“Souper” Bowl Increases Vegetable Intake

According to the Center for Disease Control, only 6.3% of Kentucky adults are consume the recommended daily intake of vegetables.   The director of a men’s drug/alcohol rehabilitation facility contacted the Boyd County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) assistant expressing concern regarding poor dietary habits of incoming patients when being admitted into rehabilitation.   He also expressed concern that the clients wanted recipes that are fast and easy to prepare. The SNAP-Ed assistant partnered with the rehabilitation facility and taught weekly classes with the men in the recovery program using the Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum. During the week of the National Football Championship game, the “My Plate” lesson was emphasized with an additional focus on quick and easy to prepare recipes including economical-friendly soups. The facility’s residents were divided into teams and given soup recipes to prepare on the day of the game.  In addition to the “souper bowl” events, the gentlemen were given NEP mini footballs to increase the amount of physical activity.  A football game was played and then the “souper bowl” dinner was eaten.   The clients remarked that they did not realize how easy soups were to prepare and how much they enjoyed tasting all the recipes.  The winning recipe of Slow Cooker Santa Fe Chicken Soup will be incorporated into the center’s meal plan rotation.  The clients  were asked if they would prepare the soups again or after they left the facility.   Over 90% responded that they enjoyed the “souper bowl” and would definitely take the recipes with them to prepare after departing.