KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior

The agent offered programs on food safety to NMSU Early Childhood Education students, for the NM Enviromental Safety Coalition, for the Dona Ana County Health and Human Service Community Resource Centers and at Kids & Kows and More. The agent reached 1,152 individuals.

DIABETIES EDUCATION

The agent offered three Kitchen Creations diabetes cooking schools in Las Cruces during PY 2009-2010. Kitchen Creations teaches healthy food choices and meal planning for people with diabetes. Participants are provided with hands-on opportunities to learn cooking techniques that use new or more healthful ingredients, healthy versions of familiar recipes, which are economical and easy to prepare are presented and new foods are introduced. Behavior changes are encouraged through the preparation of tasty healthy foods.

This program is the most popular program offered by the agent and always has a waiting list. Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE’s) from the NM Department of Health and La Clinica de Familia have noted to the agent that they can tell when their clients have attended Kitchen Creations because they have a better grasp of diabetes management strategies.

The agent is also part of the Doña Ana Diabetes Action Coalition. This multi-agency coalition is responsible for supporting diabetes prevention and management events. For example Diabetes Wellness Day was held in November 2009. This is an annual educational conference open to the public, which provides a “one-stop shop” for diabetes management information. There were 180 people in attendance.

The coalition also partnered with the City of Las Cruces to host monthly physical activity events called Ciclovías. This monthly event provides the community with opportunities for fun physical activity as a way to address the issue of obesity and diabetes. The success of this event has encouraged other counties to plan and implement their own Ciclovía events. Between 200 and 400 people attend this event each month.

The agent also offered diabetes information at a Tresco Employee Benefits fair. About 100 employees attended.

The agent offered general nutrition information as part of workshops to elementary, middle school and university students, parents, seniors, department of health clients and colonias residents. The agent also offered nutrition information as part of community events such as health fairs, the City National Night Out and the Hatch Chile Festival.

A particularly impactful part of this nutrition education is a display that shows how much sugar and fat is in common snack foods (i.e. candy bars, chips and soda.

The agent taught 374 participants general nutrition topics such as portion distortion, label reading, how to incorporate math using nutrition, hidden sugars and fats and healthy holiday cooking.

The agent also reached 675 people through health fairs and community events.

funding through a Joint Powers agreement with the Regents of New Mexico State University, Cibola County Cooperative Extension ICAN classes in the community occures year round. Current numbers show the need in Cibola County numbers taken from (KIds County 2010).
Data Provided by: National KIDS COUNT Program or New Mexico Voices for Children
Population - Total by County (Number)

2006 2007 2008
N/A 27,621 27,285
Population - Youth Ages 0-19 by Gender (Number)

Gender 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Male 4,034 4,390
Female 3,931 3,723

Indicators by Race and Ethnicity
Child Population by Race and Hispanic Origin (Percent)

Race 2007 2008
Hispanic 33.1% 33.3%
Non-Hispanic Asian 0.4% 0.3%
Non-Hispanic Black or African-American 0.9% 1.0%
Non-Hispanic Native American 47.9% 48.3%
Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 0.0% 0.0%
Non-Hispanic White 16.4% 15.0%
Non-Hispanic Multi-Racial 1.5% 2.0%
Population by Race and Ethnicity (Percent)

Race 2008
Hispanic 33.6%
Non-Hispanic Asian 0.4%
Non-Hispanic Black or African-American 1.4%
Non-Hispanic Native American 40.0%
Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 0.0%
Non-Hispanic White 23.3%
Non-Hispanic Multi-Racial 1.2%


10-Aug
6,908.0
Food Insecurity: SNAP Recipient Rate (Rate)

10-Aug
25.6%
Poverty
Population in Poverty (Percent)

2006 2007 2008
25.4% 24.5% 24.2%
Children (under age 18) in Poverty (Percent)

2006 2007 2008
30.8% 31.4% 32.3%

2010 General Nutrition
Strong Women, Strong Bones, a program to help prevent osteoporosis was offered at Senior Circle and Roswell Adult Center. This agent conducted classes on Monday/Friday for Senior Circle and Tuesday/Thursday for Roswell Adult Center. Jill Dennis from Comfort Keepers Community Relations Director helped lead the classes at Senior Circle. The twelve week Strong Women Strong Bones classes concluded in December 2009. The agent worked with Senior Circle and Roswell Adult Center Sites to plan for the next twelve week session. Fliers were distributed to participants about upcoming session. Two Strong Women Strong Bones Informational meetings were held one at Senior Circle and the other at Roswell Adult Center. At this meeting, participants learned about osteoporosis and how weight bearing exercises can help prevent this disease. They also learned about the other advantages of weight bearing exercises and requirements of the class. Classes began the following week. A total of four (4) twelve week programs were conducted at Senior Circle and three (3) twelve week programs at Roswell Adult Center from October 2009 through September 2010 with one hundred nineteen (119) classes were held with 2,104 contacts. One participant shared her story about being able to lift her carry-on luggage into the overhead bin by herself where as a year ago she could not do this. Another participant shared that she went back to the doctor after being diagnosed with osteopenia and new test results showed she was no longer in this range and her bone density had improved.

