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.

 

Roosevelt READY After School Program joined UCCE to participate in a Chopped Junior cook off!  Students had the opportunity to use their creativity  using healthy foods to create bugs, animals, things that grow, and not so sweet treats. Students created butterflies, caterpillars, whales, flowers, palm trees, mango taquitos and so much more! The master pieces were created using fruits and vegetables such as, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, apples, asparagus, bell peppers, celery, and carrots.  While some students  participated in the cooking, the rest  participated in CATCH activities. As a year-end event, students enjoyed watching their peers create fun foods and participating in fun games!

After spending several weeks learning about food from UC curriculum “Healthalicious Cooking” the Ready after school students paired up with family members in the 1^st annual salsa contests at Jefferson Charter Academy and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Schools.  Each family had 30 minutes to work together to create their own special salsa. UC CalFresh furnished the basics of tomatoes, onions and cilantro while the families used their secret ingredients to make their salsa different from other competitors.  Judges were selected from teachers, administrators and after school students.  After tasting the different salsas, ribbons were handed out for most unusual, sweetest, spiciest, best aroma, best flavor, most creative and best appearance.