The Youth Nutrition Program, aka Youth FSNEP, is a nutrition education program offered to qualifying Tehama and Glenn County schools, preschools and other youth organizations and groups.  Through this program, thousands of local children participate in hands-on nutrition education.  This is done by providing teachers and staff with free curricula that enhance their efforts to teach their students about healthy lifestyle practices.  Schools with at least 50% of the students receiving free or reduced meals qualify for this program. 

The overall goal of the Youth Nutrition Program is to promote healthy lifestyles for youth  and their families as outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.    Specific objectives include the following: 

• Increase awareness of fruits, vegetables and other high-fiber, low-fat foods.
• Increase awareness of food safety practices for children who prepare their own meals and snacks.
• Encourage daily physical activity.

Funding for the Youth Nutrition Program is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP).

Youth Nutrition Program staff offer curriculum, trainings, classroom presentations, and materials to qualifying teachers and area educators at no cost.  These curricula are offered:

PRESCHOOL:                                            

Go Glow GrowIt is a nutrition curriculum developed for preschool children.  In conjunction with the book, Go Glow Grow: Foods for You, children learn about healthy eating, exercising and the importance of hand washing.

Happy Healthy Me...Moving, Munching & Reading Through MyPyramid for 4 to 6-Years Old

This nutrition and literacy curriculum designed to provide young children with an introduction to nutrition.  Children form lifetime dietary habits at a very young age. Early introduction of nutrition education can help them develop positive and healthful attitiudes about food, physical activity and overall health. This curriculum includes the Desired Results for Preschoolers.

Food & Me: An Integrated Approach to Teaching Nutrition

Food & Me is a curriculum designed for pre-school age children. The curriculum includes a comprehensive set of engaging activities designed to cover broad nutrition issues and to help lay a foundation for learning about healthy food choices. Topics range from exploring where foods come from, to growing your own foods, to tasting parties.

GRADES K-3:

Eating Healthy from Farm to Fork...Promoting School Wellness, Kindergarten Curriculum 

This nutrition education curriculum makes the connection between local food systems, garden-based learning, school food service, and the establishment of healthy habits.  These comprehensive materials integrate nutrition education into grade-appropriate lessons that are specifically designed around the Nutrition Competencies for California Children and directly correlated to the core subjects of the California Content Standards.

Reading Across MyPyramid

Reading Across MyPyramid is a nutrition and literacy program The curriculum helps children become aware of food and nutrition by reading storybooks with food-related themes and then participating in hands-on nutrition activities.

GRADES 4-5:

Power Play!

This curriculum encourages students to eat five fruits and vegetables every day and gives creative ways for students to do so. Children at this age are assuming more responsibility for their own health and well-being. Power Play is designed for maximum learning using integrative and fun activities and taste testing to hold the interest of this age group.

Nutrition to Grow On

This innovative curriculum offers teachers a direct link between the garden and nutrition education. The curriculum uses the garden to integrate disciplines including science, mathematics, language arts, history, environmental studies, nutrition, and health. This approach enriches students' capabilities for observation and thinking and encourages them to develop a wide range of skills.

GRADES 6-8:

EatFit

This curriculum teaches students to set goals to establish the personal health habits appropriate to the changing needs of adolescence. At this age, students are becoming more independent and increasingly more subject to peer approval. With Eat Fit, students explore and practice the skills necessary for a physically active lifestyle and healthy food choices. A student handbook is included.

HIGH SCHOOL:

Money Talks - Hunger Attack 

The purpose of this unit is to show teens how the food they buy affects both the amount of money they spend and their health.  Teens may be surprised to see how a bag of chips here and a soda there can drain their wallet and add to their waistline!  The leader's guide includes learning objectives, background information, discussion questions, activities with accompanying handouts and visuals, a glossary and a list of additional resources.  A student handbook is also available.