Building relationships throughout your lifetime is important. It is important to create sustainable relationships and collaborate with community organizations throughout the community. One of the ways Kentucky State University collaborates is through EFNEP. Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program (KSUCEP) provides low-income families and youth in Kentucky with hands-on nutrition education to combat food insecurity and nutrition-related health challenges. Through the federally funded grant Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), nutrition Extension Assistant, Jhamicah Harbut helps in this effort by conducting nutrition education classes in Fayette County.

As part of the efforts being made by KSUCEP, Ms. Harbut continues to collaborate with the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority youth auxiliary group (ZPB-Y) and a nonprofit organization called Community Inspired Solutions (CIS) to conduct a virtual learning series that addressed key concepts about nutrition, like food preparation and cooking, food safety, and physical activity. Participants attended Zoom classes once a month from August 2020 to May 2021. In class Ms. Harbut continues to help students step by step through food demonstrations while they prepared the healthy recipes online at home with their siblings or parents. Feedback from participants most of the students in the have liked the recipes for three of the healthy recipes they prepared the broccoli salad recipe, the breakfast pizza recipe and the fruit smoothie recipe. Students gave lots of feedback when asked if they like the recipes. When asked for feedback in the broccoli salad recipe one of the students said “I’m not a fan of raisins but it was actually pretty good.” Another student said “I learned how to try something new.”  Students also gave feedback on the breakfast pizza recipe. One of the students said “love it.” Lastly, students gave feedback on the fruit smoothie recipe. Some of the students comments were “its good” and another comment was “lovvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeee itttttttttttt.”

Each class we have had a varied amount of students. We have had 24 total students participate so far and we are open to more joining this awesome virtual learning experience. During lesson 6 Teen Cuisine curriculum lesson students were able to learn how to sort the fat facts, tips for handling raw meats, tips for healthy eating out, how to limit added sugar, increase whole grains daily, keep foods out of danger zone to prevent bacterial growth, prepare whole grain foods, set goals for life-long fitness, analyze snack foods for added sugar, salt and fat, identify safe practices to prevent food borne illness, prepare snacks that are easy to make and nutritious and lastly consider ways for reaching and maintaining healthy weight.  The students are engaging in the lessons and having fun while learning and preparing new recipes. Although, the Teen Cuisine has six lessons students will continue to prepare a healthy food recipe in the virtual learning experience.