- Author: Deepa Srivastava, Ph.D.
CalFresh Healthy Living UCCE nutrition education program helps students increase willingness to try new healthy foods with 79-82% reporting they would ask for the target foods at home, contributing to improved youth nutrition and health.
The Issue
Poor eating habits and excess energy intake can negatively affect body weight and contributes to poor health outcomes among children. Eating appropriate mix of foods from the food groups and subgroups is the key recommendation because it provides a variety of nutrients that are associated with positive health outcomes and help prevent the risk of chronic disease throughout the periods of growth and development.
How UC Delivers
In 2019-20, the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Tulare-Kings implemented CalFresh Healthy Living, UC (CFHL, UC) nutrition education program with tasting activities across SNAP-Ed eligible preschools, schools, and after school settings. Children and youth taste tests occurred as part of the direct and indirect nutrition education, and policy, systems, and environment (PSE) initiatives such as youth farmer's market, school gardens, and smarter lunchrooms movement. UCCE nutrition educators also conducted youth taste tests through partnerships with school food service programs that feature and promote menu items to help increase appeal, reduce waste, and improve meal participation. Students take the recipes home to share with their families. In Tulare county, 363 tastings were conducted with 7,614 students and in Kings county, 106 tastings were conducted with 1,920 students.
The Impact
Nutrition educators administered the Taste Testing Tool (TTT) to capture student intention and food preferences immediately following food tastings. In Tulare county, of the 7,614 students who tasted variety of food, 97% tried it during the activity, 14% tasted the food before, 81% were willing to eat it again, and 79% were willing to ask for it at home. In Kings county, of the 1,920 students who tasted variety of food, 98% tried it during the activity, 31% tasted the food before, 84% were willing to eat it again, and 82% were willing to ask for it at home. Foods tasted were from all food groups- fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy.
To summarize, CFHL, UC food tastings provided several benefits to children and youth. It created opportunity to engage in hands-on food-related activities, offered repeated exposure to new foods, improved food preferences, demonstrated willingness to try foods and willingness to ask for them at home, strengthened partnerships with school districts, and provided parent outreach. Research has found that opportunities for children to taste unfamiliar, healthy foods increase the likelihood of consumption later in life. Collectively, these measured outcomes demonstrated youth learning that leads to improved nutrition and health and the public value of promoting healthy people and communities.
Comments from students:
“I've never tried raw broccoli before - this is good”
“I didn't know we could eat the seeds”
“This is bomb I didn't think I would like it but this is great. I don't like Greek yogurt but this is good”
Comments from teachers:
“Students were willing to try it because ingredients came from their school garden”
“This class had a great response to the snow pea”
“In this class one student decided to taste it after all due to seeing most of the other students liking it”
- Author: Deepa Srivastava,Ph.D.
Families participating in EFNEP report eating healthy on a budget and saving $44 per month, contributing to increased food security.
The Issue
Efforts to strengthen nutrition and food security is needed more than ever as families with young children face unprecedented challenges due to the COVID pandemic. The rising food insecurity in California and across the Nation is concerning. Food insecurity is linked to poor dietary outcomes and obesity. The EFNEP program in Tulare continues to empower families to support family health and resiliency (i.e. resourceful) with knowledge and skills to adopt healthy behaviors across four core areas of nutrition/physical activity, food resource management, food security, and food safety.
How UC Delivers
During FFY2019-20, a trained bilingual EFNEP Nutrition Educator implemented the evidence-based nine lesson series of Eating Smart Being Active in Spanish and English. Each class was held once a week for 60-90 minutes spanning nine weeks. Participants were recruited from community-based settings with program implementation occurring at 15 sites in Tulare county. Participants engage in hands-on learning about food planning, budgeting and shopping, healthy foods, cooking at home with cost-effective recipes, food safety practices, and physical activity. Of the 149 program families reached, 136 participants who attended all the lessons graduated from EFNEP. Furthermore, this effort developed strong community partnerships including establishing new partnerships with Native American Tribal organizations.
