CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties

10/07/2025

CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE in Santa Barbara County (CFHL, UCCE) partners with the Santa Maria-Bonita School District (SMBSD) and UCCE Master Food Preservers of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties (MFP) to host Family Cook Nights, a family-centered nutrition education series. During the 2024–2025 school year, CFHL, UCCE offered six four-class series using the Healthy, Happy Families curriculum and additional food preservation sessions with MFP, reaching over 70 participants. The program helps caregivers establish positive nutrition habits.

By partnering with Family Resource Centers (FRCs) at four SMBSD sites, CFHL, UCCE engages families through trusted community spaces. Lessons covered topics like managing picky eaters, reading food labels, and involving kids in meal prep. Each class included a healthy recipe tasting. Some favorites included no added-sugar agua fresca, cilantro lime tuna wraps, and mango chicken stir-fry.

When asked what they learned, parents shared:

☑️“More awareness of added sugars, labels, and safe food handling.”

☑️“I’ve learned to be more patient with my children in the kitchen and cook healthier.”

☑️“There are fun ways to offer food, especially for kids. I learned what benefits my body and what to avoid.”

CFHL, UCCE will continue partnering with FRCs through the 2025–2026 school year to strengthen family nutrition skills and community connections. A big thank you to our nutrition educator, Miguel and MFP volunteer Debbie for providing these sessions for families!

10/06/2025

Interested in becoming a Master Food Preserver in SLO/SB? Applications are now open!

10/02/2025

school garden is flourishing with fall crops! Swipe to see for yourself!!

These figs were given to the Food and Nutrition team to be featured in the school salad bar!

09/24/2025

Check out a few results from our Youth Leader Survey! After participating in our program, students reported increases in key skills:
✔️67% say they can work as a team member with excellent ability (up from 21%)
✔️41% now feel confident speaking before a group (up from 10%)
✔️64% feel ready to teach others (up from 15%)

09/23/2025

CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE (CFHL, UCCE) in Santa Barbara County partners with youth through 4-H Student Nutrition Advisory Council clubs (4-H SNAC) and the Sprouts afterschool club to create healthy and resilient communities. These after-school programs provide opportunities for positive youth development while increasing access to nutrition and garden education, healthy foods, and school gardens.

CFHL, UCCE provides youth partners with technical training and assistance to teach evidence-based curriculum and maintain a sustainable garden. Students apply their knowledge by delivering lessons to youth and adults, facilitating garden tours and demonstrations, and harvesting and distributing produce grown in the school garden to the community.

4-H SNAC Impact:

129 4th-6th grade 4-H SNAC leaders were trained in:

-Public speaking and leadership by delivering evidence-based nutrition and garden education to 35 classes, reaching 937 peers.
-Garden Sustainability to grow and distribute produce and lead educational garden demonstrations for fellow peers and community members.
-Nutrition Education and Food Literacy: including food safety and food preservation, recipe demonstrations and tastings of healthy foods.

CFHL, UCCE in Santa Barbara empowers young people to take active roles in education and community engagement. Together, youth leaders are building a healthier and more resilient community while developing skills that will prepare them for future success.

09/10/2025

📣Receive free groceries and assistance signing up for WIC every 3rd Wednesday at the SLO Food Bank Pantry!

08/20/2025

Apply for SUN Bucks by September 2! Learn more: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks/how-to-get-sun-bucks

Apply for SUN Bucks by September 2! Most children are automatically enrolled, but if you are unsure about your child's eligibility, submit a school meal or Universal Benefits application to your child’s school. Learn more: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks/how-to-get-sun-bucks

08/15/2025

Last week, our team and partners at the SLO Food Bank connected with hundreds of community members at farmers markets to highlight National Farmers Market Week. We shared CalFresh and Market Match resources, recipes, and most importantly celebrated with our community! Let’s keep supporting our local farmers markets and growing a healthier community.

08/06/2025

Join us this evening at the Atascadero Farmers Market! 🍎🥦🥕🍅

08/05/2025

Join us tomorrow at the Arroyo Grande and Atascadero Farmers Market to celebrate National Farmers Market Week!

08/04/2025

It’s National Farmers Market week!!! Join us in celebrating our vibrant farmers markets all made possible by our amazing farmers and artisans! Take a minute this week while shopping at the farmers market to thank the vendor you’re purchasing from- they will appreciate it. Furthermore, swing by the managers booth for a chance to enter our farmers market bag full of goodies giveaway. We will be doing a giveaway at each market this week! 🛍️🍑🥦🥒🌽🍅

Shop North County Farmers Markets:
Mondays — Baywood 2:00PM-4:30PM
Tuesdays — Paso Robles 9:30AM-12:00PM
Wednesdays — Atascadero 3:00PM-5:30PM
Saturdays — Templeton 9:00AM-12:30PM

08/04/2025

Find us at the market to celebrate and shop the market at Baywood/Los Osos today 8/04 from 2:00-4:30 pm!

🍓Happy National Farmers Market Week