K entucky State University has a prominent nutrition education and research program that provides leadership throughout the nation. It is our goal to meet the priorities outlined by the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) by providing programs that meet the health needs of Kentucky citizens. However, it is important that faculty, staff, and students lead by example.
Dr. Kristopher Grimes heads a nutrition team that tackles three major areas of research in nutrition education and wellness. First, the team is looking at local communities and the role of food pantries as a way of contributing to positive family food resource management for lower income families. Second, the team conducts research in the area of summer feeding programs and increasing both efficiency and effectiveness of mobile summer routes. The third area of research is a program created at Kentucky State University called KSU FIRST, which aims to design specific programs to increase healthy lifestyles for university faculty and staff.
One of the most crucial strategic goals and priority areas for NIFA is to improve the health and nutrition across the country. Over the past 20 years, obesity rates in both children and adults have steadily increased. Currently, nearly 33% of children in the United States are either overweight or obese. For adults, that percentage rises to nearly 70%.
While it is important for institutions of higher education, specifically Land Grant institutions, to develop and implement programming to meet these challenges for local communities, it is crucial that we start with ourselves. KSU F1RST is a Kentucky State University initiative that will serve to provide university faculty, staff, and students with tools and direction to improve their health.
This initiative, led by the College of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems and Land Grant Program, provides nutrition education and strategic personal training to any faculty, staff, and student who joins KSU F1RST. Basic nutrition, sports nutrition, cooking, and food budgeting courses will help participants improve their diets, health, and performance. Through the assistance of trained professionals, participants will be able to improve their health through functional training, general resistance training, and eventually fitness for specific sports.
The KSU Center for Family Nutrition and Wellness Education serves as the umbrella for all of the university's nutrition education programming. Grimes works with a team of eight research and extension staff including Turquoise Brown-Patterson, Gidgett Sweazy, Mason Crawford, Louis "Jenie" Carter, Emma Robinson, Jhamicah Harbut, Deborah Hoskins, and Monique Frisby Williams.
Dr. Kristopher Grimes, Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist for Nutrition and Nutrition Education