Youth Direct Education

is a nutrition and physical activity program for children ages four and five. It is designed to stimulate all the senses of young children: touch, smell, sight, sound, and of course, taste. It uses color, music, and exploration of the senses to teach children that healthy eating and physical activity are fun.

Steps to Health Color Me Healthy is comprised of nine lessons chosen from the Color Me Healthy curriculum. Taste tests have been added to coincide with each lesson in order to enhance the multi-sensory learning experience. Parent handouts were enriched to contain nutrition tips, family physical activity suggestions, reading book recommendations, and grocery store adventures. All participants are awarded a certificate of participation at the completion of the program. Evaluation of the program is conducted via parent and teacher feedback forms.

Steps to Health's Elementary Nutrition School program consists of 9 sessions that are designed to educate and inspire North Carolina children to eat smart. Hands-on activities, games, and physical activity are incorporated into each lesson. Each 30-45 minute lesson includes a taste test of either a snack that the student can make after school or a healthy meal that parents can make for dinner.

All participants are awarded a certificate of participation at the completion of the program. Recipes and nutrition and physical activity handouts are sent home to the parents. Evaluation of the lessons includes a pre and post survey, and feedback from parents and teachers.

Step to Health’s Kids Club serves youth at Summer Food Service Sites and After School sites across North Carolina.

The program consists of 8 sessions, 30 minutes in length, that are designed to teach youth about nutrition and physical activity in a fun and engaging way through activities and games. Session topics include ways to be active inside and outside, participating in activities to improve heart and bone health, eating more fruits and vegetables, and drinking more water.

All participants are awarded a certificate of participation at the completion of the program in addition to a jump rope, recipe and nutrition activity book.

Group evaluation is conducted to capture behavior change related to nutrition and physical activity.

Adult Direct Education

Take Control is an 8 session chronic disease prevention program that provides strategies to help adults manage their health.  It informs, empowers, and motivates participants to change their eating and physical activity patterns. The program provides opportunities for participants to track their goals and progress toward healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Each 1-hour session contains a basic cooking demonstration of a healthy recipe. The recipes and nutrition handouts are provided to program participants. Evaluation of the program is conducted via a pre- and post-behavior survey.

(Faithful Families) works directly in communities of faith across the country to promote health for individuals, families, and local communities. The practice-tested program is open to all faith and religious traditions and engages faith communities in health education, environmental changes to support health, and community-wide health initiatives.

Faithful Families Thriving Communities (Faithful Families) works directly in communities of faith across the country to promote health for individuals, families, and local communities. The practice-tested program is open to all faith and religious traditions and engages faith communities in health education, environmental changes to support health, and community-wide health initiatives.

Program facilitators and Lay Leaders are trained to co-deliver Faithful Families’ Eating Smart and Moving More Lessons, which includes nine sessions on healthy eating and physical activity strategies, including nutrition, meal preparation and cooking, food safety, and increasing daily physical activity. Through group discussions, recipe taste tests , and activities, individuals and families are encouraged to set goals to lead healthier lives. The curriculum also prompts discussions about changes that can be made in their organization and local community.

Steps to Health funding can be used to deliver Faithful Families if taught at an eligible faith site. 

Are you an agent or educator looking for program materials?

• See our Staff/Agent Resources page.

Are you a participant, partner, or member of the public?

• See our public site for more information about our programs.