Eating more fruits and vegetables is a critical behavior for health promotion and disease prevention. Despite the importance of eating more produce, it is also one of the most difficult eating behaviors to change. It has been reported that cooking more meals at home is related to increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

A social marketing program to promote healthier, home-cooked family meals, Cook Together, Eat Together, was offered at the Lyon County Cooperative Extension Office with 28 total participants where 11 completed pre-evaluations and 14 completed the post-evaluation. The program was offered once a week virtually for eight weeks.   Participants were also able to engage in the Cook Together Eat Together-Lyon County Facebook group where they posted pictures of recipes they tried at home with their families as well as encouraged each other to increase fruit and vegetable intake by trying new recipes.

As a result of the program, 20 % of participants reported eating more healthy foods such as whole fruits and/or brightly colored vegetables, while 38% prepared more healthy home cooked meals. In addition, 16% adopted one or more practices to reduce food shopping costs associated with home-cooked meals such as comparing prices, planning meals, and making shopping lists.

Over the long term, these cooking and eating behavior changes may lead to sustainable changes in cooking and eating norms in a community. As demonstrated by Cook Together, Eat Together, social marketing is a powerful tool to promote changes for the public good.