EFNEP - Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

Midlands Area Success Stories

Success Story, Linda Green

garlic Homemaker #204, enrolled in EFNEP in 2002. She came as a referral. During enrollment she expressed her concerns about eating habits of her and her family. The homemaker went through a series of lessons along with lead poisoning and a clean, safe, healthy home. She prepared recipes from the lessons. She began to cut back on frying foods as well as sweets. She stated her family enjoyed the recipes. She used fruits as a snack and dessert.

Homemaker #204, changed the use of cleaning supplies she was using. She states she no longer combines bleach with dish detergent.

She stated she wants to return to work to be able to use what she was learning. She applied at Fort Jackson in food service. Homemaker 204 is now employed there with her small child in day care. She stated she plans her meals so she can prepare dinner and have time for herself and her children.

My Success Story By Debheror Walker - Sumter County NEA 10/03

My success story is about a 20-year old single parent with two children. Client B is a very determined young lady. She started off as part of a group of young women pursuing her High School Diploma through Adult Education.

First of all, some of the other class members grew up in a rough neighborhood, as did Client B. So while I tried to introduce the EFNEP program and enroll the other class members some of the class members showed me how rowdy and disrespectful they could be. But Client B remained her quiet self. This NEA could tell I was in for a rough ride. After this class though, Client B approached me to talk. She reminded me she had enrolled in the teen parent's nutrition class at one of the high schools last year and wanted to know about her credit hours. I said I would check on them. That was the first impression Client B made on me. She was not there to play. She was there on a mission and that was to achieve her diploma.

EFNEP and Adult Education entered an agreement that I would teach nutrition education classes for the year that would allow the students to at least have 30 hours to obtain at least one half unit credit. This would be obtained, using our curriculum, using the mini goals at the bottom of each lesson for homework credit, and giving credit when they assisted with food preps or trying food preps themselves at home.

In February of the following year, Client B informed me she was enrolled at the technical college here and taking remedial courses until she completed her credit through Adult Ed. Client B wanted to be a nurse. She stated that she also found a job and got an apartment but couldn't attend the regular nutrition class at Adult Ed. She needed only my class to graduate and wanted to know if there was any other way she could get it. Client B was accomplishing her mission-through all her obstacles. I explained to her the Mail Munchies lessons. Client B eyes sparkled at the hope of still obtaining her diploma through the nutrition classes.

My first visit to enroll her in LINC and explain to her how the Mail Munchies lessons worked found her in a small but clean apartment in this rent subsidize apartment complex. Client B appeared tired and after asking her how she was, she stated not good.

Client B wasn't one to complain. She was a single mother of two trying to make it all work, but wasn't eating properly. After completing the food recall on the enrollment of LINC, NEA told Client B that in order for her to keep up and maintain all she was doing, she had to eat properly to get the nutrients her body needed to function properly. Client B said she would start to eat better-but she didn't. Because of transportation problems to get to the post office to mail the tapes back, NEA agreed to pick the old tape up and leave a new one with the lesson to each. I would notice more and more tiredness every time I came. NEA encouraged Client B to go to the doctor. Even though I suggested that she follow the info from the lessons, Client B said she didn't have much of an appetite.

It wasn't long before there was a problem at work. Due to lack of dependable transportation, Client B would sometimes arrive at work late, depending on others to pick her up. One good thing, Client B had very good family support, so they helped her to get a car.

Eventually, Client B lost her job. Because of emergency room visits for herself, she missed too many hours at work. Though still determined to get her 60 hours for a full unit credit through EFNEP and LINC, she saw it was getting down to the wire. Graduation at Adult Ed would be next week, and in order to get her diploma, she needed 5 more hours, which she couldn't complete normally, in a week. So NEA came up with the idea of her shadowing me as a volunteer and I would give her one-hour credit for every hour she volunteered. Again, I could hear the excitement in her voice at the anticipation of the possibility that her dream, to obtain her diploma, enroll in the regular nursing curriculum, and competing her LINC requirements could all come true.

