Fresno County's UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program has a long standing partnership with the Fresno State Dietetic Internship Program. This blog post is part of our Intern Reflections Series.

My rotation with UC CalFresh has been one of my very first community nutrition rotations in my dietetic internship. The nutrition education I previously provided was in a very different setting. Prior to starting this rotation, I knew very little about what UC CalFresh offers, however, my preceptors were wonderful at answering my questions, and their passion for their jobs really made me excited to spend two weeks learning from them.

One of my favorite parts of this rotation was going to the schools to observe and teach lessons to the kids. I was amazed at how knowledgeable the kids were about MyPlate and nutrition. To me, this was a reflection of the effectiveness of the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program. As I observed more lessons, I realized that the kids get really excited when the nutrition educators visit their classes because they make nutrition education so much fun by including games and songs in their lessons.

On the first day of my rotation I reviewed MyPlate with the kids and then sang and danced to the “MyPlate Shaky” with them. This was a lot of fun and the kids loved it! I really like that some form of physical activity is also incorporated into all of the lessons and that the importance of exercising each day is also stressed.

Haley teaching first graders at Yokomi about MyPlate

On this same day, part of the lesson was for the kids to build their own MyPlate. I like how this activity had the kids work in a group to help encourage teamwork and communication. It was great to hear the kids talk to each other about which foods fall into each food group and how to build a healthy meal.

I also loved observing and teaching part of the adult classes that the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program provides. One of my favorite adult classes was at Rescue the Children in Fresno, which was a combination of lessons three and four of the Plan, Shop, Save, and Cook (PSSC) curriculum. The nutrition educators did a great job with the lessons and I could tell that the participants responded really well to them. The participants were very engaged in the lesson and respectful to the educators.

I taught the physical activity portion of the class and showed them how to do a quick full-body stretch set. The participants really enjoyed the stretches and said that it helped them feel alert and more in the mood to exercise, especially since the class started early in the morning for them. I noticed that this group as a whole was much more invested in learning and they consistently participated in the activities.

The “Three Can Chili” recipe was the food demonstration that was presented on this day. The participants loved the idea of adding flavor to the chili with jalapeños, cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder instead of using salt. They also enjoyed the whole wheat crackers that were served to compliment the chili. This class was also different than the two adult classes I had previously observed in that it was much smaller, with only six participants compared to 10-12 participants in the other classes.

First graders at Yokomi completing the MyPlate activity

I was asked by the nutrition educators throughout the week whether I preferred teaching the youth or adult lessons. I still haven't come to a conclusion whether I prefer one over the other because they both have great aspects that I personally enjoy. My favorite part of teaching children is their enthusiasm and excitement for learning. However, with children, it is important to explain nutrition in simpler terms that will make sense to them. One of my favorite parts of teaching the adult lessons was having the flexibility to give more descriptive and detailed explanations of the nutrition topics and be able to help them have a more in-depth understanding of how the food they consume affects their bodies.

Overall, my time during my rotation at UC CalFresh has showed me what a valuable program it is for its participants. One of the participants in the adult classes told the educators that the lessons made her realize that she wanted to pursue a career in the field of nutrition! This rotation has showed me first-hand the impact that community nutrition can make. 

Fresno County's UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program has a long standing partnership with the Fresno State Dietetic Internship Program. This blog post is part of our Intern Reflections Series.

While I do not plan on working with children when I become a Registered Dietitian, my experience with the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program still proved to be a valuable learning opportunity. After observing nutrition coordinator, Brittanny Zweigle, conduct several nutrition education lessons and activities for elementary school students, I learned that all presented material has to be kept short and simple to engage the children and capture their attention throughout the entire lesson. Actions, word choices and lesson tools have to be appropriate for each age group in order to maintain the class' attention. For example, younger students needed a simple MyPlate with pictures to help the students learn which foods belong to which food groups, but a regular MyPlate was used with older students to allow for them to sort the foods without being prompted with visuals. I did notice, however, that even amongst the same grade levels, the children's abilities can also vary drastically from class to class; it is advisable to understand the level of your audience to best reach them. 

The curriculum used by the UC CalFresh team also gave me a sense of direction on where to start teaching nutrition education to children and the general population. First, start with a MyPlate and introduce the five food groups, including what each food group does for the body and which foods belong to each food group. After this introduction, the lesson can focus on a specific food group by providing depth on its background, importance, and function. Finally, I was glad to see that the UC CalFresh team always addresses the importance of exercise! Nutrition and physical activity are both required for a healthy lifestyle.

Fresno County's UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program has a long standing partnership with the Fresno State Dietetic Internship Program. This blog post is part of our Intern Reflections Series.

Days full of dancing with 5-year-olds to the “MyPlate Shaky,” having kids yell “Hi Miss Powers!” in the hallway, and getting to teach others about my favorite topic ever—nutrition: Where do I sign up?

That's right, people actually get paid to do this! All of my mentors and preceptors at UC CalFresh are extremely hard working and incredibly passionate and enthusiastic about what they do. The experiences I have had through my time with this program have further emphasized my love for community nutrition education.

Haley giving a MyPlate demonstration in a preschool class at Birney Elementary.

