CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Nutrition Education Program
Promoting healthy people and communities
CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE works at the intersection of individual and community health - offering the latest UC evidence-based information, talented local educators, and an uncompromising commitment to quality in community service.
CalFresh Healthy Living Program is a federally-funded nutrition education program for individuals and families participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as CalFresh in California. CalFresh Healthy Living, UC State Office is located at the University of California Davis, and the program is delivered through UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in 34 counties.
CFHL, UCCE Riverside County serves families and youth in schools with more than 50% student participation in the Free/Reduced Meals Program. We also collaborate with local agencies serving limited-resource families such as CalFresh offices.
What Does CalFresh Healthy Living Do?
Educate - Increase nutrition and physical activity knowledge, skills, and practice
-Effective, evidence-based nutrition education for youth, adults, seniors and families
-Offering a comprehensive, preventative approach to health
-Classes offered primarily in Spanish and English, with Chinese and Hmong classes offered in select locations
Partner – Encourage state and local partnerships in support of shared goals
-Strategically aligned partnerships help strengthen the food system for low-resource communities
-We partner with government and non-governmental agencies, local stakeholders, and community leaders to create further impact and generate sustainable results
Build Capacity - Advance local priorities through training and technical assistance
-Curricula training for “extenders” (teachers, after school staff, community members)
-Leadership development for youth
-Fostering a network of local health advocates
Transform – Act as a catalyst for healthy lifestyle change
-Working with communities to seek healthy lifestyle solutions that are sustainable, transformative, inclusive, and grass roots driven
CalFresh Food Assistance
Please click here to apply for CalFresh Food Assistance
CFHL, UCCE Brings Healthy Living to Ethnic Communities
The CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Riverside team works with ethnic communities to transform their environment by establishing and maintaining community gardens.
Partnerships Receive Cooperative Extension National Health Equity Award
Please click here to view the CFHL UCCE Riverside Priester Award Article
Youth Program
Youth CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE partners with teacher extender and train them to deliver lessons and activities to help youth make more healthful eating and fitness choices.
For more information about preschool and elementary curricula contact Esmeralda Nunez at (951)827-0208 Ext. 4, eannunez@ucanr.edu.
For more information regarding curricula for middle and high school contact Marlen Gaspar at (951) 955-2604, mgaspar@ucanr.edu.
Adult Program
CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE classes for adult participants are delivered as a single workshop or a series of 4-5 lessons.
The Plan, Shop, Save, Cook (PSSC) series covers the following topics: MyPlate, meal planning, food labels, food shopping, and cooking a meal/food safety.
The single workshop topics include Rethink Your Drink, Keeping Strong Bones, Breakfast, Whole grains, Physical Activity, and garden-based lessons.
For more information contact Riverside CFHL, UCCE Nutrition Education Program at (951) 955-0170.
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CFHL, UCCE Riverside Team:
Our staff of professionals bring a significant depth and breadth of food and nutrition experience and education to the program. We act as a vital bridge between the UC academic system and our local communities, tailoring the latest science, curriculum, and information to the needs, cultures, and languages of our communities. Claudia Carlos (951) 955-2613, cfcarlos@ucanr.edu Esmeralda Nunez (951) 827-0208 Ext.4, eannunez@ucanr.edu Vianca Nunez (951) 827-0208 Ext.5, vnunez@ucanr.edu Marlen Gaspar (951) 955-2602, mgaspar@ucanr.edu Alondra Alonso (951) 955-2799, aalon@ucanr.edu Michelle Zavala (951) 955-2604, miczavala@ucanr.eduThis material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - SNAP. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Visit www.CalFreshHealthyLiving.org for healthy tips.
CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE
CalFresh Healthy Living is currently conducting a project in collaboration with UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program to promote community garden at Community Settlement Association in Riverside. This project aligns with USDA’s efforts to broaden the scope of nutrition education for SNAP eligible populations to include policy, systems, and environmental changes. Families in the Eastside Riverside are learning about nutrition and gardening. The produce grown is distributed to low income families.
CFHL, UCCE Riverside Brings Healthy Living to Ethnic Communities
In 2013 the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Riverside team began work with the Community Settlement Association in Riverside through a community grant that funded garden reinvigorating. During the pandemic, all produce harvested from the garden has been donated to the local food pantry. Garden Club activity occurs twice a month and enhances educational work in the community.
Our work with Riverside Faith Temple began in 2018. Food harvested from Riverside Faith Temple community garden is donated to parishioners and community members. Our team has continued to host monthly virtual garden club meetings in partnership with the UC Master Gardener program in Riverside County. We plan to resume in-person garden activities this winter.
Since 2013 CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Riverside has fostered a growing relationship with the Torres Martinez Tribal Community in Thermal. Based on this long-standing relationship, in 2020 the CFHL, UCCE Riverside team worked with a group youth and seniors from the Tribal community to establish a garden at their senior center. This community garden brought elders and youth together to plant and harvest fresh vegetables and herbs. As an inter-generational project, it was a great success. Since that time our team, with support from the CFHL State Office, has assisted Tribal Leadership in establishing a Community Wellness Committee which consists of youth, elders, and tribal council members. We are working with this committee to inspire initiatives that will lead to sustain health outcomes through PA, garden enhanced nutrition education, direct education, and other activities.