** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS SMART FOOD CONSUMPTION (SFC) PROGRAM TO IS CREATE A SELF-SUSTAINING, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODEL FOR UNDERGRADUATES (ESPECIALLY FUTURE AGRICULTURE TEACHERS) TO ENGAGE IN NUTRITION EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND EXTENSION. IN EACH SPRING OF FOUR YEARS, TWELVE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWS WILL BE RECRUITED FROM SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY (SHSU) AND OTHER MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS TO ENGAGE IN EIGHT WEEKS OF TRAINING IN JUNE AND JULY IN HUNTSVILLE, TX WHERE SHSU MAIN CAMPUS IS LOCATED. IN THE FIRST WEEK, THE SFC FELLOWS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO SIX TEAMS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF SIX FACULTY MENTORS. EACH OF THE SIX TEAMS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING ONE NUTRITION LESSON TO HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS IN THE FOLLOWING SIX WEEKS. TWENTY-FOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE RECRUITED EACH YEAR FROM HUNTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. THE SFC FELLOWS WILL EDUCATE HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS ON NUTRITION, FOOD PREPARATION, FOOD SAFETY, FOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT, FOOD SECURITY, FOOD BUDGETING, AND HEALTHY EATING. THEY WILL ALSO VISIT THE SHSU TEACHING KITCHEN, FOOD PANTRY, LOCAL FARMS, AND GROCERY STORES. KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT WILL BE DONE AFTER EACH NUTRITION LESSON. THE SFC FELLOWS WILL ALSO CONDUCT SURVEYS AND DIETARY ANALYSES OF HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS TO ASSESS THEIR NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE AND DIETARY BEHAVIORS BEFORE AND AFTER THE NUTRITION INTERVENTION. THIS REEU PROGRAM WILL HELP CULTIVATE FUTURE AGRICULTURE TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS IN NUTRITION EDUCATION, IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY, REDUCE FOOD WASTE, AND DECREASE OBESITY RISK FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THEIR TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD AND/OR HIGHER EDUCATION.