Fresh from the Start

A Nutrition and Cooking Program for Young Parents

The Fresh from the Start Program is a nutrition and cooking class for the teen parents of Ukiah High School's Young Parent Program.  Fresh from the Start aims to help teen parents make healthy choices for themselves and their families.  The program focuses on mother/adult nutrition, as well as infant and child nutrition, giving teen parents a well rounded understanding of their family's health.

The program got off the ground in January of 2011 with funding from The Network for a Healthy California and conducted 18 nutrition and cooking classes with 19 teen mothers of Ukiah High School.  Along with cooking and nutrition education there was also an emphasis on the importance of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle; providing the teen mothers with 4 mother-child yoga classes. 

By far, the cooking lessons were the teens' favorite part of the class.  Each day a number of healthy recipes were incorporated into the nutrition lesson.  Here is a look at some of what we covered!  

Lessons: The Importance of Fiber, Re-Think Your Drink, Healthy Breakfasts, Fruits and Veggies, Healthy Substitutes, Child Nutrition Basics, Protein, Healthy Desserts, Greens, The Importance of Physical Activity, Summer Snacks, and Healthy Dinners.

Recipes: Honey Glazed Vegetables, Fresh Veggie Dip, Black Bean Hummus, Strawberry Smoothies, Cauliflower Mac-n-Cheese, Breakfast Burritos, Flavored Waters, Fruit Parfaits, Veggie Stuffed Baked Potatoes, Turkey Tacos, Summer Pasta Salad, Fruit Dips, and Veggie Chili.