What is the Youth Wellness Initiative?
The Youth Wellness Initiative is designed to educate and empower students and their families to embrace healthy lifestyles by understanding the robust connection between agriculture and our health and wellness. With a focus on nutrition, this initiative is threefold: it informs our Farm-to-Food Lab program, hosts monthly produce pop up events at schools, and offers online resources for ongoing support.
In the Food Lab segment of our Farm-to-Food Lab third-grade program, students prepare a seasonal recipe using local produce and learn about mindful eating and food waste. At Produce Pop Up Events, students and their families receive local produce, nutrition resources, and food access information. Finally, our Superhealthyherokids website provides recipes, games, and local resources to engage students and their families beyond the farm and classroom.
Available in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties!
Program Mission
To educate, inspire, and empower children and their families about food literacy, and the food supply system with an emphasis on addressing food access, and highlighting the nutritional value of local crops and agricultural products through experiential and holistic nutrition education, online resources, and produce pop up events.
Youth Wellness Initiative Overview
Pop Up Produce Events
Our Produce Pop-Up events are a part of SEEAG’s Wellness Initiative, bringing fresh, local produce directly to schools and their communities. We prioritize partnering with Title 1 schools. These events can be integrated into existing school wellness fairs, events, and collaborations or stand alone as a dedicated produce giveaway.
At each event, we provide:
Donated local produce
Nutrition resources
Food access information
Our Produce Pop-Ups typically last 1 to 3 hours and take place at participating schools and community organizations, often during school pick-up times to engage parents and families.
Food Lab Presentation
Following our classroom introduction and farm field trip, the Food Lab marks the final stage of our food journey—bringing the focus to our own bodies as part of the food system. In this interactive session, students participate in preparing a seasonal, locally sourced recipe from start to finish, gaining hands-on culinary experience while exploring the concept of “eating the rainbow” and the nutrients different foods provide.
This engaging, 1-hour presentation includes:
Hands-on preparation of a seasonal, local recipe
Education on seasonal and local eating
Taste testing and identification of local crops
Mindful eating practices
Conscious consumption and reducing food waste
Take-home resource bags featuring local produce and community-based information
The Food Lab takes place at school sites participating in our Farm-to-Food Lab program. As the final segment of our 3-part series, participating schools are required to register for and schedule all program components in sequential order.
Check out these at-home, in the classroom,
and post-presentation resources!
Download the Farm Fresh Cook Book