Youth empowered Nutrition Education in a San Francisco High School

Next Course, an innovative healthy food educational project in San Francisco, implemented a USDA funded Healthy California Local Food and Nutrition Education (LFNE) program named “Eat UR Veggies”, at San Francisco Mission High School in 2007 -2009. Mission High School consists of approximately 50% Latino, 20% African-American, 20% Asian and 10% Other White/Nonwhite students. Sixty percent of students are eligible for free or reduced lunches. The program's goal was to increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among students. Nutrition education was delivered in a series of four classes that exposed students to 17 fruits and vegetables during each series with a minimum of two exposures per series. Students cooked and taste-tested healthy recipes prepared with seasonal produce, whole grains, and lean proteins. A student Culinary Leadership Team provided peer leadership and became food advocates within the school and local community. Next Course partnered with a local educational farm to offer day-long farming field trips. The project engaged parents through the dissemination of student handouts, newsletter mailings, youth leader presentations at parents' nights, and farmers' market trips. Using a validated Food Preferences Survey, the findings showed that 387 ninth and tenth graders significantly increased preferences for fruits and vegetables. In addition, respondents showed a mean increase in 5 out of 6 self-efficacy questions about healthy food preparation skills. Focus group responses indicated that students changed their attitudes about healthy food choices and had shared their knowledge with parents, siblings, and friends.