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Healthy Choices Inspired by Take Control!

At the end of the Take Control program, several of the participants sent the nutrition educator “thank you” notes stating how they were inspired to eat healthier foods and be physically active.

Many students mentioned they enjoyed the foods they tasted and having the recipes makes it possible for them to make at home for their families. One participant, stated she already eats healthy foods most of the time; however, she indicated that the nutritional information she learned on added sugars, sodium intake, and on the difference about fats, has educated her on making even better food choices.

Each “thank you” note had its own story to share providing feedback on the success of the Steps to Health SNAP-Ed Program offered in partnership with NC State Extension throughout North Carolina.

"My #1 goal is to drink more water and eat right to live longer for my kids."

Participant

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It’s wonderful to hear from teachers sharing the impact Steps to Health is making in student’s lives.

One teacher made an added effort to share several stories... she wrote: “Logan never tries new foods but he tried and liked mango and grapes.”

“One other child had to leave early and was sad she was not able to try the taste test, the next day the parent asked what was the food provided and made it for the child at home,” she mentioned.

And yet another story she shared: “after the students taste tested the veggies (which included sweet peppers) the next day a student packed red sweet peppers in her lunchbox.”

Another teacher said that several of her students were bringing in their water bottles (provided by Steps to Health) filled with water infused with fruit. How awesome is all this!?

These are just a handful of stories from a few teachers, but, just imagine how many more untold stories are out there where Steps to Health is making a difference one child at a time.

Partnership emerges to help people in Wayne County

According to Feeding America, 7,230 children are food insecure and the overall rate of food insecurity is 16.6%. This year with COVID-19 more families and many senior citizens are struggling with putting food on the table. In Wayne County, 16.9% is 65 years old or over and many of them do not qualify to receive government assistance.

The Three in One Family Center non-profit organization reached out to Wayne County Cooperative Extension and the Wayne Community College to request the use of the parking lot to start a USDA Farmers Feeding Families Food box program food distribution site. A partnership was forged that provides food, educational materials, and resource connections to the recipients. Cooperative Extension advertises the distribution in English and Spanish. They also provide signage, educational resources, assistance with logistics, and connect this activity with other agencies and organizations in the community. Each Monday, participants receive a box of produce and educational Harvest of the Month materials from Steps to Health, North Carolina State University’s SNAP-Ed program, food safety information from Safe Plates and hurricane preparedness literature from North Carolina State Extension.

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During the month of June, 225,100 pounds of produce were distributed, and more than 7,500 families were served with this project. According to participants, they are using their vegetables and fruits to prepare juices, smoothies, salads, and roasted vegetables. Many participants are learning about Cooperative Extension and the nutrition education and food safety resources that are available. The participants are using the handouts to learn new ways to prepare and preserve their produce and a few recipients became volunteers to support this community project! The success of this activity created an opportunity to connect people and resources to open a Summer Meals Program in a limited resources area where the majority of the population is Latino.

For more information about Cooperative Extension, click on your county on the map on our homepage!

Thanks to Michelle Estrada, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent, Wayne County Center for providing this story.

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Color Me Healthy was held at a local childcare center, the preschoolers were introduced to different colors of fruits, which also included a taste test.

They created their own fruit kabobs, which featured fruits that many had never tried before such as blueberries and raspberries. After this session, the teachers used activity time to create a fruit basket for the children to draw on their own. The children were encouraged to draw with different colors and use various materials to create their own fruit bowl. With the support of the teachers, the children are able to use art to explore different colors of fruits. As a result, positive health behaviors are encouraged and celebrated.

By participating in Steps to Health, youth are exposed to healthier snack options and learned the importance of physical activity. As a result, the youth were very successful in planning their Valentine’s Day party as they incorporated healthy food options they learned in the program. These foods included fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grain cereal mix. Additionally, this proved to be a great way to engage their parents and apply what they learned through the program.