- Author: Evelyn Morales
UC CalFresh has an immense impact on the well being of local communities and is a valuable resource to in the Central Valley of California. My two week rotation offered many hands-on learning experiences that deepened my appreciation for and enhanced my skill set in nutrition education. All UC CalFresh staff members were incredibly friendly and their passion and enthusiasm when teaching at different facilities was inspiring. The impact they are making on their audience was apparent and it was wonderful to be part of it.
One of the classes I got to teach was a Jobs and Beyond class for adults. The curriculum focuses on educating participants on skill sets that can aid them in their personal and professional life. It was interesting to interact and listen to the participants' input. It allowed me to have a better understanding of their situation and how to keep the material relevant to them. At the end of the class, they were very appreciative of our time spent with them. It felt fulfilling knowing that we had made a positive impact on them.
Prior to this rotation, I had limited experience educating small children. However, the fun and engaging lesson materials provided by UC CalFresh made it easy to adapt and teach to various grade levels. The fun songs used by the staff are perfect to educate young children about the importance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and dairy in their diet. We also had a lot of fun playing games that encouraged physical activity. With lots of giggles and laughter, the kids got to learn about the importance of a healthy diet in their lives.
When not traveling to different school or community sites to provide education, there is plenty of opportunity for creativity at UC CalFresh. I created a poster board with the key message of “All Vegetables Come From Plants” to help educate children about where our vegetables come from and to better understand the anatomy of plants. The poster board will be displayed at a local school site.
My favorite experience was a Jog-a-thon event at a local elementary school. I love being silly, so when I found out I get to dress up as a strawberry and exercise with the kids I was immediately got excited. As you could imagine, a running strawberry was very entertaining for the kids and motivated them to keep going. There is nothing better than having fun while promoting healthier lifestyle choices and at UC CalFresh that is the focus!
- Author: Hannah Lee
Ayer Elementary's cafeteria received a Nutrition Corner update - the Physical Activity Crossword! It shows students different terms related to physical fitness and reminds them to be active for at least one hour every day. Engaging in physical activity has many benefits, including lowering our risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression and some cancers. It can even benefit children academically! Be sure to encourage your students and family be active regularly!
Nutrition Corners are a wonderful way to reiterate nutrition messaging at sites of all kinds - schools, community centers, etc. To get a Nutrition Corner going at your site, contact your Nutrition Program Coordinator or Educator and click here for ideas.
- Author: Austin Cantrell
UC CalFresh had the opportunity to partner with the Teaching Fellows Foundation and provide their after school program staff in Madera with a 2-hour training in the CATCH curriculum. 24 leads were trained with a potential reach of over 2,000 students. This training provided an overview of CATCH and the activity box, how it is implemented, and class management techniques. Trainees also participated in several fun CATCH games. They were able to bust out their dance moves during the Aerobic Rhythms game, practice their throwing skills using a bean bag during the Frogs on the Lilly Pad game, and chase each others' tails using a scarf during the Dragon's Tail game.
Teaching Fellows staff eager to learn about CATCH.
CalFresh Coordinator Angelica Perez explains the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program.
CalFresh Coordinator Austin Cantrell explains the contents of the CATCH activity box.
CalFresh Educator Mishelle Petit and Coordinator Carissa Villanueva explain the Dragon's Tail game to trainees.
CalFresh Educator Chris Deleon explains the Frogs on the Lilly Pad game.
CalFresh Coordinator Nora Lopez explains the Aerobic Rhythms game.
Teaching Fellows staff in the groove.
- Author: Christopher Deleon
Community centers provide learning opportunities and resources for local residents. They provide spaces for community members to become more involved in their community, their neighborhoods, and themselves. This summer the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program collaborated with the Holistic Cultural & Education Wellness Center to provide nutrition education classes to community members in the area. The Holistic Cultural & Education Wellness Center provides community members with a wide variety of services to encourage a well-balanced lifestyle. 
UC CalFresh provides nutrition education classes in both Spanish and English. Participants feel the classes help them make healthier decisions for themselves and their families.
Participants learn the importance of fruits and vegetables, planning meals to save money; and limiting salt, sugar and fat intake.
Participants also learn the importance of physical activity and strength training.
UC CalFresh had a great time collaborating with the center and providing lessons to families!
- Author: Austin Cantrell
- Editor: Emily Harris
If you don't enjoy long sessions of cardio exercise, high intensity interval training (HIIT) may be your best option. By increasing the intensity, you can cut your workouts shorter and still see the same benefits. HIIT can also help you burn fat quicker. The Tabata method of HIIT consists of engaging in an exercise at maximum effort for 20 seconds, then resting for 10 seconds. You can repeat the process until you reach your daily goal of minutes of exercise. Try the Tabata workout routine below!
UCCE Tabata Workout:
* Do each exercise for 20 seconds at maximum effort, then rest for 10 seconds. Repeat the sets for each exercise 8 times, then move on to the next exercise in the sequence. Total workout time= 24 minutes.
1. Burpee
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2. Russian Twists
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3. Mountain Climbers
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4. Push-Ups
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6. Squats
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