Client B was there at the office, on our agreed day, bright eyed and ready to work. In addition to it being Adult Ed's graduation that week it was also EFNEP/LINC's graduation. We needed every hand we could get. Client B was invaluable. She did everything I asked her. She took a lunch break and came back, during which time she shared with me how much she learned under my teaching and life's advice. Her health was improved because of the advice and seeking medical help.

At EFNEP/LINC's graduation later, that week, Client B was honored as THE HOMEMAKER OF THE YEAR.

Client B was truly a "Diamond in the Rough". Overcoming her obstacles by using them as a stepping stone.

2003 Success Story: Is The Timing Right For You?
By Blond E. Simmons

The Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Aiken meets weekly for EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) classes. R. R. is one of the participants in this group. He stated at the beginning of the sessions that because he has Type 2 Diabetes, he was having a hard time losing the weight he needed to lose in order to get his diabetes under control. R. R. said he was dieting and often times didn't eat breakfast. Instead he would drink a soda and eat a honey bun after arriving at the Center. R.R. is 5'1" tall and weighs 252 pounds.

During two of our meetings, we discussed the importance of eating breakfast. We went through four sessions on "From the Pyramid to the Plate." We discussed the importance of timing---eating meals at the same time each day, as well as eating snacks. R. R. was not eating a healthy breakfast because he did not allow himself enough time to get dressed and eat. R. R. realized this was not healthy and that he needed to set some goals for himself.

Next, we discussed combining and planning. After helping R. R. to decide on how much time was needed for morning personal hygiene and to prepare a healthy breakfast, he learned to plan ahead. Now, he has time to eat in the mornings, and still get to the center on time. R. R. also realized there were other benefits of planning ahead. He was able to get the calories and the variety of foods needed in his daily health plan by combining his foods to get carbohydrates and proteins in every meal. He was determined to learn what foods were considered as carbohydrates, proteins, and free foods.

R. R. often shares with the other participants the ways that EFNEP has helped him. He has learned to do his meal plan weekly. He has learned how to prepare his shopping list. He even prepares his lunches ahead of time and freezes some for later use. Missing meals isn't the answer to weight control. You first need to allow yourself enough time for every meal. You should learn all you can do about the disease that affect you and how to keep them under control, so that the disease does not control you and your lifestyle.

Nutrition education has benefited R. R. He now weighs 202 pounds, and he's losing weight the healthy way by watching what he eats, when he eats, and by exercising (walking).

Yvonne McMillian, Success Story

Homemaker #98, a very beautiful person with a very pleasant attitude. She had a husband and two children, a boy and a girl. I met her through the Butterfly House, a home for pregnant Moms and Parents with low self-esteem. Homemaker #98 was one with low self-esteem and was very eager to learn about nutrition and whatever was offered to her.

I enrolled her and started working with her, she was a very good homemaker, one that you don't want to let go, she started planning meals, cut back on fat in the diet, using a grocery list, eating more fruits and vegetables and most of all her self-esteem had improved. Homemaker #98 said I was someone who believed in her and that she could make a difference in her life. When she graduated she said she was going to further her education, once she had some major surgery that needed attention. But when I checked back on her she had moved. I wish her much success wherever she is.

Success Story for Homemaker #146

Homemaker #146 enrolled in EFNEP March 20, 2003. He helps his mother prepare meals for the family. When homemaker first started this program his eating habits were bad. Homemaker would eat foods from the vending machines and go out to fast food restaurants verses bringing something from home that has been prepared nutritious. Even though he helped in preparing meals at home, they weren't prepared healthy.

After going through the Food Guide Pyramid lessons and some other lessons the homemaker saw the importance of having a balanced diet. Now his is careful to watch what he is eating. He has started eating breakfast. It has been a slow process but I can see some improvements from the first day he started the class. Homemaker says that he has more energy and his thinking ability has improved.

