- Author: Angelica Perez
- Editor: Emily Harris
Parents at Jefferson Elementary School were thrilled to begin the Plan, Shop, Save and Cook Series. They were excited to learn about ways the class could help them save money when it comes to healthy cooking at home and also learn ways to plan healthy meals. Many activities were included during the lessons, which allowed them to apply the skills they learned. One activity had the parents first create a meal plan and then plan their shopping lists. This activity allowed them to see the food groups they were eating plenty of, and which other food groups were being left out.
Jefferson parents planning their families' meals for the week and creating their shopping lists.
As the lessons continued throughout the weeks, many of the parents were eager to share their success in balancing all of the food groups on MyPlate to ensure balanced diets. Others shared their new found awareness of store flyer sale items, which included seasonal fruits and vegetables. Many parents also learned how low their whole grain consumption was, and began incorporating more whole grains into their meals. A couple of the parents even shared that they made our enchilada casserole at home and their families loved it, not knowing that they were eating whole grain brown rice!
Nutrition Educators, Araceli and Angelica, with some of the parents from the class who received their certificate of graduation from the Plan, Shop, Save and Cook Series.
Overall the class was very successful and we had 7 parents graduate the Plan, Shop, Save and Cook Series. Many parents appreciated learning nutrition information provided during the class by mentioning how useful it was for them to ensure that they make everyday, healthy eating a positive and simple, one step at a time, change. They know that these changes will make an extreme difference in their overall health and the health of their families.
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Interested in bringing an adult nutrition education class to a school or community center near you? Contact our Adult Nutrition Program Supervisor, Javier Miramontes, at 241-7531 or jfmiramontes@ucanr.edu for more information.
- Author: Consuelo Cid
How do we cultivate healthy habits?
The UC CalFresh Adult Nutrition Education Program provides its program participants with no-cost, research-based information on food and nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and resource management. We strive to empower our participants with practical skills and knowledge that enables them to engage in physical activity and make informed food choices.
Knowledge
Participants at Rescue the Children completed a Plan, Shop, Save & Cook 5-week nutrition education series. They learned about the importance and value of planning for family meals, shopping for nutrient dense foods, how to safely prepare family meals, and how to stretch food dollars when money is tight.
Empowerment
Our participants left excited and empowered to make healthy changes for themselves, and their families! Goal setting is an important component and emphasis in our classes. Goal setting makes healthier behavior changes possible and attainable for our participants. Below are some goals you may wish to tackle and/or incorporate into your everyday routine:
- Use a grocery list when grocery shopping.
- Involve your children when planning and preparing meals.
- Read the nutrition facts label on snacks and cereals and choose foods with the least amount of sugar.
- Buy items in bulk to save money.
Social Support
Our Rescue the Children participants were an enthusiastic group of women who were willing to learn from their peers by sharing successes and/or barriers they have experienced when feeding their children.
Practical Application
We injected hands-on learning into our physical activity breaks. We encouraged participants to be the educator and teach their peers a physical activity that they can employ at home. We recommend that adults get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. To meet this recommendation, our participants used the Champions for Change, "Playing for Healthy Choices" cards to inspire their peers to move more. They carefully read through their physical activity cards and demoed their specific physical activity. They also offered modifications to the exercise cards to encourage everyone to participate at a level that best suited them. What a fun way to incorporate physical activity!
Cooking Demonstration
We concluded our last nutrition lesson with our graduation ceremony and a cooking demonstration. The Spaghetti with Turkey Meat Sauce was a hit amongst our participants. They were surprised with how simple swaps, like choosing whole grain pasta and leaner meats, could make for a tasty and nutritious meal. Our recipe and how to prepare it, in 4 simple steps, is found below. Let us know if you try it out with your families. Tweet us a picture, post it on Facebook, or tag us on Instagram.
Spaghetti with Turkey Meat Sauce
Ingredients
Non stick cooking spray
¾ pound of lean ground turkey
2 (14 1/2 –ounce) can of diced tomatoes, juice reserved
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 cup of onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon of crushed, dried oregano
1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
1 pound of spaghetti noodles
- Author: Sandra Ortega
- Contributor: Yolanda Lopez
The Adult Transition Program (ATP) is part of Fresno Unified School Districts Special Education Department. ATP provides functional life skills training to students who are eligible for special education services with moderate/severe disabilities. This program is designed with emphasis on life skills, so the students can reach their full potential as independently as possible at home, in school, in the community and in vocational settings.
UC CalFresh Nutrition Educators Sandra Ortega and Yolanda Lopez are delivering nutrition education from the "Eat Fit" curriculum to the students of ATP. The interactive lessons have the classes learning, dancing and having a great time!
The students of ATP have learned the importance of physical activity and do not let physical limitations keep them from working hard to be physically fit!
Stay tuned for more updates on these awesome students and dedicated teachers!
- Author: Emily Harris
- Contributor: Angelica Perez
- Contributor: Consuelo Cid
Do you know your BMI? BMI stands for Body Mass Index and is a measurement comparing a person's height and weight. Although it is not a measurement of body fat, your BMI can give you an insight to your weight status and indicate if you need to make a change. An individual with a BMI that falls into the overweight or obese category has an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.
At a recent no cost adult nutrition class, Nutrition Educator Consuelo Cid taught her participants about BMI and encouraged them to use it as a catalyst for healthy lifestyle changes.
If you are interested in finding out your BMI, click here.
- Author: Kristi Noel Schultz-Sharp
Thank You Calwa for welcoming the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program on September 1st to the very first Parent Coffee Hour of the school year! Twenty parents attended and participated in the "Milk is for Me" adult workshop, which discusses the importance of calcium, choosing low-fat milk, and rethinking your drink (those sugar sweetened beverages).
Our program offers interactive bilingual parent education in the form of workshops and class series. Contact your Nutrition Educator for more information on how to invite us to your next Parent Coffee Hour.
A parent matches the amount of sugar to the drink
