Success Story Healthy Choices - ADULTS

According to The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings and Roadmaps website, Calloway County ranks 9^th in the state of Kentucky in health outcomes. With a population of 39,135, Calloway County has an adult obesity rate of 33%. In an effort to reach people of diverse backgrounds, the Nutrition Education Program of Calloway County had the opportunity to deliver the Healthy Choices curriculum to an underrepresented group of adults with behavioral and developmental disabilities.  The lessons taught, covered topics regarding the “My Plate”, Know the Limits of sugar and sodium, Food Safety, Meal Planning and Breakfast to name a few. The group of 19 adults, with varying degrees of learning capabilities, engaged with the preparation of simple and healthy recipes after the assistant demonstrated them, step by step. Reactions were favorable after each preparation and tasting of the recipes.  A male young adult, a male senior citizen adult, a Hispanic female adult, and a female participant from the senior citizens group, with a hearing impediment, also completed the program and expressed how delicious and simple the recipes were. A total of 23 adults showed a 91.3% positive change in one of the food groups: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein and Dairy foods, after participating in the nutrition education program.