The Impact
Parents who completed the series (n=136) reported improvements in all the program areas: a) 88% of participants showed improvement in one or more food resource management practices (i.e., cook dinner at home, compare food prices, plan meals before shopping, look in refrigerator or cupboard before shopping, or make a list before shopping), b) 92% of participants showed improvement in one or more diet quality indicators (i.e., eating fruits, vegetables, red and orange vegetables, dark green vegetables, drinking less regular soda (not diet), drinking less fruit punch, fruit drinks, sweet tea, or sports drinks, and cooking dinner at home), c) 88% of participants showed improvement in one or more food safety practices (i.e., washing hands before preparing food, washing all items and surfaces after cutting raw meat or seafood, not thawing frozen food at room temperature, or using a meat thermometer), and d) 91% of participants showed improvement in one or more physical activity behaviors (i.e., exercising for at least 30 minutes, doing workouts to build and strengthen muscles, or making small changes to be more active).
A noteworthy program impact was a random sample (n=19) of these participants reported saving an average of $44.50 on food per month. These measured outcomes contribute to improved food security and the public value of sufficient, safe, and healthy food for all Californians.
“OVCDC had a pleasure in collaborating with the University of California & Agriculture and Resources, Mariana was a wonderful facilitator. Our families who attended really enjoyed the sessions, in which they learned a lot. Going forward we would like to continue this collaboration and reach more families.” - Community Partner
“I love how these recipes are easy and very cost effective.” - Community Partner
“I really enjoyed this class…I enjoyed seeing how excited [daughter] was at each class, and hearing her awesome achievements in learning how to cook healthier meals for her family” - Parent Participant
- Author: Chris McDonald
Participants commit to improving the safety of their landscape after receiving Cooperative Extension information about safely planting drought-tolerant plants, contributing to improved community health.
The Issue
How UC Delivers
Dr. Chris McDonald, UCCE Natural Resources Advisor and Carolyn Martus, staff research associate, developed a list of commonly sold drought-tolerant plants that are also toxic or harmful. We took our list of 100 plants and created species profiles for each plant that summarized why the plant was harmful and offered advice on how to plant them safely. With the help of UCCE digital media specialist, Benjamin DiAnna, we developed a bookmark, brochure and the Planting Safely in Drought-Tolerant Landscapes website that provides summary information and shows gardeners how to enjoy these plants safely. We also hosted a web-based presentation to show people how to use the website. The project was a team effort and also involved many San Diego Master Gardeners.
The Impact
Our public education campaign to teach people how to plant safely has helped Californians continue to protect our natural resources and improve water-use efficiency in the landscape while also improving the health of everyone in the community. During our workshop, 100% of participants committed to improving the safety of their landscape. Many of these plants can injure you, for example researchers have found that Euphorbias, such as fire sticks and crown of thorns, can cause serious eye injuries that can require attention by medical professionals. This website and education materials can be used to improve community health and wellness.
“I had a friend whose dog ate a leaf of a Sago Palm and nearly died. It was a shock to learn that some of our favorite plants can be so toxic!” Valorie Shatynski, UCCE Master Gardener.
- Author: Russell D. Hill
- Author: Fe Moncloa
- Author: Liliana Vega
- Contributor: Roshan Nyak
After attending first ever California 4-H virtual summer camps, 62% of youth participants reported they feel more connected to other youth, which is especially important for health given this time of COVID-19 isolation.
The Issue
Shelter in Place restrictions due to COVID-19 prevented in-person overnight and day camp opportunities for California's youth. A national survey of adolescents indicates, “School closures and sheltering at home in the COVID-19 pandemic isolate children and adolescents from peers, teachers, extended family, and community...fully one-third of adolescents reported high levels of loneliness.” (Loades ME et al., 2020)
How UC Delivered
In response to these restrictions, a team of UC ANR academics and staff united to provide engaging summer activities to provide virtual spaces for youth peer interactions and foster youth-adult partnerships. A partnership among eight UC ANR academics, including one from UC Davis, 31 staff, volunteers and youth representing 20 counties, four Research and Extension Centers, and the California 4-H Youth Development Program Statewide Office, developed, planned, and delivered the first-ever 4-H virtual camps in California: Our Wild California and 4-H Grown at Home.
Planning for these virtual camp opportunities began on April 23, 2020, with a launch date of June 13 for the first camp. During this period, we “learned by doing” and developed two week long day camps offered virtually using the Zoom platform. Each camp included three activity options in the morning and three options in the afternoon. Activity sessions were hosted by 4-H staff, academics, certified 4-H volunteers and teens. 4-H County Ambassador teams were recruited to lead ice breakers and team building activities during morning and afternoon sessions.
