Results & Notes

Once a year Agents from around the state of Louisiana conduct an Advisory Leadership Council (ALC) meeting to determine their plan of work.

The Nutrition Agents and Nutrition Educator in Jefferson Parish came together to host their ALC on October 31, 2017. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap Ed) and General Nutrition were included. Stakeholders and Community partners brain stormed as Collaborators to determine the nutrition needs of youth and families in Jefferson Parish, an urban parish adjacent to New Orleans.

During the 2017 Nutrition ALC, this question was posed to our stakeholders and community partners: What are the Health Issues facing the youth and families in Jefferson Parish?

Here are the Issues the group voiced:

1. Lack of Nutrition Literacy & physical activity among the youth.

2. Families are not eating together and the lack of knowledge of how to incorporate healthy food into their meals.

3. Food as medicine for adults resulting in chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Eleven community partners and five LSU AgCenter Nutrition educators and staff attended the meeting. .

The supporting comments included:

 Families not aware of healthy food options  Barriers to physical activity  Food scarcity/food deserts

 Sedentary youth, even though we have parks and  Too many distractions at mealtime/TV & phones sports leagues

 Where are the healthy food in fast food - AGENDA ATTACHED  Cost and value of nutritious foods vs fast food - SIGN IN SHEET ATTACHED  Young children not encouraged to eat fresh foods - SKELETON ACTIVITY SHEET ATTACHED  Seniors do not have access to food

 Too much fast food and obesity Here in Jefferson Parish, Nutrition is presented in a series  Lack of knowledge to incorporate nutrition of lessons to youth and adults alike, at schools, faith education into their daily lives based facilities, head start, senior centers, and other community locations.  Lack of health fairs and community health education