Lee County - Family and Consumer Sciences - MyPyramid Program Promotes Healthy Eating & Exercise

Pictures of chickens, flowers, wheat, a boy looking through a magnifying glass, irrigation pipe, soybean pods, and fruits and vegetables.	Cooperative Extension Service





Cooperative Extension Service	Agricultural Experiment Station
Search \| Publications \| Jobs \| Personnel Directory \| Links County Offices \| Departments

About Us
County Impact Statements - Lee County
Family and Consumer Sciences - MyPyramid Program Promotes Healthy Eating & Exercise

MyPyramid Program at Strong Middle School reached 560 students.

MyPyramid replaces the old Food Guide Pyramid and is meant to be flexible and easy to use. It is designed to help you choose diets that will meet nutrient requirements, promote health, support active lives and reduce the risks of chronic diseases. Mrs. LaVern Smith, counselor at Strong Middle School, wanted nutrition education presented to her students. Our goal was for the students to understand the colors, proportions, moderation, varieties of foods and exercise that MyPyramid teaches. Five stations were set up in the cafeteria. Students in grades 3rd, 4th and 5th toured each station and learned of the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. Poor diet and not enough physical activity are linked to diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and some cancers. Pre and post-test showed a 30 percent overall increase in knowledge. Two weeks later data was collected from a selected class and showed students had maintained their knowledge of the importance of healthy eating and exercise.

Lee County ranks in the top five counties of individuals being diagnosed with Diabetes. The Rite Bite Cooking School was conducted to provide knowledge on how food affects individuals with diabetes. The program informed participants how to prepare healthy foods. It demonstrated how food can be prepared by eliminating some, or most of the salt, sugar, and fats and the food still taste good!

The Rite Bite Cooking School was held at the Lon Mann Cotton Research Center in Lee County in cooperation with St. Francis and Phillips counties. Twenty-eight individuals participated and said they will change the way they prepared their food. Evaluations indicated the participants were positive about change. Each participant was given a recipe book where they will be able to monitor and adapt their recipes and menus to healthier eating.

Impacts

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) taught participants how to practice good nutrition.
Participants began cutting salt, sugar and fat from their diets.
EFNEP participants changed the way they prepared their foods and began using the recipes from their lessons.
Because of a change of eating habits, one participant had a 20 pound weight loss.
Another success is participants began a weekly exercise program, healthier eating and food preparation.

Lee County
Cooperative Extension Service
15 East Chestnut • Room 7
Marianna, AR 72360
Phone (870) 295-7720 • Fax (870) 295-7721

Mission • Disclaimer • EEO •
Privacy • FOI

About Us County Impact Statements - Lee County Family and Consumer Sciences - MyPyramid Program Promotes Healthy Eating & Exercise

About Us
County Impact Statements - Lee County
Family and Consumer Sciences - MyPyramid Program Promotes Healthy Eating & Exercise