Nutrition and Cooking Class Collaboration

The South Dakota’s (SD) WIC Special Project Grant, Nutrition and Cooking Class Collaboration, final report is now available. The purpose of this WIC Special Project Grant, funded by USDA, was to optimize WIC nutrition education services and improve nutrition related behaviors through collaboration between SD and South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension. The project created and implemented an evidence-based, hands-on, participant-centered cooking curriculum delivered by SDSU Extension, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) Nutrition Assistants.

The objectives of this intervention were to increase

• retention of WIC participants ages 1-4,
• redemption of the cash value benefit for vegetables and fruit,
• cooking confidence to utilize demonstrated cooking skills, and
• consumption of vegetables and fruit among WIC participants.

The report includes evaluation results, key findings and conclusions, lessons learned and future implications, as well as an appendix which includes a survey, questionnaire, recipe cards, and an interview protocol.