Extension
Program Gets a Fresh Start
by Trisha Gedon
"Fresh Start-Nutrition and You" is the name of the educational program used to recruit families into Community Nutrition Education Programs (CNEP), offered by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.
The program is designed to provide limited-resource families with hands-on information that will help them stretch their food dollars and prepare meals that are healthy and nutritious.
Through weekly educational sessions with NEAs, families are provided with research-based information concerning food budgeting, basic nutrition, meal planning, food shopping tips and information on food storage and food safety.
"Because our nutrition education programs help families make behavior changes, the name ‘Fresh Start’ can be very exciting to people and will help motivate them to make wise nutritional choices. The name gives excitement to the nutrition education programs," said Debra Greene-Garrad, CNEP Coordinator.
Stephany Parker, CNEP Nutritionist said, "the program is successful because of the weekly in-home sessions and hands-on learning opportunities. Our goal is to help people make long-term lifestyle changes that are nutritionally beneficial," she said.