Who said healthy snacks aren't fun? UC CalFresh nutrition educators brought the excitement of healthy eating to a couple of local schools to show youth, teachers, and administrators alike how easy and fun it is to choose a healthy snack.
In the Coachella Valley, UC CalFresh Nutrition Educators Marlyn Pulido and Jackie Barahona teamed up for a day filled with information for 250 students at Cesar Chavez Elementary School. They began with a morning visit to remind youth to go to breakfast and gave them a recipe wheel on how to make easy healthy snacks. Students enjoyed the wheels with some of them saying, “Wow this is cool”. The day followed with three different class presentations about healthy snacks and MyPlate food groups. UC CalFresh staff popped fresh popcorn for a tasting and handed out recipe cards on how to make paper bag popcorn for fun snack at home. The Principal, Mr. Barker, was happy to celebrate "Healthy Snack Day" with the students, encouraging them and letting them know that he supports their interest in healthier eating.
In the Banning area, UC CalFresh Nutrition Educators Claudia Carlos and Itzel Palacios-Sanchez spent three lunches reaching 175 students at Nicolet Middle School. The Associated Student Body (ASB) helped handing out recipe wheels and stickers. The fun continued with a cheese stick tasting provided by Raj Kaur, Community Nutrition Advisor with the Dairy Council of California. The results of the student questionnaires show that 104 students are more likely to try baking instead of frying as a “healthy trick”.
Throughout the year in Riverside County, UC CalFresh staff works with students, teachers, and community members to encourage healthy habits through nutrition, garden, and physical activity education.