School Nutrition Programs Receive Six Million Dollar Grant

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services says a grant from the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service will be used to fund a nutrition education program for students in the state. The SNAP-Ed nutrition program is designed to encourage healthy eating habits and to prevent or postpone the on-set of diet-related chronic diseases.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services will be encouraging students to switch to fat-free or low-fat milk and to fill half of their plates with fruits and vegetables. The program will also encourage students to increase their physical activity and to reduce the amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors.

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which was formerly known as the food stamp program.

The SNAP-Ed program will be coordinated by local health departments in Kentucky, and is scheduled to start in October.