4-H partners with UDIM for summer feeding program
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Email4-H provided fun healthy living activities to children participating in the UDIM summer Meet Up & Eat Up Program.
Michigan 4-H partnered with the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) to provide 4-H healthy living activities at summer feeding sites for the Meet Up & Eat Up Program. This pilot program took place in Wayne, Genesee, Saginaw and Ingham counties. Youth at the summer feeding sites were engaged in 4-H healthy living program activities such as physical fitness and nutrition education. Youth also participated in nutrition education curriculum based activities created by UDIM, including Milk from Farm to Table.
Saginaw County
The Saginaw 4-H program coordinator delivered UDIM and 4-H healthy living curriculum activities at Mission in the City twice a week for four weeks in August. The program focused on the importance of eating balanced meals. Megan McSweyn reported that, “it was easy to use the UDIM curriculum and youth enjoyed the lessons; thought they were fun and easy to understand.”
Genesee County
The Genesee 4-H program coordinator delivered UDIM and 4-H healthy living curriculum activities at the Berston Field House every Wednesday from July 19 – August 23. The program focused on healthy snacks and physical fitness.
Ingham County
The Ingham 4-H AmeriCorps member delivered UDIM and 4-H healthy living curriculum activities at Southside Community Coalition one to two times a week in August. They have a beautiful hoop house with a variety of vegetables. The program focused on incorporating more fruits, vegetables and dairy into the children’s daily diets. The children drew pictures of MyPlate and talked about the different types of food that belong in each group. The children also harvested their own cucumbers and were so proud to each have a full cucumber. Participating children also made meals together and learned how to make banana pancakes with bananas and eggs, along with homemade applesauce. The children enjoyed it so much that a few even said they had made it with their parents at home the next week.
The Ingham 4-H AmeriCorps member also delivered UDIM and 4-H healthy living curriculum activities at Mount Vernon one to two times a week from July 13 through August 18. The program focused on making healthy snacks and physical activity. The children drew pictures of MyPlate and talked about the different types of food that belong in each group. The children made a variety of snacks including healthy trail mix, fruit parfaits and easy on the go vegetables and dip. The children utilized the outdoor space by playing a version of tag, fish and minnows and different basketball games. This program gave the children opportunities to engage in fun educational sessions as they interacted with their friends instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Wayne County
The Wayne 4-H program coordinator and nutrition program instructor delivered UDIM and 4-H healthy living curriculum activities at Tabernacle of Judah in Detroit twice a week for four weeks in August. The program focused on nutrition education and gardening. Children made and tasted healthy snacks and planted potted vegetable gardens.
Funding for this pilot program was provided by UDIM and Michigan State University Extension hopes it will continue for years to come as it was a great opportunity to engage new 4-H audiences while providing a fun component to their lunchtime.
