Youth obesity is a major youth issue in New Hampshire. Almost 33 percent of New Hampshire children between the ages of 6-12 are identified as either obese or over weight, while 13 percent of those 10-17 years of age overweight.

The $55,000 Healthy Living Grant from National 4-H Council and the Walmart Foundation will move forward the Youth Voice: Youth Choice project, which will provide opportunities for a variety of 4-H audiences to meet and work together, whether in school, 4-H clubs, afterschool, Operation: Military Kids or camps. Use of the 4-H name and emblem will help demonstrate that the 4-H program of today is addressing relevant issues with youth and adult volunteers.

Creating Community Partners

“We look to work closely with community partners to meet the goals of the grant. New Hampshire is considered a wealthy state but the recent slow-downs in economy shown by the closing of paper mills, layoff of teachers, and decrease in health related services has resulted in the rural poor emerging as a target audience,” according to Wendy Brock, Extension 4-H Youth Development program leader.

“New Hampshire has embraced the youth and adult partnership concept and is excited to be expanding the ‘Teens as Teachers’ concept in science and nutrition activities,” she added. “We will maintain a balance of teaching around MyPlate, increasing activity with our youth and supporting their communities.”

Partnerships and collaborations with other state and community organizations are key to reaching 2,000 New Hampshire youth. Many partnerships with local food banks have already been established, while Granite State Dairy Promotion and NH 5210 have been identified as partners with this project.

Project Focus

The focus of the project is a combination of nutrition education, an increase in movement, and an understanding of hunger and poverty within a wealthy state. It also will focus on having teens as mentors to create media messages with a youth voice and to inspire younger youth with their positive behavior.

While all are welcome in this program, the recruitment emphasis will be in target areas of vulnerable populations. Most participants will become engaged in community projects, while the scope will be determined by their age and ability.

Healthy Foods Do Taste Good

A goal is to let youth know that healthy foods can taste good. Also planned are family events where the youth will prepare food and recipes for the families and in turn, duplicate them at home.

Extension staff will use the 4-H method of “Hands-on Learning” to teach basic food preparation around MyPlate, to increase the skills and confidence of both the youth and their care givers. Teaching kits will be created to support the teaching efforts of teens, volunteers and afterschool providers.

Summer youth and community gardens will be a cornerstone of the project. The Junior Master Gardener curriculum will provide guidelines for vegetable production and nutrition education to expand their favorite foods list to include an increase in fruits and vegetables. Each gardener also will grow a row for those who don’t have the opportunity to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables, and to learn about the opportunities to distribute the fresh produce.

Learn more through our 4-H Healthy Living efforts.

In the above photo, children are shown at a Sullivan County 4-H event learning more about eating healthy foods.