ANR takes kids to work at UCOP

At UCOP's Take Our Kids to Work Day, kids made fruit-infused water as an alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages. Photo by Ryan Williams

UC ANR employees at UC Office of the President in Oakland participated in Take Our Kids to Work Day on April 24.

Take Our Kids to Work Day is a national movement that allows children to explore career possibilities while learning more about their parents' work and organization.

“We did our session with the 6th graders,” said Summer Cortez, manager of the Nutrition Policy Institute's CalFresh Healthy Living Evaluation Unit.

Cortez and Ryan Williams, NPI project policy analyst and registered dietitian, explained to the visiting children that the Nutrition Policy Institute is a group of public health researchers. The group discussed what public health is and some of the different projects NPI is working on currently.

“We then introduced two public-health topics that NPI engages with through our research projects: sugar-sweetened beverages and processed foods. Each topic was paired with a hands-on activity,” Cortez said.

The kids made a healthy recipe of oats. Photo by Summer Cortez

For sugar-sweetened beverages, the kids made fruit-infused water in reusable water bottles. using their own mix fruits and herbs. One child exclaimed, “This is really good! I want to make more at home for my siblings.”

For processed foods, they played a game to get familiar with the terms “unprocessed,” “minimally processed” and “ultra-processed foods.” Cortez and Williams showed the kids images of fresh produce, freeze-dried fruit and frozen pizza rolls and other foods, and quizzed them on whether they were “unprocessed,” “minimally processed” or “ultra-processed.”

Next, they led the kids in making a healthy breakfast recipe – overnight oats in a Mason jar. “?They picked mix-ins like sunflower seed butter, coconut flakes, cinnamon, dried fruits, pumpkin seeds, etc.,” Cortez said. “They were instructed to add milk at home, of course!”

“Between topics, we did a movement break – yoga! Ryan led the kids in a sun salutation and discussed ?how yoga is an activity that encourages both mental and physical wellness.”

The kids took home their goodies in a fun fruit bag, along with recipe cards and a guide to doing a sun salutation at home.

Ryan Williams led children in a yoga exercise. Photo by Summer Cortez

Overnight Oats

Makes 1 Serving. 1 mason jar per serving

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons nut or seed butter
• 1 Tablespoon pumpkin seeds
• ½ Cup rolled or old-fashioned oats
• ½ Cup of milk (add any kind of milk you use at home!)
• 2 Oz fresh, frozen, or dried fruits
• Drizzle of honey (optional)

Preparation

1. Fill jar with nut/seed butter, pumpkin seeds, and oats (in that order)
2. Next, you would normally pour in milk. Do this when you get home! Milk should just barely cover oats
3. Top with fruit and honey
4. Put lid on jar and refrigerate overnight, up to 5 days
5. Shake before opening or stir to mix and enjoy!

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