Homemaker is determined to improve because of his weight problem. He now comes to class with questions and concerns wherein at first he didn't take the class serious. I will continue to work with Homemaker #146 to help him reach his goal of losing the weight he needs to through the diet and exercise to improve his health. He is eager to learn and apply that what he has learned to improve the quality of life.

Respectfully Submitted,

Flora Washington
NEA, Kershaw County

Lizzie Walker, Success Story

This was a great year working with the LINC ground of ten.

Group #1: was a good group, eager to learn how to eat for better health. We focused on planning to make a difference, trimming fats from our diets and servings with show & tell, etc.

The ladies in this group are widows and they wanted to learn how to cook food with fewer leftovers. HM467 stressed how much her life has changed since attending these classes. She shops wisely, prepares less food and tries to stick to servings and keep the pyramid food guide as a reference.

Group #2: a class attended by mostly women and a few men. The ladies are busy Bee's. The guy in the class told me how his health was restored by coming and learning more about food and nutrition. He would often talk to me after class and discuss his health problems. He gives credit to the nutrition classes of show and tell.

Group #3: was a good group who focused on food shopping with less money. One HM told me she is making ends meet throughout the month now instead of three weeks because of these classes.

Group #4: this group is the "bomb", interesting and eager to learn. A lot of young adults attend these classes. We did a series of lessons. The one that stands out was from the Pyramid to the Plate, taking control of your health. This young man told me after class one day "Mrs. Walker, I'm doing what you taught me to do. I've lost 40 pounds. I look good and feel good and got a girl friend for the fist time." He is also a diabetic and has it under control. He received a big hug from me.

Group #5: this is a wonderful group full of energy. They focused on healthy eating habits when living alone. Some of them stressed that they came on the days I'm there because they are getting a lot out of the class that helps them be more healthy or takes care of the situation they find themselves in, like eating less-using the pyramid guide and drinking more water, eating more fruits and vegetables.

Group #5 is a breath of fresh air and sunshine on a cloudy day. They give feedback and tell you how much they have accomplished by attending these classes. Some are better shoppers, weight watchers by eating less, they have changed eating habits because of the food demonstrations we have done throughout the year. They have focused on more lean meats and less fats, sugars and sodium. They have learned how to store foods safely and protect themselves from food poisoning. A lady told me if she would have been in this class earlier, her husband could have lived longer. She didn't know how to feed him like the pyramid guide tells us to do. She is happy to be in class and plans to make her life much better and healthier.

Success Story, By Mary Ann Mobley
Saluda County - October, 2003

Success #1: This summer Saluda County had 96 EFNEP 4-H'ers age 5-14 involved in Pyramid Caf�. They created a caf� that served food from the five food groups. Physical Fitness was also incorporated into the lesson each day. Activities included playing Hobo Hope, basketball, jump rope and sack races. All involved enjoyed their time with 4-H.

Success #2: LINC Seniors were involved in the Benefits of Physical Activity. When I go teach, we always start or end their lessons with exercise. As a result of the lessons I taught them, some seniors exercise daily, others at least two or three days a week. They were always appreciative and graciously thanked for coming.

Success #3: "Summer Fun At 4-H" - Mary Ann Mobley, Program Assistant at Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, has been actively working with children through the Summer 4-H Day Camp Program at the former Riverside School. She organized various educational activities for the children ranging from 5-A Day Bingo to hand-on cooking demonstrations. "Ms. Mobley does great service for these children every year through the Summer 4-H Program", said Nancy Grasso, Chair of Prevention Net. "The educational activities are well planned and structured to help children learn and grow as productive citizens of Saluda County". On July 25th the Saluda County Clemson Extension Service sponsored a Muffin Baking Contest as part of the summer program. Four children competed in this cooking contest using original muffin recipes of their own choosing. They were advised to add nuts or other items for creativity. "This is a great opportunity to teach children how to follow nutritional food recipes and add their own ingredients", said David Bang, Health Educator at Saluda County Health Department. "If we can teach children the importance of nutrition through hands-on learning, it will help them develop good eating habits."