According to the Center for Disease Control, 39.7% of Kentucky adults do not consume the recommended daily intake of foods from the five food groups.  The Director of a maternity recovery center estimated the percentage of clients entering that facility to be substantially higher than the average.

She contacted The Boyd County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Assistant was contacted expressing concern over the poor dietary habits of the incoming clients. The SNAP-Ed Assistant partnered with the maternity recovery center teaching weekly classes using HEALTHY CHOICES FOR EVERY BODY curriculum, with an emphasis on the proper portion sizes and number of daily servings of each of the five food groups.  

The post survey results showed participants had  shown a 97.7% positive change in consuming any food group, 46.1% improvement in diet quality, 56.8% improvement in food resource management, and 45.5% improvement in food safety.

One participant showed a high level of interest in the classes by asking questions, reading the handouts, and preparing the recipes associated with each lesson.  Upon completion of the classes, she showed a 100% positive change in consuming any food group, 46.8% improvement in diet quality, 60% improvement in food resource management, and 50% improvement in food safety.

As time grew closer for her to leave the center, she began looking for employment.  An opening in the kitchen of a long-term senior care facility was advertised.  She applied for the position and through ZOOM was interviewed.  A few days later, the director of that facility contacted her to offer her employment.  The director stated that he was very hesitant in hiring someone right out of recovery but because of the classes she had taken and the certificate from the class, he was impressed with her efforts.