- Author: Araceli Delgadillo
- Editor: Emily Harris
On November 14th, 2016 UC CalFresh was invited to the Parent Coffee Hour at Rowell Elementary in Fresno. The parent coffee hour is a designated time when parents can meet with the school principal to ask questions, address concerns or participate in a presentation. Nutrition Program Coordinators, Araceli Delgadillo and Emily Harris, presented the “MyPlate Workshop.” There were 15 parents in attendance along with Rowell's principal, Alice McClintock. The parents learned about MyPlate and received tips to help them follow MyPlate guidelines. The parents also sampled Broccoli Cheddar Soup, and it was a hit! A nutrition series will be offered to the Rowell Elementary parents in the spring of 2017.
Below is the recipe that the parents tasted during the MyPlate workshop:
Image Source: http://aubonpain.com/menu/broccoli-cheddar
Cream of Broccoli Soup
Ingredients:
10 ounce package of frozen, chopped broccoli
1- 8 ounce can of carrots or drained mixed vegetables
1- 10 ounce can of cream of mushroom soup
1 ¼ cup of low fat milk
¼ to ½ cup of grated cheddar cheese
Directions:
- In a saucepan, prepare broccoli according to directions. Drain water.
- Add carrots, cream of mushroom soup, and one can of milk to the broccoli. Stir over low heat until vegetables are cooked and the mixture is steaming hot.
- Add cheese, stirring until melted.
- Serve hot. Refrigerate leftovers.
Recipe Source: https://whatscooking.fns.usda.gov/recipes/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/cream-broccoli-soup-ii
- 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: 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: Mary Grace Hallare
- Contributor: Nath Say
- Editor: Emily Harris
UC CalFresh Fresno County has a long standing partnership with the Fresno State Dietetic Internship Program. This blog post is part of our Intern Reflections Series.
The Carnaval Children's Festival, held at the Mosqueda Community Center on September 19th, offered family fun and entertainment with bounce houses, wildlife exhibits, and swimming pool games. Families visited colorful booths that offered a wealth of information about their community and a handful of freebies.
Children enjoyed getting physically active in the bounce houses!
So many great vendor booths to visit!
The UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program joined in the event and set up their own booth to promote the importance of milk and calcium-rich food consumption.
UC CalFresh's "Milk is for Me" workshop display
Different models of milk—whole to fat-free—were displayed to reveal their fat content along with other interesting hands-on visuals. Many parents were amazed to discover the amount of fat they were consuming on a daily basis. They were also surprised as they felt the actual weight of both one pound and five pounds of fat. Most importantly, they learned the pivotal role of calcium in bone health.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Parks and Recreation, the City of Fresno, Fresno Unified School District, and PG&E for sponsoring yet another awesome community event for the city of Fresno!