Our Wild California virtual camp, held during the week of July 13, 2020, offered 108 youth campers from 18 counties the opportunity to learn about the natural environment. The week long camp is comprised of various activities designed to grow youths' appreciation for nature. 4-H Grown at Home, held during the week of August 3, 2020, offered 105 youth campers from 22 counties the opportunity to explore the natural world from their home.
The Impact
More than 70% (n=69) of youth campers agreed virtual camps provided them opportunities to explore something they really care about, and 62% reported their camp participation helped them feel more connected to other youth. Research shows that lack of social connection can have negative impacts on health. Thus, these outcomes contribute to improved health and the public value of promoting healthy people and communities.
“I think that most everyone communicated really well, and the events ran really smoothly. Everyone was so nice and friendly, and I felt really welcome to participate as a teen volunteer.”- Teen Volunteer
“…there are more friendly people in the world than you think.” – Youth Camper
Source: Loades ME et al. 2020).Rapid systematic review: The impact of social isolation and loneliness on the mental health of children and adolescents in the context of COVID-19. Journal American Academy Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,Jun 3; [e-pub]. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2020.05.009)
- Author: Shannon Klisch
- Author: Emily Dimond
- Author: Rosa Vargas
- Author: Katherine E Soule
During COVID-19, CalFresh Healthy Living virtually developed culinary skills of 18 4-H SNAC Club student leaders, who then led 117 culturally-relevant healthy cooking lessons with family members.
The Issue
Health disparities, described in Healthy People 2020 as “health differences that are closely linked with social, economic, and environmental disadvantage,” adversely impact people of color in the United States. Eliminating health disparities will require coordinated efforts across all sectors of society and investment in equitable infrastructure so that all Americans have access to the resources needed to live healthy lives[1]. Obesity and diabetes remain two of the most persistent health outcomes with documented disparities between White and African American or Latino populations and is related to differential access to healthy food, housing, healthcare, education, and safe environments for physical activity created by historic and persistent racist policies and systems. During COVID-19, disparities in health outcomes have intensified as parents who are Hispanic or Black and parents with lower incomes were most likely to lose work-related income and to reduce spending on food during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic[2]. In addition, people of color have a higher risk of infection, hospitalization and death from COVID-19, risks that are linked to obesity and obesity-related chronic disease[3].
How UC Delivers
CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties works primarily with youth and families attending schools with high rates of low-income students and families who are Hispanic/Latino. UC educators partner with youth in elementary schools to develop expertise in health and nutrition and to advocate for improved access to healthy and culturally relevant foods through the 4-H Student Nutrition Advisory Council (SNAC Club). SNAC Clubs fosters youth leadership, health knowledge, skill building, and career readiness. When schools shut down, UC educators reached out to school administrators to problem-solve ways to continue to partner with and support SNAC Club youth.
Starting in April 2020, 18 youth from two school clubs continued SNAC Club meetings online for nine consecutive weeks. Meetings included cooking and gardening activities, utilizing resources available in students' homes and supplemental materials provided by UCCE staff. During and after the online meetings, youth shared the food they prepared, as well as information about food safety, food budgeting, and the nutritional value of featured ingredients with members of their families. After each session, youth provided their feedback to UCCE educators through an anonymous survey.
The Impact
SNAC Club youth leaders adopted what they learned from UCCE SNAC meetings by delivering a total of 117 lessons to their families and engaging an average of three family members in weekly cooking, nutrition or garden lessons, with some youth engaging up to five family members. Topics taught by youth leaders included healthy recipe demonstration and tasting, the benefits of eating from one or more of the MyPlate food groups, how to make healthy meals on a budget, and cooking with seasonal produce.
Overall, of the six recipes prepared, 92% of youth (n=38) indicated that they would make the recipe again. Youth and their families also commented on changes they would make to the recipes such as omitting onions or adding avocado, tomatoes or cucumber. Several students shared how they involved their families in preparing the recipe together.
Research has shown that programs that enhance cooking skills are supportive of healthy dietary intake, body mass index, and blood pressure[4]. Fostering skill development among youth around preparing healthy foods with and for their families support improved health among low-income and Latino community members and are examples of UC ANR's Public Values of: Promoting healthy people and communities and Developing an inclusive and equitable society for all Californians as we face uncertainty and a global pandemic.
“My family really liked [the baby tomato bites recipe] and said that I should make it again.” – SNAC Club Youth Leader
[1] https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2019/01/29/achieving-health-equity
[2] https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/102254/parents-are-struggling-to-provide-for-their-families-during-the-pandemic_2.pdf
