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.