The agent had the opportunity to meet Dr. Couture, President of NMSU while Dr. Couture was conducting a campus visit at Carlsbad. The agent presented a power point slide presentation on the Strong Women Strong Bones program in Chaves County. Agents from Eddy and Lea also presented programs on Progressive Ag Safety Day, Kitchen Creations- Diabetic Cooking School and the methamphetamine coalition.

“Building Strong Bones for Life: Preventing Osteoporosis” was the program presented by this agent to the Extension Clubs in form of a Leader’s Training, New Mexico Senior Olympics Senior Trek, and Misslamo Extension Club. This program focuses on the importance of bone health, risk factors of osteoporosis, five simple prevention steps, and weight bearing exercises. Participants gained knowledge in the area of osteoporosis prevention and several commented on what they would do to stop this silent disease. One participant thought the information provided was valuable that she asked the agent to present this program at two senior sites next year.

The home economist served on the Enhanced Fitness Program committee sponsored by NM Senior Olympics of Chaves County. Enhanced Fitness is an exercise program for senior adults that helps with balance, flexibility, strength, and cardio. One class had been started at the Joy Center in Roswell and another will soon be underway. The agent was also trained in this program so she could serve as a substitute instructor along with helping others in forming new classes.


“Brain Blitz”- Keeping Your Brain Functioning at its Best was the program presented by this agent to the Extension Clubs in form of a Leader’s Training. Participants gained knowledge in identifying potential causes of mental confusion and forgetfulness. They also discovered and practiced techniques to stimulate mental functioning, utilized memory tools and techniques to trigger memory and were able to recognize typical age-related and more serious mental functioning changes. One participant thought the information provided was very valuable that she asked the agent to present this program at two senior sites next year. Over 100 participants received this information along with 250 booklets distributed to members and general public. This program was also presented to members that belong to the fitness program “Curves.”

Two of the four Kitchen Creations-Diabetic Cooking School classes were held the month of February and the last two were held the month of March with twenty three (23) diabetics and/or support persons in attendance. The agent was responsible for advertising the diabetic cooking school, acquiring a Certified Diabetes Educator, mail outs to participants, ordering materials, and food preparation. During the first week, participants learned about glucose levels, carbohydrates, labels, 50/50 plate, meal planning and portion control. The second week, participants learned to recognize that carbohydrates raise blood glucose, to use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid, to identify serving size, number of servings and grams of carbohydrates on food labels, cooking properties of sugars and artificial sweeteners. At the third class participants learned the importance and benefits of increasing consumption of foods in the vegetables group. During the fourth class participants gained knowledge in Heart Healthy Foods and how to cook foods that are low in fat and sodium and high in fiber. The agent along with the Certified Diabetes Educator teaches the lessons and cooking.


“Portion Control” was the program presented to employees of Comfort Keepers. Comfort Keepers is an agency in Roswell that provides quality in home care to seniors and other clients who need help with the activities of daily living. Employees are often responsible for meal planning, preparation and serving food to their clients. Ninety three (93) employees gained knowledge in the area of portion control, 50/50 plate, serving sizes and food guide pyramid.


The agent presented a nutrition Program on “Life’s Simple 7 Steps to a Healthy Heart” at Villa Del Rey Retirement Home. Twenty Five (25) residents were in attendance and learned the importance of getting active, eating better, losing or maintain weight, stopping smoking, controlling cholesterol, managing blood pressure and reducing blood sugar.

The Home Economist along with a 4-H parent/volunteer team taught nutrition lessons on how to fight bacteria and keep food safe at the Progressive Ag Safety Day Camp in April. A puppet show and food safety train model was used as teaching tools to reinforce the teaching concepts. “Who Wants To Be A Germ Buster?” was the title of the presentation. Approximately 2000 elementary school students along with their teachers and chaperones gained knowledge in the importance of hand washing, refrigerating foods, washing fruits and vegetables and keeping counters clean. Evaluations reflected that the program was very well received and enjoyed by the students. Roswell Contacts: 1132 Youth 933 Adults 199 White 420 Hispanic 712 Females 567 Males 565 . Artesia and Carlsbad Contacts: 850


“Eating For Your Eyes” was the topic for May’s Leaders Training. The agent presented the eye health program to Extension Club members. Participants gained knowledge in eye diseases, risk factors involved with eye diseases, nutrition for your eyes, what to eat for eye health and healthy recipes. The agent provided each participant with a Vision Simulator Card, which enabled the participants to experience what it is like to see with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. One member commented that she had heard of the eye diseases but had no idea that is how the person is affected when they have the disease. Over 100 participants received this information along with 250 booklets distributed to members and general public.