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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Over the past two weeks, I had the pleasure of interning with the University of California CalFresh Nutrition Education Program in Fresno and Madera Counties. On the first day of my rotation, I was impressed to see such an expansive library of diverse educational resources during a tour of the building. These resources spanned many topics, from nutrition, physical activity and hydration to sleep and food safety. It was immediately clear to me that the individuals who worked for this program were a truly passionate, invested team with a genuine goal to provide the most engaging and useful health tools to all age groups in the community. Throughout my entire rotation with UC CalFresh, I frequently thought to myself—All communities need a program like this! 

I had an exceptionally fun time being involved in an array of experiences with UC CalFresh. For example, I had the opportunity to teach nutrition and physical activity lessons to elementary school students and adults. I admit that I was a little nervous to be back in the community setting, teaching larger groups again, since I had spent a majority of my dietetic internship in the clinical setting, mainly working one-on-one with individuals. However, the UC CalFresh staff set me up for success by giving me class tools that were specifically designed to deliver key messages to target populations in the most effective, efficient manner possible.

For the elementary school lessons, I used books, songs with body motions, playful games and stuffed produce characters to teach students about MyPlate and physical activity. One exciting physical activity game we played with second grade students was called, “Deal or No Deal.” This was an exercise spin-off of the popular game show with the same name. Another exciting activity we did with the students was read a book to them called, Handa's Surprise, that introduced the students to a variety of fruits and animals. To go along with the book, the UC CalFresh staff made a fun game emphasizing children's memory skills to recall which fruits and animals were paired in the book. The students and I loved doing these activities together – we shared many laughs while simultaneously learning a great deal.

For the adult lessons, I used engaging activities, laminated poster boards, interactive handouts, measuring spoons and science models to deliver MyPlate concepts. One fun flavor activity I did with the adult class involved smelling different, unlabeled spices and guessing which spice it was.

Aside from all of these amazing teaching experiences, I was also fortunate to complete a few behind-the-scenes projects. I created a Nutrition Corner intended for display in a cafeteria to support the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement. "Fruits and Vegetables" was the theme of my board because I am passionate about encouraging youth to eat more produce, which offers a wide variety of nutrients and health benefits. I was surprised by how much this project challenged me to tap into my creativity and step into a child's perspective. Completing this seemingly simple task took longer than I expected, which gave me a whole new appreciation for educators.

Lastly, I cannot forget Farm and Nutrition Day! On the final day of my rotation, some of the UC CalFresh staff and I dressed up in produce costumes for an entertaining MyPlate and physical activity play. As part of the play, we performed a catchy exercise song and dance with all the students. I had a blast running around in a corn costume, dancing and singing with all the kiddos.

Overall, I learned that the UC CalFresh staff are not just talented educators; they are artists, dancers, singers, improvisers, team mates, professionals, and passionate nutrition and exercise enthusiasts. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the plethora of valuable experiences that the UC CalFresh staff and their participants gave me during my short, but extremely rewarding, two-week rotation. Thank you for allowing me to work on my teaching and creativity skills. Keep up the great work, UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program!

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.

Working with the various communities here in the Central Valley through the UC Cooperative Extension in Fresno and Madera Counties has been a great experience! The two weeks I've had here flew by fast, but I suppose that's what happens when you're having fun while learning on the job. I enjoyed being part of this working environment because of the great interactions I had with the UC Cooperative staff and participants. Due to my past work experience working with the Butte County UC Cooperative Extension, I was very familiar with the types of events and projects this program offers, so I didn't hesitate jumping in where I was needed. 

One program that I participated in was the Veteran Affairs Mental Health Program. From there, I helped teach the Eat Healthy, Be Active Community Workshops. For each lesson, I taught the veterans about food safety and I provided tips on how to be successful in changing their current lifestyles. The veterans brought up many wonderful discussions about trending food topics and even shared their food experiences at home. With our help, many of the veterans talked about making small goals to live their life better and make healthier food choices.

I also had the wonderful opportunity to go out of town to teach at Annie E. Cheney Kindergarten in Coalinga. For the day, I  spent time with kindergarten students, teaching them about MyPlate. In the lesson, I read them a book called A Feast for Ten and I taught them to shop for healthy food items at the grocery store. Another great teaching opportunity I was exposed to was at Leavenworth Elementary School in Fresno. For my 1st and 2nd grade students, I taught them the benefits of drinking water. As for my 4th grade class, I taught them the importance of MyPlate. At the two schools, I was highly impressed by the knowledge and energy each student possessed, and I was glad to hear that they enjoyed all of the activities and lessons that were given to them. From this experience, I learned that teaching nutrition to youth is fun, but one must have a loud projecting voice and be energetic at all times! When the educator is interactive and upbeat, so are the students.

On an early Thursday morning I participated in the Walk to School event at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Madera. The nutrition team and I engaged the students in physical activity while talking to them about Myplate with a MyPlate parachute. Afterward, we walked with the children (along with other health educators, officials, and parents) to their school to ensure that they arrived safely. This event was held to bring awareness to the public of the issues the students face while walking to school. For example, one side of the street did not have a proper sidewalk installment, therefore, the children had to walk on the dirt road. Also, many of the children were afraid of the dogs around the neighborhood and would step on the road to avoid being barked at. Being part of this experience, empowered me to try and attend more events like this to help make the school community a safer and better place for their students.

All of these different experiences helped to remind me that as a health educator and advocate, I need to see and explore the daily problems these communities face every day. As I continue on to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, it is my job to understand my community and seek out the best resolution that will help the people I serve. One important thing that I learned from this is that no two communities work the same way, so to be an effective educator I need to know the community I am working with. The only way I can do that is be active on the field and go out to talk to the people about their concerns and the issues they face. Overall, this was a fun and aspiring rotation, and it brought me great joy to be part of the UC Cooperative family again.

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.

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.