Simply Fresh

"Simply Fresh" is a series of one-minute healthy cooking and nutrition education segments created by HELP's Adrienne Saldivar-Meier and sponsored by regional agriculture companies and health care providers. The programs are being broadcast in a variety of media throughout the Central Coast of California, and nationwide, both in English and Spanish. Each segment offers easy to prepare recipes and delicious FRESH produce-based menu offerings for busy families.

The "Simply Fresh" program's goal is to educate the general public that they can prepare and eat healthy meals without sacrificing taste; and that there are simple, economical and quick ways to eat fresh at home rather than turning to a steady diet of processed or fast foods.

Each one-minute segment features seasonal produce from a Monterey County agriculture company in original recipes created especially for HELP. Recipes are also video streamed online at the HELPchooseyourlife.org website and will be made available to school food service directors, parent organizations and teachers with the intent of linking the programs to increasing the availability of fresh produce in school meals and to HELP based nutrition education programs offered in classrooms.

Airtime and additional support for "Simply Fresh" has been generously provided by Salinas Valley Memorial Health Care System. Remember, "You can choose a healthier life".

Simply Fress Sponsors:

Sample Recipe Cards:

HELP Quarterly Newsletter

Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month

Here is some interesting nutrition info ...

The theme for March 2011 is "Eat Right with Color."

http://www.eatright.org/nnm/

"Adding a splash of colorful seasonal foods to your plate makes for more than just a festive meal. A rainbow of foods creates a palette of nutrients, each with a different bundle of potential benefits for a healthful eating plan," says registered dietitian and ADA Spokesperson Karen Ansel.

"Healthy eating includes more than counting calories alone. In fact, most children don't get enough of all the essential nutrients critical to normal growth and development," says Ansel.

"Food variety supplies different nutrients, so to maximize the nutritional value of your meal, include healthful choices in a variety of colors."

Green produce indicates antioxidant potential and may help promote healthy vision and reduce cancer risks.

• Fruits: avocado, apples, grapes, honeydew, kiwi and lime
• Vegetables: artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, green beans, green peppers and leafy greens such as spinach

Orange and deep yellow fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that promote healthy vision and immunity, and reduce the risk of some cancers.

• Fruits: apricot, cantaloupe, grapefruit, mango, papaya, peach and pineapple
• Vegetables: carrots, yellow pepper, yellow corn and sweet potatoes

Purple and blue options may have antioxidant and anti-aging benefits and may help with memory, urinary tract health and reduced cancer risks.

• Fruits: blackberries, blueberries, plums, raisins
• Vegetables: eggplant, purple cabbage, purple-fleshed potato

Red indicates produce that may help maintain a healthy heart, vision, immunity and may reduce cancer risks.

• Fruits: cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, red/pink grape fruit, red grapes and watermelon
• Vegetables: beets, red onions, red peppers, red potatoes, rhubarb and tomatoes

White, tan and brown foods sometimes contain nutrients that may promote heart health and reduce cancer risks.

• Fruits: banana, brown pear, dates and white peaches
• Vegetables: cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, turnips, white-fleshed potato and white corn

Here is the link to the full article:
http://www.eatright.org/Media/content.aspx?id=6442462270

Fast and Fit

Nutrition education in the classroom and physical activity on a rainy day

Presented by Healthy Eating Lifestyle Principles (HELP), Champions for Change - a program of the Monterey County Health Department, and Monterey County Office of Education Health and Prevention Programs.  This workshop was created for both Pre-K - 3 Teachers and After School Program Instructors.

Saturday, February 26th, 2011
This was a great opportunity for teachers to learn new ways to get children

interested in fruits and veggies!

Nutrition education in the classroom
by Pat Wells and Ron Frontella

Pat is demonstrating the teaching process that she uses in the Head Start classrooms. 



Educators from around Monterey County



The teachers were exposed to lots of fun tools that you can use with fruit!

 



Apple slicers are an easy way to prepare an afternoon snack :)







Apple corers are easy to use and make eating apples fun!





Following the session by Pat and Ron the teachers were able to go to the 

Sample Learning Stations:

   
Smoothies

Teachers were able to make their own healthy smoothies!



Fancy Water!  

Healthy Beverage Station

Instead of serving soda ... offer still and sparkling water with sliced lemon, lime or cucumbers!

Pumpkin Pancakes  

Ron showed everyone how to make easy pumpkin pancakes!

Imagine veggies at breakfast!

Hat Station

The teachers each made a fancy hat ...



To make the hat they turned a paper bag inside out and
added streamers and fruit shaped cut outs.

The teachers will be able to go back to their classrooms and make these hats with their students!

Fruit & Veggie Games  



A is for Apple  

Books that feature fruits and vegetables in a positive light.

Physical Activity on a Rainy Day

Instant Recess by Maggie Barrera of the Central Coast Network for a Healthy California 



The teachers learned fun and innovative ways for their students to get exercise in the classroom!







Chef Adrienne - Chef Demo
cooking and tasting demonstration

Adrienne demonstrates ways to include more fruits and vegetables in popular recipes



Broccoli Meatballs - Healthy and Delicious!



The teachers were all able to try the food from the Chef Demo

Lemon-Cauliflower Cup Cakes

Healthy - Strawberry Short Cake!

Thank you to all of the Teachers who attended
Fast and Fit!









Garden Club - Plants Fruit Trees

This week the garden club learned how to plant trees! 

Bokay Nursery donated Apple and Pear trees.

The trees were all wrapped with wire to protect them.



One of the apples from the apples tree!



Planting Vegetables!

Planting Vegetables!

The Garden Club kids are learning how fun it is to work in the garden! 

Filling in the hole for the new trees!

Bokay Nursery donated a grape plant as well which the kids planted along the fence.



 The kids are having a great time learning about nutrition in the garden!