We ♥ B.E.A.N. Healthy!

Local teens are visiting elementary schools and teaching kids about eating healthy foods.

Eighteen eager and enthusiastic teens have begun their training for the BEANS program (Better Eating, Activity, and Nutrition for Students). The teens pictured here are the Willits team... there are also teams in Fort Bragg and Ukiah. Training topics have ranged from garden tours, to fruit and veggie tasting, to knife and food safety. After their initial training is complete, they will present interactive nutrition and cooking lessons over the course of this school year to kids throughout Mendocino County.

Their mission: to get kids eating more fruits and vegetables every day.

What a great way to make a difference in our local community!

BEANS is grant-funded through the USDA and is administered by NCO’s Gardens Project. Last year, BEANS teen peer educators reached over 450 students in after-school programs in Fort Bragg, Ukiah, and Willits. The teens also provided taste-tests at local farmers’ markets and food banks during this past summer. We look forward to continued success this year!