Michigan 4-H awarded Walmart 4-H Healthy Habits grant

Kea Norrell-Aitch<kea@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - December 20, 2017

Michigan 4-H was awarded the Walmart Foundation Healthy Habits grant to support nutrition education, gardening and physical fitness programs for the 2017-18 year.

Michigan residents experience food access issues in urban and rural areas. Michigan 4-H utilizes Walmart Foundation Healthy Habit grant funds to support youth programs that bring more healthy foods to families. This is done by increasing the amount of 4-H community gardens across the state and educating youth and families on the benefits of eating healthier.

Gardening is very relaxing and a way for youth and families to come together for a larger goal. It is rewarding because you see the fruits of your labor, literally. All 4-H gardens will have a harvest plan to send home fresh vegetables that include recipes to encourage families to cook and eat together. This process will provide access to fresh produce and increase the positive family interactions in the home.

4-H program coordinators and healthy teen ambassadors, along with Master Gardeners and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program staff, facilitate nutrition education programs that incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables purchased from local farmers markets and grown from raised beds placed at local community centers, schools and vacant lots. 4-H healthy living teen ambassadors will be trained to facilitate sessions, workshops and activities utilizing a variety of curriculum.

Physical fitness is also a component of these 4-H programs to get youth moving towards increasing their overall health.

The following Michigan counties received a mini grant to assist with the facilitation of the 4-H Healthy Habits programming: Wayne, Macomb, Genesee, Saginaw, Muskegon, Ingham, Gogebic, Schoolcraft, Baraga, Dickinson, Alger and Luce.

Curriculums to be utilized:

Partners

Additional activities to be incorporated into nutrition education and raised bed gardens:

Biking, walking and snow shoeing 4-H clubs
Iron chef competitions
4HF3 – Family Fun Fitness
Family community dinners with produce from the gardens

For additional information about the Walmart Foundation 4-H Healthy Habits Program, please contact me at knboyd@msu.edu or 586-469-6264.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).