Partnership program sets preschoolers on lifelong path of healthy eating, physical activity
In Calaveras County, a preschooler was helping his instructor pick up some class equipment when he announced proudly: “I’m really strong because I eat a lot of protein!”
“That’s right!” replied Mary Manning, a CalFresh Healthy Living nutrition educator with the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Central Sierra office. “And protein makes you what…?”
“GROW!” proclaimed the young boy, flexing his muscles.
This vignette illustrates the memorable impact of programs administered by CalFresh Healthy Living, UC – one of the organizations in California that teaches nutrition and promotes physical activity for people eligible for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. UCCE educators – affiliated with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources – deliver the lessons throughout the state.
Manning partners with The Resource Connection, a nonprofit based in San Andreas, to offer nutrition programs at six Head Start and two Early Head Start sites across Calaveras County.
“Our program reaches every single Head Start student in the county, which I think is fantastic because it sets the template and lays the groundwork for health in these kids’ lives,” said Noah Cooke, community education supervisor for CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Central Sierra. “They’re learning – as three-, four-, and five-year-olds – skills that are going to be useful when they’re 74 or 75 and beyond.”
In addition to delivering nutrition lessons for the 113 preschoolers currently at the eight sites, the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE team incorporates physical education activities, as well as useful newsletters and virtual meetings for family members. After a pause due to COVID, The Resource Connection staff and participants were delighted when in-person programs restarted in fall 2023.
“The goal is to reach students and families on a lot of different levels,” said Cooke, who also works with CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE educator Mariana Garcia to support programs across the region.
Cooke noted that the preschoolers are only just beginning their health and well-being journey with CalFresh Healthy Living, UC programs. After the young students graduate from the Head Start program, they will continue to benefit from nutrition education programs at the elementary, middle and high school levels. By partnering with teachers, administrators and site staff across Calaveras County, CFHL UCCE served nearly 1,600 students in schools and before- and after-school settings from October 2023 through September 2024.
Physical activities engage young students in lessons
While the frequency and content of her visits vary across the various sites and facilities, Manning – who was trained in classical ballet and has extensive experience teaching dance to children – always incorporates a lot of movement and energy into her lesson plans.
In addition to “parading around” cones while pretending they are sharks, crabs or other animals, the young students also especially enjoy making the gestures that symbolize the “Go, Glow, Grow” nutrition curriculum.
For “Go” foods like grains and carbohydrates, they run in place. For “Glow” foods like fruits and vegetables that make their hair shine and eyes sparkle, they touch their hair and wiggle their fingers by their eyes. For “Grow” foods like protein and dairy, they flex their muscles and jump up and down.
Manning has heard from the Head Start teachers that the students’ parents are seeing those lessons in action.
“They’re at the grocery store and their child is pointing out the different foods and what type of food it is, whether it makes them ‘grow’ or makes them ‘go’ – that’s so exciting for the parents,” Manning said.
Another direct impact is that many of the children become more willing to taste new foods.
"I love how Mary allows children to actively engage in trying new foods and physical activity,” said the lead teacher at West Point Head Start. “Our friends have made connections through nutrition, physical activity and a healthy body."
At the end of each visit, Manning incorporates a sampling of foods related to the theme or lesson for the day. While the fruits are almost universally well-received, some of the young ones are more reluctant to taste the vegetables. Manning teaches them a positive alternative to rejecting a particular item.
“I’ll urge them to say, ‘not today,’” she explained. “I don’t want to them say ‘I don’t like it’ because they might like it tomorrow or the next day – or in five years!”
Newsletters highlight healthy recipes for families
Just as the children are trying new things in class, their parents and family members are trying new recipes, thanks to monthly “Harvest of the Month” newsletters written in English and Spanish. Prepared by Garcia and the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE team, each issue highlights different ingredients and how to prepare them in novel and delicious ways.
“We’re really just trying to incorporate healthy living into the day-by-day,” Cooke said.
Manning puts together a different newsletter – translated into Spanish by Garcia – for families that receive items from The Food Bank, administered by The Resource Connection. She said she’s constantly trying to think of recipes that make creative use of common food bank items, such as beans, lentils and peanut butter – and different ways to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables.
“It’s hard when money’s tight and it’s easier and less expensive to buy that processed food and serve those,” Manning said.
Between teaching the children in the Head Start and Early Head Start program and reaching families through the newsletter and recently launched virtual meetings, CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE is making a real difference in the lives of community members.
“In Calaveras County, our impact has been more than I could have ever imagined,” Manning said. “I love the work we do; I’m so thankful that I’m able to do this, because it fills me with so much joy.”