Thank you, Partners:

Team California for Healthy After School (TCHAS) / Manteca Unified School District / Banta Elementary School District / Sierra Health Foundation / Second Harvest Food Bank / Manteca Garden Club-Master Gardners / Kaiser Permanente / Sutter Health-Tracy Community Hospital Foundation / Special thanks to Tom Canales and Tom Powel

Healthy Snacks

Chocolate-Dipped Citrus

Ingredients

  • 5 pieces large citrus (Oranges or Satsumas) or 10 small citrus (Mandarins)
  • 1 cup dark chocolate or semi-sweet chips
  • 1 tbsp. coconut oil or avocado oil
  • 2 tsp flaked unsweetened coconut

Instructions

  1. Peel the citrus and separate into segments.
  2. Melt the chocolate and oil together in a saucepan over low heat. Stir continuously until everything has melted and is well combined. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. Remove from the heat.
  3. Dip the citrus segments into the melted chocolate and place on a plate or baking tray. You may place on wax paper to keep from sticking.  Once all the segments have been dipped, place the tray in the fridge for 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
  4. Remove from the fridge and dip each segment in the chocolate for a second time and then immediately sprinkle coconut over the citrus. Return to the fridge for another 5 minutes.

*It is best to enjoy this treat within 24 hours but will last up to a couple of days in the refrigerator.

Pineapple Spinach Smoothie

Ingredients:

2/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt

1 banana or frozen banana

1 cup pineapple
1 cup fresh baby spinach

1/2 cup water or milk

 

Directions:

Place all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.

Peachy Peanut Butter Pita Pockets

Makes 4 servings. 1⁄2 pita pocket per serving. Prep time: 10 minutes cook time: 10 seconds

Ingredients:

2 medium whole wheat pita pockets
1⁄4 cup reduced fat chunky peanut butter

1⁄2 apple (cored and thinly sliced)

1⁄2 banana (thinly sliced)
1⁄2 fresh peach (thinly sliced)

Directions:

  1. Cut pitas in half to make 4 pockets and warm in the microwave for about 10 seconds to make them flexible.
  2. Carefully open each pocket and spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the inside walls.
  3. Fill with a combination of apple, banana, and sliced peaches.

Retrieved from: Champions for Change Network for a Healthy California

Banana Sushi

Ingredients:

2 medium whole bananas peeled and ends trimmed
1⁄2 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter
1⁄2 cup preferred toppings such as: chopped pistachios, chia seeds, rice crispies, and dried coconut

Directions:

1. First peel your banana, place on a baking sheet, and evenly spread on peanut butter, covering just the top half of your banana.

2. Then, sprinkle on toppings and press them lightly into the peanut butter to ensure they will stick.

3. Using a sharp knife, evenly slice banana. Place banana into the freezer and freeze for about an hour. After an hour, transfer to a tupperware (this is so the banana doesn’t freeze to the baking sheet).

4. Store banana sushi in freezer.

Retrieved from: Fit Food Finds (www.fitfoodfinds.com)

Tzatziki Dip

Ingredients:

16 oz Plain Nonfat Yogurt
2 Cucumbers (peeled, seeded and diced)

2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

Salt & Pepper To Taste
1 Tbsp Fresh Chopped Dill (or 1/2 Tbsp Dried Dill)
3 Cloves Garlic minced

Directions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice and dill. Season with salt and pepper. Chill.

OR In a food processor/blender, combine ingredients and process. Transfer to a separate dish and Chill for an hour covered.

Serve with raw vegetables like peeled carrots or with toasted pita bread/chips!

Quinoa, Black Bean, Corn & Avocado Salad

Ingredients (serves 2-4)

1 cup Cooked Quinoa (cooled)
1/2 can 15.5 oz. Corn (drained)
1/2 can 15.5 oz. Black Beans (drained)
1 Avocado (diced)
2 small Roma Tomatoes (diced and seeded) 1/4 cup Onion (chopped)
1/4 tsp Salt
1 pinch Black Pepper
1/4 cup Cilantro (chopped)
2 Tbsp Lime Juice
2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Directions:

1) Prepare the dressing for the salad, whisk together lime juice and olive oil in a medium bowl.
2) Cut Tomatoes, Onion, Cilantro & Avocado
3) Gather 1/2 can of Corn and 1/2 can of Black Beans (make sure it’s drained) into samebowl.

4) In a same bowl, fold in gently tomatoes, onion, cilantro, salt and pepper with the Beans and Corn.
5) Gather and add Quinoa to bowl
6) When you’re ready to serve, add the avocado and mix together.

Banana Pancakes

Ingredients:

2 Eggs
1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1.5 Large ripe bananas
1/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1/8 Teaspoon Baking Powder

A Dash of Cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, mash 1 and 1/2 ripe large bananas until there are little to no lumps.
  2. Crack eggs into banana mixture and whisk well until the eggs and the bananas are combined.
  3. Add baking powder, whole wheat flour, cinnamon and vanilla extract and combine again.
  4. On a griddle, cook pancakes over medium-low heat. A 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of batter is enough for each pancake. Cook for approximately 1 minute on each side. Serve hot. Serves 4-5.

