MSU Extension Huron County

When you support MSU Extension, you help participants learn safe food handling practices, increase their physical activity and improve the quality of their diets. Extension programming also helps decrease incidents of violence and bullying. Encouraging these healthy behaviors helps reduce food and health care costs by helping prevent chronic health conditions and providing safe environments throughout a person’s life span.

In Huron County, residents were engaged in a variety of programs to enhance their health through interactive educational classes on Nutrition and Physical Activity.

Senior Market FRESH

Senior Market FRESH — Educational presentations for 272 county residents over the age of 60, in partnership with the Huron County Health Department, were held. Seniors learned the importance of fruits and vegetables in their diets as well as receiving $40 in coupons to be used to purchase fresh Michigan fruits and vegetables at local farm markets to enhance their nutrition and health.

Show Me Nutrition and Grow It, Try It, Like It

Show Me Nutrition and Grow It, Try It, Like It — 144 youth engaged in a series of classes about healthy eating, MyPlate, and being more physically active.

Cooking Matters and Eat Healthy, Be Active

Cooking Matters and Eat Healthy, Be Active — A series of nutrition classes for adults, teens and families was offered locally at various sites throughout the county. 83 participants took part in this nutrition education programming. Class participants learn not only about healthy eating but also basic cooking skills and the preparation of healthy recipes.

Eat Smart, Live Strong (ESLS)

Eat Smart, Live Strong (ESLS) — This nutrition education series for seniors was held at the Huron County Senior Center for nine senior citizens. The series combines both education about eating more fruits and vegetables with adding more daily physical activity.

Nutrition Presentations

Nutrition Presentations — Presentations on various nutrition topics were held for 109 participants. They were given healthy eating tips during the 35 - 60 minute presentations. Topics vary from fresh fruits and vegetables to picky eaters and healthy snacks.

Healthier Childcare Environments

Healthier Childcare Environments — This initiative helps childcare providers identify areas for improvement related to nutrition and physical activity policies and environmental best practices. A trained nutrition education coach from MSU Extension helps childcare providers through the process and connects them with resources to work towards best practices. Areas of focus include: active/inactive play time, fruits and vegetables, screen time use, menus and variety, physical activity policy and nutrition policy. After four to six months of assessing their environment, action planning and implementing new nutrition and physical activity best practices, the result is a healthier childcare environment for the childcare providers and the children they care for. In Huron County, five childcare sites participated in this new program impacting more than 78 children as well as their families.

Diabetes PATH Series

Diabetes PATH — is a self-management workshop aimed at empowering people to take an active role in managing diabetes. Over the course of six weeks, participants learn strategies to help them deal with difficult emotions, how to develop a healthy eating and exercise plan, goal setting and problem solving, and a variety of other tools to manage diabetes. The series is designed for adults of all ages including those with prediabetes, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, family members and caregivers. Diabetes PATH offered two series in Huron County that were attended by 18 people which is the maximum number of participants the class allows.

What they said:

Healthier Childcare Environments childcare providers:

• “I have adapted more mindful eating practices, expanded my meal patterns and planning, and nutrition is discussed during meals more often. Physical activity for children has increased, and we are participating in more group physical activity. We have turned off the TV during meal time and are enjoying conversation about our food. The children are more open to trying new foods with our family style snack time.”
• “After having a few meetings with the instructor, I started to see the changes with my daycare kids. They started to try different foods even if it was one bite. Now at the end of the program, all my daycare kids are loving the new foods!”
• “All the children are trying at least one bite of new food because of the two bite club. Parents are surprised that their children are trying new kinds of foods.” 

Diabetes PATH participants:

• At the 6th session (last class of the series) one of the participants shared that she went to her doctor to get the results of her blood work associated with her type 2 diabetes. The doctor came into the examination room and said, "Whatever you're doing, keep it up because your A1C levels are within normal range!" This participant shared that before she took this series, her doctor was encouraging her to start insulin injections because her A1C levels continued to be dangerously high. This participant attributed the self-management skills learned in the Diabetes PATHseries to her A1C levels being within normal range.
• “This class was life changing. The book is a priceless treasure. The leaders were A+. I’m grateful for this class.”