The "Choosing a Healthier You for Life" lesson serves as the capstone of the Families Eating Smart and Moving More curriculum. Although, it's more than a final class. It's a moment for participants to reflect on all of the changes that they have made throughout the EFNEP program series and begin to weave their new skills into the fabric of their daily lives.

In Pasquotank County, EFNEP Educator Della Hicks recently led a group through this lesson. She helped participants identify their healthy lifestyle successes in the areas of food resource management, food safety, food budgeting and incorporating physical activity into their daily lives. Building on this information, Della guided participants as they crafted a personalized, actionable roadmap for the future.

As part of this lesson, Della coached participants through a hands-on cooking experience preparing Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas - a quick, versatile recipe that's perfect for using leftover protein. Della split the group into two teams to experiment with different recipe variations, one using turkey and the other chicken. The kitchen buzzed with energy as participants followed step-by-step directions and practiced vital food safety skills, such as checking the internal temperature of the meat. After just 15 minutes in the oven, the class sat down to enjoy lunch together. It was a delicious way to celebrate their hard work and progress.

At the conclusion of the lesson, Della reminded the group that committing to their new healthy lifestyle habits means that they are choosing a healthier version of themselves for life!