One of my experiences during my time with UC CalFresh was helping to create various materials and resources for the program. One such project involved creating a newsletter for parents and teachers highlighting healthy celebrations for families and children. These newsletters introduced important tips like making small changes to make the holidays a healthier season. Another project I worked on was finding scientific articles related to factors affecting the amounts and kinds of foods consumed during lunch at schools. I researched and summarized several articles that investigated the length of lunch periods and the consumption of entrée foods, fruits, vegetables, and milk in order to see if there was a general trend.

Perhaps my favorite part of my time with this program was getting to observe and teach nutrition lessons in the classroom. I was able to see first hand the way that lessons are created and geared towards each grade level, from preschool to 6^th grade. Each lesson had its own focus, however a brief MyPlate overview and some sort of physical activity was always included. I found that this was very important because it gave the lessons consistency and helped underscore the two most important concepts we want students to know: exercise is important and a healthy balanced plate is a must! Lessons were very interactive, and the children were very receptive to the information given to them. I enjoyed not only observing different employees' teaching techniques, but I also enjoyed getting to jump in and teach some of the lessons myself. I was also fortunate enough to observe an adult education class. This class was structured very differently than the elementary school classes, however MyPlate and physical activity were still included. There were also multiple tastings, which helped introduce participants to new foods and keep them involved and focused on the lesson. I was able to contribute to their nutrition education experience by answering some of their tough questions, which made me feel great!

Haley singing the "Plant Parts" song with a kindergarten class at Kratt Elementary.

After gaining a better understanding of the curriculum, the classroom environment, and the goals of the UC CalFresh program, I was able to create my own lesson plan that I felt would be an effective tool for teaching students about added sugar. I researched and came up with activities that were hands-on and interactive, while still emphasizing the importance of MyPlate. I would be honored to get to teach this lesson to students in the future!

“The general goal of UC CalFresh is to improve the diet and nutrition-related skills of CalFresh recipients and their families.” When I read this objective from the UC CalFresh website after my experience with the program, I can honestly say that the daily efforts put forth by all of the members of the staff are with this particular goal in mind. Objectives and mission statements can sometimes be so far removed from the day-to-day reality of certain organizations, but for UC CalFresh it is their everyday mindset. The work atmosphere, goals, and practices of this program are absolutely in line with where I see myself working in the nutrition field.

Sign me up!

Fresno County's UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program has a long standing partnership with the Fresno State Dietetic Internship Program. This blog post is part of our Intern Reflections Series.

I wasn't exactly sure what happens at UC CalFresh, but I did know it was community based, and that the program promoted nutrition education. I also knew that the nutrition educators would go into elementary schools and provide a 20-30 minute lesson about nutrition. Since school had just started, I was told that we would, unfortunately, not be able to see the nutrition education in the classroom. This was a bit disappointing because I love teaching and being exposed to different styles and techniques (especially classroom management).

Me putting together teaching tools used for Youth Nutrition lessons

I started my two-week rotation like that of any other new job: paperwork. There is an online certification process that takes about 4 hours. Being one to like to do things the hard way, I completed the wrong certification and had to start all over the next day. Good times! I did learn a lot about privacy, participant's rights, and other legal matters pertaining to studies, so it was all worth it!

There is also an assignment during the first few days where you are required to complete questions pertaining to the curriculum of the UC CalFresh program. This was an excellent opportunity to begin to understand the idea behind the lessons taught, how they are delivered, and what was appropriate for the audience being addressed.

John C. Martinez Elementary School Back to School Night with my fellow intern, Gene Thao

My first teaching observation was with a Jobs 2000 class taught by nutrition educators Javier and Yolanda. It was the first of four lessons for this class, so I was able to understand where the nutrition education began, and how it was delivered to older adults. It was a fun experience, and the educators were great at not only teaching, but also interacting with their class. 

Later in the week Brittanny Zweigle took me to an elementary school to sign teachers up for the program. This was an eye opening experience, as Brittanny explained how important the relationship is between UC CalFresh and the staff and faculty of the schools in Fresno County.  There truly was a great relationship demonstrated between not only Brittanny and the staff and faculty, but also the teachers and the UC CalFresh program itself. Everyone, students and adults alike, were so excited when they saw her! It was evident that other educators believe that the UC CalFresh program is essential to promoting a healthy lifestyle in the community. 

Me sitting in a Pre-School classroom

 I ended my first week at a Back to School night with nutrition educator Angelica at John C. Martinez Elementary School in Parlier. What a great school! So many families came out to celebrate the new school year. Our display had wonderful, easy to understand information about MyPlate. Although we were initially there to survey parents, we interacted with kids who knew so much about MyPlate! Why did they know the 5 food groups in 1^st grade? Because they had UC CalFresh nutrition education in kindergarten, providing another great example of how many people are being reached with this amazing program! Angelica was awesome with her bilingualism and also training two interns. Very impressive!

I ended my second week in the best way possible:  I was going to see an amazing nutrition educator teach to preschoolers! Shawna Rogers has been my guardian angel while doing my rotation at UC CalFresh, and I could never thank her enough for her patience, respect, and professional expertise. Seeing her in action was amazing, inspirational, and so much fun! She knows her audience and can teach a lesson while providing an entertaining and learning-friendly environment. I wish I had Mrs. Rogers as my nutrition educator!

The people who work at UC CalFresh were extremely welcoming and willing to teach me all about their job and how this program impacts the community. Thank you for sharing your space, knowledge, and time with me! I envy the next intern at UC CalFresh, and I can't wait to hear about their experience!