Faithful Families Thriving Communities (FFTC) was identified by members of the Wellness Action Group as an action, that when combined with other actions in our community, that has a reasonable chance of making a difference in fruit and vegetable consumption and overweight/obesity prevalence in our community. This is a new program in our community.

FFTC is led by program facilitators and lay leaders.  The curriculum features nine sessions addressing topics such as nutrition, meal preparation, and becoming more physically active.  The program encourages changes at the organization and community levels, such as having a policy to serve water during events.  

The priority population/customers for this educational program are members of faith communities, and the educational program aims to make a difference at the individual and organizational levels.  Implementation will take place in churches and other faith-based organizations.  

This strategy addresses health disparities by connecting individuals with free, evidence-based education in a convenient setting.  

Cook Smart, Eat Smart (CSES) was identified by members of the Wellness Action Group as an action, that when combined with other actions in our community, that has a reasonable chance of making a difference in fruit and vegetable consumption and overweight/obesity prevalence in our community. This is an ongoing program in our community.

CSES is led by a trained instructor through North Carolina Cooperative Extension.  This four-session program provides recipes demonsrations and instruction about simple cooking techniques.   

The priority population/customers for this educational program are adults and older teenagers, and the educational program aims to make a difference at the individual level. Implementation will take place in a community organization.

This strategy addresses health disparities by demonstrating that a healthy diet is accessible even when funds are limited.  

Both programs were identified by Haywood County Cooperative Extension as priorities and programs with potential.  CSES was offered successfully in the past.  

Potential data limitation- some individuals may participate in more than one program, possibly causing them to be counted more than once.  

The partners for evidence-based nutrition programs include:

• Summer programs
  • Tomato canning program 
  • Family cooking night