We at GECAC actively promote healthy lifestyle choices by supporting the emotional and physical health of staff, students, families, and the greater community. In supporting healthy behaviors, GECAC demonstrates to all partners, students and staff that good health is a vital mission to success.

Each site and site staff will reinforce students’ healthy behaviors with healthy messaging, healthy role-modeling, making information on healthy living available to parents, and giving students a choice/voice on what is in their site environment.

Regular nutrition education, based on the USDA and California Department of Education, will be conducted during the ASAP Program. Nutrition education will be extended to parents through various outreach avenues. We will include Social-Emotional Learning.

GECAC’s goal is to include a minimum of 30-60 minutes of physical activity each school day, not only during P.E., but also during transitions, study breaks, and other uncommitted time. Students will learn skills that promote life-long physical activity.

Staff will receive training, development, resources, and support on health curricula, healthy decision-making and healthy environment creation.

GECAC staff and administration will work together to establish and maintain relationships with students, parents, school-day staff, key community organizations and other stakeholders to ensure our Wellness Policy is well supported and implemented.

Anytime Bruschetta

Ingredients

• 1 can (14.5 oz.) petite diced tomatoes

• 12 diagonal-cut slices of baguette (1/2-inch thick)

• 4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided

• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

• 2 Tbsp. thinly sliced or hand-torn fresh basil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Drain tomatoes in a colander, reserving juice to refrigerate or freeze for other uses (see Tips).

2. Meanwhile, brush bread on both sides with 3 Tbsp. oil. Place on a baking sheet and toast in the oven 4 to 5 minutes, until golden. Turn over and toast 3 to 4 minutes, until golden. Let cool to room temperature.

3. Combine drained tomatoes, remaining 1 Tbsp. oil and salt in a bowl; stir. Spoon 1 heaping Tbsp. tomatoes onto each piece of toasted bread and garnish with basil.

Serve immediately.

Family Health Night

GECAC Health in partnership with select schools hosts Family Health Night.
Families can attend and participate in a variety of fun and informing activities promoting health and wellness. Activities have included games, Blender Bike, healthy cooking and art activities.

i

Healthy Choices Survey

GECAC’s After School Advantage Program Students receive health education and wellness lessons, activities and presentations throughout the school year. The My Health and Choice survey is a pre/post quiz that is administered at the end of each semester to evaluate the growth of student knowledge and application of knowledge from the lessons they received.

Pre/Post Test

ASAP students receive 4 health and wellness presentations per school year as presented by the Healthy Lifestyles Coordinator. The pretest evaluates the students’ knowledge before the lesson
and the post-test evaluates students’ knowledge after the lesson, evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the lesson.

Fitness Challenge

3-8th grade students of Give Every Child A Chance After School Advantage Program participates in Fitness Challenge twice a year. The challenge allows students to build strength, increase
flexibility and provide a full-body workout. The challenge consists of the student completing 3 separate exercises being timed for 1 minute over 6 days.

Farmers Market

Select ASAP sites participate in hosting a Farmer’s Markets at their school site.  Students run the markets selling a variety of in-season, locally grown fruit and vegetables.  Students learn about healthy food options, math, and money handling and customer service.

Health Graph Fall 2021

Click here for Health Improvment Graph

Health Graph Fall 2020

Click here for Health Improvment Graph

Health Graph Fall 2019

Click here for Health Improvement Graph

Health Graph 2018-19

Click here for Health Improvement Graph

Health Graph 2018

Click here for Health Improvement Graph (Summer Camp)

Health Graph 2017-18

Click here for Health Improvement Graph

Mental Health Awareness

Click here to learn about Mental Health Awareness

Eating Healthy On A Budget

Click here to learn how to eat on a budget

Daily Food Groups Target

Click here to learn about Daily Food Group Targets

Rethink Fats

Click here for rethinking fats tips

Cooking with Kids

Honoring Old Traditions & Creating Fun New Ones

Thanksgiving Gratitude

Click here to view these activities

2020-21 Newsletter

View newsletter here

2019-20 Newsletter

View newsletter here

Spring 2019 Newsletter

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Spring 2018 Newsletter

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Fall 2018 Newsletter

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Fall 2017 Newsletter

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Projects

View 2021-22 Wellness Winner Here

View 2018-19 Wellness Winner Here

View 2017-18 Wellness Winner Here

View 2017 Wellness Winner Here

View 2016 Wellness Winner Here

View Wellness Policy Key Points Here

View 2021 Family Health Survey Here

View 2020 Family Health Survey Here

View 2019 Healthy Choices Survey Here

View 2018 Fall Healthy Choice Survey Here

View 2018 Fall Family Health Night Here

View 2018 Spring Healthy Choice Survey Here

View 2017 Family Health Night Here

View 2022 Spring Fitness Challenge Here

View 2021 Fall Fitness Challenge Here

View 2021 Spring Fitness Challenge Here

View 2020 Fall Fitness Challenge Here

View 2020 Spring Fitness Challenge Here

View 2019 Fall Fitness Challenge Here

View 2018 Spring Fitness Challenge Here

View 2017 Fall Fitness Challenge Here

Publications