- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
UC ANR employees at UC Office of the President in Oakland participated in Take Our Kids to Work Day on April 24.
Take Our Kids to Work Day is a national movement that allows children to explore career possibilities while learning more about their parents' work and organization.
“We did our session with the 6th graders,” said Summer Cortez, manager of the Nutrition Policy Institute's CalFresh Healthy Living Evaluation Unit.
Cortez and Ryan Williams, NPI project policy analyst and registered dietitian, explained to the visiting children that the Nutrition Policy Institute is a group of public health researchers. The group discussed what public health is and some of the different projects NPI is working on currently.
“We then introduced two public-health topics that NPI engages with through our research projects: sugar-sweetened beverages and processed foods. Each topic was paired with a hands-on activity,” Cortez said.
For sugar-sweetened beverages, the kids made fruit-infused water in reusable water bottles. using their own mix fruits and herbs. One child exclaimed, “This is really good! I want to make more at home for my siblings.”
For processed foods, they played a game to get familiar with the terms “unprocessed,” “minimally processed” and “ultra-processed foods.” Cortez and Williams showed the kids images of fresh produce, freeze-dried fruit and frozen pizza rolls and other foods, and quizzed them on whether they were “unprocessed,” “minimally processed” or “ultra-processed.”
Next, they led the kids in making a healthy breakfast recipe – overnight oats in a Mason jar. “?They picked mix-ins like sunflower seed butter, coconut flakes, cinnamon, dried fruits, pumpkin seeds, etc.,” Cortez said. “They were instructed to add milk at home, of course!”
“Between topics, we did a movement break – yoga! Ryan led the kids in a sun salutation and discussed ?how yoga is an activity that encourages both mental and physical wellness.”
The kids took home their goodies in a fun fruit bag, along with recipe cards and a guide to doing a sun salutation at home.
Overnight Oats
Makes 1 Serving. 1 mason jar per serving
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons nut or seed butter
- 1 Tablespoon pumpkin seeds
- ½ Cup rolled or old-fashioned oats
- ½ Cup of milk (add any kind of milk you use at home!)
- 2 Oz fresh, frozen, or dried fruits
- Drizzle of honey (optional)
Preparation
- Fill jar with nut/seed butter, pumpkin seeds, and oats (in that order)
- Next, you would normally pour in milk. Do this when you get home! Milk should just barely cover oats
- Top with fruit and honey
- Put lid on jar and refrigerate overnight, up to 5 days
- Shake before opening or stir to mix and enjoy!
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
UC ANR academics based in Southern California gathered with UC ANR leaders in Riverside on April 23-24.
In this special meetup, 40 UC ANR academics with expertise ranging from irrigation to nutrition delved into crucial topics, including communication strategies to enhance the impact of their work across California.
Vice President Glenda Humiston emphasized the value of interacting in person to learn what colleagues are doing and to “cross-pollinate” by exchanging ideas.
The Riverside meeting was the first of five regional meetings planned.
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Join the UC ANR Moves event on Wednesday, May 1, from 1:15 to 2 p.m. UC ANR Moves promotes health and well-being by encouraging all employees to take a walk or engage in another physical activity for 30 to 40 minutes. This annual event is intended to promote a thriving culture of health and well-being throughout UC ANR's work environment.
At 1:15 p.m., Scott Brayton, Staff Assembly Council chair, will kick off the event with a stretch session. Join him by Zoom:
Zoom https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/98754220328?pwd=b0tML3czSDdKd3U4ZUQzVzBXMGRBdz09
Meeting ID: 987 5422 0328
Passcode: 793713
Make this event fun!
Wear your silliest t-shirt or organize with your colleagues to dress up according to a theme or make posters and spread some love in the community. Either way, wear sun protection and take lots of photos and videos!
Employees at the UC ANR Building in Davis will meet on the back patio by the breakroom.
1:15 -1:25 p.m. – Kick off: Scott Brayton, Staff Assembly Council chair, will kick us off with a rally and stretch.
1:25 to 2 p.m. – Walk or get moving at your location. Bring a bottle of water or hydrate well before the activity.
Please upload your mp4 videos and photos of your UC ANR Moves activities to the Box folder “UC ANR Moves” by May 8. Ethan Ireland will compile them into a single video, which we will show at the ANR town hall.
Hope to get moving with you!
Jodi Azulai, on behalf of the Staff Assembly Wellness Committee: Scott Brayton, Emma Tribble, Suzanne Burton, Tatiana Avoce, Andrea Rayray, Lucie Cahierre, and Nora Lopez
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Would you like to learn to speak Spanish?
Ricardo Vela, manager of News and Information Outreach in Spanish and chair of the Latinx & Friends Affinity Group, is organizing weekly lessons that will be offered via Zoom and start in July.
He is trying to gauge interest to see how many people would like to participate and whether they are beginners or interested conversing in Spanish to advance the Spanish they have already learned.
“We are still working on some important details – class format, length, whether it should be available only to those registered with the Latinx & Friends Affinity Group or to all UC ANR employees,” Vela said.
If you are interested in learning Spanish, please email Vela at rvela@ucanr.edu and let him know your competency level of Spanish and preferred day and time to participate.
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
UC ANR academics from Region 4 in Southern California gathered in Riverside to exchange experiences and success stories.
In this special meetup, 40 UC ANR academics, spanning diverse fields from irrigation to nutrition, delved into crucial topics, including communication and social media strategies to enhance the impact of their work across California.
Glenda Humiston, Vice-President of UC ANR, emphasized the value of interacting in person to learn what colleagues are doing and to “cross-pollinate” by sharing ideas.
The Riverside meeting was the first of four regional meetings planned, where academics will convene with UC ANR leaders.
Region 3 – San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Mariposa, Mono, Inyo, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern counties and Kearney, West Side and Lindcove RECs – will meet May 30-31 at the UCCE San Joaquin County office in Stockton. Region 5 – Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties – will meet June 10-11 at the UC Santa Cruz Haybarn. The registration deadline is May 13, 2024 at 5 p.m.
For more information, please contact Maya Maniar or Kate Lyn Sutherland at anrprogramsupport@ucanr.edu or (530) 750-1361.