- Author: Nath Say
After reading a story about a family taking a fun trip to the grocery store, Mrs. Douglas' class decided to take a trip of their own using their imagination and creativity!
Each student had the opportunity to fill his or her grocery cart with fresh fruits and veggies! They also learned that their favorite foods in the cart will help their muscles, bones, and heart to stay healthy and strong!
Great work, Mrs. Douglas' preschool class!
- Author: Shelby MacNab
Earlier this school year the UC CalFresh staff put on four OrganWise Guys plays at Rowell and Olmos Elementary.
Staff really got into character!
And so did students!
- Author: Shelby MacNab
UC CalFresh had such a great time at the Burroughs Elementary fun day yesterday!
We provided a ReThink your Drink station with flavored water, an anytime/sometimes food booth with interactive activities, and a wet sponge toss.
We know what you might be thinking...a wet sponge?
Students tossed a wet sponge around while naming foods from certain food groups. It's fun, especially when the temperatures outside reach a boiling 100 degrees. A simple activity like this is a great way to keep students active over the summer when the warm weather makes it harder to play outside.
Special thanks to all who made the day possible: Emily Harris, Javier Miramontes, Kaili Acosta, Tacu Vang, Evelyn Morales, Sandra Ortega and Consuelo Cid.
- Author: Shelby MacNab
This week MyPlate turns three!
Can you believe its already been three years? Wish MyPlate a happy birthday here.
While you are wishing MyPlate a happy birthday, take a look around www.choosemyplate.gov. There are SO many new tools available.
Want to eat well while saving money? MyPlate has you covered.
Looking to track your food? Consider it done!
We look forward to seeing what excellent tools MyPlate will come out with next!
- Author: Sandra Ortega
- Photographer: DeAnna Molinar
- Contributor: Evelyn Morales
Thursday Night's at Plaza Terrace Emergency Housing are Family Nights and the families who reside there love it!
Patricia Williams of Fresno County Dept. of Social Services and volunteers: Michelle Eskew, Fresno County Chief Deputy District Attorney- Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Unit, Sergeant Nina Jacobs of the Fresno Police Department Family Justice Bureau-Sex Crimes Unit, and Pam LeSage of the City of Fresno have committed their time to provide the families with an opportunity to have fun, get active, and eat a healthy meal together.
A tether ball in the courtyard provides a glimpse of the vision that Patricia Williams has for the complex. Bicycles, balls, and board games for the children and a weight room for the adults are just some examples of what the staff and volunteers at Plaza Terrace are providing for the families to use.
“We want to give these families a different view of the police department and D.A's office. Some crimes go unreported because of people's mistrust of these departments. We are here to help them. We want them to trust us and not be afraid to ask for help, if they ever need it.” – Nina Jacobs
On Thursday nights these volunteers purchase and cook healthy meals, while volunteer Pam LeSage makes desserts with help from the children.
Patricia Williams says, “One thing that I've noticed is that our tenants need help with managing their resources and choosing healthier meal options for their children. It's also important for them to be physically active to help prevent any illnesses that can be caused by obesity.”
Building on the culture of wellness, UC CalFresh educators Evelyn Morales and Sandra Ortega joined in the family nights to teach residents the Plan, Shop, Save, and Cook nutrition education series.
The participants in the class really enjoyed learning how to plan meals, read nutrition food labels, and compare unit prices. They especially enjoyed learning to make and taste testing healthy recipes. They even had Zumba lessons as part of their classes courtesy of Evelyn Morales!
The last day of class was a time for celebration. What better way to end this series than by cooking some of the healthy recipes the participants tasted and enjoyed during UC CalFresh nutrition education classes? The menu on that night was: spinach salad with yogurt dressing, spinach lasagna with meat sauce and corn muffins (made by the children). The meal was a big hit! The Plaza Terrace volunteers did a fantastic job putting it all together.
“I never knew that cooked Spinach tastes so good!” “Can we have more?” were just a few comments made that evening.
This was a great collaboration and a perfect example of the ways partnership in the community can create lifelong change for the residents of Fresno County!
