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4-H Agents, Leaders and Volunteers Budgeting Discretionary Dollars
| Name | Marlyne Walker | | Situation | South Carolina ranks 47th among the 50 states in child well being (1= best; 50 = worst) according to the 2006 National Kids Count Databook. Children are at highest risk for foodborne illness, high incidence of weight related problems, dental cavities and vitamin/mineral deficiencies. There is a pressing need for children to achieve eating and physical activity patterns that will enable them to attain healthful weights and prevent long term health problems, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and osteoporosis. One of the state 4-H goals is to establish 4-H Healthy Lifestyle Club in all counties in South
Carolina. The Nutrition team - childcare and youth workgroup planned and developed a statewide training for 4-H agents, leaders, and volunteers with limited nutrition knowledge. One of the major tasks was to demonstrate how to use MyPyramid as a learning tool to promote healthy lifestyle habits without using a computer. | | Response | The agent served as leader of the childcare and youth workgroup and shared MyPyramid or nutrition activities that have been successful in other settings such as MyPyramid Bracelet. The group brainstormed ideas to develop hands-on activities to present discretionary calories concept. It was suggested for the agent to adapt a nutrition learning activity - Ice Cream Social Using Fat Dollars - and develop a plan similar for
discretionary calories. The agent created and designed a learning activity for participants to Budget Your Discretionary Calories using
discretionary dollars. The agent constructed a menu with a list of food items and the amount for each food item, calories listed for each food item and discretionary calories for each food item. Each participant received a Discretionary Budget of $150.00 discretionary dollars. Another agent/team member designed the discretionary dollars. In addition, each food item was labeled with the name of the food item, calories listed and discretionary calories. The person may select any item listed on menu as long as it does not go over the budgeted amount. Note: nutrient-dense
foods are low in discretionary calories. Foods that are high calories
dense foods - are high in discretionary calories. | | Impact | 64 adult leaders attended the training impacting over 700 youths. The participants reported on an evaluation sheet one thing new thing I learned and saw demonstrated today that I will try:
• 70% of participants reported learning about discretionary calories or will try Budgeting Your Discretionary Dollars with 4-H participants and/or offer different, healthier snack choices at meetings or events.
• 100% of the participants that returned evaluation forms reported how this training will help theif programs. Here are some of the comments listed: “I can show the groups fun ways to learn about nutrition” ; “…has given me insight in creative ways to teach about food and nutrition” and “To motivate young people to a better lifestyle.” |
Last update8/15/2007
This website is maintained by Bryan Smith.
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