Americans are inundated with food choices.  We can choose to eat or drink based on availability, nutritional value, cost, taste, cultural traditions, etc. We can choose to eat at home or dine out at restaurants. We can purchase pre-packed meals or enroll in a meal-kit delivery system. With all of these opportunities, we need to know to "master" our food choices.    Unfortunately, some of our choices have contributed to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The Franklin Co. Extension Service offered a five-week series Mastering Food Choices via Zoom to understand the impact that unhealthy vs. unhealthy food choices have on our health and how knowledge can help improve their lives.  Participants gained general knowledge about which foods to limit, read food labels, and locate nutritional information. They also had an opportunity to review a favorite recipe to make it healthier by using reducing sugar, fat, and sodium.

 As a result of the series,100% of the participants were able to identify food components that should be limited in the diet; 100% indicated that the series provided them with the information needed to make healthy food choices; are able to use nutrition facts labels and ingredient lists to compare food items. However, knowledge alone does not change behavior. Consequently, only 40% of the participants indicated that they would read nutrition labels to make food choices, 24% will use online nutrition resources for family recipes, and 36% will check nutrition information before dining out. Although, there is success in knowledge, a follow-up survey is needed to determine if actual behavior change has occurred.  An interesting comment from a participant: "Very informative revisiting this information. Sometimes you get comfortable and forget that you h always have to check labels of what you are going to put in your mouth."