About Us
County Impact Statements - Craighead County
Teaching Children To Eat Healthy
Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program
In Craighead County we have 8 elementary school where 50% or more of the
students are on free or reduce lunch. Obesity levels of children are at the
highest levels in eastern Arkansas. These two factors alone can contribute to
the declining health of our community. Hunger is associated with greater
incidences of infection, increased school absences, behavior and psychological
functioning problems.
In Craighead County we are working to empower children to take charge of
their health.. "In our families, in our communities, and in our nation–we must
move from a corrective to a preventative approach if we want to make a
difference in chronic illnesses."
The Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP) provides basic nutrition
education programs in local schools. It is the goal to help children recognize
what healthy eating consist of so they can inturn teach their parents. Each
school that participates will receive 5 lessons of instruction per classroom.
The lessons provide hands on activities and are very visual. This program
focuses on the essential levels of the Food Guide Pyramid.
Eating a healthy diet helps children grow, develop, and do well in school.
Developing healthy eating habits in your children can help prevent health
problems such as obesity, eating disorders, dental caries, and iron deficiency
anemia.
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Healthy eating plays an important role in the education of our children.
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Impacts
- 2 schools participated in the FSNEP during FY03
- 5 schools are participating in FSNEP during FY04
- 517 students participated in FY03
- 2,000 students will be reached during FY04
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