Success Stories

What could you learn?

Discover what changes other participants have made:

"I have more buying power."

"As a family, we're working on daily physical activity."

At this first visit, we discussed portion sizes and eating three meals a day.

"It's nice to see my kids eating healthy."

"It's the little things that helped me."

After 6 months of healthier eating and regular exercise, she was able to lose about 25 pounds.


"I have more buying power.":

Before I took the course I was haphazard in what my family consumed, that is I tried to encourage good food but was not always successful. Now I plan accordingly; protein, produce and fun foods. Fun foods can be cut up fruit and vegetables, not sweets. I learned a very important trick from the course and that is to leave fruits and vegetables out in the open where they are visible. It works!

I have always been receptive to nutrition information but when it is combined with a food stamp program it is even better because the food stamps allow you to experiment with more nutritional items that the course promotes. Like buying more protein like cottage cheese, more deep colored vegetables like beets, more whole wheat items like brown rice. Ordinarily I skimp on buying food because I am very low income. However, with the food stamps and the course I have more buying power! ~Participant from Belknap County

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"As a family, we're working on daily physical activity.":

"I enjoyed all the info this course brought into my life. I began a workout program for myself 5 months ago and have lost 20 pounds! As a family, we're working on daily physical activity. I now make a weekly menu for suppers and have started buying all the groceries at once for one week of meals. I now put healthy snacks in visible view for the kids, and they're finding it easier to make healthy choices." ~Participant from Carroll County

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At this first visit, we discussed portion sized and eating three meals a day.:

Peter wanted to learn to cook. This first visit was very difficult for him as he does not like strangers. I sat down with him in his apartment and got to know him. He said he was eating one family size container of chicken and one entire package of frozen vegetables, one time a day. That was his only meal because he was afraid to eat any other foods.

At this first visit, we discussed portion sizes and eating three meals a day. Peter struggled with the concept of portion sizes so I had to be creative to show him how to translate the food labels. We chose a tuna can and I tore paper in half and showed him the two halves, then I related it to the tuna can label which said "2 servings." We did the same with other canned products in his kitchen.

At his next visit we went over the nutritionists report and made a list of foods which he could try to add into his diet, gradually. Since the first visit, he is eating three regular meals a day and they are much smaller, closer to actual serving sizes now. We went through the Quick and Easy Meals for Less Cookbook and changed a few recipes adding vegetables that he can eat.

At another visit he shared his cholesterol levels and blood pressure had gone down so significantly that his doctor had to lower his medication. He had also lost 11 pounds and is now eating 4 smaller meals each day.

Peter has also started utilizing a local food pantry. The woman in charge sets aside a box of extra foods that he can have and makes sure that he has plenty each month. Peter has added chicken soup, salmon patties, and baked fish to his cooking abilities and is learning more at each visit. Peter has made incredible strides in five months and is excited to try new recipes and expand his variety of foods. ~Staff comments from Merrimack County

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"It's nice to see my kids eating healthy.":

"I was so impressed with the fact that this program focused on nutrition and healthy eating. My kids came home every week and made the meal you had prepared at school. It was so nice to see them cooking, eating healthy, and learning to be adults." ~Mother of participant from Rockingham County

"I's the little things that helped me.":

"I lost 13 pounds since January by walking, usually every day, and making some eating changes like switching to whole grains. I even eat brown rice! It's the little things and all the great information you had that helped me." ~Participant from Rockingham County

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After 6 months of healthier eating and regular exercise, she was able to lose about 25 pounds.:

Jane is a single mom in her mid 30's with four children and was referred to Nutrition Connections by a local health clinic due to obesity and associated rick factors such as high cholesterol. We looked over the foods in her house and found many high priced convenience foods which were high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium. Her physical activity level was also low, and she had gained considerable weight over the past year.

In response to the Nutrition Connections home visits, Jane began controlling portion sizes and incorporating more whole grain foods, fruits, vegetables, and beans for the entire family, as well as increasing her low-fat milk and yogurt intake. She was pleasantly surprised to see that these foods helped her feel fuller on fewer calories and that it actually cost less to eat healthier if you're willing to do more cooking from scratch. She found our Quick and Easy Meals for Less Cookbook to be very helpful.

After learning more about the lifelong physical and mental health benefits of regular exercise, Jane decided to join a local women's fitness center. After six months of healthier eating and regular exercise, she was able to lose about 25 pounds. ~Staff comments from Strafford County

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