With the new school year in full swing, UC CalFresh has taken the time to provide students with healthy messages in their school cafeterias! Nutrition corners have been posted in all Hanford Unified elementary schools. The nutrition corners to encourage students to consume more fruit filled with vitamins and minerals. Fruit contains natural sugar so it makes it nature's sweetest candy! The UC CalFresh program is dedicated to encouraging students to make choices that will benefit their health and their future!

UC CalFresh attended Hamilton and Jefferson Elementary READY After School Program.  Our program focused on educating students about the importance of engaging in physical activity to maintain a healthy heart. Students learned how to check their heart rate at a resting and exercising rate to determine to if their body is engaging in physical activity.  In addition, students learned the different body cues when engaging in physical activity; for example, sweat, warm body, and tiredness. Students participated in many CATCH Go Activities and had a lot of fun! They also enjoyed a delicious guacamole taste test! Students are always encouraged to try new foods and make healthy decisions!

 

 

 

This past week, UC CalFresh provided Hanford Parks & Recreation Summer Camp, Jr. Rec's with nutrition education. They had the opportunity to learn about  different vegetables that are grown in Mexico. They learned the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables which provides them with nutrients to help their bodies grow, stay healthy, and give them energy to think, learn, and play.  Several of the teen leaders volunteered to chop zucchinis, onion, bell peppers, summer squash, and garlic to create a Black Bean and Veggie Tostada. They learned how to safely handle knives when cooking and the importance of keeping the knife tip down while keeping fingers away from the area being cut. The young leaders enjoyed making the tostadas.  They are always excited and ready for our nutrition education lessons!

UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program- Kings County has collaborated with Hanford Parks and Recreation Summer Camp. UC CalFresh provided Jr. Recs (teen leaders) with an overview on food safety and the importance of washing their hands. They learned they should wash their hands before and/or after certain activities.  For example, washing them before cooking, and after playing with their pets. To reinforce the lesson each Jr. Rec was asked to rub lotion into their hands that represents germs. They were then tasked with properly washing their hands and checking to see how clean their hands were by putting their hands under a black light. Teen Leaders will use what they learned to teach summer camp children the importance of washing their hands.