At the end of last school year, Heaton Preschool teacher Liz Garcia took the breakfast lesson taught by UC CalFresh Community Education Specialist Kristi Schultz-Sharp to another level!

Students first learned about eating healthy foods for breakfast, followed by a physical activity.

Then they participated in making pancakes. But these weren't just any old pancakes, these pancakes were topped with vanilla Greek yogurt, fresh strawberries and bananas as a healthy alternative to syrup.

How will you take the nutrition lessons that happen in your classroom this year to another level of learning? Share your plans or past successes in the comments below.

Stay up-to-date on all things UC CalFresh! 

The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources recently hosted a Programmatic Orientation for new Academics.  There were many UCCE Advisors in attendance from across the state as well as the Vice President of UC ANR, Dr. Barbara Allen-Diaz, and the Associate Vice President, Dr. Bill Frost.

The Fresno County UC CalFresh program had the privilege of providing an overview of the work we are doing in schools and community centers. 

Jose Alvarado, Fresno Unified Food Services Director, presented on the district's partnership with UC CalFresh and discussed the new community eligibility provision which allows the district to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students.

(From left to right) Dr. Shannon Mueller, Dr. Bill Frost, Jose Alvarado and Dr. Barbara Allen-Diaz

Jose also provided the group a tour of the Nutrition Center which produces over 70,000 meals every day. Amazing! 

Check out the tour below:

While students were on summer vacation, local seniors got an opportunity to go “back to school” with UC Calfresh.

UC CalFresh Nutrition Educators have been busy teaching senior nutrition classes in Fresno County this summer.  The curricula taught included: Eat Smart, Live Strong (ESLS) and Plan Shop Save and Cook (PSSC).

Nutrition Educator Kaili Acosta teaching the Plan Shop Save cook series at Pinedale Community Center.

Our signature senior curriculum, ESLS, focuses on teaching seniors to include a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, as well as the importance of getting 30 minutes of physical activity every day.

In each of our lessons, senior participants learned to make low-cost nutritious meals, save money while shopping, and easy ways to incorporate physical activity into their day.   

Nutrition Educators, Javier Miramontes and Tacu Vang reviewing Myplate with Participants at the Selma Senior Center.

Part of each lesson includes physical activities that seniors can do at home.

Tacu Vang, Nutrition Educator asks participants at Selma Senior Center how they can include more fruits and vegetables in their favorite meals.

Nutrition Education Specialist, Yolanda Lopez shows participants at Ted C. Wills Community Center how they can make a low-cost meal at home.

At the end of each series participants receive a certificate and tools to implement what they have learned. These tools include cook books, coupon holders, measuring spoons, shopping lists and MyPlate materials.

Special thanks to all of our partnering agencies for making these classes possible. Sites that offered our Senior Nutrition Education Series include: Senior Citizen's Village, Ted C. Wills Community Center, Sunnyside Glen Apartments, Mosqueda Community Center, Selma Senior Center and Pinedale Community Center. 

If you'd like to bring nutrition education to seniors in your community, please email lybrewer@ucanr.edu or comment below.