. Participants were evaluated before and after the class to measure their growth in these targeted areas. 

At the end of the Fall 2019 session 94% of participants had improved in overall diet quality, amount of physical activity and their food safety practices. In addition 76% of program participants reported making small changes to be more active. This statistic more than others is indicative of the overall shift in behavior and mindset that will enable these students to enter their new lives with healthier habits.