A group of EFNEP Educators attended the PhytoRx Families Training on October 21st at the Dinah E. Gore Teaching & Research Kitchens in Raleigh. These educators will be piloting the PhytoRx Families program in the coming months as part of a CDC funded project working on empowering local communities and connecting families with healthy food and physical activity opportunities. This interactive training was designed to give educators hands-on cooking experience with recipes featured in the modified Families Eating Smart & Moving More curriculum that will be used in the PhytoRx Families Program.

During the training EFNEP educators had an opportunity to prepare, sample and provide feedback for several recipes including: West African Peanut Stew, Black Eyed Peas and Collard Green Soup, Cornmeal Griddle Cakes, Apple Corn Chili, Peach Salsa, Fruit Crunch Cobbler and Simple Fish Tacos. Educators also learned about different types of phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables and reviewed several lessons in the curriculum. It was a day filled with cooking, education and fun for everyone!

-Jackie Sugg, Regional Nutrition Extension Associate