The Family Nutrition Program (FNP) provides educational programs and information on nutrition education, food safety, and food budgeting, targeting limited income audiences. Joy Suits, the local FNP Coordinator covers Saline, Gallatin, Pope, and Hardin counties.

Schools: Joy brings a variety of presentations to the area schools. Nutrition and food safety programs are provided for every class level from Pre-K through High School. Subjects range from learning the food groups to hand washing to eating disorders. Various methods are used including stories, puppets, video, music, and hands-on cooking activities. Classes are scheduled with the teachers and all classes are free of charge to the teacher, class and school district.

Golden Circle: The needs of the Senior Citizens of the area are addressed through the Golden Circle Programs. Joy presents a monthly class on a variety of nutrition and food safety subjects and uses games, fact sheets, humor, and cooking demonstrations as part of the class. Call area Golden Circle Agencies for monthly class dates and times.

Adult Programs: Many adult groups invite Joy to present a class or series of classes to their members. With a large group of subjects to choose from, FNP is able to provide interesting and relevant information for any group. Some adult agencies using FNP programming includes Southeastern Illinois College, Egyptian Health Department, Anna Bixby, and area Family Community Resource Centers.

Television: In March, Joy started a new project with WSIL-TV. Once a month, she joins Kevin Hunsperger and Stacy Bynum on The Morning Show to demonstrate healthy, inexpensive recipes. The segment airs around 6:45 am. Recipes demonstrated on the program, as well as future appearance dates can be obtained through WSIL-TV or from Joy at joysuits@uiuc.edu

Radio: Joy also does a radio spot called The Healthy Family Tip of the Day. Quick tips of healthy eating, nutrition research findings and simple recipes are presented in a one minute format. The Healthy Family Tip of the Day can be heard Monday through Friday at 6:30 am (the Baptist Hour) on WEBQ AM1250 and at 4:25 pm (after Adventures in Odyssey) on WGGH AM1150.

Newsletters: Wellness Ways is a newsletter Joy distributes monthly to clients and agencies in the four county area. Filled with cooking tips, recipes, and general nutritional information the newsletters are distributed monthly to an average of 2000 people and are free of charge to the public.

Library Programs: Nutrition education programs continue for students during the summer months. Joy presents a four week library series with an hour program each week. Six area libraries sponsor the program including Galatia, Rosiclare, Eldorado, Carrier Mills, Golconda, and Shawneetown. Students learn fun ways to exercise and make healthy snacks, while basic nutrition principles are reinforced through stories and arts/crafts activities. The programs are free of charge to the libraries and participants.

About Joy Suits: Joy is a 2002 graduate of Oakland City University (Master of Arts in Teaching) and an IN/IL certified teacher. A resident of Eldorado, she is married with one daughter, 2 dogs, and a cat. Her interests include travel, culinary adventures, reading biographies and studies on first century Christianity. She loves her job and seeks for new ways to share the FNP message with others in her area.