SNAP-Education - Healthy Cooking for a Healthier You!

Published: 2020
By Brenda Richey

Ginger Pitts, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Educator taught us how to stay healthy during this past year, and taught the Flathead Reservation Community how to buy, eat, and live better. Pitts taught 263 classes with an average of six classes per week over the 2020 grant year. Health and nutrition classes were provided for over 850 children and adults with 47 class series and three 'Creates' classes. Participant behavior changes from the 'Eating Smart, Being Active' series showed that: • 100% of participants demonstrated improvement in one or more diet quality indicators (i.e., eating fruits, vegetables, red and orange vegetables, dark green vegetables, drinking less regular soda (not diet), drinking less fruit punch, fruit drinks, sweet tea, or sports drinks, and cooking dinner at home). • 100% of participants showed improvement in one or more physical activity behaviors (i.e., exercising for at least 30 minutes, doing workouts to build and strengthen muscles, or making small changes to be more active). • 50% of participants showed improvement in one or more food safety practices (i.e., washing hands before preparing food, washing all items and surfaces after cutting raw meat or seafood, not thawing frozen food at room temperature, or using a meat thermometer). • 50% of participants showed improvement in one or more food security indicators (i.e., not eating less than you wanted so there was more food for your family or having enough money to get food for your family). Behavior change from the 'Youth Understanding MyPlate' series showed that: • 88% of children and youth improved diet quality via their abilities to choose foods according to Federal Dietary Recommendations or gained knowledge. • 45% of children and youth improved their Physical Activity practices or gained knowledge. • 54% of children and youth use safe food handling practices more often or gained knowledge. In addition to direct and/or virtual adult/youth classes, Policy, Systems, & Environmental work was completed in 10 locations. These planning and policy projects lead to outcomes, that when reported at the national level, collectively help shine a light on individual accomplishments of SNAP-Ed and the positive impacts the program has in Montana.