Edible education: Annette Casteel promotes healthy recipes

Changing careers after 20 years of being in the same field might seem like a daunting task, but for Annette Casteel it was the perfect move.

Casteel is the agent assistant for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education for Franklin and Winston counties with the Alabama Cooperative Extension.

Prior to taking on this role, she spent about 20 years of her life as a medical transcriptionist before deciding it was time for a change.
She earned a degree in food and nutrition from the University of North Alabama and then a master’s degree from Auburn University in adult education. Casteel obtained an internship in Marion County before accepting the job as SNAP educator for Franklin and Winston.

As a SNAP educator, Casteel works with food pantries, farmers markets and schools to educate people about healthy food options and recipes.

“I get to travel and meet a lot of different people. I’m always looking for new clients,” Casteel said.

At farmers markets and food pantries, Casteel performs cooking demonstrations and hands out literature to attendees. The information she shares covers various topics, like drinking the right amount of water and understanding the impact and prevalence of sugar in a person’s diet.

“The goal is to help them with recipes and teach healthier ways to cook,” Casteel said.

Grilling is one of her favorite ways to garner interest at events like farmer’s markets. She said people are often surprised at the range of foods that can be grilled, including many vegetables.

Last year at the farmer’s market in Russellville, the market hosted a Peas and Cornbread Day that was popular. Casteel has also coordinated Sandwich Days and other similar events.

One of the biggest programs Casteel organizes is Body Quest. The school program is designed to educate third-graders about healthy habits. Casteel spends about 30 minutes in the classroom while the students engage in activities on iPads.

“There are seven apps on the iPads that the kids learn from that encourage them to eat more fruits and vegetables,” Casteel said.

An optional parent component to Body Quest allows parents to receive healthy recipes to try out at home with their kids, and they can also receive regular text messages that contain healthy tips and ideas they can implement.

Since Body Quest is an evidence-based program, Casteel gives an assessment at the beginning and end of the program to determine if it was successful in its educational goals.

“We want to know that we’re making a difference and helping people,” Casteel said.

Through SNAP Education, Casteel said, she is living out the Extension’s purpose: to take the education directly to the people.