RoscommonCounty Extension
112 S. Fourth St., PO Box 507Roscommon, MI48653-0507 / P: 989-275-5043
F: 989-275-8864 / E-mail:
Web: msue.msu.edu/Roscommon
June 2008
Family Nutrition Program helps youths make healthy food choicesThe Roscommon County MSU Extension (MSUE) Family Nutrition Program (FNP) educates clients about how to safely prepare, eat and preserve nutritious meals. FNP clientele range from young adults to senior citizens – and all ages in between.
During the past few years, Shari Dickson of the Roscommon MSUE FNP program has been partnering with a number of community organizations to help teach a series of life skill classes for young adults centered on food preparation and nutrition planning.
These students attend the SecondChanceAcademy, a non-traditional school program for behaviorally-challenged youth, located in Roscommon.
This past winter, the Roscommon County Community Foundation sponsored these classes for students in SecondChanceAcademy’s middle andhigh school. The foundation provided funding to supplement the growing cost of food supplies used in the program.
Thestudents took part insix to eight day-long classes in which they planned, prepared, consumed and cleaned-up after themselves in the kitchen. Physical education was also built into this FNP program to roundout each day’s activities.
Each morning started out with a nutrition lesson following the US Department of Agriculture’s food pyramid guidelines. The students learned about each food group and howit contributes to keeping their bodies healthy. They also learned the importance of washing their hands and fresh produce before cooking. They also learned about cross contamination and what to do to prevent it. / The class then moved into the kitchen, learning to cook foods using items from the group they had just discussed. The students tried foods they had never eaten before, including brown rice, strawberries, asparagus, cantaloupe and cottage cheese.
In addition to learning cooking, students improved their math skills while measuring ingredients and portions. The students took turns each week setting the table, cooking and doing dishes.
Several Roscommon MSUExtension staff members contributed to this FNP programming effort. Russell Kidd, Roscommon MSUExtensiondirector, spent one day talking with the students about vegetarian diets. He then taught them how to make vegetarian enchiladas, homemade salsa and Spanish rice. Many of the students were amazed that vegetarians eat more than just vegetables.
After each lunch, dishes and clean-up, the physical education began. Brandi DesMarteaux, Roscommon and Ogemaw MSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences educator, and Helen Fisher, Roscommon County MSUExtension 4-H educator, reinforced physical activity and why it is equally important to good health as proper nutrition.
The students learned the finer points of soccer, tennis, basketball and volley ball. The students also learned the value of cooperating with each other and learned sportsmanship and etiquette.
Unfortunately, for a growing number of youngsters, dinner is simply a plate of food eaten in front of the television. Learning to set the table, prepare a meal, work with others and use proper etiquette was a real challenge, though one worth mastering.
Continued
/ Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facingcommunities. Citizens serving on countyExtension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners,the state through MichiganStateUniversity and federally through the US Department of Agriculture.
Family Nutrition Program—continued
Some of the comments the students made when the series of lessons ended included:
- “I learned how to eat healthier. I only went to McDonalds two times this week instead of everyday.”
- I never ate anything green before, but I tried some raw snap beans and I didn’t hate them.”
- “I learned not to eat with my elbows out or my head down by my plate shoveling the food in my mouth.”
- I learned that I have to eat different kinds of food, not just the same thing everyday.”
- “I learned that I need to wash my hands before I eat.”
- I learned that you have to wash all your vegetables and fruit before you cut it up or eat it”
- I learned that you have to measure liquids and solids in two different kinds of measuring cups.”
The 4-H youth development program has a 100-year-old reputation for helping youngsters build leadership, teamwork and organizational skills by completing projects related activities like crafts, cooking and animal husbandry.
But today’s 4-H program also gives youngsters the opportunity to travel, explore technology, participate in community services activities and discover professional and personal passions that can follow them throughout their lives.
Two activities now offered to RoscommonCounty youngsters demonstrate this reality.
Forest Dunes Junior Golf Program
The Forest Dunes Junior Golf Programprovides participants with the opportunity to learn golf in a fun, hands-on atmosphere.
This program is held for six weeks during the summer for youngsters from seven to seventeen who learn about everything from golf etiquette to grip, stance, posture and short and long game fundamentals. / The program was supported by the Roscommon County United Way and the Roscommon County Community Foundation.
Twenty one youngsters enrolled in this summer’s program. Golf is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, making it a great activity to share with parents, grandparents, siblings and friends throughout life.
4-H Babysitting Basics
4-H Babysitting Basics is offered to youths ages 11 and older to help them learn child care skills, how to organize time with children, basic first aid and emergency response and market their babysitting services.
Babysitting is a popular first-time job for many youth and this program helps them to be better prepared for the responsibility that each job brings.
This year the program was completed by 24 youngsters. It was taught by Shelley Hubbard of Catholic Human Services and was held at the RoscommonMiddle School. Next summer, organizers hope to offer it in the HoughtonLake area, too.
Roscommon MSU Extension Staff
Russell P. KiddCounty Extension Director,
District Forestry Educator
Helen A. Fisher 4-H Educator/Recreation Director
Shari J. Dickson Family Nutrition Program Associate
Brandi DesMarteaux Family Consumer Sciences and Better Kid Care Educator
Melissa Piehl Building Strong Families Program
Susan Seaford ExtensionSecretary
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Coon, Extension Director, MichiganStateUniversity, E. Lansing, MI48824