According to the CDC, empty calories contribute to 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents and most do not consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables.In a world full of hectic schedules, fast food and convenience, the challenge for families and children to eat healthy is difficult. At the request of the Knox County Family Resource Centers, the Knox County 4-H program chose to address this in our county by implementing a “Taste of the Week” program. The program uses Kentucky 4-H Core Curriculum and Nutrition  Education Program recipes in attempt to get youth to make & try at least one new food per week. According to the American Heart Association, teaching youth how to prepare their own food will give them a skill they can use for a lifetime and they will be more likely to eat healthier as adults. The goal of the program was to lay the foundation of understanding how and why it is important to eat healthy.

This year, 45 youth have participated in a series of virtual lessons highlighting healthy eating, food’s role in the body, where food comes from, and understanding the importance of physical activity. During and before each lesson, students were continuously tested on the knowledge that they had gained from previous lessons. 100 percent of participants engaged in preparing a healthy snack such as corn & bean salsa, fruit wraps, apple nachos, and more. 100 percent tried at least two bites of their new snack. 80 percent of student participants could identify at least one vitamin/mineral in each food group, such as Vitamin A in vegetables and calcium in dairy, and correctly describe its role (calcium is for strong bones). At the end of each lesson, 100 percent of students actively engaged in preparing 4 healthy snacks, learned kitchen and knife skills, and knew the importance of physical activity. Parent reports show an increase in youth involvement in food preparation at home. Plans are to continue to offer the program in 2022.