Facebook
X (Twitter)
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
LinkedInPosts Tagged: and Communities
Congresista de EUA ayuda a preparar alimentos saludables para programa de nutrición de la UC
Cuando el congresista de Estados Unidos Jim Costa supo de los programas federales de educación sobre nutrición financiados por el gobierno federal que se ofrecen en su distrito, hizo planes para visitarlos.
Deseaba conocer, poniendo manos a la obra, acerca del programa UC CalFresh de la UC, en el cual los educadores de Extensión Cooperativa de la UC visitan los salones de clases para compartir nuevos alimentos, enseñar estrategias para comer saludablemente y demostrar actividades físicas a niños y familias de bajos recursos.
Este abril, el congresista Costa no solo se reunió con alumnos del segundo grado de la primaria La Vina en el condado de Madera, su maestra Verónica Nava y el director Jesús Navarro, sino que se metió la corbata en la camisa y ayudó a mezclar ingredientes saludables como frijoles negros, chiles morrón y mangos frescos en una ensalada para que probaran los niños.
"Crecí en un área rural como ustedes y asistí a una maravillosa escuela, como la de ustedes", dijo Costa a los niños. "Ustedes son afortunados de tener clases como esta. Es muy importante tener buenos hábitos alimenticios".
Costa señaló que es un honor representar a los estudiantes de segundo grado y a sus padres en Washington, D.C.
"¿Me pueden hacer un favor?", preguntó. "¡Quiero que sean lo mejor que puedan ser! Si les va bien en lo que hacen, Estados Unidos será un mejor país".
Antes de que Costa se retirara, tomó el juramento de 4-H a los niños:
Prometo:
Usar mi mente para pensar con más claridad,
mi corazón para ser más leal,
mis manos para ser más servicial,
mi salud para cuidarme más,
por mi club, mi comunidad,
mi país y mi mundo.
Cuando Costa era joven fue miembro de 4-H, un programa de desarrollo juvenil de Extensión Cooperativa de la UC que se ofrece a niños y jóvenes de 9 a 19.
El congresista Costa mezcló los ingredientes de la siguiente receta, para los estudiantes:
Ensalada de frijoles negros y mango
Ingredientes:
- 1lata de 15onzas defrijolesnegros,enjuagados yescurridos
- 2 tazas de mango fresco sin cáscara y hueso y cortado en cubitos (aproximadamente dos mangos pequeños)
- 1/4 de taza de cebollines verdes
- 1/4 de taza de pimiento morrón picado
- 2 cucharadas de jugo de limón verde
- 2 cucharadas de 100 por ciento jugo de naranja
- 1 cucharada de cilantro fresco picado
- 1/2 cucharadita de chile en polvo
- 1/4 cucharadita de comino molido
Mezcle todos los ingredientes en un tazón grande. La ensalada puede ser servida enseguida, pero es mejor si la tapa y enfría por lo menos durante una hora para que los sabores se mezclen bien.
Fostering changes one #healthyselfie at a time
A group of participants in the UC CalFresh Nutrition Education program will graduate next week ready to use the knowledge and skills they have acquired to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Let's find out what healthy changes they have made:
“I added whole grains.”
“Put more vegetables in daily diet.”
“Serving more fruits and veggies.”
“Eating more greens and less fatty foods.”
“Eating more colorful vegetables.”
“Don't leave meat out!”
“Eating more vegetables and fruits.”
“Being more physically active.”
The UC CalFresh Nutrition Education program is a no-cost, evidence-based course focusing on nutrition, physical activity, food safety and resource management offered to low-income youth and adults. Community partnerships are essential for successful, sustainable programming.
The Fresno-Madera County UC CalFresh Nutrition Education Program is currently hosting an Eat Smart, Being Active class series in partnership with a local job training agency. Participants attending Proteus' Jobs 2000 classes are offered nutrition education as part of their ongoing education, job training and job placement services. UC CalFresh maintains an ongoing partnership with Proteus Inc., enabling us to expand our reach and assist low-income families to make informed and educated decisions when it comes to their health.
The current class has covered topics including:
- Incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins into meals and snacks.
- The importance of physical activity, and the health benefits one derives from maintaining a healthy diet alongside an active lifestyle.
- Resource management, to encourage participants to stretch food dollars while making the healthiest food choices.
- The importance of dairy foods and calcium for bone health.
As a nutrition educator, I always encourage participants to make healthy lifestyle changes, regardless of how incrementally it's done. Whether it means walking around the block during lunch or breaks, or adding more fruits and vegetables to everyday meals, no change is too small. Health changes made gradually enable us to maintain them over time.
Below are a few tips I like to provide series participants:
- Start with a goal that is achievable and time bound.
- As you achieve your health goals, challenge yourself further. For example, you may be accustomed to drinking whole milk and have effectively transitioned to reduced-fat milk (2%). Don't stop there, challenge yourself and go for low-fat (1%) milk.
- Write down your health goal, this will keep you accountable.
- Your health goal should be fun and enjoyable, involve your family or friends to make it social. For example, create a neighborhood walking club and encourage others in your community to be more active.
- Celebrate your successes!
- For more tips, I encourage participants to visit choosemyplate.gov. There are always new resources available to make a healthy lifestyle easier.
Lifestyle changes happen gradually, and Jobs 2000 participants are leading the way toward building healthier families, while encouraging others to do so too. Together we can inspire others to make healthy changes!
I want to encourage you to take a #healthyselfie to inspire others within your community to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Use the hashtags #UCCE and #healthyselfie, and follow @UCCalFreshFC and @UCANR to stay connected with our social media platforms, for more healthy tips, and for updates about events and classes in the Central Valley. You can join and stay connected to the work being done in Fresno and Madera counties across many platforms including: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and our Blog.
Pictured above are (clockwise, from upper left) Brenda, Cheyenne and Mercedes who showcase their #healthyselfie with goals for food safety, eating more leafy greens and being more physically active.
