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- Author: Haley Gostanian
- Editor: Emily Harris
Fresno and Madera Counties' 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.
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My time here with the UC CalFresh Program has been quite insightful. It was great to see that nutrition education is provided to those that need it most right here in our own community. I had the opportunity to observe and facilitate nutrition lessons for both adults and children during my time with the program.
The lessons that are taught through the UC CalFresh Program are from curricula created by the University of California system, and include education on MyPlate and other important aspects of nutrition and health. I found it very rewarding to teach children as young as first grade about MyPlate and the importance of nutrients for the body. I'm glad there are programs like this one that are helping to increase the knowledge of nutrition in elementary school aged children because I was never exposed to this type of information until I was in college. Knowing that these children are being taught such important lessons is significant to me as a future dietitian, as it increases their chances of living a healthier lifestyle as they get older. Observing the adult classes was also an exciting part of my time with the program, as I have not had a chance to teach an adult class about nutrition. I helped facilitate the review portion of different sessions, prepare a nutritious fruit salad and instruct short physical activities.
Another part of my rotation included creating a Nutrition Corner poster in which I chose the topic of animal protein and plant protein, providing tips on how to utilize and incorporate both into an everyday diet. I made it interactive by having the tips hidden under flaps that you have to open, which I hope will get students to actually come up to the board and engage with the information. I also created a newsletter for teachers and parents discussing the importance of calcium in the diet, and facts about calcium that would be interesting to students as well as parents.
Overall, my experience was extremely beneficial in expanding my creativity for teaching students as well as adults. It is important as a future dietitian to know what types of materials different populations are receptive to, and to truly be passionate about the information you are providing so that the audience is more engaged with that information.
- Author: Veronica Kohtz
- Editor: Emily Harris
Fresno and Madera Counties' 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.
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Before starting at UC CalFresh, I had never heard of the program. I quickly learned that the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program is a part of the UC Cooperative Extension and uses the research from the University of California system to provide nutrition education to children and adults.
During my two weeks at UC CalFresh, I had the opportunity to work with both the adult nutrition education program and the youth nutrition education program. All of the lessons included MyPlate, which clearly illustrates the five food groups that are the building blocks of a healthy diet.
I asked this classroom of students to flex their muscles. Using Myplate, I explained that the protein group helps us develop strong muscles.
I asked this group of students to tell me what vegetables they recognize on the MyPlate display.
I enjoyed working with the students. They were fun, creative, and loved sharing their favorite healthy foods! The UC CalFresh curriculum helps children learn about healthy foods to encourage good choices and habits. It was refreshing to hear that some students have had UC CalFresh Nutrition Education for multiple years, some starting the program as early as preschool!
This student helped me complete the MyPlate Puzzle.
I also assisted with the adult nutrition education program at sites including Jobs and Beyond and Rescue the Children. This was my first nutrition education experience working with adults in a professional setting. While assisting the classes, I recognized the need for nutrition education. The UC CalFresh educators and I taught topics such as the MyPlate food groups, food safety, and how to read nutrition facts labels. The information will help participants make healthier choices for themselves and their families.
Additionally, I created a Nutrition Corner focused on the dairy food group. The Nutrition Corner will be displayed at elementary schools and will enhance the school environment by providing indirect nutrition education. My display will help students understand low-fat and fat-free sources of dairy and the important nutrients dairy foods contain.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at UC CalFresh! My two weeks were packed with fun and challenging experiences. I learned a lot about nutrition education curriculum and how to effectively teach to children and adults from the UC CalFresh staff. The UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program is helping to build and maintain healthy communities and families. I am proud to have been involved with such an important program that is influencing the future health of Fresno and Madera Counties.
- Author: Elena Smith
- Editor: Emily Harris
Fresno and Madera Counties' 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 two weeks at UC Cooperative Extension with the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program have been packed with both new and familiar experiences, and I can truly say I have enjoyed every minute. I was reminded of how much I enjoy educating children and I learned that teaching adults has its own benefits and challenges. I've worked with children quite a bit in the past, so I was very excited to be able to teach a MyPlate lesson to children at a local elementary school during my time at UC Cooperative Extension. After my first day, however, a majority of my time was spent sitting in and assisting with classes for adults at Jobs and Beyond. I had never taught a group of adults before, so I was nervous when I was told that I would be helping with an entire, four-class series. Despite my nerves, I had a great experience with Jobs and Beyond. The adults were very receptive, and I realized that there is a large need for nutrition education in this age group.
Exposing children to nutrition information early in life is important, but parents are the ones who do the grocery shopping and make the decisions regarding whether to buy healthy or unhealthy foods. The more information they receive, the easier it will be for them to keep themselves and their families healthy. I received more experience with “real world problems” during my time at Jobs and Beyond. The class participants asked great questions like, “Which is better, canned or frozen vegetables?” and ,“My mom defrosts her meat on the counter, is that okay?” I learned that food choices and food handling information is passed down through generations. Being able to answer questions like these and provide explanations that could be passed on to others made me feel that I was making a difference.
Most importantly, I learned that working at a community site, you can't just be a teacher. You must also have the skills of an artist, a mechanic, a fitness instructor, an IT service person, and above all, a problem solver. While at UC Cooperative Extension, I had to think through my ideas for projects from different perspectives, trying to anticipate problems that could arise. With some help from the UC CalFresh staff, I was able to take the ideas I had and make them more realistic for their setting. In making my nutrition corner, a nutrition education poster that will be placed in a school, I experienced a few complications that required different skills and problem solving, including one issue that now allows me to add "laminator mechanic" to my resume. I quickly discovered that it is important to look at things from a child's perspective and anticipate how to make the poster stay together despite the chaos of a school hallway or lunchroom. I learned that it is important to stay calm, try as many solutions as you can think of, and ask others for help when needed. Overall, I had a great experience working in community nutrition alongside the helpful and enthusiastic staff at UC Cooperative Extension in the UC CalFresh program.
- Author: Evelyn Morales
- Editor: Emily Harris
Every year UC CalFresh hosts a two-week rotation for each intern in Fresno State's Dietetic Internship Program. During their time with UC CalFresh, the dietetic interns visit various communities in Fresno and Madera Counties and gain skills and experience with program development, youth and adult lesson demonstration and indirect nutrition education.
Pete meets the Fresno State Dietetic Interns!
On August 19th, the dietetic interns arrived at UC Calfresh to learn more about our program and its role in the community at our Intern Orientation. The interns received information regarding the University of California and its dedication to getting research-based information to the public, and the role the UC Calfresh Nutrition Education Program plays in creating healthier families in Fresno and Madera Counties.
The interns were able to see how nutrition education is implemented for elementary school kids in a demonstration of our lesson, "Mystery Vegetables."
No class is complete without a physical activity break. Here the interns participate in a JAMmin Minutes Deskercise video.
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Pete the MyPlate Superhero is excited for each intern to visit and work with UC Calfresh. You will be able to read about each interns experience in our Intern Reflection Series.
/span>- Author: Brittanny N. Zweigle
At the University of California Cooperative Extension, we are proud to partner with the dietitians of tomorrow!
Since August we have worked with 5 dietetic interns from California State University, Fresno. I have had the pleasure of taking them to school sites, and showing them a typical day in the life of a Community Education Specialist working in community nutrition.
We look forward to working with additional Fresno State dietetic interns in January! To learn more about the Fresno State Dietetics Program, Click here.
If you'd like to gain experience in community nutrition by volunteering with UC CalFresh, apply to participate in our Master Education Extender Team by clicking here.